Fences – Wire – All wire
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-10
2002-05-14
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Fences
Wire
All wire
C256S065080, C256S032000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06386517
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of landscape architecture, and pertains more particularly to garden border fencing systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The art of landscape architecture, the development and decorative planting of gardens, yards, grounds, and other planned outdoor spaces, is used to enhance a natural outdoor setting and to create or enhance a natural setting for buildings, recreational parks, and areas of towns and cities where a more natural or more pleasing appearance is desired. The re-creation, enhancement or alteration of existing landforms covering a large area such as a park or urban area is often the purpose of such landscape design, but is also very often applied to a smaller, more intensively cultivated area or garden, frequently created around or near a domestic building such as a home, or some other smaller structure.
Historically, such smaller gardens have been designed more for private then for public pleasure, and such landscape gardening, having its beginnings with ancient civilizations each developing their own characteristic garden designs, has evolved and diversified over the centuries to provide enhanced settings for many different cultures and traditions. Very often the aesthetic aspects of a garden or landscape include living shrubs, trees, bushes and the like, and can also include water such as lakes, streams or ponds. Flowers or other plants are also widely used for their pleasing colors or scents, and a large variety of artificial devices such as decks, pavement, terraces and so on are also commonly used. The importance of man-made components relative to natural components varies according to the designer, the purpose of particular site, and the prevailing culture and fashion.
In many applications of domestic landscape gardening, particularly those designed around or near a home, for example, there is a need for providing protection, such as from trampling or other damage, to many of the various plants, shrubs, or flowers that may be used. This is especially true when foot traffic or pets are often prevalent in the immediate area. Additionally, the landscape designer, for safety reasons, may wish to define a border providing separation between areas of the landscape garden, for example a small pond or flower bed, and an area such as a back lawn in which small children or pets may be present. In this case border fencing is often used to provide such separation between the landscaped area and public area, thereby reducing the possibility of accidents.
Such modern fencing as described just above largely consists of mass-produced, and often poorly constructed, stretches of metal, lumber, or wire, bearing little or no direct relationship to either the garden or architecture whose boundaries they are intended to define. One such example of a type most commonly used in gardens is an array of pickets, often having shaped tops, attached vertically to upper and lower horizontal beams which are subsequently attached to supporting posts permanently inserted into the ground. Such picket fencing exists in many different variations, and is often manufactured of wood but can also be of such materials as plastics, aluminum or a wide variety of other common materials.
One reason for the popularity of picket fencing is that because the spacing between pickets permits a flow of sunlight making it is possible to grow plants or flowers, for example, on either side of the fence. A major drawback with this type of fencing, however, is that regular upkeep such as periodic repair or painting is often required, particularly for poorly constructed mass produced wooden picket fences common in today's marketplace. Another common problem in using such a picket fence is that it in order to follow sharp angles or curves as defined by the proposed borderline, many smaller sections of picket fencing as well as posts are required, adding to the overall cost of installation and maintenance.
Other types of smaller and less expensive fence designs also exist, consisting of prefabricated lightweight sections, typically made of wood or plastic, each having elongated end posts enabling the section to be inserted into the ground. The finished fence is achieved by inserting subsequent sections into the ground, end-to-end along the defined border line, until the end point is reached. Such fencing is often used in temporary applications because of the ability to easily change the border definition by simply lifting fencing sections out of the ground and reinserting them in a different location. Also, such fencing is often the used more for its decorative rather than functional qualities, due to the often flimsy construction techniques and materials used in its manufacture, rendering it susceptible to jarring, displacement and deterioration. Such lightweight fencing therefore typically does not provide an adequate barrier when protection to landscape components or persons or animals is desired.
Ornamental fencing, also commonly used in many landscape designs such as described above, is commonly manufactured of metal such as iron or steel, and is widely popular for its decorative qualities as well as strength and durability. A typical ornamental fence consists of an array of bars, which can be round, square, flat or of many other shapes, and are usually interwoven or arranged in a pattern, and sometimes fastened to each other at meeting points within the design, typically using a variety of methods such as spot welding or riveting, for example.
In many designs of ornamental fencing the bars within the fence are arranged similarly to a picket fence as previously described, and supported by horizontal members which are attached to posts which may be inserted into the ground or otherwise attached to another supporting ground-level surface. Many other materials and methods are used in the manufacture of such ornamental fencing, including forged or cast steel or iron, aluminum and sometimes wood or plastics and so forth. A decorative coating, often applied using a powder-coating process known in the art, is commonly used to provide the ornamental fencing with color and a level of protection from the elements. Although the style of fencing described does often provide certain aesthetically pleasing qualities in many landscape garden designs, and usually allows for adequate sun filtration, it is often manufactured in prefabricated sections, heavy and cumbersome to handle and transport, and often requiring more elaborate processes, such as welding for example, during installation ,and is typically more expensive when compared to many other types of fencing appropriate for such a garden setting.
Stone, concrete or masonry are also materials commonly used to define a border in a landscape garden, and this kind of border is popular for its durability and low maintenance requirements, as well as the often-natural appearance of the materials used. However, unlike most picket or ornamental fencing, stone or masonry fencing usually does not allow sunlight to filter through, thereby possibly limiting the placement of plants or flowers to one side of the fence or the other. Additionally, the color choices available to the user is more limited without additional painting or staining. Another problem inherent to fences such as stone or ornamental wrought iron types as described is because of the permanency of the installed fence in many applications, any changes to the landscape or garden area, necessitating a redefinition of the border created by the fence, cannot be accomplished without a significant amount of rework involving considerable labor and time.
It is generally viewed in the art that one of the main purposes of any fencing should be not only for providing protection to landscape components and to persons or animals from potential hazards, but also to visually define the borders or limits of a particular area in a landscape while remaining an integral part of it. In order for a landscape or garden designer to accomplish this objective, the fence borderline
Browne Lynne H.
Collins Giova
LandOfFree
Garden border fencing system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Garden border fencing system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Garden border fencing system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2846455