WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 1 "TEMPORARY FENCE BASE" Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a base for temporary fencing. Background to the Invention Temporary fencing is commonly used in a variety of locations. Such 10 temporary fencing structures generally comprise a series of fencing panels with each panel having uprights at each end. The lower ends of the uprights are received in holes provided in base members that are weighted to hold the fence structure in place. Usually each base member includes a pair of holes to receive the uprights of a pair of adjacent fence panels. 15 In some locations, stability of the fence panels can be an issue. For example, in locations where the fence is subject to high winds, the base members must have sufficient weight in order to prevent the fence panels being blown over. 20 The present invention relates to bases for temporary fencing aimed at providing flexibility in configuration to increase the stability of the fencing structure as required. 25 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a temporary fence base comprising: an upper surface having one or more apertures for receiving uprights of a fence panel; 30 a lower surface arranged to rest on the ground in use; first and second end surfaces extending between the upper and lower surfaces; WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 2 first and second side surfaces extending between the upper and lower surfaces; a first protruding portion extending from the first end surface; and a first recess in the first side surface; 5 wherein the first protruding portion of the temporary fence base is receivable in the first recess of an adjacent temporary fence base. Preferably the temporary fence base further comprises: a second protruding portion extending from the second end surface; and 10 a second recess in the second side surface; wherein the first and second protruding portions are receivable in either of the first or second recesses. Preferably the shapes of the first and second protruding portions are 15 complementary to the shapes of the first and second recesses. In one embodiment, the first and second protruding portions each include a lower surface located coplanar with the lower surface of the temporary fence base and an upper surface located below the upper surface of the temporary 20 fence base and the first and second recesses extend from the lower surface of temporary fence base upwardly to a location below the upper surface. Preferably the protruding portions each include one or more surface features on the upper surface thereof and the recesses include one or more 25 complementary surface features on the inner surfaces thereof such that the surface features of each protruding portion engage with the complementary surface features of the recess when the protruding portion is received in the recess. 30 In a preferred embodiment, the surface features on each protruding portion comprises one or more lugs and the complementary surface features of the recess comprise corresponding shaped holes into which the lugs are received.
WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 3 In one embodiment, the surface features comprising a pair of circular lugs located adjacent opposite sides of the protruding portion and the complementary surface features of each recess comprise circular holes into which the circular lugs are received. 5 A semi-cylindrical lug may also be provided centrally on the upper surface of each protruding portion to be received in a complementary central semi cylindrical opening in the recess. 10 Preferably the upper surface of the temporary fence base includes a raised portion to be received in a lower recess of a further temporary fence base placed on top of the temporary fence base. In one embodiment, the raised portion extends centrally across the upper 15 surface from the first side surface to the second side surface and the lower recess therefore also extends centrally across the lower surface from the first side surface to the second side surface with the end of the lower recess adjacent the first side surface comprising the first recess and the end of the lower recess adjacent the second side surface comprising the second recess. 20 Edges of the raised portion extending from the first side surface to the second side surface preferably include outwardly extending portions to be received in corresponding portions of the lower recess. 25 In a further embodiment, there are provided a plurality of first and second recesses on each of the first and second side surfaces. In one embodiment, the first side surface includes two first recesses each being offset from a midpoint of the first side surface towards an end of the 30 temporary fence base and the second side surface includes two second recesses each being located offset from a midpoint of the second side surface towards an end of the temporary fence base.
WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 4 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the 5 following drawings: Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a temporary fence base in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2a is a top view of the temporary fence base of Figure 1; Figure 2b is a side view of the temporary fence base of Figure 1; 10 Figure 2c is an end view of the temporary fence base of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a lower perspective view of the temporary fence base of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of a pair of the temporary fence bases of Figure 1 connected together; Figure 5 is a top view of the connected temporary fence bases; 15 Figure 6 is a side view of a pair of temporary fence bases in a stacked configuration; Figure 7 is an upper perspective view of three of the temporary fence bases of Figure 1 in a connected and stacked configuration; Figure 8 is an upper perspective view of a second embodiment of a temporary 20 fence base in accordance with the present invention; Figure 9 is a lower perspective view of the temporary fence base of Figure 8; Figure 1 Oa is an upper perspective view of a third embodiment of a temporary fence base in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 1 Ob is a lower view of the temporary fence base of Figure 1 Oa. 25 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to the Figures, there is shown a temporary fence base 10 for use in a temporary fencing system. The temporary fence bases 10 in the 30 embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 9 comprise an outer shell to be filled with a suitable weighting material, such as concrete. The present invention however is not limited to such a configuration. The temporary fence base 10 WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 5 may also be constructed of a solid material of sufficient weight, such as rubber. The temporary fence base 10 in the embodiment shown comprises a 5 generally rectangular prism shape. The temporary fence base 10 includes an upper surface 12 and an opposed lower surface 14. The upper surface 12 includes a pair of apertures 16 into which are received the lower ends of fence panel uprights 18 in a known manner. In the embodiment shown, the apertures 16 extend from the upper surface 12 to the lower surface 14. 10 The temporary fence base 10 also includes a first end surface 20 and a second end surface 22. The first and second end surfaces 20 and 22 extend from the upper surface 12 to the lower surface 14 at opposite ends thereof. A first side surface 24 extends from the upper surface 12 to the lower surface 14 15 on a first side of the temporary fence base 10 and a second side surface 26 extends from the upper surface 12 to the lower surface 14 on a second opposite side thereof. Each of the first and second end surfaces 20 and 22 and the first and second side surfaces 24 and 26 are generally planar. 20 Each of the first and second end surfaces 20 and 22 includes a protruding portion extending therefrom. A first protruding portion 28 extends from the first end surface 20 and a second protruding portion 29 extends from the second end surface 22. Also, each of the first and second side surfaces 24 and 26 is provided with a recess therein. The first side wall 24 is provided with a first 25 recess 30 and the second side wall 26 is provided with a second recess 31. The shapes of the first and second protruding portions 28 and 29 are complementary to the shapes of the first and second recesses 30 and 31 such that the first and second protruding portions 28 and 29 can be received in 30 either of the first or second recesses 30 and 31. The first recess 30 is located generally centrally on the first side surface 24 and the second recess 31 is located generally centrally on the second side surface 26.
WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 6 In the embodiment shown, the first and second protruding portions 28 and 29 each comprise generally a rectangular prism, a lower surface of which is located coplanar with the lower surface 14 of the temporary fence base 10 and an upper surface of which is located below the upper surface 12 of the 5 temporary fence base 10. The shapes of the first and second recesses 30 and 31 are therefore also generally a rectangular prism extending from the lower surface 14 of temporary fence base 10 upwardly to a location below the upper surface 12. In this way, the first and second protruding portions 28 and 29 can be received in the first or second recesses 30 or 31 by simply placing a further 10 temporary fence base 10 downwardly such that the recess 30 or 31 rests over the protruding portion 28 or 29. Such an arrangement can be seen in Figure 4. The protruding portions 28 and 29 each include one or more surface features on the upper surface thereof. The recesses 30 and 31 include one or more 15 complementary surface features on the inner surfaces thereof such that the surface features of the protruding portions 28 and 29 engage with the complementary surface features when the protruding portion 28 or 29 is received in the recess 30 or 31. The protruding portion 28 or 29 is thereby prevented from exiting the recess 30 or 31 by sliding. 20 In the embodiment shown, the surface features on protruding portions 28 and 29 comprise a pair of circular lugs 32 provided adjacent opposite sides of the protruding portions 28 and 29. The complementary surface features of the recesses 30 and 31 comprise circular holes 33 into which the circular lugs 32 25 are received. Also provided is a semi-cylindrical lug 34 provided centrally on the upper surfaces of each of the protruding portions 28 and 29. The central axis of the semi-cylindrical lug 34 is oriented parallel to the first and second side surfaces 24 and 26 of the temporary fence base 10. The recesses 30 and 31 are provided with complementary central semi-cylindrical openings 35. 30 The upper surface 12 of the temporary fence base 10 includes also a raised portion 36 thereon. The raised portion 36 of the temporary fence base 10 is provided to be received in a lower recess 38 of a further temporary fence base WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 7 10 placed on top such that multiple blocks can be placed in a stacked configuration (as can be seen in Figure 6). In the embodiment shown, the raised portion 36 extends centrally across the 5 upper surface 12 from the first side surface 24 to the second side surface 26. The lower recess 38 therefore also extends centrally across the lower surface 14 from the first side surface 24 to the second side surface 26. The end of the lower recess 38 adjacent the first side surface 24 therefore comprises the first recess 30 and the end of the lower recess 38 adjacent the second side 10 surface 26 comprises the second recess 31. The edges of the raised portion 36 extending from the first side surface 24 to the second side surface 26 include outwardly extending portions 40 to be received in corresponding portions of the lower recess 38. These outwardly 15 extending portions 40 prevent a temporary fence base 10 placed on top of a further temporary fence base 10 from sliding relative to the further temporary fence base 10. As can be seen in Figure 3, the lower surface 14 may also be provided with 20 tread 42 thereon to provide additional grip against slipping of the temporary fence base 10. The protruding portions 28 and 29 may also include cut out portions 50 in the distal ends thereof into which fingers can be inserted to aid lifting of the temporary fence base 10. 25 Figures 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The invention is similar to that of Figures 1 to 7 and like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. The second embodiment of the temporary fence base 10 however includes only the first protruding portion 28 on the first end surface 20 and does not include a second protruding portion. 30 In use, a single temporary fence base 10 may be placed on the ground to receive the uprights 18 of temporary fencing panels (not shown) in a normal manner. If further stability is required against tipping of the fence panels, a second temporary fence base 10 may be placed as shown in Figures 4 and 5 WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 8 such that the recess 30 receives the protruding portion 28. Tipping of the first temporary fence base 10 would in that instance require that sufficient force is applied to lift also the second temporary fence base 10. A further temporary fence base 10 may also be placed at the opposite end of the first temporary 5 fence base 10 if required. Also, due to the stackability, additional temporary fence bases 10 may be placed on top of one of the existing temporary fence bases 10 to provide further resistance to tipping of the fence panels. As can be seen in Figure 7, a 10 third temporary fence base 10 has been placed on the second temporary fence base 10 in a stacked configuration. Figure 10 shows a third embodiment of a temporary fence base 10 in accordance with the present invention. The temporary fence base 10 of Figure 15 10 is similar to the previous embodiments and like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. In the temporary fence base 10 of Figure 10, the first side surface 24 includes two first recesses 30 and the second side surface 26 includes two second 20 recesses 31. The first recesses 30 are each located on the first side surface 24 offset from a midpoint of the first side surface towards an end of the temporary fence base 10. The second recesses 31 are also each located on the second side surface 26 offset from a midpoint of the second side surface 26 towards an end of the temporary fence base 10. 25 In this embodiment, a further temporary fence base 10 placed on top of the first or second protruding portion 28 or 29 of the temporary fence base 10 in the manner described previously will be offset to one side, rather than being located centrally as shown in Figure 5. The direction in which the further 30 temporary fence base 10 extends can be changed by selecting which first or second recess 30 or 31 receives the protruding portion 28 or 29. Such an arrangement may be useful for positioning the further temporary fence base 10 in a suitable location to reduce the possibility of the further temporary fence base 10 being a tripping hazard.
WO 2012/000020 PCT/AU2011/000786 9 The temporary fence base 10 of Figure 10 also includes rectangular lugs 32 and corresponding rectangular holes 33, rather than the circular shaped lugs and holes of the previous embodiment. 5 The embodiment shown in Figure 10 does not include the raised portion 36 on the upper surface 12 and the corresponding lower recess 38 to aiding stacking, however these features may also be included on this version. 10 It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.