Equine fencing system

Abstract

An equine fence system fabricated of high density polyethylene having a plurality of vertical support posts embedded in the ground, there being a plurality of horizontal rail members extending between adjacent vertical posts, the horizontal rail members having a spiral electrically conductive wire embedded just below the surface of the horizontal rail to discourage contact between the horse and rail, the horizontal rails having an additional stiffener and support member longitudinally positioned within the horizontal rail to provide additional support for the horizontal rail and permit the use of longer horizontal rails therefore increasing the distance between vertical posts and reducing costs and maintenance.

1 . An equine fencing system comprising:
 a plurality of vertical posts embedded into substrate;   a plurality of horizontal, tubular rails circular in cross-section having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, said horizontal rails extending between said vertical posts, and supported by a plurality of horizontal apertures in said vertical posts, said horizontal rails extending between at least two adjacent vertical posts;   a tubular, rectangular stiffener, slidably receivable within said horizontal rails and providing four point longitudinal contact with the inner circumferential surface of said horizontal rails with each corner of said rectangular stiffener, said tubular rectangular stiffeners permitting said equine fencing system a greater non-sag span between adjacent posts for support of said horizontal rail;   an electrically conductive, spirally embedded wire in said outer circumferential surface of said horizontal rails and partially extending above said outer circumferential surface of said horizontal rails, said electrically conductive spirally embedded wire of longitudinally adjacent horizontal rails in electrical conduction contact by means of a snap fit conductor; and   a power source in electrically communication with said spirally embedded wire in said horizontal rails for imparting a non-lethal electrical charge along the length of said fencing system to animals contacting said horizontal rails and grazing within the area defined by said fencing system discouraging contact with the fencing system.   
     
     
         2 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said vertical support posts and said horizontal rails are formed of high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         3 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said plurality of horizontal, tubular rails are formed with aligned apertures at their terminus for the receipt of a spring clip connector, said spring clip connector being compressibly U-shaped in configuration and having extending fingers which protrude there from and are compressibly secured through said apertures in said rail system, said terminus of said horizontal tubular rails with said spring clips inserted into said vertical posts temporarily depressing said extending fingers while passing through the circumference of said post and reextending through said apertures after passing through said circumference of said post locking said rail to said post. 
     
     
         4 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said electrically conductive spirally embedded wire is heated prior to contact with said horizontal rails fabricated from high density polyethylene so as to melt said electrically conductive spirally embedded wire in a spiral configuration into the outer circumferential surface of the horizontal rail. 
     
     
         5 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the temperature of the heated electrical charged wire and the speed of the horizontal rail in passing through an embedding station determining the depth of the embedded wire. 
     
     
         6 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said electrically conductive, spirally embedded wire in one of said horizontal tubular rails is connected to said electrically conductive spirally embedded wire in a longitudinally adjacent horizontal tubular rail within said vertical posts by means of a snap fit flexible electrical conductor secured to the electrically conductive, spirally embedded wire embedded within each of said longitudinally adjacent rails prior to their insertion into said vertical post. 
     
     
         7 . An equine fencing system comprising:
 a plurality of vertical posts embedded into substrate;   a plurality of horizontal, tubular rails circular in cross-section having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, said horizontal rails extending between said vertical posts, and supported by a plurality of horizontal apertures in said vertical posts, said horizontal rails extending between at least two adjacent vertical posts;   a tubular, rectangular stiffener, slidably receivable within said horizontal rails and providing four point longitudinal contact with the inner circumferential surface of said horizontal rails with each corner of said rectangular stiffener, said tubular rectangular stiffeners permitting said equine fencing system a greater non-sag span between adjacent posts for support of said horizontal rail.   
     
     
         8 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said vertical support posts, said horizontal rails are formed of high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         9 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said plurality of horizontal, tubular rails are formed with aligned apertures at their terminus for the receipt of a spring clip connector, said spring clip connector being compressibly U-shaped in configuration and having extending fingers which protrude there from and are compressibly secured through said apertures in said rail system, said terminus of said horizontal tubular rails with said spring clips inserted into said vertical posts temporarily depressing said extending fingers while passing through the circumference of said post and reextending through said apertures after passing through said circumference of said post locking said rail to said post. 
     
     
         10 . An equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 7  wherein an electrically conductive, spirally embedded wire in said outer circumferential surface of said horizontal rails and partially extending above said outer circumferential surface of said horizontal rails, said electrically conductive spirally embedded wire of longitudinally adjacent horizontal rails in electrical conduction contact by means of a snap fit conductor; and
 a power source in electrically communication with said spirally embedded wire in said horizontal rails for imparting a non-lethal electrical charge along the length of said fencing system to animals contacting said horizontal rails and grazing within the area defined by said fencing system discouraging contact with the fencing system.   
     
     
         11 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said electrically conductive spirally embedded wire is heated prior to contact with said horizontal rails fabricated from high density polyethylene so as to melt said electrically conductive spirally embedded wire in a spiral configuration into the outer circumferential surface of the horizontal rail. 
     
     
         12 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the temperature of the heated electrical charged wire and the speed of the horizontal rail in passing through an embedding station determining the depth of the embedded wire. 
     
     
         13 . The equine fencing system in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said electrically conductive, spirally embedded wire in one of said horizontal tubular rails is connected to said electrically conductive spirally embedded wire in a longitudinally adjacent horizontal tubular rail within said vertical posts by means of a snap fit flexible electrical conductor secured to the electrically conductive, spirally embedded wire embedded within each of said longitudinally adjacent rails prior to their insertion into said vertical post.