IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FENCES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, BENJAMIN SCARLES, of Clinton,, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO FENCES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to that class of fences which are composed of horizontally
arranged wires carrying a series of vertically arranged pickets and supported at
intervals by posts; and comprises the novel construction and arrangement of the
parts as hereinafter set forth whereby a more effective device of this character is
produced than is now in ordinary use.
In fences of this description as ordinarily constructed, it is very difficult to keep
the pickets in proper position, or to prevent them from slipping down through the
wires on to the ground, the pickets consisting usually of plain straight strips of
metal which are inserted between the strands of the wires.
My improvements are designed to obviate this objection, and to that end I make
use of means which will be readily understood by all conversant with such
matters from the following explanation, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the top portion of one of the pickets with a
cap attached, and a wire composed of four strands having a single-hitch taken
around the said picket.
Figure 2 a transverse section on the dotted line, x, x, Figure 7.
Figure 3 a transverse section showing a modification of the picket.
Figure 4a front elevation of a portion of a picket and a wire composed of two
strands having a double hitch taken around the said picket.
Figure 5 a rear elevation of the parts shown in Figure 4.
Figure 6 a perspective view of the top portion of a picket, showing the flange
for attaching the cap.
Figure 7 a front elevation of a portion of a picket and a wire composed of two
strands baving a single hitch taken around the said picket.
Figure 8 a front elevation of a portion of a picket and a wire composed of two
strands having a single hitch taken around the said picket but with the strands
crossed; and
Figure 9 a view representing the ordinary manner of securing the picket.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different Figures of
the Drawing.
A represents the picket, B the cap, and C the wire.
The picket is preferably composed of a
longitudinally as shown in Figures. 2 and 6.
thin strip of sheet metal, corrugated
It may if desired be corrugated as in,

page_text: the modification shewn in Figure 3 or in any other suitable form, and may be
made of cast instead of sheet metal if preferred.
The wires are preferably composed of two strands as shown in Figures 2, 4, 5, 7
and 8, but may be composed of four strands, as shown in Figure 1, or more if
necessary.
One of the most essential features of my Invention consists in taking a "hitch,"
either single or double, around the picket with one or more of the strands of which
the wire is composed, thereby securely binding the picket into the fence and
preventing it from becoining loose or getting out of position.
In Figure 7 the strand, d, is represented as carried directly across the face of the
picket as seen at t, but the strand, m, is carried under the strand, d, as seen at f
thence across the back of the picket, thence to the front over the strand, d, as seen
at 1, thence across the face of the picket as seen at r, thence across the back of the
picket again, thence over the strand, d, as seen at i, after which it is twisted with.
the strand, d, to form the wire, C..
In Figure 8 the wire, m, is represented as carried across the wire, d, in taking
the hitch, as shown at v, and in Figures 4 and 5 double hitches of one of the wires
are represented.
When four wires are used, the hitch may be made with two of them as shown
in Figure 1, or with one, two, or three as may be preferred.
To make the wires hug the picket-with greater tenacity, or to produce additional-
friction between the parts, the wires may be bent into the corrugations as shown
at z, in Figure 2, by means of any tool suitable for that purpose, although I deem
this unnecessary when a proper hitch is taken with one or more of the strands
around the body of the picket.
A-flange-or-projection, w, may be formed on the top of the picket, A, for securing
the cap, B, the flange being bent outwardly through a side opening, h, in the cap
and turned down. This flange may be formed integrally with the body of the
picket, or it may consist of a separate piece rivetted thereto_as_shown in Figure 1;
or any other suitable means of securing the cap to the picket may be employed if
desired.
It will be understood that as many wires are to be employed as may be required
to make the fence of proper height and strength; also that as many pickets may
be used as necessary.
I do not confine myself to corrugating the pickets, as plain ones may be
employed to good advantage, although I deem the corrugated ones preferable as
they are lighter, much stronger, and give the fence a more finished appearance.
Neither do I confine myself to taking a bitch with each of the wires when
several are used, as one bitch to each picket is sometimes quite sufficient.
In constructing my improved fence any suitable means may be employed for
twisting the wires between the pickets, and also for inserting the pickets at regular
intervals as well as for taking the hitches around the pickets.
A hitch may also be taken around the picket by each of the strands of which
the wire is composed, if desired, although I deem it preferable to make the hitch
with a single strand either plain or crossed, as shown respectively in Figures 7
and 8.
The posts of the fence are not shown, these not being considered essential in
exemplifying my Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
:
First. In a fence, a horizontally arranged wire consisting of two or more strands,
and a vertically arranged picket, one or more strands of the wire being carried
around the picket to form a bitch, and then twisted or incorporated into the body
of the wire, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. As an improved article of manufacture a fence picket composed of
corrugated sheet metal substantially as described.

page_text: Third. In a fence, the corrugated metal picket, A, provided with the cap, B,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. In a fence, the combination of the pickets, A, and wires, C, substantially
as described.
Fifth. In a fence, a series of horizontally arranged wires each composed of two
or more strands, and a series of vertically arranged pickets supported thereby,
one or more of the wires having one or more of its strands passed around the
pickets to form hitches and thereby keep the pickets in position, substantially as
set forth.