US685247A - Foldable fence. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 29, |90l.

W. BORRMAN.

FDLDABLE FENCE.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1901.)

(No Modelwe Mms Patins ca, momufno.. wsnmrau. n. c.

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BORRMAN, OF NORFOLK, NEW YORK.

FOLDABLE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,247, dated October 29, 1901.4

Application filed January 9, 1901- Serial No.l4=2,690. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM BORRMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented 'a new and useful Foldable Fence, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to fences,and more particularly to portable fences for decorative purposes; and the objects are to providea foldable article of this character especially adapted to be placed about a Christmas tree to serve as a decoration for the same and also as a protector and which may be compactly folded and stored away when not in use, so that it will occupy a comparatively small space. In order to carry out these objects, the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings has been p'rovided. This construction is also fully described in the following specification; but it will be understood that it is open to change.

and modification within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Christmas tree, showing the improved fence surrounding the same. Fig. 2 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the fence, more clearly illustrating the manner of mountingthe standards. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the ends of the fence, showing the fasteners used in securing them together.

Similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention a foldable fence 10 is provided, which carries a plurality of upright standards 11, which project both above and below the fence, forming legs for the latter and also supports for decorative purposes.

The fence is of alazy-tongs formation and consists of pairs of crossed slats 12, pivotally connectedV at their central points and having their ends pivotally secured to the ends of the adjacent pairs. By this construction the fence may be folded into a comparatively small space orrdrawn out to any length de` sired.

The standards 11 are spaced at suitable distances apart, being preferably secured to the fence at the joints of adjacent pairs of the slats. They are pivotally secured contiguous to their lower ends to the lower portion of the fence, preferablyby means of the 'saine pivot connections that fasten the slats 12 together. .The lower ends of the standards project a short distance below the fence, and thus form supporting-feet 13 for the same. The upper edge of the fence is provided with a series of keepers 14, pivotally connected thereto, through which said standards pass, whereby a sliding bearing for the fence is provided to permit of its adjustment, as will be readily understood. The standards 1l extend for some distance above the fence and preferably have their upper ends provided. With suitable ornaments or decorations, as 15. Slidably mounted upon these standards are a plurality of supportingblocks 16, which may be held at any desired elevation by means of set-screws 17, that bear againstl said standards. These supporting-blocks each carry a pair of pivotallymounted brackets 18, the ends of which have sockets 19 for the reception of candles or other illuminating devices.

In practice the fence is preferably made in one piece and is designed to be placed around the tree, as shown in Fig. 1. The ends thereof are detachably secured together, one of said ends being provided with a pair of hooks 20, that engage links 21, carried by the opposite end. The standards, besides supporting the lights and decorations, are also intended to surround and engage the tree and steady the same, and to hold them in engagement therewith a chain or other iieXible binder 22 is secured at one end to the upper portion of one of the standards and passes around the entire set. The end of the chain 22 may be secured to the standard by any well-known means-as, for instance, an eye 23-aand the free end of the chain may also be fastened in any desired manner, a hook 24 being shown for the purpose, which hook engages one of the links of the chain. Y

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the fence is arranged about the tree and has its ends secured together. In this position thefupper portions of the standards will be in contact with the branches, and this contact is assured by means of the chain 22. seen that the standards assist in steadying and supporting the tree. Furthermore, the decorations at the upper ends thereof serve to enhance its beauty. The illuminating devices can then be adjusted to any position desired to form an artistic grouping and also to prevent their being in dangerous proximity to the tree. When not in use, the ends are unfastened and the entire device can be folded into a comparatively small space for the purpose ot storage.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described foldable fence will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. A fence for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a plurality of connected panels, a plurality of independent standards projecting above the panels, and means connecting the projecting portions of said standards for adjusting the distance between their upper ends, whereby they may be brought into engagement with the branches of a tree or the like to form a support for the same.

2. A fence for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a plurality of connected panels, a plurality of independent standards projecting above the panels, and a dexiblebinder arranged to be placed around said standards to bring their upper ends into engagement with the branches of a tree or the like and thus form a support for the same.

3. A foldable fence for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a plurality of connected and foldable panels, means for securing the end panels together, a plurality of independent standards projecting above the panel, and a ilexible binder arranged to be placed around said standards to bring their upper It will thus bev ends into engagement with the branches of the tree or the like, and form a support for the same.

4. A fence for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a plurality of connected and foldable panels, each of said panels consisting of a plurality of crossed pivotally connected slats, means for securing the end panels together, a plurality of independent standards projecting above the panels, and a iioxible binder secured at one end to one of the standards and arranged to be placed around all of said standards to bring their upper ends into engagement with the branches of a tree or the like and form a support for the same.

5. A fence for Christmas trees or the like, comprising a plurality of panels, means for detachably securing the ends of the fence together, a plurality of standards carried by and projecting above the upper edge of the fence, and movable brackets located upon said standards and arranged to support suitable ornaments such as illuminating devices.

6. A fence, comprising a plurality of slats pivotally connected, means for detachably securing the ends of the fence together, a plurality of upright standards carried by the fence, and brackets adjustably supported upon said standards.

7. In a fence for Christmas trees and the like, the combination with a plurality of crossed slats pivotally connected and forming foldable panels adapted to be placed about the tree, of means for detachably securing the end panels together, a plurality of upright standards secured to and projecting above the panels and adapted to engage the branches of the tree, a flexible binder for connecting the upper ends of said standards, and a plurality of ornament-bearing brackets pivotally and adj ustably mounted upon said standards.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM BORRMAN.

Witnesses:

W. W. LEONARD, D. H. MCLELLAND.

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