Improvements in Wire Fencing, especially adapted for Confining Ground Game in Preserves.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Fencing, especially adapted for Confining
Ground Game in Preserves.
We, HARRY ARTHUR DENMAN and JOHN HUGGETT DENMAN both of
WILLIAM
Polhampton Lodge, Overton, Hants, Gamekeepers and EDWIN
DENMAN of 29 Putney Bridge Road, Wandsworth in the County of Surrey,
Coachman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
Our invention relates to that class of wire fencing employed around the borders.
of woodland or rabbit warrens for confining rabbits and ground game generally in
preserves. Our improved fencing is so constructed that when desired it may be
lowered from a distance by means hereunder described after the return of the
ground game, which may have been permitted to pass thereunder when going out
to feed. Our improved fencing possesses the additional advantage that when
lowered it accommodates itself to the inequalities of the earth's surface aud so
effectually fences in the ground game.
Our invention may be divided under three heads. First the special standards
which we employ, upon which the netting is capable of free vertical movement.
Second the special means for actuating the same and third the employment in
ring
conjunction with our improved fencing for ground game of what we term
netting" for the purposes hereinafter specified.
In carrying out our invention we construct the upper part of the fencing of
ordinary open mesh netting stretched upon vertical and horizontal cross pieces and
resulting in a rigid framework which is capable of vertical movement on specially
constructed standards, the wire framework being preferably attached to or mounted
on a tube or carrier which encircles the standard and on which it is free to slide up
The lower portion of the
and down and carry the wire fence framework with it.
In this instance the netting
fencing consists of what we term "ring netting."
consists of a series of rings threaded loosely together and suspended from the lower
edge of the upper portion of the fencing so that when the framework is lowered
the ring wire netting will accommodate itself to the inequalities of the ground
surface and thus occupy the indentations (which otherwise would be open) thereby
effectually preventing any ground game escaping underneath.
Normally the fencing is suspended by a hook from a pivoted catch near the top
of the standard held in place by a pivoted lever so that the lower edge of the ring
netting is raised about a foot from the ground and permits of the ground gaine
passing thereunder when going out to feed.
In order to accomplish the lowering of the fencing even from a considerable,
distance we make use of a single strand of wire extending along and kept in place.
at the tops of the standards and provided at intervals with ordinary steel springs.
This operating wire which is stretched as far as the springs admit and fastened at
each end of the fencing is connected with each of the pivoted levers just referred
to by a ring or equivalent, so that when the wire is cut at one end or otherwise
released the tension will cause it to fly back and in so doing operate the pivoted
levers which in turn will release the catches from which the fencing is suspended

page_text: and cause the latter to instantly slide down the standard and effectually complete
the fencing in of the enclosure.
Dated this 18th day of September 1895.
Improvements in Wire Fencing, especially adapted for Confining
Ground Game in Preserves.
We, HARRY ARTHUR DENMAN and JOHN HUGGETT DENMAN both of
Polhampton Lodge, Overton, Hants, Gamekeepers, and EDWIN WILLIAM
DENMAN of 29 Putney Bridge Road, Wandsworth, Surrey, Coachman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our invention relates to that class of wire fencing employed around woodlands
or rabbit warrens for confining rabbits, and ground game generally, in preserves.
Our improved fencing is so constructed that when desired it can be instan-
taneously lowered from a considerable distance in extensive lengths so as to cut off
the return to their burrows or retreats of rabbits or other ground game which may
have been enticed therefrom by food or otherwise for the purpose of facilitating
their capture or destruction. Our improved fencing possesses the additional
advantage that when lowered it accommodates itself to the inequalities of the
earth's surface and so effectually fences in the ground game.
Briefly, our invention may be divided under three heads. First, the special
construction of standards or supports which we employ upon which the netting
is capable of free movement in a vertical direction. Second, the special means for
lowering such netting and third, the employment, in conjunction with our improved
fencing, of what we term "ring netting" for the purposes hereinafter specified.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 in elevation illustrates generally our improved fencing, one portion
being shown in the open, the other in the closed position.
Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views on a larger scale of the top of the special
standard we employ, showing the holding and releasing mechanism.
Figure 4 shows a portion of our specially constructed "ring netting."
In carrying out our invention we prefer to construct the upper portion of the
fencing of ordinary open mesh netting and the lower part of "ring netting" as
seen in Figure 1 but the ring netting might if desired be used exclusively. We
support the fencing at intervals by standards or posts a consisting essentially of
ordinary iron rods pointed at the lower end and formed at their upper end with an
opening or slot g to accommodate a pivoted catch or button preferably semi-
circular or thereabouts in shape, Figures 2 and 3. A tube or carrier b encircles
the rod for about half its length and is capable of sliding loosely thereon; and to
it is fixed a thin rode which is bent over at the top and bottom, thus forming a
kind of long link which embraces the netting between itself and the tube b and
serves as a holder for raising the fencing; or, the latter may be attached direct to
the tube or carrier 6 and the rod e dispensed with.
The lower portion of the fencing, which we term "ring netting," is of special
construction, being composed of a series of rings c, shown more particularly at

page_text: Figure 4, linked loosely together and suspended from the lower edge or servage
he ordinary network which forms the main portion of the fence Figure 1; so that
when the latter is lowered, the ring netting being very yielding will accommodate
tself to any inequalities of the ground surface and thus occupy the indentations,
cavities or openings which would otherwise occur, thereby effectually preventing
any ground game passing beneath.
Normally, the fencing is suspended by a hook or links d or equivalent from the
pivoted catch f aforesaid near the top of the standard a and is held in place by the
pivoted lever so that the lower edge of the ring netting is raised a sufficient
height from the ground to permit of the ground game passing thereunder when
going out to feed.
To accomplish the operation of lowering the fencing, even from a considerable
distance, we make use of a single strand of wire which extends above the fencing
for the whole of its length and is kept in position at the tops of the standards by
hooks, pulleys or equivalents, and provided at intervals with ordinary steel
springs i. This operating wire, which is stretched as far as the springs admit
and fastened at each end of the fencing to terminal posts, is connected with each
of the pivoted levers f', just referred to, by a ring or equivalent, so that when the
wire his released at one end or cut, as at x-x Figure 1, the tension will cause it
to fly back, and, in so doing, by means of suitable connections such as k, operate
the pivoted levers f¹, Figures 2 and 3, which in turn will release the
catches from which the fencing is suspended and cause the latter to instantly
slide down the standards a and effectually complete the fencing in of the
enclosure.
In order to prepare the fence ready for use, it is first raised at each of the
standards a by lifting the tube b until the bottom ring netting c clears the ground
to a sufficient extent; the links d or equivalents secured to the stout wire carrier e
or to the tube b or fencing itself, as the case may be, are then hung over one end
of the catch-button f, Figure 2, loosely pivoted in the slot or opening g of the rod
or standard a, and simultaneously the lever or catch fis placed over the other
end of the said catch-button f; thus, the carrier together with the tube and netting
are sustained suspended entirely by the catches f. When it is desired to lower the
fence to prevent the return of the ground game, the top or operating wire h, which
is connected by a ring and wire or string k or equivalent to each of the pivoted
catches, is released, so that the tension springs i, in contracting to their normal
state, cause the said wire h to fly back, and, in so doing, by means of the cou-
nections and stops h' on the wire h, operate the catches f1, the latter in turn
releasing the catch-buttons f, from which the fencing is suspended as aforesaid,
causing it to instantly slide down the standards and effectually complete the
fencing in of the enclosure throughout its entire length.
The fencing may extend in one continuous stretch of two thousand yards or even
principle or
more and its construction may be entirely on the "drop down
alternated by lengths or sections of fixed fence work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
5 tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A fence for confining ground game in preserves constructed operated and
working substantially as herein set forth and shewn.
2. The manufacture and use of a sliding "drop down" fence or network arranged
as described in combination with an operating wire such as h all as and for the
purposes specified.
3. In a sliding "drop down" fence the combination with standards a of releasing
mechanism such as that shown in Figures 2 and 3 comprising a catch flinks d and
lever f¹ or their mechanical equivalents operated by a wire h all as and for the
5.5 purposes specified.

page_text: 4. In a fence of the type referred to the employment in combination therewith
of netting composed wholly or partly of rings linked loosely together substantially
as and for the purpose herein before more particularly set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1896
T. B. BROWNE, LIMITED,
Agents.
By Benj. T. King,
Registered Patent Agent.