GB2170237A

GB2170237A - Fence clip

Info

Publication number: GB2170237A
Application number: GB08501839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nick Kempell
Original assignee: WICKES BUILDING SUPPLIES LIMIT
Current assignee: WICKES BUILDING SUPPLIES LIMIT
Priority date: 1985-01-24
Filing date: 1985-01-24
Publication date: 1986-07-30
Also published as: GB2170237B; GB8501839D0

Abstract

A fence clip consists of a U- shaped section having a base 11 and two side portions one of which has an off-set flange 14 and the other side portion is tapered at and has a large aperture 16. There are holes in the side portion and the off-set flange for insertion of screws or nails. The clip is applied to a vertical strut 20 forming one edge of a fence panel which is to be attached to a fence post 22 and held on to the post by means of the off-set flange 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fence clip This invention relates to fence clips of the type which are used to attach fence panels to fence posts.

It is known to attach a fence panel to a fence post by means of U-shaped clips, the U-shaped clips being fixed to the post and then the panel being slid into the clips. This method of attachment has the disadvantage that the clips must be fixed onto the posts first and then the panel must be slid bodily downwardly into the clips if the posts have already been put in position.

An objection of the present invention is to provide a simple but effective form of clip by means of which fence panels may be attached to posts when the posts are already in position without having to slide the panel bodily down through the clip.

In accordance with the present invention a fence clip comprises a U-shaped section adapted to engage an edge strut forming part of a fence panel, and an off-set flange adapted to be secured to a fence post in such a manner that the base of the U-shaped section is spaced from the post.

From another point of view a fence clip comprises a U-shaped portion and an off-set flange, the leg of the U remote from the flange being tapered to enable it to be driven into a space between a fence strut at the edge of a fence panel and the panel itself, the offset flange being adapted to be attached to the fence post.

From another aspect the invention lies in a fence construction comprising a series of spaced posts and a series of panels attached to the posts, each panel comprising a pair of vertical edge struts forming part of the framework to which the panel, which may consist of a series of thin planks overlapping and conventional style, are attached, the fence panels being attached to the posts by means of clips which have U-shaped portions engaging the vertical struts and off-set flanges by which the struts and therefore the panels are attached to the fence posts.

The system may also comprise a plurality of clips by which the lower edges of the fence panels may be attached to gravel boards.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a fence clip in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the fence clip of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the fence clip; Figure 4 shows a portion of a fence panel and fence post with a clip shown in position to attach the panel to the post; Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate steps in the process of assembling a fence using the clip according to the invention; Figures 8, 9 and 10 are sections through a fence post and fence panels joined by clips embodying the invention showing three different positions in which the clips may be used; Figure 11 shows a clip suitable for attachment of a gravel board; and Figure 12 shows a way in which the clip of Fig. 11 is used to attach a gravel board to the post.

The clip in Fig. 1 consists of a U-shaped section 10 which has a base 11 and two side portions 12 and 13. One of the side portions has an off-set flange 14 and the other side portion 12 is tapered at 15 and has a large aperture 16. There are prepared holes 17 and 18 respectively in the side portion and the off-set flange. There may be two or three holes in the off-set flange and one or two holes in the side portion. These holes are for insertion of screws or nails.

In use the clip is applied to a vertical strut 20 forming one edge of a fence panel 21 which is to be attached to a fence post 22.

The base portion 11 of the clip is seen to be located some distance from the post and the clip is held on to the post by means of the off-set flange 14 attached by means of screws or nails 23. The clip may also, if desired, be attached to the vertical strut 20 by a screw or nail 24.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show the way in which the clip is used. The clip at A in Fig. 5 is hammered onto the back edge of the strut 20.

When the clip A reaches the position shown in Fig. 6 a nail is hammered through the hole 17 and passes through the strut 20 and then through the large aperture 16 and may pass through the fence panel into a second strut 20A as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 three different positions Al, A2 and A3 are shown for the clips. It will be seen that in Fig. 8 the panels are positioned roughly midway across the posts in Fig. 9 they are positioned at one side of the posts and in Fig. 10 they are positioned at the other side of the posts.

The advantage of this type of clip is that the panels can be simply stood in the spaces between the posts and the clips can be applied with the panels in position. This avoids the problem of having to fix the clips to the posts and then drop the panels bodily down through the U-shaped clips which is the method which has been used hitherto.

It will be noted that the panels are firmly held in relation to the posts against lateral and vertical movement but can easily be removed should this prove necessary.

To fix the gravel board with the bottom edge of the panels a simple right-angled clip may be used as shown at 25 in Figs. 11 and 12. The gravel board 26 is fixed to the post 22 by means of a pair of clips 25 only one of which is shown in Fig. 12.

It will be appreciated that when the clip is hammered into position as illustrated in Figs.

5 and 6 it will be sandwiched between the fence panel and the vertical strut forming part of the wooden frame of the fence panel and will be held there which will facilitate fixing the panel to the post because it is no longer necessary to hold the clip in position.

The fence clips are preferably made of mild steel and preferably about 20 guage mild steel.

Claims

1. A fence clip comprising a U-shaped section adapted to engage an edge strut forming part of a fence panel, and an off-set flange adapted to be secured to a fence post in such a manner that the base of the U-shaped section is spaced from the post.

2. A fence clip comprising a U-shaped portion and an off-set flange, the leg of the U remote from the flange being tapered to enable it to be driven into a space between a fence strut at the edge of a fence panel and the panel itself, the offset flange being adapted to be attached to the fence post.

3. A fence construction comprising a series of spaced posts and a series of panels attached to the posts, each panel comprising a pair of vertical edge struts forming part of the framework to which the panel is attached, the fence panels being attached to the posts by means of clips which have U-shaped portions engaging the vertical struts and off-set flanges by which the struts and therefore the panels are attached to the fence posts.

4. A fence construction according to claim 3 and which comprises a plurality of clips by which the lower edges of the fence panels may be attached to gravel boards.

5. A fence construction according to claim 3 or claim 4 and in which the panels each consists of a series of overlapping planks.

6. A fence clip according to claim 1 and in which the leg of the U remote from the flange is tapered to enable it to be driven into a space between a fence strut at the edge of a fence panel and the panel itself.

7. A fence clip substantially as hereinbefore particularly described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.