Fence termination bracket

Abstract

A termination bracket that can be used with a wire and polymer composite ribbon fencing has a longitudinal channel member including a first main surface and a pair of outwardly protruding sides extending along opposite edges. A clasp member extends laterally at least part way between the two sides. The clasp member defines at least one opening, each opening receiving a vice element adapted to capture an end of a longitudinally extending polymer composite fencing element. The wire and polymer composite ribbon has a width substantially equal to the spacing between the outwardly protruding sides.

1 . A termination bracket for a fence comprising: a longitudinal channel member including a first main surface and a pair of outwardly protruding sides extending along opposite edges of the first main surface, a clasp member extending laterally at least part way between the two outwardly protruding sides, the clasp member defining at least one opening, and a vice element situated in the at least one opening, the vice element being adapted to capture an end of a longitudinally extending fencing element. 
   
   
       2 . The termination bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp member is spaced from the first main surface of the longitudinal channel member. 
   
   
       3 . The termination bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp member is secured perpendicular to the first main surface of the longitudinal channel member. 
   
   
       4 . The termination bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the vice element comprises a conical outer surface that is engaged by the at least one opening defined in the clasp member. 
   
   
       5 . The termination bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the vice element comprises a generally planar back element having two depending edges, the back element contacting the clasp member so that the depending edges confront the first main surface of the longitudinal channel member. 
   
   
       6 . A termination bracket for a fence comprising: a longitudinal channel member including a first main surface and a pair of outwardly protruding sides extending along opposite edges of the first main surface, a clasp member extending laterally between the two sides generally perpendicular to the first main surface, the clasp member including a plurality of openings, and a vice element situated in each opening the vice element being adapted to capture an end of a longitudinally extending fencing element. 
   
   
       7 . The termination bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the first main surface includes at least one opening for receiving a fastener for fastening the termination bracket to a fixed fencing support member. 
   
   
       8 . The termination bracket of  claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of outwardly protruding sides includes a slot receiving an end of the clasp member. 
   
   
       9 . The termination bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the outwardly protruding sides and the first main surface are a unitary one-piece structure. 
   
   
       10 . The termination bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the clasp member, the outwardly protruding sides and the first main surface are a unitary one-piece structure. 
   
   
       11 . The termination bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the outwardly protruding sides and the first main surface are formed substantially entirely from a material selected from steel and fiberglass reinforced nylon. 
   
   
       12 . A termination bracket for a fence comprising: a longitudinal channel member including a first main surface and a pair of outwardly protruding sides extending along opposite edges of the first main surface, a clasp member extending from an outer edge of each of the outwardly protruding sides laterally at least part way toward the opposite outwardly protruding side, the clasp members defining an opening between the clasp members and the first main surface, and a vice element situated in the opening, the vice element being adapted to capture an end of a longitudinally extending fencing element against the first main surface. 
   
   
       13 . The termination bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the clasp members comprise inner edges that are spaced from each other. 
   
   
       14 . The termination bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the clasp members comprise a forward edge and a trailing edge, the forward edges being spaced from the main surface of the longitudinal channel member by a distance that is greater than the spacing between the trailing edge and the main surface. 
   
   
       15 . The termination bracket of  claim 12 , wherein the vice element comprises a generally planar back element having two depending edges, the back element contacting the clasp member so that the depending edges confront the first main surface of the longitudinal channel member. 
   
   
       16 . A fence having a plurality of posts situated in substantially fixed relation to each other, a plurality of longitudinal fencing elements strung between the plurality of posts to define a barrier between regions on opposites sides of the fence, and a termination bracket coupled to a first of the plurality of posts at one end of at least some of the plurality of longitudinal fencing elements, the termination bracket including: a longitudinal channel member including a first main surface, at least one opening in the first main surface receiving a fastener engaging the first post, the longitudinal channel member having a pair of outwardly protruding sides extending along opposite edges of the first main surface between a first end and a second end, a clasp member extending laterally at least part way between the two outwardly protruding sides, the clasp member defining at least one opening, and a vice element situated in the at least one opening, the vice element being adapted to capture an end of a longitudinally extending fencing element. 
   
   
       17 . The fence of  claim 16 , wherein the clasp member is spaced from the first main surface. 
   
   
       18 . The fence of  claim 16 , wherein the clasp member includes lateral ends coupled into slots in the outwardly protruding sides. 
   
   
       19 . The fence of  claim 18 , wherein the slots receiving the lateral ends of the clasp member are situated substantially midway between the first and second ends of the outwardly protruding sides. 
   
   
       20 . The fence of  claim 16 , wherein an insulating bridging material continuously couples at least some of the plurality of longitudinal fencing elements together to form a stranded ribbon, the ribbon having a width substantially equal to the spacing between the outwardly protruding sides.