AU2020103930A4

AU2020103930A4 - Privacy Fence

Info

Publication number: AU2020103930A4
Application number: AU2020103930A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ronald Leslie Mann
Original assignee: Gram Engineering Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Gram Engineering Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-07
Filing date: 2020-12-07
Publication date: 2021-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-07

Abstract

An infill panel (22) for installation below the bottom rail (18) of a fence to at least partially close a space between the fence and a ground surface underneath the fence. Infill panel (22) is elongate, thereby defining a longitudinal axis (L), and has a substantially oblong shape in cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis, the substantially oblong shape defined by opposite first and second major sides (22a, 22b) and opposite first and second minor sides (22c, 22d). Minor side (22c) has projections (22e) that extend outwardly away from an interior (22f) of the oblong shape and minor side (22d) has corresponding depressions (22g), such that, when two of said infill panels are stacked one on top of another with the first minor side of one of the stacked infill panels abutting the second minor side of the other of the stacked infill panels and the projections of said one of the infill panels aligned with the depressions of said other of the stacked infill panels, engagement of the projections and depressions facilitates maintaining the abutting first minor side and second minor side in alignment without inhibiting said stacked infill panels against moving away from another in a direction defined by a line V that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) and to the first and second minor sides (22c, 22d). 1/3 KK~~1 jrf /3 12c 22 12 30s 18c -- y FIG. 1 221 30 1030 22m L 14c 12c 112 12 30 FIG 30 14

Description

1/3

KK~~ 1 jrf /3

12 30s 18c

-- y 12c 22

FIG. 1

221 30 1030 22m

L 14c

12c 112 12 30 FIG 30 14

"Infill panel for installation below bottom rail of fence"

Technical Field

[0001] The disclosure herein relates to fencing and more specifically to an infill panel for installation below the bottom rail of a fence. The infill panel has been developed especially for metal fencing systems and is described herein in that context.

Background

[0002] It is often desirable to construct a fence so that it closely follows the contour of the underlying ground. Such an arrangement reduces gaps between the fence and the ground and inhibits noise, vermin, weeds, plants, wind, and the like from passing under the fence.

[0003] To close gaps under a fence, it is known to install an infill element at the base of the fence, between the fence posts. Conventionally, such infill elements are either independently supported in the ground, for example using stakes, or secured to the fence posts. It is also known to partially embed the infill elements in the ground. In cases where the ground level on either side of the fence differs, the infill element is sometimes used to retain the soil on the higher side.

[0004] It is known to infill the space under the bottom rail of a fence with concrete, stone, or timber. Timber planks have been used extensively to construct such infill elements as they have sufficient strength to retain soil for small differences in soil height, and they can be relatively easily cut to size on site. However, for longevity, the timber is usually treated with chemicals to make it resistant to decay and damage from termites or other pests, and there is a tendency for these chemicals to leach into the soil. As these chemicals can be highly toxic, the use of timber infill elements can lead to unacceptable contamination of the surrounding environment. Also, timber infill elements are relatively bulky and heavy, which gives rise to handling and installation difficulties.

[0005] A disadvantage of concrete infill elements is that they are generally formed from precast concrete of a standard size and the process of cutting them to the appropriate size for a particular site is very labour and time intensive. They are also very bulky an heavy, which gives rise to handling and installation difficulties. On the other hand, the process of casting concrete infill elements on-site is very labour and time intensive.

[0006] The space under the bottom rail of a fence can be infilled with natural stones or stone blocks. In either case, handling and installation difficulties arise due to stone being a heavy material. Moreover, the process of infilling with natural stones is very laborious and time consuming and, unless the stones are bound together using mortar or the like, there will be gaps in the stone barrier. Infilling with stone blocks is also very labour and time intensive, both in terms of the process of laying the stone blocks and in terms of the inevitable need to cut at least some of the stone blocks to size to meet site requirements.

[0007] In addition, some conventional infill materials suffer from insufficient strength to resist bowing when there is a significant soil height difference on opposite sides of the fence (as often happens on sloping ground).

[0008] In some cases, infill elements for installation under the bottom rail of a fence are not available in a paint finish that is the same as the one used for the fence itself, which can negatively impact aesthetics and result in differential fading over time.

[0009] More recently, metal panels and plastic panels have been used to infill the space under the bottom rail of a fence, particularly when the fence is a metal fence such as is sometimes referred to, in Australia, as a steel privacy fence. Such metal panels include roll formed panels and extruded panels. Where more than one of these panels is needed to create an barrier of sufficient height to infill the space below the bottom rail of the fence, several panels may be stacked one on top of another and interconnected together, for example using screws, tongue and groove connections or dovetail joints.

[0010] In the Australian context, "steel fence panel" and "steel privacy fencing" has a special meaning as a result of this type of fencing having been invented in Australia and exploited in Australia to a more significant extent than in other jurisdictions. In the Australian context, a steel fence panel typically comprises two metal channel posts, an upper and lower fence rail, the ends of the rails being located within the channels of the posts, and metal infill sheets held within opposing channels of the upper and lower rails. The channel posts, rails and infill sheets are typically roll formed from prepainted sheet steel. Variations include the metal infill sheets being substituted by manufactured board, such as fibreboard, or timber palings. However, such substitutes have disadvantages including increased weight and cost, being more difficult to transport, not generally being available in a range of colours and sometimes being susceptible to decay or termite attack.

[0011] As mentioned above, fence plinths were traditionally in the form of solid timber or concrete beams or slabs that were laid on the ground between the posts and under the infill sheets. The first major development away from such traditional fence plinths came from Gram Engineering in Smithfield in the early 2000's. The Gram Engineering plinth was in the form of a longitudinal member made from pre-painted sheet material having longitudinal stiffening formations to prevent bowing and deformation under load. This plinth had the advantages of being durable, available in a range of colours, light weight, easy to stack and transport, and resistant to decay and termite attack. This was the first plinth designed specifically for steel privacy fences, being designed to have its longitudinal ends inserted into the channels of the opposing channel posts of a steel fence panel. The plinths could be installed after the fence was erected and still have their ends located within the channels of the posts. These plinths were immediately a great success and were also granted protection by way of Australian Patent 2004291566 ("the '566 Patent). The '566 Patent protects a plinth formed from "sheet material". In other words, the plinth is made of a material that has a length and width many times greater than its thickness. "Sheet" or "sheet material" do not imply flatness. Rather, a sheet or sheet material can, for example, be flat or corrugated. A bedsheet when dropped in a pile on the laundry floor is still a sheet. Similarly, a sheet of paper when crumpled up is still a sheet.

[0012] As will be appreciated, technology is often developed in incremental steps, with later designs being improvements or modifications to an existing product. Moreover, the commercial success of an existing product can cause third parties to launch their own version of the existing product, sometimes in violation of IP rights associated with the existing product, in an attempt to benefit from the success of the existing product. Indeed, this occurred after Gram Engineering launched a plinth embodying the invention protected by the '566 Patent. The inventions the subject of the Australian patent properties referred to in the following paragraphs are considered to be derivatives of the invention protected by the '566 Patent.

[0013] AU 2013101245 discloses a fence plinth comprising hollow box sections and manufactured by an extrusion process. The commercial product embodying this invention did not perform well, possibly due to a lack of strength, poor durability and fade resistance, or a combination thereof. Despite being extruded and having a secondary shape in the form of box sections, this plinth could arguably be described as being formed from sheet material, as each of the walls of the box sections could be considered to be sheet material. As such, this fence plinth could be considered to fall within the scope of one or more claims of the '566 Patent.

[0014] AU 2013100109 discloses a fence plinth with many similarities to that disclosed in AU 2013101245, including comprising hollow box sections manufactured by an extrusion process. A difference, however, is that the fence plinth disclosed in AU 2013100109 includes a covering, or outer layer, that is stretched over the inner box sections. Whilst the covering is described as being a substrate, it may more properly be considered to be a coating of sorts.

[0015] AU 2016100917 and AU 2018201790 both disclose a fence plinth. Both of these patent publications disclose a plinth having a configuration that is a slight variation on the plinths referred to in paragraphs [0013] and [0014] above. The variation involves male and female interlocking formations being added to the top and bottom of the plinth so that two or more of the plinths can be joined together by a sliding action. In practice, the plinths would be very difficult to interconnect because aligning the male and female formations and then mating them by sliding the two plinths relative to one another would require significant time and precision. Also, the plinths would be prone to jamming unless the male and female formations were precisely engineered and were kept free from dirt or grit.

[0016] AU 2018102115 discloses an extruded plastic plinth comprising box sections similar to those of the plinths referred to in paragraphs [0013] to [0015] above.

[0017] What is significant about the plinths referred to in paragraphs [0013] to [0016] above is that they all derive from the plinth disclosed in the '566 Patent. Moreover, they are all arguably made of sheet material, all have stiffening formations and are all fence plinths.

[0018] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Summary

[0019] Throughout this specification the words "comprise", "include", "have" and the like, and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "has" and "having", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[0020] Disclosed herein is an infill panel for installation below the bottom rail of a fence to at least partially close a space between the fence and a ground surface underneath the fence, the infill panel: being elongate, thereby defining a longitudinal axis; having a substantially oblong shape in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis; the substantially oblong shape defined by opposite first and second major sides and opposite first and second minor sides, wherein, at least at two spaced apart locations along the longitudinal axis, the first minor side has projections that extend outwardly away from an interior of the oblong shape and the second minor side has corresponding depressions, such that, when two of said infill panels are stacked one on top of another with the first minor side of one of the stacked infill panels abutting the second minor side of the other of the stacked infill panels and the projections of said one of the infill panels aligned with the depressions of said other of the stacked infill panels, engagement of the projections and depressions facilitates maintaining the abutting first minor side and second minor side in alignment without inhibiting said stacked infill panels against moving away from another in a direction defined by a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the first and second minor sides.

[0021] The transverse cross sectional shape of the infill panel may constant along the longitudinal axis. The infill panel may be an extruded infill panel.

[0022] The panel may have major surfaces defined by the major sides and the major surfaces may be non-planar. For example, grooves and/or ridges may be defined on the major surfaces.

[0023] The projections may taper in width from a first end nearest the interior of the oblong shape to a second end furthest from the interior of the oblong shape. The taper may be more gradual at the first end than at the second end. The depressions may have a taper complementary to that of the projections.

[0024] Also disclosed herein is a fence panel assembly comprising: a pair of posts comprising a first post and a second post, each of the posts defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a first portion for embedment in ground on which the fence panel is to be constructed and a second portion that is to extend from the ground, the second portion having an upper end distal from the first portion and a lower end proximal to the first portion; an upper rail interconnecting the pair of posts at or adjacent the upper ends of their second portions; a lower rail interconnecting the pair of posts adjacent the lower ends of their second portions at a location spaced from their first portions; one or more infill member installed in a first space bounded by the upper and lower rails and the portion of the posts between the upper and lower rails, wherein the one or more infill member at least partially infills the first space; one or more infill panel as defined in any one of paragraphs [0020] to [0023] above installed in a second space defined between the lower rail and a portion of the posts below the lower rail, wherein the one or more infill panel extends between the posts.

[0025] Each of the posts may be substantially U-shaped in cross-section transverse its longitudinal axis, the U-shaped cross section being defined by a web and flanges extending from respective longitudinal ends of the web, and the U-shaped cross section defining a channel extending longitudinally along the respective post. The posts may be oriented relative to one another such that the opening defined between the flanges of the first post faces toward the opening defined between the flanges of the second post. The distance between the flanges of the first post and the distance between the flanges of the second post may be substantially equal to or greater than the maximum distance, measured along a line perpendicular to the first and second major sides of the infill panel, between an outer extremity of the first major side of the infill panel and an outer extremity of the second major side of the infill panel, such that the infill panel may be received in the channels of the posts. In some embodiments, the distance between the flanges of the first post and the distance between the flanges of the second post is substantially equal to the maximum distance, measured along a line perpendicular to the first and second major sides of the infill panel, between an outer extremity of the first major side of the infill panel and an outer extremity of the second major side of the infill panel, such that the infill panel may be received in the channels of the posts.

[0026] In embodiments comprising a single infill panel, the portion of the posts below the lower rail may have a length that is greater than the maximum distance, measured along a line perpendicular to the first and second minor sides of the infill panel, between an outer extremity of the first minor side of the infill panel and an outer extremity of the second minor side of the infill panel. In embodiments comprising an assembly of abutting infill panels, the portion of the posts below the lower rail may have a length that is greater than the maximum distance, measured along a line perpendicular to the first and second minor sides of the infill panels, between an outer extremity of the first minor side of the uppermost of the infill panels and an outer extremity of the second minor side of the lowermost of the infill panels. As such, in either case, when the infill panel or assembly of infill panels is installed with its upper end adjacent the lower rail, the first portion of the posts extends beyond the lower end of the infill panel or assembly of infill panels.

[0027] The lower rail may have projections or depressions corresponding with those of the one or more infill panel, such that, when the infill panel(s) are installed under the bottom rail, engagement of the projections or depressions of the lower rail with the depressions or projections of the infill panel (or an uppermost thereof in embodiments comprising several stacked infill panels) facilitates maintaining the abutting infill panel and lower rail in alignment without inhibiting the infill panel(s) against moving away from the lower rail in a direction defined by a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the first and second minor sides of the infill panel(s).

Brief Description of Drawings

[0028] The principles disclosed herein will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to one or more embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fence panel assembly comprising infill panels embodying principles disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken horizontally through the fence panel assembly of FIG. 1 along line II-II;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of part of the length of the lower rail and infill panels of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken vertically through one of the infill panels of FIG. 3.

Description of Embodiments

[0029] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a fence panel assembly 10 comprising a pair of posts, including a first post 12 and a second post 14. Each of the posts defines a longitudinal axis A and comprises a first portion 12a, 14a for embedment in ground on which the fence panel is to be constructed and a second portion 12b, 14b that is to extend from the ground. The second portion 12b, 14b has an upper end 12b1, 14b1 distal from the first portion 12a, 14a and a lower end 12b2, 14b2 proximal to the first portion. An upper rail 16 interconnects the posts 12, 14 at or adjacent the upper ends of their second portions 12b, 14b. A lower rail 18 interconnects the posts 12, 14 adjacent the lower ends of their second portions 12b, 14b at a location spaced from their first portions 12a, 14a. One or more infill member, such as roll formed, profiled sheets 20, is installed in a first space S Ibounded by the upper and lower rails 16, 18 and the portion of the posts 12, 14 between the upper and lower rails. In the illustrated embodiment, the infill members 20 substantially completely infill space S1. One or more infill panel 22 is installed in a second space S2 defined between the lower rail 18 and a portion of the posts 12, 14 below the lower rail. The one or more infill panel 22 extends between the posts 12, 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ground surface at the front of the fence panel 10 is at the same level as the ground surface at the rear of the fence panel, the space S2 extends from the lower rail 18 to the ground surface under the fence panel, and one or more infill panel 22 substantially completely closes space S2. In other embodiments, the ground surface at the front of the fence panel 10 may be at a different level to the ground surface at the rear of the fence panel, the space S2 may extend from the lower rail 18 to the lowermost of the front and rear ground surface, and one or more infill panel 22 may substantially completely close space S2 to retain the ground under the fence panel 10. In yet further embodiments, irrespective of whether the front and rear ground surfaces are at the same or a different level, the space S2 may extend from the lower rail 18 to the lowermost of the ground surfaces, and one or more infill panel 22 may partially close space S2.

[0030] Infill panel 22 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Infill panel 22 is elongate, thereby defining a longitudinal axis L. Infill panel 22 has a substantially oblong shape in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis L, the substantially oblong shape defined by opposite first and second major sides 22a, 22b and opposite first and second minor sides 22c, 22d. The first minor side 22c has projections, in the form of longitudinally extending ridges 22e, that extend outwardly away from an interior 22f of the oblong shape and the second minor side 22d has corresponding depressions, in the form of longitudinally extending grooves 22g. When two of the infill panels 22 are stacked one on top of another with the first minor side 22c of one of the stacked infill panels abutting the second minor side 22d of the other of the stacked infill panels and the projections 22e of said one of the infill panels aligned with the depressions 22g of said other of the stacked infill panels, engagement of the projections and depressions facilitates maintaining the abutting first minor side 22c and second minor side 22d in alignment without inhibiting the stacked infill panels 22 against moving away from another in a direction defined by a line V that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the first and second minor sides 22c, 22d.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, projections 22e taper in width from a first end nearest the interior 22f of the oblong shape to a second end furthest from the interior of the oblong shape. The taper is more gradual at the first end than at the second end of projections 22e. Depressions 22g have a taper complementary to that of projections 22e.

[0032] Infill panel 22 has major surfaces 22h, 22i defined by the major sides 22a, 22b. Major surfaces 22h, 22i are non-planar, with a pattern of grooves 22j and ridges 22k being defined thereon.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the transverse cross sectional shape of infill panel 22 is constant along the longitudinal axis L and the infill panel is manufactured by extrusion. Infill panel 22 may be extruded from metal, such as aluminium, or from plastics. Prior to supplying an infill panel 22 to an installer, it may be painted in a desired colour, for example by powder coating or spray painting.

[0034] Having described the infill panel 22 in some detail, other particulars of the fence panel assembly 10 will now be more fully described.

[0035] As best seen in FIG. 2, each of the posts 12, 14 defines a corresponding elongate channel 12c, 14c. The channel 12c of post 12 faces toward the channel 14c of post 14. A first end 221 of each infill panel 22 extends into channel 12c and a second end 22m into channel 14c. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second ends 221, 22m of the infill panels 22 and channels 12c, 14c have a relative configuration that facilitates snug engagement of the first and second ends in the channels. However, the first and second ends 221, 22m may alternatively or additionally be fixedly connected to the respective post 12, 14, such as by screws 30, bolts or other mechanical fasteners, which may, for example, extend through the sidewalls of channels 12c, 14c and into the first and second ends 221, 22m of infill panels 22.

[0036] In fence panel assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the rails 16, 18 is generally U shaped in transverse cross section, comprising a web 18e with flanges 18f extending from opposite ends thereof to define an elongate channel 18c. The channel of the upper rail 16 faces toward the channel 18c of the lower rail 18. The infill member(s) 20 have a first (lower) end that extends into channel 18c and an opposite second (upper) end that extends into the channel of upper rail 16. The first and second ends of the infill member(s) 20 may be fixedly connected to the respective rail 18, 16, for example by screws, bolts or other mechanical fasteners, or by mechanical and/or frictional interlock. In other embodiments, a third rail of similar configuration to rails 16, 18 may interconnect the posts 12, 14 and may be located below rail 18. In such embodiments, the channel of the third rail may face downwardly away from channel 18c, and an upper end 22n of the uppermost infill panel 22 and the channel of the third rail may have a relative configuration that facilitates engagement of the upper end 22n of the uppermost infill panel 22 in the channel of the third rail.

[0037] In embodiments where fence panel assembly 10 comprises a single infill panel 22 in space S2, the portion of the posts 12, 14 below the lower rail 18 has a length that is greater than a height of the infill panel 22 measured along axis Y. In embodiments where the fence panel assembly 10 comprises a stack 220 of infill panels 22 in space S2, the portion of the posts 12, 14 below rail 18 has a length that is greater than a height of the stack 220 measured along axis Y. As such, in either case, when the infill panels 22 or stack 220 of infill panels 22 is installed with its upper end adjacent the lower rail 18, the first portion 12a, 14a of the posts extends beyond the lower end of the infill panel or stack thereof.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 3, web 18e of lower rail 18 has depressions corresponding with depressions 22f and complementary with projections 22e of infill panel 22, such that, when infill panel 22 is installed under the bottom rail, engagement of the depressions of the lower rail with projections 22e of the infill panel facilitates maintaining the abutting infill panel 22 and lower rail 18 in alignment without inhibiting the infill panel 22 against moving away from the lower rail 18 in a direction defined by axis Y.

[0039] In the fence panel 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each infill member 20 is a roll formed, profiled sheet. In other embodiments, however, the infill member(s) 20 may be: a planar, rigid sheet; a mesh, such as a mesh of expanded metal or a woven or welded wire mesh; a plurality of spaced apart pickets or palings; any other barrier for inhibiting the passage of people or animals between the posts 12, 14; and/or may be profiled using a method other than roll forming, such as extrusion.

[0040] As discussed above, a fence panel assembly 10 comprising an infill member 22 or a stack 220 thereof can be used to retain ground in circumstances where the ground on one side of the fence panel assembly 10 is higher than the ground on the other side. When used for this purpose, the first portion 14a of each of the posts 14 is embedded in the ground to a sufficient depth below the ground level on the lower side of the fence panel 10, and an infill panel 22 or a stack 220 thereof is installed in the second space S2 such that one of the major surfaces 22a, 22b of the infill panel(s) 22 faces toward the ground to be retained.

[0041] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Examples of such modifications and variations include, but are not limited to: • Projections 22e and depressions 22g not being in the form of a ridges and grooves, respectively, extending continuously along the infill panel 22 and instead being non continuous projections and depressions at spaced apart locations along longitudinal axis

L; • Infill panel 22 being manufactured by a process other than extrusion, such as by a material deposition (3D printing), moulding, casting or roll forming a pre-painted metal sheet, with appropriate adjustment, where required, to the shape of the infill panel to facilitate manufacture by such an alternative process; • Instead of depressions, lower rail 18 may have projections corresponding with those of

the infill panel(s) 22 and the infill panel(s) 22 may be installed upside down relative to the configuration shown in FIG. 3; and/or • Instead of grooves 22j and ridges 22k, major surfaces 22h, 22i may have a different

pattern defined thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An infill panel for installation below the bottom rail of a fence to at least partially close a space between the fence and a ground surface underneath the fence, the infill panel: being elongate, thereby defining a longitudinal axis; having a substantially oblong shape in cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis; the substantially oblong shape defined by opposite first and second major sides and opposite first and second minor sides, wherein, at least at two spaced apart locations along the longitudinal axis, the first minor side has projections that extend outwardly away from an interior of the oblong shape and the second minor side has corresponding depressions, such that, when two of said infill panels are stacked one on top of another with the first minor side of one of the stacked infill panels abutting the second minor side of the other of the stacked infill panels and the projections of said one of the infill panels aligned with the depressions of said other of the stacked infill panels, engagement of the projections and depressions facilitates maintaining the abutting first minor side and second minor side in alignment without inhibiting said stacked infill panels against moving away from another in a direction defined by a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the first and second minor sides.

2. The infill panel of claim 1, wherein the transverse cross sectional shape of the infill panel is constant along the longitudinal axis and the infill panel is an extruded infill panel.

3. The infill panel of claim 1 or claim 2, having major surfaces defined by the major sides and the major surfaces being non-planar; the major surfaces having, for example, grooves and/or ridges defined thereon.

4. The infill panel of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections taper in width from a first end nearest the interior of the oblong shape to a second end furthest from the interior of the oblong shape.

5. The infill panel of claim 4, wherein the taper is more gradual at the first end than at the second end.

6. The infill panel of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the depressions have a taper complementary to that of the projections.

7. A fence panel assembly comprising: a pair of posts comprising a first post and a second post, each of the posts defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a first portion for embedment in ground on which the fence panel is to be constructed and a second portion that is to extend from the ground, the second portion having an upper end distal from the first portion and a lower end proximal to the first portion; an upper rail interconnecting the pair of posts at or adjacent the upper ends of their second portions; a lower rail interconnecting the pair of posts adjacent the lower ends of their second portions at a location spaced from their first portions; one or more infill member installed in a first space bounded by the upper and lower rails and the portion of the posts between the upper and lower rails, wherein the one or more infill member at least partially infills the first space; one or more said infill panel according to any one of the preceding claims installed in a second space defined between the lower rail and a portion of the posts below the lower rail, wherein the one or more said infill panel extends between the posts.

8. The fence panel assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the posts defines a channel extending longitudinally therealong, the posts being oriented relative to one another such that the channels of the first post face toward one another, wherein a transverse dimension of the channels is substantially equal to or greater than the maximum distance, measured along a line perpendicular to the first and second major sides of the infill panel, between an outer extremity of the first major side of the infill panel and an outer extremity of the second major side of the infill panel, such that opposite longitudinal ends of the infill panel may be received in the channels of the posts.

9. The fence panel assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the posts defines a channel extending longitudinally therealong, the posts being oriented relative to one another such that the channels of the first post face toward one another, wherein a transverse dimension of the channels is substantially equal to the maximum distance, measured along a line perpendicular to the first and second major sides of the infill panel, between an outer extremity of the first major side of the infill panel and an outer extremity of the second major side of the infill panel, such that opposite longitudinal ends of the infill panel may be received in the channels of the posts.

10. The fence panel assembly of any one of claims 7 to 9, comprising a single said infill panel, the portion of the posts below the lower rail having a length that is greater than the maximum distance, measured along a line perpendicular to the first and second minor sides of the infill panel, between an outer extremity of the first minor side of the infill panel and an outer extremity of the second minor side of the infill panel, such that when the infill panel is installed with its upper end adjacent the lower rail, the first portion of the posts extends beyond the lower end of the infill panel.

11. The fence panel assembly of any one of claims 7 to 9, comprising an assembly of abutting said infill panels, the portion of the posts below the lower rail having a length that is greater than the maximum distance, measured along a line perpendicular to the first and second minor sides of the infill panels, between an outer extremity of the first minor side of the uppermost of the infill panels and an outer extremity of the second minor side of the lowermost of the infill panels, such that when the assembly of infill panels is installed with its upper end adjacent the lower rail, the first portion of the posts extends beyond the lower end of the assembly of infill panels.

12. The fence panel assembly of any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the lower rail has projections or depressions corresponding with those of the one or more infill panel, such that, when the one or more infill panel is installed under the bottom rail, engagement of the projections or depressions of the lower rail with the depressions or projections of the infill panel, or an uppermost thereof, facilitates maintaining the abutting infill panel and lower rail in alignment without inhibiting the infill panel(s) against moving away from the lower rail in a direction defined by a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the first and second minor sides of the infill panel(s).