Animal-Proof Hooded Barrier, Related Enclosure Systems and Method of Maintaining an Animal-Proof Domain

Abstract

The present invention provides a substantially animal-proof barrier that includes (a) two or more supports laterally spaced apart to define a substantially vertical plane between each support, (b) fencing material that is attached to each of the supports and spans the plane between each support to form a simple barrier, wherein the simple barrier divides a domain into a first area and second area, (c) a hood having a first section originating from a top edge of the simple barrier that forms an angle of about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees with the simple barrier, and a second section extending from a lower end of the first section in a direction towards the simple barrier, and optionally (d) a hood corner assembly to provide a hood at a corner formed by the simple barrier, that includes an upper corner section, a lower corner section, and a pair of brackets.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A substantially animal-proof barrier comprising:
 two supports that are laterally spaced apart to define a substantially vertical plane therebetween;   fencing material that is attached to each of the supports and spans the defined substantially vertical plane to form a simple barrier that has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front surface and a back surface, wherein the simple barrier divides a domain into a first area and a second area, and wherein a top rail is attached to the back surface of the simple barrier along the top edge;   a hood having a first section with an upper end and a lower end, and a second section having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of the second section is connected to and extends from the lower end of the first section at an angle of about 90 degrees;   wherein the upper end of the first section is connected to the top rail or the top edge of the simple barrier and forms an angle with the front surface of the simple barrier of about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees, and the second section extends in a direction towards the front surface of the simple barrier such that the lower end of the second section contacts the front surface of the simple barrier.   
     
     
         2 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the supports are independently made of a material chosen from wood, plastic, polymer, fiberglass, metal, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the fencing material is chosen from mesh, chain link, sheets, and panels. 
     
     
         4 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the hood comprises an upper flange at the upper end thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the upper flange is positioned substantially vertically when the hood is attached to the simple barrier. 
     
     
         6 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the upper flange is positioned substantially horizontally when the hood is attached to the simple barrier. 
     
     
         7 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the second section of the hood comprises a lower flange at the lower end thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 7 , wherein the lower flange is positioned substantially vertically when the hood is attached to the simple barrier. 
     
     
         9 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hood corner assembly configured to be positioned at a corner formed by the simple barrier so as to connect a first hood on a first side of the corner and a second hood on a second side of the corner. 
     
     
         10 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 9 , wherein the hood corner assembly comprises an upper corner section, a lower corner section, and a pair of brackets. 
     
     
         11 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 10 , wherein the upper corner section comprises a panel having a right side and a left side defining an angle therebetween, wherein the right side is positioned on a first section of the first hood on the first side of the corner of the simple barrier, and the left side of the panel is positioned on a first section of the second hood on the second side of the corner of the simple barrier. 
     
     
         12 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the fencing material has a height less than a height of the supports. 
     
     
         13 . The substantially animal-proof barrier according to  claim 12 , further comprising an intermediate rail extending between the supports and along an upper end of the fencing material. 
     
     
         14 . An enclosure system to maintain an animal population on a first side of a domain comprising: 
     
     
         15 . at least three supports that are laterally spaced apart to define a substantially vertical plane between serially spaced supports; 
     
     
         16 . fencing material that is serially attached to each of the at least three supports to span the defined substantially vertical plane to form a simple barrier that has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front surface and a back surface, wherein the simple barrier divides a domain into a first area and a second area, and wherein a top rail is attached to the back surface of the simple barrier along the top edge; and 
     
     
         17 . a hood having a first section with an upper end and a lower end, and a second section having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of the second section is connected to and extends from the lower end of the first section at an angle of about 90 degrees; wherein the upper end of the first section is connected to the top rail or the top edge of the simple barrier and forms an angle with the front surface of the simple barrier of about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees, and the second section extends in a direction towards the front surface of the simple barrier such that the lower end of the second section contacts the front surface of the simple barrier. 
     
     
         18 . The enclosure system according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one access portal. 
     
     
         19 . The enclosure system according to  claim 15 , wherein the access portal is chosen from a gate, a door, a drawbridge, a sliding door, a sliding gate, a revolving door, a revolving gate, and a trapdoor. 
     
     
         20 . The enclosure system according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the defined vertical planes has ay-dimension of about 7 feet to about 9 feet. 
     
     
         21 . The enclosure system according to  claim 14 , wherein the supports are independently made of a material chosen from wood, plastic, polymer, metal, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The enclosure system according to  claim 14 , wherein the fencing material is chosen from mesh, chain link, sheets, and panels. 
     
     
         23 . The enclosure system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a hood corner assembly configured to be positioned at a corner formed by the simple barrier. 
     
     
         24 . A method of maintaining an animal in an enclosure, comprising: placing along a perimeter of the domain at least one substantially animal-proof barrier comprising:
 two or more supports that are laterally spaced apart to define a substantially vertical plane;   fencing material that is serially attached to each of the two or more supports to span the defined substantially vertical plane to form a simple barrier that has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front surface and a back surface, wherein the simple barrier divides a domain into a first area and a second area, and wherein a top rail is attached to the back surface of the simple barrier along the top edge; and   a hood having a first section with an upper end and a lower end, and a second section having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of the second section is connected to and extends from the lower end of the first section at an angle of about 90 degrees;   wherein the first section is attached at an upper end thereof to the top rail or the top edge of the simple barrier and forms an angle with the front surface of the simple barrier of about 10 degrees to about 80 degrees, the second section extends in a direction towards the front surface of the simple barrier such that the lower end of the second section contacts the front surface of the simple barrier.