EP1577464A2

EP1577464A2 - Fence

Info

Publication number: EP1577464A2
Application number: EP05075650A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonius Gerardus Petrus Johannes Kooijmans
Original assignee: Kooymans Beheer BV
Current assignee: Kooymans Beheer BV
Priority date: 2004-03-17
Filing date: 2005-03-17
Publication date: 2005-09-21
Also published as: EP1577464A3

Abstract

A fencing system consists of anchoring elements 21 for securing the fence in the ground, as well as posts 22, which are attached to the anchoring elements 21 and fencing and/or wire meshing, which are fastened to the posts.

The anchoring element 21 has a baseplate 23 and a projection 24, which is attached to the underside of the baseplate. When installing the fence the projection 24 is pushed or driven into the ground and consists of four upright plates 27 perpendicular to each other, which taper to a point 28.

The post 22 extends through a hole in the baseplate 23 to under the baseplate and is attached to the plates 27. There are tent pegs 29 in a number of the openings 26 situated in the baseplate with which the anchoring element 21 is secured even more firmly in the ground.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a fencing system comprising anchoring elements, which, when installing the fence, are placed in the ground, as well as posts, which are attached to the anchoring elements or can be coupled to them, and fencing and/or wire meshing, which can be coupled to the posts.

Prior art

Such a fencing system is generally known. With the known fencing system the anchoring elements are concrete footings for which holes have to be dug in the ground first in order to place them. The posts are mostly already attached to the footings. The fencing or wire meshing is then fastened to the posts by means of wires.

Summary of the invention

An objective of the invention is to provide a fencing system of the type described in the preamble which can be installed more simply and faster than the known fencing system. To this end, the fencing system according to the invention is characterized in that each anchoring element comprises a baseplate, as well as at least one projection, which is attached to the baseplate's underside, which projection, when installing the fence, is pushed or driven into the ground. A baseplate can also be a grating. Because of this it is not necessary to dig holes in the ground in order to place the anchoring elements, as a result of which installation of the fencing system can be carried out more simply and faster.
An embodiment of the fencing system according to the invention is characterized in that the projection is made up of at least one plate, which is perpendicular to the baseplate and is attached on one edge to the underside of the baseplate, and of which two additional edges taper to a point that faces away from the underside of the baseplate. The projection comprises preferably at least one additional pointed plate, which is perpendicular to the plate mentioned above, where the points converge to form one point.
In order to be able to set the anchoring elements even better in the ground, a further embodiment of the fencing system according to the invention is characterized in that the baseplates are provided with openings, and the fencing system, furthermore, comprises tent pegs, which, when installing the fence, can be stuck through the openings in the baseplates, in which the tent pegs are provided with coupling parts for coupling to the baseplate. If the baseplates are gratings the openings in the gratings are the above-mentioned openings. Preferably, in this embodiment the coupling parts are projections which do not pass through the openings in the baseplate.
Still a further embodiment of the fencing system is characterized in that the anchoring element, furthermore, comprises a post holder, which is attached to the upper side of the baseplate for receiving a post. In order to secure the anchoring element even better, the post holder preferably has plates for receiving ballast blocks.
Instead of being attached to the upper side of the baseplate a post holder can also be attached to the underside of the baseplate, in which there is a hole in the baseplate where the post holder is situated to allow the post to pass through.
The post holder is preferably basically a cylinder, which is attached at one end to the baseplate. The cylinder's cross-section may be closed or interrupted, where in the last case a post can be placed in the cylinder horizontally, and for example, a cover plate can be placed over the interruption in order to lock the post in place.
Fencing and/or wire meshing can be connected to the posts in various favourable ways. A first favourable embodiment of this is characterized in that each post comprises a tube with a cross-section that is U-shaped, in which the U is double-walled and where there are slots in the tube wall, lengthwise at a distance from each other, situated transversely to the tube in the legs of the U, which slots extend from the ends of the legs of the U, and in which there are wires of the fences or wire meshing which are locked in place by rods, which extend lengthwise from the tube and are situated in the legs of the U between the wires and the ends of the legs, or by at least one rod, which can be horizontally or vertically oriented, either in the space between the legs of the U, or by covers round the ends of the U's legs.
Another favourable embodiment is characterized in that each post comprises a tube with a wall from which lips are formed, which are bent out from the tube, for receiving wires of the fencing and/or wire meshing between the lips and the tube.
Still another favourable embodiment is characterized in that the fencing system comprises rings that are placed round the posts, which rings are provided with notches for receiving wires of the fencing and/or wire meshing, and that the fencing system comprises locking elements, which can be placed over the notches for locking the wires in place.
Again another favourable embodiment is characterized in that the fencing system comprises coupling elements, each of which is provided with at least one projection provided with at least one barb, which can be placed in a slot, situated in a post, in which a wire of the fencing and/or wire meshing can be locked in place between the tube and the coupling element. In order to be able to lock these coupling elements in place, a further embodiment of this is characterized in that the projection comprises two pins, situated at a distance from each other, each of which is provided with a barb at one end, where the barbs face outwards away from each other, and in which the coupling element comprises a pin that, after the pins with barbs have been placed in a slot situated in a post, can be placed from the outside through an opening in the coupling element, between the two pins as a result of which the coupling element is locked in the post. In order to prevent the wire of the fencing and/or wire meshing between the tube and the coupling element from rattling, still a further embodiment of this is characterized in that in the coupling element there is a soft plastic insert, provided with at least one groove, in which a wire of the fencing and/or wire meshing can be placed.
Preferably, the fencing system, furthermore, in these last embodiments has plates, where each plate is provided with at least one projection with at least one projecting and springy lip, which projection can be placed in a slot situated in a post, where the lip functions as a barb, in which ballast blocks can be received between two parallel plates.
Moreover, the post preferably has a top-piece, which is situated on the upper side of the tube and seals it off.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be elucidated more fully below on the basis of drawings in which embodiments of the fencing system according to the invention are shown. In these drawings:
Figure 1 shows three embodiments of the fencing system's anchoring element according to the invention, in which a post is attached to the anchoring element, in perspective views from above;
Figure 2 shows the anchoring elements in figure 1, but then from underneath;
Figure 3 shows one of the anchoring elements shown in figures 1 and 2 with tent pegs;
Figure 4 shows four further embodiments of the fencing system's anchoring element according to the invention, in which no post is attached to the anchoring element;
Figures 5 to 12 inclusive show various embodiments of the attachment of the fencing to the posts;
Figure 13 shows the attachment of plates to a post in order to be able to receive ballast blocks; and
Figures 14 to 19 inclusive show alternative embodiments in cross-section and views in perspective of the embodiment of the attachment of the fencing to the posts shown in figure 5.

Detailed description of the drawings

The fencing system according to the invention has anchoring elements, which, when installing the fence, are pushed or driven in the ground. The fencing system, furthermore, has posts, which are attached to the anchoring elements or are coupled to it. Finally, the fencing system also has fencing and/or wire meshing, which is fastened to the posts. In figures 1 to 4 inclusive different embodiments of the anchoring elements of the fencing system according to the invention are shown and in figures 5 to 10 inclusive different embodiments of the attachment of the fencing to the posts are shown.
In figures 1 and 2 three embodiments of the anchoring elements 1,11,21 are shown in a perspective view from above and from underneath respectively. In all three embodiments a post 2, 12, 22 is attached to the anchoring elements. Each anchoring element 1, 11, 21 has a baseplate 3, 13, 23 and a pointed projection 4, 14, 24, which is fastened to the underside 5, 15, 25 of the baseplate. The baseplates are provided with openings 6, 16, 26 through which grass can grow or tent pegs can be stuck for anchoring the baseplates even better. With anchoring element 1 the baseplate 3 is a grating and the openings 6 are the openings in the grating.
The pointed projections 4, 14, 24 when the fence is installed are pushed or driven into the ground and in these embodiments are four upright plates 7, 17, 27, one edge of which is fastened to the underside of the baseplate and two further edges taper to a point 8, 18, 28 which faces away from the underside of the baseplate. Of course, the projections may also have pointed shapes other than the pointed plates shown here.
The posts 2, 12, 22 extend through holes in the baseplate 3, 13, 23 to under the baseplates where the plates 7, 17, 27 are attached to the posts. Because of this, the posts 2, 12, 22 are firmly attached to the anchoring elements 1, 11, 21.
In figure 3 the anchoring element 21 is shown enlarged. Here there are a number of tent pegs 29 in the openings 26, with which the anchoring element 21 can be secured even more firmly in the ground. The tent pegs 29 are provided with coupling parts, which are projections 29a for coupling the tent pegs 29 to the baseplate 23. The projections 29a are so large that they do not pass through the openings 26 in the baseplate.
In figure 4 four further embodiments of the anchoring element 41, 51, 61, 71 are shown. In these embodiments no posts are attached to the anchoring elements, but posts can certainly be coupled to the anchoring elements. For coupling the posts to the anchoring elements 41, 51, 61, 71, the latter are provided with post holders 42, 52, 62, 72 for receiving a post.
Post holders 42, 52, 62 are fastened to the upper side 45, 55, 65 of the baseplate 43, 53, 63. Of these post holders, post holder 42 has a cylinder 44 with an interrupted cross-section, which is attached at one end to the baseplate 43. In this cylinder 44, a post can be placed horizontally, after which a cover plate (not shown) can be placed over the interruption, for locking the post in place. Instead of this, the post can also be fastened to the cylinder 44 with bolts or the like through holes tapped in the cylinder.
Post holders 52 and 62 have a cylinder 54, 64 with a closed cross-section, which are also attached at one end to the baseplate 53, 63.
The post holders 42, 52, 62, furthermore, have plates 46, 56, 66, which are fastened to the cylinders 44, 54, 64 and to the baseplates 45, 55, 65. Ballast blocks (not shown), for example concrete blocks, can be placed between these plates 46, 56, 66.
Finally, post holder 72 also has a cylinder 74 but it is attached to the underside of the baseplate 73. Here there is a hole 77 in the baseplate 73 situated at the post holder, for allowing a post to pass through.
In figure 5, a first embodiment of the attachment of the fencing to the posts of the fencing system according to the invention is shown. To this end, the fencing system has a specially shaped post 81. The post 81 has a tube 82 with a U-shaped cross-section, in which the U is double-walled. There are slots 83 situated in the tube 82. These slots extend from the ends of the U's legs in the direction of the curved part of the U. When mounted (this is shown in the figure) the horizontal wires 84 of the fencing 85 are situated in the slots 83.
The slots 83 are situated at a distance from each other lengthwise in the tube 82, in which the slots 83 are situated at a smaller distance from each other than the horizontal wires 84 of the fencing 85. Because of this the fencing 85 can be placed at various heights.
In order to lock in place the fencing 85 in the slots 83, rods 86 are situated in the ends of the U's legs. The post 81, furthermore, has a top-piece 87, which is situated at the top of the tube 82 and seals off the tube.
In figure 6 a second embodiment of the attachment of the fencing to the posts is shown. In this embodiment the fencing system has a post 91 consisting of a tube 92 with an oval cross-section. Lips 94 have been cut out of the wall 93 of the tube, which have been bent out from the wall 93. Vertical wires 95 of the fencing 96 have been clicked between the lips 94 and the wall 93 of the tube. After the fencing 96 has been clicked behind the lips 94, if necessary, the lips can be bent towards the wall 93 in order to lock the wires 95 in place.
In figure 7 a third embodiment of the attachment of the fencing to the posts is shown. In this embodiment the fencing system has rings 102 that are placed round the posts 101. The rings 102 are provided with notches 103 for receiving the vertical wires 104 of the fencing 105 of the fencing system. The fencing system, furthermore, has locking elements 106, which are placed over the notches 103 for locking the wires 104 in place. The locking elements 106 are clamping sleeves that are interrupted at one point, and are clamped round the rings 102 in such a way that they are springy.
Finally, in figures 8 to 12 inclusive a fourth embodiment of the attachment of the fencing to the posts is shown. In this embodiment the fencing system has coupling elements 112 that are clicked in vertical slots 113, situated in the posts 111. Figure 8 shows the coupling element 112 just before it is placed in the slot 113 and figure 9 shows the situation after the coupling element has been placed in the slot 113.
In figure 10 a first embodiment of the coupling element 112 is shown in detail. The coupling element 112 is provided with one projection 114 with two springy barbs 115 which protrude outwards, and which are placed in the slot 113. The coupling element 112 has further a U-shaped cap 116, which locks in place the vertical wires 117 of the fencing 118, see figures 8 and 9.
In figure 11 a further embodiment of the coupling element 121 is shown. In this embodiment the projection 123 has four pairs of pins 125a and 125b, situated at a distance from each other, which at their ends are provided with barbs that face outwards away from each other. The coupling element 121, furthermore, has a pin 127 that, after the pins with barbs have been placed in a slot situated in a post, can be placed from outside through an opening in the coupling element in the space 129 between the rows of pins 125a, 125b (see the arrows shown) as a result of which the coupling element 121 is locked in the post.
In order to prevent the wire 131 of the fencing and/or wire meshing between the tube and the U-shaped cap 133 of the coupling element 121 from rattling, there is a soft plastic insert 135 in the coupling element, see figure 12. The insert 135 is made of rubber for example and is provided with two grooves 137, in which a wire 131 of the fencing or wire meshing is clamped in each groove.
In the embodiments of the fencing system shown in figures 10, 11, and 12, plates 119 can also be coupled to the post 111 for receiving ballast blocks in the same way as with the coupling element, see figure 13. Here the plates 119 are also provided with projections 120 having springy lips that are placed in the slots 121 in the post 111.
In figures 14 to 19 inclusive three alternative embodiments are shown in a perspective view and a cross-section respectively of the first embodiment shown in figure 5 of the attachment of the fencing to the fencing system's posts. In each embodiment of the fencing system 141, 161, 181 the post 143, 163, 183 has a tube 145, 165, 185 with a cross-section comprising a U, in which the U is double-walled. There are slots 149, 169, 189 in the legs 147, 167, 187 of the U in the tube wall which extend transversely to the tube from the ends of the legs of the U. Horizontal wires 151, 171, 191 of the fencing are situated in the slots and the vertical wires 153, 173, 193 of the fencing are situated in the space in the U.
These wires 151, 171, 191 can be locked in place in various ways. In the embodiments shown in figures 14 and 15 the fencing is locked in place by rods 155 that extend in the tube's length and are situated in the U's legs 147, between the wires and the ends of the legs. The rods 155 are situated here in openings 157 in the side walls of the tube 145. In the space in the U there is another part 159 of the tube wall that divides this space into two parts.
In the embodiment shown in figures 16 and 17 the fencing is locked in place by a rod 175 in the space between the legs 167 of the U. This rod 175 is clamped between the ends of the legs 167 and a rib 177 of the tube wall protruding into the U-shaped opening.
Finally, in the embodiment shown in figures 18 and 19 the fencing are locked in place by covers 195 round the ends of the legs 187 of the U.
When installing the fence the anchoring elements are placed in the ground first. Then posts are attached to the anchoring elements, and after that the fencing and/or wire meshing are fastened to the posts. In this system, the posts can also be attached to the anchoring elements before the anchoring elements are placed in the ground. As to the method the invention is characterized in that the anchoring elements are baseplates with at least one projection on the underside, in which the anchoring elements with projections are pushed or driven into the ground until the baseplate contacts the ground.
In order to be able to secure the anchoring elements more firmly in the ground, tent pegs are preferably stuck in the ground through openings in the baseplates, which tent pegs are coupled to the baseplate.
Although in the above the invention is explained on the basis of the drawings, it should be noted that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiments shown in the drawings within the context defined by the claims. Thus the post holders and the posts may also have a cross-section different from those shown here or a form different from the cylindrical forms shown here.

Claims

Fencing system, comprising anchoring elements, which, when installing the fence, are placed in the ground, as well as posts, which are attached to the anchoring elements or can be coupled to them, and fencing and/or wire meshing, which can be coupled to the posts, characterized in that each anchoring element comprises a baseplate, as well as at least one projection, which is fastened to the baseplate's underside and has such a shape that it can be pushed or driven into the ground.
Fencing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection is made up of at least one plate, which is perpendicular to the baseplate and is attached on one edge to the underside of the baseplate, and of which two additional edges taper to a point that faces away from the underside of the baseplate.
Fencing system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the baseplates are provided with openings, and the fencing system comprises tent pegs, which, when installing the fence, can be driven into the ground through the openings in the baseplates, where the tent pegs are provided with coupling parts for coupling to the baseplate.
Fencing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchoring element, furthermore, comprises a post holder, which is attached to the upper side of the baseplate for receiving a post, or which is attached to the underside of the baseplate for receiving a post and in which there is a hole in the baseplate where the post holder is situated.
Fencing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each post comprises a tube with a cross-section that is U-shaped, in which the U is double-walled and where there are slots in the tube wall, lengthwise at a distance from each other, situated transversely to the tube in the legs of the U, which slots extend from the ends of the legs of the U, and in which there are wires of the fences or wire meshing which are locked in place by rods, which extend lengthwise from the tube and are situated in the legs of the U between the wires and the ends of the legs, or by at least one rod, which can be horizontally or vertically oriented, either in the space between the legs of the U, or by covers round the ends of the U's legs.
Fencing system according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4 inclusive, characterized in that each post comprises a tube with a wall from which lips are made, which are bent out from the tube, for receiving wires of the fencing and/or wire meshing between the lips and the tube.
Fencing system according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4 inclusive, characterized in that the fencing system comprises rings that are placed round the posts, which rings are provided with notches for receiving wires of the fencing and/or wire meshing, and that the fencing system comprises locking elements, which can be placed over the notches for locking the wires in place.
Fencing system according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4 inclusive, characterized in that the fencing system comprises coupling elements, each of which is provided with at least one projection provided with at least one barb, which can be placed in a slot, situated in a post, in which a wire of the fencing and/or wire meshing can be locked in place between the tube and the coupling element
Fencing system according to claim 8, characterized in that the projection comprises two pins, situated at a distance from each other, each of which is provided with a barb at one end, where the barbs face outwards away from each other, and in which the coupling element comprises a pin that, after the pins with barbs have been placed in a slot situated in a post, can be placed from the outside through an opening in the coupling element, between the two pins as a result of which the coupling element is locked in the post
Fencing system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in the coupling element there is a soft plastic insert, provided with at least one groove, in which a wire of the fencing and/or wire meshing can be placed.