AU2013203403B2 - A fencing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is directed to a one piece connector for connecting a wire with an enlarged end to a structural member such as a rail on a fence. The connector 5 has a first end with a threaded outer surface which is fastenable to the structural member. The connector has an internal bore that is wider than the diameter of the wire and narrower than the diameter of the enlarged end of the wire so that in use the wire is positioned within the connector and the enlarged end of the wire abuts the first end and the threaded outer surface of the connector is fastened to the structural 0 member. Consequently the wire is retained by being captured within the connector and abuts the first end of the connector. Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Description

A FENCING SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to fences, balustrades, barriers and partitions. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for pool fences and stainless steel fences and balustrades that are stylish and functional. The reference in the specification to stainless steel fences is by way of example and the invention is not limited to stainless steel fences.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stainless steel fences have become popular for use as balustrades, pool fencing and stair railings. These fences comprise posts with or without horizontal top rail and a horizontal bottom rail between which vertical or horizontal wires are suspended to form a barrier.

Various methods have been developed to fasten wires to posts including the use of specific arrangements which stretch a wire between two adjacent posts. The fastening assembly disclosed in EP 1079143 has an outer case with an internal spring-biased clip that holds the wire in tension. The connecting assembly also includes a threaded cylindrical joiner that screws into a corresponding female-threaded inner casing surface. In use the joiner is attached to a bolt which fastens the wire to an upright post.

The use of horizontal suspended wires however, is becoming less acceptable to many local building authorities due to safety concerns. As a consequence the use of vertical suspended wires is becoming a more popular alternative.

The stainless steel wire usually is a small diameter continuous stainless steel wire rope of about 3 to 5 mm diameter and is similar to the flexible wire assemblies used in yacht rigging. Each suspended stainless steel wire is usually vertically spaced apart from each other by about 100mm. This spacing provides only a minor obstruction to views and ventilation.

The construction of the vertical wire rope stainless steel fences involves erecting the posts, mounting of the upper and lower tubular rails, threading the wire rope continuously through lugs welded to the upper and lower rails and tensioning the wire rope. Alternatively individual wire ropes are fixed to the tubular rails by passing them completely through both sides of each rail and fitting a fastener to the outside of the rail. This alternative method leaves untidy and unsightly protrusions on the outside of the rails.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative fence assembly that overcomes at least in part one or more of the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was developed from an alternative viewpoint of capturing and retaining the position of the wire rather than fixing the wire itself to a structural member such as a rail.

In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a one piece connector for connecting a wire with an enlarged end to a structural member, said connector is adapted to abut the enlarged end of the wire and be fastenable to the member.

Preferably the connector is beatable about the wire.

Preferably the one piece connector has no moving parts. More preferably the one piece connector is a solid and hollow member.

Preferably the connector is elongate.

Preferably the one piece connector is substantially tubular with an internal bore that is wider than the diameter of the wire but narrower than the diameter of the enlarged end.

Said structural member can be any member associated with a structure such as a rail and post.

Preferably the wire retaining portion is tubular with an internal bore that has a substantially constant diameter.

In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a one piece connector for connecting a wire with an enlarged end to a structural member, said connector has a first end with a threaded outer surface which is fastenable to the structural member, said connector has an internal bore that is wider than the diameter of the wire and narrower than the diameter of the enlarged end of the wire; wherein in use the wire is positioned within the connector and the enlarged end of the wire abuts the first end and the threaded outer surface of the connector is fastened to the structural member, thereby the wire is retained by being captured within the connector and abutting the first end.

The internal bore of the connector is preferably substantially constant in diameter.

Preferably the wire is retained without fixing the connector to the wire.

Preferably the wire with the enlarged end is retained loosely in position by being captured within the connector and with the enlarged end abutting against the first end of the connector.

Preferably a second end that is opposite the first end remains substantially proud of the structural member when the connector is fastened to the structural member.

Preferably the second end of the connector has a plurality of facets to facilitate the tightening and loosening of the connector relative to the structural member.

Preferably the second end is positioned proud of the structural member while the enlarged end of the wire abuts the first end thereby preventing the enlarged end of the wire from passing through the internal bore.

With respect to a preferred embodiment, the tension in the wire can be adjusted by turning the second end to tighten or loosen the fastening of the connector relative to the structural member.

In one embodiment there is an adaptor with an internal recess or bore that has a threaded internal surface and a threaded external surface wherein the threaded external surface is attachable to the structural member while the threaded internal surface enables attachment of the connector. The adaptor is preferably used where the bore in the structural member is larger than the diameter of the threaded connector. In this embodiment the adaptor can be attached to the structural member, such as a rail, while the connector is fastened into the internally threaded recess or bore. The adaptor is preferably used for the timber rails and timber supports.

In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a one piece connector for connecting a wire with an enlarged end to a structural member, said connector has a first end and opposite second end, the first end has a threaded outer surface that is fastenable to the structural member, said connector has an internal bore that is substantially constant in diameter; wherein the enlarged end of the wire is adapted to abut the first end; wherein in use the wire passes through the bore with the connector positioned about the wire and fastened to the structural member, the second end is positioned proud of the structural member while the enlarged end of the wire abuts the first end thereby preventing the enlarged end of the wire from passing through the internal bore, and enabling the tension in the wire to be adjusted by turning the second end to tighten or loosen the fastening of the connector to the structural member.

More preferably the second end has a substantially truncated cone shape with flat sections to enable a tool to grip the connector.

The threaded outer surface of the first end is preferably complementary to the internal threaded sections of the adaptor or structural member.

With complementary threaded sections the tension in the wire can preferably be tightened to a desired level.

Preferably the wire is a solid wire. Preferably there is a plurality of solid wires of predetermined length with the construction of a fence. Preferably the member is a hollow tube.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a one piece connector for connecting a wire with an enlarged end to a structural member, said connector is a hollow tubular member with an opening at a first end, said first end opening has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the wire but narrower than the diameter of the enlarged end; said connector has a second end with fastening means for fastening to the structural member, wherein the wire is retainable within the connector where the enlarged end abuts an internal surface substantially adjacent the first end opening or second end opening.

The fastening means is preferably a threaded section. The fastening means is preferably a threaded section that forms a male fastener part that is fastenable with a nut or a complementary threaded portion on or in the structural member.

The structural member in one embodiment is an upright post.

Preferably the first end opening is slightly larger than the diameter of the wire.

The enlarged end is a mushroomed portion or a with a welded or crimped member.

In an alternative embodiments the connector is suitably shaped for a particular application. In a different embodiment, the connector may have a threaded section which is longer and has varying thread types to suit fastening to different material types. In another embodiment, the connector may have a retaining portion that could vary in length (longer or shorter) and taper from the maximum diameter to the bore diameter (for example between 5mm to 20mm).

Alternative embodiments may include different drive methods for rotating the connector. In the preferred embodiment there are two opposing flat surfaces for tightening with a wrench or tool on the connector. Alternate embodiments may include a recess for a specific tool for tightening. This embodiment may be used to resist tampering. For example the tightening recess may be a hexagonal recess (hex drive), twelve point recess (double hex drive), round recess (pin drive), slot recess (slot drive) or a triangular recess (triangular drive).

The invention in another aspect broadly resides in a fencing system including a plurality of posts; a plurality of upper rails attachable to said posts; a plurality of wire sections for suspending from said upper rails to a wall or base; and a plurality of connectors as described above for connecting the wire sections to the upper rails wherein each wire section is connected to said upper rails by said connectors.

The wall or base preferably includes a floor, vertical wall, slab, platform, footing or other suitable structure.

Preferably the rails are tubular in shape.

The invention in another aspect broadly resides in a fencing system including a plurality of posts; a plurality of upper and lower rails attachable to said posts; a plurality of wire sections for suspending between said upper and lower rails; and a plurality of connectors as described above for connecting the wire sections to the upper and lower rails wherein each wire section is connected to said upper and lower rails by said connectors.

Preferably the rails are tubular in shape.

Preferably each of said connectors has a fastening portion being a threaded section that is fastenable to a complementary threaded section in the rail. Alternatively a threaded nut may be used to secure the connector to the rail. Where there are threaded sections, the wire may be tightened to a desired tension.

The connector is preferably retained on the wire by a widened or mushroomed free end of the wire abutting an end adjacent the threaded outer surface. Preferably there are two connectors beatable on each of the wire sections. The connectors may be located on the wire section at the factory or on site.

Preferably the wire sections are solid wire rods.

In an alternative embodiment the wire may be fastened by a connector to an upper tubular rail but slot into an opening in a lower tubular rail. With this embodiment only one connector is required. With respect to this embodiment, the wire is preferably a solid wire rod.

Preferably there are one or more compression posts positioned between the upper and lower rails to counteract the compression from the tensioned wire sections. More preferably the one or more compression posts are positioned at an interval of approximately 500mm apart.

Preferably the wire rods are 3mm to 5mm in diameter while the tubular rails preferably vary in diameter between 1.5 inches to 2 inches. In some embodiments, the width of the wire may be greater than 5mm to suit a particular application. Preferably the wire rods are spaced apart from each other by a regular interval of 100mm but may vary preferably between 75mm and 110mm.

Preferably the compression post is a round tube with a diameter of 16mm. Preferably there is a post or a compression post located at regular intervals. More preferably there is a post or a compression post spaced after every four wire rods.

Preferably the upper rail is a 65mm x 34mm D-shaped tube, the lower rail is a round tube with a 38mm diameter, mounted posts are 48mm x 25mm oval shaped tubes and the compression posts are 25mm x 16mm oval shaped tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the preferred embodiment of the connector;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the connector attached to a solid wire rod;

Figures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views of the solid wire rod connected to a tubular rail;

Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are diagrammatic views showing fence sections with solid wire rods suspended between upper and lower rails;

Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views of a second embodiment of the connector;

Figures 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views of a preferred embodiment of an adaptor;

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic top view of the preferred embodiment of an adaptor; and

Figure 19 is a diagrammatic side view of the preferred embodiment of an adaptor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a connector 10 having a retaining portion 11 and a fastening portion 12. The retaining portion 11 has a substantially cylindrical section 13 and a truncated cone section 14 near its free end. The connector 10 also has an internal bore 15. The internal bore 15 has a narrow section 17 formed by peripheral internal surface 18 about the truncated cone section 14. The retaining portion 11 serves to retain a wire rod. The fastening portion 12 has an external threaded section 16 for securing to a complementary threaded section in a rail.

With reference to Figure 2 there is shown a connector 10 located about a wire rod 20. The wire rod 20 is located within the internal bore 15 of the connector 10. The wire rod 20 has a widened or mushroomed end 21. The connector 10 slides along the wire rod 20 and the peripheral internal surface 17 abuts the widened end 21. The peripheral internal surface 17 remains abutting the widened end 21 when the connector 10 is fastened to a rail.

Figures 3 and 4 show the attachment of the connector 10 to the rail 25. The rail 25 is a cylindrical tubular rail and has a threaded opening 26 in which the complementary threaded connector 10 is inserted and fastened. The wire rod 20 is held in tension when it is suspended between two rails 25 and connected to each of the rails 25 by a connector 10. The tension in the wire rod 20 is increased when the connector 10 at one or both ends are tightened. The connectors 10 can be tightened without the wire rod 20 being twisted because the wire rod 20 is merely captured by the connector 10 and not fixed in position. In this way the wire rod 20 remains in a position substantially without moving while the connector 10 rotates as it is tightened.

With reference to Figures 5 to 11 there is shown an assembled fence having stainless steel posts 30 mounted in the ground with upper and lower stainless steel rails 31 and 32 respectively attached to the posts 30. The fence assembly also has a plurality of stainless steel wire rods 33 fixed in position by connectors 34. The wire rods 33 are tensioned by tightening the connectors 34 to the upper and lower rails 31 and 32 respectively.

In the preferred embodiment the wire rods are preferably 3mm to 5mm in diameter while the tubular rails 31, 32 have a diameter of 50.8mm. In some embodiments, the width of the wire is greater than 5mm to suit a particular application. The tubular rails generally vary in diameter from 1.5 inches to 2 inches.

In the preferred embodiment the wire rods 33 are spaced apart from each other by a regular interval of 100mm. The spacing between the wire rods may vary depending on the application. Preferably, the wire rods are spaced from each other between 75mm and 110mm.

In the preferred embodiment there is a compression post 36 positioned between the upper and lower rails 31 and 32 respectively at an interval of approximately 500mm apart to counteract the compression from the tensioned wire rods 33. In the preferred embodiment, the compression post is a round tube with a diameter of 16mm. In the preferred embodiment there is a post 30 or a compression post 36 located after every four spaced wire rods 33.

In the preferred fence panel, the upper rail is a 65mm x 34mm D-shaped tube, the lower rail is a round tube with a 38mm diameter, mounted posts are 48mm x 25mm oval shaped tubes and the compression posts are 25mm x 16mm oval shaped tubes.

With reference to figures 11-15, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the connector 50. Connector 50 is substantially tubular in shape with a threaded outer surface 51 at a first end 52 and an outer adjustment surface 53 adjacent a second end 54. The outer adjustment surface 53 has a series of flat sections 55 enabling a tool to grip the surface and tighten or loosen the connector 50. The threaded outer surface 51 can be screwed on or loosened with respect to the structural support thereby increasing or decreasing the tension in the captured wire respectively. The connector 50 has an internal bore 57 indicated by the phantom lines 58. The diameter of the internal bore 57 is substantially constant.

The diameter of the internal bore 57 is wider than the wire 60 but narrower than the enlarged end 61 of the wire 60. When the connector 50 is positioned on the wire 60, the first end 52 of the connector 50 abuts the enlarged end 61 and the enlarged end 61 is prevented from passing through the connector 50. In this way, the wire 60 is captured by the connector 50 and retained in position when the connector 50 is attached to a structural member such as a rail. The connector 50 can form similar attachment to the rails and other structural members shown in figures 5-11.

In situations where the outer threaded surface 51 of the connector 50 does not fit within the corresponding bore or recess in the rail, an adaptor 65 can be used to screw into the rail recess or bore and also provide complementary fastening to the connector 50. The adaptor 65 provides a size adjustment where there is a mismatch between the diameter of the threaded outer surface 51 of the connector 50 and the internally threaded recess or bore in the rail. In many ways the adaptor 65 acts as a spacer and it is appreciated that the diameter of the threaded outer surface 66 may vary depending on the required size to form a complementary fit with the recess or bore in the rail.

Figures 16-19 show a preferred embodiment of an adaptor 65. The adaptor 65 has a threaded outer surface 66 that can be complementary fastened to the internally threaded recess or bore in the rail. The adaptor 65 has an enlarged head 67 to ensure the adaptor 65 remains partially proud of the rail. The adaptor 65 has an internal recess 68 that is threaded 69 to accommodate the threaded outer surface 51 of the connector 50. Adjacent the opening of the internal recess 68, the opening periphery 71 has a plurality of scalloped sides to accommodate the flat sections 55 of the connector 50. When the connector 50 is fastened to the adaptor 65, the second end 54 remains proud of the adaptor 65. The adaptor 65 is used for timber rails and timber supports. The adaptor 65 is used where the supporting members are of relatively soft material and require additional grip to maintain the attachment.

ADVANTAGES

An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the fence assembly is that it is quick and easy to assemble and does not require specialized tools or qualified tradespersons to construct and install. Furthermore, the fence assembly is relatively low maintenance as the wire rods have a smooth outer surface which is less likely to rust and do not require constant re-tensioning compared with wire ropes. In addition, the simplicity of the connectors and using the connectors to erect a fence provides the advantage of quick installation with lower likelihood of component breakdown.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (6)

1. A fencing system including a plurality of posts; a plurality of upper and lower rails attachable to said posts; a plurality of wire sections for suspending between said upper and lower rails; and a plurality of one piece integral connectors to connect the wire sections to the upper and lower rails, each of said connectors has a first end with a threaded outer surface which is fastenable to a threaded aperture within the upper and lower rails and a second end with an outer adjustment surface which has a plurality of facets to enable tightening or loosening of the connector, each of said connectors has an internal bore that is wider than the diameter of the wire section and narrower than the diameter of an enlarged end of the wire section; wherein in use each of the connectors are positioned on the wire section and the enlarged end of the wire section abuts the connector first end, the enlarged end of the wire section passes through the threaded aperture and the connector first end fastens to the threaded aperture, thereby retaining the enlarged end of the wire section to the upper and lower rails and enabling the tension of the retained wire sections to be adjusted by tightening or loosening the connector using the outer adjustment surface of the second end.

2. A fencing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal bore of the connector is substantially constant in diameter.

3. A fencing system as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the facets of the second end are a series of flat sections that enable a tool to loosen or tighten the connector.

4. A fencing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is an adaptor with an internal recess or bore, said adaptor has a threaded internal surface and a threaded external surface, said threaded external surface is attachable to the rail threaded aperture while the threaded internal surface is attachable to the connector to enable retention of the wire section within the rail when the diameter of the rail threaded aperture is too large to fasten the threaded first end of the connector thereto.

5. A fencing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are one or more compression posts positioned between the upper and lower rails to counteract the compression from the tensioned wire sections.

6. A fencing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the one or more compression posts are positioned at an interval of approximately 500mm apart.