Fenceliner

Abstract

A fenceliner for inhibiting growth of grass, weeds and other vegetation beneath and closely adjacent a fence so as to make cutting or trimming of such vegetation unnecessary, and for inhibiting passage of small animals across the border defined by the fence. The fenceliner can be provided as a coiled strip of thin flexible material such as plastic or metal. The thin material is uncoiled and rolled out along the length of the fence and is cut to fit around fence posts. Preferably the material is colored to closely simulate the coloring of the surrounding vegetation. A centrally located longitudinal recess in the strip receives the bottom of the fence panels. Symmetric legs extend outwardly and downwardly from the recess to cover the ground closely adjacent to the fence. The legs have sufficient spring tension to bias the recess against the bottom of the fence panels when the fenceliner is in position on the ground beneath the fence.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fenceliner for inhibiting the growth of grass, weeds or like vegetation beneath and closely adjacent to a fence having a plurality of posts and at least one fence panel, and for inhibiting the passage of small animals across the border defined by the fence, comprising: a strip of flexible sheet material having a width greater than the width of the fence and a length coextensive with the length of the fence and adapted to be arranged on the ground beneath the fence;   said strip including a recess extending along the center longitudinal axis thereof, for receiving said at least one fence panel, and outwardly extending legs extending integrally from said recess symmetrically to lie beyond the opposite sides of the fence panel, for covering areas of the ground on opposite sides of the fence, said legs being .[.substantially thicker adjacent said recess and gradually thinning at their opposite ends,.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.for upwardly biasing said fenceliner when said recess is urged downwardly by the panel of a fence, said biasing providing for facilitated installation under an existing fence, for quick destruction of undesirable vegetation around the fence for inhibiting of the passage of small animals underneath the fence; and   a plurality of pad members for receiving the posts, said flexible strip extending over opposite ends of said pad members, said pad members maintaining the continuity of said fenceliner underneath the fence adjacent the posts.   
     
     
       2. A fenceliner as claimed in claim 1 in which said legs are arcuate legs extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides of said recess to a point below said recess. 
     
     
       3. A fenceliner as claimed in claim 1 in which said legs are rectilinear legs extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides of said recess toward the ground, at an angle of less than 90°, to a point below said recess. 
     
     
       4. A fenceliner as claimed in claim 1 in which said recess comprises a longitudinally extending base portion for engaging the bottom of a fence and opposing longitudinally extending upstanding portions for receiving the panel of a fence and said legs are rectilinear legs extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides of said base portion toward the ground at an angle of less than 90° to a point below said recess. 
     
     
       5. In combination with a fence having a plurality of posts in spaced relation to each other, a fenceliner for inhibiting the growth of grass, weeds or like vegetation beneath and closely adjacent to the fence and for inhibiting the passage of small animals across the border defined by the fence, comprising: a plurality of flexible strip members, each having a width greater than the width of the fence and being arranged on the ground underneath the fence and between adjacent posts of the fence, each of said strip members including a recess extending along the center longitudinal axis thereof receiving a panel of the fence, and legs integrally extending outwardly from said recess beyond the opposite sides of the fence panel, for covering areas of the ground on opposite sides of the fence, each of said legs being .[.substantially thicker adjacent said recess and gradually thinning at its opposite ends,.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.for upwardly biasing said fenceliner when said recess is urged downwardly by the panel of the fence; and   a plurality of pad members for receiving the corresponding plurality of posts, said flexible strip members extending over opposite ends of said pad members, said pad .[.member.]. .Iadd.members .Iaddend.maintaining the continuity of said fenceliner underneath the fence adjacent the posts.   
     
     
       6. The fenceliner as claimed in claim 5 in which said legs are arcuate. 
     
     
       7. The fenceliner as claimed in claim 5 in which said legs are rectilinear legs extending from opposite sides of said recess downwardly and outwardly toward the ground at an angle of less than 90°. 
     
     
       8. The fenceliner as claimed in claim 5 in which said recess comprises a longitudinally extending base portion engaging the bottom of the fence and opposing longitudinally extending upstanding portions for receiving the panel of the fence. .Iadd. 
     
     
       9.  A fenceliner as claimed in claim 1 in which said strip legs are substantially thicker adjacent said recess and gradually become thinner at their opposite ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A fenceliner as claimed in claim 5 in which said strip legs are substantially thicker adjacent said recess and gradually become thinner at their opposite ends. .Iaddend.