Sectional Support Fence

This invention pertains to sectional fence members and more particularly to a fence preferably made of a plastic material and having bars connectible end to end such that the fence may be built up of sections.

Some plants such as peonies, tomatoes and the like often need support to prevent their branches from hanging down onto the ground. Other plants, when small may need protection from dogs, cats or similar animals. Such support or protection can well be supplied by a fence of some sort bent to a substantially cylindrical shape and disposed around the base of the plant.

Wire fence may be used, but it is often clumsy to handle because the wire takes a permanent set when it is bent and then must be re-bent to another shape when a different diameter of cylinder is needed. Further, the ends of the fence must also be fastened together; usually by bending a wire and fastening it to both ends of the piece of fence or by some other semi-permanent means. A further disadvantage of the wire fence is that its height is relatively fixed and can be varied only by using a different piece having a different dimension.

By my invention I provide a sectional fence having a series of pieces which may be fastened together both vertically and horizontally to provide for a variety of sizes. The pieces are formed with horizontal and vertical bars, at least some of which have connectors formed at each end. These connectors can be fastened either to their counterpart on the opposite end of the same bar to provide a cylindrical formation, or to a counterpart fastener on an end of a similar bar on another section to provide an extended fence. Since the connectors are on both the horizontal and vertical bars, I can build my fence either horizontally or vertically or both directions.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a single section of my fence, laid out flat,

FIG. 2 is a view from line 2--2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a partial view showing the connectors at opposite ends of the bar in engagement,

FIG. 4 is a partial view of one section of fence drawn up into cylindrical form and connected, and

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the elements of the connectors in a disengaged position.

Briefly my invention comprises a sectional fence adapted to be built up in sections and the particular connections used to hold the sections together.

More particularly, and referring to the drawings, my fence is built up of sections, each section having at its vertical edges a series of horizontal bars 10 and along the horizontal top and bottom edges a series of vertical bars 11. Although I illustrate these bars 10 and 11 as running completely across the section, it will be obvious that any sort of design other than the illustrated rectangular lattice could be used to constitute the fence section. The entire section is preferably formed of a molded plastic material which may be readily flexed as shown in FIG. 4.

In order to attach the sections together, I provide a series of connectors at the opposite ends of several of the bars 10 and 11. I illustrate a connector on each bar, but again it will be obvious that if the bars were closely spaced, connectors could be provided on the ends of every alternate bar without going beyond the invention.

The connectors are formed of a male end 12 and a female end 13 as best shown in FIG. 5. The male end is simply an extension of the bar 10 or 11 having the tip 14 offset from the principal bar by about the thickness of the bar and connected to the bar 10 by a web 15.

The female end 13 is an enlarged pad 16 formed on the end of the bar 10 opposite the male end 12. The pad 16 is shaped to provide a rectangular opening 17 adapted to receive the male end 12. The outer wall of the opening is a cross piece 18 again offset from the level of the pad 16 by about the thickness of the material in the bar 10 and the pad 16.

Thus, when the connector is engaged, the tip 14 is inserted into the opening 17. The tip is longer than the opening, so that the end will engage the rear surface of the pad 16 when the web 15 abuts the edge of the cross piece 18. In that engaged position, the abutment of the web 15 against the cross piece 18 prevents longitudinal disengagement. Further, the side walls of the opening 17 will engage at least a short length of the edges of the bar 10 adjacent the web 15 so that the bars are held in alignment. Also, by careful proportioning, the fit of those edges between the side walls can be made close enough so that they are frictionally engaged and thus are held in place by that kind of frictional engagement.

It is not necessary to connect the opposite ends of a single section together. It will be apparent that a male end 12 on one section can be connected to a female end 13 on another section, and that larger pieces of fence may be built up in this way. Thus, if a low ring of fairly large diameter is desired, a plurality of sections may be built up horizontally and then curved into a cylinder and fastened in that position. Or if it is desired to support, or to protect the trunk of a small tree, it is possible to build vertically and then curve the sections into a relatively long vertical tube. Or the fence could also be used in straight sections. Whichever way the fence is used, I prefer to form the tip 14 of the male end 12 with a pointed or rounded end which can be more readily pressed into the ground on which the fence is to stand, thus providing some added stability for the fence.