AU641505B2

AU641505B2 - Improvements in hoarding and fencing systems

Info

Publication number: AU641505B2
Application number: AU78102/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ronald J. Bone
Original assignee: CARRICK DEVELOPMENTS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: M Garlick Nominees Pty Ltd; Tj Garlick Nominees Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-01
Filing date: 1990-06-01
Publication date: 1993-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-31
Also published as: AU7810291A

Description

AUSTRALIA 15 j PATENTS ACT 1990~ P~ COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL 0O

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TO BE COMIPLETED) BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: CARRICK DEVELOPMENTS PTY. LTD.

25 Barina Road, Glen iris, Victoria 3146, Australia.

Ronald 1. Bone, of 25 Barina Road, Glen Iris. Victoria 3146, Australia.

Carter Smith Beadle, 2 Railway Parade, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia.

IMPROVEMENTS IN HOARDING AND FENCING

SYSTEMS

Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos: PK 0415 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -1- -2- IMPROVEMENTS IN HOARDING AND FENCING SYSTEMS This invention relates to hoarding and fencing systems and particularly, but not exclusively, to a demountable hoarding system.

Often, when a building is undergoing construction or repair it is necessary to provide a hoarding system around at least part of the building to prevent the public from having access to the building. Current hoarding systems have a complicated arrangement of braces to support the panels of the hoarding. One problem with such hoardings is that the bracing arrangement restricts working space behind the hoarding, which is particularly disadvantageous when the hoarding is situated on a narrow pavement beside the building undergoing repair. Furthermore, such hoarding systems I utilize several bolt fasteners to hold the components of the hoarding assembly together. Such a system is not easily demountable when work is completed on the building, since it is a time consuming exercise to disassemble the bolted construction.

It is therefore desirable to provide a temporary hoarding system in which 15 working access behind the hoarding is not restricted to a great extent by the components of the system.

It is also desirable to provide a hoarding system which is easily demountable.

It is further desirable to provide a hoarding or fencing system which is of simple yet sturdy construction and which avoids the use of tools in its assemb.y.

20 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a S: demountable hoarding or fencing system comprising a plurality of substantially upright posts, at least one panel member adapted to be supported between substantially vertical surfaces of two adjacent posts of said plurality of posts, and at least one cross-member extending between said two adjacent posts with locating means at each end engageable with co-operating means on each of said two adjacent posts, and which is arranged to extend along a surface of the at least one panel member supported between said posts to brace the panel member in the assembled hoarding or fencing system, wherein the locating means at each end of the at least one crossmember comprises a notch or slot in the cross-member engageable with an edge of a co-operating opening in the substantially vertical surface of a respective post.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of panel members are supported between JRG:DMWVspe6\7614.spg 7 July 1993 -3two adjacent posts of the s.,stem. The arrangement ;s preferably such that the distance between the locating notches or slots is equal to an integral number of panel member widths so that the panel members fit snugly between the vertical surfaces of the upright posts and are braced against the at least one cross-member extending between the posts. Locking means, for instance in the form of wedges, may be provided to engage with the cross-member and the upright posts to lock the cross-member in position. In a preferred arrangement two or more cross-members may be provided to brace a panel member or panel members between adjacent posts. Retaining means may be provided to engage with the panel member or panel members and the at least ii 10 one cross-member thereby maintaining them in close relationship. In a preferred construction, the retaining means comprises at least one generally U-shaped hook which extends through an opening in a panel member to engage with a cross-member.

More than two upright posts may be provided with an appropriate number of

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panel members and cross-members for assembly of a demountable hoarding or fencing system of extended length.

In such an extended system, at least one upright post is an intermediate post adapted to support panel members on at least two sides of the post. Conveniently, said at least one intermediate post has a plurality of co-operating means, for instance in the form of openings, each of which is engageable with a respective locating means 20 at an end of a respective cross-member. In a preferred construction, said at least one intermediate post is of square section provided with co-operating means in the form of openings in at least two substantially vertical surfaces of the post for engagement with locating means of respective cross-members. Said at least one intermediate post may comprise a corner post to enable one section of the hoarding or fencing system to extend at an angle to an adjacent section of the hoarding or fencing system.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a demountable hoarding system in accordance with the invention; JRG:DMWVspecW/614.spg 7 July 1993 Figure 2 is a rear view of the demountable hoarding system; Figure 3 is a side view of one of the posts of the system; Figure 4 is a side view of one of the cross-members of the system; Figure 5 is a side view of a locking wedge member of the system; Figure 6 is a side view of a retaining hook of the system; Figure 7 is an enlarged section on the line VII VII of Figure 2; Figure 8 is an enlarged section on the line VIII VIII of Figure 2; Figure 9 is an enlarged section on the line IX IX of Figure 7; S. ,and Figure 10 is a section through a corner post similar to the post of Figure 3.

The demountable hoarding system shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises three panel members 10 supported between a pair of upright posts 12 by upper and lower rails or cross-members 11.

As shown in Figures 3, 7 and 10 each upright post 12 is of square section having vertically extending rear and front surfaces 13 and 14 and vertically extending sides 15. A base plate 16 extends rearwardly from the foot of the post 12 and a diagonal plate 17 is joined to a •rear portion of the base plate 16 and to one of the sides 15 of the upright post 12. The post 12, base plate 16 and diagonal plate 17 may conveniently be formed of steel or like material. As shown in Figure 3, a plurality of rectangular openings 19 are provided in the sides 15 of the post at different heights, each opening 19 being 0 adapted to receive the end of a cross-member 11.

Figure 4 shows one of the cross-members 11 in greater detail.

The cross-member 11 is of generally rectangular section and like the upright posts 12 may be formed of steel or similar material. A generally V-shtped notch 22 is provided at each end of the cross-member 11 in its lower surface. A cross-member suitable for use in the hoarding system of Figures 1 and 2 will have a length that is slightly greater than three times the width of each panel member The demountable hoarding system of Figures 1 and 2 may be assembled in the following manner. The upright posts 12 are placed at a distance apart of approximately three panel widths, and the ends of a pair of upper and lower cross-members 11 are inserted through respective upper and lower rectangular openings 19 in the sides 15 of two adjacent posts 12. The cross-members 11 are located in their respective openings 19 by the engagement of the notches 22 with the lower edges of the respective rectangular openings 19. As shown in Figure 9, a locking member 24 in the form of a wedge with a rectangular recess 25 in its upper edge may be provided to lock an end of a crossmember 11 to a respective one of the upright posts 12 and to prevent the cross-member 11 from being accidentally displaced from its location.

The panel members 10 are preferably formed of wooden material, such as plywood, and are adapted to fit snugly between opposed surfaces of the upright posts 12 with their rear surfaces abutting against the cross-members 11 as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The panel members 10 may 15 be retained in position by retaining means 26 in the form of hooks (see Figure Each hook 26 is generally of U-shape having a central bridge section 27, a shorter limb 28 and a longer limb 29. To complete assembly of the demountable hoarding system shown in Figures 1 and 2 the longer limbs 29 and the bridge sections 27 of the hooks 26 are G 20 inserted through apertures 30 in the panel members 10 into the position S* shown in dashed lines in Figure 8. The hooks 26 are then turned through 1800 so that the longer limb 29 of each hook 26 engages with the rear surface of one of the cross-members 11 to secure the panel member 10 in position against the cross-member 11.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the demountable hoarding system consists of three panel members 10 supported between two upright posts 12. It will, however, be appreciated that the length of the cross-members 11 and/or the number or width of the panel members may be varied to provide hoarding sections of different lengths. Also, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the upright posts 12 are provided with an upper opening and a lower opening 19 in each side 15 so as to enable additional hoarding sections to be connected at the sides of the three panel hoarding section as shown in broken lines in Figure 2. The upper and lower openings 19 in each side 15 enable the panel. members to be braced more effectively by upper and lower cross-members 11.

Figure 10 shows a corner post 32 of similar form to the upright post 12 shown in Figures 3 and 7; the corner post 32 being provided to enable one hoarding section to be connected at right angles to another hoarding section. The corner post 32 is also of square section having vertically extending rear and front surfaces 33 and 34 joined to vertically extending sides 35. Like the post 12 of Figure 3, the corner post 32 has openings 38 in each of its sides 35. Also, the rear surface 33 of the corner post is provided with rectangular openings 39 for receiving cross-members extending in a perpendicular direction to the cross-members which are to be received in the openings in the side limb 35 of the corner post.

The present invention therefore provides a hoarding or fencing system of a simple yet stable construction which is easy to assemble and readily demountable without the aid of tools.

Access to the rear of the hoarding or fencing may be obtained by interrupting the hoarding to provide a gap between adjacent upright .o 15 posts and hanging a door or gate to the posts to fill the gap.

Moreover, a further advantage of the hoarding system of the invention is that apart form the base plate 16 and the diagonal plate 17 at the foot of each upright post 12 there are no parts extending behind the hoarding for a significant distance to obstruct any repair or construction work required just behind the hoarding.

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Claims

1. A demountable hoarding or fencing system comprising a plurality of substantially upright posts, at least one panel member adapted to be supported between substantially vertical surfaces of two adjacent posts of said plurality of posts, and at least one cross-member extending between said two adjacent posts with locating means at each end engageable with co-operating means on each of said two adjacent posts, and which is arranged to extend along a surface of the at least one panel member supported between said posts to brace the panel member in the assembled hoarding or fencing system, wherein the locating means at each end of the at least one 10 cross-member comprises a notch or slot in the cross-member engageable with an edge of a co-operating opening in the substantially vertical surface of a respective post. :*oi

2. A demountable hoarding or fencing system according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of panel members are supported between the substantially vertical surfaces see" of adjacent posts of the hoarding or fencing system, the plurality of panel members being braced by said at least one cross-member extending between said adjacent posts. ft

3. A demountable hoarding or fencing system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the distance between the notches or slots at opposite ends of the cross- *o member is equal to an integral number of panel member widths.

4. A demountable hoarding or fencing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein locking means is provided to engage with the upright posts and the at least one cross-member to lock the cross-member in position.

A demountable hoarding or fencing system according to claim 4 wherein the openings in the substantially upright posts are substantially rectangular and the locking means for each end of the at least one cross-member comprises a wedge engageable with an edge of the opening and a surface of the cross-member opposed to the surface in which the notch or slot is provided.

6. A demountable hoarding or fencing system according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising retaining means engageable with the panel member or panel members and the at least one cross-member to secure the panel Smember or panel members to the at least one cross-member. JRG:DMW\spc\7614.spg 7 July 1993 -8-

7. A demountable hoarding or fencing system according to claim 6 wherein the retaining means comprises at least one generally U-shaped hook which extends through an opening provided in a panel member to engage with the cross-member.

8. A demountable hoarding or fencing system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the substantially upright posts is an intermediate hollow post adapted to support panel members on at least two sides of the post, said post having a plurality of co-operating means each of which is engageable with a respective lccating means at one end of a respective cross-member.

9. A demountable hoarding or fencing system according to claim 8 wherein at 10 least said intermediate post is of square section provided with co-operating means in the form of openings in at least two substantially vertical surfaces of the post for engagement with locating means of respective cross-members. p. 010. A demountable hoarding or fencing system substantially as hereinbefore e* described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15 DATED: 7 July 1993 EVELOPT LTD :0. easeCARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: CARRICK DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD *00 JRG:DMW\spWc7614.pg 7 July 1993 ABSTRACT The present invention provides a demountable hoarding or fencing system comprising a plurality of upright posts a plurality of panel members (10) supported between two adjacent posts (12) and upper and lower cross-members (11) extending between the adjacent posts (12) and along the rear surfaces of the panel members (10) to brace the panel members. Notches (22) are provided at the ends of the cross-members (11) which engage with openings (19) in the posts and locking members in the form of wedges (24) may be provided to secure the cross- members to the posts U-shaped hooks (26) may also be provided which extend through openings (30) in the panel members (10) to retain the panel members against the cross-members The present invention thus provides a hoarding or fencing system that is easy to assemble and disassemble without the aid of tools and has a minimum of .15 components extending behind the hoarding which would cause obstruction. S. *oSor* S 0 o