Fence slat

Abstract

A fence slat is provided that can be inserted in the channels of a wire mesh fence. The body of the slat defines, in a cross-section cut perpendicular to the long axis of the slat, a substantially hourglass shape having a central narrowed portion between a pair of wider portions. The slat body includes front and back walls and side edges with an internal cavity within. The front and back walls have concave outer surfaces and the edges may be rounded or squared. One or more ribs within the internal cavity of the slat body interconnect the front wall and the back wall. The hourglass shape provides a narrower central portion for the slat body as compared to the width at the edges and the ribs, when positioned in or nearer the central portion are narrower than the width at the edges. The wider edges provide sufficient width to be held frictionally within the wire mesh channel, while the narrower ribs require less material than would be necessary for a uniform width.

1 . A fence slat for insertion in a wire mesh fence having a channel defined within the wire mesh, the slat removably securable within the channel, the slat comprising:
 a body defining in cross-section a substantially hourglass shape having a central narrowed portion between a pair of wider portions, the body including a front wall defining a concave outer surface and a back wall opposite the front wall, the back wall defining a concave outer surface, the slat body further including a pair of edges interconnecting the front and back walls, the body having an internal cavity defined within the front and back walls and the edges, and further wherein the body extends longitudinally from an upper end to a lower end;   a first rib within the internal cavity of the slat body, the first rib defining a length extending longitudinally substantially from the upper end to the lower end of the slat body, the first rib interconnecting the front wall and the back wall, the first rib defining a width extending substantially straight between the front and back wall within a central portion of the internal cavity of the slat body.   
     
     
         2 . The fence slat of  claim 1  wherein the first rib is positioned at the central narrowed portion of the hourglass shape of the slat body. 
     
     
         3 . The fence slat of  claim 2  wherein the first rib is positioned substantially equidistant between the edges of the slat body. 
     
     
         4 . The fence slat of  claim 1  wherein the slat body defines in cross-section a first width between the front and back outer surfaces at a narrowest point in the central narrowed portion and a second width between the front and back outer surfaces adjacent one of the outer edges, and further wherein the first width is less than about half the second width. 
     
     
         5 . The fence slat of  claim 4  wherein the first width is no more than about 35% of the second width. 
     
     
         6 . The fence slat of  claim 4  wherein the first rib is positioned at the narrowest point in the central narrowed portion of the slat body. 
     
     
         7 . The fence slat of  claim 1  further comprising second and third ribs within the internal cavity of the slat body, the second and third ribs interconnecting the front and back walls of the slat body. 
     
     
         8 . The fence slat of  claim 7  wherein each of the second and third ribs are positioned within the wider portions of the substantially hourglass shape. 
     
     
         9 . The fence slat of  claim 8  wherein the first rib is positioned substantially equidistant between the second and third ribs. 
     
     
         10 . The fence slat of  claim 7  wherein the second and third ribs each define equal widths, and further wherein the width of the first rib is less than about half the width of the width of the second or third rib. 
     
     
         11 . The fence slat of  claim 7  wherein the second and third ribs each define a width, and further wherein the width of the first rib is less than about half the width of a shorter one of the widths of the second and third ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The fence slat of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of wings extending from the edges of the slat body. 
     
     
         13 . The fence slat of  claim 1  wherein the slat body defines in cross-section a midpoint line between the front and back walls, the midpoint line extending through the edges, and through the wider portions and the central narrowed portion of the substantially hourglass shape, and wherein the wings each extend from a position at the respective edge of the slat body that is offset from the midpoint line. 
     
     
         14 . The fence slat of  claim 13  wherein the positions of the wings at the respective edges are on opposite sides of the midpoint line. 
     
     
         15 . The fence slat of  claim 13  wherein the wings extend in a direction and for a distance so as to cross the midpoint line. 
     
     
         16 . The fence slat of  claim 12  wherein the wings in cross-section are substantially straight. 
     
     
         17 . The fence slat of  claim 12  wherein the wings in cross-section are substantially curved. 
     
     
         18 . The fence slat of  claim 1  wherein the edges of the slat body define in cross-section a substantially semi-circular shape. 
     
     
         19 . The fence slat of  claim 1  wherein the edges of the slat body define in cross-section a substantially squared-off shape. 
     
     
         20 . A fence slat for insertion in a wire mesh fence having a channel defined within the wire mesh, the slat removably securable within the channel, the slat comprising:
 a body defining in cross-section a substantially hourglass shape having a central narrowed portion between a pair of wider portions, the body including a front wall defining a concave outer surface and a back wall opposite the front wall, the back wall defining a concave outer surface, the slat body further including a pair of edges interconnecting the front and back walls, the body having an internal cavity defined within the front and back walls and the edges, and further wherein the body extends longitudinally from an upper end to a lower end, the body further including a central fused portion interconnecting the front and back walls in the central narrowed portion; and   a pair of wings extending from the edges of the slat body.   
     
     
         21 . The fence slat of  claim 20  wherein the slat body defines in cross-section a midpoint line between the front and back walls, the midpoint line extending through the edges, and through the wider portions and the central narrowed portion of the substantially hourglass shape, and wherein the wings each extend from a position at the respective edge of the slat body that is offset from the midpoint line. 
     
     
         22 . The fence slat of  claim 21  wherein the positions of the wings at the respective edges are on opposite sides of the midpoint line. 
     
     
         23 . The fence slat of  claim 21  wherein the wings extend in a direction and for a distance so as to cross the midpoint line. 
     
     
         24 . The fence slat of  claim 20  wherein the wings in cross-section are substantially straight. 
     
     
         25 . The fence slat of  claim 20  wherein the wings in cross-section are substantially curved. 
     
     
         26 . A fence slat for insertion in a wire mesh fence having a channel defined within the wire mesh, the slat removably securable within the channel, the slat comprising:
 a body defining in cross-section a substantially hourglass shape having a central narrowed portion between a pair of wider portions, the body including a concave front wall and a concave back wall defining the substantially hourglass shape, the slat body further including a pair of edges interconnecting the front and back walls, the body having an internal cavity defined within the front and back walls and the edges, and further wherein the body extends longitudinally from an upper end to a lower end;   a first rib within the internal cavity of the slat body substantially equidistant between the edges of the slat body, the first rib defining a length extending longitudinally substantially from the upper end to the lower end of the slat body, the first rib interconnecting the front wall and the back wall, the first rib extending substantially straight between the front and back wall within a central portion of the internal cavity of the slat body, wherein the slat body defines in cross-section a first width between the front and back outer surfaces at the first rib and a second width between the front and back outer surfaces adjacent one of the outer edges, and further wherein the first width is less than about half the second width; and   second and third ribs within the internal cavity of the slat body, the second and third ribs interconnecting the front and back walls of the slat body and positioned within the wider portions of the substantially hourglass shape substantially equidistant from the first rib, wherein the first, second, and third ribs are reduced in width by the concave curvature of the front and back walls.   
     
     
         27 . The fence slat of  claim 26  further comprising a pair of wings extending from the edges of the slat body. 
     
     
         28 . The fence slat of  claim 27  wherein the slat body defines in cross-section a midpoint line between the front and back walls, the midpoint line extending through the edges, and through the wider portions and the central narrowed portion of the substantially hourglass shape, and wherein the wings each extend from a position at the respective edge of the slat body that is offset from the midpoint line. 
     
     
         29 . The fence slat of  claim 28  wherein the positions of the wings at the respective edges are on opposite sides of the midpoint line. 
     
     
         30 . The fence slat of  claim 28  wherein the wings extend in a direction and for a distance so as to cross the midpoint line. 
     
     
         31 . The fence slat of  claim 27  wherein the wings in cross-section are substantially straight. 
     
     
         32 . The fence slat of  claim 27  wherein the wings in cross-section are substantially curved. 
     
     
         33 . The fence slat of  claim 26  wherein the edges of the slat body define in cross-section a substantially semi-circular shape. 
     
     
         34 . The fence slat of  claim 26  wherein the edges of the slat body define in cross-section a substantially squared-off shape.