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(11) | EP 0 059 913 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Improvements in or relating to a multi-component fencing system |
| (57) A fencing system comprising two posts (10) and a cross rail (11), the posts (10)
each having a first attachment means (13) which interengage with a second attachment
means (12) of the cross rail (11) upon movement of the cross rail in a predetermined
path transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof releasably to attach the cross rail
(11) to the posts (10) so as to extend between and be supported by the posts (10),
a fencing panel (14) and means (15) releasably to connect the fencing panel (14) to
the cross rail (11). |
[0001] This invention relates to a multi-component fencing system the components of which may be erected and dismantled to provide a fence that may repeatedly be moved from one location to another, and which provides security, for example where it is used to surround a building site or the like, to keep out unauthorised persons.
[0002] The requirements of a fencing system which may be erected and dismantled are that the various components thereof are easily and releasably connected together with the minimum of tooling, and conveniently and easily dismantled when it is desired to move the fence from one location to another.
[0003] The requirements of a security fencing system are that the resultant fence provides resistance to being dismantled from one side, i.e. the outside, and that the fence is sufficiently robust to provide a deterrent to any unauthorised person contemplating entering the area bounded by the fence.
[0004] A preferred feature of a fencing system erected around a building site is that a section, or sections of the fence, may be easily removed to enable large vehicles to enter the site.
[0005] A fencing system is described in U.S. Specification 3397866 (Hockett) wherein cross rails are connected to posts, which are embedded in the ground, by means of bolts secured to the posts, the heads of which are held captive in recesses in the rear surfaces of the cross rails. The cross rails have a recess in the front thereof, in which hook formations of fencing slats are received, the hooks being made captive either by a resilient locking formation of the cross rail also engaging in the front recess, or by a separate resilient locking member engaging in the front recess. The resultant fence is a slat-type fence.
[0006] However, this previous proposed fencing system does not meet the requirements of a security fence as set out above and is not easily dismantled.
(a) As the resultant fence is a slat-type fence it does not provide sufficient deterrent to an unauthorised person because the slats each have an aperture in the front thereof which enables the hook formation, and hence the connection of the slat to the cross rails, to be manipulated from the front.
(b) As the fence is a slat-type fence, it is possible to manipulate the connection between the cross rail and the post from the front through the spaces between the slats, and hence the fence could be dismantled by an unauthorised person from the front.
(c) The locking formations which retain the hook formations of the slats in the front recess of the cross rail are accessible from the front.
(d) As the cross rail is attached to the post by a bolt and nut, the cross rail is not easily connected to or removable from the post and thus is not truly releasable.
(e) The fencing slats are not easily releasable from the cross rails once the resilient locking formations have been engaged without risking damage to the locking formation.
(f) As the posts are embedded in the ground, they are not re-usable.
[0007] Thus the previous fencing system permits disassembly of the fence from both sides thereof and is not therefore a good security fence, and is not easily and repeatedly erected and dismantled.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a fencing system comprising two posts and a cross rail, the posts each having a first attachment means which interengage with a second attachment means of the cross rail upon movement of the cross rail in a predetermined path transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cross rail releasably to attach the cross rail to the posts so as to extend between and be supported by the posts, a fencing panel, and means releasably to connect the fencing panel to the cross rail.
[0010] Thus the cross rail may be easily, conveniently and releasably attached to the posts, and the fencing panel may be easily, conveniently and releasably connected to the cross rail thereby providing a fencing system which may be repeatedly erected and dismantled. Thus the components of the system can repeatedly be used in one location and then in another as desired.
[0011] As the cross rail is attached to the posts by movement of the cross rail along a predetermined path transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cross rail, the cross rail can only be released by an opposite movement along said path. The cross rail may be prevented from being movable in said opposite direction along the predetermined path to release the attachment of the cross rail to the posts, by the fencing panel.
[0012] Thus the cross rail cannot be removed from the posts without first removing the fencing panel.
[0013] The means which connect the fencing panel to the cross rail may comprise one or more spring clips which each resiliently engage the panel and the cross rail.
[0014] The posts may be embedded in the ground, concrete or the like, herein referred to as the ground, although preferably the posts are each releasably received by a base unit which is engaged with the ground. Thus the posts may be reused in a new location.
[0015] In one example, the fencing panel comprises a continuous panel equal in length to the spacing of the posts, so that when the panel is in position, access can only be gained to the cross rail or the posts from one side of the panel. The fencing system thereby meets the requirement of a security fence as set out above, whilst retaining the advantages of a fencing system which may be repeatedly reused.
[0016] The second attachment means of the cross rail may be engageable or disengageable with the first attachment means of the posts upon movement of the cross rail in a path including a rotational movement of the cross rail. For example, the cross rail may be rotated about an axis remote from but parallel to the cross rail.
[0017] The first attachment means of each post may comprise an abutment which extends from a side of the post in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the cross rail. The second attachment means may comprise a pair of brackets spaced apart along the length of the cross rail, each bracket being engaged with the attachment means of one of the posts. Conveniently, the length of the cross rail is less than the distance between the posts, in which case, the brackets may be provided at the ends of the cross rail.
[0018] In one embodiment, the first attachment means comprises two abutments and the brackets each have a hook formation which is hooked over one of the abutments, and a receiving formation which is engaged with the other abutment.
[0019] The hook formation and the receiving formation may be of such configuration that to attach the cross rail to the posts requires an initial rotational movement to hook the hook formation over said one abutment and to bring the receiving formation into alignment with said other abutment, and a generally downward movement, to engage said other abutment in the receiving formation with said one abutment engaged in the hook formation.
[0020] Alternatively, the brackets may each comprise a hook part of such configuration to locate over said one abutment, and a curved part of such configuration to locate under the other abutment upon a rotational movement of the cross rail, and the hook part has been hooked over said one abutment.
[0021] The abutments of the attachment means of the posts may be fixedly mounted on the associated post, or preferably mounted on a plate which may be slid up and down relative to the post and lockable in a desired vertical position.
[0022] Thus the fencing system may be used on uneven ground, the height of the cross rail above the ground being adjustable relative to the posts at either end. Thus the cross rail may be arranged always to be horizontal regardless of the eveness of the ground.
[0023] Preferably, more than one cross rail is provided to support the fencing panel, the rails being spaced apart vertically and each being releasably attached to the posts by bracket means which engage an attachment means of the posts.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the fencing panel is provided with a series of troughs and crests extending vertically or substantially vertically across at least part of the height of the panel, and a mounting bar permanently engaged with the panel in the region of the troughs and crests, the mounting bar abutting at least some of the crests. A part of the or each spring clip may in use, be received in a trough adjacent the inside surface of the mounting bar and a further part of the or each spring clip engaging the cross rail.
[0025] The spring clip may have a first part which extends from the top of the mounting bar and which engages an upper surface of the cross rail, a second part which is adapted to be received in the trough of the fencing panel and engages the inside surface of the mounting bar, the configuration of the spring clip being such that the first and second parts are resiliently urged together whereby the first and second parts urge the cross rail into engagement with the mounting bar.
[0026] The cross rail may comprise a hollow section having a recess in which part of the mounting bar is received. Preferably a plurality of clips are provided along the length of the cross rail depending on the width of the fencing panel and the strength required.
[0027] Where base units are provided to receive the parts, the base units may be embedded in the ground, but preferably the base units themselves are releasably engaged with the ground. In one embodiment the base units are bolted or otherwise secured to an anchor bracket or brackets which are themselves embedded in the ground. Thus the base units may be reused, the only component or components which are not reusable being the anchor bracket or brackets which are left in the ground.
[0028] Alternatively, the base units may each include an outrider whereby the fence is free standing, the base units merely engaging the ground by resting on the ground. Alternatively, the outrider may be pegged by removable means to the ground.
[0029] Whenever a base unit is utilised, means may be provided to lock the posts in the base unit. For example, each post and each base unit may each have an inclined wedge member which engage as the post is received in the base unit to frictionally lock the post in the base. Alternatively, or in addition, a retaining pin or other locking means may be provided.
[0030] According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a method of erecting a fencing system comprising the steps of releasably attaching a cross rail to two posts by interengaging second attachment means of the cross rail with first attachment means of the posts by movement of the cross rail in a predetermined path transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cross rail, so that the cross rail extends between and is supported by the posts, and releasably connecting a fencing panel to the cross rail.
[0031] The predetermined path of movement of the cross rail may include a rotational movement and a generally downward movement whereby a pair of brackets spaced apart and mounted on the cross rail are engaged with abutment means mounted on the posts. Further, the fencing panel may be attached to the cross rail by engaging one or more spring clips with the fencing panel and the cross rail.
[0032] According to a third aspect of the invention, we provide a fence erected from the system according to the first aspect of the invention, and/or by a method according to the second aspect of the invention.
[0033] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-
FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of part of a fencing system according to the invention;
FIGURES 2a and 2b are cross-sections on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the fencing system erected from the components shown exploded in Figure 1 with some parts omitted for clarity and in alternative positions;
FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the lower part of a fencing post of the system of Figure 1, and in section of a base unit;
FIGURE 4 is plan view of the base unit of Figure 3;
FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of part of the base unit with ground engaging anchor brackets;
FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a tool used to disassemble the fencing system;
FIGURE 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing an alternative cross rail/post connection.
[0034] Referring to Figures 1, 2a and 2b of the drawings, a fencing system comprises a plurality of identical vertical posts 10, and one of which is shown in Figure 1, a pair of cross rails 11, again each of identical configuration and only one of which is shown, the rails 11 extending between and being releasably attached to the posts 10 by brackets 12 attached to the cross rails 11, which brackets 12 interengage attachment means 13 provided on the posts 10.
[0035] The fencing system further comprises a fencing panel 14 which is adapted to be releasably connected to the cross rails 11 by a plurality of spring clips 15, although only one clip 15 is shown in Figure 1. The posts 10 are made of rolled steel section and are either directly embedded in the ground in concrete or the like, herein referred to as the ground, to a desired depth to give a fence of the required strength, or the posts 10 are received at their lower ends in a separate base unit which is engaged with the ground as hereinafter described.
[0036] Each post 10 has a pair of planar side flanges 17a to which are connected a pair of end sections 17b, the posts thereby providing rails to enable a pair of rail plates 18a, 18b of the attachments means 13 to slide up and down. The rail plates 18a, 18b each have channels 19 corresponding to the rails.
[0037] A threaded locking bolt 20 is provided on each rail plate 18a, 18b to enable the plate to be locked to the post at a desired height, so that the fencing system may be erected on uneven ground and the cross rails 11 maintained level.
[0038] The opposite side of the post also has a pair of rail plates (not shown) to enable further cross rails 11 and hence further panels 14 to be attached to the post 10.
[0039] In an alternative embodiment, in place of the rails, provided by the configuration of the posts, plates are welded to the posts 10 which may be of a configuration, in order to provide rails on which the plates 18a, 18b can slide. The welded plates may only extend over part of the height of the post and of course, in this case, only limited height adjustment is therefore possible.
[0040] Further, other configurations of posts may be provided if desired. For example, the posts may comprises a plurality of component parts which extend generally upwardly and are connected in relatively inclined orientation such as an A frame. Furthermore, although as described with reference to the drawings, the posts 10 extend vertically and the cross rails horizontally, if desired the posts may be inclined to the vertical and the cross rails may extend in a direction inclined to the horizontal.
[0041] Mounted on each of the plates 18a, 18b so as to project from the side post 10 in a direction parallel to the cross rails 11, is a U-shaped part, the free ends of the limbs 22, 23 of the part adjoining the plates 18a, 18b, the limbs 22, 23 each providing an abutment of a first attachment means.
[0042] The cross rails 11 each comprise a hollow section having an upper surface 25, and lower surface 26, a front surface 27 and a rear surface 28. It can be seen that the lower surface 26 is provided by the front 27 and rear 28 surfaces being joined so that the section is a substantially closed in Z-shape providing a recess 29 in the rear thereof. Of course cross rails of other configuration may be provided if desired.
[0043] The cross rails 11 are of such length as to extend between but not beyond a pair of posts 10. The cross rails are provided with second attachment means comprising, at each end 30 thereof a bracket 12 which comprises a planar element having an L-shaped upper hook formation comprises a slot 32 and a lower slot 33, whereby the laterally extending abutments 22, 23 of the posts may be received in the slots 32, 33, as shown in Figure 2a to connect the cross rail 11 to the posts 10. The brackets 12 are welded to the ends of the cross rail 11 as shown to permanently mount the bracket 12 on the cross rail 11. A cross rail 11 can be attached to the two posts as follows.
[0044] First, the upper abutments 22 are each engaged in the ends of a horizontal part 36 of the upper slots 32 of the brackets 12 by hooking the brackets onto the abutments 22. The rail 11 is then rotated clockwise about an axis remote from the cross rail 11, to the dotted line position in Figure 2b wherein the lower abutments 23 are below the lower vertical slots 33 which provide a receiving formation. Finally, the rail 11 is permitted to lower by a vertical downward movement so that the upper abutments 22 of each post are received in the vertical parts 34 of slots 32 of each bracket 12, and the lower abutments 23 in the lower vertical slots 33.
[0045] Thus the cross rail 11 will be attached to the posts 10 by being moved in a predetermined path comprising a rotational movement and a generally downwards movement. No locking means is necessary, the cross rail being retained in position solely by the weight thereof.
[0046] To disconnect the rail 11 it is necessary to move the cross rail in an opposite direction along the predetermined path, namely to first lift the rail and then to rotate the rail to the Figure 2b position to permit the abutments 22, 23 to be released from the slots 32, 33.
[0047] Instead of a U-shaped part 13, if desired a pair of transversely extending pegs may alternatively be provided which may be connected at their ends by a cross piece which projects transversely outwardly of the pegs to prevent the brackets 12 from transversely disengaging the pegs. In either case, the first attachment means comprises a pair of abutments.
[0048] Although the brackets 12 described require a vertical lifting or lowering movement and a rotational movement of the rail to release or connect the rail, if desired brackets may be provided which require only a vertical or rotational movement, or a movement along any other predetermined path transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cross rail. Such bracket is shown in Figure 7 and comprises a first hook part 132 connected to a second curved part 133. The bracket is engaged with the abutments 22, 23 which are horizontally displaced by first hooking the hook part 132 over the upper abutment 22 and rotating the cross rail to bring the lower curved part 133 below the lower abutment 23.
[0049] The fencing panel 14 shown is corrugated over substantially the entire height thereof and thus provides a series of vertically extending troughs 37 and crests 38. Further, the side surfaces 39 are each provided with interengaging formations so that when further fencing panels 14 are attached to cross rails on the other side of the posts 10, so that the fencing panels 14 are side- by-side, a continuous fencing panel is provided whereby access cannot be gained to the rear of the panel. Thus, the length of the panels is equal to the spacing of the posts.
[0050] Permanently mounted on the fencing panels 14 are two mounting bars 40 which extend horizontally over substantially the entire width of the panels 14.
[0051] The mounting bars 40 each have a first upper vertical flange 41 and a second lower vertical flange 42 with an outwardly projecting part 43 of corresponding configuration to the recess 29 of the closed in Z-shaped cross rails 11, between the flanges 41, 42 the projecting part 43 being adapted to be received in the recess 29.
[0052] The upper and lower flanges 41, 42 each abut the crests 38 of the fencing panel 14 and are attached thereto by bolts 44, or alternatively rivets or any other fastening means.
[0053] In an alternative embodiment, the troughs and crests may only extend over the height of the panel 14 in the region of the mounting bars 40. In either case, it will be appreciated that spaces 45 are provided between the troughs 37 of the fencing panel 14 and at the rear surface 40a of the mounting bars 40 in some of which spaces the spring clips 15 are each adapted to be received.
[0054] The clips 15 each comprise a continuous clip made from spring steel rod, bent to provide a pair of first parts 46 which, when the projecting part 43 of the mounting bar is received in the recess 29 of the cross rail, are resiliently engaged over the top surface 25 of the cross rail, a hook H at the end of each part 46 engaging a projecting flange F formed at the junction of the top 25 and front 27 surfaces of the cross rail 11. The spring clip 15 further comprises a pair of second parts 47 which are received in the space 45 and each have a bent part 48 which is received in and resiliently grips a crank C in the rear 40a of the projecting part 43 of the mounting bar. The second parts 47 are connected by a U-shaped part 15a.
[0055] To engage the spring clip 15 in position connecting the mounting bars 40 and hence fencing panels 14 to the cross rails 11, requires a considerable downward force on part 46 due to the stiffness of the resilient clip. Thus a rigid connection is achieved which may not be readily dismantled without the aid of a suitable tool, as shown in Figure 6 and described hereinafter.
[0056] Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a lower part 50 of a post 10 is shown for use with a base unit. Welded on each side is a generally diagonally extending wedge plate 51 which has two transversely extending parts 52, 53 which each extend beyond the edge of the rails 18.
[0057] The posts 10 are received in a base unit 54 which is engaged with the ground, rather than being embedded in the ground themselves, so that the posts 10 may be re- used.
[0058] The base unit 54 comprises a base plate 55 to which are welded or otherwise secured three upstanding sides 56, 57, 58 to provide a three sided socket. The sides 56, 57, 58 are made as pressings in sheet steel but may be fabricated in any desired manner, and attached to the base plate 55 as required.
[0059] Welded or otherwise secured to the inside of each of the two opposite sides 56, 58 is a wedge bar 59 which extends diagonally at substantially the same angle as the wedge plate 51 on the posts 10.
[0060] The post may thus be inserted into the base unit 54, the plates 51 being in contact with the bars 59 of the base unit 54 until the post comes to rest in the position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3.
[0061] The base unit 54 may be engaged with the ground in any desired manner. For example, apertures such as shown at 60 in Figure 4 may be provided in each of which a J anchor bracket may be connected as shown at 61 in Figure 5 by bolts 62, 63 on either side of the 'base plate 55. The brackets 61 may be embedded in the ground or concrete and the base unit 54 may be bolted to the brackets 61 for example when the concrete has set. Thus the posts 10, and base units 54 may be released when required and moved and re-used at a new location.
[0062] Alternatively, instead of embedding J brackets in the ground, the base plate 55 may be much larger in area than that shown and/or may be provided with an outrider so that the base unit 54 and hence fence, is free standing if required, the base plate 55 or the outrider where provided, may be pegged to the ground by removable pegs.
[0063] Further alternatively, the base unit 54 may be embedded in the ground or concrete but in this case, the posts are reusable but the base unit 54 remains embedded in the ground when the posts are removed.
[0064] Referring now to Figure 6, a tool for removing the spring clips 15 is shown which has a a shank 65 from one end of which a transversely extending bar 66 extends. To remove the spring clips 15 the bar 66 is hooked into a recess R (Figure 2a) between the rear 40a of the mounting bar 40 and the spring clip in space 45. The clip 15 is then simply levered out of position.
[0065] The end of the shank 65 remote from the bar 66 has a hammer head 67 formed thereon which may be used to assist in engaging the spring clips 15 in position. If desired, the posts 10 and/or cross rails 11 and/or brackets 12 and/or spring clips 15 may be modified as desired. For example, the cross rails 11 may be of different configuration provided that the mounting bars 40 and spring clips 15 are correspondingly modified.
[0066] Instead of providing for varying the cross rail height on the posts 10 by the sliding rail plates 18a, 18b, abutments may be permanently attached to the posts. When the abutments are provided on a sliding rail plate, the plate need not have internal channels 19 as shown to engage with out-turned rails, but may if desired have inwardly extending pegs which engage with the rails 18.
[0067] Further, the fencing panel may be of alternative configuration to that shown in the drawings. For example, the fencing panel may be planar and the mounting bars 40 corrugated in which case the cross rail 11 will need to be modifed accordingly. In this case, the clips 15 are received in the troughs provided by the mounting bars 40.
1. A fencing system comprising two posts (10) and a cross rail (11), the posts (10)each
having a first attachment means (13) which interengage with a second attachment means
(12) of the cross rail (11) upon movement of the cross rail in a predetermined path
transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof releasably to attach the cross rail (11)to
the posts (10) so as to extend between and be supported by the posts (10), a fencing
panel (14) and means releasably to connect the fencing panel to the cross rail (11).
2. A fencing system according to Claim 1 wherein the cross rail (11) is prevented
from being moved in an opposite direction along the predetermined path to release
the attachment of the cross rail (11) to the posts (10), by the fencing panel (14).
3. A fencing system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the second attachment
means (12)of the cross rail (11)is engageable or disengageable with the first attachment
means (13) of the posts (10) upon movement of the cross rail (11) in a path including
a rotational movement of the cross rail (11) about an axis remote from but parallel
to the cross rail (11).
4. A fencing system according to Claim 1 to 3 wherein the first attachment means (13)
comprises two abutments (22, 23) which each extend from a side of the post (10)in
a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the cross rail (11), the second
attachment means (12) comprises a pair of brackets (12)spaced apart along the length
of the cross rail (11) and the brackets (12) each having a hook formation (32) which
is hooked over one of the abutments (22), and a receiving formation (33)which is engaged
with the other abutment (23), the hook formation (32) and the receiving formation
(33) being of such configuration that to attach the cross rail (11)to the posts (10)
requires an initial rotational movement to hook the hook formation (32)over said one
abutment (22) and to bring the receiving formation (33)into alignment with said other
abutments (23), and a generally downward movement to engage said other abutment (23)
in the receiving formation (33) with said one abutment (22) engaged in the hook formation
32.
5. A fencing system according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein the first
attachment means of the posts (10)are mounted on a plate (18a, 18b)which is slidable
up and down relative to the post (10)and lockable in a desired vertical position.
6. A fencing system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fencing
panel (14) comprises a continuous panel equal in length to the spacing of the posts
(10), so that when the panel (14)is in position, access can only be gained to the
cross rail (11) and the posts (10)from'one side of the panel (14), the fencing panel
(14) being provided with a series of troughs (37) and crests (38) extending vertically
or substantially vertically across at least part of the height of the panel (14) and
a mounting bar (40) permanently engaged with the panel (14) in the region of the troughs
(37) and crests (38), the mounting bar (46) abutting at least some of the crests,
a part (47) of the or each spring clip (15)in use, being received in a trough (37)
adjacent the inside surface (40a) off the mounting bar (40), a further part (25)of
the or each spring clip (15) engaging the cross rail (11).
7. A fencing system according to Claim 6 wherein the spring clip (15) has a first
part (25) which extends from the top of the mounting bar (40) and which engages an
upper surface of the cross rail (11), a second part (47) which is adapted to be received
in the trough (37) of the fencing panel (14)and engages the inside surface (40a) of
the mounting bar (40), the configuration of the spring clip (15) being such that the
first (25) and second (47) parts are resiliently urged together whereby the first
(25)and second (47)parts urge the cross rail into engagement with the mounting bar
(40).
8. A fencing system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the posts
(10) are each releasably received by a base unit (54) which is releasably engaged
with the ground.
9. A method of erecting a fence comprising the steps of releasably attaching a cross
rail (11)to two posts (10) by interengaging second attachment means (12)of the cross
rail with first attachment means (13) of the posts (10)by movement of the cross rail
(11)in a predetermined path transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cross rail
(11) so that the cross rail (11)extends between and is supported by the posts (10),
and releasably connecting a fencing panel (14) to the cross rail (11).
10. A fence erected from a system according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 and/or by
a method according to Claim 9.