Fencing system

Abstract

A method for inhibiting ingress of small animals into a utility installation and/or a municipal site includes the step of: surrounding the utility installation and/or municipal site with a fencing system. The fencing system includes: a plurality of anchored posts, a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material. Whereby, when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the utility installation and/or municipal site.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for inhibiting ingress of small animals into a utility installation and/or a municipal site comprises the step of:
 surrounding the utility installation and/or municipal site with a fencing system, the fencing system includes   a plurality of anchored posts,   a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and   an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material,   whereby when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the utility installation and/or municipal site.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fencing material is chain-link fencing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fencing system further comprises a wire barrier affixed to the fencing system above the upper edge portion of the fencing material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fencing system includes a corner, the corner is protected by vertical covers encasing the corner. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the animal barrier is made of a rigid sheet material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the rigid sheet material is sheet metal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the utility installation is an electrical sub-station. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fencing system further includes a gate with an animal barrier therearound. 
     
     
         9 . A method for inhibiting ingress of small animals into an electrical sub-station comprises the step of:
 surrounding the electrical sub-station with a fencing system, the fencing system includes   a plurality of anchored posts,   a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and   an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material, the animal barrier is made of rigid sheet metal,   whereby when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the electrical sub-station.   
     
     
         10 . A fencing system for inhibiting ingress of small animals into a utility installation and/or a municipal site comprises:
 a plurality of anchored posts,   a fencing material spans the posts and is affixed thereto, the fencing material has an upper edge portion, and   an animal barrier extends along and is affixed to the upper edge portion, the animal barrier is semi-annular in vertical cross-section with an outward convex surface and an inward concave surface, the concave surface faces the fencing material,   whereby when the small animal attempts ingress over the fencing system, the animal barrier inhibits that ingress to the utility installation and/or municipal site.   
     
     
         11 . The fencing system of  claim 10  wherein the fencing material is chain-link fencing. 
     
     
         12 . The fencing system of  claim 10  wherein the fencing system further comprises a wire barrier affixed to the fencing system above the upper edge portion of the fencing material. 
     
     
         13 . The fencing system of  claim 10  wherein the fencing system includes a corner, the corner is protected by vertical covers encasing the corner. 
     
     
         14 . The fencing system of  claim 10  wherein the animal barrier is made of a rigid sheet material. 
     
     
         15 . The fencing system of  claim 14  wherein the rigid sheet material is sheet metal. 
     
     
         16 . The fencing system of  claim 10  wherein the utility installation is an electrical sub-station. 
     
     
         17 . The fencing system of  claim 10  wherein the fencing system further includes a gate with an animal barrier therearound.