EP0848121A1

EP0848121A1 - Fencing structure

Info

Publication number: EP0848121A1
Application number: EP97203952A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hendrikus Franciscus Christina Van Oosterbos
Original assignee: Werkvoorzieningschap West Noord Brabant
Current assignee: Werkvoorzieningschap West Noord Brabant
Priority date: 1996-12-16
Filing date: 1997-12-16
Publication date: 1998-06-17
Also published as: NL1004797C2

Abstract

Fencing structure consisting of an upper cross-member (2) and a lower cross-member (3), in which a number of vertical uprights (4) positioned some distance apart have been fixed. Fixing takes place with the aid of linking means. The linking means consist of slider members (6) which are movable in the hollow cross-members. The slider members each have a length which corresponds to the distance between two adjacent uprights and are provided close to their ends with locking means which are able to interact with said uprights in order to lock the latter in the correct position with respect to the cross-members.

Description

The present invention relates to a fencing structure comprising a number of uprights which are arranged some distance apart and are provided with cross-members at the top and the bottom, which cross-members are provided with openings for said uprights, as well as linking means for linking said uprights and cross-members, said uprights being provided with seatings for engaging on said linking means.

A structure of this type is disclosed in European Patent Application 0 381 289. In the structure described in said publication, the uppermost longitudinal member is a hollow extruded section. The extruded section is provided on the underside with openings for receiving the free ends of the uprights. That part of the uprights which extends into the extruded section is provided with passages which extend essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal centre line thereof. The uprights are secured in the extruded section by fitting a longitudinal bar to be fitted in the hollow extruded section. The longitudinal bar is slid through the openings in the various uprights.

With this structure it is essential that the longitudinal bar extends through a number of uprights. Otherwise, the uprights would be rotatable with respect to the cross-member. Consequently, it is necessary when assembling to align the openings in the uprights very accurately with respect to one another. It is not possible to provide an appreciable tolerance between the bars and the openings in the uprights because this would result in play and the uprights would be able to execute a slight angular displacement. As a result the fence would be able to rattle, which is undesirable.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a fencing structure which can be erected in situ, that is to say a fencing structure which is outstandingly suitable for assembly by DIY enthusiasts and can be supplied as a pack. Furthermore, it must be possible to expand said fencing structure in a particularly simple manner, universal parts being used as far as possible. It is also important that such parts are simple to produce in order to keep the cost price of the fencing structure as low as possible.

This aim is realised with a fencing structure of the type described above in that said linking means consist of a number of slider members which are movable in the cross-members, have a length essentially equal to the spacing between the uprights and are provided close to the ends thereof with locking members interacting with said seatings.

The invention is based on the insight that securing of the various uprights with respect to the cross-members is no longer provided with the aid of an elongated securing pin extending over a large number of uprights but with the aid of various slider members. With this structure one slider member must always be fitted between two adjoining uprights in the cross-member concerned. The fencing structure is built up by first positioning the relevant cross-member and then fitting the uprights therein one by one. After fitting one upright, the slider member or securing plate according to the invention is inserted. With this procedure the optimum relative position of the upright and the slider member can always be found. The next upright is then fitted, followed by fitting the next slider member or the next securing plate.

To facilitate movement of the slider members or securing plates, the cross-member concerned is preferably provided with a longitudinal slot on the lower side. On the one hand, this makes it possible to use a screwdriver or similar tool to move the slider member concerned. On the other hand, it opens up the possibility of mounting a decorative ornament on the slider member, which decorative ornament projects downwards through the longitudinal member.

The interacting locking members between the slider members or securing plate and the upright can comprise any structures known from the prior art. However, it is preferred to provide the uprights with an opening or recess located in the plane which extends essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal centre line of the upright concerned. If the releted securing member is then provided with a projection which drops into the corresponding recess or opening, locking in the axial direction with respect to the longitudinal centre line of the upright can be achieved and securing of the upright against rotation relative to the cross-member can be provided. Correct positioning of recess or opening in the upright with respect to the securing plate can be achieved during assembly for each securing plate individually. Because a step-by-step procedure is adopted, it is particularly simple for a DIY enthusiast to fit the slider members concerned.

The slider members can be constructed in any manner conceivable in the prior art. A particularly simple structure is that in which the slider members comprise a U-section. If the cross-members are constructed as an enclosed rectangular tubular section, optionally with a longitudinal slot on the underside, such U-sections can be slid into the cross-members without further modification.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cross-member is constructed as an extruded section, for example made of aluminium material. In such a case it is particularly simple to make modifications for accommodating the slider members. For instance, it is possible to provide such an extruded section with a seating close to the vertical side walls, in order to insert a slider member constructed as a spring lip in said seating. The slider member can be a simple flat plate which is provided close to its ends with the locking members described above. Moreover, openings can be made in the flat plate, which openings can serve, for example, for insertion of a screwdriver or the like in an embodiment in which the extruded section is provided with a longitudinal slot on the underside, in order to move such slider members. Furthermore, if they are provided with resilient members, said openings can serve as securing means for a pin which is to be inserted from below and which serves to fix a plate on which, for example, the decorative ornaments described above can be fixed. For further fixing of such a plate, the cross-member can be provided close to the underside with upright edges with a back-cut section. A further spring lip or auxiliary securing plate can be mounted therein.

Fixing of the finishing members can be effected in any manner known from the prior art. The fixing members can comprise end tips and end curves. A possible fixing thereof is the structure of such members close to the linkage with the uprights with the aid of a sleeve which slides over such uprights. As a result the ingress of rainwater is counteracted. The linkage can also comprise any structures known from the prior art, but preferably such finishing members are provided with an internal pin which extends into the interior of the upright. By fitting a securing plate on such a pin, the other side of which securing plate engages on the upright, it is possible in a particularly simple manner to fix such a finishing member to the uprights in a single operation. Such a securing plate can be provided with lips which delimit a diameter which is somewhat smaller or larger than the member concerned. If, for example, the lips are fitted on the sides of the pin, said diameter is smaller and said lips will move resiliently outwards when the pin is inserted. A return movement is no longer possible. Such lips can, of course, be fitted additionally or exclusively on the outside of such a ring in order to provide locking with the vertical upright. In order to fit such finishing members, in particular if the latter are constructed singly, such as end tips, such that they are not able to rotate relative to the upright, the interior recess for positioning on the uprights can be made at an angle with respect to the longitudinal centre line.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a fencing structure according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a detail of the structure according to Fig. 1, in an exploded view and partially in cross-section;

Fig. 3 shows a detail of the top member of the fence according to Fig. 1 in cross-section;

Fig. 4 shows a top view of a further embodiment of a securing plate according to the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of a longitudinal member provided with the securing plate according to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows an example of an end tip which is to be fitted on the uprights and is shown partially in cross-section; and

Fig. 7 shows the end tip shown in Fig. 6 mounted on the upright concerned.

In Fig. 1 a fencing structure is indicated by 1. Said fencing structure consists of an upper cross-member 2, a lower cross-member 3 and uprights 4 extending between these. Said uprights are arranged a fixed distance apart. End tips 5 are fitted on the uprights 4. Openings for receiving said uprights have been made in both the upper and the lower cross-member. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the openings in the upper cross-member 2 are indicated by 13.

End uprights

32 and 33 are fitted. In the embodiment shown, the end upright 32 consists of a tube driven directly into the ground. End upright 33 either does not extend into the ground at all or does so to only a very limited depth. A fixing section 34, which does extend into the ground, is fitted inside said end upright 33. In Fig. 1 the fixing section 34 is shown projecting from end upright 33. The intention is that said section will be introduced further into the ground by striking, so that the top thereof is at least on a level with the top of end upright 33. It is possible to assemble and position the fence in a particularly simple manner in this way.

It is also possible to construct the fixing section 34 in the form of a tube, which is fitted inside end upright 33. In both cases this results in the possibility, by fitting a fixing section, of providing for securing of lips projecting from upper cross-member 2 or lower cross-member 3. Said lips then extend through an opening made in the end upright 33 and are, for example, parts of the securing plates. Insertion of part 34 causes said lips to be bent over and fixed in place. It must be understood that the method of fixing an upright in the ground by inserting a tube or another section therein and then striking said tube or other section into the ground, which method has been described above, could also be used for other structures, such as crash barriers and the like. The invention is not restricted to what has been described above. This method of fixing produces very accurate fixing, whilst, moreover, it has the advantage that end upright 33 or any other upright is first fixed to the horizontal part of the fence or any other structure and only then is fixing with respect to the ground effected. As a result, it is not necessary to provide complex structures which take up tolerances.

It can also be seen from Fig. 2 that a securing plate 6 is located in the upper cross-member 2 between the uprights 4. This securing plate 6 is of U-shaped structure and is provided on the underside with a decorative curl 8 fixed thereto. The securing plate 6 is provided at both ends with recesses 10, the right-hand recess 10 being provided with a tongue 11 in the centre, whilst at the left-hand side there is a seating 12 for receiving the through securing plate 6 as has been shown in dashed lines in Fig. 2.

Upright 4 is provided with a passage 9. The size thereof accurately corresponds to the width of tongue 11. This means that if tongue 11 has been pushed fully through upright 4, the latter is not able to rotate to any significant extent, so that rattling of the fencing structure is precluded. The securing plate 6 can be moved by grasping decorative curl 8. Because upper cross-member 2 is provided on the underside with a longitudinal slot 7, sliding in securing plate 6 presents no problem.

The structure described above is assembled as follows:

Starting with a longitudinal member 2, an upright 4 is inserted therein. The assembler is able reasonably to estimate where the opening 9 is located with respect to the cross-member 2. Securing plate 6 is then pushed inwards. Said plate comes into contact with upright 4 and opening 9 can be moved opposite tongue 11 by turning upright 4 and raising or lowering it somewhat. If positioning is correct, securing plate 6 automatically slides further because some pressure will be exerted on decorative curl 8 by the user. It will be understood that if such a decorative curl 8 is not present, the same effect can be achieved by inserting a screwdriver behind securing plate 6. The next upright can then be inserted, etc.

This procedure results in the situation as shown in Fig. 3.

The longitudinal member described above can be constructed as a simple rolled section. This member can be made either of steel or aluminium or of any other material.

If it is possible to produce the longitudinal member in another way with the aid of special modifications, there are possibilities for further, simpler structures for the securing plate. A variant of this type is shown on the basis of Figs 4 and 5. Fig. 4 shows a top view of a modified securing plate 26. The latter consists of a flat strip of material, such as a strip of spring steel. However, any other resilient material can be used. This flat strip is provided close to its ends with lips 21 and as far as locking with the uprights is concerned is constructed correspondingly to the securing plate 6 described above. Cross-shaped openings 30 have been made in the strip 26.

It is also possible to provide a (full or partial) screw thread therein. For special applications, such as at the ends of the fence where shortening is necessary, it can be advantageous to provide plates 26 with break lines, so that sawing or grinding is superfluous.

The longitudinal member of the fencing structure is indicated by 22 in Fig. 5. This longitudinal member is, for example, produced by extrusion and is provided with two thickened areas 23, located some distance apart, on each of the two opposing sides, at the top thereof. The seating delimited between said thickened areas serves to guide securing plate 26 as shown in Fig. 5. Because the distance between opposing seatings is somewhat less than the width of the lip, the latter will be in a somewhat curved position, as can clearly be seen from Fig. 5. It is possible to use the openings 30 for movement of the securing plate, for example by inserting a sharp item, such as a screwdriver. Furthermore, it is possible to use the openings 30 for one-off insertion of a pin 27, as shown in Fig. 5. Pin 27 is secured by the parts which delimit the opening 30 resiliently bending outwards. Further securing can be achieved by the presence of the upright back-cut edge projections 24. An auxiliary securing plate 25, which is likewise provided with an opening 31, which will be made in the same way as opening 30, can be slid into said projections 24. In this way pin 27 can be fixed in place, a plate 29 being accommodated between pin 27 and cross-member 2. Such a plate 29 can be provided with a decorative curl 28.

The fixing of a decorative member, which in this case is an end tip 5, will be described by way of example with reference to Figs 6 and 7. In the illustrative embodiment shown, end tip 5 is a casting provided close to the bottom end with a cavity for accommodating the free end of the upright. As can be seen from Fig. 6, the free end of the upright is chamfered and said chamfered part is indicated by 19. In this case the seating in the end tip 5 accurately corresponds thereto. A pin 14, which is conically tapered to some extent, is inserted in said seating. Securing rings 16 can be slid on said pin. These securing rings 16 are made of resilient material, in particular spring steel, and are provided both inside and out with a continuous collar of resilient projections 20. A resilient ring 18 which, for example, can be made of a rubber material, is fitted against the chamfered edge 17 of the seating on the underside of the end tip 5.

Fig. 7 shows the situation where end tip 5 has been mounted on upright 4. The securing lips 20 are slid along the inner circumference of the upright 4 by inward movement of the end tip. It is not possible for the end tip to move back again because the diameter of the securing ring 16 when the securing lips 20 are in the flat position is greater than the internal diameter of the upright 4. The same applies with regard to the fixing of securing ring 16 on pin 14. It must be understood that the pin described above can also be used for other securing purposes, independently of that described above.

Twisting is impossible because of the chamfered nature of the free top end of upright 4 and the presence of a corresponding recess in the interior of tip 5. As a result of the presence of the resilient ring 18, any initial play when pulling back end tip 5 is taken up, as a result of which said end tip 5 is firmly mounted on upright 4.

Instead of the fixing described here it is also conceivable to fix tips 5 and other members to upright 4 by means of a snap connection, such as a spring lock used for telescopic legs.

It is possible to construct upright 4 from a part which is introduced into the ground in advance and a part which is slipped over the latter.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it must be understood that numerous modifications can be made thereto without going beyond the scope of the present invention. Such modifications are obvious to a person skilled in the art after reading the above and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Fencing structure comprising a number of uprights (4) which are arranged some distance apart and are provided with cross-members (2, 22; 3) at the top and the bottom, said cross-members being provided with openings for said uprights, as well as linking means for linking said uprights and cross-members, said uprights being provided with seatings for engaging on said linking means, characterised in that said linking means consist of a number of slider members (6) which are movable in the cross-members, have a length essentially equal to the spacing between the uprights and are provided close to the ends thereof with locking members interacting with said seatings.
Fencing structure according to Claim 1, wherein said cross-members comprise a section which in the use position is open on the underside.
Fencing structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking members interacting with said seatings comprise projections (11).
Fencing structure according to Claim 3, wherein said locking members interacting with said seatings comprise recesses (10) which essentially correspond to the outer circumference of said uprights.
Fencing structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking members extend essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal centre line of the uprights.
Fencing structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said slider members (26) comprise a flat strip.
Fencing structure according to one of Claims 1-5, wherein said slider members (26) comprise a spring lip.
Fencing structure according to one of the preceding claims, comprising finishing members (5) to be fixed to the top of said uprights.
Fencing structure according to Claim 8, wherein said finishing members are provided with fixing means (14-16) for said uprights.
Fencing structure according to Claim 9, wherein said fixing means comprise a pin (14) which extends from said finishing members into the hollow uprights, which pin is provided with a ring, which ring is provided on at least one side with a number of securing lips (20) protruding radially outwards therefrom.
Fencing structure according to Claim 10, wherein the ring comprises a circular body from which lips extend radially outwards towards two sides.