Fabric Fence System

Abstract

A fabric fence system and method of manufacturing the fabric fence system is disclosed. The fence system has posts that are laterally spaced from one another with a fence fabric positioned between the posts. The fence fabric has end protrusions that are inserted into the sides of the fence posts and held in place by an offset retainer rod inserted into the hollow inner portion of the post such that the offset retainer rod engages the protrusions of the fence fabric. The fence system also includes top and bottom cross members into which the top and bottom portion of the fence fabric are inserted and attached to provide a panelized fence system.

1 . A fence system comprising: 
 a first post and a second post laterally spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, each post having 
 a hollow portion along a length of the post,  
 a first lower slot and a first upper slot in a first side portion of the post, the first lower slot and the first upper slot substantially parallel to the length of the post, and  
 a plurality of third slots disposed between the first lower slot and the first upper slot in the first side portion of the post;  
   a first cross member coupled between the first lower slot of the first post and the first lower slot of the second post;    a second cross member coupled between the first upper slot of the first post and the first upper slot of the second post, the second cross member having a further slot formed at a predetermined distance from the end of the second cross member and at a predetermined location on the cross member so that an offset retainer rod may be displaced to engage and seat within the further slot;    a continuous fabric extending between the first post and the second post, the fabric having a plurality of projections at a first end of the fabric and a second end of the fabric, each of the plurality of projections extending through a respective one of the plurality of third slots disposed in the first post and the second post;    a first section of an offset retainer rod inserted through at least one of the plurality of projections at at least at a first end of the fabric to couple the fabric to an inside portion of at least the first post; and    a second section of the offset retainer rod engaging the second cross member further slot,    wherein the first section and the second section are separated by an offset and the offset is of a predetermined length to allow the offset retainer rod to reversibly retentively engage the second cross member further slot.    
     
     
         2 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein a first angle α and a second angle Π2  forming the offset are between about 15° and 90° and the offset retainer rod first section and second section are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         3 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein a first angle α and a second angle Π2  forming the offset are between about 30° and 60° and the offset retainer rod first section and second section are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         4 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein a first angle α and a second angle Π2  forming the offset are about 45° and the offset retainer rod first section and second section are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         5 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of third slots are set at an angle with respect to the length of the post.  
     
     
         6 . The fence system according to  claim 5  wherein the angle of the plurality of third slots is between about 30° and  60 °.  
     
     
         7 . The fence system according to  claim 5  wherein the angle of the plurality of third slots is between about 40° and  50 °.  
     
     
         8 . The fence system according to  claim 5  wherein the angle of the plurality of third slots is about 45°.  
     
     
         9 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of third slots are substantially parallel to the length of the post.  
     
     
         10 . The fence system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener for attaching the fabric to at least one selected from the group consisting of an inside portion of the first cross member and an inside portion of the second cross member.  
     
     
         11 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of an upper portion and a lower portion of the fabric is retentively engaged in a transverse slot integrally fabricated into the first cross member and the second cross member.  
     
     
         12 . The fence system according to  claim 11  wherein the fabric is retentively engaged in the transverse slot at a point X on the fabric.  
     
     
         13 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the first cross member and the second cross member are attached to the first post by a fastener and a plate, the plate positioned over the cross member and between opposite interior walls of the post, and coupled to the cross member by the fastener.  
     
     
         14 . The fence system according to  claim 13  wherein the fastener is at least one selected from the group consisting of a screw and a rivet.  
     
     
         15 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the offset retainer rod engages a top portion of the first cross member.  
     
     
         16 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the offset retainer rod engages the top portion of the first cross member by passing through a top portion of the first cross member and capturing the first cross member within the post.  
     
     
         17 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the offset retainer rod has a cross section of a predetermined geometric shape to allow the offset retainer rod to effectively flex to clear the second cross member to engage the second cross member further slot.  
     
     
         18 . The fence system according to  claim 17  wherein the offset retainer rod has a cross section selected from the group consisting of a substantially circular, oval, rectangular, hexagonal and triangular cross section.  
     
     
         19 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the second cross member further slot is fabricated at a location on the second cross member selected from one of the group consisting of a cut at a diagonal through a second cross member lower edge and a cut into a second cross member side wall.  
     
     
         20 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the offset retainer rod is selected from the group consisting of a metallic rod, a vinyl coated metallic rod and a polymer rod.  
     
     
         21 . The fence system according to  claim 1  further comprising a cap positioned over a top end portion of the post.  
     
     
         22 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of the first cross member and the second cross member includes a support member disposed along a length of the respective cross member.  
     
     
         23 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the first post further includes 
 a second lower slot and a second upper slot formed in a further side portion of the first post, the further side portion being either adjacent or opposite the first side portion of the first post, and  
 a second plurality of third slots disposed between the second lower slot and the second upper slot.  
 
     
     
         24 . The fence system according to  claim 23  wherein the second lower slot and the second upper slot are laterally offset from the first lower slot and the first upper slot, respectively, by a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         25 . The fence system according to  claim 23  wherein the second lower slot and the second upper slot are laterally offset form the first lower slot and the first upper slot, respectively, based on a grade of an installation site.  
     
     
         26 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the fabric is a polymer coated chain link fence material.  
     
     
         27 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein, any one or more of the posts, first cross member, and second cross member have a cross section selected from the group consisting of at least one of a substantially circular, rectangular and square cross section.  
     
     
         28 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the first post, second post, first cross member and second cross member are a polymer material.  
     
     
         29 . The fence system according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer material is a rigid PVC material.  
     
     
         30 . A method for fabricating a fence panel, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a first post and a second post, each post having a hollow portion,    (b) forming a lower slot and an upper slot in a side portion of the post, the lower slot and the upper slot substantially parallel to the length of the post,    (c) forming a first plurality of slots disposed between the lower slot and the upper slot in the side portion of the post,    (d) coupling a first cross member between the lower slot of the first post and the lower slot of the second post,    (e) extending a fence fabric between the first post and the second post, the fabric having a plurality of projections at a first end of the fence fabric and a second end of the fence fabric,    (f) inserting each of the plurality of projections of the fence fabric through a respective one of the plurality of slots disposed in the first post and the second post;    (g) inserting a first section of an offset retainer rod through at least one of the plurality of projections at at least the first end of the fence fabric to couple the fence fabric to an inside portion of at least the first post;    (h) forming a slot in a side portion of a second cross member proximate to an end of the second cross member, and    (j) engaging a second section of the offset retainer rod with the slot to couple the second cross member between the upper slot of the first post,    wherein the first section and the second section are separated by an offset, the offset of a predetermined length to allow the offset retainer rod to reversibly retentively engage the second cross member slot.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the first section and second section are substantially parallel.  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the plurality of third slots are set at an angle with respect the length of the post.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the plurality of third slots are substantially parallel to the length of the post.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 30  further comprising the step of attaching the fence fabric to at least one selected from the group consisting of an inside portion of the first cross member and an inside portion of the second cross member.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of coupling with the offset retainer rod the second cross member to at least one selected from the group consisting of the first post and the second post.  
     
     
         36 . The fence system produced by the method of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         37 . A fence system comprising: 
 a first post and a second post laterally spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, each post having 
 a hollow portion along a length of the post,  
 a first lower slot and a first upper slot in a first side portion of the post, the first lower slot and the first upper slot substantially parallel to the length of the post, and  
 a plurality of third slots disposed between the first lower slot and the first upper slot in the first side portion of the post, wherein the plurality of slots are offset from the vertical centerline of the post;  
   a first cross member coupled between the first lower slot of the first post and the first lower slot of the second post;    a second cross member coupled between the first upper slot of the first post and the first upper slot of the second post, the second cross member having a further slot formed at a predetermined distance from the end of the second cross member and at a predetermined location on the cross member so that a retainer rod may be displaced to engage and seat within the further slot;    a continuous fabric extending between the first post and the second post, the fabric having a plurality of projections at a first end of the fabric and a second end of the fabric, each of the plurality of projections extending through a respective one of the plurality of third slots disposed in the first post and the second post;    the retainer rod inserted through at least one of the plurality of projections at at least at a first end of the fabric to couple the fabric to an inside portion of at least the first post, the retainer rod further engaging the second cross member further slot.    
     
     
         38 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the plurality of third slots are substantially parallel to the length of the post.  
     
     
         39 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the plurality of third slots are set at an angle with respect to the length of the post.  
     
     
         40 . The fence system according to  claim 39  wherein the angle of the third slots is between about 30° and 60°.  
     
     
         41 . The fence system according to  claim 39  wherein the angle of the third slots is between about 40° and 50°.  
     
     
         42 . The fence system according to  claim 39  wherein the angle of the third slots is about 45°.  
     
     
         43 . The fence system according to  claim 37 , further comprising a fastener for attaching the fabric to at least one selected from the group consisting of an inside portion of the first cross member and an inside portion of the second cross member.  
     
     
         44 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of an upper portion and a lower portion of the fabric is retentively engaged in a transverse slot integrally fabricated into the first cross member and the second cross member.  
     
     
         45 . The fence system according to  claim 44  wherein the fabric is retentively engaged at a point X on the fabric.  
     
     
         46 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the first cross member and the second cross member are attached to the first post by a fastener and a plate, the plate positioned over the cross member and between opposite interior walls of the post, and coupled to the cross member by the fastener.  
     
     
         47 . The fence system according to  claim 46  wherein the fastener is at least one selected from the group consisting of a screw and a rivet.  
     
     
         48 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the retainer rod engages a top portion of the first cross member.  
     
     
         49 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the retainer rod engages the top portion of the first cross member by passing through a top portion of the first cross member and capturing the first cross member within the post.  
     
     
         50 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the retainer rod has a cross section of a predetermined geometric shape to allow the offset retainer rod to effectively flex to clear the second cross member to engage the second cross member further slot.  
     
     
         51 . The fence system according to  claim 50  wherein the retainer rod has a cross section selected from the group consisting of a substantially circular, oval, rectangular, hexagonal and triangular cross section.  
     
     
         52 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the second cross member further slot is fabricated at a location on the second cross member selected from one of the group consisting of a cut at a diagonal through a second cross member lower edge and a cut into a second cross member side wall.  
     
     
         53 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the retainer rod is selected from the group consisting of a metallic rod, a vinyl coated metallic rod and a polymer rod.  
     
     
         54 . The fence system according to  claim 37  further comprising a cap positioned over a top end portion of the post.  
     
     
         55 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of the first cross member and the second cross member includes a support member disposed along a length of the respective cross member.  
     
     
         56 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the first post further includes 
 a second lower slot and a second upper slot formed in a further side portion of the first post, the further side portion being either adjacent or opposite the first side portion of the first post, and  
 a second plurality of third slots disposed between the second lower slot and the second upper slot.  
 
     
     
         57 . The fence system according to  claim 56  wherein the second lower slot and the second upper slot are laterally offset from the first lower slot and the first upper slot, respectively, by a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         58 . The fence system according to  claim 56  wherein the second lower slot and the second upper slot are laterally offset form the first lower slot and the first upper slot, respectively, based on a grade of an installation site.  
     
     
         59 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the fabric is a polymer coated chain link fence material.  
     
     
         60 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein, any one or more of the posts, first cross member, and second cross member have a cross section selected from the group consisting of at least one of a substantially circular, rectangular and square cross section.  
     
     
         61 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the first post, second post, first cross member and second cross member are a polymer material.  
     
     
         62 . The fence system according to  claim 37  wherein the polymer material is a rigid PVC material.  
     
     
         63 . A method for fabricating a fence panel, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a first post and a second post, each post having a hollow portion,    (b) forming a lower slot and an upper slot in a side portion of the post, the lower slot and the upper slot substantially parallel to the length of the post,    (c) forming a plurality of slots disposed between the lower slot and the upper slot in the side portion of the post, wherein the plurality of slots are offset from the vertical centerline of post,    (d) coupling a first cross member between the lower slot of the first post and the lower slot of the second post,    (e) extending a fence fabric between the first post and the second post, the fabric having a plurality of projections at a first end of the fence fabric and a second end of the fence fabric,    (f) inserting each of the plurality of projections of the fence fabric through a respective one of the plurality of slots disposed in the first post and the second post;    (g) inserting a retainer rod through at least one of the plurality of projections at at least the first end of the fence fabric to couple the fence fabric to an inside portion of at least the first post;    (h) forming a slot in a side portion of a second cross member proximate to an end of the second cross member, and    (j) engaging the retainer rod with the slot to couple the second cross member between the upper slot of the first post to reversibly retentively engage the second cross member slot.    
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 63  wherein the plurality of third slots are set at an angle with respect the length of the post.  
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 63  wherein the plurality of third slots are substantially parallel to the length of the post.  
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 63  further comprising the step of attaching the fence fabric to at least one selected from the group consisting of an inside portion of the first cross member and an inside portion of the second cross member.  
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 63 , further comprising the step of coupling with the retainer rod the second cross member to at least one selected from the group consisting of the first post and the second post.  
     
     
         68 . The fence system produced by the method of  claim 63.