AU2014100892A4 - Retaining system - Google Patents

Abstract

H:\plw\Intenvovcn\NRPortbl\DCC\PLW\6581382_.doc-6/08/2014 - 10 Embodiments of the invention relate to the retention of fence mesh, fence wires and flexible screens to stakes, pickets and the like and which avoid the need for individual ties. In particular, in some embodiments the retention effect is provided by a slotted tube engaged around the stake or picket to provide retention over the full height of the stake or picket. In other embodiments the stake or picket is slotted to receive fence wires or the wires of fence mesh with locking means applied to the picket or stake to retain the wires in the slots. JC] [Zi]il ]lID Clii CI]C I] LIII] 1 ]1 C J C-l C ]iu L J E Figure 1

Description

H:\plv\ntenvovcn\NRPortbl\DCC\PLW\6581382_I.doc-6/08/2014 RETAINING SYSTEM [0001] The present invention relates to a system for retaining barriers, fences, screens and the like of flexible material or for retaining wire fences. [0002] Lengths of flexible fence, barrier, or screen material are typically retained in position by attachment to pickets or stakes driven into the ground and to which the material is attached usually by means of ties. One example of this is the use of orange or other high visibility plastic safety fence mesh for temporarily blocking access to construction zones and the like. Not only is it a relatively time-consuming exercise to attach material to the pickets or stakes driven into the ground, the fence material is rarely installed under sufficient tension to avoid sagging but even if care is taken the retention may not be particularly satisfactory and the fence mesh does tend to slip and sag over time. Similar methods are often used for installing flexible advertising signs, wind barriers and silt fences for erosion control where functionality may be seriously compromised through the material not being retained in a satisfactory manner. [0003] The present invention in certain of its preferred embodiments provides a retention system which is easily and quickly applied and has the ability to anchor such fence, barrier, or screen material firmly against a picket or stake over the full height of the material. [0004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a retention system comprising a tube adapted to be fitted over a picket or stake for retaining relative to the picket or stake flexible fence, barrier, screen material or the like, the wall of the tube including a slot extending longitudinally of the tube over at least part of its length, the slot being open at its lower end and being shaped at its lower end to provide a convergent mouth which leads into the slot to facilitate entry into the slot of flexible material against a side of the picket or stake remote from the slot when the tube is moved downwardly over the picket or stake whereby the tube acts to anchor the flexible material against the picket or stake. [0005] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a bollard comprising a base for standing on a solid surface and carrying a picket or stake for use with a retention system as described above.

H:Xplv\lnterwoven\NRPortb\DCC\PLW\6581382_l.doc-6/08/2014 -2 [0006] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0007] Figure 1 is a view showing plastic fence mesh retained to a picket by a retaining system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; [0008] Figure 2 shows a retaining tube of the system; [0009] Figure 3 shows the interaction between the retaining tube and the picket; [00010] Figure 4 is a schematic horizontal section showing the manner in which the plastic fence mesh is applied around the picket by the application of the retaining tube; [00011] Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the upper part of a modified form of the tube; [00012] Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 but showing the tube applied to the picket to retain the fence mesh; [00013] Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but of the opposite side of the tube; [00014] Figure 8 is a schematic horizontal section similar to Figure 4 but showing the interaction with a square-section stake; [00015] Figure 9 is a view showing how the retaining system can be used to anchor opposite ends of flexible sheet material as may be used to form a warning sign, screen, barrier or the like; [00016] Figure 10 shows a modified form of retaining tube for use with wire mesh fence or wire fence; [00017] Figure 11 is a schematic horizontal section illustrating how the retaining tube of Figure 10 acts in conjunction with a picket to retain a horizontal wire course of a fence; [00018] Figure 12 shows fence mesh retained to the picket by the tube of Figure 10; [00019] Figure 13 shows a series of horizontal fencing wires retained to the picket by the tube of Figure 10; H:\plv\lntenvoven\NRPoribl\DCC\PLVA6581382_Ldoc-6/08/2014 -3 [00020] Figure 14 shows an end fitting for a split tube of the type shown in Figures 1 to 13; [00021] Figure 15 is an exploded view showing a support or bollard for use on a paved or solid surface comprising a weighted base, and a picket mounted to an insert engageable in the base; [00022] Figure 16 shows the assembled bollard; [00023] Figure 17 shows a modified form of the bollard of Figures 15 and 16; [00024] Figure 18 shows a retaining tube for use with the bollard of Figure 17; and [00025] Figure 19 shows a modified form of the bollard of Figure 17 to provide a ball joint mounting. [00026] The retaining system of the preferred embodiments of the invention comprises a substantially rigid tube, preferably of plastic, which acts in conjunction with a picket or stake driven into the ground to securely retain flexible fence/barrier material and the like without the need to tie the material to the picket or stake. By way of example, Figure 1 shows the retention of plastic safety fence mesh 2 to a picket 4 of three legged cross section of the type sold under the registered trade mark "star picket". The retaining system is principally formed by a substantially rigid retaining tube 6 which acts to retain the fence mesh 2 to the picket 4. With reference to Figure 2, the tube 6 is slit to form a longitudinal slot 8 extending the entire length of the tube. At its lower end portion, the edges of the slot 8 are inclined outwardly as shown, to form a convergent entry mouth 10 leading into the remainder of the slot. The diameter of the tube 6 is such that when slid downwardly over the picket 4, one of the legs 4a of the picket can project outwardly through the slot 8 (see Figure 3). [00027] The plastic fence mesh 2 is installed by being placed against the edges of two of the three legs of the picket, the third leg of the picket being the leg 4a to project through the slot 8 in the tube 6. The tube 6 is then slid downwardly over the picket with its slot 8 aligned with the third leg 4a. As the enlarged mouth 10 at the lower end of the slot 8 moves over the fence mesh it draws the mesh around the picket and into the slot. This has the effect of wrapping the fence mesh around the picket, the mesh traversing a sharp angle as the mesh enters and exits the slot in its passage around the picket. This is schematically illustrated in the cross section of H:\plwv\lntenvvn\NRPortbl\D)CC\PLW\6581382_ l.doc-6/08/2014 -4 Figure 4. [00028] When the tube has been moved down over the full height of the fence mesh, the wrapping action just described creates a locking effect between the fence mesh and the picket along the entire height of the mesh whereby the mesh is firmly held against sagging. In the installation process, the fence mesh is held reasonably taught between the adjacent pickets whereby the tension of the plastic fence mesh is increased by the action of sliding the tube over the mesh as it wraps around the picket. Once the tube is installed, the mesh acting on the edges of the slot 8 in the tube will tend to pull the tube back against the other two arms of the picket thereby providing a further lock of the mesh against the picket. [00029] The action described above can also be used to join two lengths of fence mesh without the use of any ties, the ends of the two lengths being overlapped in the zone of the picket whereby both will be firmly attached to the picket by application of the tube. [00030] As mentioned previously, at its lower end portion the edges of the slot diverge outwardly to form the convergent mouth 10 which feeds the mesh into the slot when the tube is pushed down over the picket. It is particularly preferred for the divergent edges to be convexly curved from their upper to their lower ends as such a curvature enables the edge surface to slide more easily over the mesh without catching than would an edge that is substantially straight from its upper to its lower end. It is however to be noted that a straight divergent lower edge could perform satisfactorily when the flexible material to be retained by the picket is a non-mesh material such as woven plastic or fabric or plastic sheet material as may be used for windbreaks, warning signs, or advertising banners. [00031] Figures 5 to 7 show a modification in which the slot 6 terminates slightly short of the upper end of the tube, and the tube is closed at its upper end by a cap 12. As a result, the upper end of the tube will project beyond the upper end of the picket and this, in conjunction with the cap 12, will act as a safety feature to prevent possible injury from the top of the picket. Also it will provide a more attractive appearance. Figure 7 shows the attachment of a reflective tape 14 for safety purposes to the side of the tube opposite to the slot. In practice, it is envisaged that the picket with retention tube will be installed so that the slot 8 in the tube and the associated limb of the picket extending through the slot will be at the rear of the fence H:\phv\1nterwoven\NRPortbl\DCCPLW\6581382_ I.doc-6/08/2014 -5 whereas the reflective tape 14 will be at the front of the fence to provide a possible warning to persons approaching the fence from that side. [00032] Although as shown in Figures 5 to 7, the slot terminates short of the upper end of the tube, for ease of manufacture it may be preferred for the slot to continue to the upper end of the tube, with the tube being closed at its upper end by the protective cap 12 and the tube being of such a length that it extends above the upper end of the picket. [00033] It is not essential for the retaining tube to be used in conjunction with a three-legged picket of the type just discussed although it is envisaged that the tube will mainly be used with that type of picket. Figure 8 illustrates the use of the tube 6 with a square-sectioned stake 16, a wooden stake for example. The action of the tube 6 when applied to the stake 16 will tend to wrap the fence mesh tightly around the corners of the stake to thereby provide retention along its entire height in a broadly similar manner to that which arises with use of the three-legged picket. [00034] As will be well understood from what has previously been said, the retention system of the invention is not confined to use with plastic fence mesh. Figure 9 shows its use to retain flexible sheet material 18 which can function as a warning sign as specifically illustrated, an advertising banner, a screen, or a wind break. When the sheet material is of appropriate form it could act as a silt fence for use in erosion control. [00035] As an additional safety feature, the tube can be fabricated from plastic including photo-luminescent additive or alternatively the post could be coated with photo-luminescent coating and which has the property of storing energy during daylight and emitting light at night thereby making posts and fence lines visible at night. This can be of significant advantage in public areas where lighting is poor or not available. [00036] It is envisaged that the tube will be made in a range of different diameters to suit different shapes of, and sizes of picket or stake as may be available for day-to day use. [00037] Figures 10 to 13 show a modified version of the tube 6 for use with either wire mesh fence or wire fence. It differs from the tubes previously described in that the tube is formed with a series of vertically-spaced horizontal slots 20 extending H:\pilw\Intienvoven\NRPortbl\DCC\PLW\65 813 82_LIdoc-6/08/2014 -6 part-way around the tube wall from the primary vertical slot 8. The horizontal slots 20 have a spacing equivalent to standard spacing of horizontal wire courses in standard wire mesh fences. This tube enables the wire mesh or fencing wire to be installed without being fixed to all of the pickets or posts which makes it easier and quicker to install and quickly dismantled. As an example of an installation procedure, pickets are installed along the line where a fence is to be erected, and wire mesh is rolled out next to the pickets. At each picket, the horizontal courses of the wire mesh are slotted into the horizontal slots 20 in the tube and the mesh with tube attached is lifted and dropped over the picket so that the portion of wire mesh extending within the tube is held captive between the picket and the wall of the tube as illustrated in Figure 11 in which a horizontal course of the wire mesh is designated 22. Figure 12 shows fence mesh 24 held captive to the picket 4 by the tube 6 without actually being attached to the picket and Figure 13 shows similarly a series of horizontal fencing wires 22 similarly held captive to the picket 4. Similar considerations apply in the case of fence wires rather than fence wire mesh. Alternatively, with the wire mesh or fence wires engaged within the slots in the tube, the picket can be slid down the tube in front of the wires which locks the components together. The picket is then positioned and hammered into the ground. This is a quick and easy process, and the tapered end of the picket eases its passage past the wires. The same process can be used if the wire mesh or fence wires are pre-tensioned between end posts. [00038] If the wire fence is to be electrified, this can easily be accommodated by installing a plastic insulating strip at the back of the picket when the tube with wire is moved over the picket. This is much quicker than attaching individual insulators for each wire to the picket as is currently the practice. [00039] The tube of this variant could also be of the general form shown in Figures 5 to 7 with a cap at the end of the tube to minimise the risk of injury from contact arising with the picket. [00040] Although in the tube of this embodiment the horizontal slots in the wall of the tube provide for its usage with wire fence mesh or fence wires as described above, the tube still has utility for the various applications described in connection with the first embodiment and therefore a practical embodiment of the invention may feature these additional slots to permit the same product to be sold for a wider range of possible uses.

H:\plv\lntenvoven\NRPorlbl\DCC\PLW\6581382_I.doc-6/)8/2014 -7 [00041] The tubes of Figures 2 and 5 and 10 can also be applied to pickets of existing fences constructed with "star" pickets in which the fence wires are strung through a series of holes through a main leg of the picket. Even with the wires in place, the tube can be slid downwardly over the other two legs of picket. When thus applied, the tubes provide added visibility to the existing fence and also with a cap applied can provide protection for the upper edges of the picket. The tubes can also be coupled to the pickets of existing wire fences to retain flexible fence/barrier material/screen material or the like in the manner previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. [00042] The tube of Figure 10 with horizontal slots could also be used to attach extra wires to an existing wire fence, for example either to increase the number of wires in the fence, to add an electric wire to an un-electrified fence, or to add a wire mesh to the fence. [00043] In a further modified form of the tubes of Figures 2 and 5, the tube is formed with a horizontal slot (equivalent to one of the slots 20 of Figures 10 to 13) at its upper end, and possibly a further horizontal slot at its lower end to retain upper or lower wires to act as support wires to which the flexible fence/barrier material/screen material can be tied in the span between the pickets to provide a stronger structure. In addition signs, lights or other items can be hung from the wire(s) between the pickets while still retaining the functionality of the flexible fence/barrier/screen. [00044] In a further modification, the convergent mouth 10 at the lower end of the slot 8 rather than being formed as an integral part of the overall tube could be formed by a separate fitting which is fitted at the lower end of the slotted tube. Such a fitting 122 is shown in Figure 14 and this may be attached to the bottom of the slotted tube. [00045] Figures 15 and 16 show a bollard 130 for use on a paved or other solid surface and consisting of a weighted base 132 with a central aperture into which locks a plastic or rubber insert 134 for receiving a stake or picket 136 preferably of moulded plastic. The picket or stake is of a size comparable to that of existing "star' pickets and the like, whereby the bollard can be used in conjunction with the tube for retaining flexible fence/barrier material/screen material as already described with reference to Figures 1 to 13. It is to be noted that weighted bases 132 of the type in question are currently available for supporting plastic bollards but existing plastic bollards are of a size which would render them impractical for the various uses H:\plwv\lntenvoven\NRPortbl\DCC\PLW\6581382_Ldoc-6/08/2014 described herein. The moulded insert 134 which fits into the aperture in the base provides an inexpensive conversion for its usage as just described. The insert 134 can be formed as a ball joint to enable the picket or stake to extend upright, when the base is resting on sloping ground. [00046] Figure 17 shows a bollard as described above in which the picket 136 of moulded plastic of tubular form has at its upper end a locking formation 140 engageable with a locking formation 142 at the upper end of retaining tube 144 (Figure 18) corresponding to that previously described. The tube 144 is locked to the picket 136 by engagement of the formations 140, 142 which are designed to permit release by a counter-intuitive action involving manipulation of the tube to reduce the possibility of its removal by vandals. [00047] Figure 19 shows the bollard of Figure 16 in conjunction with an insert 134 both configured to provide a ball jointed connection as discussed above. [00048] The embodiments described are given by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A retention system comprising a tube adapted to be fitted over a picket or stake for retaining relative to the picket or stake flexible fence, barrier, screen material or the like, the wall of the tube including a slot extending longitudinally of the tube over at least part of its length, the slot being open at its lower end and being shaped at its lower end to provide a convergent mouth which leads into the slot to facilitate entry into the slot of flexible material against a side of the picket or stake remote from the slot when the tube is moved downwardly over the picket or stake whereby the tube acts to anchor the flexible material against the picket or stake.

2. A retention system according to claim 1, wherein the tube has a protective cap at its upper end.

3. A retention system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tube has a series of transverse slots opening onto the longitudinal slot at each edge thereof, the transverse slots being longitudinally-spaced whereby when the tube is applied to a picket or stake the transverse slots extend horizontally to receive horizontal wire runs of fencing wire or wire fence mesh.

4. A fence or barrier comprising flexible fence or barrier material retained to supporting pickets or stakes by means of a retention system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible material passes through the longitudinal slot in the tube and around the picket or stake and then exits the slot whereby the tube anchors the flexible material against the picket or stake as a consequence of its passage around the picket or stake.

5. A bollard comprising a base for standing on a solid surface and carrying a picket or stake for use with a retention system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.