GB1589864A - Fencing systems - Google Patents

Description

(54) FENCING SYSTEMS (71) I, DEREK JOHN MILLS, a British Subject of 2 Avenue Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to fencing systems, and especially to close boarded fencing systems embodying pre-formed panels supported by fence posts.

The fence posts for such systems are normally formed either of timber or concrete.

Concrete posts are normally moulded with longitudinal channels in which the sides of the fence panels are received to support the panels. Such posts are expensive and somewhat unsightly. When wooden fence posts are used the panels have to be nailed to the posts. If this is done inexpertly there is a considerable risk that the relatively narrow side battens will split. There is also the risk that, if nails are put in on one side of the panels, the panel can be blown off the posts by a strong wind blowing from the other side. Moreover, when the fence has to be moved or repaired it is necessary to separate the panels from the posts and this is often very difficult to do without damaging either the posts or the panels.

This -prevention provides a fencing system employing wooden posts and pre-formed rectangular panels wherein the vertical edges of the panels are received in and supported by 'U' shaped brackets attached to the fence posts, there being at least one such bracket on each post to support panel at or towards the bottom thereof and at least one second such bracket on each post to support the panel at or towards the top thereof. Additional brackets fixed to the fence posts intermediate the top and bottom brackets may be used if required or desired.

The brackets may be made of any desired material having sufficient strength to support the panels in adverse weather conditions and which does not deteriorate too rapidly when exposed to the elements. Preferably the brackets are made from metal, especially stainless or galvanised steel.

The brackets may be fixed to the posts by any desired means but preferably have one or more holes in their base by which they can be nailed or screwed to a post. Alter natively the brackets may be formed with tines or the like on the rear face of the base which tines can be driven into a post.

The brackets will normally have a flat base so that they can be fitted flush against a post, and for general purposes the two sides of the 'U' will extend substantially per pendicularly to the base. If, however, a fence is to be constructed in which two or more panels are to be erected other than in a straight line or at right angles to each other brackets can be used in which the sides are parallel to each other but not perpendicular to the base. Preferably, the brackets also have one or more holes in the sides of the 'U' for temporary or permanent fixing of the panels by screws or nails. By this means the panels can, if desired beset off the ground.

The brackets may, if desired, be made in two L-shaped pieces that together may form a 'U' shaped bracket section when attached to the post.

The dimensions of the brackets will of course depend on the panel to be supported and generally the brackets will be made ih a variety of dimensions to suit any given .pur- pose.

Frequently, the panels 'of such fencing systems are supported above ground level by a gravel board since this reduces rotting of the bottom of the panel and the gravel board can be replaced if necessary more cheaply than replacement of a fence panel.

Preferably, therefore in the fencing system of the invention such a gravel board is provided for each panel, the said gravel board. being received in and supported by either one or more brackets similar to those used for tsupporting the panels or in one or more brackets of general 'U' shape but of greater height than the panel supporting brackets and of greater height than the gravel board so that they can be driven into the ground alongside the post and fixed to the post only at their top end.

In erecting the fencing system of the invention two or more posts are erected, for example using the post support means described and claimed in my U.K. Patent No. 1461802, the brackets being attached either before or after erection of the posts, the gravel board, if one is to be used, is then erected betwecn two adjacent posts and the fence panels are then slid into the brackets on each of the two adjacent posts.

If the fence has to be dismantled, the panels are simply lifted out of the brackets and there are no problems such as those associated with the removal of corroded nails or the like securing the panels to the posts.

The invention also includes a method as described above for erecting a fencing system and the assembly of integers required for erecting the fencing system, the assembly including at least two wooden fence posts.

at least one fence panel and at least four 'U' shaped brackets for receiving and holding the side edges of each fence panel and, if desired at least one gravel board and at least two brackets therefor.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A fencing system employing wooden posts and pre-formed rectangular panels wherein the vertical edges of the panels are received in and supported by 'U' shaped brackets attached to the fence posts, there being at least one such bracket on each post to support a panel at or towards the bottom thereof and at least one second such bracket on each post to support the panel at or towards the top thereof.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional brackets are fixed to the fence posts intermediate the top and bottom brackets to receive portions of the vertical edges of the panels between said top and bottom of the panel.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the brackets are made from metal.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the brackets are made from stainless or galvanised steel.

5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the brackets have one or more holes in their base by which they can be nailed or screwed to a post.

6. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, when the brackets are formed with tines or the like on the rear face of the base which tines can be driven into a post.

7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the brackets have a flat base so that they can be fitted flush against a post, and the two sides of the 'U' extend substantially perpendicularly to the base.

8. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the brackets have one or more holes in the sides of the 'U' for temporary or permanent fixing of the panels by screws or nails.

9. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, which also includes a gravel board for each panel, the said gravel board being received in and supported by either one or more brackets similar to those used for supporting the panels or in one or more brackets of general 'U' shape but of greater height than the panel supporting brackets and of greater height than the gravel board so that the gravel board supporting brackets can be driven into the ground alongside the post and fixed to the post only at their top end.

10. A method of erecting a fence, wherein two or more posts are erected, two or more 'U'-shaped panel supporting brackets being attached to each post either before or after erection of the posts, one to support a panel at or towards the top thereof and a second to support the panel at or towards the bottom thereof, and preformed rectangular fence panels are then slid into the brackets on each of two adjacent posts.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the posts are erected using the post support means described and claimed in Patent No. 1461802.

12. An assembly for erecting a fencing system as claimed in claim 1, the assembly including at least two wooden fence posts, at least one preformed rectangular fence panel and at least four 'U' shaped brackets for attachment, two on each post, for receiving and holding the side edges of each fence panel and, optionally, at least one gravel board and at least two brackets therefor.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. invention two or more posts are erected, for example using the post support means described and claimed in my U.K. Patent No. 1461802, the brackets being attached either before or after erection of the posts, the gravel board, if one is to be used, is then erected betwecn two adjacent posts and the fence panels are then slid into the brackets on each of the two adjacent posts. If the fence has to be dismantled, the panels are simply lifted out of the brackets and there are no problems such as those associated with the removal of corroded nails or the like securing the panels to the posts. The invention also includes a method as described above for erecting a fencing system and the assembly of integers required for erecting the fencing system, the assembly including at least two wooden fence posts. at least one fence panel and at least four 'U' shaped brackets for receiving and holding the side edges of each fence panel and, if desired at least one gravel board and at least two brackets therefor. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A fencing system employing wooden posts and pre-formed rectangular panels wherein the vertical edges of the panels are received in and supported by 'U' shaped brackets attached to the fence posts, there being at least one such bracket on each post to support a panel at or towards the bottom thereof and at least one second such bracket on each post to support the panel at or towards the top thereof.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional brackets are fixed to the fence posts intermediate the top and bottom brackets to receive portions of the vertical edges of the panels between said top and bottom of the panel.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the brackets are made from metal.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the brackets are made from stainless or galvanised steel.

5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the brackets have one or more holes in their base by which they can be nailed or screwed to a post.

6. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, when the brackets are formed with tines or the like on the rear face of the base which tines can be driven into a post.

7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the brackets have a flat base so that they can be fitted flush against a post, and the two sides of the 'U' extend substantially perpendicularly to the base.

8. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the brackets have one or more holes in the sides of the 'U' for temporary or permanent fixing of the panels by screws or nails.

9. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, which also includes a gravel board for each panel, the said gravel board being received in and supported by either one or more brackets similar to those used for supporting the panels or in one or more brackets of general 'U' shape but of greater height than the panel supporting brackets and of greater height than the gravel board so that the gravel board supporting brackets can be driven into the ground alongside the post and fixed to the post only at their top end.

10. A method of erecting a fence, wherein two or more posts are erected, two or more 'U'-shaped panel supporting brackets being attached to each post either before or after erection of the posts, one to support a panel at or towards the top thereof and a second to support the panel at or towards the bottom thereof, and preformed rectangular fence panels are then slid into the brackets on each of two adjacent posts.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the posts are erected using the post support means described and claimed in Patent No. 1461802.

12. An assembly for erecting a fencing system as claimed in claim 1, the assembly including at least two wooden fence posts, at least one preformed rectangular fence panel and at least four 'U' shaped brackets for attachment, two on each post, for receiving and holding the side edges of each fence panel and, optionally, at least one gravel board and at least two brackets therefor.