AU2006200970A1 - Picket infill system for fencing - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED Invention Title: PICKET INFILL SYSTEM FOR FENCING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 PICKET INFILL SYSTEM FOR FENCING Technical Field The present invention relates generally to fencing systems and more specifically to a picket assembly and to a picket infill system for use in fences. The invention has been developed especially, but not exclusively, for metal fencing systems and is herein described in that context. However, it is to be appreciated that the invention has broader application and is not limited to that use.

Background of the Invention Metal fencing typically comprises a plurality of spaced apart fence posts and barrier panels which extend between adjacent posts and are supported thereby. The fence posts are typically of channelled section having longitudinally extending recesses adapted to receive and locate an end of the barrier panel. Typically, each barrier panel comprises upper and lower rails and an infill means extending from rail to rail. The infill means may be an impervious rigid sheet, a roll formed profiled sheet, a rigid sheet of expanded metal, a plurality of spaced apart pickets, a sheet of woven wire mesh or other substantially planar obstruction to the passage of people or animals between the posts. Under these circumstances, it is the end of the rails that enter the post recesses and are fixed to the posts.

Such metal fences are commonly used as they are strong, durable, relatively easy to install, and are usually less expensive than other types of fencing such as the more traditional timber paling fences.

3 Summary of the Invention In a first aspect the present invention provides a picket assembly comprising a plurality of pickets; and at least one elongate flexible spacer, each of the plurality of pickets being attached to the at least one spacer at predetermined intervals along its length.

A picket assembly according to this aspect has the advantage that it can facilitate the installation of pickets in a fence. Specifically, the assembly obviates the need to individually locate the pickets on site at specific spacings as they are supplied on site already set at these predetermined intervals by virtue of their connection to the at least one elongate spacer. Moreover, as the or each elongate spacer is flexible, it enables the picket assembly to be transported in a collapsed form, such as being rolled in a coil thereby facilitating handling of the assembly.

In one form, the or each spacer is in the form of a flexible strap. In one form, the flexible strap is a steel strap.

In one form, the pickets are formed as generally elongate member. In a particular form, the pickets are composed of steel and comprise hollow elongated box sections formed by a lock seam. However, it is to be appreciated that the pickets may be of other form. In particular the pickets may have significant width relative to their height so as to be panel like, and/or they may include decorative elements such as inserts or caps.

Accordingly it is to be understood that the term "picket" is to incorporate such elements. Further, the pickets may be made of the same or variable length.

4- In one form, the or each spacer is attached to the picket by means of a clinching operation. However, it is to be appreciated that the pickets may be connected to the or each spacer through other means such as by mechanical fasteners, by welding or by adhesion.

In one form, the picket assembly includes a second elongated flexible spacer, each of the plurality of pickets being attached to the second spacer at predetermined intervals along its length, and wherein the first spacer is spaced along the pickets from the second spacer.

In one form, the first spacer is attached at or adjacent the first end of the plurality of pickets. In one form, where the picket assembly includes a second spacer, that spacer is located at or adjacent a second end of the pickets.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a picket infill system for fencing comprising a picket assembly in any form described above, a mounting rail, the rail being rigid and having an opening extending substantially along the length of the mounting rail, the opening being adapted such that the first spacer can be positioned inside the mounting rail; and, a retaining rail, the retaining rail being rigid and being adapted to retain the second end of each of the plurality of pickets, wherein, in use, the first spacer is enclosed in the mounting rail and the pickets extend from the mounting rail to the retaining rail.

In one form where the picket assembly further comprises a second spacer, the retaining rail includes an opening extending substantially along the length of the retaining rail, the opening being adapted such that the second spacer can be positioned inside the retaining rail.

In one form the mounting rail and the retaining rail are composed of steel.

In yet a further aspect of the invention, disclosed is a fence, comprising a plurality of fence posts; and, a picket infill system according to any form described above, the picket infill system extending between adjacent fence posts.

In one form, the pickets infill system forms the main barrier panel of the fence.

In another form, the picket infill system forms a decorative element to the fence, such as a lattice that extends across the top of the fence. In this arrangement, the fence further comprises a plurality of barrier panels extending between adjacent fence posts such that the barrier panels are supported by the fence posts, each barrier panel comprising: an upper ridge rail; a lower ridge rail; and, infill means extending between the upper ridge rail and the lower ridge rail, wherein the picket infill system is positioned adjacent the barrier panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings It is convenient to hereinafter describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated that the particularity of the drawings and the related description is to be understood as not superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a fence including a picket infill system; Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of a picket of the picket infill system of the fence of Fig. 1; -6 Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a picket and mounting rail of the picket infill system of the fence of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Fig. 1 illustrates a fence 10 which is formed from a plurality of fence posts 11 and barrier panels 12 which extend between adjacent fence posts 11 and are supported thereby. The fence 10 is formed from metal with the fence posts 11 being formed as channel sections which define a longitudinal recess adapted to receive and locate an end of the barrier panel 12. Each barrier panel 12 comprises an upper ridge rail 13 and a lower ridge rail 14 and infill means extending between the upper ridge rail 13 and the lower ridge rail 14. In the illustrated form, the infill means are formed from profiled sheet panels 15 but may be formed from numerous other structures as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the fence posts 11 include extension portions 16 which project above the barrier panel 12 and upper ridge rail 13. In the illustrated form, these extension portions 16 are integrally formed as part of the fence posts 11.

The fence 10 also includes a picket infill system which extends along the fence 10 above the barrier panels 13. The picket infill system 20 forms a decorative lattice and comprises a picket assembly 30 and rails 26 and 27. The picket assembly 30 comprises a plurality of pickets 21 interconnected by flexible spacers, in the form of strap elements 24.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, each picket 21 comprises a steel section. This section can comprise an elongate box or other hollow steel shape such as a cylinder or elongate 7 octagon. Alternately this section can comprise any discrete shaped steel section such as an X-shaped section, a curved section or a twisted section. The pickets 21 can be lock seamed or may comprise two C-sections boxed together.

Each of the plurality of pickets 21 is attached at a top end 22 and a bottom end 23 to one of two strap elements 24. The strap elements 24 are composed of a flexible, resilient, water-resistant material such as a steel strap material. As a result, each picket 21 extends between an upper strap element 24 and a lower strap element (not illustrated). In the illustrated form, each picket 21 is attached to the strap element by a clinching operation, where an attachment point 25 is formed in which the strap is captured.

Each picket 21 is attached to the strap element 24 at predetermined intervals. The pickets 21 may be evenly spaced along the strap element 24, or alternately may be unevenly spaced or positioned in a pattern. Further, the pickets 21 may be of a consistent length or alternately may be of varying lengths.

As indicated above, the picket infill system further comprises a mounting rail 26 and a retaining rail 27. Each of the mounting rail 26 and the retaining rail 27 include at least one opening 28 extending substantially along the length of the mounting rail 26 or the retaining rail 27. The opening 28 is adapted such that the strap element 24 can be positioned inside the mounting rail 26 or the retaining rail 27. The pickets 21 then can extend from the opening 28. When the mounting rail 26 and the retaining rail 27 are positioned over the strap element 24 the pickets 21 extend between the mounting rail 26 and the retaining rail 27. It can be seen that this creates a "picket fence" panel which is adapted to be affixed atop the fence 8 In a further not illustrated embodiment, each picket is only attached at one end to a strap element. In this embodiment the mounting rail is constituted in the same manner as is described above and includes at least one opening extending substantially along the length of the mounting rail, the opening being adapted such that the strap element can be positioned inside the mounting rail.

The retaining rail includes a plurality of openings or recesses sized and positioned to retain the second end of each of the plurality of pickets, thus obviating the need for the second strap.

The mounting rail 26 and the retaining rail 27 can comprise a hollow elongate rectangular rail, a pipe or a hollow elongate octagonal rail. In one not illustrated embodiment one of the mounting rail 26 and the retaining rail 27 is integral to the upper ridge rail 13.

The mounting rail 26 and retaining rail 27 conceal the strap element 24 and act to maintain the pickets in position. One of the mounting rail 26 or the retaining rail 27 is also adapted to be attached with the upper ridge rail 13 of the top of barrier panel 12. In use, the strap element 24 is retained in an extended position within the mounting rail 26 and the retaining rail 27 by attracting the outermost pickets to the rail or rails or to the posts. The pickets may be attached by screws or other fasteners.

The picket infill system 20 of the present invention allows the pickets and strap elements to be sold, stored and transported in rolled-up bundles that can easily expand to be installed on the top of a fence 10. This conserves space in packing and means segments can be prearranged without being awkward to move and store.

Because the pickets 21 are already affixed to the strap element 24, the pickets are self-spacing during -9 installation. This avoids the need for onsite spacing of the pickets 21 and facilitates consistency in the fencing.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Variations and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. A picket assembly comprising a plurality of pickets; and at least one elongate flexible spacer, each of the plurality of pickets being attached to the at least one spacer at predetermined intervals along its length.

2. A picket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the or each spacer is in the form of a flexible strap.

3. A picket assembly according to claim 2, wherein the flexible strap is a steel strap.

4. A picket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pickets are composed of steel. A picket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pickets comprise hollow elongate boxed sections.

6. A picket assembly according to claim 5, wherein the hollow elongate boxed sections are formed by lock seaming.

7. A picket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the or each spacer is attached to the pickets by means of a clinching operation.

8. A picket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pickets vary in length.

9. A picket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the picket assembly includes a second elongate flexible spacer, each of the plurality of pickets being attached to the second spacer at predetermined intervals along its length, and wherein the first spacer is spaced along the pickets from the second spacer. 11 A picket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first spacer is attached at or adjacent the first end of the plurality of pickets.

11. A picket assembly according to claim 10, when dependent on claim 9, wherein the second spacer is located at or adjacent a second end of the pickets.

12. A picket infill system for a fence comprising: a picket assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11; a mounting rail, the rail being rigid and having an opening extending substantially along the length of the mounting rail, the opening being adapted such that the strap element can be positioned inside the mounting rail; and, a retaining rail, the retaining rail being rigid and being adapted to retain the second end of each of the plurality of pickets, wherein, in use, the strap element is enclosed in the mounting rail and the pickets extend from the mounting rail to the retaining rail.

13. A picket infill system according to claim 12, wherein the picket assembly comprises a second flexible spacer, wherein the second end of each of the plurality of pickets is attached to the second spacer and wherein the retaining rail includes an opening extending substantially along the length of the retaining rail, the opening being adapted such that the second spacer can be positioned inside the retaining rail.

14. A picket infill system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the mounting rail and the retaining rail are composed of steel. A fence comprising: a plurality of fence posts; 12 a picket infill system according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the picket infill system extends between adjacent fence posts such that the picket infill system is supported by the fence posts.

16. A fence according to claim 15, further comprising a barrier panel extending between adjacent fence posts such that the barrier panels are supported by the fence posts, the barrier panel comprising: an upper ridge rail; a lower ridge rail; and, infill means extending between the upper ridge rail and the lower ridge rail, wherein the picket infill system is positioned adjacent the barrier panel.

17. A fence according to claim 16, wherein the picket infill system for a lattice extends across a top of the barrier panels.

18. A picket assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A picket infill system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A fence assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 7 th day of March 2006 BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED By its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK