Barrier fence assembly

Abstract

A barrier fence assembly ( 100 ) having a barrier fence body ( 102 ) has a portion thereof positioned below ground surface ( 110 ) and includes a series of barrier stakes ( 114 ) to facilitate prevention of traverse of animals across a desired boundary. The barrier stakes ( 114 ) are received through upper and lower apertures ( 150, 152 ) of a horizontal support brace ( 140 ). The horizontal support brace ( 140 ) includes horizontally disposed apertures ( 136, 138 ) through which flexible wire ties ( 160 ) can be received and releasably coupled to an adjacent wire mesh fence ( 104 ).

1 . A barrier fence assembly for preventing traverse of certain animals across a desired boundary below a ground surface, said barrier fence assembly being adapted to be coupled to an adjacent fence or other barrier having a substantial portion extending a finite height above said ground surface, said barrier fence assembly comprising:
 a barrier fence body comprising a plurality of vertically disposed and elongated barrier stakes adapted to be spaced apart and sunk into earth below said ground surface, each of said barrier stakes having an upper section extending above said ground surface;   said barrier fence body further comprising a horizontal support brace having an elongated configuration extending across a width of said barrier fence body;   said horizontal support brace having a top side and a bottom side, with a plurality of upper apertures extending through said top side and a corresponding plurality of lower apertures extending through said bottom side;   said upper sections of each of said barrier stakes extending through individual ones of said upper apertures and said corresponding lower apertures; and   said barrier fence assembly further comprises coupling means for coupling said barrier fence body to said adjacent fence.   
     
     
         2 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said coupling means for coupling said barrier fence body to said adjacent fence comprises:
 a plurality of coupling apertures, each of said apertures extending horizontally through a corresponding one of said barrier stakes within said upper section thereof, and positioned above a horizontal plane through which said horizontal support brace extends; and   means extending through said coupling apertures for directly coupling said upper sections of said barrier stakes to said adjacent fence.   
     
     
         3 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , characterized in that said means extending through said coupling apertures provides for releasable coupling of said barrier fence assembly to said adjacent fence. 
     
     
         4 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , characterized in that said means for releasably coupling comprises flexible wire ties which are extended through said coupling apertures and around fencing elements of said adjacent fence. 
     
     
         5 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 4 , characterized in that said adjacent fence is a wire mesh fence. 
     
     
         6 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 2 , characterized in that said means extending through said coupling apertures comprise a series of screws or bolts extending through materials which form elements of said adjacent fence. 
     
     
         7 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 6 , characterized in that said adjacent fence comprises a wooden slat fence. 
     
     
         8 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 7 , characterized in that said bolts or screws comprise a series of tapered wood screws. 
     
     
         9 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said vertically disposed and elongated barrier stakes each comprise a lowermost end having a downwardly tapered configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 9 , characterized in that each of said tapered ends of said barrier stakes terminates at its lowermost portion in a relatively sharp point. 
     
     
         11 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said plurality of barrier stakes comprise stakes of differing lengths. 
     
     
         12 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , characterized in that said plurality of barrier stakes comprise a first set of barrier stakes, each having a first length, and a second set of barrier stakes, each having a second length. 
     
     
         13 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 12 , characterized in that said first set of barrier stakes are alternately spaced apart with said second set of barrier stakes along a length of said horizontal support brace. 
     
     
         14 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 12 , characterized in that said first length of said first set of barrier stakes is one-half of said second length of said second set of barrier stakes. 
     
     
         15 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 each of said barrier stakes further comprises a main body positioned below said upper section and integral with said upper section, and a lower end positioned below said main body and integral therewith;   each of said lower ends comprises a beveled or downwardly tapered configuration; and   each of said main bodies has a cross-sectional configuration substantially identical to cross-sectional configurations of said upper sections of said barrier stakes.   
     
     
         16 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 15 , characterized in that said cross-sectional configurations of said main body and said upper section of each of said barrier stakes are cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         17 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 16 , characterized in that each of said barrier stakes is constructed as a solid steel rod. 
     
     
         18 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 17 , characterized in that:
 said main body of each of said barrier stakes has a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.375 inches;   each of said lower ends of said barrier stakes is of a longitudinal dimension of approximately 0.75 inches in length; and   each of said first set of barrier stakes has an overall length of approximately 9.0 inches, while each of said second set of barrier stakes has an overall length of approximately 18.0 inches.   
     
     
         19 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 17 , characterized in that each of said barrier stakes is spaced apart from adjacent ones of said barrier stakes by approximately 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         20 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 17 , characterized in that each of said coupling apertures is of a diameter of approximately 5/32 inches. 
     
     
         21 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 17 , characterized in that each of said upper sections of said barrier stakes extends upwardly beyond the said top side of said horizontal brace a vertical distance of approximately 1.25 inches. 
     
     
         22 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 17 , characterized in that said horizontal support brace comprises a square cross-sectional configuration, with each side of said cross-sectional configuration, including said top side and said bottom side, being of a dimension of approximately 0.75 inches. 
     
     
         23 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 said barrier fence assembly can be formed with a plurality of said barrier fence bodies; and   said barrier fence bodies are sized and configured so as to be stackable one on top of the other in a relatively compact configuration.   
     
     
         24 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 said barrier fence assembly can be formed with a plurality of said barrier fence bodies; and   said barrier fence assembly is modular in design in that a size of said barrier fence assembly can be modified by adding or subtracting identical ones of said barrier fence bodies adjacent to an adjacent fence line.   
     
     
         25 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 24 , characterized in that said barrier fence assembly formed with a plurality of barrier fence bodies is configured so that said barrier fence bodies form a straight line configuration along said adjacent fence line. 
     
     
         26 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 24 , characterized in that said barrier fence assembly formed with a plurality of barrier fence bodies is configured so that at least two of said barrier fence bodies are angled relative to each other or are otherwise in differing vertical planes. 
     
     
         27 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that said upper sections of said barrier stakes are permanently connected to said horizontal support brace at said upper apertures and said lower apertures of said horizontal support brace. 
     
     
         28 . A barrier fence assembly in accordance with  claim 27 , characterized in that said barrier stakes are permanently connected to said horizontal support brace at weldments located at said upper apertures and said lower apertures of said horizontal support brace.