Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02503533 2005-04-05
ELEVATION PANEL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[001] Fences fulfill many purposes, for example keeping out unwanted animals
or
trespassers, keeping in animals or children, defining an area of ownership,
providing
protection and privacy, and reducing noise and the accumulation of debris from
outside of the
property. The typical landowner will build a fence based on fording a balance
between the
purposes the fence must fulfill and the cost of installation and upkeep of the
fence along with
aesthetic considerations. For example, a chain link fence may be suitable for
providing some
protection, for keeping out unwanted animals or trespassers, and for being
relatively
inexpensive and easy to maintain. However, it may not be suitable if the
landowner is
seeking privacy, aesthetic appeal, or reduced outside noise.
[002] More recently, modular fencing has become more popular, and in
particular, concrete
fencing made up of panels of reinforced concrete that are typically slotted
between posts, with
the bottom panel resting on the piles to which the posts are attached,
typically by embedding
the posts in the piles. These concrete fences can be cast in molds to form a
variety of designs.
The concrete fence is sturdy, requires little maintenance, can be installed
quickly, and meets
many of the requirements of the typical landowner.
[003] As with most fencing, the typical concrete fence panel extends between
posts and the
ground in a vertical direction, but does not extend outwardly at the bottom in
a horizontal
direction. As such, grass or other vegetation is able to grow immediately
adjacent the fence
line, which requires the use of edge trimming devices to keep the border
between the fence
and the ground looking tidy. This also requires additional time and labour
beyond mowing
the lawn. Various methods could be applied to prevent the growth of vegetation
beyond
certain defined borders, but this also requires additional time and materials
for installation.
[004) Because of the method of installation typically used for concrete
fencing, if the ground
between posts is uneven or sloping, a gap exists between the ground and the
panel in order to
CA 02503533 2005-04-05
2
keep the top of the bottom panel level, along with the tops of each successive
panel placed on
top of it. These gaps, depending on their size, can be unsightly. Also, in
order to compensate
for the slope, additional support must be provided for the panel at one end,
either by having
the pile stick out of the ground on that side, which has disadvantages of its
own and adds
complications to the process of preparing the site for pouring the pile, or by
othenwvise
supporting the panel end in some way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] The present invention relates to an elevation panel for a fence
comprising an elongate
member having post-engaging ends and a bottom, sides, and a top extending
between the post
engaging ends, the sides of the elongate member narrowing from the bottom to
the top to form
a base with an elevation midge extending upwardly from the base, the elevation
ridge having a
height and extending between the post engaging ends, and the post engaging
ends being
shaped to engage posts of a fence.
[006] These and other aspects of the invention are set out in the claims,
which are
incorporated here by reference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[007] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with
reference to the
figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of
example, and in
which:
Fig. lA is a side view of the elevation panel for use in a sloping
application;
level;
Fig. 1B is a side view of the elevation panel for use where the ground is
substantially
Fig. 2A is a cross-section view of the elevation panel for use in all
applications;
Fig. 2B is a cross-section view of the elevation panel at an end for use in a
sloping
application;
Fig. 3A and 3B are cross-sections of the elevation panel in different
embodiments;
CA 02503533 2005-04-05
3
Figs. 4A and 4B are top views of post engaging ends of the elevation panel
using
different configurations for different types of posts;
Fig. 5 is a side view of a concrete fence with elevation panels; and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the elevation panel in conjunction with other
components of a fence and surrounding vegetation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[008] In the claims, the word "comprising" is used in its inclusive sense and
does not
exclude other elements being present. The indefinite article "a" before a
claim feature does
not exclude more than one of the feature being present.
[009] As seen in Figs. lA and 1B, an elevation panel 10 is placed on piles 12
between posts
14 and above the ground 16. The elevation panel 10 has an elongate member 18
forming a
bottom 20, sides 22, and a top 24 extending between post engaging ends 26. The
elongate
member 18 narrows from the bottom 20 to the top 24 to form a base 28 with an
elevation
ridge 30 extending upwardly from the base 28.
[009] The top 24 is preferably flat to correspond to a typical concrete panel,
but may be any
shape b conform to the next panel placed on top of it. For example, the top 24
of the
elongate member 18 may have a tongue to insert into the groove of an adjacent
concrete
panel, or pins to insert into holes in the adjacent panel, or some other
manner of engaging the
bottom of the adjacent panel if desired, although this is not necessary. It
should also be
understood that some other type of conventional fencing other than concrete
fencing may be
placed on top of the elevation panel 10, such as a wood fencing panel or
section, vinyl fencing
panel or section, or some other fencing system, if this is desired. The
advantages of the
elevation panel 10 remain the same regardless of the type of fencing system
used.
[010] The top 24 of the elongate member 18 will typ ically be level when the
elevation panel
is installed, thus permitting the installation of fence panels or sections
that require no
modification prior to installation. Having standard size fence panels or
sections is a great
CA 02503533 2005-04-05
4
advantage to the installer because rather than having to manufacture or
otherwise have on
hand full size fence panels or sections that account for the change in
elevation of the ground
surface between fence posts 14, all the fence panels or sections can be the
same dimensions.
[011] The height of the elevation ridge 30 may vary gradually from one post
engaging end
26 to the other post engaging end 26, and may also vary in thickness between
the sides 22 of
the elongate member 18. Generally, an elevation ridge 30 two inches thick
towards the top 24
is adequate. As seen in Figs. lA and 1B, and in cross-section near the post
engaging ends in
Figs. 2A and 2B, the height of the elevation ridge 30 of a typical elevation
panel 10 having a
slope will be shorter at one end, as in Fig 2A, than at the other end, as in
Fig. 2B. Typically,
the shorter height of the elevation ridge 30 will extend one inch upwardly
from the base 28 of
the elongate memberl8, whereas the taller height of the elevation ridge 30
will extend six or
seven inches from the base 28 of the elongate member 18. However, the taller
height of the
elevation ridge 30 could be any height to accommodate the change in elevation
of the ground
surface 32 between posts 14. The base 28 may extend laterally from the
elevation ridge 30
any distance sufficient to permit passage of the wheels of a lawnmower over
the base 28.
[012] Where the ground surface 34 is level, thus maintaining a constant
elevation between
the posts 14 of a fence, as shown in Fig. 1 B, the elevation ridge 30 at both
post engaging ends
26 will be the same height, roughly one inch above the base 28 of the elongate
member 18. It
is also possible that the elevation ridge 30 at both ends could be the same
height, while in the
middle, the elevation ridge 30 might have a height of four inches, as for
example, where the
elevation of the ground surface 32 was roughly level at the posts 14 but
dipped in the middle,
resulting in an elevation panel 10 that was V shaped. Generally, because the
distance between
sections of the fence is eight to ten feet, the change in elevation will slope
in one direction
only.
[013] As shown in cross-section in Figs. 3A and 3B, the edge 21 formed between
the bottom
20 and the sides 22 is preferably curved. Because the elevation panel 10 rests
onpiles and not
the ground 16, a void 17 is created between the elevation panel 10 and the
ground 16 to
CA 02503533 2005-04-05
S
minimize frost heaving. The curved edge 21 also tends to force the ground 16
outward and
away from the elevation panel 10 if the ground 16 does happen to move as a
result of frost
heaving, thus further minimizing the effects of frost movement on the
placement of the
elevation panel 10 and any fence panels or sections rested on the elevation
panel 10.
[014] The base 28 may be any thickness, and may be reinforced with reinforcing
materials
such as reinforcing rods 19, but typically, the thickness of the base 28 will
vary depending on
the length of the elevation panel 10. For example, fir an elevation panel 10
eight feet long,
the thickness of the base 28 could be two inches. The sides 22 of the elongate
member 18
may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom 20, as in Fig. 3A, with the
base 28 extending
laterally on either side of the elevation ridge 30. Alternatively, the sides
22 of the elongate
member 18 may curve inwardly from the base 28 to the top 24 of the elongate
member 18 to
minimize the collection of water or ice on the base 28 of the elongate member
18. The
elevation ridge 30 may also be reinforced in similar fashion to the base 28,
if this is desired.
[015] As can be seen in Figs. 4A and 4B, the post engaging ends 26 of the
elevation panels
can be any shape to conform to the ends of the post 14 being used. In a
preferred
embodiment, the post engaging ends 26 will be formed to slot into a post 14,
but the post
engaging ends 26 could be circular or rectangular or some other shape to
surround a
conventional post.
[016] A fence 34 using elevation panels 10 according to the invention is shown
in Fig. 5. To
install a fence using elevation panels 10, the installer will install piles 12
and posts 14 in
conventiom,l fashion. Preferably, a portion of the ground 16 along the fence
line will be
removed to provide a clear line between the piles 12 so that no part of the
elevation panel 10
will be supported by the ground surface 32, and to allow for bringing the
landscape level to
the base 28 of the elongate member 18 of the elevation panel 10. If the
elevation panel 10 can
be supported solely by the piles 12 without removing a portion of the ground,
then removal of
the ground 16 is not strictly necessary. Once the piles 12 and posts 14 have
been installed, the
installer assesses the elevation of the surface 32 of the ground 16 between
the posts and
CA 02503533 2005-04-05
6
selects an elevation panel 10 where the height of the elevation ridge 30
varies accordingly.
The elevation panel 10 is then placed between the posts 14 so that the
elevation panel 10 rests
on the piles 12. Additional fencing 36 can then be placed on top of the
elevation panel 10.
[017] The installer may repeat the process of removing the ground 16,
selecting and
inserting the appropriate elevation panel 10, and adding additional fencing
sections or panels
36 on top of the elevation panels 10 along the entire length of the fence 34.
Finally, as shown
in Fig. 6, the surface 32 of the ground 16 may be brought up to a level
roughly equal to the
base 28 of the elongate member 18 if this is desired for grass cutting
purposes. Alternatively,
the installer could bring the surface 32 of the ground 16 level with the top
24 of the plate 18
for each section before carrying on to the next section. It should be
understood that the
elevation panel 10 could also be inserted into a gap in an existing fence
between a fence panel
36 and the surface of the ground 32, although preferably, the elevation panel
10 is installed
first with the preparation of the ground surface 32 as previously described.
[018) Bringing the surface 32 of the ground level with the base 28 of the
elongate memberl8
is generally preferred since the wheels of a lawnmower could then pass over
the base 28 of
the elongate member 18 and mow vegetation to the appropriate level without
requiring the use
of edge trimming devices, thus providing a great savings in time and
simplifying landscape
maintenance. The elevation panel 10 has the added advana.ge of preventing
garbage, leaves,
or other refuse, from blowing under the fence 34 because the elevation panel
10 substantially
eliminates any gap between the fence section or panel 36 and the ground
surface 32. It also
has the advantage, particularly along roadsides and ditches where vegetation
may not be
regularly mowed, of providing a fire stop if, for example, a cigarette is
thrown from a passing
vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, where the elevation panel 10 is made from
cast,
reinforced concrete, the elevation panel 10 will not catch fire.
[019] Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments of the invention
described
here without departing from the invention.
