Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FENCE ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to a fence assembly and in particular but not
limited to a temporary fence assembly for use adjacent to construction sites
or
the like as a barrier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The art of fencing is a crowded art. In particular the field of portable
fencing and temporary fencing is well developed and over many years there has
not been a truly inexpensive and effective barrierthat may be easily installed
and
utilising readily available materials. Thus there remains a need for ever more
efficient use of materials and labour in a field that is crowded with all
manner of
fencing variations and combinations. Thus there is always a need for fencing
that is cheap and economical to make and install there being a long felt need
to
optimise these two factors but still ensure that the fencing is adequate for
the
intended purpose. Recent granted patents show that there continues to be a
need for cost effective and improved fencing in a competitive field. The
present
invention relates to the use of rigid mesh panel as the basic element in the
assembly. A search of the patent literature reveals relevant recent patents
that
also use rigid mesh as the basic element. These include US 6,581,914, US
5,039,250, US 5,542,649, US 4,290,602, US 6,719,279, US 5,586,753, US
5,556,080 and US 5,184,800.
In some situations the appropriateness of particular barriers is
questionable as to the cost and efficacy. For example, as is occasioned
temporary barriers range from flexible roll out perforated plastics sheeting
which
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is very cheap, usually used near pedestrian traffic, but may be easily
displaced
by wind or minor impacts to rigid structures. The rigid structures which are
very
expensive are usually used near vehicular traffic.
While many of these patents describe fencing that is suitable for the
application to a temporary or portable fence, they have a number of
disadvantages relating to use. These include problems with ease of
assembly/disengaging, difficulties associated with ease of relative panel
movement to account for non-straight fence requirements and difficulties
inhibiting flow of site debris particularly dust through the fence.
OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly it is an objection of the present invention to provide a fence
assembly that enables a non-straight fence to be easily assembled from mesh
panels and wherein a cheap and effective fence is provided and where the
invention provides a useful alternative to the prior art.
In one broad aspect there is provided a fence assembly comprising
panels formed from a covered rigid mesh adjacent panels having overlapping
sections of the panels, the overlapping sections of the panels forming a post
pass through passage means, and there being post means interconnecting the
adjacent panels at the overlapping sections and passing through post pass
through passage means.
In one preferred form the invention provides a fence assembly comprising
panels formed from a covered rigid mesh preferably covered with a shrink-wrap
coating, adjacent panels having overlapping sections of the panels, the
overlapping sections of the panels forming part of an operative pivot means
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enabling construction of an non-straight fence, and there being post means
interconnecting the adjacent panels at the overlapping sections.
In another preferred form the panels are covered with a shrink-wrap
plastics coating so the panels are impermeable to passage of dust, adjacent
panels having longitudinal upper and lowerflanges spaced at their ends so that
the flanges of one panel fits inside the flanges of the other panel in
overlapping
relation, the mesh at the flanges at the region of overlap forming the post
pass
through passage means and in conjunction with the post forming an operative
pivot means enabling construction of an non-straight fence, and the post means
interconnecting the adjacent panels at the overlapping sections.
Preferably the post means connects the panels at the pivot means so that
the post functions as a pivot pin passing through the overlapping sections of
the
adjacent panels.
The panels are preferably formed from a pre-shrink wrapped rigid mesh
sheetformed while flat and having folded upper and lower rails formed by
folding
over upper and lower edges of the mesh respectively. Thus the rails have end
apertures formed by a portion of the mesh, the end apertures of adjacent panel
rails overlapping and a post is able to operative pass through overlapping
upper
and lower rail apertures to connect the panels together in a hinge pin
configuration. Preferably, each panel tapers to one end so that the narrow end
of an adjacent panel fits inside the wide end of the next adjacent panel at
the
region of overlap.
Preferably, each post has a cap applied to the post. Typically, the cap
comprises a mushroom shaped cap having a hollow stem section which fits over
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the post. The cap also preferably includes a groove so that a strap secured to
the post, usually by a pin, may pass over the cap to retain the cap in
operative
position.
Each post is usually driven into the ground a predetermined distance
suited to the panel height and therefore the panel height may be adjusted by
adjusting the post height.
Preferably, each post has spaced holes so that a pin may be inserted
through one of the holes to enable the panel position on the post to be
adjusted.
In one embodiment a strap, comprising a U-shaped filament, typically wire,
having eyelets at its free ends passes over the top of the post, usually over
the
cap, the eyelets being positioned in-line with one of the holes in the post
and
then a pin is inserted through the eyelets and the hole in the post. In this
case
the panel slides down onto the pin. This means the panel may either rest on
the
ground or subject to how far the post is driven into the ground the bottom of
the
panel may be held above ground.
Preferably, an extruded coping is applied to the upper rail of the
assembled fence.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put
into
practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings
which
illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:-
Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of a fence including a non-straightfence
assembly according to the invention;
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Figure 2 is a cutaway part view of a an operative pivot means derived
from overlapping rail sections and a star picket as post and hinge pin.
Figures 3A, 3B and 3C are respective section, side view and end view of
a panel and rail construction;
5 Figures 4A and 4B are respective section and side views of a preferred
panel;
Figures 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate the embodiments of Figures 3Ato 3C but
in a shorter panel;
Figures 6A to 6C corresponds to the embodiment of Figures 4A to 4B but
in a smaller panel;
Figures 7 to 9 illustrate various accessories; and
Figures 10 to 17 illustrate the assembly process
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated a
fence assembly 10 comprising a plurality of panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 with a
panel 15 about to be connected to panel 11. The panel 11 is shown in part with
a dappled appearance at 16 and 17 due to the inclusion of a shrink-wrap cover
applied to the panel 11. All other panels also have a similar coating. The
panel
11 has a based form of a rigid mesh. The shrink-wrap material is applied to
the
mesh as a flat panel. The panel with the shrink-wrap so applied is then folded
over at the top and bottom to form rail 18 as a lower rail and 19 an upper
rail.
The panels taper so the spacing between the upper and lower rails is wider at
one end than the other so the panels are effectively left and right handed.
This
enable the narrow end of one panel to be inserted inside the wide end of the
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next panel It is usual to provide a positioning sticker at one end to identify
the
right or left ends.
By reason of the mesh dimension and the selection of the rail width for
rails 18 and 19 the end of the rail is created with a suitably sized plastic
covered
aperture at 20 and 21 which may simple be cut or speared through so that a
star
picket 22 may punch through to form the apertures 20 and 21 to secure the
panel in its operative position by driving the star picket into the ground.
The panel 1-1 is 2400 mm long and the panel 12 is 1125 mm long, the
height of the panels is nominally 1070 mm high. The rails 18 and 19 simply
overlap so the respective end apertures 20 and 21 are positioned in
overlapping
configuration so that the star picket may pass through the overlapping
apertures
to connect the panels together as shown in the assembled portions of the fence
in Figure 1.
The star picket is so sized and the aperture of the folded rail section so
chosen that the panels are able to rotate with the star picket 22 operatively
performing the function of a pivot pin thus the combination provides a pivot
means at the juncture between adjacent panels. Thus the panels may be
positioned say at 90 degrees the post 22 driven into position and then the
panel
so connected may be swung through various angles up until the straight on
position as panels 11 and 12 illustrated so that either a straight or non-
straight
fence may be formed. Thus the basic fence of the invention is illustrated in
Figure 1.
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In addition to this in Figure 1 reflective warning tape is adhered to the
panels as illustrated at 23. This will be described further below in relation
to
Figure 3A.
Figure 2 illustrates in more detail the preferred arrangement at the pivot
connection between adjacent panels such as 11 and 15 whereby the star picket
22 is capped by a cap 24 held in place by a wire retainer 25. The 'wire
retainer
itself is retained by a latching pin 26 as illustrated passing through a hole
in the
post. An extruded plastic coping 26 is applied to the upper rail 19, the upper
rail
19 in this case including return flange 27, the coping 26 having an outer
surface
28 which may be marked in accordance with the striped warning marking
illustrated on the tape 23 of Figure 1. An alternative again is that the tape
23
may be applied to the coping 26 as illustrated in Figure 3A.
The coping is an extrusion illustrated in Figure 7 while the retainer and
latching pin are illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.
The process for assembly of a barrier on-site is illustrated with regard to
Figures
10 to 17 and the steps involved are set out as follows:
1. Check for underground services.
2. Visualise where the barrier is to be placed.
3. Run a string line between beginning and end points of each straight
section .
4. Lay panels out along the line.
5. Cut a small cross (Fig 11) in plastic membrane at both ends of top and
bottom flanges in each panel.
6. Stand the first panel at left hand end of the line.
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7. Ensure the flanges of the panel face away from you and the positioning
sticker is positioned to the right (Fig 10). The panels are folded with the
left-hand end slightly narrower than the right-hand end so larger end can
overlap the narrower end.
8. Place a 650 mm long star picket (Fig 12, 13) through the cuts in the top
and bottom flanges on the left-hand end of the panel, with holes in picket
furthest away from you.
9. Drive picket into ground until second hole from top of picket is approx 50
mm above the top flange (Fig 13).
10. Stand the second panel and place its narrower end into the wider end of
the first panel overlapping the second panel by 50 mm.
11. Place a second star picket through the cuts in the overlapped flanges of
the first and second panels, and drive picket into ground same as Step
9.
12. Repeat Steps 10 and 11 until all panels have been erected.
13. Place a cap (Fig 15) onto top of each picket.
14. Place cap retainer (Fig 6) over cap into locating groove.
15. At each picket, lift panels approx 50 mm so retainer passes through cuts
in top flanges.
16. Line up holes in retainer with second hole from the top of the picket, and
place latching pin through all 3 holes (Fig 17). Bottom of barrier will be
approx 50 mm off ground.
Where a retainer & latching pin cannot be used, a 550 mm nylon cable tie may
be used to retain the caps in place.
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Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the
present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent
to
those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of
the
invention as set out in the appended claims.
