AU2007240193A1

AU2007240193A1 - An improved mounting bracket for fence panels

Info

Publication number: AU2007240193A1
Application number: AU2007240193A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Steven Sotiroski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-12
Filing date: 2007-12-11
Publication date: 2008-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-11
Also published as: AU2007240193B2

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: AN IMPROVED MOUNTING BRACKET FOR FENCE PANELS The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing known to me.

c This invention relates to fittings for fences and barriers. More particularly, although not exclusively, it discloses an improved form of mounting bracket for swimning pool fence panels.

O In order to minimise the visual impact of pool fences it is known to construct them using transparent glass panels. Existing methods of construction I include the use of short stainless steel posts which are bifurcated at the upper ends to form support channels. These posts are cemented or bolted to the pool surround with the channels aligned along the fence line. The lower edges of the panels are then set into these channels and retained in place by transverse screws or bolts extending through aligned apertures in the posts and panels.

While such existing arrangements retain the panels generally in an upright configuration the transverse screws do not operate to rigidly secure them against lateral deflection or wobble which at their upper edges can be quite significant. Also, once the posts are set in place the positions of the individual panels is largely fixed with no scope for lateral adjustment.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly a mounting bracket is disclosed for a fence panel or the like, said bracket in a position of use including a rigid post

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c shaped at one end for upright anchorage to a support base and at the other end forming an upwardly directed channel defined between opposed jaws Sand at least one of said jaws having a clamping means for securing said fence panel or the like when positioned in the channel at an upright position against lateral deflection relative to said bracket.

Preferably the bracket further includes a mechanical fastener passing transversely through both jaws for additionally retaining the panel against vertical displacement out of the channel It is further preferred that said clamping means comprises a threaded plug extending laterally through said at least one of the jaws.

It is further preferred that said threaded plug is formed at an inner end into a flat bearing surface for engaging said panel.

-3- It is further preferred that an opposite outer end of said threaded plug is accessible for rotation using a tool.

Currently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which:figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a mounting bracket according to said invention when fitted to a glass pool fence panel, figure 2 is a front elevation view of the bracket of figure 1, and figures 2 and 3 are cross-section and front elevation views of the mounting bracket when fitted with an alternative form of clamping means.

Referring first to figures 1 and 2 there is a rectangular stainless steel bar 1 which at its lower end is adapted for mounting onto a support base such as a pool surround or the like. The bar may be cemented into the pool surround or otherwise bolted onto any suitable anchor member using the recess 2 and bolt holes 3. The upper end of the bar is bifurcated to form two opposed jaws 4 and 5 which define a channel 6 therebetween. This channel is shaped to receive the lower edge of a glass panel 7 as may be used to construct a Sswimming pool fence. The panel 7 preferably sits between plastic gaskets 8 to protect the glass against stress concentrations or point loadings and both Ccn members have apertures 9 which correspond in position to a bolt Sextending transversely through both jaws adjacent the top. The bolt 10 is tightened using an alien key or other suitable tool so as to retain the panel c 1 against vertical displacement out of said panel. In addition, with this invention, a plug I I is threaded into one of the jaws 4 adjacent the bottom of the channel. This is also turned in by an alien key so that an inner bearing surface 12 compresses the gaskets 8 and panel 7 against the inner face of the opposite jaw 5. Such compression operates to additionally clamp the panel against any lateral or angular deflection within said channel and thus provides for a more secure and rigid fence structure.

With the second embodiment of the invention shown in figure 3 and 4 the main components which correspond in function to those of figures 1 and 2 are indentified by the same numbers which however are primed to distinguish them. In this case the plug 11' is of a different shape with an enlarged inner bearing surface 12' to reduce stress concentrations on the glass panel 7'.

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While not shown in the drawings it is also within the scope of this invention to provide two opposed threaded plugs of any suitable design which extend into the channel from both jaws. These would allow the lateral position of the panel within the channel to be adjusted to align with other adjacent fence panels prior to clamping from both sides.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiments disclosed provides a novel and improved form of mounting bracket for glass fence panels. Clearly however the examples described are only the currently preferred forms of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the size and cross-sectional shape of the post as well as the design and placement of the clamping plugs may all be changed according to application. Also while it is currently preferred that the post be constructed from stainless steel the invention extends to the use of any other corrosion resistant material.

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Claims

2. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim I wherein said clamping means includes a threaded plug extending laterally through said at least one of said jaws.
3. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein said threaded plug is formed at an inner end into a flat bearing surface for engaging said fence panel or the like.
4. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 3 wherein an opposite outer end of said threaded plug is accessible for rotation using a tool. O The mounting bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said bracket further includes a mechanical fastener passing Cr€ transversely through both jaws for additionally retaining said fence panel or the like against vertical displacement out of the channel.
6. The mounting bracket as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 wherein the rigid post at said one end includes a recess and bolt holes for affixing to an anchor member in a pool surround.
7. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim I wherein said clamping means includes two threaded plugs extending through respective ones of said opposed jaws to engage and clamp said fence panel or the like in a manner whereby the lateral position of the panel can be adjusted.
8. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim 5 wherein at a position of use of the bracket said mechanical fastener is located adjacent the top of said channel.
9. The mounting bracket as claimed in claim I wherein said clamping -8- means is located adjacent the bottom of the channel. A mounting bracket for a fence panel or the like, said bracket being substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. Dated this 10th day of December, 2007 Steven Sotiroski By His Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR