Wire mesh fencing system

Abstract

A fencing system has a pair of fence posts that are vertically oriented. A pair of horizontally oriented rails connects the fence posts. A fence panel has several vertical wires and several pairs of vertically spaced horizontal wires. An upper portion of the fence panel is held within one of the rails and a lower portion of the fence panel is within the other rail. A retainer can be used to hold the fence panel within the rails. The retainer has a slot for surrounding a wire of the panel so that a horizontal wire of the panel is captured between the retainer and the rail.

1 . A fencing system comprising: 
 a fence panel comprising a plurality of spaced vertical wires and a plurality of pairs of spaced horizontal wires, the vertical wires being attached to the pairs of spaced horizontal wires;    a first rail having a first and second vertical walls configured to receive a portion of the panel therebetween, the first vertical wall having at least a first channel extending transversely to the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall having at least a second channel extending transversely to the second vertical wall;    a retainer having first and second ends, the first end being configured to be slidable within the first channel and second end being configured to be slidable within the second channel, the retainer including having a slot extending from one side to a central portion of the retainer, the slot configured to receive and surround a portion of a vertical wire with the retainer being disposed in the first and second channels.    
   
   
       2 . A fencing system comprising: 
 a fence panel;    a first rail including at least first and second channels, each of the first and second channels having an open end, the open end of the first channel facing toward the open end of the second channel;    a retainer having first and second ends, the retainer being configured such that the first end can be received in the first channel and the second end can be received in the second channel, with the retainer extending through the panel.    
   
   
       3 . The fencing system of  claim 2 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of vertical wires, the rail including a generally I-shaped cross-sectional profile and an elongated opening configured to receive the vertical wires, wherein the channels have a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profiles.  
   
   
       4 . The fencing system of  claim 3 , wherein the retainer has a generally M-shaped cross-section, the retainer being configured such that each end of the retainer can be slidably engaged with and within one of the U-shaped channels to inhibit vertical movement of the retainer.  
   
   
       5 . The fencing system of  claim 4 , wherein the vertical wires are 4 gauge wires.  
   
   
       6 . The fencing system of  claim 2 , wherein the panel includes a plurality of vertical wires arranged substantially parallel and defining a plane, and a plurality of pairs of spaced horizontal wires disposed on one side of the plane and welded to the vertical wires, each pair of spaced horizontal wires comprise substantially parallel wires that are separated by a distance of about 1 inch.  
   
   
       7 . The fencing system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second rail, the first rail being engaged with an upper edge of the panel and the second rail being engaged with a lower edge of the panel.  
   
   
       8 . The fencing system of  claim 2 , wherein the first rail includes a third channel having an open end and a fourth channel having an open end, the open ends of the third and fourth channels facing towards each other.  
   
   
       9 . The fencing system of  claim 2 , wherein the retainer further comprises a slot opening along the first end.  
   
   
       10 . The fencing system of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer includes body portion extending between the first and second ends, the body portion including a recess configured to engage a portion of the panel.  
   
   
       11 . The fencing system of  claim 10 , wherein the panel includes a straight wire extending along one edge thereof, the recess being configured to engage the straight wire.  
   
   
       12 . The fencing system of  claim 11 , wherein the first rail includes an inner wall connecting the first and second channels, the retainer being configured to capture the straight wire between the inner wall and the recess.  
   
   
       13 . A method of constructing a fence comprising at least one rail and at least one panel, the method comprising: 
 inserting a retainer through a portion of the panel;    sliding a portion of the panel and the retainer into a channel defined in the rail.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of sliding comprises inserting a first end of the retainer into a first portion of the channel disposed on a first side of the panel and inserting a second end of the retainer into a second portion of the channel disposed on a second side of the panel.  
   
   
       15 . A kit for building a fencing system, said kit comprising: 
 a fence panel;    a first rail including at least first and second channels, each of the first and second channels having an open end, the open end of the first channel facing toward the open end of the second channel;    a retainer having first and second ends, the retainer being configured such that the first end can be received in the first channel and the second end can be received in the second channel, with the retainer extending through the panel.    
   
   
       16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the retainer comprises a first central portion connected to the first and second ends, the central portion including a V-shaped cross-sectional profile.  
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the central portion includes an elongated slot opening along thee first end.  
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the retainer has an M-shaped cross-section.  
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the kit comprises a second rail having an elongated opening between a pair of walls, the elongated opening of the second rail configured to receive a portion of the panel such that the portion of the wire fence is between the walls of the first and second rails, and the pair of rails having a generally I-shaped cross-sectional profile.  
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the kit comprises a plurality of the retainers and at least a pair of elongated fence post, each fence post is configured to be coupled to an end of the rails.  
   
   
       21 . A fencing system comprising: 
 a post;    an upper rail connected to the post and including a channel;    a panel of fencing having an upper portion; and    means for slidably anchoring the upper portion of the panel within the channel of the upper rail.    
   
   
       22 . The fencing system of  claim 21 , further comprising a retainer slidably disposed in the rail, a portion of the sheet disposed between the retainer and rail.