Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02806405 2013-02-20
CA Application
Slakes Ref: 79923/00001
A WALL OR FENCE SYSTEM
2 Field of the invention
3 [801] The present invention relates to a wall or fence system
including a post element
4 and a composite post and panel made from the element and a method of
assembly of a wall or
fence system as well as a fence system or wall system per se.
6 Background of the invention
7 10021 There are many differing and varied fence systems on the market
and there is a
8 need for a more efficient system that provides a solid appearance that
can replicate the look of
9 a masonry wall with superior sound attenuation current fence solutions,
in particular one which
can decrease the amount of inventory held by hardware retailers and hardware
wholesalers.
11 p033 Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the
contrary indication
12 appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known
by those skilled in the
13 art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this
application,
14 Summary of the invention
(0041 The present invention provides a post element having at least three
sides, a first
16 side being a joining side to join to a like sided element to create a
post, a second side and a
17 third side forming a panel receiving opening.
18 Kw] The post element can be manufactured by rolling, pressing or
extruding.
19 [006] The post element can be formed whereby panel receiving opening
is narrower
than the panel to be inserted therein, creating a friction fit
21 loon The post element can be manufactured from a powder coated or
zinc coated
22 steel sheet material or aluminium
23 10083 The panel receiving opening can include an inwardly extending
sides on either
24 side thereof.
1009] A post for a fencing system being made from a post element as
described above
26 where two post elements are arranged so that their joining faces lie
adjacent to each other.
27 10101 The joining faces can be secured together by means of one or
more of the
28 following:, self drilling screws, a bolt bolts, cold working, apertures
in the joining sides being
29 tied, or other appropriate means.
1
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CA 02806405 2013-02-20
CA Application
Bakes Ref: 79923/00001
1 [011] The two elements can be arranged so that the panel
receiving openings lie
2 generally on a straight line.
3 [012] The two panel openings can be arranged so as to lie at 90
degrees in the post-
4 [013] The present invention also provides a method of assembling
a post, the method
including the step of arranging a post element as described above so that the
first sides are
6 adjacent each other, or a first side of one element is adjacent a second
side of another element;
7 and affixing the adjacent sides together.
8 [014] The affixing can be done at one or more of the following
locations near the top;
9 near the top and bottom; one location between top and bottom; multiple
locations between top
and bottom.
11 0163 The present invention further provides a method of
constructing a fence utilising
12 a post element or post as claimed in any one of the preceding claims
wherein a panel
13 supporting bracket which includes a portion having a width to provide
sufficient clearance for a
14 panel to be inserted in the panel receiving opening,
[016] The bracket can be inserted into the panel receiving opening and
rotated to
16 expand the panel receiving opening to a width of a panel to be received
therein; or the bracket
17 is pushed into the panel receiving opening engaging angled flanges which
act as inclined planes
18 so that the opening is widened as the bracket is pushed therein.
19 [017] The method can also include the step of securing the
bracket to either side of the
panel receiving opening by means of an axial pin joiner such as a rivet or a
self-drilling and self-
21 tapping screw.
22 [018] The method can include constructing the panel from two
outer layers of fibre
23 cement or magnesium board panel and a core of a polymeric material such
as EPS, polystyrene
24 or other appropriate material.
[019] The present invention also provides a method of assembling a fence or
wall
26 including the steps of
27 [020] (a) joining two post elements, as claimed in any one of
the preceding claims
28 together to form a 180 or 90 degree post element for the receiving of
panels at 180 or 90
29 degrees with respect to each other:
[021] (b) positioning a bracket in a panel receiving opening to expand
the panel
31 receiving opening to an appropriate width;
2
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CA Application
Slakes Ref: 79923/00001
1 [022] (c) securing the bracket to the element;
2 10231 (b) inserting a panel in the panel receiving opening
between two post
3 elements.
4 10241 The methods described above can include the step of a post
cap being placed
upon the post, and or an end cap can be placed upon the top layer of the
panel.
6 [025] A post element as described above where the second side is
a planar side.
7 [028] The present invention further provides a fence system
including post elements
8 and panel elements wherein the post elements are of a predetermined
length which is
9 marginally larger than the length of the panels to be assembled with the
post, the posts
including panel receiving openings in one side of the post elements.
11 [027] The system can include a spacing element of the same
length as the posts and
12 which is of a side dimension which is smaller than the panel receiving
openings, so that the post
13 can be inserted into the panel receiving openings whereby a post element
can be used as a
14 spacer for an assembler to space the posts to receive a panel during
assembly.
1028] The spacing element can be one of: a post; a decorative member; a
16 strengthening member, or a combination of these
17 Brief description of the drawings
18 [029] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will
now be described,
19 by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[030] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post element;
21 [031] Figure 2 is a mid post made from two post elements placed
back to back;
22 10321 Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a bracket in
use with the post element
23 and posts illustrated in figures 1 and 2,
24 10331 Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the bracket and post
of figure 3;
[034] Figure 5 illustrates perspective view of the bracket;
26 1039 Figure 6 illustrates side view of the bracket and post of
figure 3, with the post
27 having a like post back to back;
28 10361 Figure 7 illustrates the post of Figure 1 with a panel
mounted therein;
29 10371 Figure 8 illustrates the mid-post of Figure 2 with panels
mounted therein;
3
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CA Application
131akes Ref: 79923/00001
1 [038] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a composite post
assembly made from two
2 posts of figure 1 back to back with a square hollow section post;
3 [039] Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of a composite
post assembly made from
4 two posts of figure 1 placed back to side;
[040] Figure 11 illustrates a wall or fence assembled from two assembled
panels;
6 [041] Figure 12 illustrates a wall or fence made from three
assembled panels;
7 [042] Figure 13 illustrates a side elevation of the footing of
a post;
8 [043] Figure 14 illustrates a plan view of the wall or fence
arrangement of Figures 11
9 and 12;
1044] Figure 15 illustrates a post and use with a length of strengthening
member or a
11 decorative member to establish correct post spacing from another post;
12 [0453 Figure 16 is a cross section of the strengthening member
or a decorative
13 member of figure 15;
14 10463 Figure 17 illustrates the use of the strengthening member
or a decorative
member in its decorative role of closing the open post of figure 1;
16 1047] Figure 18 illustrates a perspective view of a
predetermined length of
17 strengthening member or a decorative member;
18 10483 Figure 19 illustrate the strengthening member or a
decorative member
19 temporarily in position between two posts (supported vertically by the
brackets) so that the posts
are at the correct spacing This member also provides a horizontal surface to
place a spirit level
21 on to obtain correct vertical alignment for consecutive posts.
22 [049] Figure 20 illustrates in perspective view the
strengthening member or a
23 decorative member in use with a post; This is commonly used to conceal
the panel opening at
24 the start or end of a wall or when the wall is 'stepped' to conceal the
panel opening where the
panel will not finish flush with the top of the post,
26 10501 Figure 21 illustrates a composite corner post assembly
where panels will only
27 enter on two sides showing use of the strengthening member or a
decorative member to close
28 the other unused open side of said post.
29 10511 Figures 22 to 26 illustrate respectively the plan views
of the post of figures 1, 2,
21, 9 and 10.
4
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CA 02806405 2013-02-20
CA Application
Stakes Ref: 19923/00001
1 [052] Figure 27 illustrates a cross-section or plan view of an
in-fill member.
2 [053] Figure 28 illustrates a cross-section or plan view of a
post or post element.
3 [054] Figure 29 illustrates a cross-section or plan view of the
members of figures 27
4 and 28 assembled together.
Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments
6 [055] Illustrated in Figure 1 is a post element 10 which
comprises a generally open
7 shaped channel section where three sides 11, 12.1 and 12.2 of the channel
section 10 are fully
8 closed and the front side 13 which has a reduced width panel receiving
opening 14 made up
9 from two side flanges 17 and 18 extending towards each other from the
sides 12.1 and 12.2.
The two flanges 17 and 18 end in inwardly turned or directed flanges 15 and
16.
11 [056] The post element 13 either can be sheet metal and roll
formed to a required
12 length or of indefinite length and then cut to the required length. In
manufacturing the post
13 element of Figure 1, this element can be manufactured from roll forming,
for example, from a
14 Colorbond (registered trade mark) or other power coated material or
could be extruded from a
die in aluminium.
16 [057] The flanges 15 and 16 are generally at approximately 45
degrees to the side
17 portions 17 and 18.
18 [058] The opening 14 is preferably of a width W when the element
is manufactured.
19 The width W is substantially less than the width of a panel which is to
be inserted therein. More
will be said about this later.
21 [069] Illustrated in Figure 2 is a mid post or 180 degree post
which has two panel
22 openings 14 which are in line with each other so that when two panels
are placed in these
23 respective openings the panels will form approximately a straight line
with the post of Figure 2 in
24 the middle thereof. To manufacture the post of Figure 2 two elements of
Figure 1 are placed
back to back that is so that their backs 11 are arranged so as to be facing
each other. These
26 are then secured either by one or more of the following methods:
adhering or bonding by
27 chemical adhesive between the two planar surfaces 11; one or more screws
or self-tapping
28 screws or nuts and bolts applied in the direction of arrows 19, 20, 21
or 22 or other appropriate
29 means such as production of a series of holes through the centre of the
back 11 so that the
holes will sit back to back and these can then be tied by wire ties or purpose
built ties. Other
31 joining means like a series of tongues and apertures can also be
provided but this may mean
5
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CA 02806405 2013-02-20
CA Appltc.ation
!Takes Ref 79923/00001
1 greater inventory as one post section will have to have apertures to
receive tongues on a
2 different shaped post. While this can be done, it is a commercially
better prospect to have only a
3 single post which is joinable to a like post, and not have two different
post elements.
4 [060] An advantage of the above system is that suppliers of
fencing materials need
only keep one post element of standard length in their inventory and the
customers will
6 purchase and put together posts according to their needs. This makes the
fencing system
7 readily able to be introduced by retail outlets with a minimum of
inventory and space required for
8 the system.
9 [061] Illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 is a bracket system for use
with the post of figures 1
and 2. Before assembling the post into a post hole or driving same into the
ground or encasing it
11 in concrete in a post hole, an L-bracket 90 such as that illustrated in
Figure 5 which has a panel
12 support portion 91 which also doubles as a post engagement portion, and
a bridging section 93
13 at right angles to the portion 91. The bridging section 93 has a series
of four holes 94. The
14 bracket 90 is placed in the opening 14 of a post such as that of Figure
1 or Figure 2 so that the
opening 14 of width W is expanded to the width dimension of the portion 91.
The action of
16 positioning the bracket 90 is to align the width wl so that it is
generally vertical or angled so that
17 it will readily move into the opening 14, and then once in to rotate the
portion 91 so that it
18 engages the ends of the flanges 15 and 16 with the rotation action
moving the flanges 15 and
19 16 to the desired width to receive a panel. The portion 91 is of
approximately the same width as
the panels 40. Once the bracket 90 has been put into the opening 14 the
bracket is then rotated
21 so that the section 91 is at right angles to the longitudinal direction
of the post, as is best
22 illustrated in Figure 6.
23 [062] An alternative method of assembly of the bracket 90 with
the post is to simply
24 orient the portion 91 so that it is perpendicular to the post's
longitudinal axis and then simply
push the portion 91 so that it engages the angled flanges 15 and 16 on side
13. As the flanges
26 15 and 16 are at 45 degrees to the flanges 17 and 18, the corners of the
bracket 90 which first
27 engages the flanges 15 and 16, will effectively be engaging an inclined
plane, and thus by a
28 sufficient force being applied by the assembler, the flanges 15 and 16
will open to the desired
29 width by the action of pushing the portion 91 into the opening 14. To
this end the free corners of
the portion 91 may be radiused Or angled so that the interaction with the
inclined planes of the
31 exterior faces of flanges 15 and 16 will result in less friction and
thus a reduced force required to
32 insert the portion 91 into opening 14.
6
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CA Apphration
Makes Ref: 79923/00001
1 [0631 As can be best seen from figure 6, the portion 91 extends
inwardly of the post
2 and Sits generally horizontally is the post is vertical. This means that
the portion 91 provide
3 support surface which is the full width of the opening 14 and the equal
to the width of the panels
4 40 which will go into the opening 14 In this way the portion 91 acts as
both a panel support and
post engagement portion.
6 1064] Once in the desired position, the screw holes 94 are used
by the installer to
7 secure the bracket via self-tapping and or self-drilling screws to the
planar post flanges 17 and
8 18 on the side 13 of a post element. This is done at approximately ground
level or fractionally
9 below ground level where the bracket 90 can be just below the surface of
concrete.
10651 Illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 is the posts of Figures 1 and 2 shown
with panels
11 40 having been inserted in the gap or panel receiving portion 14. The
panel 40 is preferably
12 made from a 4.5 mm fibre cement panel or magnesium board 41 on one side
and a similar
13 panel 42 on the other. The panels 42 and 41 are adhered to a polystyrene
or EPS polystyrene
14 foam core 43 which can be shaped at its upper or lower edges 44 so as to
interlock with a panel
from above which would have a similarly mating formation,
16 1066) To assemble a fence or wall with the above post and panel,
one post as
17 illustrated in Figure 13, namely, an assembled post 50, made up of two
post sections 10 back to
18 back, is placed in a dug post hole 51 to a specified depth of
approximately 600 mms. The post
19 50 is supported in any known manner and concrete poured in the post hole
51 to secure the
post 50 in an upright condition.
21 10671 If desired only end posts need be placed in concrete with
mid posts being simply
22 driven into the ground. The most robust construction is achieved if each
post is placed in similar
23 post holes 61 and anchored therein by means of cement or other grouting
type materials. This
24 provides the post with a panel receiving opening 14 of approximately the
correct width at the
base of the post and allows a first or lower panel 100 as illustrated in
Figures 11 and 12 to be
26 installed between adjacent posts. Then the second layer of panels 200
can be inserted and
27 made to inter-engage with the panels below if required or just to sit
separately thereof and
28 adjacent thereto. In the fence of Figure 12, a third layer of panel
elements 300 are installed to
29 bring the fence up to the desired height.
1068] The panel element is preferably sitting in the post with only a light
frictional
31 contact with the free edges of the inwardly extending sides 15 and 16
exerting relatively little
32 pressure thereon. This reasonably snug fit still provides a fence of
high strength and quality and
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CA Application
Makes Ref 79923/00001
1 yet is relatively quick and easy to assemble without the need of complex
tools and specialist
2 trades.
3 [069] Preferably the bracket 90 is manufactured from 3 mm plate
steel which is
4 stamped and pressed (then galvanised) to the appropriate form.
[070] To assemble a fence or wall, so that the posts of figure 11 and 12
are at the
6 correct distance apart, a decorative or strengthening member 70 is
provided as is illustrated in
7 figures 15 to 19. The member 70 is an open channel having three sides, a
front 70.1, two right
8 angle side portions 70.2 and 70.3 which respectively have angled flanges
71 and 72 extending
9 therefrom and at an angle of approx 45 degrees thereto. The member 70 if
used with a post 10
can be inserted in the manner of figure 17 where the front 70.1 will close off
the opening 14 to
11 produce a generally closed section post element. In this arrangement the
member 70 is used as
12 a decorative element which eliminates the exposed free edges of the
flanges 15 and 16. If the
13 member 70 were to be inserted into the post 10 around 180 degrees from
the orientation
14 illustrated in figure 17, then the opening 14 remains open and the
assembled post element is
now a double walled post element on three sides, thereby producing a
reinforced post element
16 which may be needed in high wind area applications.
17 [07.1] Depending upon corner post configurations which may be
required, such as a
18 corner post of the construction of figure 21, one of the openings 14 is
redundant and can be
19 closed off. Or if a post such as that illustrated in figure 20 were to
be needed a closed section
can be readily assembled by the use of the member 70.
21 [072] The member 70 is produced in the standard length which is
equivalent to the
22 length of the post and which is also marginally longer than the length
of the panels 40. As the
23 member 70 is in all likelihood going to be required on most fence or
wall assemblies. the
24 assembler can use the member 70 as ruler or spacer whereby once the
posts have their
brackets 90 installed as illustrated in figure 15, the member 70 is positioned
inside the opening
26 14 as the distance from the side 70.1 to the free edges of flanges 71
and 72 is less than the
27 width W of the openings 14. This means it enters the openings 14 without
having to force the
28 openings 14 with a bracket 90 in place. With a post located at either
end of the member 70, as
29 illustrated in figure 19, the inside faces of the backs 11 of posts 10
are now spaced at the right
distance apart, as in Figure 19, to receive a panel 100 or 40 therein. This
member also provides
31 a horizontal surface to place a spirit level on to obtain correct
vertical alignment of consecutive
32 posts.
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Blakes Ref 79923/00001
1 [073] While the best joining method of the above described post
elements 10 is by
2 joining the backs 11 thereof, other jointing could occur such as joining
in back 11 to side 12 as
3 in figure 10. If a stronger post corner assembly is required a square
hollow section can be used
4 with the posts 10 placed back to back with two side of the 90mm x 90mm
square hollow section
as illustrated in figure 9.
6 [074] In the corner post embodiment of figure 21, three half
post 10 are used whereby
7 two posts 10 are back to back while the third has its back to aligned
sides of the other two. The
8 contacting surfaces can all receive self tapping screws to effect the
securing of the assembly
9 posts together.
[075] Illustrated in Figures 27 to 29 is an in-fill member 80 and post or
post element
11 110 and an assembly of these of another embodiment similar to that of
Figures 1 and 2, and like
12 ports have been like numbered.
13 [076] The in-fill member 80 has, in the cross-section or plan
view of Figure 27, a planar
14 portion 32, angled sides 84, which are respectively at approximately
135' (or 45 as the
supplementary angle) to the planar portion 82. The sides 84 form the first
half of, or a lead in
16 to, a hook portion 86, which is formed from a side 87, a bend 88, and
further side 90 which is
17 generally parallel to the respective sides 17 and 18. The planar portion
82, as discussed below,
18 closes off the opening in the post or post element 110 allowing the
assembly to appear whole.
19 [077] The post or post element 110 of figure 28, like previous
embodiments includes
the sides 16 and 15, which are respectively approximately 135 to the sides 18
and 17 (or 45
21 being the supplementary angle to the direction of extension of sides 18
and 17).
22 [078] The sides 15 and 16 extend into a round end portion 16.2
and 15.2, and from this
23 extends another inwardly directed side 15.1 and 16.1 with respect to the
element 110, and a
24 sideways directed sides 16.3 and 15.3 which are respectively generally
parallel to the sides 18
and 17.
26 [079] The sides 15.2 and 16.2 are inwardly directed with respect
to the post or post
27 element 110, but the side 16.2 also extends towards the side 12.1 from
which side 17 depends,
28 while side 15.2 is also extending towards side 12.2 from which side 18
depends.
29 [080] Further, sides 15.1 and 16.1 while also being inwardly
directed with respect to
the post or post element 110, are such that the side 16.1 extends towards side
12.2, while side
31 15.1 extends towards side 12.1.
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1 [081] This arrangement forms a smooth entry passage for a beam
or horizontal 90 and
2 a panel 40, as well as providing an element of bias as provided by the
previous embodiments.
3 [082] Further, the hook system formed by sides 16, 16.1, curved
portion 16.2 and side
4 16.3, and 15, 15.1, curved portion 15.2 and side 15.3, provides a means
for the hooks 86 of the
in-fill member 80 to engage, as is illustrated in Figure 29. This results in a
more efficient in-fill
6 i.e. less metal by comparison to in-fill 70 of Figure 20, and further the
in-fill 80 has the other
7 result of assisting to maintain the shape of post or post element 110 of
Figure 28 and 29, by
8 preventing sides 18 and 17 moving away from each other, except in the
case of excessive
9 forces. Like the previously described embodiments, the in-fill 80 and
post or post element 110
can be readily manufactured by roll forming or any other appropriate
manufacturing method
11 such as extrusion.
12 [083] The affixing of one post element to the other can be
performed at one or more of
13 the following locations: near the top of the arranged elements; near the
top and bottom; one
14 location between top and bottom; multiple locations between top and
bottom.
(084] The preferred post size is one where the back is approx 90 mm in
width while the
16 sides are approx 45 mm in width. IF a post with sides of smaller
dimension were selected, say
17 for example 38 mm then such a post would, in a side on orientation be
able to be inserted into
18 the openings 14, as the width of the panels is approx 40rrim. With such
a 38 mm post, as all
19 post are of the same length, which is the same length as the member 70,
for example 2.4
metres, then instead of using a member 70 to be a spacer in the post layout as
illustrated in
21 figure 19, a 38mm sided post can be used in its stead. This means that
the fencing system with
22 these features can be purchased with either member 70 or a 38 mm sided
post which will be a
23 readily available spacer for use by the assembler.
24 [085] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be
understood in its "open"
sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its
"closed" sense, that is the
26 sense of "consisting only of'. A corresponding meaning is to be
attributed to the corresponding
27 words "comprise", "comprised and "comprises" where they appear.
28 (o86] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and
defined herein extends to all
29 alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features
mentioned or evident from the
text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative
aspects of the invention.
31 [087] While particular embodiments of this invention have been
described, it will be
32 evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be
embodied in other specific
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forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiments
2 and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive,
3 and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art
are therefore intended to
4 be embraced therein.
1
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