Method of constructing a fence panel for livestock corrals

Abstract

A method of constructing corrals for livestock including the steps of forming a plurality of fence panels each including two vertical posts having a series of spaced holes along their lengths, a plurality of horizontal tubes for attaching between respective holes of the two vertical posts, inserting respective end sections of each horizontal tube within respective holes of the two vertical posts, and welding each respective end section of each horizontal tube to the vertical post material surrounding each respective spaced hole; connecting the plurality of fence panels together to form a chosen shape of the corral; providing and connecting roof panels between chosen fence panels; and securing the plurality of fence panels to a ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing a livestock corral comprising the steps of:
 forming a plurality of fence panels, each including;
 two vertical posts, each including:
 a series of spaced holes along their lengths; 
 
 a plurality of horizontal tubes; 
 inserting respective end sections of each of said plurality of horizontal tubes within respective holes of said two vertical posts; and 
 welding each respective end section of each of said plurality of horizontal tubes to vertical post material surrounding each respective said spaced holes; 
   connecting said plurality of fence panels together to form a chosen shape of said livestock corral;   providing a plurality of roof panels;
 wherein said plurality of roof panels are connected between top portions of chosen fence panels; and 
   securing said plurality of fence panels to a ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of connecting said plurality of fence panels together includes:
 providing a plurality of clamps, each including:
 a first clamp member;
 wherein said first clamp member is placed upon adjacent surfaces of respective adjacent vertical posts of adjacent fence panels; 
 
 a second clamp member;
 wherein said second clamp member is placed upon adjacent surfaces of respective adjacent vertical posts of adjacent fence panels opposite from said first clamp member; and 
 
 a releasable connector;
 wherein said releasable connector is placed between said first and second clamp members and is adapted to pull said first and second clamp members together and securely and releasably hold said respective adjacent vertical posts of adjacent fence panels together; 
 
   wherein said plurality of clamps are adapted and used to connect said plurality of fence panels together to form said chosen shape of said livestock corral.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second clamp members are formed having respective curved portions adapted to fit around respective surfaces of said respective adjacent vertical posts, to thereby increase friction between said clamp members and said vertical posts. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
 providing at least one truss member; and   connecting said at least one truss member via said clamp members between top portions of chosen fence panels prior to the step of connecting said roof panels between top portions of said chosen fence panels, to thereby increase the stability of said livestock corral.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of securing said plurality of fence panels to a ground surface includes:
 providing a plurality of posts, each including;
 an elongated tube portion;
 wherein said elongated tube portion is adapted to be placed within a hole in said ground surface; and 
 
 a horizontal tube clamp portion;
 wherein said horizontal tube clamp portion is connected to a top portion of said elongated tube portion; and 
 wherein said horizontal tube clamp portion is adapted to be placed upon a top surface of a horizontal tube of a fence panel adjacent said ground surface; and 
 
   providing concrete;
 wherein said concrete is adapted to be placed within each said hole in said ground surface while each respective said elongated tube portion is located within each respective said hole, to thereby secure each respective said elongated tube portion, and thereby each of said plurality of posts, therein. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of said plurality of fence panels is pivotally connected to an adjacent fence panel and releasably attached to another of said plurality of fence panels, thereby forming a gate member adapted to close and open said livestock corral for livestock to enter and leave said livestock corral. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 forming a plurality of extension panels, each including:
 two vertical posts, each including:
 a bottom end section including bolt and nut connectors; 
 
 a horizontal tube;
 wherein said horizontal tube is connected between said two vertical posts; and 
 
 an inclined tube;
 wherein said inclined tube is connected between said two vertical posts above and at an angle with respect to said horizontal tube; and 
 
   wherein said two vertical posts of said plurality of fence panels each further include:
 a top end section including bolt and nut connectors adapted to releasably connect with said bolt and nut connectors of said two vertical posts of said plurality of extension panels; 
   wherein a chosen number of said plurality of extension panels are connected to a respective chosen number of said plurality of fence panels, via respective bolt and nut connectors, before said plurality of roof panels are connected between top portions of chosen fence panels, such that a chosen number of said roof panels are connected between top portions of said plurality of extension panels, thereby forming an inclined roof surface therebetween.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said elongated tube portion of each of said plurality of posts includes:
 a horizontal plate attached to a distal end thereof, and includes:
 two spaced holes therethrough; 
 
   said horizontal tube clamp portion of each of said plurality of posts includes:
 a top plate; and 
 two side plates;
 wherein said two side plates extending perpendicularly from said top plate; and 
 wherein said two side plates include two spaced holes therethrough adapted to align with said two spaced holes of said horizontal plate; and 
 
   two bolt and nut connectors;   wherein said two bolt and nut connectors are placed through said spaced holes of said two side plates of said horizontal tube clamp portion and said spaced holes of said horizontal plate after said elongated tube portion is placed within said hole of said ground surface, said horizontal tube of a respective said fence panel is placed in position with respect to said elongated tube portion, and said horizontal tube clamp portion is place upon said horizontal tube of said respective fence panel, to thereby secure said fence panel to said respective post, and thereby said ground surface.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said elongated tube portion of each of said plurality of posts further includes a horizontal extension adapted to more surely hold said elongated tube portion within said concrete. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one truss member is formed having a Z-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 providing a plurality of boards;
 wherein said boards are adapted to be placed between said plurality of fence panels and upon respective horizontal tubes.