GB2032978A

GB2032978A - A Fence Panel

Info

Publication number: GB2032978A
Application number: GB7932853A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MALKMUS DOERNEMANN CAROLA
Current assignee: MALKMUS DOERNEMANN CAROLA
Priority date: 1978-09-21
Filing date: 1979-09-21
Publication date: 1980-05-14
Also published as: FR2436862A1; DE7828034U1; BE878882A; FR2436862B1; CH643910A5; GB2032978B

Abstract

A fence panel made up of a horizontal and vertical rods connected together has an edging strip which caps the edge of the panel. The strip is C-shaped and a lip thereon engages behind the upper horizontal rod, the strip has an elongated skirt on the visible side of the panel. The skirt masks the lip of the strip which engages the vertical rods, and L- shaped filler elements bridging the joints of adjacent strips engage into the intermediate space between the upper horizontal rod and the edgeing strip.

Description

SPECIFICATION A Fence Panel The invention relates to a fence panel made up of horizontal and vertical rods, more particularly in the form of a latticed structural steel mat, the upper edge of which is equipped with a reinforcement in the form of an edge profile which is approximately C-shaped in cross-section, which edge profile engages over the upper horizontal rod of the area of fencing with a degree of play and is securely retained to prevent separation.

Fences and enclosures comprising latticed areas more particularly made from structural steel mats are known having the advantage that they may be largely prefabricated in order to reduce the assembly work. No additional tensioning means are necessary for the individual panels due to their natural stability. The reinforcement of the edges of the individual panels may be arranged in different ways. It is possible for example by doubling the rods running along these edges, or by bending the edges in U-shape.

It has also become known to reinforce the upper edge of a fence panel as described at the outset by pushing an edge profile which is approximately C-shaped in cross-section on to the upper fence edge and by retaining it securely to prevent separation. The C-shaped edge profile engages over the upper rod of the fence panel with a degree of play and is retained with the aid of clamping elements solely in the region of the joints which joints coincide with the ends of the panels. The said clamping elements comprise two clamping jaws which may be screwed together and which engage over the joints of adjacent edge profiles.

The downwardly pointing ends of the clamping jaws are supported on one or more adjacent vertical rods, in the region of the joints between panels, so that the edge profiles are secured in their mutual positions.

The object of the present invention is to so provide a fence panel of the type stated at the outset in which the effectiveness of the reinforcement of the upper edge of the panel is increased by the C-shaped edge profile, the edge profiles may be used in lengths which do not depend on the length of the panels, and which at the same time simplify assembly.

The invention accordingly provides a fence panel having spaced vertical and horizontal rods and an edging strip of approximately C-shaped cross-section capping an edge thereof, which is retained by engagement of a first lip on one limb of said edging strip behind a rod adjacent said edge and engagement of a second lip of the other limb over the free ends of the transverse rods, wherein the second lip is masked by a skirt which extends said other limb inwardly of the panel area, L-shaped filler elements being located at intervals along said edge and being engaged between said rod and the edging strip.

Besides an increase in the stability of the shape of the profile and improved reinforcement of the upper edge of the panel due to the skirt which extends on the front of the panel the edge profile is very much more easily pushed on to the panel.

The skirt projects with its lower part as far as the vertical rods of the panel and, under load, supports these rods transverse to the plane of the panel. The L-shaped filler elements, particularly those engaging the edge profiles adjacent the joints, make it possible to use edge profiles independently of the length of the panels and result in the joints of the edge profiles being practically invisible. Any desired numbers of Lshaped filler elements may be used so that they result in additional reinforcement of the upper edge of the panel.

It is advisable if the skirt comprises a portion which is inclined away from the panel and a further portion inclined towards the area of the fencing. This results in a more pleasing appearance and also an increase in the rigidity of the edge profile, giving improved reinforcements of the upper edge of the panel.

In order that the invention shall be clearly understood, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a portion of the panel with the upper edge profiles; and Fig. 2 shows the portion designated A in Fig. 1 in enlarged view.

A fence panel 1 shown in the figures comprises vertical rods 2 and horizontal rods 3 which are welded together at their points of intersection 4.

The upper edge of the panel is provided with an edging strip 5 which is pushed on laterally and the shape of which is apparent particularly clearly from Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 the upper horizontal edge rod of the panel 1 is designated 3a. The latter is engaged by a limb 5a and a first lip 5b engages below the upper horizontal rod 3a. As a result it is ensured that the edge profile 5 may not be removed outwardly from the panel 1.

A skirt Sc which extends inwardly of the panel as compared to limb 5a is provided opposite the limb 5a and comprises a portion 5e inclined away from the panel and a further portion 5f which is inclined towards the panel. Its lower limiting edge rests on the vertical rods of the panel 1.

The other limb of the edging strip has a second lip 5d between the skirt Sc and the opposite limb 5a. The lip 5d forms an abutment and guide surface for an L-shaped filler element 6 which extends between adjacent vertical rods 2 of the panel 1 on which the edge profile 5 rest. These filler elements 6 may be spaced over the length of panel. However it is normally sufficient to provide one in the region of each end of the edge profile 5 in order to form a bridge for the end portions of the two adjacent edge profiles at the joints.

By leaving a degree of play between the upper horizontal rod 3a of the panel and the edge profile 5 in conjunction with the filler elements 6 it is possible to compensate for the manufacturing tolerances in the edge of the panel. At the same time safe abutment and aligned arrangement of adjacent edge profiles is ensured by means of the filler elements 6 without mechanical connection being necessary between the filler elements 6 and the edging strips 5.

The described arrangement achieves considerable improvement in the appearance of the fence as well as effective reinforcements of the panel, at the same time protecting the upper edge of the panel from the effects of weathering or mechanical damage. The fence is also safer to humans because the rod ends are capped.

Claims

1. A fence panel having spaced vertical and horizontal rods, and an edging strip of approximately C-shaped cross-section capping an edge thereof which is retained by engagement of a first lip on one limb of said edging strip behind a rod adjacent said edge and engagement of a second lip of the other limb over the free ends of the transverse rods, wherein the second lip is masked by a skirt which extends said other limb inwardly of the panel area, L-shaped filler elements being located at intervals along said edge and being engaged between said rod and the edging strip.

2. A fence panel according to claim 1, wherein two edging strips abut end to end and the joint therebetween is bridged by a filler element.

3. A fence panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the skirt comprises a portion adjacent the second lip which is inclined away from the panel and a further portion following on therefrom which is inclined towards the panel.