GB2208668A

GB2208668A - Fencing using unwanted barrels or casks

Info

Publication number: GB2208668A
Application number: GB8819600A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Sherrard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-08-18
Filing date: 1988-08-17
Publication date: 1989-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-17
Also published as: GB2208668B; IE872212L; GB8819600D0

Abstract

Barrels or casks made of staves 10, having a concave side and a convex side, in abutting or overlapping arrangement retained together by at least one hoop (16 Fig. 3) and having a base and removable lid are well known. The method comprises the steps of removing the hoop so as to release the staves 10 from each other and the base; treating the staves so as to render them substantially impervious to ambient weather conditions and then using the staves as components of a fence, screen, gate, protector device (15, 17, 18 Figs 2, 344) or other protector means. <IMAGE>

Description

"A Method of Using Unwanted Barrels or Casks" This invention relates to a method of using unwanted barrels or casks of the type composed of staves retained together by hoops.

Barrels or casks made of staves, having a concave side and a convex side, in abutting or overlapping arrangement retained together by at least one hoop and having a base and a removable lid are well known. Such barrels or casks will hereinafter be referred to as a cask of the type described. The casks of the type described is generally wooden being made from oak, beech or other suitable wood. A detailed description of the cask of the type described will not be given here as its construction is well known. The cask of the type described is used to store and/or ferment liquids such as beers, wine or whiskey.

However, a problem arises with such casks when they are no longer suitable for use in the storage of liquids.

Heretofore, the casks were either burned, disposed in rubbish tips, used as flower pots or for collecting water. Usually, the casks were subject to breaking by using an axe or by crushing prior to disposal.

The disposal of the barrels or casks in the manner described is not only expensive for the user but is also a waste of a very valuable natural material.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.

The invention therefore provides a method of using a cask of the type described which method comprises the steps of: (a) removing the hoop so as to release the staves from each other and the base; (b) treating the staves so as to render them substantially impervious to ambient weather conditions; and (c) using the staves as components of a fence, screen, gate, protector device or other protector means; Preferably, the staves are made from either oak or beech.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fence constructed according to the method of the present invention; Figure 2 is the fence of Figure 1 of the drawings viewed from another angle; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a protector constructed according to the method of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fence constructed according to the method of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a cask of the type described (not shown) comprises a base, and a plurality of staves in abutting relationship held together by a pair of hoops. Such a cask is used for the storage of beer or wine etc. The cask is made of wood preferably beech or oak. In addition, the cask is no longer suitable for the purpose of storing the beer, wine or whiskey and under normal circumstances would be regarded as a waste product.

The hoops and base are removed by conventional means so as not to cause undue damage to the staves. Having removed the staves, the hoops may be re-cycled if desired or used as indicated below. The base may be used for other purposes or, perhaps, burned in a kiln (not shown).

The staves, which by virtue of their use as casks are seasoned, are treated so as to render them substantially impervious to ambient weather conditions.

This may be achieved by the application of creosote or other suitable wood preserving agent. The staves will retain their bow-shape configuration. The staves are now ready for use in the construction of a fence, gate, screen, protector device or other protector means.

In Figure 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a plurality of staves 10 of the type referred to above which are nailed or otherwise secured to a pair of rails 11, 12. The rails 11, 12 are secured to posts 13 which are suitably retained in the ground 14 by conventional means. If the rails 11, 12 or posts 13 are made from a wood other than larch or oak, it would be necessary to kiln dry them in a suitable kiln (not shown). The kiln may be fired by the burning of the bases of the casks.

Alternatively, the rails 11, 12 or posts 13 may be pressured treated in a conventional manner and coated with creosote or other suitable wood perserving agent.

Posts 13, if made from a perishable material such as wood, should also be treated so as to render them substantially impervious to ambient weather conditions.

Accordingly, a fence 15 may be erected. The bow-shape of the staves 10 provides a more interesting aesthetic appearance than straight panels used in conventional fencing. For reasonably secure fencing, each twelve foot section thereof should comprise about twenty-five staves 10.

The staves 10 may be mounted in parallel spaced apart relationship so that the convex sides are all facing unidirectional. Alternatively, the staves 10 may be mounted so that alternate staves are facing in one direction and the other staves 10 are facing in the opposite direction.

With reference to Figure 3 of the drawings, the convex sides of a plurality of staves 10 are fixed in parallel spaced apart and equidistant relationship to discarded hoops 16 from a cask of the type described.

The hoops 16 are in parallel spaced apart relationship.

However, the concave side of the staves 10 are facing outwards (rather than inwards as used in a cask). The combination of the staves 10 with the hoops 16 forms a protector device 17 for plants and the like.

In Figure 4 of the drawings, a fence 18 is shown which is essentially similar to the fence 15 except that instead of mounting the staves 10 in parallel spaced apart relationship relative to each other (as shown in the fence 15), the staves 10 are mounted so that every other stave 10 is in parallel spaced apart relationship.

The mounting of the staves 10 in the manner shown in Figure 4 of the drawings provides a different aesthetic appeal when compared with the manner of mounting shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

It will be appreciated that by suitable modification, a gate may be constructed in a manner similar to the construction of the fencing described above.

Considerable savings in costs may be expected from using the staves 10 in the construction of the fences 15 or 18 or the protector 17 when compared with the conventional erection of such devices.

The invention is not limited by or to the specific embodiments described which can undergo considerable variation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of using a cask of the type described which method comprises the steps of: (a) removing the hoop so as to release the staves from each other and the base; (b) treating the staves so as to render them substantially impervious to ambient weather conditions; and (c) using the staves as components of a fence, screen, gate, protector device or other protector means.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the staves are made from a hardwood.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the staves are made from oak or beech.

4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1-3 wherein the method of treating the staves comprises applying a suitable wood perservative to the staves.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the perservative is creosote.

6. A method of providing a protector means which method comprising assembling a plurality of staves obtained from a method as and/or claimed in any of claims 1-5 together with rail members; securing means and/or post members to form the protector means.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the protector means is a fence.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the staves are mounted in parallel space aparat relationship so that their convex sides are all facing unidirectionally.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein alternate staves are mounted in parallel spaced apart relationship so that there convex sides are facing unidirectionally and the other staves are mounted in parallel spaced apart relationship so that their convex sides are facing unidirectionally opposed to the alternate staves.

10. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the protector means is a gate.

11. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the protector means is a screen.

12. A method as claimed in any of claims 6-11 wherein the rails and/or posts are made from a softwood.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the rails and/or posts are pretreated prior to assembly by (i) kiln drying the rails and/or posts in a kiln; and (ii) treating, under pressure, the rails and/or posts in a kiln; and

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the perservative is creosote.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the kiln is fired by the bases of the casks of the type described

16. A method of providing protector device which method comprises fixing the convex sides of a plurality of staves, obtained from a method as claimed in any of claims 1-5, to two hoops which are in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship so that the staves are in substantially parallel spaced apart and equidistant relationship.

17. A method as claimed in any of claims 1-5 of disposing of a cask substantially as hereinbefore described.

18. Staves whenever obtained and treated by a method as claimed in any of claims 1-5 or 17.

19. A method as claimed in any of claims 6-15 of providing a protector means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

20. A protector means whenever assembled from staves obtained and treated by a method as claimed in any of claims 1-5, 17 or 19.

21. A protector means whenever provided by a method as claimed in any of claims 6-15 or 19.