Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 2966258 2017-05-05
1 ADJUSTABLE SADDLE FOR ERECTION OF A FENCING
2 TECHNICAL FIELD
3 [0001] The following relates generally to physical barriers, and more
specifically, to an
4 adjustable saddle for erection of a fencing.
BACKGROUND
6 [0002] Barriers often are required to be erected quickly or temporarily
for, for example,
7 construction sites, festivals, events, or the like. An example of a
conventional barrier is a
8 temporary fencing. Conventional temporary fencing typically includes a
series of posts
9 interconnected by boards, wire, rails, netting, or the like; for example,
comprised of plastic,
chain-link, steel, or the like. Conventionally, temporary fencing is free
standing, or otherwise
11 self-supporting, without permanent attachment to the ground. Typically,
conventional temporary
12 fencing are supported, under the posts, with counter-weighted feet. Such
feet can include, for
13 example, cinder blocks, transverse steel elements, or the like. Such
fencing approaches, while
14 modular, can be unstable and possibly insecure, especially when used for
confining vehicles or
large crowds.
16 [0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
barrier erection in which the
17 above disadvantages are obviated or mitigated and attainment of the
desirable attributes is
18 facilitated.
= 19 SUMMARY
[0004] In an aspect, there is provided an adjustable saddle for erection of a
fencing on a
21 moveable barrier, the adjustable saddle comprising: a first member
comprising a first horizontal
22 portion and a first angled portion extending from an end of the first
horizontal portion at a
23 predetermined downward angle, the first horizontal portion defining a
closed channel therein; a
24 second member comprising a second horizontal portion and a second angled
portion extending
from an end of the second horizontal portion at the predetermined downward
angle; an
26 elongated fastener affixed to the top of the second horizontal portion,
the elongated fastener
27 passing through the closed channel and secured with a complementary
fastener for mounting to
28 the moveable barrier; and one or more elongated supports affixed to the
top of the first
29 horizontal portion for supporting a post of the fencing.
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1 [0005] In a particular case, the predetermined angle is in the range of
45 degrees to 90
2 degrees.
3 [0006] In another case, a profile of the space defined by the second
horizontal portion, the first
4 angled portion, and the second angled portion substantially conforms to
the profile of the top
and sides of the moveable barrier.
6 [0007] In yet another case, the first angled portion and the second
angled portion each define
7 one or more apertures for receiving a fastener to the moveable barrier.
8 [0008] In yet another case, the elongated fastener is a threaded bolt and
the complementary
9 fastener is a threaded nut.
[0009] In another aspect, there is provided a system for erection of a fencing
on a moveable
11 barrier, the fencing comprising a plurality of posts, the system
comprising a plurality of
12 adjustable saddles for each of the fencing posts, each of the adjustable
saddles comprising: a
13 first member comprising a first horizontal portion and a first angled
portion extending from an
14 end of the first horizontal portion at a predetermined downward angle,
the first horizontal portion
defining a closed channel therein; a second member comprising a second
horizontal portion and
16 a second angled portion extending from an end of the second horizontal
portion at the
17 predetermined downward angle; an elongated fastener affixed to the top
of the second
18 horizontal portion, the elongated fastener passing through the closed
channel and secured with
19 a complementary fastener for mounting to the moveable barrier; and one
or more elongated
supports affixed to the top of the first horizontal portion for supporting a
post of the fencing.
21 [0010] In a particular case, the predetermined angle is in the range of
45 degrees to 90
22 degrees.
23 [0011] In another case, a profile of the space defined by the second
horizontal portion, the first
24 angled portion, and the second angled portion substantially conforms to
the profile of the top
and sides of the moveable barrier.
26 [0012] In yet another case, the first angled portion and the second
angled portion each define
27 one or more apertures for receiving a fastener to the moveable barrier.
28 [0013] In yet another case, the elongated fastener is a threaded bolt
and the complementary
29 fastener is a threaded nut.
[0014] In yet another aspect, there is provided a method for erecting a
fencing on a moveable
31 barrier, the method comprising: sliding a first member of an adjustable
saddle relative to a
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1 second member of the adjustable saddle until a portion of each of the
first member and the
2 second member abut a side of the moveable barrier; engaging a fastener to
prohibit sliding of
3 the first member relative to the second member; mounting a post of the
fencing on a support
4 affixed to the first member.
[0015] In a particular case, the method further comprising securing fasteners
through each of
6 the first member and second member into the respective side of the
moveable barrier.
7 [0016] In another case, the support comprises one or more elongated
upward-extending
8 supports, and wherein the post of the fencing is mounted by passing the
post over one of the
= 9 one or more elongated upward-extending supports.
[0017] In yet another case, the support comprises a clasping mechanism for
grasping the post
11 of the fencing.
12 [0018] In yet another case, the method further comprising performing the
sliding of the first
13 member, the engaging of the fastener, and the mounting of the post
repeatedly for each post in
14 the fencing.
[0019] These and other embodiments are contemplated and described herein. It
will be
16 appreciated that the foregoing summary sets out representative aspects
of apparatuses and
17 methods for an adjustable saddle for erection of a fence to assist
skilled readers in
18 understanding the following detailed description.
19 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The features of the invention will become more apparent in the
following detailed
= 21 description in which reference is made to the appended drawings
wherein:
22 [0021] FIG. 1A is a top view of an adjustable saddle in an open
configuration in accordance
23 with an embodiment;
24 [0022] FIG. 1B is atop view of the adjustable saddle of FIG. 1A in a
closed configuration;
[0023] FIG. 2A is a front view of the adjustable saddle of FIG. 1A in an open
configuration;
26 [0024] FIG. 2B is a front view of the adjustable saddle of FIG. 1A in a
closed configuration;
27 [0025] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the adjustable saddle of FIG. 1A
in an open
28 configuration;
29 [0026] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the adjustable saddle of FIG. 1A
in a closed
configuration;
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1 [0027] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the adjustable saddle of FIG. 1A in
use in erection of a fencing;
2 and
3 [0028] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for erecting a fencing on a
moveable barrier.
4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures. For
simplicity and
6 clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals
may be repeated
7 among the Figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In
addition, numerous
8 specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough
understanding of the embodiments
9 described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary
skill in the art that the
embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details.
In other
11 instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been
described in detail
12 so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Also, the
description is not to be
13 considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.
14 [0030] Various terms used throughout the present description may be read
and understood as
follows, unless the context indicates otherwise: "or" as used throughout is
inclusive, as though
16 written "and/or"; singular articles and pronouns as used throughout
include their plural forms,
17 and vice versa; similarly, gendered pronouns include their counterpart
pronouns so that
18 pronouns should not be understood as limiting anything described herein
to use,
19 implementation, performance, etc. by a single gender; "exemplary" should
be understood as
"illustrative" or "exemplifying" and not necessarily as "preferred" over other
embodiments.
21 Further definitions for terms may be set out herein; these may apply to
prior and subsequent
22 instances of those terms, as will be understood from a reading of the
present description.
23 [0031] The following relates generally to physical barriers, and more
specifically, to an
24 adjustable saddle for erection of a fencing.
[0032] In some circumstances, a temporary barrier can include moveable
concrete barriers; for
26 example 'Jersey barriers' or 'K-rails'. In further circumstances, a
temporary barrier can include
27 moveable plastic barriers that are filled with a weighted substance such
as water or sand
28 (collectively referred to as a "moveable barrier"). However, due to the
limitations on these types
29 of barriers, for example weight and cost, the height of the barriers are
typically limited;
especially where such barriers are movable.
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1 [0033] In some embodiments, fencing can be mounted on the moveable
barrier to, for example,
2 increase the height of the barrier for increased security, while having
the stability and inertia of
3 the moveable barrier.
4 [0034] In a particular embodiment, fencing can be mounted on a moveable
barrier by inserting
the posts of the fencing into holes defined on the topside of the moveable
barrier. Such holes
6 can be, for example, holes created for rebar or anchoring. While this
approach allows for an
7 extension of the height of the barrier, mounting of the fencing on the
moveable barrier requires
8 that appropriate holes be available, or requires such holes to be
drilled; and as such, the
9 installation of such barriers may be somewhat onerous. Additionally, the
stability of the fencing
may not be optimal due to the hole in the barrier not necessarily being
designed to fit the pole of
11 the fencing, due to inexact matches between hole size and pole diameter,
and due to the
12 expansion and contraction of the concrete due to weather conditions.
13 [0035] In an embodiment, as described herein, an adjustable saddle can
be used to erect and
14 mount fencing on one or more moveable barriers. In this embodiment, the
fencing can be more
easily mounted on the moveable barrier, of various sizes, with increased
stability and security.
16 [0036] Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a top view of an adjustable
saddle for erection of a
17 fencing is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. In FIG. 1A, the
adjustable saddle is
18 shown in an open configuration, and in FIG. 1B, the adjustable saddle is
shown in closed
19 configuration. In this embodiment, fencing can be mounted on a moveable
barrier using an
adjustable saddle 100. The adjustable saddle 100 includes a first member 102
and a
21 complementary second member 104. As best shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and
3B, the first
22 member 102 includes a first horizontal portion 106 and a first angled
portion 108 extending from
23 the first horizontal portion 106. Similarly, the second member 102
includes a second horizontal
24 portion 110 and a second angled portion 108 extending from the second
horizontal portion 112.
The angled portions 108, 112 are angled downwards relative to the respective
horizontal portion
26 106, 110 at an angle in the range of between 45 degrees to 90 degrees,
depending on the
27 shape of the moveable barrier, as described below. The adjustable saddle
100 thus defines a
28 mounting space 118 beneath the horizontal portions 106, 110 and between
the angled portions
29 108, 112.
[0037] The second horizontal portion 110 is configured to be slidable
underneath and relative to
31 the first horizontal portion 106. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first
horizontal portion defines
32 a channel 114. Affixed to a topside of the second horizontal portion 110
is an elongated fastener
33 116; for example, a bolt, screw or rod. The elongated fastener 116 is
inserted such that it
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1 passes through the channel 114. In this way, the second horizontal
portion 110 can slid relative
2 to the first horizontal portion 106 as limited by the travel of the
elongated fastener 116 in the
3 channel 114. Thus, the size of the mounting space 118 can be adjusted by
sliding the second
4 horizontal portion 110 relative to the first horizontal portion 106.
[0038] As shown in the illustration of Fig. 4, the saddle 100 can be used to
erect fencing 200 on
6 a moveable barrier 202. Fig. 4 specifically shows a Jersey barrier as the
moveable barrier 202.
= 7 [0039] In order to install the fencing, the first member 102 and
the second member 104 are
8 brought together until the angled portions 108, 112 abut the sides of the
moveable barrier 202,
9 with the second horizontal portion 110 abutting the top of the moveable
barrier 202. In a
preferred embodiment, the profile of the mounting space 118 substantially
conforms to the
11 profile created by the top and sides of the moveable barrier; such that
there is a minimal, or no,
12 gap between the adjustable saddle 100 and the moveable barrier 202. When
the adjustable
13 saddle is positioned on the moveable barrier, a nut 120, or any other
complementary fastener to
= 14 the elongated fastener 116, is tightened, securing the size of
the mounting space 118.
[0040] In some embodiments, the adjustable saddle can be further secured to
the moveable
16 barrier. This may be done before or after erecting fencing on top of the
saddles. For example,
17 leaving the saddles unsecured to the barrier while placing the fencing
permits the saddles to be
18 slid longitudinally along the barrier to ensure matching the fence
width. This is advantageous in
19 real-world environments where labor costs of erecting the fencing are
sufficiently large such that
it is unrealistic to request installers to measure the spacing between saddles
to a significant
21 degree of accuracy. In this approach, the saddles can temporarily be
held to the barrier with a
22 nominal amount of force simply by adjusting the saddle members to as
much of a closed
23 position as possible given the barrier width. However, the saddles could
alternatively be secured
24 to the barrier prior to erecting the fencing.
[0041] In the present case, the angled portions 108, 112 include apertures
122, as shown in
26 FIGS. 3A and 3B. A fastener (not shown) can be passed through the
apertures 122 and secured
27 to the moveable barrier; for example, a screw, bolt, or the like. In
other cases, depending on the
28 fastener, such as with using adhesive, the apertures 122 may not be
required. In further
29 embodiments, additional securement to the moveable barrier may not be
required where the
frictional forces of the adjustable saddle 100 against the moveable barrier
202 is enough to
31 securely erect the fencing 200.
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1 [0042] In most cases, the mounting of the adjustable saddle 100 on the
moveable barrier 202 is
2 repeated a number of times corresponding to the number of posts of the
fencing 200.
3 [0043] Once the adjustable saddle 100 is mounted on the moveable barrier
202, the fencing
4 200 can be installed on the adjustable saddle 100. The adjustable saddle
100 includes a pair of
elongated supports 124 affixed to and extending upwards from the top of the
first horizontal
6 member 106. Each hollow post (not shown) of the fencing 200 is slid
overtop one of the
7 elongated supports 124 of a corresponding adjustable saddle 100. An
adjacent fence can be
8 placed over the other of the elongated supports 124. In further cases,
one elongated support
9 could be provided for a terminating saddle (where there is only one
fencing placed thereon), or
more than two could be provided to permit the securing of more than two fence
members, such
11 as where a T-junction is desired.
12 [0044] In overview, as shown in FIG. 5, there is provided a method for
erecting a fencing on a
13 moveable barrier 500. At block 502, the first horizontal member 106 is
slid over and relative to
14 the second horizontal member 110 until the angled portions 108, 112 abut
the sides of the
moveable barrier 202; thus, moved from an open configuration to a closed
configuration. At
16 block 504, a complementary fastener 120 is engaged to secure mounting of
the adjustable
17 saddle 504. At block 506, the angled portions 108, 112, are fastened to
the sides of the
18 moveable barrier 202. At block 508, a post of the fencing 200 is
installed over the one or more
19 elongated supports 124. In some cases, blocks 520 to 508 can be repeated
for each post of the
fencing 202.
21 [0045] Applicant recognized the intended advantages of the embodiments
described herein; for
22 example, the ability to retrofit any moveable barrier, such as a Jersey
barrier, to be capable of
23 having fencing erected on it. Another intended advantage is not having
to rely on holes or other
24 features that are existent in the moveable barrier, which may not
securely hold the fencing post.
A further intended advantage is the ability to change the size of the
mountable space 118 such
26 that the adjustable saddle 100 can be easily installed and removed from
the moveable barrier,
27 and allowing the adjustable saddle to be used with a variety of
different shapes and sizes of
28 moveable barriers.
29 [0046] Although the invention has been described with reference to
certain specific
embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled
in the art without
31 departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the
claims appended hereto.
32 The entire disclosures of all references recited above are incorporated
herein by reference.
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