Abstract:
A fencing system for deterring an animal from entering a facility includes a control box, a fencing base controlled by the control box, and a conduit cable connecting the control box and the fencing base. The control box includes a power supply, a generator board, a transformer and a grid load resistance detector. The generator board produces electrical wave form transformed by the transformer. The transformer connects to two connection braces of the fencing base. The control box operates in an active mode and a halted mode depending the grid load resistance and duration of the load resistance. The fencing base includes a set of fence tracks forming the grid and connected to the connection braces in an alternating style. The control box also supports more than one fencing base. The more than one fencing base can take different shapes and be extended in length to fit facility openings of different sizes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/351,007, entitled “FENCING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM,” filed Jun. 16, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention generally relates to animal deterrent devices, and more particularly relates to an electric fencing system operating in active and halted states for repelling animals from entering a facility. More particularly still, the present disclosure relates to an electric fencing system operating in active and halted states based on load resistance and time duration for repelling animals from entering a facility. 
     DESCRIPTION OF BACKGROUND 
     Both commercial and residential facilities attract rodents, pests and other types of animals (collectively referred to herein as animals). For example, food storage facilities oftentimes attract various animals foraging for food. As an additional example, warehouses oftentimes attract animals seeking shelters. The animals get inside the facilities through openings, such as doors, windows, gates and other types of pathways. 
     Various solutions have been proposed to keep animals from facilities. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,131 proposes an electric cattle guard that produces periodic pulses at about one second intervals. Each pulse lasts about 150 microseconds. U.S. Pat. No. 9,192,153 discloses an electric deterrent device that generates an electric shock to prevent animals from entering a facility. U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,452 teaches an electric animal deterrent device that includes a high voltage pulse generator. The high voltage is approximately 1000 to 3000 Volts AC. U.S. Pat. No. 8,430,063 proposes a particular structure of an animal deterrent device with insulated fasteners. U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,014 teaches an electric deterrent device having knitted conductors in a specialized structure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,216 suggests an apparatus for discouraging animals from a selected area. The apparatus includes a mat and a control generating a series of electrical pulses to a conductive surface of the mat. The pulses are spaced by about one second. 
     Each of the conventional animal deterrent devices has certain drawbacks. To protect establishments, warehouses, food banks and other types of facilities from animals, an extensible electric animal deterrent device is desired for fitting to different sizes of facilities. In addition, a long-lasting, easy to install and low maintenance animal deterrent device is desired. Furthermore, an animal deterrent device utilizing low voltage of electrical shock for protecting animals is more desired. Moreover, an animal deterrent device in a loop shape is desired for certain applications, such as an installation of the device around a window. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a new type of animal fencing system incorporating an extensible base. The new fencing system operates in active and halted modes based on load resistance and duration of time. 
     OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSED SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this disclosure to provide an electrical fencing system protecting facilities from animals. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with an extensible fencing base. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with more than one fencing base. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with more than one extensible fencing base. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system producing low voltage electrical shocks for protecting the health of animals and humans. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with a control box operating in active and halted pulsation operations. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with a control box including a power supply, a generator board, a transformer and a load detector. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with a control box producing triangular electrical wave form. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with a fencing base incorporating a set of fence tracks. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with a fencing base incorporating two alternating subsets of fence tracks connected to two respective connection braces. 
     Another object of this disclosure is to provide an electrical fencing system with a fencing base incorporating a set of fence tracks. 
     Other advantages of this disclosure will be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art. It should be understood, however, that a system, an apparatus or a method could practice the disclosure while not achieving all of the enumerated advantages, and that the protected disclosure is defined by the claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Generally speaking, pursuant to the various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a fencing system for keeping animals away from facilities, such as warehouses and food banks. The electrical fencing system includes a control box, a fencing base and a conduit cable linking the control box and the fencing base. The control box is mounted to, for example, a wall on one side of a pathway (such as a door, a window, a gate, etc.) while the fencing base is disposed around or along the pathway. The control box includes power supply unit, such as an AC to DC converter, a pulse generator board generating electrical wave form in triangular shape, a transformer transforming the wave form and connecting to the fencing base. The control box also includes a load resistance detector for determining the resistance of a grid formed by a set of fencing tracks of the fencing base. Depending on the detected resistance and the duration of the resistance, the control box operates in an active pulsation operation or a halted pulsation operation. 
     The fencing base includes two connection braces operatively coupled to two alternating subsets of fencing tracks respectively. The connection braces are electrically connected to the transformer. The connection can be split in parallel for the control box to control multiple fencing bases. The fencing base also includes a pad rail incorporating a set of grooves receiving the set of fencing tracks. The set of fencing tracks is firmly coupled to the set of grooves. 
     The fencing base includes multiple extension connectors for extend the base in length. The fencing base further includes an end cap set including an end cap base and an end cap attached to the end cap base. The end cap covers one end of the pad rail and the fencing tracks. The fencing base also includes a distributor cap connecting the conduit cable and covering the other end of the pad rail and the fencing tracks. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this disclosure will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and the manner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an active fencing system in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an extensible active fencing system in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an application of an active fencing system including more than one fencing base in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a conduit cable connecting a control box and a fencing base in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a conduit cable connecting a control box and a fencing base in accordance with this disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a fencing system in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an end cap and an end cap base in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  an exploded view of a fencing base in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a cut-away view of a fencing base in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a rail base of a fencing base in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view along with a side view of a fence track in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of a fence track in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an upper connection brace and a lower connection brace of a fencing base in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a cut-away view of a fencing base in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a simplified block diagram of a control box in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is an electrical wave form in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     A person of ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that elements of the figures above are illustrated for simplicity and clarity, and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The dimensions of some elements in the figures may have been exaggerated relative to other elements to help understanding of the present teachings. Furthermore, a particular order in which certain elements, parts, components, modules, steps, actions, events and/or processes are described or illustrated may not be actually required. A person of ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that, for the purpose of simplicity and clarity of illustration, some commonly known and well-understood elements that are useful and/or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment may not be depicted in order to provide a clear view of various embodiments in accordance with the present teachings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning to the Figures and to  FIG. 1  in particular, a fencing apparatus and system is shown and generally indicated at  100 . The illustrative fencing system  100  includes a base  102  placed on the ground in front of an entrance of a facility, a control box  104  and a conduit cable  106  operatively coupling the fencing base  102  to the control box  104 . In one implementation, the floor mat  102  is extensible as shown in  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , floor mat extensions  202  and  204  are installed to the two ends and form part of the fencing base  102 . The adjustable base  102  allows the fencing system  100  to be used with facilities having doors (or other types of openings, such as windows) of different dimensions. For example, with a length of twenty five feet, the adjustable base  102  can be applied to a wide warehouse door. 
     The fencing base  102  includes an electrically conductive metal grid at the top of its surface for creating an electrified boundary. The grid is powered and controlled by the control box  104  tethered to the base  102  via the connection  106 . The control box  104  keeps the grid electrically charged in alternating high and low sequenced electrical wave pulsation. In one implementation, the electrical pulses are no more than 12 milliamperes regardless of the load resistance the grid is subjected to, and in a triangular alternating waveform of ninety-two (92) Volts. The ninety-two Volts is a peak-to-peak measurement of the waveform with common ground being at center. The electrical pulses are transmitted through a trespassing animal&#39;s limbs as it touches two or more grid lines (also referred to herein as fence tracks). The electrical discharge is not lethal and does not hurt the health of animals and humans. 
     In one implementation, the control box  104  is configured to connect to one fencing base, such as the floor mat  102 . In a further implementation, the control box  104  is configured to connect to more than one fencing bases. An illustration of the latter implementation is shown by reference to  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of an application of the fencing system  100  is shown. The control box  104  is mounted to a wall of a facility having a door  304  and a window  306 . The fencing base  102  is positioned on the ground and extends along the entire width of the door  304 . A different fencing base  302  is placed on the window  306  and extends along the entire perimeter of the window  306 . The fencing base  302  is in an enclosed loop shape. Both the extension  102  and the extension  302  are connected to the same control box  104  using conduit cables, including the conduit cable  106 . 
     The conduit cable  106  is further illustrated by reference to  FIG. 4 , which shows the cable  106  without operatively coupled to the fencing base  102  or the control box  104 . In one implementation, the conduit cable  106  includes a flexible hose housing electrical cables linking the floor mat  102  to the control box  104 . 
     An exploded view of the fencing system  100  is shown in  FIG. 5 . Turning to  FIG. 5  now, the extension  102  includes an end cap assembly including an end cap  508  and an end cap base  510 . The end cap  508  is attached to the end cap base  510 . The end cap  508  is made of, for example, high strength and high impact resistance polymer. The end cap base  510  is made of, for example, high tensile strength aluminum or steel. The end cap  508  and the end cap base  510  are further illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     Turning back to  FIG. 5 , the fencing base  102  further includes a pad rail  502 , a rail base  504 , and a set (meaning one or more) of fence tracks  506 . Parts of the base  102  are operatively coupled together using a set of screws  522 . The fence tracks  506  are operatively coupled to the pad rail  502 , and are electrically conductive. They are made of materials of low resistance, such as metal, conductive tape, conductive rubber or plastic. The pad rail  502  is attached to the rail base  504  using, for example, screws  522 . In one implementation, the pad rail  502  is made of, for example, high strength and high impact resistance clear polymer to house electrode fence tracks  506 . The fence tracks  506  form an electrically conductive grid. An exploded view of the pad rail  502 , the rail base  504 , and the fence tracks  506  is further illustrated by reference to  FIG. 7 . The pad rail  502  incorporates a set of grooves for receiving the set of fence tracks  506 . The geometric shape of the grooves matches that of the fence tracks  506 . A cross-sectional view of the fence track  506  is shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The rail base  504  is further illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In one embodiment, the rail base  504  is made of mill finish high tensile strength aluminum or steel. 
     The end cap assembly and the fence tracks  506  are attached to the pad rail  502  using a set of extension connectors  512 . A cut-away view of attachment mechanism is further illustrated by reference to  FIG. 8 . A perspective view and a side view of the extension connector  512  are shown in  FIG. 10  respectively. The extension connectors  512  extend the fence track signals to additional tracks. In one embodiment, they are spring tempered and made of anti-corrosion nickel plated brass. 
     Turning back to  FIG. 5 , the fencing base  102  also includes a distributor cap  514  connecting to the conduit cable  106  and attached to the pad rail  502  via the extension connectors  512 . The distributor cap  514  is made of, for example, high strength and impact resistance polymer. The distributor cap  514  and the end cap  508  cover two respective ends of the rail base  504 , pad rail  502  and fence tracks  506 . 
     To distribute electricity, provided by the control box  104  via the conduit cable  106 , the fencing base  102  incorporates an upper connection brace and a lower connection brace that are indicated at  1202  and  1204  respectively in  FIG. 12 . The upper connection brace  1202  incorporates an electrical connector  1206  while the lower connection brace  1204  incorporates an electrical connector  1208 . The connectors  1206 - 1208  are connected to two power wires of the cable  106  to receive electrical power from the control box  104 . A cut-away view of the fencing base  102  showing the upper connection brace  1202  and the lower connection brace  1204  is illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , in one illustrative implementation, the fencing base  102  incorporates nine (9) fence tracks  506 . In such a case, the lower connection brace  1204  is coupled and connected to five (5) fence tracks. These five fence tracks are separated by the rest four (4) fence tracks that are coupled to and connected to the upper connection brace  1202 . In other words, if the fence tracks  506  are numbered in sequential orders between one and nine, the lower connection brace  1204  is connected to the odd numbered fence tracks  506  while the upper connection brace  1202  is connected to the even numbered fence tracks  506 . Alternatively, the lower connection brace  1204  is connected to the even numbered fence tracks  506  while the upper connection brace  1202  is connected to the odd numbered fence tracks  506 . As used herein, it is said that alternating fence tracks  506  are connected to the upper connection brace  1202  and the lower connection brace  1204  respectively; and the fence tracks  506  include two subsets of alternating fence tracks  506 . One subset (meaning one or more) of fence tracks  506  is connected to the lower connection brace  1204  and the other subset of fence tracks  506  is connected to the upper connection brace  1202 . In such a configuration, a circuit is completed when an animal is in contact with any two or more consecutive fence tracks  506 . 
     The control box  104  includes a housing, a set of panel controls exposed by the housing, and an electronic system disposed within the housing. The panel controls are used to operate the electronic system. In one implementation, the electronic system receives power from an external power source of 120 Volts or 220 Volts. Alternatively, the electronic system is powered by a battery. The control box  104  incorporates one or more output ports, each of which connects to an independent fencing base, such as the bases  102  and  302 . The control box  104  is further illustrated by reference to  FIG. 14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , a block diagram of the control box  104  is shown. The control box  104  includes a power supply component  1402 , a pulse generator board  1404 , a transformer  1406  and a load resistance detector circuit  1408 . In one implementation, the power supply component  1402  receives AC power from an external power source, and converts the AC power to DC power used to power the generator board  1404  and the transformer  1406 . The power supply  1402  provides a regulated 12 Volts DC power to the generator board  1404 . Alternatively, the power supply component  1402  is a DC circuit drawing power from a battery. 
     The generator board  1404  produces electrical wave form in triangular shape, as shown in  FIG. 15  and indicated at  1500 , to the transformer component  1406 . The transformer  1406  steps-up the wave form voltage of the wave form  1500  at ratio, such as, 1:26 and steps down the current draw at a corresponding ratio of 26:1. The transformer  1406  then outputs the signal through two wires connected to the connectors  1206  and  1208  respectively. The two wire output can be split in parallel configurations to support additional fencing bases. For example, the output wires are split in parallel to form two separate ports supporting the fencing base  102  and the fencing base  302  at the same time. 
     Turning to  FIG. 15 , when the electric wave form  1500  is being generated, the control box  104  is said to be in an active pulse operation. Otherwise, the control box  104  is said to be in a halted pulse operation. In other words, the control box  104  supports an active pulse operation and a halted pulse operation, which are also referred to herein as normal and abnormal states respectively. The control box  104  determines the pulse operation mode that it operates in by reading the resistance of the grid&#39;s closed circuit when an animal or human touches two or more consecutive fence tracks  506 . Table 1 below summarizes one illustrative implementation of the present teachings: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Operation 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Mode 
                 Load resistance 
                 Duration 
                 Pulse Operation 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Normal 
                 &gt;9000 Ohm 
                 any 
                 Active 
               
               
                   
                 Abnormal 
                 &lt;9000 Ohm 
                 &gt;20 seconds 
                 Halted 
               
               
                   
                 Normal 
                 &lt;9000 Ohm 
                 &lt;20 seconds 
                 Active 
               
               
                   
                 Normal 
                  &lt;50 Ohm 
                  &lt;3 seconds 
                 Active 
               
               
                   
                 Abnormal 
                  &lt;50 Ohm 
                  &gt;3 seconds 
                 Halted 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The load resistance detector  1408  detects the resistance load of the above mentioned closed circuit. When the resistance load is less than fifty (50) Ohm and this resistance load lasts more than three (3) seconds, the control box  104  operates in the halted mode, in which the wave form  1500  is not generated. This condition indicates that the base  102  is in contact with an object other than the intended target species, such as a rodent. When the resistance load on the grid is less than fifty (50) Ohm and this resistance load lasts less than three (3) seconds, the control box  104  operates in the active mode, in which the wave form  1500  is generated. When the resistance load on the grid is less than nine thousand (9000) Ohm, but more than fifty Ohm, and this resistance load lasts more than twenty (20) seconds, the control box  104  operates in the halted mode. In such a case, the base  102  is likely in a malfunction state, such as submerging in water. 
     When the resistance load on the grid is less than nine thousand (9000) Ohm, but more than fifty Ohm, and this resistance load lasts less than twenty (20) seconds, the control box  104  operates in the active mode. When the resistance load on the grid is more than nine thousand (9000) Ohm, the control box  104  operates in the active mode. As used herein, the three seconds mark is also referred as a first time duration threshold; the twenty seconds mark is referred to as a second time duration threshold; the 50 Ohm is referred to as a first resistance threshold; and the 9000 Ohm is referred to as a second resistance threshold. 
     Obviously, many additional modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than is specifically described above. For example, the first time duration threshold, the second time duration threshold, the first resistance threshold and the second resistance threshold can take different values, such as 4, 25, 60 and 9500 respectively, for optimization and customization. 
     The foregoing description of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. The description was selected to best explain the principles of the present teachings and practical application of these principles to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It should be recognized that the words “a” or “an” are intended to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural elements shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     It is intended that the scope of the disclosure not be limited by the specification, but be defined by the claims set forth below. In addition, although narrow claims may be presented below, it should be recognized that the scope of this invention is much broader than presented by the claim(s). It is intended that broader claims will be submitted in one or more applications that claim the benefit of priority from this application. Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings disclose additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claim or claims below, the additional inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.