Fence apparatus and related methods

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a fence or enclosure 165 and related methods for making a fence panel 65 and for connecting the panel 65 to other panels 65 to form a modular type fence 165 . The invention preferably includes a generally planar section 70 of fencing material formed from spaced-apart wires 10, 15 , and at least two non-parallel stiffening portions 80, 85 , deforming the fence section 65 from the aforementioned generally planar configuration 70.

1 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . A mesh fence panel having at least two elongated and intersecting stiffening deformations formed therein, at least one of said stiffening deformations including a first deformation out of a generally planar surface formed by a body portion of the panel and a second deformation returning back toward that generally planar surface. 
     
     
         73 . A fence panel including:
 a) a generally planar central surface formed by a plurality of wires forming a mesh;   b) at least two non-parallel stiffening portions integral with the surface, said portions and said surface configured to nest with similarly sized and similarly shaped panels; and   c) one of said stiffening portions including an elongated insert, the insert operatively affixed to selected wires of said mesh.   
     
     
         74 . A plurality of fence panels:
 a) each of said panels being similarly sized and shaped and nestable with others of said panels;   b) each of said panels including at least two non-parallel stiffening portions nestable with corresponding portions on other such panels; and   c) at least one of said stiffening portions of each of said panels including a generally elongated deformation in a generally planar wire mesh section of said panel, said deformation including wires that are both (1) bent out of the plane of the generally planar wire mesh section and (2) bent back toward the plane of the generally planar wire mesh section.   
     
     
         75 . The plurality of fence panels of  claim 74 , at least one of said stiffening portions of each of said panels including an elongated insert that includes a generally V-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         76 . The fence panel of  claim 73 , in which said insert includes a generally V-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         77 . The fence panel of  claim 73 , in which said insert includes a generally W-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         78 . The fence panel of  claim 73 , in which said insert includes a generally U-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         79 . The fence panel of  claim 73 , in which said insert includes a generally trapezoidal-shaped cross-section.