AU2009203134A1

AU2009203134A1 - Temporary Fence System

Info

Publication number: AU2009203134A1
Application number: AU2009203134A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Dehlsen
Original assignee: Kelvindale Products Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Kelvindale Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-30
Filing date: 2009-07-31
Publication date: 2009-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-30
Also published as: AU2006203138B2; AUPR858101A0; AU2006203138A1; AU2005201543B2; AU2002301692A8; AU2009203134B2; AU2005201543A1; AU2006100501A4; AU2002301692B2; AU2002301692A1; AU2006100501B4

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.10 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A DIVISIONAL STANDARD PATENT APPLICATION Invention Title: TEMPORARY FENCE SYSTEM The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 022137 TEMPORARY FENCE SYSTEM The present invention relates to the erection of 5 temporary fencing, and in particular to the supporting footings or anchor blocks for such fencing and methods of production. BACKGROUND The use of temporary fencing has become a common 10 sight, particularly around construction 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 15 wire netting or some other, usually woven infill material 11. The side uprights 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 15. Generally one anchor block or footing element will have 20 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 post extensions of the panels are free to swivel in the anchor blocks, adjacent panels can take up 25 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 as the friction between block and ground surface, and the size and composition of the supported panels. 5 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. 10 A disadvantage of bare concrete blocks is that they are easily damaged and not readily visible in poor light so that, projecting as they do from the line of the fence, can pose a tripping risk for passers by. Yet another type of available anchor block is in the 1$ form of an enclosing shell generally of rectangular prism configuration and moulded in plastic. It is provided with an opening or openings through which a flowable material such as water, sand or even concrete may be injected into the shell to give a desired mass. Sand and particularly 20 concrete are difficult materials with to fill such shells. Another disadvantage of enclosed plastic shell blocks is that 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 25 in high wind or impact situations.

Open-base anchor blocks comprising a composite of a moulded polymer shell and a settable material are known. An example is that disclosed in Dutch patent NL9401555 by Heras. A disadvantage of the shell of the block shown in 5 Fig. 5 of this patent, is the complexity presented in the moulding of the shell, which has hingable flap extensions 24 attached to the lower edges of the two sides of the shell. A further disadvantage of the Heras hinged flaps is that after filling each shell, the flaps must be rotated 10 and forced into the settable material before this becomes too stiff. This is a labour intensive and time consuming requirement, especially if producing blocks in large numbers. It should also be noted that the cylindrical former 15 of Heras, which provide for insertion of the uprights of fence panels, do not extend the full depth of the shell. This means that the uprights are not optimally supported. The present invention seeks to ameliorate at least some of the above disadvantages. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a method for supporting panels of a temporary fence; said method including the steps of: (a) moulding shells at a first location; said shells 25 adapted for filling with a settable material, (b) transporting said shells to a second location, (c) filling said shells with said settable material at said second location to form temporary fence anchor blocks comprising a composite of said shells and 5 said settable material, (d) distributing a required number of said anchor blocks and temporary fence panels for transportation to a site of erection of a said temporary fence, (e) placing said anchor blocks along a temporary fence 10 line and inserting adjacent uprights of adjoining said panels into retaining structures provided in said anchor blocks. wherein said shells are comprised of integrally moulded end portions, side portions and a top portion; said end 15 portions and side portions extending from said top portion to a continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge of said shell; said shell further including an integrally moulded pair of farmers extending from said top portion to a plane defined by said continuous, 20 uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said formers defining said retaining structures. Preferably, said second location is a specialised shell filling facility.

-7 Preferably, said anchor blocks and said temporary fence panels are collated at a temporary fence distribution centre for transport to said site of erection. Preferably, said second location is said site of erection 5 of a said temporary fence. Preferably, said retaining structures comprise separate side by side passages passing from said top portion to said plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; each of said passages adapted to 10 receive as a close sliding fit one of a pair of temporary fence uprights of adjacent said panels of said temporary fence. Preferably, said shell is further provided with at least one additional former extending from said top portion to 15 said plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said at least one additional former smaller in cross section than said pair of formers; said at least one additional former defining a through passage for accepting therethrough a securing peg. 20 In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method for supporting panels of a temporary fence; said method including the steps of: (a) moulding shells at a first location; said shells adapted for filling with a settable material, (b) transporting said shells to a second location for filling with said settable material to form 5 composite anchor blocks; said anchor blocks comprising of one of said shells and said settable material, (c) placing said anchor blocks at intervals along a temporary fence line, 10 (d) inserting adjacent uprights of adjoining said panels into retaining structures provided in said anchor blocks thereby forming said temporary fence, (e) inserting securing pegs through at least one anchor block securing structure of selected anchor blocks 15 and driving said securing pegs into a supporting ground surface so as to secure said selected anchor blocks in position. Preferably, said shells comprise a top portion and side 20 and end portions; said side and end portions forming walls of said shell; said walls terminating in a continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge of an open underside of said shell; said anchor block further comprising a pair of said retaining structures and at least one said anchor block securing structure extending from said top portion to a plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge. Preferably, said second location is a specialised filling 5 facility. Preferably, said specialised filling facility is one of a number of dispersed specialised filling facilities. Preferably, said anchor blocks are transported from said specialised filling facility to a site for distribution 10 of said anchor blocks and said panels. Preferably, a corresponding number of said anchor blocks are collated with a required number of fence panels for a temporary fence at said site for distribution. Preferably, said retaining structures and said anchor 15 block securing structures include a first pair of formers and a second pair of formers; both said pairs of formers integrally moulded with said shell to form first and second pairs of passages extending from apertures in said top portion to said plane defined said continuous, 20 uninterrupted coplanar lower edge. Preferably, said first pair of formers are generally disposed side by side along a bisector of the length of said shell and normal to the long axis of said shell.

0 Preferably, said shell is provided with at least a first recess at each of said end portions; each said first recess extending upwards from a lower edge of said end portion to a point intermediate the height of said end 5 portion; said first recess providing a handhold for lifting and manipulating said anchor block. Preferably, said shell is provided with a second upper recess disposed at each of said end portions and located above said first recess. 10 Preferably, 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; each said spigot at respective end portions of said shell being axially aligned and lying on a vertical longitudinal 15 bisecting plane of said shell; said spigots adapted to receive therethrough a length of reinforcing rod extending substantially the length of said shell; said reinforcing rod acting as a retainer of concrete or like settable material when said concrete or like settable 20 material has filled said shell. Preferably, each one of said second pair of formers is located adjacent diagonally opposite corners of said shell.

7 In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a shell, open at its underside to form a vessel when inverted, for filling with concrete or like settable material; said shell and said settable material forming 5 an anchor block for the support of adjacent panels of a temporary fence; said shell comprising integrally moulded end portions, side portions and an upper portion; said end portions and said side portions depending from said upper portion to from a continuous, uninterrupted 10 coplanar lower edge defining said open underside; said shell further comprising a pair of formers extending from an inside surface of said upper portion to a plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said pair of formers adapted to accept inserted 15 therein uprights of said adjacent panels; said shell comprising at least one additional former extending from said inside surface to a plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said at least one additional former being smaller than said pair 20 of formers. In still another broad form of the invention, there is provided an anchor block for support of panels of a temporary fence; said anchor block formed as a composite of a shell and a settable material; said shell comprising 25 integrally moulded side portions end portions and a top portion; said shell open at an underside and whereby said LV side portions and said end portions depend from said top portion to form a single continuous lower edge; said lower edge defining a plane parallel to said top portion; said anchor block further provided with retaining 5 structures for insertion of uprights of said panels; each of said end portions provided with a first lower recess and a second upper recess; said lower and said upper recess adapted for grasping by the hands of a user when manipulating said anchor block. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be 15 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 20 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; 25 Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the anchor block shell of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a schematic of a method of production. 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 5 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, with the walls of the shell which form the side and end portions 10 terminating in a continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge 35. Integrally moulded into shell 21 are retaining structures for the uprights or stiles of adjoining fence panels. Preferably, the retaining structures comprise a 15 pair of side by side, relatively large, hollow cylindrical formers 25, preferably extending the full depth of shell 21, from the top portion 24 to a plane defined by the continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge 35. The bores 26 of formers 25 open out at the outer surface of top 20 portion 24. The diameters of bores 26 are adapted to accept as a free sliding fit the diameter of typical tubular steel posts forming the uprights of temporary fence panels. At least one, preferably two anchor block securing structures in the form of hollow cylindrical formers 27 of 25 smaller section or smaller diameter than formers 25, may similarly be integrally moulded into shell 21, and extending the full depth of shell 21 from the top portion 24 to the plane defined by the continuous uninterrupted lower edge. The bores 28 of formers 27 also open out at the outer surface of top portion 24. The diameters of bores 28 5 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 10 anchor block 20. The upper recesses 29 include integrally moulded spigots 32 and webs 34. The bores 33 of spigots 32 are adapted to accept, as a loose sliding fit, the diameter of typical reinforcing rod. The anchor- block shells 21 of the present invention 15 are injection moulded from a suitable polymer at an injection moulding production facility. Shells may be moulded in any of a variety of colours to suit the preference of an end user. After moulding, the shells may be transported to one or more decentralised, specialized 20 filling facilities, preferably to facilities which are closest to, or associated with, points of distribution or use, as generally illustrated in Figure 6. Shells 21 are laid inverted on their outer surface of top portion 24 and a short length of reinforcing rod 34 is 25 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, (except for recesses 30) level with the continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge 35, leaving bores 26 and 28 (if provided) as open passages. After setting, the concrete is retained in shell 5 21 by reinforcing rod 34. In at least one preferred arrangement, after filling at a specialised filling facility, anchor blocks 20 may be transported to a point of distribution. Generally the point of distribution will be an organization providing temporary 10 fences to third party users. Preferably, at a point of distribution, when an order for erection of a temporary fence is received, filled anchor blocks are collated with the number of required fence panels for transport to the site of erection. 15 Alternatively, empty anchor block shells 21 and fence panels may be delivered to a site where a temporary fence is to be erected- Again the empty shells are inverted and filled with concrete as described above, by means of specialised portable shell filling equipment, fed from a 20 concrete delivery vehicle. To erect a temporary fence, the fence line is determined and anchor blocks 20 placed at fence panel intervals along the fence line as shown in Figure 1. Fence panels are then erected by inserting the pair of adjacent 25 uprights of adjoining panels into bores 26. Short lengths of reinforcing rod or other suitable pegs, may be inserted into bores 28 (if provided) and driven into the ground to fix the position of the anchor block and as and aid to the stability of the supported fence, for example on sloping or soft ground or in high wind areas. Such pegging may become 5 important in situations where sheeting is applied to the fence panels, thus greatly increasing the wind loading transmitted to the anchor blocks. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that io 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. For example, a truck which can transport 600 15 conventional precast concrete anchor blocks, can transport some 3000 unfilled plastic shells. Concrete can easily be poured into the large bottom opening, at the actual point of installation if desired, so as to minimize subsequent lifting. 20 The shells are, in effect, moulds for producing the composite shell and concrete anchor blocks, one mould for each anchor block to be manufactured. With this arrangement it is simple to produce large numbers of anchor blocks in a relatively short time frame. This is to be compared with 25 the prior art arrangement where a limited number of moulds are used multiple times to produce bare concrete blocks. In that process, the number of moulds available limits, in some instances quite severely, the rate at which blocks can be produced. Rates of production are particularly high when anchor 5 blocks shells are filled at a specialised filling facility. There, quite large arrays of shells, already prepared with a length of concrete retaining reinforcing rod, can be arranged in a tight array formation. With suitable blanking of the handhold recesses and bores, the entire array may be 10 filled in one production cycle. Once filled, no further operation is required and the concrete can be allowed to set. The exposed concrete underside of the above described anchor block retains the added frictional advantage 15 conferred by concrete at the open underside of the block being in contact with the ground surface. 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 20 from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of erecting a temporary fence; said method including the steps of: (a) moulding shells adapted for filling with a settable 5 material at a first location, (b) filling with said settable material to form temporary fence anchor blocks comprising a composite of said shells and said settable material, (c) distributing a required number of said anchor blocks 10 and temporary fence panels for transportation to a site of erection of a said temporary fence, (d) placing said anchor blocks along a temporary fence line and inserting adjacent uprights of adjoining said panels into retaining structures provided in 15 said anchor blocks. wherein said shells are comprised of integrally moulded end portions, side portions and a top portion; said end portions and side portions extending from said top portion to a continuous, uninterrupted, coplanar lower 20 edge of said shell; said shell further including an integrally moulded pair of formers extending from said top portion to a plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said former defining said retaining structures.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said second location is a specialised shell filling facility. 5

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said anchor blocks and said temporary fence panels are collated at a temporary fence distribution centre for transport to said site of erection.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said 10 second location is said site of erection of a said temporary fence.

5. The method of any one of claims. 1 to 4 wherein said retaining structures comprise separate side by side passages passing from said top portion to said plane 15 defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; each of said passages adapted to receive as a close sliding fit one of a pair of temporary fence uprights of adjacent said panels of said temporary fence. 20

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said shell is further provided with at least one additional former extending from said top portion to said plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said at least one additional former smaller in cross section than said pair of formers; said at least one additional former defining a through passage for accepting therethrough a securing peg. 5

7. A method for supporting panels of a temporary fence; said method including the steps of: (a) moulding shells at a first location; said shells adapted for filling with a settable material, (b) transporting said shells to a second location for 10 filling with said settable material to form composite anchor blocks; said anchor blocks comprising of one of said shells and said settable material, (c) placing said anchor blocks at intervals along a 15 temporary fence line, (d) inserting adjacent uprights of adjoining said panels into retaining structures provided in said anchor blocks thereby forming said temporary fence, (e) inserting securing pegs through at least one anchor 20 block securing structure of selected anchor blocks and driving said securing pegs into a supporting ground surface so as to secure said selected anchor blocks in position.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said shells comprise a top portion and side and end portions; said side and end portions forming walls of said shell; said walls 5 terminating in a continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge of an open underside of said shell; said anchor block further comprising a pair of said retaining structures and at least one said anchor block securing structure extending from said top 10 portion to a plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge.

9. The method of claim 7 or 8 wherein said second location is a specialised filling facility.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said specialized 15 filling facility is one of a number of dispersed specialised filling facilities.

11. The method of claim 9 or 10 wherein said anchor blocks are transported from said specialised filling facility to a site for distribution of said anchor 20 blocks and said panels.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a corresponding number of said anchor blocks are collated with a required number of fence panels for a temporary fence at said site for distribution.

13. The method of any one of claims 7 to 12 wherein said retaining structures and said anchor block securing structures include a first pair of formers and a second pair of formers; both said pairs of 5 formers integrally moulded with said shell to form first and second pairs of passages extending from apertures in said top portion to said plane defined said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first pair of 10 formers are generally disposed side by side along a bisector of the length of said shell and normal to the long axis of said shell.

15. The method of any one of claims 8 to 14 wherein said shell is provided with at least a first recess at 15 each of said end portions; each said first recess extending upwards from a lower edge of said end portion to a point intermediate the height of said end portion; said first recess providing a handhold for lifting and manipulating said anchor block. 20

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said shell is provided with a second upper recess disposed at each of said end portions and located above said first recess.

17. The method of claim 16 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; each said spigot at respective end 5 portions of said shell being axially aligned and lying on a vertical longitudinal bisecting plane of said shell; said spigots adapted to receive therethrough a length of reinforcing rod extending substantially the length of said shell; said reinforcing rod acting as a 10 retainer of concrete or like settable material when said concrete or like settable material has filled said shell.

18. The method of any one of claims 13 to 17 wherein each one of said second pair of formers is located 15 adjacent diagonally opposite corners of said shell.

19. A shell, open at its underside to form a vessel when inverted, for filling with concrete or like settable material; said shell and said settable material forming an anchor block for the support of 20 adjacent panels of a temporary fence; said shell comprising integrally moulded end portions, side portions and an upper portion; said end portions and said side portions depending from said upper portion to form a continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower 25 edge defining said open underside; said shell further comprising a pair of formers extending from an inside surface of said upper portion to a plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said pair of formers adapted to accept inserted 5 therein uprights of said adjacent panels; said shell comprising at least one additional former extending from said inside surface to a plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said at least one additional former being smaller than said 10 pair of formers.

20. An anchor block for support of panels of a temporary fence; said anchor block formed as a composite of a shell and a settable material; said shell comprising integrally moulded side portions end 15 portions and a top portion; said shell open at an underside and whereby said side portions and said end portions depend from said top portion to form a single continuous lower edge; said lower edge defining a plane parallel to said top portion; said anchor block 20 further provided with retaining structures for insertion of uprights of said panels; each of said end portions provided with a first lower recess and a second upper recess; said lower and said upper recess adapted for grasping by the hands of a user when 25 manipulating said anchor block.

21. An anchor block for support of panels of a temporary fence; said anchor block formed as a composite of a shell and a settable material; said shell comprising integrally moulded side portions end 5 portions and a top portion; said shell open at an underside and wherein said side portions and said end portions depend from said top portion to form a single continuous uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said lower edge defining a plane parallel to said top 10 portion; said shell further provided with former defining retaining structures for insertion of uprights of said panels.

22. The anchor block of claim 1 wherein said former comprise a pair of side by side hollow cylinders; said 15 hollow cylinders integrally moulded with said shell; said hollow cylinders extending from said top portion to a plane defined by said continuous uninterrupted coplanar lower edge.

23. The anchor block of claim 2 wherein said shell is 20 further provided with at least one additional former extending from said top portion to said plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said at least one additional former smaller in cross section than said pair of former; said at least one additional former defining a through passage for accepting therethrough a securing peg.

24. An anchor block shell; said shell open at its underside to form a vessel when inverted, for filling 5 with concrete or like settable material; said shell and said settable material forming an anchor block for support of panels of a temporary fence; said shell comprising integrally moulded end portions, side portions and a top portion; said end portions and said 10 side portions depending from said top portion to from a continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge defining said open underside; said shell further comprising a pair of formers; said pair of former adapted to accept inserted therein uprights of 15 adjacent said panels.

25. The shell of claim 25 wherein said pair of formers extend from an inside surface of said top portion to a plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge 20

26. The shell of claim 25 or 26 wherein said shell includes at least one additional former extending from said inside surface to said plane defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said at least one additional former being smaller in section than said pair of former.

27. A method for supporting panels of a temporary fence; said method including the steps of: 5 (a) moulding shells at a first location; said shells adapted for filling with a settable material, (b) filling said shells with said settable material to form temporary fence anchor blocks comprising a composite of said shells and said settable material, 10 (c) distributing a required number of said anchor blocks and temporary fence panels for transportation to a site of erection of a said temporary fence, (d) placing said anchor blocks along a temporary fence line and inserting adjacent uprights of adjoining 15 said panels into retaining structures provided in said anchor blocks. wherein said shells are comprised of integrally moulded end portions, side portions and a top portion; said end portions and side portions extending from said top portion 20 to a continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge of said shell; said shell further including an integrally moulded pair of formers extending from said top portion to a plane 40 defined by said continuous, uninterrupted coplanar lower edge; said formers defining said retaining structures.