Fencing panel ties

Abstract

 A moulded plastic fencing panel tie, for connecting the end standards of two adjacent fencing panels, comprises a spacer element (7,9,13) to fit between the end standards and at least one integral ratchet strap (1,10) to embrace an end standard, the housing (4) of the ratchet strap being incorporated in or joined to the spacer element. In a preferred arrangement two ratchet straps extend oppositely from the spacer element.

Description

[0001] Fencing panels are known, particularly for erecting temporary fencing or barrier, which comprise end standards, intended to be upright in use, to which are secured sheets of wire mesh or boards. Sometimes the end standards of a penel are joined together at or near their top and/or bottom ends by transverse bracers, producing a support frame for a wire mesh shjeet or board, but if the mesh or board has sufficient rigidity the transverse bracers may be omitted. The standards are usually of tubular steel, circular in section, similar to scaffolding poles, but could be of any material providing adequate rigidity and strength.

[0002] In erecting a fence or barrier from such panels, the panels are placed more or less in line with the standards at their adjacent ends side by side and connected together by couplers. The bottom ends of adjacent standards are usually located in sockets in a base or foot. The usual coupler comprises two rigid metal plates fastened together by a bolt passing through central holes in the two plates and a nut to clamp the plates together.

[0003] It will be understood that in order to be able to fit the couplers with the end parts of the rigid plates properly engaged with adjacent end standards the spacing between the shaped end parts of the plates must be the same as that between the sockets in the base or foot and the standards must be approximately parallel. Parallelism can readily be achieved on level ground and then two people can easily erect a fence, but if the ground is uneven or undulating adjacent standards may be skewed so that the nuts of the couplers cannot be tightened fully. With large panels, typically some seven square metres in area, two or three people may be needed to hold the panels in position for effective coupler clamping, whereupon wedges or bolsters can be placed under some bases or feet, all taking an inappropriately long time.

[0004] Flexible ties have been proposed in place of rigid couplers for connecting the end standards of adjacent panels in fencing systems. Examples are described in US 5 375 815, in which a temporary pen for animals is assembled from post-and-rail panels. Adjacent posts (end standards) of two panels are connected by a band of elastic material which is looped round the posts under tension applied manually and secured either by simple hooks, by eccentrically-mounted quadrants which clamp the band between them by cam action as the tension forces them together, or by a handle formed integrally with the band which has to be located over a pin fixed to one of the posts. These methods of connecting the posts all require the band to be stretched and then partially relaxed in order for the securing means to operate and it is stated that the method allows a fence panel to move relative to the next in a pen to accommodate impacts from animals. Such movement would not be satisfactory in a lengthy fence, which could be completely unstable in windy conditions. Also, the elasticity of the bands may allow the end standards of adjacent panels to be forced apart sufficiently to allow a person or animal to pass through. In EP 0 625 303 A1 a tie intended for tying a plant to a post is formed from elastomeric plastics material and comprises two flat, flexible straps which project from opposite sides of one end of a box-shaped body. The body is placed between the plant and the post to keep them apart and the straps are fastened round them. In some embodiments described one strap has a plurality of perforations along its length and the other has at or near its end a housing or slot through which the perforated strap can be passed and fixed projections or pawls which will engage perforations to prevent withdrawal of the perforated strap. The body may also have a slot and a pawl and the arrangement is such that the strap round the post can be secured more tightly than that round the plant. In another embodiment both straps have perforations along their lengths and the body has a slot through which their ends may be passed after looping respectively round post and plant and fixed oppositely-facing hooks which can be engaged with perforations to secure the straps. Whilst it appears that such straps might be used for connecting the end standards of fencing panels it is observed that the size and spacing of the perforations would make it difficult or impossible to achieve adequate tension in the straps for securing end standards of fence panels and the perforations themselves, as described in the Specification, will allow stretching of the straps under tension which is required to allow a fastened plant to grow but would be undesirable in a fence construction.

[0005] Straps are known for fastening a bundle of elongated elements, such as cables, which are moulded in plastic with closely-spaced transverse ratchet teeth on one surface at least near one end and at or near the other end a housing through which the toothed end may be passed so as to form a noose around the bundle. Incorporated in the housing is a resilient latch arranged to ride over the ratchet teeth as the strap is passed through it in the direction which forms and tightens the noose. When tightening ceases, the latch will engage behind the last tooth to pass it and prevent return movement of the strap if tension is applied to it in the opposite direction. Such straps will hereinafter and in the following Claims be called "ratchet straps". Ratchet straps are manufactured in various sizes and an appropriately-sized ratchet strap could be used for connecting together adjacent end standards of two fencing panels, as could any other kind of strap with a buckle or other fastening fior forming a tight noose. Indeed a simple piece of rope or string could be tied round the standards. However, none of those would be satisfactory because the standards would not be held firmly and could swing under wind pressure or if people or animals leaned on the fencing.

[0006] According to this invention a moulded plastic fencing panel tie comprises a spacer element to fit between the end standards and means formed integrally therewith for securing the end standards to the spacer element, characterized in that the means for securing the end standards to the spacer element includes a ratchet strap to embrace an end standard and the housing of the ratchet strap is incorporated in the spacer element.

[0007] The ratchet strap may be designed to embrace only one end standard, in which case the housing of the ratchet strap will be adjacent to the junction of the strap with the spacer element. Two ratchet straps may extend oppositely from the spacer element for embracing end standards of the respective panels. In that case the spacer element may be formed in two pans including releasable means for connecting them together, each part being formed integrally with one ratchet strap. The releasable means may be screw threads, providing a degree of adjustability in the spacer element.

[0008] Alternatively the ratchet strap may be designed to embrace two adjacent end standards of the adjacent panels, when the housing of the ratchet strap will be on the opposite end of the spacer element to its junction with the strap.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1

is a perspective view of a fencing panel tie comprising two ratchet straps with an integral spacer element between them.

Figure 2

is an underneath perspective view of the middle part of the strap shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3

is a perspective view of a fastening strap similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which a metal reinforcing element is incorporated in the straps and the spacer element, and

Figure 4

is a perspective view of a fencing panel tie comprising a ratchet strap capable of embracing two adjacent standards, the strap having integral seatings to fit and locate two standards to be fastened with an integral spacer element between the seatings.

[0010] In the moulded plastics fencing panel tie shown in Figures 1 and 2, each of two identical ratchet straps 1 has a narrow end portion or tongue 2 formed with backwardly-facing closely-spaced transverse ratchet teeth 3 on its surface which is uppermost in Figure 1. At its other end is an integral housing 4, shaped so that the tongue 2 can be passed through it and formed with an inwardly and forwardly-facing resilient latch 5. The end part of each strap 1 adjacent to the housing is formed into a quadrant-shaped seating 6 of radius corresponding to the tubular end standard of a fencing panel to be secured. When the seating 6 is fitted to a standard and the strap 1 is wrapped round it so that the tongue 2 can be inserted through the housing 4 to form a noose embracing the standard, the latch 5 will ride over the ratchet teeth 3 of the tongue. The length of the broader part of each strap 1 is somewhat less than the circumference of the standard to be secured so that when the tongue is pulled tight the strap 1 will grip the standard firmly and the engagement of the latch 5 with one of the teeth 3 will prevent the grip being loosened. This action is just as usual in a ratchet strap.

[0011] The housing 4 of each strap is formed at the end of the seating 6 and the two housings, both facing the same way, are joined together by an integral spacer element 7 of T-section. The length of the spacer element 7 is chosen to provide the required spacing between end standards of adjacent fencing panels. If the end standards are to be fitted into the usual kind of base or foot the spacing provided by the spacer element will correspond to the spacing between the sockets in the base or foot.

[0012] In fitting this tie to two adjacent end standards, the spacer element 7 is entered between the standards from one side of the adjacent panels and the straps 1 are passed through the panels and round the standards on the other side. The tongues 2 are then threaded back through the housings 4 and pulled tight from the original side. Fitting the tie to adjacent standards can be achieved quickly, without the use of tools except perhaps some kind of gripper for pulling the tongues 2 tight through the housings 4. Being formed of the same flexible plastic as the straps 1, the spacer element 7 can bend or twist to adapt to a small degree of non-parallelism between adjacent standards. When it is desired to remove the fence, the straps can easily be cut through, the ties being sufficiently cheap to be discarded for recycling the plastic instead of having to be saved as in the case of the usual rigid metal couplers. Dismantling a fence is thus a much simpler and quicker operation than when nuts and bolts have to be released in the usual couplers.

[0013] If there is a requirement to remove the ties without cutting, the housings 4 and/or latches 5 can be modified in known manner to enable the latches to be released from the teeth 3 of the ratchet strap. Such modification is desirable if cutting of straps is to be prevented, for example for security purposes. For that purpose the fencing panel tie shown on Figure 3, which is generally similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, has a reinforcing strip 8 of steel embedded in the straps 1 and the s[pacer element 9 which joins their adjacent ends. In manufacture the strip 8 is positioned as an insert in the mould in which the integral straps 1 and spacer element 9 are produced. This reinforcing strip 8 strengthens the straps 1 and will resist unauthorised cutting of the straps 1 or the spacer element 9.

[0014] Figure 4 shows a tie comprising only one ratchet strap which consists of a main part 10 having a tongue 2 with teeth and a housing 4 with a latch 5 as in the previous embodiments. The end of the main part 10 remote from the tongue 2 is formed into a first part-circular seating 11 for one end standard. The seating 11 is joined to a spacer element 13 and at the opposite end of the spacer element is a second part-circular seating 12 for a second end standard. The housing 4 is formed on the second seating 12. In use, the two seatings 11, 12 are fitted to adjacent end standards and the main part 10 of the strap is drawn round to embrace them both. The tongue 2 is threaded through the housing 4 and pulled tight so that the strap grips both standards, the length of the main part being appropriate to provide a firm grip on both standards. This tie is quicker to fit than those illustrated by Figures 1 to 3.

[0015] In any of the illustrated embodiments the spacer element may have an aperture or abutment enabling it to ber connected to a support stay to make the joined panels more stable and/or to a link for connection to a base or foot for resisting unauthorised withdrawal of the connected end standards from the base or foot.

[0016] In modifications of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 the unitary spacer element 5 or 9 may be replaced by a two-part spacer element, each part being moulded integrally with one ratchet strap 1 and the two parts having means for connecting them together. Preferably the connecting means is adjustable for varying the spacing between joined end standards of two panels and may be releasable. For example the two parts of a spacer element may have complementary screw threads. In a corresponding modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 the spacer element 13 is formed in two parts, respectively integral with the main part 10 and tongue 2 and with the housing 4 of the ratchet strap.

Claims

1. A fencing panel tie moulded in plastic, for connecting the end standards of two adjacent fencing panels, comprising a spacer element (7,9,13) to fit between the end standards and means formed integrally therewith for securing the end standards to the spacer element characterized in that the means for securing the end standards to the spacer element includes a ratchet strap (1,10) to embrace an end standard and the housing (4) of the ratchet strap is incorporated in or joined to the spacer element.

2. A fencing panel tie as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that the ratchet strap (1) is designed to embrace only one end standard and the housing of the ratchet strap is adjacent to the junction of the strap with the spacer element.

3. A fencing panel tie as claimed in Claim 2 characterized by two ratchet straps extending oppositely from the spacer element for embracing end standards of the respective panels.

4. A fencing panel tie as claimed in Claim 2 characterized in that the spacer element is formed in two parts including means for connecting them together, each part being formed integrally with one ratchet strap.

5. A fencing panel tie as claimed in Claim 4 characterized in that the means for connecting them together is adjustable to vary the spacing betwen the ratchet straps.

6. A fencing panel tie as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that the ratchet strap is designed to embrace two adjacent end standards of the adjacent panels and the housing of the ratchet strap is on the opposite end of the spacer element to its junction with the strap.

7. A fencing panel tie as claimed in any preceding claim characterized in that the ratchet strap(s) and the spacer element include a reinforcing element (8).

8. A fencing panel tie as claimed in Claim 7 characterized in that the reinforcing element (8) is of metal.

9. A fencing panel tie as claimed in Claim 8 characterized in that the metal reinforcing element is incorporated in the tie as an insert in a moulding operation.

10. A fencing panel tie comprising a ratchet strap to embrace an end standard of a fencing panel or a part of such a strap characterized in that the strap (1,10) or part thereof is formed integrally with at least a part of a spacer element (7,9,13) to regulate the spacing between an embraced end standard and an adjacent one.

Drawing