AU2016101511A4 - Lightweight Plinth - Google Patents

Abstract

A plinth for fencing made from magnesium oxide to reduce weight thereby making the plinth easy to handle and transport. Voids within the plinth also help reduce weight. For non-standard spans two plinths can be easily joined together with a joiner. Figure 3

Description

Lightweight Plinth

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a lightweight plinth for use in building fences

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] It is common to put a plinth under sheet metal fencing so that the sheeting does not come into contact with the soil which could leads to accelerated corrosion. Typically plinths are formed from concrete due to its strength and competitive pricing.

[0003] Concrete plinths can either be cast on site or precast concrete plinths may be used. Precast plinths are advantageous in not requiring any concreting skills or equipment. Typically a precast concrete plinth will come in a 2330 mm length so that it can fitted between opposing C channel fence posts spaced for accepting standard widths of fence sheeting. Whilst useful, such concrete plinths are heavy, typically 70 kg, making them difficult to handle, particularly for a lone fencer.

[0004] Quite often a plinth longer than the standard length is desired, typically at the end of a fence to avoid an extra short section. Concrete plinths are unsuitable for such situations as they cannot be easily joined together.

[0005] The object of this invention is to provide a lightweight plinth that can be easily joined to alleviate the above problem, or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In a first aspect the invention provides a plinth for fencing comprising an elongate body formed from a magnesium oxide compound.

[0007] Preferably the elongate body comprises voids, reinforcing mesh and recessed end sections.

[0008] In a second aspect the invention provides a joiner for joining two plinths, comprising a plate with extending configured to engage with the voids of the plinths.

[0009] 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

[0011] Figure 1 shows a plinth according to a preferred embodiment of the invention from a perspective view.

[0012] Figure 2 shows a plinth fitted between two posts.

[0013] Figure 3 shows a first plinth that is too short for the post separation.

[0014] Figure 4 shows a joiner for joining two plinth sections together.

[0015] Figures 5A to 5C show two plinth sections being joined together.

[0016] Figure 6 shows an elongated plinth fitted between two posts.

[0017] Figure 7 shows wire mesh used to reinforce the plinth.

[0018] Figure 8 shows a close up view of a second embodiment of the plinth with chamfered top edges.

[0019] Figure 9 shows a close up view of a third embodiment of the plinth with no recessed ends.

DRAWING COMPONENTS

[0020] The drawings include the following integers. 10 plinth (first embodiment) 11 first cut plinth 12 cut end 15 second cut plinth 18 extended plinth 20 body 22 recessed end 24 void 30 first end post 32 mid-section post 34 second end post 40 joiner 42 plate 44 tubes 50 reinforcing mesh assembly 51 first mesh 52 second mesh 53 joiner 200 plinth (second embodiment) 202 chamfer 300 plinth (third embodiment)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] 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 the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0022] The present invention provides a lightweight plinth for fencing that has strength comparable to concrete but is only a fraction of the weight making it easy to handle and transport, even by a sole builder. The invention also provides a simple mechanism for joining plinths together to achieve any desired length [0023] A plinth according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown as 10 in Figure 1. The plinth comprises an elongate body 20, typically rectangular in cross-section, and two recessed end 22. The recessed ends are intended to sit in the C channels of a fence post and thus allow the plinth to produce a contiguous surface with the fence post. The plinth also includes voids 24 to help reduce the weight of the plinth. The plinth 10 is shown with three circular voids which extend the entire length of the plinth. The arrangement shown has been found to give a good weight reduction whilst having a minimal effect on the strength of the plinth. Other arrangements of voids are also anticipated by the invention and may be different in number or shape. The plinth as shown is approximately 70 wide x 200 mm high by 2330 mm long. Plinths of different width, height or length also fall within the scope of the invention.

[0024] A key factor in reducing the weight of the plinth is the choice of material used. Preferably the plinth is made from a combination of 40% magnesium oxide, 30% magnesium chloride, 28% fly ash and 2% polyester fibre. This combination of materials is easily worked and gives a strong and durable but lightweight final product. The actual proportions used are not overly critical and similar ratios may be used to produce comparable plinths. The plinth described weighs less than 24 kg, comparing favourably with comparable concrete plinths which way approximately 70 kg.

[0025] To help strengthen the plinth it contains a steel reinforcing mesh assembly such as that shown as 50 in Figure 7. The mesh assembly comprises first mesh 51 and second mesh 52 held apart by joiner 53. The mesh assembly is totally encased by the plinth so that no metal is exposed to rust with the first and seconds meshes sitting between the voids 24 and the outer faces of the plinth.

[0026] A plinth 10 fitted between two fence posts 30 and 32 is shown in Figure 2.

In this scenario the plinth is the appropriate length for the spacing of the fence posts. This is the usual situation as a fencer has control of the spacing and sets it appropriately to match the fencing material. Flowever, towards the end of a fence a shorter or wider span is often required. Figure 3 shows a scenario where the fence posts 32 and 34 are spaced wider than usual and the plinth is not long enough to fill the span. In this situation two plinths may be cut and then joined together with the aid of a joiner as shown in Figure 4.

[0027] The joiner 40 as shown in Figure 4 comprises a flat plate 42 from which extend a series of tubes 45. The plate 42 matches the cross sectional shape of the plinth whilst the diameter and location of the tubes match that of the voids in the plinth.

[0028] To join two plinths together one of the recessed ends 42 is cut off of a first plinth 11 as shown in Figure 5A to expose a cut end 12. A joiner 40 is fitted to the cut end 40 by pushing the tubes 44 of the joiner into the voids 24 of the plinth until the plate 42 sits flush with the flush end 12 as seen in Figure 5B. A second plinth 15 is cut to length and fitted to the joiner is a similar matter to produce and extended plinth 18 as shown in Figure 5C.

[0029] An extended plinth 18 can be fitted between to fence posts 32 and 34 as shown in Figure 6.

[0030] As well as the variations in basic dimensions and void configuration, other variations in plinths can also be made such as the second embodiment shown as 200 in Figure 8 in which the body 20 of the plinth includes a chamfer 202 along its top edge. In a third embodiment of the plinth shown as 300 in Figure 9 the end recesses are omitted, requiring only one of two plinths being joined together to be cut.

[0031] The reader will now appreciate the present invention which provides a lightweight plinth that is easy to handle and can be readily joined to achieve any desired length.

[0032] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the 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 of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of 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.

[0033] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims (5)

1. A plinth for fencing comprising an elongate body formed from a magnesium oxide compound.

2. A plinth as in claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises voids.

3. A plinth as in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising reinforcing mesh.

4. A plinth as in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising recessed end sections.

5. A joiner for joining two plinths as defined by any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising a plate with extending configured to engage with the voids of the plinths.