AU2010100947B4

AU2010100947B4 - Panel lock fence

Info

Publication number: AU2010100947B4
Application number: AU2010100947A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kevin Blaik
Original assignee: BlueScope Steel Ltd
Current assignee: BlueScope Steel Ltd
Priority date: 2010-08-30
Filing date: 2010-08-30
Publication date: 2011-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2018-08-30
Also published as: AU2010100947A4

Description

1 PANEL LOCK FENCE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fence, in particular a fence with panels locked in place to provide improved resistance to displacement by wind or 5 intruders. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Sheets of various materials have long been used as fence panels. In particular panels of sheet steel have been used to produce fences that are quick to erect and cost effective. Traditionally a system of posts and rails 10 has been used wherein the panels are attached to the rails. The resulting fence would have an asymmetrical appearance, on one side only the panel being visible, and on the other side the posts and rails. Installation of such a fence on a boundary between two properties could lead to disputes between neighbours if both sides wanted to have the more 15 aesthetically pleasing side facing their property. To address this problem "good neighbor" fences were developed in which the panels were held between top and bottom channel rails which in turn were held between posts. Such fences have a symmetrical appearance, allowing both neighbours to have the "good" side facing their property. 20 Whilst the construction method of the good neighbor fences did improve their aesthetics it did also reduce their resistance to lateral forces such as wind gusts and impacts from objects and people. When the panels in a good neighbor fence are subjected to lateral forces the centre of the panels will tend to bow outwards. As the panels are not secured in the channel 25 rails the panels may be forced out of the channel rails, clearly an undesirable situation. Because of this problem good neighbor fences are not used in high wind areas or where security is of high concern. The object of this invention is to provide a fence panel that alleviates the above problems, or at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed a fence panel adapted to be received along an edge thereof inside a fence rail, said fence panel being profiled in a direction substantially perpendicularly to said edge 5 to form a plurality of lower and laterally raised surfaces each respective surface extending in a common plane, said fence panel further including a row of slits extending transversely through each of the laterally raised surfaces to form a channel spanning the transverse dimension of the fence panel, the channel being disposed substantially parallel and adjacent the 10 edge and adapted to engageably receive a first edge portion of the fence rail, such engagement preventing movement of said fence panel out of the rail in which it is received. Preferably each of the lower surfaces of the panel also includes a slit extending transversely through to form a second channel spanning the 15 transverse dimension of the fence panel on an opposite side thereof, said rail including a second edge portion adapted to be received in the opposed channel. In preference said fence rail is substantially U-shaped including a base and two upstanding side walls adapted to receive said fence panel 20 therebetween, said edge portion being in the form of an inwardly curved lip on the upstanding wall, said lip terminating in a contact edge directed towards the base of the rail and thereby adapted to engage said fence panel channel and prevent the panel from moving away from the base and out from between the upstanding walls. 25 Advantageously the fence panel channel is such that the contact edge of said rail edge portion engages with the channel a short distance inwards from the fence panel surface through which the channel extends, thus preventing contact with said fence panel surface. Preferably said fence panel is adapted to extend vertically between a 30 top and a bottom rail, said fence panel including a row of said slits adjacent 3 an upper and lower edge thereof for engaging said top and bottom rail respectively such that the top rail generally prevents downward movement of the fence panel and the bottom rail generally prevents upward movement of the fence panel. 5 In a further form of the invention there is proposed a fence section including at least one fence panel as defined above. In a still further form of the invention there is proposed a fence including a plurality of fence sections as defined above. Preferably each fence section is joined using fastening means such as 10 screws. In a yet further form of the invention there is proposed a fence section for use in a fence including: a vertically profiled fence panel, each profile including a horizontally extending aperture formed adjacent and a long a top and bottom edge of 15 the fence panel; a top and bottom rail including side walls between which respective top and bottom edges of the fence panel are adapted to extend, whereby at least one of said rails includes a side wall lip adapted to engage the apertures associated with each profile to thereby constrain movement of the panel. 20 Preferably each of the top and bottom rails includes a side wall lip adapted to engage the apertures associated with the top and bottom edges of the fence panel such that said top rail prevents downward movement of the panel and said bottom rail prevents upward movement of the panel. In preference said fence section further includes upright side posts. 25 Preferably said upright side posts are configured to accommodate therein longitudinal ends of the top and bottom rails. In a further form of the invention there is proposed a fence including at least one fence section as defined above.

4 A fence constructed from fence sections comprising a top rail, a bottom rail and a sheet material, wherein: said sheet material features a top edge, a bottom edge and a longitudinal profile, said profile comprising a first lateral extremity defining a front face and a second lateral extremity defining a rear 5 face, said front face including a front top aperture adjacent to said top edge and a front bottom aperture adjacent to said bottom edge; said top rail and bottom rail being a u-shaped channel comprising a first side, a second side, a bottom and a first inwardly pointing tip extending from said first side; said top edge being located within said top rail with said front top aperture 10 engaging said top rail first inwardly pointing tip; said bottom edge being located within said bottom rail with said front bottom aperture engaging said bottom rail first inwardly pointing tip whereby vertical movement of said sheet material with respect to said top rail and bottom rail and dislodgement therefrom is prevented. 15 Preferably said rear face includes a rear top aperture adjacent to said top edge and a rear bottom aperture adjacent to said bottom edge; said top rail and bottom rail further include a second inwardly pointing tip extending from said second side; said rear top aperture engaging said top rail second inwardly pointing tip; said rear bottom aperture engaging said bottom rail 20 second inwardly pointing tip. It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings: 4a Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective of a fence section of the fence of Figure 1; 5 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fence panel of the fence section of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a fence rail of the fence section of Figure 2; Figures 5A-5C are perspective views showing how the panel, rails and 10 posts come together in accordance with a preferred embodiment to form the fence section of Figure 2; and 5 Figure 6 is an enlarged end view of the fence section of Figure 2 minus the upright channel posts. LIST OF COMPONENTS 10 fence 5 11 fence section 12 fence panel 14 top rail 16 bottom rail 18 channel post 10 20 panel base 21 panel rearface 22 panel front face 24 panel shallow profile 25 panel deep profile 15 26 top locking apertures 27 top aperture ledge 28 bottom locking apertures 29 bottom aperture ledge 30 rail member 20 31 rail bottom 32,33 rail sides 34 rail channel 37,38 rail lips 35,36 rail side profiles 25 39,40 rail tips DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to 30 the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings 6 may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration. Referring to the drawings now in greater detail, there is provided a fence 10 in Figure 1. The fence comprises several fence sections 11 placed 5 adjacent to each other and typically held together using screws (not shown). As seen in Figure 2 the main features of each fence section 11 include a fence panel 12, top rail 14, bottom rail 16 and upright channel posts 18. As detailed in Figure 3 the fence panel 12 is roll formed from sheet metal, preferably steel, and comprises a panel base 20 on which is formed a 10 repeated sequence of a panel shallow profile 24 adjacent to a panel deep profile 25. The panel deep profiles 25 include top locking apertures or slits 26 located adjacent to the top edge of the fence panel 12 and bottom locking apertures or slits 28 located adjacent to the bottom edge of the fence panel. The panel shallow profile 24 and the panel deep profile 25 15 provide structural rigidity and aesthetic appeal to the fence panel 12. The panel locking apertures 26 and 28 provide means for attaching the top rail 16 and the bottom rail 18 to the fence panel 12 without the need for fasteners. The top rail 14 and the bottom rail 16 are both identical rail members 30 20 as shown in Figure 4. Rail member 30 is roll formed from panel steel and comprises a rail bottom 31 and rail sides 32, 33 which together define a rail channel 34 which can accommodate an edge of the fence panel 12. The rail sides 32, 33 include rail side profiles 35, 36 and arcuate rail lips 37, 38 with rail tips 39, 40 at their extremities. The rail side profiles 35,36 provide a 25 rail member 30 with structural rigidity and aesthetic appeal. The rail lips 38, 39 provide a means for a rail member 30 to attach to the fence panel 12 without the need for fasteners as will be explained in more detail below. The channel posts 18 are of a similar shape to the rail members 30, but with a wider bottom to allow the rails to be fitted within.

7 Figures 5A - 5C show the various components coming together to form a fence section in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The top rail 14 and the bottom rail 16 are fitted to the top and bottom of the fence panel 12 respectively. The rail and panel combination is then fitted within channel 5 posts 18 at either end. It is to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to this method of assembly and that the order in which the components are assembled can be varied. For example, the channel postsl8 may first be fixed in position, the bottom rail 16 then secured to the 10 channel posts, the fence panel 12 placed in the bottom rail and finally the top rail 14 fitted to the top of the fence panel. One may appreciate more clearly the way in which a fence panel 12 including panel locking apertures 26 and 28 is engaged and held firmly between the top rail 14 and a bottom rail 16 by reference to Figure 6. The 15 fence panel 12 is held in place by the rail tip 39 pressing against the rear face 21 of the fence panel whilst the rail tip 40 engages with the top and bottom panel locking apertures 26 and 28. Upward movement of the fence panel 12 is prevented as the bottom aperture edge 29 is constrained by the rail tip 40 of the bottom rail 16. Similarly, downward movement of the fence 20 panel 12 is prevented as the top aperture edge 27 is constrained by the rail tip 40 of the top rail 14. The fence panel 12 is thus vertically restrained, preventing it from slipping out of the top and bottom rails 14 and 16 when the fence panel is subjected to lateral forces such as strong wind. The components of the preferred embodiment are roll formed from 25 panel steel. In an alternative embodiment, the panel may be roll formed from other panel material such as aluminium. Other forms of forming the components such as extrusion and pressing are also possible. The preferred embodiment features a shallow profile 24 and a deep profile 25 with the locking apertures 26 and 28 only on the front face 22. 30 Quite clearly other profiles of fence panels could be used. Also, the 8 apertures could alternatively be on the rear face of the fence panel or even on both the front face and the rear face of the fence panel. Whilst the fence panel embodied herein includes top and bottom apertures, it is to be understood that the invention includes within its scope 5 panels having apertures adjacent either the top or the bottom of the panel. In this configuration, the panel may engage one rail by any other known fastening means and the other rail by the means described above, that is, by way of engagement between the rail tip 40 and the panel apertures. Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the 10 present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of 15 the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field. In the claims, except where the context requires otherwise due to 20 express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A fence section including a fence panel adapted to be received along an edge thereof inside a fence rail, said fence panel being profiled in a direction substantially perpendicularly to said edge to form a 5 plurality of lower and laterally raised surfaces each respective surface extending in a common plane, said fence panel further including a row of slits extending transversely through each of the laterally raised surfaces to form a channel spanning the transverse dimension of the fence panel, the channel being disposed 10 substantially parallel and adjacent the edge and adapted to engageably receive a first edge portion of the fence rail, such engagement preventing movement of said fence panel out of the rail in which it is received.

2. A fence section according to claim 1 wherein each of the lower 15 surfaces of the panel also includes a slit extending transversely through to form a second channel spanning the transverse dimension of the fence panel on an opposite side thereof, said rail including a second edge portion adapted to be received in the opposed channel.

3. A fence section according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said fence 20 rail is substantially U-shaped including a base and two upstanding side walls adapted to receive said fence panel therebetween, said edge portion being in the form of an inwardly curved lip on the upstanding wall, said lip terminating in a contact edge directed towards the base of the rail and thereby adapted to engage said 25 fence panel channel and prevent the panel from moving away from the base and out from between the upstanding walls.

4. A fence section according to claim 3 wherein the fence panel channel is such that the contact edge of said rail edge portion engages with the channel a short distance inwards from the fence panel surface 30 through which the channel extends, thus preventing contact with said fence panel surface. 10

5. A fence section according to any one of the above claims wherein said fence panel is adapted to extend vertically between a top and a bottom rail, said fence panel including a row of said slits adjacent an upper and lower edge thereof for engaging said top and bottom rail 5 respectively such that the top rail generally prevents downward movement of the fence panel and the bottom rail generally prevents upward movement of the fence panel.