Fences – Electric
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-07-24
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Fences
Electric
C052S101000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264173
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
i. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric fence for animals and the method of using the same. The conventional electric fence known in the art employs one or more strands of conductive wire strung between insulating supports. One of the inherent problems with the conventional electric fence is that an animal may become tangled in the wire, injure itself and damage the electric fence. A second problem with the prior art is that the supports of a conventional fence must extend from the ground to the height at which the highest wire runs. Often these supports are bulky and somewhat unsightly. This arrangement is undesirable in a context where aesthetics are important such as an exhibit at a zoo.
ii. Description of Related Art
Guthrie U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,641 discloses an electrostatic animal barrier for electrical equipment in which a plurality of radially extending spokes extend outwardly from the perimeter of electrical bushings or other electrical equipment. Current flow within the bushing creates an electrostatic charge on the spokes sufficient to discourage an animal from attempting to climb around the barrier.
Standing U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,485 discloses wheel-like electric fence standards where an electrified fence wire passes through an insulated hub member from which radiates a number of legs to form a wheel-like configuration. A contactor within the hub automatically connects and disconnects the legs from the fence wire to prevent the legs in contact with the ground from short-circuiting the fence.
Mueller U.S. Pat. No. 2,885,610 discloses a battery powered animal shocking device. The exterior of the device consists of a conductive housing and conductive feelers. Inside the device a circuit consisting of a battery, switch and induction coil electrify the housing and feelers when the device is bumped by an animal.
Durkee U.S. Pat. No. 2,794,485 discloses an electrified drive-through gate for confining livestock. The gate is displaced from its closed position, it activates a vibrating switch that successively opens and closes a circuit which energizes the gate.
Tallman U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,037 discloses a resiliently mounted bar type gate. The gate consists of an electrified aluminum spanning element connected to a gate post by a spring.
Meyer Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,683 discloses an electrified gate. The gate consists of an inexpensive metallic rod in combination with a plurality of longitudinally spaced depending conducting elements.
None of the foregoing prior art have suggested a fence consisting of a plurality of flexible conductive members projecting radially from a support with means for connecting the flexible conductive members to a source of electricity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention reduces the chances of an animal becoming tangled in the fencing, injuring itself and damaging the fence by providing an apparatus with multiple flexible conductive members arranged in an array emanating out from a support which is adapted to be secured to the ground. The members are connected to a conventional power source of the type used in the art to provide a charge to an electric fence.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the support is a hollow post, preferably a PVC pipe having one end secured to the ground and the other end capped with a PVC cap. One end of each conductive member is secured to a ground bar which is bolted to the cap. The conductive members project radially in a generally upward and outward array from the ground bar. By arranging the members in such an array, the array defines a relatively large area through which an animal is deterred from passing. Of course, in some situations it may be desirable for some of the members to project horizontally or downwardly from a support.
Generally, the array will be substantially planar, however, there may be some circumstances where the members will be positioned to define any of a variety of different three dimensional shapes. This may be accomplished by bending the members themselves, varying the angle at which the members are bent relative to the ground bar, rotating a bent member with respect to the ground bar, or any combination of the aforementioned.
In the preferred embodiment, a pair of wires are connected to the ground bar and pass from the ground bar down through a pair of holes in the top of the support to connect with additional wires adapted to be connected to a source of electricity and possibly additional supports. The wires that pass through the top of the support prevent the ground bar and member array from pivoting relative to the support. Such pivoting may be caused by, among other things, animals pushing against the members or the wind exerting force on the members.
To form an elongated barrier, a plurality of the supports and member arrays may be placed and positioned such that at least one of the free ends of the members secured to one support is in close proximity to at least one of the free ends of the members secured to an adjacent support. By positioning the support and members in this manner, the space between the tips of at least some of the members attached to adjacent supports is too small for an animal to pass through without touching one or more members.
The barrier created by such an arrangement need not be straight but may be any shape so long as the tips of the members from adjacent supports are positioned as described. In this manner, the invention may be used to form a barrier around vegetation that is susceptible to damage from animals. The invention may also be used for enclosing animals in a particular area by simply arranging the support and member arrays around the entire perimeter of the area. Obviously, the invention may be combined with any number of other natural or manmade barriers such as walls, cliffs or conventional fences to either contain animals within a specified area or exclude animals from a specified area.
The present invention may also provide a barrier across a relatively small space such as a relatively small opening or passageway or to protect a plant located in a corner of an enclosure. This is accomplished by placing one support and member array such that the distance between at least some of the members' free ends and the sides of the opening, passageway, enclosure or other existing barrier is too small to allow an animal to pass by the support and member array without the animal touching one or more of the members.
When an animal touches one or more of the members it completes a circuit between the charged members and the ground. The present invention has flexible conductive members which do not physically connect one support to another. Thus, the animal may actually pass through the fence without injuring itself or damaging the fence if the animal is in a highly agitated or panicked state. If the animal is not in such a state, the animal will be deterred from passing through the fence by the electric shock it receives when it comes in contact with the members. This feature of the invention reduces the likelihood of injury to the animal and damage to the fence installation when compared with a conventional fence.
This feature has also been found to be particularly useful when fencing animals with horns or antlers, such as reindeer or antelope. Frequently, such horned or antlered animals walk with their heads down and their horns or antlers projecting out in front of the animal. It is not uncommon for such animals to entangle their horns or antlers in conventional electric fences. This may cause the animal to panic, injure itself and damage the fence. If the present invention is used instead of a conventional electric fence, the animal is much less likely to become entangled in the fence because the flexible conductive members simply give way as the animal jerks its horns or antlers.
The p
Badger Robyn
Stoudek Frank
Tilton Spencer
Bivens D. Whitlow
Browne Lynne H.
Cottingham John R.
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