AU2002301692B2

AU2002301692B2 - Fence Support Shell

Info

Publication number: AU2002301692B2
Application number: AU2002301692A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Dehlsen
Original assignee: Kelvindale Products Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Kelvindale Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-30
Filing date: 2002-10-30
Publication date: 2005-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-30
Also published as: AU2006203138B2; AU2006203138A1; AU2005201543B2; AU2009203134A1; AU2006100501B4; AUPR858101A0; AU2005201543A1; AU2006100501A4; AU2009203134B2; AU2002301692A8; AU2002301692A1

Description

ENT BY: WALLINGTON-DUMMER; 629384793; 30-OCT-02 17:21; PACE 3 P 00/O011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service Kclvindale Products Pty Ltd [ACN 002 124 405] Brian Dehisen in Australia: WALLINGTON-DUMMER PO Box 297, Rydalmere NSW 7101 (12 Clarke Street, Rydalmere NSW 2116) Invention Tide: Fence Support Shell *Details of Associated Provisional Application: Australian Provisional Application No. PR8581 filed 30 October 2001 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us ENT BY: WALLINGTON-DUMMER; 61296384793; 30-OCT-02 17:21; PAGE 4 2 FENCE SUPPORT SHELL The present invention relates to the erection of temporary fencing, and in particular to the supporting footings or anchor blocks for such fencing.

BACKGROUND

The use of temporary fencing has become a common sight, particularly around cons Izuction sites where for reasons of security and public safety it is desirous to erect a substantial, though not permanent fence.

As shown in Figure 1, such fencing generally consists of typically tubular steel framed panel sections 10 with wire netting ur some other, usually woven infill material 11. The side posts 12 of these panels are generally so extended below the panel bottom rail 13 as to allow the thus extended portions 14 to be inserted into anchor blocks Generally one anchor block or footing element will have inserted the extended portions of one side post each of two adjacent panels. Thus by the use of multiple blocks and panels a fence of any desired length may be erected. Since the inserted side pOsL extensions of the panels are free to swivel in the anchor blocks, adjacent panels can take up almost any angle relative to each other.

The stability of this type of fencing is obviously a function of the size and mass of the anchor blocks, as well ENT BY: WALLINGTON-DUMMER; 61206SA4703; 30-OCT-02 17:21; PAGE 3 as the friction between block and ground surface, and the size and composition of the supported panels..

One commonly available type of anchor block depicted in Figure 2 is of pre-cast concrete, generally in the form of a rectangular prism, with a pair of adjoining holes centrally disposed passing through the block between its upper and lower surfaces.

Yet another type of available anchor block is in the form of an enclosing shell generally of rectangular prism configuration and moulded in plastic. It is: provided with an opening or openings through which concrete may be injected into the shell to give a desired mass.

A disadvantage of pre-cast concrete anchor blocks is their weight, as it relates to their transportation to the site where they are required and in their handling both before and after transport. Typically the weight of blocks is in the order of 36-37 kilograms; their transport contributing a considerable cost factor and their handling leading to a risk of strain injuries.

Plastic shell anchor blocks are filled off-site since somewhat specialized equipment is needed to properly fill the casings through the restricted opening/s available.

They thus suffer from the same disadvantages as cast concrete blocks in respect of transport and handling.

Additionally, the plastic casing of this type of anchor block has a lower coefficient of friction to that of concrete, rendering these block more liable to moving out of position in high wind or impact situations.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate at least some of the above disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a shell for filling with concrete, or like settable material; said shell and said settable material forming an anchor block for the support of adjacent panels of a temporary fence; said shell comprising integrally moulded end portions, side portions, an upper portion and at least a pair of cylindrical formers depending vertically from an inside surface of said upper portion; pair of formers adapted to accept inserted therein posts of said fence panels; said shell further comprising at least one additional former depending substantially vertically from said inside surface; said at least one additional former being of smaller diameter than said at least a pair of cylindrical formers.

Preferably, said first pair of formers is generally disposed side by side along a bisector of the length of said shell and normal to the long axis of said shell.

Preferably, said shell is provided with at least a first recess at each of said end portions.

Preferably, each said first recess is open at a lower edge of said shell.

Preferably, said shell is provided with a second upper recess disposed at each of said end portions and located above said first recess.

Preferably, said second recess is separated from said first recess by a web.

Preferably, at least one of said first and second recess at each of said end portions is provided with an integrally moulded spigot.

Preferably, said spigots at respective end portions of said shell are coaxial and lying on a vertical longitudinal bisecting plane of said shell.

Preferably, each said spigot is provided with integrally moulded strengthening webs.

Preferably, said spigots are adapted to receive therethrough a length of reinforcing rod extending substantially the length of said shell.

Preferably, said reinforcing rod acts as a retainer of concrete or like material when said concrete or like material has filled said shell.

Preferably, said first recess at each said end portion is adapted to serve as handholds.

Preferably, said at least one additional former comprises a pair of cylindrical formers.

Preferably, each one of said pair of cylindrical formers is located at respective ends of said shell and at diagonally opposite corners of said respective first recess and upper recess; each said former adjacent to and in contact with inside surfaces of said respective first recess and said upper recess.

Preferably, in use, lengths of securing pins pass through respective ones of said pair of cylindrical formers to be driven into the ground beneath said anchor block so as to increase the stability of said block.

Preferably, said securing pins are lengths of reinforcing rod.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a shell as described above, with concrete or other settable material so as to form an anchor block for panels of a temporary fence.

In yet another broad form of the invention there is provided a method for the erection of a temporary fence; said method including the steps of:transporting a plurality of moulded shells adapted for filling with concrete or like settable material to a site of erection of said temporary fence, pouring said concrete or like material into said moulded shells to form anchor blocks comprising said shell and said concrete or like settable material, after setting of said concrete or like material, positioning a sufficient number of said anchor blocks at intervals along a line of said temporary fence, inserting adjacent side posts of pairs of adjoining fencing panels into side post retaining cylindrical formers in each of said anchor blocks.

driving securing pins through at least one additional cylindrical former of smaller diameter than said post retaining cylindrical former.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical section of temporary fencing; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cast concrete anchor block; Figure 3 is a perspective top view of an anchor block shell according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective bottom view of the anchor block shell of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the anchor block shell of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An anchor block 20 will now be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5 wherein is shown a light weight moulded plastic shell 21 of generally uniform section, having outer contiguous surfaces formed from end portions 22, side portions 23 and top portion 24. As shown in Figure 4 the underside of anchor block 20 is open.

Integrally moulded into shell 21 are two relatively large hollow cylindrical formers 25 extending the full depth of shell 21. The bores 26 of formers 25 open out at the outer surface of top portion 24. The diameters of bores 26 are adapted to accept as a free sliding fit the diameter of typical tubular steel posts used in the construction of temporary fence panels.

Two smaller diameter hollow cylindrical formers 27 are similarly integrally moulded into shell 21 extending the full depth of shell 21. The bores 28 of formers 27 also open out at the outer surface of top portion 24. The diameters of bores 28 are adapted to accept as a loose fit the diameter of typical reinforcing rod peg.

Moulded into each of the end portions 22 are an upper recess 29 and a lower recess 30 separated by web 31. The lower recesses 30 serve as hand holds for the lifting of anchor block 20. The upper recesses 29 include integrally moulded spigots 32 and webs 34. The bores 33 of spigot 32 are adapted to accept as a loose sliding fit the diameter of typical reinforcing rod.

In practice, when anchor block shells 21 are delivered to a site for the purposes of erecting a temporary fence, shells 21 are laid inverted on their outer surface of top portion 24 and a short length of reinforcing rod 34 is inserted through spigots 32 so as to span, but not exceed, the length of shell 21. Concrete is now poured into shell 21 to completely fill the shell level with bottom edge excepting bores 26 and 28 and recesses 30. After setting, the concrete is retained in shell 21 by reinforcing rod 34.

When an anchor block 20 is in its desired position, short lengths of reinforcing rod may be inserted into bores 28 and driven into the ground to fix the position of the anchor block and as and aid to the stability of the supported fence.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that variations in the configuration of shell 21 may be introduced so as to retain concrete poured into shell 21 by means of suitable moulded projections in the shell cavity.

In use, shells 21 are very light to transport and handle. Concrete can easily be poured into the large bottom opening, at the actual point of installation if desired, so as to minimize subsequent lifting. The exposed concrete underside of the above described anchor block retains the added frictional advantage conferred by concrete.

The shells are, in effect, moulds for the concrete blocks, one mould for each concrete block to be manufactured. With this arrangement it is simple to produce large numbers of blocks in a relatively short time frame. This is to be compared with the prior art arrangement where a limited number of moulds are used multiple times to produce blocks with the result that the number of moulds available limits, in some instances quite severely the rate at which blocks can be produced.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shell for filling with concrete, or like settable material; said shell and said settable material forming an anchor block for the support of adjacent panels of a temporary fence; said shell comprising integrally moulded end portions, side portions, an upper portion and at least a pair of cylindrical formers depending vertically from an inside surface of said upper portion; pair of formers adapted to accept inserted therein posts of said fence panels; said shell further comprising at least one additional former depending substantially vertically from said inside surface; said at least one additional former being of smaller diameter than said at least a pair of cylindrical formers.

2. The shell of claim 1 wherein said first pair of formers is generally disposed side by side along a bisector of the length of said shell and normal to the long axis of said shell.

3. The shell of claim 1 or 2 wherein said shell is provided with at least a first recess at each of said end portions

4. The shell of claim 2 or 3 wherein each said first recess is open at a lower edge of said shell. The shell of any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein said shell is provided with a second upper recess disposed at each of said end portions and located above said first recess.

6. The shell of claim 5 wherein said second upper recess is separated from said first recess by a web.

7. The shell of any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein at least one of said first recess and said second upper recess at each of said end portions is provided with an integrally moulded spigot.

8. The shell of claim 7 wherein each said spigot at respective end portions of said shell are coaxial and lying on a vertical longitudinal bisecting plane of said shell.

9. The shell of claim 7 or 8 wherein each said spigot is provided with integrally moulded strengthening webs. shell of any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein said spigots are adapted to receive therethrough a length of reinforcing rod extending substantially the length of said shell. l1.The shell of claim 10 wherein said reinforcing rod acts as a retainer of concrete or like material when said concrete or like material has filled said shell.

12.The shell of any one of claims 3 to 11 wherein said first recess at each said end portion is adapted to serve as handholds.

13.The shell of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said at least one additional former comprises a pair of cylindrical formers

14.The shell of claim 13 wherein each one of said pair of cylindrical formers is located at respective ends of said shell and at diagonally opposite corners of said respective first recess and upper recess; each said former adjacent to and in contact with inside surfaces of said respective first recess and said upper recess

15.The shell of claim 13 or 14 wherein in use, lengths of securing pins pass through respective ones of said pair of cylindrical formers to be driven into the ground beneath said anchor block so as to increase the stability of said block.

16. The shell of claim 15 wherein said securing pins are lengths of reinforcing rod.

17.A shell according to any one of claims 1 to 16 filled with concrete or other settable material so as to form an anchor block for panels of a temporary fence.

18.A method for the erection of a temporary fence; said method including the steps of:- transporting a plurality of moulded shells adapted for filling with concrete or like settable material to a site of erection of said temporary fence, pouring said concrete or like material into said moulded shells to form anchor blocks comprising said shell and said concrete or like settable material, after setting of said concrete or like material, positioning a sufficient number of said anchor blocks at intervals along a line of said temporary fence, inserting adjacent side posts of pairs of adjoining fencing panels into side post retaining cylindrical formers in each of said anchor blocks. driving securing pins through at least one additional cylindrical former of smaller diameter than said post retaining cylindrical former.

19.A shell as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 12 September 2004 Kelvindale Products Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys Wallington-Dummer