AU783652B2 - Fencing system - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: FENCING SYSTEM Name of Applicant: TIEYON PASTORAL CO PTY LTD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2- FENCING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fencing system, and more particularly to a unitary fencing connector for connecting together adjacent uprights of respective fencing panels. The invention finds particular application with portable fencing systems, but is equally applicable to permanent fencing arrangements.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Portable fencing systems, particularly for animal pens and animal corrals are known. Examples of such systems are shown in, for example, US3,970,045, US4,619,223, US5,381,757 and US6,067,940. However, these systems are somewhat cumbersome and therefore clumsy to operate and it would be advantageous if a simpler fencing system could be provided.

In a similar vein, US4,836,143 provides a portable livestock handling panel, each panel having a pair of couplings 22 extending out therefrom and alignable with like couplings on an adjacent panel. A rod 28 is then inserted through aligned projecting U-shaped flanges of adjacent couplings to tie the panels together. Again, a more simplified arrangement for connecting fencing panels would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention provides a unitary fencing connector for connecting together adjacent uprights of respective fencing panels, the connector including first and second recesses into which adjacent free ends of the uprights can be respectively received to connect the uprights and thereby the panels together.

By providing a unitary connector, the connecting together of adjacent fence panels is greatly simplified and hence the connecting operation is expedited.

Preferably at least one of the recesses is a first bore through the connector, wherein the connector is 3retained on one of the uprights which slidably extends through the first bore. Preferably an end cap is positioned on the free end of said one of the uprights for preventing removal of the connector from the upright at that free end. In other words, the connector can be captured on that upright at all times.

Preferably the other of the recesses is a second bore through the connector and through which the other of the uprights can slidably extend. In this case, however, typically the connector is only connected to the other of the uprights when erecting a fence.

Preferably the first bore and said one upright free end have a square cross-section, thereby preventing connector rotation thereon, whereas preferably the second bore and said other.upright free end have a circular cross-section thereby enabling that fence panel to be rotated with respect to the adjacent fence panel on which the connector is retained.

Typically the unitary fencing connector is positioned at in-use uppermost free ends of the adjacent uprights.

This makes for easy access of the connector and its easy sliding on the upright.

Preferably the unitary fencing connector cooperates with a second connector that is positioned remotely from the unitary connector for acting between the uprights to connect them together at that remote position. Preferably in-use the second connector is located lower than the first connector and typically towards lowermost free ends of the adjacent uprights. The second connector enables adjacent fence panels to be connected together at two distinct locations, usually at upper and lower locations, enhancing fence stability.

Preferably the second connector is fastened against sliding to one of the uprights and projects outwardly therefrom, with a recess included in that projecting part of the second connector into which a lowermost free end of the adjacent upright can be received to connect the 4 uprights at the remote location. Preferably the recess in the second connector is a bore such that the lowermost free end of the adjacent upright is slidably received therethrough.

Preferably the second connector is fastened to said one upright, being the same upright to which the unitary connector is retained. Thus, typically, in any given fence panel, one of the uprights has both the unitary fencing connector and the second connector mounted thereon.

Preferably the unitary fencing connector (and optionally the second connector) are used with a plurality of adjacent like fencing panels. Preferably each fencing panel has opposing first and second uprights, with the first defining said one upright and the second defining said other upright, such that the unitary connector and, when present, the second connector are both mounted on the first upright, with the second upright being free to connect to the connectors(s) of a first upright of an adjacent like panel.

Preferably each panel includes one or more rails extending between the first and second uprights.

Typically, in erecting a fence, the unitary fencing connector is slid upwardly on the first upright of a first fence panel, the second upright of a second fence panel is then inserted into the recess of the second connector of the first fence panel, and is then positioned such that its uppermost free end can have the unitary connector slid downwardly thereonto, so that the free end of the second upright is received in the respective recess of the connector. In this manner adjacent panels are connected to each other.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a fencing panel having a unitary connector mounted thereto as defined for the first aspect, and optionally having a second connector mounted thereto.

5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a unitary fencing connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows the connector of Figure 1 in side elevation, and when mounted on adjacent uprights of two fencing panels; Figure 3 shows a side view fencing panel in accordance with the present invention with the connector of Figures 1 and 2 mounted thereon; Figures 4A 4B are partial plan views (same view in each case) of the fencing panel of Figure 3 taken on the line 4-4; and Figure 5 is a side view of a plurality of fence panels joined end to end.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, a unitary fencing connector is shown in the form of a connector element The connector element includes a first rectangular bore 12 formed therethrough and a second separate circular bore 14 formed therethrough.

Referring in particular to Figure 2, the connector element 10 is typically permanently mounted on a first fence panel post 16 of a first fence panel 18. The first fence panel post 16 typically has a rectangular crosssection, at least at the free end thereof extending up above rail 20. This means that whilst the connector is slidable up and down along this free end (as indicated by arrows U and it cannot be rotated on the first fence panel post.

In addition, the connector can be slid downwardly D so that a second fence panel post 22 of a second fence panel 24 is received in the circular bore 14 (as indicated 6in Figure Typically the free end of the second fence panel post, at least above rail 26, has a circular crosssection such that the second fence panel post can be rotated within the circular bore, thus enabling the second fence panel to be rotated with respect to the first fence panel.

The connector element is retained on the first fence panel post by locating an end cap 28 at the uppermost end of the first fence panel post, the cap having a size that is larger than the rectangular bore 12 so that the connector element cannot be slid off the end of the first fence panel post in-use.

In addition, typically the connector element drops onto the second fence panel post when aligned with the circular bore under the influence of gravity, and is maintained on the second fence panel post by gravity.

Optionally, a detachable cap can be located at the end of the second fence panel post to temporarily retain the connector element thereon, or a locking pin can be inserted above or through the connector element and then through the second fence panel post (although this latter arrangement may then restrict rotation of the second fence panel).

Referring in particular to Figure 3, a fence panel is depicted. Typically, in accordance with the present invention, a plurality of like fence panels (such as fence panel 30) are joined end to end (see Figure 5) with the left hand post of Figure 3 constituting the first fence panel post 16, which can then be connected to a second fence panel post 22 of an adjacent like fence panel.

However, for ease of reference, like reference numerals to those of Figure 2 have been allocated to the fence panel of Figure 3.

In the fence panel 30, the first fence panel post has a second connector element 32 mounted towards its lower free end. This second connector element is shown in greater detail in Figures 4A B. Figure 4A shows a view 7 wherein post 16 has a rectangular cross-section and Figure 4B shows a view wherein post 16 has a circular crosssection. Like reference numerals denote similar or like parts. The second connector element 32 is fastened integrally with the fence panel post 16, and includes a circular bore 34 extending therethrough. The circular bore is sized to receive the lower free end 36 of a second adjacent fence panel post (this lower free end 36 also being shown at the opposite end of fence panel 30). The second connector is typically located immediately under panel lower rail 38.

Thus, when connecting like fence panels together (such as shown in Figure 5) firstly, the connector element is slid upwardly U on the first fence panel post 16 of an adjacent fence panel. The lower free end 36 is then inserted into the circular bore 34 of the second connector on the adjacent fence panel, until the lower rail 38 of the fence panel abuts the second connector element. The upper free end of the fence panel post 22 is then positioned adjacent to the upper free end of the fence panel post 16 as shown in Figure The connector element can then be slid downwardly D, with fence panel post 22 being received in circular bore 14. The adjacent fence panels are thus connected. The resulting connected arrangement is shown in Figure Typically the fence panels and components thereof are formed from high strength, lightweight plastic materials, but can also be formed from lightweight metal material such as aluminium etc. This makes them easy to stack, transport and erect.

The fencing system as described herein can be used to construct portable corrals etc. for stock such as cattle, sheep and horses. In addition, the fence panel can be modified to define gate frames, race panels, drafting yards, loading ramps, etc.

The portable fencing system can also be used in other applications, wherever fencing is required, and is not 8 limited to pastoral applications. In addition, the fencing system can be made permanent, for example, simply by affixing the lower free ends of the fence panel posts into the ground using concrete or an appropriate bolting system etc.) The connector element 10 has been defined as having one rectangular bore and one circular bore, however, it can include two rectangular bores, thus preventing rotation of one fence panel with respect to an adjacent fence panel, or two circular bores (thus allowing rotation of each fence panel with respect to its adjacent fence panel) etc. In addition, the lower second connector element can be fabricated in the same manner as the upper connector element, and be retained on its fence panel post by a lower end cap. However, it may then need to be held in an elevated position by a locking pin after it has been slid upwardly).

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (4)

1. A unitary fencing connector for connecting together adjacent uprights of respective fencing panels, the connector including first and second recesses into which adjacent free ends of the uprights can be respectively received to connect the uprights and thereby the panels together.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 wherein one of the recesses is a first bore through the connector and wherein the connector is retained on one of the uprights which slidably extends through the first bore, with an end cap being positioned on the free end of said one of the uprights for preventing removal of the connector from the upright at that free end; and wherein the other of the recesses is a second bore through which the other of the uprights can slidably extend.

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 for cooperation with a second connector that is positioned remotely from the unitary connector for acting between the uprights to connect them together at that remote position, in-use the second connector being located lower than the first connector and towards the lowermost free ends of the adjacent uprights, the second connector being fastened against sliding to one of the uprights and projecting outwardly therefrom, with a recess included in that projecting part of the second connector into which a lowermost free end of the adjacent upright can be received to connect the uprights at the remote location.

4. A unitary fencing connector substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 23rd day of May TIEYON PASTORAL CO PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK