AU2006100539A4 - Removable and adjustable foot member and modular temporary fencing or enclosure system utilising the same - Google Patents

Description

REMOVABLE AND ADJUSTABLE FOOT MEMBER AND MODULAR TEMPORARY FENCING OR ENCLOSURE SYSTEM UTILISING THE SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to footings for temporary structures in particular but not limited to an adjustable and removable foot and a modular temporary fencing or enclosure system utilising the same.

BACKGROUND ART The use of temporary fencing on construction sites and as crowd control barriers is well known.

Other instances where temporary fences are erected include child safety barriers during the construction of swimming pools and as temporary animal enclosures at fairs and showgrounds.

In almost all cases, such fences include panel members each supported by at least a pair of spaced feet aligned substantially perpendicularly to and at the base of the panel. As the panels are invariably stacked either vertically or horizontally with respect to one another, the position and presence of the foot members can cause a problem.

This is especially where the feet are permanently attached or welded to the fence panels. Such panels are difficult to stack together in close proximity or in an abutting relationship.

In the case of crowd control barriers, temporary pool fences and animal enclosures, such fences often have to enclose an area which has a number of corners or may be curved in shape.

While there are prior art fences with rotatable feet for such applications and to facilitate stacking of the panels by aligning the feet with the panel, constant retightening of the foot pivoting mechanism is required.

In the cases where the fence panels are larger structures such as in temporary fencing for construction sites, the feet are usually separate concrete or steel members which are required to be of sufficient weight to support the fence panels in the upright position.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is therefore to seek to ameliorate or eliminate some of the disadvantages or limitations of the prior art or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION In one aspect accordingly, the invention resides in an adjustable foot for a panel or post comprising in combination, a stub member adapted for removable connection with the post or panel, a foot member having a centrally located hole for pivoting and sliding engagement with the stub member, the stub member having an outer splined section adapted to engage a complimentary configured portion of the hole, wherein in operation, to change the position of the foot member with respect to the stub member, the foot member can be slid to one direction along the stub member to disengage the splined and configured sections respectively, and the foot member rotated to a new position before sliding in the opposite direction to reengage the splined and configured sections thereby re-positioning and locking the foot with respect to the stub member.

Preferably the foot member is a hollow member adapted to be able to be filled with a ballast.

Preferably the foot member is of a hollow rotomolded plastic construction having a complimentary configured hole adapted to accept the splines of the stub member.

In another version, the complimentary configured hole can be a separate piece insertable into the bottom of the foot member and rotatable to lock the splines of the stub member.

Preferably the ballast can be steel filings to increase the weight of the foot member.

Preferably the foot member has a closable aperture for filling and emptying the foot member of the ballast material.

Preferably the stub member is a metal reinforced steel tube encased in rotomold plastic having an outside section with eight splines, the tube adapted for the insertion of the upright post or protrusion or extension of a panel member, The number of splines on the stub member and in the complimentary configured section of the hole are not limited to eight and may be of any number suitable for the precision of the angular displacement required of the foot member with regards to the stub member.

In another aspect, the invention resides in a modular temporary fencing or enclosure system utilising the adjustable foot as herein described, including, a plurality of panel members adapted to be stacked together, the panel members having removably interlocking hinges adapted to allow the panel members to be assembled into a fence or to form an enclosure, each panel member having a least a pair of downward tubular protrusions or extensions, said protrusions or extensions adapted to be inserted into the tubes of the adjustable foot members as herein described and wherein the foot members can be adjusted or rotated to enable the panel members to be stacked compactly against each other Preferably, the removably interlocking hinges comprise at least one female socket member adapted to be located on one fence panel, said socket member adapted to engage with at least one male hinge member located on another fence panel.

Preferably the male hinge member is configured with a transverse locking pin or lug and wherein the female socket member has a longitudinal groove to accommodate the transverse pin or lug as the hinge member is slid into the socket, said hinge interlocked by the pin or lug checked from exiting the groove by the angular displacement between adjacent panels.

Preferably where fence panels are stacked, there is a cooperating means between the panels to prevent their movement with respect to each other when in the stacked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be better understood and put in practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 shows a preferred temporary fence panel or enclosure according to the invention, Figure 2 shows top and bottom perspective views of a preferred adjustable foot member according to the invention, Figure 3 shows detail of the stub member and the complimentary configured hole of the foot member comprising the preferred method of connecting the foot member, Figure 4 shows detail of the bottom of another version of a foot member of Figure 3, Figure 5A and Figure 5B show detail of inserts of configured hole inserts for insertion into the bottom of the foot member of Figure 4, Figure 6 shows a cross section representation through a foot member supporting a temporary fence panel, Figure 7 and Figure 8 show detail of a preferred removably interlocking hinge according to the invention, Figure 9 shows an example of the panel members of Figure 1 in stack formation, and Figure 10 shows another version of the hinge members according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is shown a preferred temporary fence or enclosure panel 10 according to the invention. The panel 10 is shown of a plastic rotomolded unitary construction which incorporates the interlocking hinge stub members 12, 14 and socket members 16, 18. The fence panel is shown with a pair of adjustable foot members 20, 22 according to the invention.

Figure 2A and Figure 2B show perspective bottom and top views of a preferred adjustable foot 24 for panel and post according to the invention. The adjustable foot 24 is preferably of unitary rotomolded construction from recyclable plastic or other suitable material. The foot has a pair of opposed holes 26, 28 for the insertion of a spike or peg (shown in Figure 6) for further securing the adjustable foot to the ground. The centrally located hole 30 is shown with specially configured sections 30a for the insertion of a stub member of a fence post or panel.

Figure 3 shows detail of the bottom of the adjustable foot member 24 of Figure 2 wherein the stub member 32 of the bottom of a temporary fence panel can be inserted into the specially configured hole 30 of the foot member 24. The splined portion 32a of the stub member 30 engages the configured sections 30a of the hole in the foot member whereby rotation of the stub member with respect to the foot member or vice versa locks the adjustable foot with respect to the stub member.

Figure 4 shows another preferred version of the specially configured portion of the foot member 40 wherein the configured portion is removable as a separate piece or insert 42 which can also be rotated 43 within the foot member 40 to lock the splined section of a stub member (not shown).

Figure 5A shows detail of the removable configured hole or aperture insert 42 having configured sections 42a to allow the insertion of the splines of a stub member (not shown).

Figure 6 shows a cross sectional representation of a preferred foot member according to the invention supporting a temporary fence panel 52. Also shown is a fence spike 54 inserted into one of the holes 51 of the foot member to provide better securing of the foot member to the ground 60. The foot member is shown having a hollow configuration which can be filled with ballast 53, preferably steel filings or sand, to provide a greater weight to the foot member.

The stub member 53 of the fence 52 is shown having a splined section 53a which engages the centrally located aperture insert 54 of the foot member. Rotation of the foot member with respect the stub member locks the stub member in the insert 54.

Figure 7 and Figure 8 show detail of a preferred interlocking hinge 70 according to the invention. There is shown a male hinge member 72 having a transverse locking pin or lug 72a adapted for insertion into the female socket member 74 having a longitudinal groove 74a. As the male hinge member is inserted into the female socket member and the pin or lug exits the longitudinal groove, the angular displacement between the panels checks the re-entry of the pin or lug into the groove thereby locking the hinge thus formed.

Figure 8A and Figure 8B show a side elevation of the hinge members 72, 74 of Figure 7 wherein the male hinge member 72 is insertable in the female socket member 74 and wherein the pin or lug 72a of the male hinge member exits the groove 74a of the female socket member the rotation of the male hinge member with respect to the female socket member will be checked so that the hinge is locked.

Figure 9 shows three preferred temporary fence or enclosure panels 80, 82, 84 for Figure 1 stacked in formation. In particular the pairs of adjustable foot members 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 99 for each panel have been rotated in line so that the panels can be stacked in a flat and compact configuration.

Figure 10 shows another version of the interlocking hinge members 100, 102 according to the invention wherein detail is shown of a protrusion 1 OOa on one wall of the hinge member insertable 103 into an indent 102a in the complimentary hinge member so that when the temporary fence or enclosure panels of Figure 9 are stacked, the adjacent hinge members as shown in Figure 10 also prevent any sliding movement between the panels.

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VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (14)

1. A removable and adjustable foot for a panel or post comprising in combination, a stub member adapted for removable connection with the post or panel, a foot member having a centrally located hole for pivoting and sliding engagement with the stub member, the stub member having an outer splined section adapted to engage a complimentary configured portion of the hole, wherein in operation, to change the position of the foot member with respect to the stub member, the foot member can be slid to one direction along the stub member to disengage the splined and configured sections respectively, and the foot member rotated to a new position before sliding in the opposite direction to reengage the splined and configured sections thereby re-positioning and locking the foot with respect to the stub member.

2. A removable and adjustable foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foot member is a hollow member adapted to be able to be filled with a ballast.

3. A removable and adjustable foot as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the foot member is of a hollow rotomolded plastic construction having a complimentary configured hole adapted to accept the splines of the stub member.

4. A removable and adjustable foot as claimed in claim 3, wherein the complimentary configured hole can be a separate piece insertable into the bottom of the foot member and rotatable to lock the spline section of the stub member.

A removable and adjustable foot as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ballast can be steel filings to increase the weight of the foot member.

6. A removable and adjustable foot as claimed in claim 2 and claim 5, wherein the foot member has a closable aperture for filling and emptying the foot member of the ballast material.

7. A removable and adjustable foot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stub member is a metal reinforced steel tube encased in rotomold plastic with external splines adapted for the insertion of the upright post or protrusion or extension of a panel member,

8. A removable and adjustable foot as claimed in claim 7, wherein the number of splines on the stub member and in the hole of a number suitable for the precision of the angular displacement required of the foot member with regards to the stub member.

9. A modular temporary fencing or enclosure system utilising the adjustable foot as herein described, including, a plurality of panel members adapted to be stacked together, the panel members having removably interlocking hinges adapted to allow the panel members to be assembled into a fence or to form an enclosure, each panel member having a least a pair of downward tubular protrusions or extensions, said protrusions or extensions adapted to be inserted into the tubes of the adjustable foot members as herein described.

Modular temporary fencing or enclosure system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the removably interlocking hinges comprise at least one female socket member 11 adapted to be located on one fence panel, said socket member adapted to engage with at least one male hinge member located on another fence panel.

11. Modular temporary fencing or enclosure system as claimed in claim wherein the male hinge member is configured with a transverse locking pin or lug and wherein the female socket member has a longitudinal groove to accommodate the transverse pin or lug as the hinge member is slid into the socket, said hinge interlocked by the pin or lug from exiting the groove checked by the angular displacement between the adjacent panels.

12. Modular temporary fencing or enclosure system as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, wherein when fence panels are stacked, there is cooperating means between the panels to prevent their movement with respect to each other when in the stacked position.

13. A removable and adjustable foot substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A modular temporary fencing or enclosure system substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.