EP1312732B1

EP1312732B1 - Modular fence

Info

Publication number: EP1312732B1
Application number: EP02425544A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Venturini
Original assignee: Mastec Srl
Current assignee: Mastec Srl
Priority date: 2001-11-19
Filing date: 2002-08-30
Publication date: 2006-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-30
Also published as: EP1312732A2; ES2262776T3; ITVR20010121A1; EP1312732A3; DE60211278D1; DE60211278T2; ATE325931T1; ITVR20010121A0

Abstract

Modular fence comprising a plurality of supporting uprights (2), and a plurality of modules (3) with mainly planar development able to be mounted between two successive uprights (2). Each module has two cross members (4) and a plurality of delimiting bars (7) pivotally associated to the uprights (4) according to first axes of rotation, mutually parallel and perpendicular to the main plane of development of the module (3) itself. Each cross member (4) has a first end (5) able to be pivotally associated to a first supporting upright (2), and a second end (6) able to be pivotally associated to a second supporting upright (2). Each cross member (4) can be pivotally associated to the first and to the second upright (2) according to third axes of rotation, parallel to the first axes of rotation and coinciding with the axis of rotation according to which the cross member (4) of the adjacent module (3) can be associated to the same upright (2). Each upright (2) comprises a lower support base (8) and an upper connecting rod (9) hinged to the lower support base (8) according to a second axis of rotation, parallel to the first axes of rotation. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a modular fence comprising the characteristics expressed in claim 1.
One of the main problems in the fence industry is the availability of modular fences, able to be rapidly installed on site, with no need to be built to measure.
Today, many models of modular fences are known, constituted by a plurality of vertical uprights whereto are associated planar and rigid modules, in turn constituted by a plurality of appropriately combined bars.
Patent GB 2 349 900 discloses a folding modules fence comprising a channel section, vertical standards and a top rail with means for folding being positioned to enable the standards and top rail to fold into the channel section and cover plates that secure the standards in the upright position with cover pins.
This type of fence, however, does not allow to fence land lots whose border is at least partly sloping.
To solve this problem, modular fence models have been developed, such as those described in the patents US 3,960,367 and EP 293 337, constituted by vertical uprights able to be implanted in the soil, or in appropriate low walls, and by articulated modules constituted by two cross members that join two successive uprights, whereon vertical bars are pivotally mounted.
With this solution, once the uprights are set in the correct position it is sufficient to connect the cross members thereto for the bars, in turn, to position themselves correctly.
The connection of the modules to the uprights is accomplished by means of the appropriate appendages positioned laterally on the uprights, whereto the cross members are pivotally engaged.
To allow connecting two adjacent modules to the same upright, on the upright itself are obtained two appendages in diametrically opposite positions.
The prior art described above, however, has some drawbacks.
In particular, current tiltable modular fences cause difficulties during the installation phase.
To fence a sloping land lot it is necessary to implant the various uprights exactly vertical, and at the correct distance from each other.
Moreover, when the upright is implanted vertically, it is inclined relative to the profile of the terrain, so that the uphill appendages are closer to the ground than the downhill ones, and thus the uphill module is closer to the ground than the downhill one.
Obviously, the measure of this reduction in distance depends on the inclination of the terrain, but, if many uprights are necessary to cover the entire sloping segment, it may lead to an excessive lowering of the uphill modules which can even come in contact with the ground itself.
In this situation, the technical task constituting the basis for the present invention is to provide a modular fence that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks.
In particular, a technical task of the present invention is to provide a modular fence that allows a simple and rapid installation on any terrain.
Yet another technical task of the present invention is to provide a modular fence that has a constant height from the ground, regardless of the slope of the ground itself.
The specified technical task and the indicated aims are substantially achieved by a modular fence, as described in the accompanying claims.
Additional characteristics and the advantages of the present invention shall become more readily apparent from the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a modular fence, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a segment of a modular fence according to the present invention positioned on flat ground;
Figure 2 shows a segment of a modular fence according to the present invention positioned on a slope;
Figure 3 shows a front view of an upright of the modular fence of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a lateral view of the upright of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a partially sectioned view of detail of the upright of Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a lateral elevation view of a connecting element of the fence of Figure 1;
Figure 7 shows a front view of the element of Figure 6;
Figure 8 shows a lateral elevation view of a variation of the connecting element of Figure 6;
Figure 9 shows a front view of the element of Figure 8;
Figure 10 shows a lateral view of a connecting element according to the present invention;
Figure 11 shows a bottom view of the element of Figure 10;.
Figure 12 shows a top view of the element of Figure 10;
Figure 13 shows a front view of the element of Figure 10;
Figure 14 shows a plan view of a first example of mounting of the connecting element of Figure 10;
Figure 15 shows a lateral view of a second example of mounting of the connecting element of Figure 10;
Figure 16 shows a lateral elevation view of two connecting elements in folded position, built according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 17 shows a plan view of two connecting elements of Figure 16 in laid down position;
Figure 18 shows a lateral elevation view of a modular fence according to the present invention, provided with the connecting elements of Figure 16; and
Figure 19 shows the detail XIX of the fence of Figure 18.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the reference number 1 globally indicates a modular fence according to the present invention.
The modular fence 1 comprises a plurality of supporting uprights 2, and a plurality of modules 3 with mainly planar development, able to be mounted between two consecutive uprights 2.
Each module 3 is constituted by at least a cross member 4, advantageously two, which is horizontal in case of flat mounting.
Each cross member 4 has at least a first end 5 able to be pivotally associated to a first supporting upright 2, and a second end 6 able to be pivotally associated to a second supporting upright 2.
Between the two cross members 4 is mounted a plurality of delimiting bars 7 which, in the illustrated embodiment, are vertical once the fence 1 is mounted (Figures 1 and 2).
The delimiting bars 7 are pivotally associated to each cross member 4 according to first axes of rotation, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main plane of development of the module 3 whereto they belong.
Each upright 2 is constituted by a lower support base 8 and by an upper connecting rod 9 hinged to the lower support base 8 according to a second axis of rotation, parallel to the first axes of rotation (Figures 4 and 5).
The support base 8 can be associated to the ground or to a low wall, and it has a connecting appendage 10 in its upper part.
In the preferred embodiment, the rod 9 comprises two coupled strips 11, which with their lower end 12 encompass the engaging appendage 10.
As shown in the accompanying figures, the two strips 11 are positioned parallel and distanced from each other, and parallel to the plane of development of the modules 3.
The distancing between the strips 11 is guaranteed inferiorly by the engaging appendage 10, and in two intermediate positions by two connecting elements 13 that allow to connect the ends 5, 6 of the cross members 4 to the uprights 2 (Figure 4).
In particular, a first through hole 14, perpendicular to the plane of development of the strips 11 is obtained in each strip 11 in correspondence with each connecting element 13.
When the fence 1 is mounted, the first holes 14 are aligned with second through holes 15 that traverse each connecting element 13.
The connecting elements 13 are able to be pivotally associated to the related upright 2 by means of a first bolt 16 inserted in the first and second through hole 14, 15.
As shown in Figures 6 through 9, the connecting elements 13 are distinguished in double connecting elements 13 (for intermediate uprights) and single connecting elements (for end and/or particular uprights 2) depending on the number of modules 3 that allow to connect to the upright 2.
In the simplest embodiment (Figures 6 and 7) the double connecting elements 13 comprise a central body 17 that has the second through hole 15, and two diametrically opposite end portions 18, each counter-shaped to the ends 5, 6 of the cross member 4.
The single collecting elements 3 instead have only one of said ends 18 (Figure 8).
In the illustrated embodiment, the cross members 4 are tubular and the end of the connecting element 13 is inserted internally thereto, but this is absolutely not binding.
Each end 5, 6 of the cross member 4 has at least a third through hole (not visible in the accompanying figures) in correspondence with the point of coupling with the connecting element 13, which in turn has a fourth through hole 19 and is able to be associated to the cross member 4 by means of a second bolt 20 inserted in the third and fourth through hole 19.
Advantageously, thanks to the connecting elements 13, the axis of rotation according to which the cross member 4 of a module 3 can be associated to the upright 2, coincides with the axis of rotation according to which the corresponding cross member 4 of the subsequent module 3 can be associated to the same upright 2.
Moreover, to compensate for variations in the slope of the ground, a double connecting element 13 is replaced by two appropriately shaped single connecting elements 13 (shown in Figures 16 through 19) and free to rotate with respect to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, each of said single connecting elements 13 has a central body 17 whose thickness is equal to half the distance between the two strips 11, and an end portion 18. Through each central body 17 is obtained a portion 15a of the second through hole 15.
Said connecting elements 13 are positioned inverted with respect to each other (Figure 17).
In this way the two central bodies 17 can be coupled internally to the strips 11 that compose the rods 9, occupying the same thickness as the central body 17 of a double connecting element 13, and can be connected to the strips 11 themselves by means of the first bolt 16 which is inserted in the two portions 15a of the second through hole (Figure 19) which are mutually aligned.
The modular fence 1 of the present invention further comprises reversible locking means 21 constituted by a through connecting bolt 22, to enable and inhibit the rotation of the rods 9 relative to the support bases 8, as well as reversible fastening means 23 constituted by a plurality of third through bolts 24, in order selectively to enable and prevent the rotation of the bars 7 relative to the cross members 4.
The fence 1 of the present invention further provides, for planar mounting, for the use, at least in correspondence with the angles of the border, of cylindrical uprights 2 whereto the various cross members 4 are associated by means of U-shaped connecting elements 25 (Figures 11 and 12).
Said connecting elements 25 are constituted by a first portion 26 and by two second portions 27.
The first portions 26, which correspond to the base of the U, are substantially counter-shaped to part of the lateral surface 27 of each upright 2, and develop according to a first direction of development, which coincides with the axis of the upright whereto they are to be associated.
The second portions 27 are opposite and each is defined by one of the ends of the U. They delimit between them a housing 28 for an end 5, 6 of a cross member 4, which develops perpendicularly to the first direction of development.
Each of the second portions 27 is in turn C-shaped to encompass half a cross member 4. The accompanying figures show the embodiment destined to cross members 4 with square cross section.
The first portion 26 of each connecting element 25 has a height that is no greater than half the height of the second portions 27 (values referred to the first direction of development) and extends exclusively from one side of the plane perpendicular to the first direction of development passing through the centre of the housing 28.
This allows the mounting on the same upright 2 of two connecting elements 25 (reversed with respect to each other) so that they present the housings 28 perfectly aligned.
Each connecting element 25 is also provided with binding means 29 to fasten the connecting element 13 simultaneously to the upright 2 and to the cross member 4.
In the illustrated embodiment, the binding means 29 comprise a fastening bolt (not shown) able to be mounted between the two second portions 27 through the appropriate openings 30 obtained therein, and through a connecting hole which may be obtained in the cross member 4.
In the preferred embodiment, the two housings 28 have two inclined orientation profiles 31 that determine the maximum angle that can be covered with two coupled connecting elements 25 (in the illustrated case, the possible angles range from 60° to 300°).
The fence 1 of the presence invention is mounted by fastening to the ground (or on a low wall, if one is present) the supporting base 8 of the upright 2 and subsequently applying the rod 9 to the base 8.
By means of the connecting elements 13, a first module 3 is then fastened to the upright 2, and a second upright 2 to the other end of the first module 3.
Placing now the rod 9 of the first upright 2 in the correct vertical position and fastening it with the locking means 21, the position of the second upright 2 relative to the ground is determined, thanks to the free rotation of the cross members 4 relative to the uprights 2 and of the bars 7 relative to the cross members 4.
The second upright 2 is then fastened to the ground, continuing with the subsequent ones.
Once said mounting is completed, it is possible to fasten in stable fashion, by means of the various through bolts, the cross members 4 to the uprights 2 and the bars to the cross members 4, considerably increasing the solidity of the fence 1.
When it is necessary to fence a planar segment of the border in which two sides form an angle between them, a cylindrical upright 2 positioned in correspondence with the angle can be used along with the connecting element 25 to fasten the cross members 4 of the two modules converging in the angle to the cross member 2 with the required angle.
By tightening the fastening bolt of each connecting element 25, the two second portions 27 are made to approach each other and the housing 28 is simultaneously made narrower until the cross member 4 is locked, and the first portion 26 is made narrower until the upright 2 is locked.
In case of variations to the slope of the terrain between two successive fence segments, it is sufficient to use the two single connecting elements 13 having the central body 17 with halved thickness, to vary the profile of the fence by an equal measure, as shown in Figure 18 and 19.
The present invention achieves important advantages.
In particular, the modular fence 1 of the present invention allows a simple and rapid mounting on any terrain, since it is not necessary to pay too much attention to the position of the support base 8 of the upright 2 relative to the ground itself, the perpendicularity of the second axis of rotation relative to the plane of lay of the fence 1 being sufficient.
Moreover, the modular fence 1 of the present invention has, irrespective of the slope of the terrain, a constant height from the ground.
It should also be noted that the present invention is relatively easy to realise and the cost connect to the implementation of the invention is not very high.
The invention thus conceived can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept that characterises it.
Within the limitations defined by the scope of the appended claims, all components can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements and in practice all materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the various components, can be any depending on requirements.

Claims

Modular fence comprising a plurality of supporting uprights (2), and a plurality of modules (3) with mainly planar development each of which being able to be mounted between two of said uprights (2), each of which modules having at least a cross member (4) having at least a first end (5) able to be pivotally engaged to a first of said two supporting upright (2), and a second end (6) able to be pivotally associated to a second of said two supporting upright (2), and a plurality of delimiting bars (7) pivotally associated to said cross member (4) according to first axes of rotation, mutually parallel and perpendicular to said main plane of development of said module (3), whereby each of said uprights (2) comprises a lower support base (8) and an upper connecting rod (9) hinged to said lower support base (8) according to a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axes of rotation, and in that it further comprises reversible locking means (21) to enable and inhibit the rotation of said rod (9) relative to said support base (8).
Modular fence as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that each cross member (4) is able to be pivotally engaged to said first and second upright (2) according to a third axis of rotation parallel to the first axes of rotation, and coinciding with the axis of rotation according to which the cross member (4) of the adjacent module (3) can be associated to said upright (2).
Modular fence as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterised in that each module (3) further comprises a second cross member (4) positioned parallel to said first cross member (4) and having at least a first end (5) able to be associated to the first supporting upright (2), and a second end (6) able to be associated to the second supporting upright (2), and in that said delimiting bars (7) are mutually parallel and pivotally associated also to said second cross member (4).
Modular fence as claimed in claim 3 characterised in that said reversible locking means (21) comprise a connecting bolt (22) passing through said base (8) and said rod (9).
Modular fence as claimed in any of the previous claims characterised in that it further comprises a connecting element (13) able to be mounted between each end of each cross member (4) and each upright (2) whereto said end can be associated, said connecting element (13) being able to be pivotally associated to said upright (2) and presenting at least an end for connecting to the cross member (4) that is substantially counter-shaped relative to the ends of the cross member (4) itself.
Modular fence as claimed in claim 5 characterised in that said connecting element (13) further comprises a second connecting end (6) diametrically opposite to said first end (5) with reference to the pivot axis to said upright (2), said connecting element (13) allowing the simultaneous connection of two consecutive modules (3) to the same upright (2).
Modular fence as claimed in any of the previous claims characterised in that it comprises, in correspondence with at least an upright, a first single connecting element (13) able to be mounted between the end of a first cross member (4) of a first module and the upright (2), and a second single connecting element (13) able to be mounted between the end of a second cross member (4) of a second module and the upright (2) itself, said first and second connecting element (13) being pivotally engaged to said upright (2) according to the same axis of rotation and being able to rotate both relative to each other and each relative to the upright (2) itself, each connecting element (13) having at least a connecting end to the respective cross member (4) that is substantially counter-shaped relative to the end of the cross member (4) itself.
Modular fence as claimed in claims 2 and 5, 2 and 6, or 2 and 7 characterised in that said rod (9) comprises two coupled strips (11) and in that said connecting element (13) can be inserted between said coupled strips (11).
Modular fence as claimed in any of the claims from 5 to 8 characterised in that each upright (2) has at least a first through hole (14) in correspondence with the point of coupling with said connecting element (13), and in that said connecting element (13) has a second through hole (15) and can be mounted on said supporting upright (2) by means of a first bolt (16) inserted in said first and second through hole (15).
Modular fence as claimed in any of the claims from 5 to 9 characterised in that each end of said cross member (4) has at least a third through hole in correspondence with the point of coupling with said connecting element (13), and in that said connecting element (13) has a fourth through hole (19) and can be associated to said cross member (4) by means of a second bolt (20) inserted in said third and fourth through hole (19).
Modular fence as claimed in any of the previous claims characterised in that it further comprises reversible fastening means (23), in order selectively to enable and prevent the rotation of the bars (7) relative to the cross member (4).
Modular fence as claimed in claim 11 characterised in that said fastening means (23) comprise a plurality of third connecting bolts (24), each passing through a bar (7) and said cross member (4).
Modular fence as claimed in any of the previous claims characterised in that it further comprises at least a cylindrical supporting upright (2) having substantially vertical development according to a first direction of development, and an element (25) for connecting each cross member (4) of the modules adjacent to said cylindrical upright (2) to the upright (2) itself, said connecting element being U-shaped and being constituted by a first portion (26) corresponding to the base (8) of the U, substantially counter-shaped relative to part of the lateral surface (27) of the cylindrical upright (2), and by two second opposite portions (27), each defined by one of the ends of the U, and defining between them a housing (28) for an end of said cross member (4), said housing (28) developing transversely to said first direction of development, and in that it further comprises binding means (29) for simultaneously fastening said connecting element (13) to said cylindrical upright and to said cross member (4).
Modular fence as claimed in claim 13 characterised in that said binding means (29) comprise a fastening bolt mounted between the two second portions (27), the tightening of said bolt causing the approach of the two second portions (27) to each other and simultaneously the narrowing of said housing (28) and of said first portion (26).
Modular fence as claimed in claim 13 or 14 characterised in that each of the second portions (27) is C-shaped to encompass half a cross member (4).
Modular fence as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15 characterised in that the first portion (26) of each connecting element (25) has a height that does not exceed half the height of the second portions (27) and extends exclusively from one side of a plane passing through the centre of the housing (28) and perpendicular to the first direction of development.
Modular fence as claimed in claim 16 characterised in that each housing (28) has two inclined orienting profiles (31) that determine the maximum mutual angle between two connecting elements (25) coupled on the same upright (2).