AU5362499A - Barriers, fences and enclosure assemblies - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Address for Service: Name of Inventor: Invention Title: JACKELEN DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD A.C.N. 010 105 325 9 Maddison Court Industrial Estate, Bundaberg Queensland 4670, Australia CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

JACQUES ROHEN BARRIERS, FENCES AND ENCLOSURE

ASSEMBLIES

Details of Associated Provisional Applications: No. PP6493 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to: This invention relates to barriers, fences and enclosure assemblies. In particular, the invention concerns impact resistant barriers, fences and enclosure assemblies.

Permanent and temporary barriers, fences and enclosures are provided for a variety of functions. Barriers or fences have been used for crowd control and to provide a safety barrier at constructions or road work sites. Enclosures are often required for permanent or temporary confinement of animals or livestock.

Fencing, barriers and enclosures currently available either offer little or no absorption to impact and are difficult to assemble and disassemble.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a barrier, fence and enclosure assembly which at least minimise the disadvantages referred to above.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a barrier, fence or 15 enclosure assembly having at least one panel with the panel having at least *one hollow rail made from a flexible plastics material, said rail having end portions with a post receiving aperture, and a respective said post extending through each said post receiving aperture.

Preferably there are a plurality of panels with each panel having a plurality of rails with the end portions having post receiving apertures and respective posts extending through the apertures to interconnect adjacent panels to one another.

The rails may have a body and the end portions are present at opposite ends of the body. The post receiving apertures may have a reduced size intermediate portion and the post may be received in an interference fit by the S"aperture. Preferably, the post is hollow and has a hollow base. The base may be filled with ballast material such as water or sand for example.

The end portions may be of a height equal to or less than the height of the body of the rail. If desired, the end portions may be offset relative to the body.

The degree of offset may be less than, equal to or greater than the height of the body.

The end portions may be offset to the same side or to opposite sides of the body of the rail.

When the rails are used to make a panel, the rails of one panel may be interleaved between the rails of an adjacent panel. Spacing members such as hollow spacing collars may be positioned between the end portions of adjacent rails of adjacent panels. The spacing collars may be equal to or less than the height of the rails.

The end portions may have fastener receiving passages for receiving fasteners for fixing the rails to posts. The fastener receiving apertures may be positioned diametrically opposed on the end portions.

The assembly may include end caps for location over free ends of the posts. The end caps may be fixed to the posts in any suitable way. The end caps are preferably hollow. For example, the end caps may have diametrically fastener receiving apertures. Altemrnatively the cap may have a screw threaded bore and an end of the posts may be screw threaded to receive the cap.

Particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figures la, b, c and d are plan, elevational, perspective and end views respectively of a diagonal offset half end rail; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an example barrier configuration made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an example barrier or enclosure made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an example barrier or enclosure made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 1; 25 Figures 5a, b c and d show plan, elevational, perspective and end views respectively of a rail according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figures 6a, b, c and d show plan, elevational, perspective and end views respectively of a rail according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 Shows a perspective view of an example barrier made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an example barrier or enclosure made form a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 6; Figures 9a, b, c and d show plan, elevational, perspective and end views of a rail according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a barrier made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a barrier or enclosure made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 9; Figures 12a, b, c and d are plan, elevational, perspective and end views respectively of a rail according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 is a perspective view of a barrier made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a perspective view of a barrier or enclosure made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 12; Figure 15 is a perspective view of a further barrier made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 12; 15 Figures 16a, b, c and d are plan, elevational, perspective and end views respectively of a rail according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 17 is a perspective view of a barrier made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 16; Figure 18 is a perspective view of a barrier or enclosure made from a plurality of rails like that shown in Figure 16; Figure 19 is a perspective view of a collar according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 20 is a perspective view of a collar according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 21 is a perspective view of a post cap according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 22 is a perspective view of a post according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 23 shows a perspective view of a barrier supported by a plurality of posts like that shown in Figure 22; Figures 24a and b are inverted plan and sectional views of a post cap according to an embodiment of the invention; Figures 25a, b, c and d are front elevational, plan, side elevational and perspective views of a post cap; according to another embodiment of the invention; and, Figure 26 is a perspective view of a spacer according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a rail 30 having a hollow body 31 terminating in opposed hollow end portions 32 and 33. End portions 32 and 33 are diagonally offset from one another and have a height half the width of the body 31 of the rail.

Each end portion 32, 33 has an aperture 34 formed in it.

As mentioned, the body 31 is hollow and to strengthen the body tubular ports 35 are formed extending through the body 31. The ports 35 have an inner reduced width portion 36.

Each end portion 32, 33 has a pair of diametrically opposed transversely extending passages 37, 38 for receiving fasteners (not shown) for fixing a post o 15 within the apertures 34.

Figure 2 shows a barrier having a plurality of rails 30 arranged in panels 40 held relative to one another by posts (not shown) which extend through the apertures in the rails 30. The panels 40 may be configured at a desired angle relative to one another and either fixed in that configuration by fasteners extending through passages 37, 38 and into the posts or simply left free to pivot relative to adjacent panels by omitting the fasteners.

Figure 3 shows a plurality of panels 40 configured into an enclosure *rather than a barrier like that shown in Figure 2. Four posts (not shown) extend through the apertures 34 and the rails may be fixed to the posts by fasteners extending through passages 37, 38 if desired.

Figure 4 shows an enclosure 51 formed from a plurality of panels 40 with each panel consisting of several rails 30. In this embodiment upper ends of the posts (not visible) carry a post cap 52.

Figure 5 shows a hollow rail 60 having a body 61 terminating in opposed hollow end portions 62 and 63. In this embodiment the end portions are half the width of the body 61 but are not diagonally offset like shown in Figure 1.

The rail 60 has strengthening tubular ports 65 extending through the body 61 6 and the end portions have apertures 64 for receiving a post. The end portions 62, 63 have diametrically opposed passages 67, 68 for receiving fasteners.

Figure 6 shows a hollow rail 70 having a body 71 terminating in opposed hollow end portions 72 and 73. The end portions 72, 73 have the same height as the body. Strengthening ports 75 extend through the hollow body 71 and each end portion 72, 73 has a post receiving aperture 74. Diametrically opposed fixing passages 77, 78 extend through the end portions 72, 73.

Figure 7 shows how a barrier 80 may be made from a plurality of connected panels 81. Each panel 81 consists of a plurality of rails 70. Posts (not shown) extend through apertures and the posts may be fixed to the rails by fasteners.

Figure 8 shows an enclosure 90 made from the rails of Figure 6. Posts (not shown) extend through apertures 74 in the rails 70 and fasteners may be used to secure the posts to the rails.

S 15 Figure 9 shows a rail 100 having a body 101 and two opposed end portions 102, 103. Strengthening ports 105 extend through the body 101.

eel• Each end portion 102, 103 has a post receiving aperture 104 and the end portions have a height half the height of the body and are in line with one edge of the body.

Figure 10 shows a barrier 110 made from a plurality of panels 111. Each panel consists of a plurality of rails 100. The rails in adjacent panels are inverted as shown. Posts (not shown) extend through post receiving apertures 104 and fasteners may be used to secure the posts to the rails 100 if desired.

Figure 11 shows an enclosure 120 made from rails 100. Posts (not 25 shown) extend through post receiving apertures 104 and these posts may be fixed to the rails by fasteners.

Figure 12 shows a rail 130. The rail has a body 131 and opposed end portions 132, 133. Each end portion is a height equal to the width of the body and both portions are offset to the same side of the body by a distance equal to half of the height of the body 131. Each end portion has a post receiving aperture 134 with diametrically opposed fixing passages 137, 138 for receiving fasteners for fixing a post relative to the rail. Strengthening posts 135 extend through the body 131.

Figure 13 shows a barrier 140 made from panels 141 each consisting of a plurality of rails 130. Posts (not shown) extend through the receiving apertures 134 in the rails 130 to hold them together. Fasteners may be used to fix the posts to the rails.

Figure 14 shows an enclosure 150 made from rails 130. Posts (not shown) extend through the receiving apertures to hold the rails together and fasteners may fix the rails to the posts.

Figure 15 shows a barrier 160 similar to the barrier 140 in Figure 13. In Figure 15 the rails 130 are separated from one another by spacing collars 161 and 162. Collar 161 is half the height of collar 162. A locking collar 163 spaces the rails from a lower end of the posts 164. A post cap 165 finishes off the top of each post and is fixed to the post by a laterally extending fastener 166.

Figure 16 shows a rail 170 similar to rail 130 in Figure 12 except that rail 170 has end portions 172, 173 offset from body 171 by a distance equal to the height of the end portions. Each end portion has a post receiving aperture 174 and fixing passages 177, 178. Strengthening ports 175 extend through the body. The rail 170 may be used to make a barrier like that shown in Figure 13 or an enclosure like that shown in Figure 14.

Figure 17 shows a barrier 180 made from panels 181. The panels have a plurality of rails 170 and 70 like that shown in figure 16 and 6. Posts (not shows) extend through the post receiving apertures 174 in each of the rails and fasteners may be used to hold the rails relative to the posts.

Figure 18 shows an enclosure 190 made from a plurality of rails 170, 25 like that shown in Figures 16 and 6. Posts (not shown) extend through the post receiving apertures 174. Fasteners may be used to hold the rails 170 relative to the posts.

Figure 19 shows detail of a collar 162 shown used in the barrier of figure The collar 162 has a height equal to twice the height of the end portions of the rails 130 in Figure 15. The collar has a bore 190 through which a post may extend. The bore 190 has a reduced diameter intermediate portion 191. This ensures that the post is an interference fit within the bore 190. The collar is of hollow construction and has diametrically opposed fastener receiving passages 192, 193 for receiving fasteners for securing the collar to a post.

Figure 20 shows a collar 161 like that shown in Figure 15. Collar 161 is half the height of collar 162 of Figure 19 and corresponds in height to the height of an end portion of a rail 130 of Figure 15. Collar 161 has a bore 194 for receiving a post. The bore 194 has a reduced diameter intermediate portion 195. Collar 161 is hollow and has diametrically opposed fastener receiving passages 196, 197 for fasteners which fix the collar relative to a post.

Figures 21 and 25a, b, c and d show details of a post cap 200. The cap 200 is hollow and has a domed top wall 201. Blind bore 202 receives an end of a post. Diametrically opposed fastener receiving passages 203, 204 receive fasteners for securing the cap to a post.

Figure 22 shows a perspective view of a post 210 according to an embodiment of the invention. The post 210 has an upstanding tubular portion S 15 211 with a threaded free end 212. The portion 211 is received by a hollow base 213. The base has an inlet 214 through which ballast material may be introduced to lend weight to the post 210. The ballast may be water, sand or any other suitable material. A plug (not shown) may be used to close off the inlet 214.

20 Figure 23 shows a barrier 220 made from panels 221. Each panel 221 has a plurality of rails 130 like that shown in Figure 15. The rails 130 have Sposts extending through their respective end portions and spacing collars 161, 162 and caps 200 are received on the posts as shown.

Figure 24 shows an end cap 230 which may be used as an altemrnative to cap 200. End cap 230 is hollow and has a domed end wall 231 and a threaded S"blind bore 232. The threaded bore may receive threaded end 212 of the post shown in Figure 22.

Figure 26 shows a view of an alternative spacing collar 240 to that shown in Figure 19. The collar 240 is hollow and has a bore 241 with an intermediate reduced diameter portion 242. The bore 241 receives a post with the portion 242 ensuring that the collar provides an interference fit with the post.

The components of the invention are hollow and made from plastics 9 material. The invention may be employed to form barriers for a variety of purposes, fences and enclosures. Of course, the enclosures and barriers may have configurations different from that shown in the figures. The enclosures may have more than just four panels like that shown by way of example in the drawings.

The barriers and enclosures because of the nature of the components described are impact resistant and can be easily assembled and disassembled.

Claims (19)

1. A barrier, fence or enclosure assembly having at least one panel with the panel having at least one hollow rail made from a flexible plastics material, said rail having end portions with a post receiving aperture and a respective said post extending through each said post receiving aperture.

2. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 1 including a plurality of said panels with each said panel having a plurality of said rails with the respective said posts extending through the apertures in the end portions to interconnect adjacent said panels to one another.

3. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 2 wherein the end portions are of a height less than the height of the body.

4. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 2 wherein the end portions are of a height equal to the height of the body.

The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of any one of claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the end portions are offset relative to the body.

6. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 5 wherein the end portions are offset relative to the body by a distance less than equal to or greater than the height of the body portion.

7. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 6 wherein the end portions are offset to opposite sides of the rail.

8. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 6 wherein the end portions are offset to the same side of the rail.

9. The barrier fence or enclosure assembly of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the rails have a body and the end portions are present at S. o S S 25 opposite ends of the body. S"

10. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the post receiving apertures have a reduced size intermediate portion and the post is received in an interference fit in the aperture.

11. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of any one of the claims 1 to wherein the or each said post is made of plastics material and has a hollow base.

12. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 11 wherein the or each 11 said hollow base is filled with ballast material.

13. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the rails of one said panel are interleaved between the rails of an adjacent said panel.

14. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of any one of claims 1 to 13 including spacing collars between the end portions of adjacent said rails of adjacent said panels.

The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 14 wherein the collars are hollow.

16. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of claim 14 or 15 wherein the collars have a height equal to or less than the width of the rails.

17. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of any one of claims 1 to 16 including fastener receiving passages in the end portions.

18. The barrier, fence or enclosure assembly of any of claims 1 to 17 15 including an end cap located over the end of the or each said post. .T,

19. A barrier, fence or enclosure assembly as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. eve 6 DATED THIS 1 1th DAY OF OCTOBER 1999 JACKELEN DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD BY THEIR PATENT ATTORNEYS fee CULLEN CO 6* 0:400 Se. S5. *oll•0 S