Portable collapsible corral fence

Abstract

A portable and collapsible fence that can be conveniently stored and transported in a lightweight carrying case. The fence includes panels having telescopic rail sections and telescopic posts. The middle section of each fence panel includes a series of one-piece double tubes. The use of the double tubes adds structural stability to the fence panels and allows the fence panels to utilize many identical parts, such that the panels can be manufactured efficiently and economically. The fence is also preferably formed of lightweight polymer so that it is resilient and easily transported by hand in a relatively small carrying case provided therefor.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A portable and collapsible fence panel, comprising: 
 (a) a first rail section having at least one unitary double tube, said double tube comprising a first tube and a second tube, each having a hollow interior extending through said first and said second tubes;    (b) a second rail section having at least one first moveable rail positioned within the hollow interior of said double tube, so that the at least one first rail can slide into and out of the first tube;    (c) at least one end post; and    (d) at least one connector having an insert located inside a hollow end of the at least one first rail and a post receptacle positioned around the at least one end post so that the connector joins the end post to the first rail.    
     
     
         2 . The fence panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a third rail section located opposite the second rail section, the third rail section having at least one second moveable rail positioned within the hollow interior of the second tube, so that the at least one second moveable rail can slide into and out of the second tube.  
     
     
         3 . The fence panel of  claim 2 , wherein said first rail section comprises three double tubes.  
     
     
         4 . The fence panel of  claim 3 , wherein said second rail section comprises three first moveable rails.  
     
     
         5 . The fence panel of  claim 4 , wherein said third rail section comprises at least three second moveable rails.  
     
     
         6 . The fence panel of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one end post comprises a first end post and a second end post.  
     
     
         7 . The fence panel of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one connector-comprises six connectors with three connectors joining the first end posts to the three first moveable rails and with three connectors joining the second end posts to the three second moveable rails, respectively.  
     
     
         8 . The fence panel of  claim 7 , wherein each of the three first moveable rails and each of the three second moveable rails have at least one locking tab receiving hole formed therethrough to a hollow interior thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The fence panel of  claim 8 , wherein each of the inserts of the six connectors has at least one locking tab extending therefrom that interacts with the at least one locking tab receiving hole, to lock each of the connectors in place in the first and second moveable rails, respectively, when said insert is inserted into said hollow interior of the first and second moveable rails.  
     
     
         10 . The fence panel of  claim 9 , further comprising a first extension and a second extension, wherein the first extension is arranged and disposed so that it can slide into and out of a hollow interior of said first end post and wherein the second extension is arranged and disposed so that it can slide into and out of a hollow interior of said second end post.  
     
     
         11 . The fence panel of  claim 10 , wherein each of said first end post, said second post, said first extension and said second extension have at least one button receiving hole formed therethrough to the hollow interior thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The fence panel of  claim 11 , wherein each first and second extensions have a hollow interior and a spring retention device with at least one protrusion arranged and disposed within the hollow interior of said first and second extensions, so that the at least one protrusion extends through each of the first and second extensions' at least one button receiving hole and interacts with the first and second end posts' at least one button receiving hole, respectively, to lock said first and second extensions to said first and second end posts in a fully extended position.  
     
     
         13 . The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector is at least one christmas tree connector  
     
     
         14 . The fence panel of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one christmas tree connector is spot welded to the at least one end post.  
     
     
         15 . The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tube of the at least one double tube and the at least one first moveable rail each have at least one button receiving hole.  
     
     
         16 . The fence panel of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first moveable rail has a hollow interior and a spring retention device, with at least one protrusion, arranged and disposed in the hollow interior of the at least one first moveable rail, so that the at least one protrusion extends through the at least one first moveable rail's one button receiving hole and interacts with the first tube's at least one button receiving hole to lock the at least one first moveable rail in place in its fully extended position.  
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a fence from collapsible panels, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing at least two expandable and collapsible fence panels each having at least one end post and a plurality of connectors positioned on the at least one end post, each of the plurality of connectors having a pin receptacle with a plurality of grooves;    (b) providing at least one pin having a shaft with a plurality of ribs and a pin head;    (c) expanding horizontally and vertically each of the at least two panels; and    (d) connecting the at least two fence panels together by inserting the at least one pin into one of the pin receptacles of one of the plurality of connectors on each of the end posts, so that the ribs of the pin interact with the grooves of the pin receptacle to prevent the at least two panels from freely pivoting about the at least one pin.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of disassembling the at least two fence panels by removing the pin.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing the panels from a carrying bag prior to step (c).  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising placing the assembled fence against a trailer, whereby the trailer forms a side of the fence.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising connecting one of the panels to a pin receptacle mounted on the trailer.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each fence panel comprises: 
 (a) a first rail section with at least one unitary double rail, said double rail comprising a first tube and a second tube, each having a hollow interior extending through the first and second tube;    (b) a second rail section having at least one first moveable rail positioned within the hollow interior of the first tube of said double tube, so that the at least one first rail can slide into and out of the first tube;    (c) at least one end post; and    (d) at least one connector having an insert located inside a hollow end of the at least one first rail and a post receptacle positioned around the at least one end post, so that the connector joins the end post to the first rail.