Fence and installation method therefor

Abstract

A fence and an installation method for a fence or other laterally extending structure, the installation method comprising in one embodiment: obtaining a trench in ground, the trench extending laterally with a top of the trench having a first opening width, and having a first bottom surface; obtaining a hole in the first bottom surface of the trench with an approximate diameter that is at least fifty percent smaller than the first opening width; installing a support post in the hole to extend up above the top of the trench; disposing laterally extending panels at substantially the first bottom surface of the trench and attaching them to approximately opposing ends of a diameter of the post to thereby create a void volume between the panels at least on one side of the post; installing at least one retainer connecting to the panels across the void volume; and filling the void volume with stones or other fill material.

1 . An installation method for a fence or other laterally extending structure, comprising:
 obtaining a trench in ground, the trench extending laterally with a top of the trench having a first opening width, and having a first bottom surface;   obtaining a hole in the first bottom surface of the trench with an approximate diameter that is at least fifty percent smaller than the first opening width;   installing a support post in the hole to extend up above the top of the trench;   disposing laterally extending panels at substantially the first bottom surface of the trench and attaching them to approximately opposing ends of a diameter of the post to thereby create a void volume between the panels at least on one side of the post;   installing at least one retainer connecting to the panels across the void volume; and   filling the void volume with stones or other fill material.   
   
   
       2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising installing a plurality of the posts at different locations and using the plurality of the posts as supports to construct a fence. 
   
   
       3 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein multiple retainers are installed between the panels. 
   
   
       4 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 backfilling a volume within the hole around the support post; and   backfilling the trench after the filling the void step.   
   
   
       5 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein multiple retainers are installed between the panels, and wherein voids are created between the panels on both sides of the post and those voids are filled with stones or other similar size fill material. 
   
   
       6 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to installing the support post, installing in the hole a rigid sleeve with a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the support post, the sleeve extending up at least above the first bottom surface of the trench; and
 wherein the support post is installed into the sleeve; and   wherein the panels are attached at approximately opposing ends of a diameter of the sleeve.   
   
   
       7 . The method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein there is a time lapse of at least an hour between the installing the sleeve step and the performance of the installing the support post step. 
   
   
       8 . The method as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the sleeve extends at least three feet above grade. 
   
   
       9 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the panels are mesh panels. 
   
   
       10 . The method as defined in  claim 9 , wherein openings in the mesh panels are sized to retain a fill material having a granular diameter of greater than a predetermined size. 
   
   
       11 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the panels are solid panels. 
   
   
       12 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the panels is a mesh panel and the other panel is a solid panel. 
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer comprises at least one side wall connecting the panels at one end of the void volume. 
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 installing multiple posts in accordance with the method steps of  claim 1 ; and   installing fencing to the multiple posts to extend therebetween.   
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the fencing is privacy fencing. 
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the fencing is security fencing. 
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the fencing comprises blast mitigation fencing. 
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the fencing is acoustical barrier fencing. 
   
   
       19 . An installation method for a fence or other laterally extending structure, comprising:
 installing or having installed multiple posts for a fence, with one or more of the posts installed using the following steps:
 obtaining a trench in ground, the trench extending laterally with a top of the trench having a first opening width, and having a first bottom surface; 
 obtaining a hole in the first bottom surface of the trench with an approximate diameter that is at least fifty percent smaller than the first opening width; 
 disposing laterally extending substantially parallel panels forming a void volume therebetween at substantially the first bottom surface of the trench around a periphery of an opening of the hole, with a plurality of retainers connected to the panels across the void volume; 
 installing, either before or after the placing of the panels in the trench, a support post or sleeve in the hole to extend up above the first bottom surface of the trench, and attaching the panels to the support post or sleeve; and 
   
     attaching or having attached fence material between the multiple posts to form a fence. 
   
   
       20 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the laterally extending substantially parallel panels comprise a prefabricated assembly. 
   
   
       21 . The method as defined in  claim 20 , further comprising,
 filling the void volume with stones or other fill material; and   backfilling the trench after the filling the void volume step.   
   
   
       22 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising,
 prior to installing the support post, installing in the hole the sleeve with a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the support post, the sleeve extending up at least above the first bottom surface of the trench; and   wherein the support post is installed into the sleeve; and   wherein the panels are attached at approximately opposing ends of a diameter of the sleeve.   
   
   
       23 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the panels are mesh panels. 
   
   
       24 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of retainers comprise side walls connecting the panels at opposite ends of the void volume. 
   
   
       25 . A support post installation, comprising:
 a trench in ground, the trench extending laterally with a top of the trench having a first opening width, and having a first bottom surface, the trench having a hole in the first bottom surface of the trench with an approximate diameter that is at least fifty percent smaller than the first opening width;   a support post in the hole extending up above the top of the trench;   laterally extending panels beginning at substantially the first bottom surface of the trench and attached to approximately opposing ends of a diameter of the support post or a sleeve that may be disposed therearound to thereby create a void volume between the panels at least on one side of the post;   at least one retainer installed to the panels across the void volume; and   stones or other fill material filling the void.   
   
   
       26 . The support post installation as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the laterally extending panels comprise a prefabricated assembly with opposing side walls connecting the ends of the panels. 
   
   
       27 . The support post installation as defined in  claim 25 , further comprising the sleeve disposed around a bottom portion of the support post. 
   
   
       28 . An installed fence, comprising:
 multiple posts for a fence, with one or more of the posts installed using the following steps:
 a trench in ground, the trench extending laterally with a top of the trench having a first opening width, and having a first bottom surface, the trench having a hole in the first bottom surface of the trench with an approximate diameter that is at least fifty percent smaller than the first opening width; 
 a support post in the hole extending up above the top of the trench; 
 laterally extending panels beginning at substantially the first bottom surface of the trench and attached to approximately opposing ends of a diameter of the support post or a sleeve that may be disposed therearound to thereby create a void volume between the panels at least on one side of the post; 
 at least one retainer installed to the panels across the void volume; 
 stones or other fill material filling the void; and 
   fence material attached between the multiple posts to form a fence.   
   
   
       29 . The fence as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the fencing is privacy fencing. 
   
   
       30 . The fence as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the fencing is security fencing. 
   
   
       31 . The fence as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the fencing comprises blast mitigation fencing. 
   
   
       32 . The fence as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the fencing is acoustical barrier fencing. 
   
   
       33 . The fence as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the laterally extending panels comprise a prefabricated assembly with opposing side walls connecting the ends of the panels. 
   
   
       34 . The fence as defined in  claim 28 , further comprising the sleeve disposed around a bottom portion of the support post.