GB2300435A

GB2300435A - Fencing

Info

Publication number: GB2300435A
Application number: GB9607990A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Edward Bowman; Robert Sinclair
Original assignee: S & B Building Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: S & B Building Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-04
Filing date: 1996-04-18
Publication date: 1996-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-18
Also published as: GB2300435B; GB9607990D0

Abstract

A fencing system comprises support members (1) for insertion in the ground and first and second channel pieces (20, 21) for securing to the support members with their channels facing each other. Panels (10) are located in the channels.

Description

IMPROVEKENTS IN OR RELATING TO FENCES This invention relates to fences and is concerned with fences which can be readily disassembled and subsequently reassembled for reuse.

It is conventional to erect fences around, for example, building sites in order to prevent unauthorised entry of persons to the site who may suffer injury at the site or who may steal items from the site. Conventionally, such fences are formed from wooden sheeting, usually of plywood or the like, nailed or otherwise secured to wooden posts concreted vertically in the ground. However plywood sheeting becomes damaged by water penetration. Also, when it is desired to remove such fencing it is'difficult to detach the sheets from the posts without damaging them.

Also, the posts have to be sawn off at ground level.

Thus such fencing cannot readily be reused. Hence the fencing is normally pulled down, by a bulldozer or the like, and then burnt or otherwise discarded.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fence which is readily dismountable for reuse and which is relatively inexpensive.

According to the present invention there is provided a fencing system comprising: a plurality of support members for inserting into the ground, a plurality of first and second channel pieces for securing to the support members so that each support member has one of the first channel pieces at a lower first position and one of the second channel pieces at a higher second position on the support member with the channels of the channel pieces facing each other, and a plurality of panels having first and second ends for inserting into the channels of the first and second channel pieces so that the panels are retained in the channel pieces.

Generally the first channel pieces of adjacent support members will lie along a substantially straight line and usually the panels will be of a similar size to one another in that the distance between the first and second ends of the panels will be the same. In this case, the distance between the first and second positions on the support members will also be constant and the second channel pieces of adjacent support members will also lie on a substantially straight line.

Preferably adjacent panels abut one another in which case they may be clamped together by suitable coupling members.

The first and second channel pieces may be secured to the support members by first and second channel members which are secured to the support members at said first and second positions and in which the first and second channel pieces lie, respectively.

The support members are preferably located in disposable sleeves of plastics material or steel concreted into the ground. Alternatively, the support members may be located in re-usable spigots driven into the ground. The support members may be formed of any suitable material and are preferably in the form of steel tubes. The panels are preferably formed of steel. They may be in the form of sheet material suitably secured to a frame by for example welding or by suitable adhesive. The sheet material may be of metal or wood. Alternatively, the panels may comprise frame having wire mesh secured thereto.

In the case where the panels are in the form of wooden sheets, they may include walings positioned so that their ends are retained in the channels of the channel pieces and having boarding (formed of, for example, plywood sheets) screwed or otherwise secured thereto.

In an alternative embodiment the panels may be in the form of corrugated sheets e.g. of steel. In this case, the frame can be dispensed with and the sheets can be directly located in the channel pieces.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a fence formed from the fencing system of the present invention, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the fence of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first part of the fence of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second part of the fence of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 5 is a plan view of a third part of the fence of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 6 is a cross section through the part of Figure 5 along line V - V, Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fourth part of the fence of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a reusable spigot for receiving the support member of a fencing system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, Figure 9 is a perspective view of a part of a fencing system in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, Figure 10 is a diagrammatic horizontal section through the part of Figure 9, and Figure 11 is a diagrammatic vertical section through the part of Figure 9.

In the drawings like parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Referring to Figures 1 to 7, there is shown a fencing system comprising a plurality of support members in the form of tubular steel posts 1. The posts are vertically mounted in disposable plastics sleeves 2 concreted into the ground.

The fencing system also includes a plurality of first channel members 3 one of which is shown in Figure 3. The first channel member 3 comprises a steel Ushaped channel portion 4 welded or otherwise secured to a square sectioned steel tube 5 having an internal dimension such that it will fit over one of the posts.

One side of the tube 5 includes a threaded hole and a securing bolt 6 is threadingly engaged in the hole. By appropriately rotating the bolt 6 in the hole using a suitable tool, the end of the bolt 6 can be caused to protrude through the hole and bite into the outer surface of the post 1 therein so as to lock the channel member 3 at a lower first position on the post 1 with the channel of the channel member 3 facing generally upwards.

The fencing system also includes a plurality of second channel members 7 as shown in Figure 4. The second channel members 7 are identical to the first channel members 3 and hence each comprises the square sectioned steel tube 5, channel portion 4, and securing bolts 6. The second channel members 7 are located on the support members at higher second positions in exactly the same way as the first channel members 3 but with their channels facing downwardly.

The fencing system includes a plurality of first channel pieces 20 and a plurality of second channel pieces 21 having cross-sectional dimensions slightly less than those of the channel portions 4 of the first and second channel members 3, 7 so that they can be nested in the channel portions 4 to form first and second continuous channels facing each other.

Each of the channel portions 4 of the channel members 3, 7 includes two threaded holes in one of its lateral walls and bolts (one of which is shown and denoted by reference numeral 8) are threadingly engaged in these holes. By suitably rotating bolts 8, their free ends can be caused to protrude through the wall of the channel portion and mechanically engage with the channel piece 20, 21 located therein.

A plurality of panels 10 forming part of the fencing system is located between the channel pieces 20, 21. The panels 10 are shown in Figures 5 and 6 and each comprises a steel tubular section box frame having end members 9 and side members 11 with a central reinforcing cross member 12. A steel sheet of thickness 9mm is welded to the box frame by projection welding. (Sheets of other thickness can be used as available).

Referring to Figure 7, there is shown a panel coupling member 13 comprising a steel channel portion defined by lateral walls 14. The spacing between the lateral walls 14 is rather more than twice the thickness of the side members 11 of the panels so that a side member 11 of one panel and a side member 11 of the adjacent panel may be accommodated between the walls 13. The walls 14 each include a pair of threaded holes into which bolts 15 are threadingly inserted so that by suitably turning the bolts the free ends of the bolts protrude through the walls 14 and mechanically engage with the side members 11 of the panels located therein to secure adjacent panels together.

In use of the fencing system, the sleeves 2 are concreted into the ground at suitable locations and a post 1 is inserted into each sleeve. A first channel member 3 is fixed to each post 1 at a lower first position and first channel pieces 20 are secured in the channel positions 4 of the channel members 3 so as to form a continuous lower channel. The lower ends 9 of the panels 10 are inserted into the lower channel.

Second channel members 7 are similarly fixed to the posts 1 at upper second positions to receive second channel pieces 21 forming a continuous upper channel enveloping the upper ends 9 of the panels 10. Adjacent panels are then secured together by tightening the bolts 15 of the panel coupling member 13.

The components of the system may be formed of various materials depending on availability and, as can be seen from the foregoing, they can be readily assembled together to form a substantial fence. The fence can be readily disassembled merely by unscrewing the bolts and can then be reused when and where desired using new plastics sleeves 2.

Referring to Figure 8, there is shown a re-usable spigot 21 for use instead of the disposable sleeve 2.

The spigot 21 is formed of steel or the like and includes an upper cup-shaped portion 22 having an inner shape and dimension such as to enable it to receive the lower end of post 1. The spigot 21 has a lower portion 23 which is generally pointed in order to enable it to be driven into the ground to a distance sufficient to stably support the fence. The post 1 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the spigot 21. When it is desired to move the fence, the posts 1 are disconnected from the spigot 21 which may then be removed from the ground ready for re-use at an alternative site.

Referring now to Figures 9 to 11, there is shown an embodiment where the panels are formed of sheets 30 of corrugated material such as steel. The opposite ends of the sheets 30 are inserted into the channels of the channel pieces in the manner previously described.

The side margins 30 and 31 of adjacent sheets may be overlapped so as to connect the sheets together. In this case, it is not necessary to use panel coupling members 13.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fencing system comprising: a plurality of support members for inserting into the ground, a plurality of first and second channel pieces for securing to the support members so that each support member has one of the first channel pieces at a lower first position and one of the second channel pieces at a higher second position on the support member with the channels of the channel pieces facing each other, and a plurality of panels having first and second ends for inserting into the channels of the first and second channel pieces so that the panels are retained in the channel pieces.

2. A fencing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first channel pieces of adjacent support members lie along a substantially straight line.

3. A fencing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second channel pieces of adjacent support members lie along a substantially straight line.

4. A fencing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein adjacent panels abut one another.

5. A fencing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second channel pieces are secured to the support members by first and second channel members which are secured to the support members at said first and second positions and in which the first and second channel pieces lie, respectively.

6. A fencing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support members are located in disposable sleeves secured in the ground.

7. A fencing system as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support members are located in spigots driven into the ground.

8. A fencing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel is formed of steel.

9. A fencing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each panel comprises a frame having sheet material secured thereto.

10. A fencing system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each panel is formed of corrugated sheet material.

11. A fencing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support members are in the form of steel tubes.

12. A fencing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, Figure 8, or Figures 9 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.