AU2004208695A1 - Improvements in temporary fencing - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN TEMPORARY FENCING The invention is described in the following statement: IMPROVEMENTS IN TEMPORARY FENCING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to temporary fences, barriers and the like, and particularly to footings for such structures.

BACKGROUND

A common requirement is to erect a temporary structure such as an elongate fence or barrier. For example, temporary fencing is often erected to provide access control at building sites for both security and safety, or to places where events are taking place so that admission charges to the events can be made and the general public excluded from them. Such applications are typified by a requirement that the fencing or barrier be quick, safe and inexpensive to erect, reasonably difficult to breach, overturn or move without authorization, and quick, safeand inexpensive to remove when their purpose has been served.

Other typical requirements are ease of handling and storage of fence or barrier components when they are not in use.

A typical form of temporary fence includes footings (anchoring weights) and fence modules. An often-encountered type of fencing module consists of uprights at each of two ends, horizontal members secured to the uprights and extending between them, and a wire mesh panel secured to the uprights and horizontal members. The uprights and horizontal members are typically formed of steel tubing. Footings used with such modules consist of substantial components (formed of cast concrete, iron or steel, or less commonly consisting of a container that can be filled with water to add weight), having one or two sockets for receiving uprights of two fence modules in close proximity to each other. An erected fence then includes of,a row of fence modules placed end to end, with lower ends of the adjoining uprights of each pair of adjacent modules received in the socket (or sockets) of a footing placed on the ground (or some other supporting surface). The members of each pair of adjoining uprights are secured together at one or more locations above their associated weight, by for example loops of wire or suitable brackets. For adequate stability of the completed fence against overturning, the footings are often made elongate in a direction that on completion of the fence is at least approximately perpendicular to the direction of the fence.

Footings as described above may be used with other types of fence or barrier.

Erection and dismantling of temporary fences and barriers of the above types involves the lifting of substantial weights, namely the fence or barrier modules and the footings themselves, and are not always suited to the use of mechanical aids, such as cranes. Handling of the modules and footings at storage depots also involves much lifting. A problem with this is unwillingness by many workers to lift substantial weights, and the danger of injury (eg to workers' backs) that the lifting presents. The results are often manifest as low productivity and higher costs. The anchoring footings in particular must be of substantial weight to do what is required of them and must be lowered to ground level, positioned to receive the fence or barrier modules, and later lifted from ground level to a vehicle's load-carrying surface.

The present invention alleviates these problems by providing multi-part footings whose parts are individually lighter than that of the completed footing.

The invention further provides for easy assembly of the footings from their several parts, so that little if any time is lost in the assembly process. Similarly disassembly is achieved in a simple way with little or no loss of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the invention provides a footing for use in temporary fencing said footing being adapted to at least partially support a fence module and including first and second components positionable in engagement with each other and with said fence module for use so that the weight of said footing effective against overturning of the fence nodule is at least the combined weight of the two components. Preferably, lateral separation of the first and second components in use is prevented by engagement of a part of at least one fence module with both said components.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a footing for use in temporary fencing said footing including first and second components, each component having an opening adapted to receive at least one depending part of a fence module, said components being positionable relative to each other with the respective openings of said components aligned with each other so that said at least one depending part can extend through the opening of one component and into the opening of the other component whereby the components are prevented from being separated from each other laterally and the weight of said footing effective against overturning of the fence module is at least the combined weight of the two components.

Preferably, said opening of each component is adapted to receive therein in addition to a depending part of a first fence module a depending part of a second fence module adjoining said first fence module.

It is particularly preferred that when said components are positioned relative to each other for use a formation on one of said components co-operates with a corresponding formation on the other of said components to limit or prevent movement of said components relative to each other.

Said first and second components may be of substantially equal weight.

Thus, the maximum weight to be lifted when handling both components is a minimum.

Said first and second components may actually be identical to each other.

The advantage of this is that there is then no necessity to manufacture, store and handle two different types of components.

At least one of the components may include a concrete or cement casting, as this provides weight at low cost. In at least some of the embodiments described below, including aggregate in the mix of sand, cement and water may be inappropriate, at least for some footing sizes, because it would hinder proper flow of the mix when casting. In such cases, "cement", here meaning a settable mix of at least sand, Portland cement and water, but without aggregate, may be used. "Concrete" normally means such a mix with added aggregate, after setting.

In this specification, it is to be understood that either "concrete" and "cement" may be used with the choice depending on the footing size and the likelihood of poor flow when casting.

At least one of the said components may include a mould used in casting said concrete or cement casting. That is, concrete or cement is placed in a mould, but the resulting casting, may optionally not be removed from the mould. The said mould is preferably formed in a plastics material in that case, for example polypropylene. In embodiments where the two components are not identical to each other, preferably said mould is an assembly of a plurality of parts, and said plurality of parts is adapted to be assembled as a mould for either of the two components of the.footing. This can reduce mould costs.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a temporary fence including: a plurality of fence modules each having first and second ends and at each said end a depending part; and a plurality of footings as disclosed above having openings in the components thereof, wherein said fence modules are arranged end-to-end and secured to each other and wherein received in said openings of said first and second components of each said footing is a said depending part of at least one said.

fence module.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides a method for erecting a temporary fence including the steps of: providing a plurality of fence modules each having first and second ends and at each said end a depending part; assembling a plurality of footings (as disclosed above having openings in the components thereof) by positioning the first and second components of each said footing so that said components' respective openings are aligned with each other; and placing into said openings of said first and second components of each said footing a said depending part of at least one said fence module; and securing each fence module to at least one other of said fence modules so that said fence modules are arranged end-to-end.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for erecting a temporary fence including the steps of: providing a plurality of fence modules each having first and second ends and at each said end a depending part; providing a plurality of footings adapted for use with said fence modules including at least one footing as disclosed above (and where said opening of each component of that at least one footing is adapted to receive therein in addition to a depending part of a first fence module a depending part of a second fence module adjoining said first fence module) the at least one footing being assembled by positioning in abutment with each other said first and second components thereof so that their respective openings are aligned with each other; supporting said fence modules in end-to-end configuration on said footings, including by placement into said openings of said first and second components of the or at least one said footing according to claim 2 depending parts of two said fence modules.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be non-limitingly described by reference to the attached Figures, of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a temporary fence according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a part of the fence shown in Figure 1, being that part indicated in Figure 1 at Figure 3 is a bottom view of a half mould for use in making a footing according to the invention (where "bottom" refers to the bottom of the half mould when it is in use for moulding footing halves); Figure 4 is a side elevation of the half mould shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the half mould shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a plan view of the half mould shown in Figure 3; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the half mould shown in Figure 6, taken at Station "BB" and excluding all detail beyond Station "CC"; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the half mould shown in Figure 6, taken at Station "DD"; Figure 9 is an end elevation of a former for use in making a footing according to the invention; Figure 10 is a plan view of the former shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a side view of the former shown in Figure 9; Figure 12 is a plan view of a sleeve assembly being a part of a footing according to the invention; Figure 13 is a side view of the sleeve assembly shown in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a plan view of a mould assembly prepared for making a pair of co-operating footing halves according to the invention; Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view through the prepared mould assembly shown in Figure 14, the cross-section being taken at station "EE" of Figure 14 and excluding all detail beyond station "FF"; Figure 16 is a perspective view of two footing halves according to the invention; Figure 17 is a perspective view of a further footing according to the invention; Figure 18 is a perspective view of a footing half of the footing shown in Figure 17; Figure 19 is a side view (partially cut away) of two halves of the footing shown in Figure 17, positioned for assembly of that footing; Figure 20 is a side view (partially cut away) of the footing shown in Figure 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to a temporary fence 1, but it is to be understood that the invention is also applicable to other types of fences barriers and similar temporary structures.

Referring to Figure 1, fence 1 includes a plurality of fence modules 2 arranged end-to-end. Each fence module 2 has a stile 3 at its left end and a stile 4 at its right end (in both cases as seen in Figure upper and lower horizontal members 5, 6 respectively, and a panel 7 of wire netting secured to the stiles 3, 4 and to the members 5, 6. At each junction between adjacent fence modules 2, a footing 8 is provided to support the fence 1 on the ground or other surface 9.

Footing 8, as shown in Figure 2, includes two footing halves 10, 11 which are secured together in a manner disclosed below. Footing 8 has a slot 12 transverse to its length and in which are received depending lower ends 13 and 14 of adjoining stiles 4 and 3 respectively.

Footing halves 10 and 11 are each of substantially the same weight, so that footing 8 when assembled has twice the weight of either footing half 10 or 11.

Footing 8 is elongate, as shown in Figure 2, for stability of the assembled fence 1.

To assemble fence 1, pairs of footing halves 10 and 11 are placed in abutting and co-operating relationship with each other on the ground or other surface 9, as shown in Figure 2, with successive pairs being spaced apart by about the length of each fence module 2. There is no need for lifting of the full weight of a footing 8. At this stage, the two halves 10 and 11 of each intended footing 8, although abutting each other, are not finally secured together. Next, each fence module 2 is positioned over two successive footings 8, and each of its stiles 3 and 4 is entered into the slot 12 of one of the two successive footings 8.

Since the fence modules 2 are arranged end-to-end, the result of this step is that each slot 12 receives the lower end 13 of a right-end stile 4 and the lower end 14 of a left-end stile 3. In a manner described below, the act of placing the lower ends 13 and 14 of adjoining stiles 3 and 4 in slot 12 of each footing 8 causes its two halves 10 and 11 to be locked together, thus becoming effectively a single assembly, i.e. footing 8. Downward movement of the lower ends 13 and 14 of the stiles 3 and 4 is limited by the lower horizontal bars or members 6 engaging with the top surface of the footings 8.

To complete erection of the fence 1, each fence module 2 is preferably joined to its adjoining module(s) 2 above the level of footings 8. For example, suitable brackets or clamps (not shown) may be provided to secure adjacent stiles 3 and 4 of adjoining modules 2 together or they may simply be bound together with lengths of wire (not shown) looped around them. Joining of the modules 2 above footings 8 is not of the essence of the invention, and any suitable method may be used, many suitable methods being known in the art.

Slot 12 of each footing 8 allows a degree of rotation of the stile lower ends 13 and 14 received therein, so that the fence 1 is not required to be straight. The lower ends 13 and 14 are held close together in slot 12 without any substantial gap, so that fence 1 is accordingly more difficult to breach.

When the fence 1 is to be disassembled, each module 2 is disconnected from its neighbouring module(s) 2 and is then simply lifted out of the slots 12 of its associated two footings 8. As described below, this act renders the two halves and 11 of each footing 8 separable from each other, so that the halves 10 and 11 can be pulled apart and then handled separately, again without any need to lift the full weight of a footing 8 at any one time.

Figure 16 shows footing halves 10 and 11 separate from each other as they would be prior to being abutted (as shown in Figure 2) when assembling footing 8. When halves 10 and 11 are aligned with their lengths parallel to each other and brought into co-operating engagement with each other, a tapered projection 70 on footing half 10 enters a co-operating recess 81 in a face 76 of footing half 11 and a tapered projection 71 on footing half 11 enters a cooperating recess 80 in a face 75 of footing half 10. In addition, a sleeve 72 partly protruding from footing half 10 enters a co-operating slot 86 in footing half 11 and a sleeve 73 partly protruding from footing half 11 enters a co-operating slot 85 in footing half 10. Sleeve 72 defines an open-topped and open-bottomed internal space 87 and sleeve 73 defines an open-topped and open-bottomed internal space 88. When footing halves 10 and 11 are pushed fully into engagement with each other, faces 75 and 76 come into contact with each other, and sleeve 72 is positioned directly above sleeve 73, so that spaces 87 and 88 in combination define the slot 12 of assembled footing 8. Slot 12 has a depth of not less than the combined heights of sleeves 72 and 73.

Openings 87 and 88, and therefore slot 12, are sized and shaped to receive two stiles 3 and 4 side by side (with a suitable amount of clearance for ease of assembly). Since sleeves 72 and 73 are themselves parts of footing halves 10 and 11 respectively, the effect of placing stiles 3 and 4 in slot 12 of footing 8 is that the footing halves 10 and 11 become locked together until stiles 3 and 4 are withdrawn from slot 12, because sleeves 72 and 73 surround both stiles 3 and 4. The effect of projections 70 and 71 respectively being received in recesses 81 and 80 is to improve the locking together of halves 10 and 11, and in particular to help limit any relative rotation of footing halves 10 and 11 in a vertical plane, which would tend to deform sleeves 72 and 73..

Halves 10 and 11 are cut away at each of their ends to form convenient lifting handles 77.

There will now be described a preferred embodiment of footing 8.

Conveniently, the two halves 10 and 11 of footing 8 can be made by casting concrete (not shown) in a mould assembly 100 shown in Figures 14 and Mould assembly 100 includes two identical mould halves 20 and 21 that respectively correspond to footing halves 10 and 11, two identical formers 40 and 41 and two identical sleeve assemblies 60 and 61. Figures 3 8 show mould half casing 20, and figures 9 11 show former 40, and Figures 12 and 13 show sleeve assembly Mould halves 20 and 21 and formers 40 and 41 are preferably but not essentially formed as unitary injection mouldings in a suitable plastic such as polypropylene. Sleeve assemblies 60 and 61 are preferably fabricated using a metal such as steel.

Referring to Figures 3 8, mould halves 20 and 21 will be described using mould half 20 as representative of both. Relevant item numbers when followed by an are to be taken to refer to mould half 21. Mould half 20 has a base and upstanding therefrom sidewalls 91 and 92 and endwalls 93. Endwalls 93 are shaped to form external ribs 94 that in the completed footing half 10 become handles 77. Wall 92 is shaped to define an external slot Extending inwards from walls 91 and 92 are ribs 95 with edge stiffeners 96. Between edge stiffeners 96 there are defined slots 97. Note that a web 112 is left in a lower part of each slot 97. Those ribs 95 that extend inwardly from wall 91 have shaped cut-outs 98 as shown in Figure 7.

Wall 92 has two rectangular openings 99 formed in it (between pairs of ribs and, within slot 85, two slot-type openings 101.

Formers 40 and 41 are identical and will now be described by reference to former 40. Relevant item numbers when followed by an are to be taken to refer to former 41. Former 40 can be positioned and retained in one of the openings 99 of mould half 20, and defines the boundary of projection 70. Former has a flange 102, a bathtub-shaped hollow formation 103 and a stiffening formation 104 that allows concrete to flow into a space 105 inside formation 103.

When former 40 is positioned in opening 99, flange 102 lies internally of mould half 20 and against wall 92, with formation 103 extending externally of mould half 20. Two of ribs 95 are provided with formations 106 that bear on flange 102 to hold former 40 in place during placement of concrete in mould half Formations 106 permit "snap fitting" of former 40 into position in opening 99.

Sleeve assemblies 60 and 61 will be described by reference to sleeve assembly 60 only which is identical to sleeve assembly 61. Relevant item numbers in this paragraph by an are to be taken to refer to sleeve assembly- 61. Referring to Figures 12 and 13, sleeve assembly 60 includes a sleeve 72, open at both ends and defining internal space 87, and a tab 110 welded to sleeve 72. Sleeve 72 is shaped so that two stile lower ends 13 and 14 can be neatly received therein, as shown in Figure 12 by dotted lines. Tab 110 has a slot 111 extending parallel to the direction between the open ends of sleeve 72, as shown in Figure 13.

Referring now to Figures 14 and 15, mould assembly 100 is shown fully prepared for pouring of concrete into mould halves 20 and 21 to make footing halves 10 and 11 respectively. Mould halves 20 and 21 are abutted with their respective walls 92and 92a in contact (or at least closely adjacent to each other).

Former 40 is located and retained within an opening 99 of wall 92 of mould half with its formation 103 extending through the adjacent opening 99a of mould half 21 and into the interior of mould half 21. Former 41 shown in Figure 14 is oppositely positioned, being retained in mould half 21 and extending into the interior of mould half 20 through the second opening 99 of mould half Sleeve members 60 and 61 are positioned one above the other in slots and 85. Tab 110 of sleeve member 60 extends through slot 101 into mould half 20, and tab 1 Oa of sleeve member 61 extends through slot 101a into mould half 21. Slots 111 and l1 la are then in alignment with slots 97 and 97a as best seen in Figure 15. To positively retain sleeve assemblies 60 and 61 in mould halves 20 and 21 respectively, and also to reinforce completed footing halves and 11, reinforcing bars 120 and 121 are placed in slots 97 and 97a and extend longitudinally along mould halves 20 and 21 as shown in Figure 14. For further reinforcement of completed footing halves 10 and 11, a reinforcing bar 122 is placed in cut-outs 98 of mould half 20, and a reinforcing bar 123 is placed in slot 97a, being supported horizontally there during casting by webs 112a. Webs 112 support reinforcing bar 120 and ribs 95 support reinforcing bar 122 horizontally during casting. Reinforcing bar 121 is preferably supported in a horizontal position during casting by suitable spacers (not shown) placed and extending between reinforcing bars 123 and 121.

Preferably, a suitably shaped plug (not shown) is threaded through both sleeves 72 and 73 during casting of the concrete. Sufficient concrete is used to fill the mould halves to about the level indicated by line 130 in Figure 15. Once casting is complete, the plug may be removed and the two completed footing halves 10 and 11 separated.

Alternatively, the two mould halves 20 and 21 may be kept separate during casting. Assuming mould half 21 is supported on a horizontal surface during casting, it is in this case desirable to support sleeve 73 at its correct height until some setting of the concrete occurs.

Whether moulding is done with the mould halves 20 and 21 locked together or not, mould halves 20 and 21 and formers 40 and 41 are not separated from the concrete after setting. Instead, they are left in place to form an external skin that is captive on the completed footing halves 10 and 11, (except on their bottom surfaces). Thus, ribs 94 and 94a of the mould halves 20 and 21 become pleasant-to-grip external coverings for handles 77.

A further embodiment of the invention will now be described. A disadvantage of footing 8 is that its footing halves 10 and 11 are not identical.

Although procedures used by temporary fencing contractors are such that this is not necessarily a disadvantage in practice, it is in possible with the invention to provide a footing 200 having two halves 201 and 202 that are identical. Figure 17 shows such a footing 200 and Figure 18 shows one of its halves, namely footing half 201. Figure 19 is a side view of footing halves 201 and 202 positioned ready for locking together. In the following description, item numbers followed by the letter are for parts of footing 202 corresponding to similar parts of footing 201.

Footing 202 is lowered onto footing 201 until hooks 203 and 203a enter recesses 204a and 204 respectively. Then footings 201 and 202 are moved longitudinally relative to each other so that hooks 203 and 203a engage under plates 205a and 205 respectively. At this point, shown in Figures 17 and sleeves 206 and 206a align with each other to form a slot 207 in footing 200. Stile lower ends 213 and 214 (analogous to 13 and 14) may be may then be placed into slot 207 (exactly as stile lower ends 13 and 14 are placed into slot 12 of footing Stile lower ends 213 and 214 are received with clearance in slot 207 that allows them to be rotated as required, but that is small enough for disengagement of hooks 203 and 203a to be prevented. That is, placing stile lower ends 213 and 214 in slot 207 locks the two halves 201 and 202 together.

The reverse of the above process is used for dismantling.

Footing halves 201 and 202, being identical are each half the weight of the completed footing 200. They are made of concrete with hooks 203, 203a and plates 205, 205a being of steel suitably anchored in the concrete.

In Figures 19 and 20, footing halves 201 and 202 are shown as cut away around recesses 204 and 204a and plates 205 and 205a, but no details of the method of anchoring plate 205 in footing half 201 are shown. Suitable ways will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art of reinforced concrete.

Preferably plate 205 and hook 203 are secured to, or at least partly prevented from pullout by, internal reinforcement in footing 201.

Footing halves 201, 202 may be made with a captive plastics mould or half mould (not shown) in a way analogous to that described above for footing halves and 11, so that when completed they have a plastics external surface on all except the surfaces 208, 208a. Alternatively, a more conventional reusable mould (not shown) may be used so that a concrete external surface is obtained.

Many variations may be made to these non-limiting embodiments without departing from the spirit of scope of the invention. The attached claims cover at least some of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

Claims (14)

1. A footing for use in temporary fencing said footing being adapted to at least partially support a fence module and including first and second components positionable in engagement with each other and with said fence module for use so that the weight of said footing effective against overturning of the fence module is at least the combined weight of the two components.

2. A footing for use in temporary fencing said footing including first and second components, each component having an opening adapted to receive at least one depending part of a fence module, said components being positionable relative to each other with the respective openings of said components aligned with each other so that said at least one depending part can extend through the opening of one component and into the opening of the other component whereby the components are prevented from being separated from each other laterally and the weight of said footing effective against overturning of the fence module is at least the combined weight of the two components.

3. A footing according to claim 2 wherein the said opening of each component is adapted to receive therein in addition to a depending part of a first fence module a depending part of a second fence module adjoining said first fence module.

4. A footing according to claim 2 or 3 wherein when said components are positioned relative to each other for use a formation on one of said components co-operates with a corresponding formation on the other of said components to limit or prevent movement of said components relative to each other.

A footing according to any one of claims 2 to 34 wherein said first and second components are of substantially equal weight.

6. A footing according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein said first and second components are identical to each other.

7. A footing according to any one of claims 2 6 wherein at least one of said components includes a concrete or cement casting.

8. A footing according to claim 7 wherein said at least one component includes a mould used in casting said concrete or cement casting.

9. A footing according to claim 8 wherein said mould is formed in a plastics material.

A footing according to claim 8 or 9 wherein said mould is an assembly of a plurality of parts, and said plurality of parts is adapted to be assembled as a mould for either of the two components of the footing.

11. A temporary fence including: a plurality of fence modules each having first and second ends and at each said end a depending part; and a plurality of footings according to any one of claims 2 to wherein said fence modules are arranged end-to-end and secured to each other and wherein received in said openings of said first and second components of each said footing is a said depending part of at least one said fence module.

12. A method for erecting a temporary fence including the steps of: providing a plurality of fence modules each having first and second ends and at each said end a depending part; assembling a plurality of footings according to any one of claims 2 to 10 by positioning the first and second components of each said footing so that said components' respective openings are aligned with each other; and placing into-said openings of said first and second components of each said footing a said depending part of at least one said fence module; and securing each fence module to at least one other of said fence modules so that said fence modules are arranged end-to-end.

13. A method for erecting a temporary fence including the steps of: providing a plurality of fence modules each having first and second ends and at each said end a depending part; providing a plurality of footings adapted for use with said fence modules including at least one footing according to claim 3 assembled by positioning in abutment with each other said first and second components thereof so that their respective openings are aligned with each other; and supporting said fence modules in end-to-end configuration on said footings, including by placement into said openings of said first and second components of the or at least one said footing according to claim 3 depending parts of two said fence modules.

14. A mould for a footing half substantially as described herein by reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. A footing half substantially as described herein by reference to Figures 18 and 19. Dated this 6th day of September 2004 BROOKWAY PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys DAVID SHANKS ASSOCIATES Suite 72, 189 Beaconsfield Parade Middle Park Victoria 3206, Australia