AU697215B2

AU697215B2 - Intermediate fence rail

Info

Publication number: AU697215B2
Application number: AU36009/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Douglas Evan Matthews; Ivan Tacko
Original assignee: BHP Steel JLA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BHP Steel JLA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-05
Filing date: 1995-10-05
Publication date: 1998-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2015-10-05
Also published as: AU3600995A

Description

INTERMEDIATE FENCE RAIL

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to fences of the kind comprising a post and rail frame and infill means carried by the frame. The infill means constitute a barrier obstructing the passage of people or animals between the rails; they may, for example, comprise a rigid sheet, a rigid mesh, or a plurality of spaced apart pickets extending from rail to rail.

More particularly the invention relates to fences of that kind wherein at least the rails are roll-formed, sheet metal components.

For convenience of description terms such as "upper", "lower", "upwardly", "downwardly" and others of like positional or directional intent are used hereinafter consistently with the component referred to being disposed as it would normally be when in use in a fence. Moreover the terms "vertical" and "horizontal", being terms of the kind referred to, are intended to embrace items that depart from true verticality or horizontality, at least to the extent that would be expected, in practice, in the construction of a nominally vertical fence traversing undulating ground. BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, sheet metal fences have been used primarily as perimeter fences and the like in industrial situations where the aesthetic appeal of the fence has been regarded as less relevant than the security it provides against intruders. Thus sheet metal infill panels have been used which extend substantially from ground level to the top of the fence. Such fences are difficult to scale, but have not found widespread acceptance in domestic situations because of their appearance and because they obstruct vision and light.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore a primary object of the present invention is to provide sheet metal fencing that is more appealing to the eye than has been the case hitherto.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheet metal fencing that is inexpensive, both inherently, insofar as the material and manufacturing costs are concerned, and, equally importantly, in use, insofar as the labour costs of erecting the fence on site and its subsequent maintenance are concerned.

Both objects are seen as pre-requisites, if sheet metal fencing is to be better suited to use as domestic fencing around dwellings, and find wider acceptance as such, than has been the case hitherto.

According to the invention an intermediate rail is provided, which is intended to extend from post to post between the top and bottom rails conventionally found in a post and rail fence frame, and which is adapted to secure the top edge of a lower infill means and also support an upper infill means.

Thus a fence incorporating an intermediate rail according to the invention may readily comprise lower infill means comprising, for example, a sheet metal panel providing a lower barrier that is difficult for children or domestic pet animals to scale, and upper infill means comprising, for example expanded metal mesh, sheet metal pickets or a transparent plastics sheet, providing further security while allowing an adult to see through the fence to some extent.

The invention consists in a sheet metal fence comprising an intermediate rail, a lower infill panel extending downwardly from the intermediate rail and an upper infill panel extending upwardly from the intermediate rail, wherein: the intermediate rail is a sheet metal strip comprising an elongated web having first and second spaced apart longitudinal edges, a first flange extending along said first edge and projecting downwardly therefrom and a second flange extending along said second edge and projecting downwardly therefrom; said first flange has a longitudinally extending step formed in it to provide a shelf spaced downwardly of said first edge and projecting outwardly beyond said first edge, said upper infill panel rests upon said shelf and is secured to said first flange; a lower part of said first flange projects inwardly under said shelf and terminates in a substantially planar free edge margin disposed in a vertical plane inboard of said shelf; said second flange is spaced from said edge margin in the horizontal direction and terminates along a line spaced above at least a lower part of said edge margin in the vertical direction; said lower infill panel has an upper part sandwiched between said first and second flanges and is fastened to said planar free edge margin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example, an embodiment of the above described invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, being a cross section of an intermediate rail according to the invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The illustrated embodiment is preferably cold roll-formed from a strip of steel with an under coat of a corrosion resistant metallic material, for example zinc or an alloy of aluminium and zinc, and a finish coat of a protective and ornamental polymeric paint.

It is generally of an inverted U or channel shaped cross- section and comprises a web 1 having first and second longitudinal edges 2 and 3 respectively. The web 1 is a substantially flat web, but in other embodiments the spacer portion may be more or less arcuate or even free-form in cross-section.

A first flange 4 extends along the first edge 2 and projects downwardly therefrom. That first flange 4 has a longitudinally extending step formed in it to provide a shelf 5 spaced downwardly of the first edge 2 and projecting outwardly beyond that edge. A lower part 6 of the first flange 4 projects inwardly under the shelf 5 and terminates in a substantially planar free edge margin 7 extending upwardly towards the spacer portion 1. The edge margin 7 is inboard of the shelf 5.

In the illustrated embodiment the lower part 6 of the first flange 4, except for its edge margin 7, is smoothly curved. This is not essential to the invention, and in other embodiments the relevant lower part of the first flange may be angle shaped in cross-section. Yet again, the relevant lower part may extend concavely inwardly from a line immediately or closely below the shelf 5, to terminate in a downwardly projecting planar edge margin in substantially the same position as edge margin 7.

A second flange 8 extends along the edge 3 and projects downwardly therefrom. As can be seen from the drawing, the second flange 8 is spaced from the edge margin 7 of first flange 4 in the horizontal direction and is shorter than the first flange 4 so as to terminate along a line spaced above the edge margin 7 of first flange 4.

In other embodiments the edge margin 7 may extend further towards the spacer portion 1 , so as to be overlapped in the vertical direction by the second flange 8, however in all instances at least a lower part of the edge margin 7 is exposed, clear of the second flange 8. The illustrated second flange 8 terminates in an incurved lip 9 such that the free edge of the flange is directed towards the first flange 4.

In use, the ends of the illustrated intermediate rail may be fastened to neighbouring fence posts so as to extend horizontally therebetween. A lower infill panel 10, such as a vertically ribbed or corrugated sheet steel panel shown in ghost in the drawing, may then project upwardly between the two flanges 4 and 8, and may be secured to the rail by conventional through fasteners, such as self-tapping screws 11. It will be noted that because of the lack of overlap between the second flange 8 and the edge margin 7, such fasteners may be readily applied without interference from the second flange 8. Preferably, the second flange 8 is resiliently sprung aside slightly by the lower panel 10 so that only the edge of its inturned lip bears upon the panel, and does so firmly. This mitigates against corrosion problems and unwanted rattling between the two parts should the fasteners become loose.

An upper infill panel 12, such as expanded metal mesh or a plurality of steel pickets, may then be secured to the intermediate rail and to the top rail of the fence. That upper infill panel may rest upon the shelf 5, at least when being first installed in place, and may be secured by through fasteners, such as the self-tapping screws 13, extending through the infill panel or its individual components and the riser portion of the step in the first flange 4. Again it will be noted that such fasteners may be readily applied to an exposed part of the infill panel.

As the intermediate rail is an inverted U section, rain water is precluded from collecting in it. This reduces the risk of life shortening corrosion.

It should also be mentioned that the rail presents a pleasingly narrow appearance from each side of the fence, having an apparent depth from one side equal to that of the short flange 8, and from the other side, a clearly discernible depth equal to only that part of flange 4 below the shelf 5.

Claims

1. A sheet metal fence comprising an intermediate rail, a first infill panel extending downwardly from the intermediate rail and a second infill panel extending upwardly from the intermediate rail, wherein: the intermediate rail is a sheet metal strip comprising an elongated web having first and second spaced apart longitudinal edges, a first flange extending along said first edge and projecting downwardly therefrom and a second flange extending along said second edge and projecting downwardly therefrom; said first flange has a longitudinally extending step formed in it to provide a shelf spaced downwardly of said first edge and projecting outwardly beyond said first edge, said second infill panel rests upon said shelf and is secured to said first flange; a lower part of said first flange projects inwardly under said shelf and terminates in a substantially planar free edge margin disposed in a vertical plane inboard of said shelf; said second flange is spaced from said edge margin in the horizontal direction and terminates along a line spaced above at least a lower part of said edge margin in the vertical direction; said first infill panel has an upper part sandwiched between said first and second flanges and is fastened to said planar free edge margin.

2. A fence according to claim 1 wherein the second flange terminates in an incurved lip such that a free edge of the second flange is directed towards the first flange.

3. A fence according to claim 2 wherein the second flange is resiliently sprung aside by the lower panel so that only the edge of its inturned lip bears upon the panel, and does so firmly.

4. A fence according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said lower panel is a vertically ribbed sheet.

5. A fence according to claim any one of the preceding claims wherein said upper panel comprises a plurality of pickets.

6. A fence comprising an intermediate rail substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.