AU2009100361A4 - Modular panel construction - Google Patents

Description

1 MODULAR PANEL CONSTRUCTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to the construction of panels for fences, gates and screens from extruded sections. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 The conventional method of constructing fences, gates and panels is to attach uprights to top and bottom rails which are supported by posts. The rails are usually checked into posts and fixed by nails or screws and uprights are attached by nails or screws at measured spacing to the face of the rails. Some times a capping member is fixed on top of the uprights which for this purpose are flush 15 with the top of the top rail so that the cap can be fixed to the top of the rail. However this conventional method is time consuming since the spacing of uprights has to be measured and each upright has to be fixed onto the rails individually. Also uprights are prone to being dislodged from the rails if they are 20 impacted since the nail or screw fixing does not lock them onto the rails. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a modular panel 25 construction which has structural integrity and is readily assembled, or at least provides an alternative to the conventional method. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 30 According to the present invention a modular panel construction comprises two slotted rails of the same length, two or more long members the ends of which pass through the slots of and are fixed to the said rails.

2 Preferably the construction has a one or two capping rails which clip over the slotted rails. 5 Preferably the construction attaches to fixtures on posts to form a fence, or to side supports to form a gate or directly to supports to form a screen where the long members are horizontal. Preferably the slotted rails are a generally double T shaped extrusion and the 10 capping rails are a generally U shaped extrusion such that the U shaped extrusion clips over the T shaped extrusion. Alternatively the slots in the slotted rail are marginally longer than the corresponding cross sectional length of the uprights allowing the panel to be 15 raked. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with 20 reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of an extrusion which holds uprights Fig 2 shows an upright located in the extrusion of Fig 1 which fits over a base extrusion 25 Fig 3 shows an assembled panel Fig 4 shows construction of a screen panel attaching to a wall. Fig 5 is a plan view of the assembled screen panel of Fig 4 Fig 6 are plans of extrusions which hold members of different cross section Fig 7 shows capping rails of different cross section 30 Fig 8 shows a raked panel and Fig 9 is a plan of the extrusion which holds the uprights of the panel in Fig 8.

3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Channel shaped extrusion 1 shown in Fig 1 has slots 2 in its median section shaped to receive uprights of similar shape. Fig 2 shows upright 3 inserted in 5 slot 2 and fixed by screw 7 to extrusion 1 which fits onto U shaped base extrusion 4. Extrusion 1 has side flanges 8 which engage returns 9 in the legs of extrusion 4 when extrusion 1 is pressed into the opening between the legs of extrusion 4. Fig 3 shows an assembled fence panel with the tops of uprights 3 secured in a 10 second extrusion 1 and capped with a second extrusion 4 which clips over extrusion 1 in the same way as at the base. Accordingly a secure fence panel is formed which can be attached to posts by brackets (not shown) which attach to the posts and fit into the end of mating extrusions 1 and 4. 15 An assembled panel can also be used as a screen with horizontal slats by fixing extrusions to walls 5 with bolts 6 as shown in Figs 4 and 5. Fig 6 illustrates extrusions with round 10, rectangular 11 and circular 12 slots to receive round, rectangular and circular uprights or slats 3. Fig 7 illustrates round 13, square 14 and rectangular 15 cap extrusions which provide alternative balustrade shapes. 20 Fig 8 illustrates a raked panel which is achieved by making slots 3 in extrusion 1 in Fig 9, a little longer than the longer side of uprights 3 so that upper extrusion 1 can be displaced longitudinally relative to lower extrusion 1. Uprights 3 remain vertical but extrusions 1 are angled away from the horizontal to the desired 25 inclination. Accordingly the raked panel can be used for example as a railing for a stairway or a sloping fence panel. VARIATIONS 30 It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of 4 the invention as herein set forth. For example further alternative shaped extrusions could be used which still achieve the modular construction of the present invention. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and 5 "comprising" are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps. 10 15 20 25 30

Claims (5)

1. A modular panel construction comprising two slotted rails of the same length and two or more long members the ends of which pass through the slots of and 5 are fixed to the said rails.

2. The construction of claim 1 which also has one or two capping rails which clip over either or both slotted rails. 10

3. The construction of claim 2 which attaches to fixtures on posts to form a fence, or to side supports to form a gate or which attaches directly to supports to form a screen where the long members are horizontal.

4. The construction of claim 1 in which the slotted rails are a generally double T 15 shaped extrusion and the capping rail is a generally U shaped extrusion such that the U shaped extrusion clips over the T shaped extrusion.

5. The construction of claim 1 in which the linear dimension of the slots in the slotted rail is marginally longer than the corresponding cross sectional length of 20 the uprights allowing the panel to be raked. 25 30