GB2230280A

GB2230280A - A fence assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2230280A
Application number: GB8908599A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Gary Hardman
Original assignee: Gay Andrea Hardman
Current assignee: Gay Andrea Hardman
Priority date: 1989-04-15
Filing date: 1989-04-15
Publication date: 1990-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-15
Also published as: GB8908599D0; GB2230280B

Abstract

A fence assembly comprises at least one mesh panel 1, a hollow post 2 and at least one retaining bar 3. The post 2 defines a series of parallel transverse slots 13 and the mesh panel 1 is made up of strands 5 forming along at least one edge of the panel a series of parallel hooks or loops 8 which can each be inserted into one of the slots in the post 2. The retaining bar 3 can then be located through the eyes of the hooks or loops 8 protruding into the post 2 to secure the panel 1 to the post 2. Preferably, at least one cross-strand 11, 12 of the mesh is connected to the hooks or loops 8 formed by the strands 5 of the mesh to prevent the hooks or loops 8 being inserted too far into the slots of the post 1. <IMAGE>

Description

A FENCE ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a fuze assers.

the type comprising a plurality of rigid or semi-rigid mesh panels Fence assemblies of this type are well known and are used extensively. They may be either permanently mounted or be demountable. Typically, the mesh panels are fastened together by a retaining means that may comprise simply an upright post or angle iron to which the rr.e.-.

panels are bolted. Alternatively, the mesh panels may be provided with hooks at the ends of the wires forming the mesh which either engage with the mesh of an adjacent panel or a fence post.

However, all these assemblies tend to suffer from the disadvantage that they are easily breached, usually at the joint between panels. This means that for use in situations where security is the main purpose of the fence, extra means have to be employed to reinforc tre assembly. For example, the bolts securing a mesh panel to a post may have to be welded closed. All o these extra precautions take time to implement and add considerably to the cost of such a fence.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fence assembly comprising at least one mesh panel which substantially overcomes the aforementioned disadvantage and which can be be quickly and inexpensively erected even in situations where security is one of the major factors in the choice of a suitable fence.

According to the present invention there is provided a fence assembly comprising a hollow post defining a series of parallel transverse slots along its length, a mesh panel made up of strands forming along at eat one edge of the panel a series of parallel hooks or loops which can each be inserted into one of the slots in the post, and a retaining bar which can be located through the eyes of the hooks or loops protruding into the post to secure the panel to the post.

Preferably, a cross-strand of the mesh is connected to the hooks or loops formed by said strands of the mesh to prevent the hooks or loops being inserted too far into the slots of the post.

Preferably also, two cross-strands are connected to hooks formed by said strands of the mesh and oppose one another on opposite sides of each hook.

Preferably also, these two cross-strands are straight and parallel and lie in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mesh.

Preferably also, the post defines two series of said slots along opposite sides thereof and the panel is provided with said loops on two opposed edges.

Preferably also, the two series of slots in each post are arranged do that when the hooks or loops of two panels are inserted into the opposite sides of the same post they intermesh with one another and a single retaining bar can be located through the eyes of the intermeshing hooks or loops to secure both panels to a single post.

Preferably also, the retaining bar is tubular and internally screw-threaded.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference too the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence assetubly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of a mesh panel forming part of the assembly shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a post forming pr the same assembly; Figure 4 is a plan view of the assembly shc-wn in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a plan view similar to Figure 4 but cf c modified arrangement.

A fence assembly according to the invention comprises a series of mesh panels 1, hollow fence posts 2, and retaining bars 3 which are connected together, as will be described, to form a fence of any desire length or height depending on the length and height of the components being used.

As shown in Figure 2, each panel 1 comprises a first series of parallel strands or, in the case of metal mesh, wires 4 which are rigidly attached to a second series of parallel strands or wires 5 so as to lie perpendicular thereto and form a substantially planar square mesh.

Along opposite edges of the mesh panel 1 either the ends 6 or the ends 7 of the strands 4 and 5 are bent or rolled over through 1800 so that each strand 4,5 forms a hook 8, as shown in Figure 2, or a loop. A series of parallel hooks 8 or loops are thus formed along the edge of the panel 1. In Figure 2, adjacent edges of the panei i art shown rolled over to form the series of hooks b to illustrate the difference, as will be explained, between hooks or loops formed by the strands 4 and those formed by the strands 5. However, in practice, it is one necessary to produce panels 1 with two opposite edges formed with the hooks or loops.

When rolling over the ends of the strands, the ends 6,7 are bent in relation to their respective crossstrands 5,4 so that for the ends 6 there .s a crossstrand 9, which joins them together so that they do not protrude substantially beyond the cross-strand 9. The next cross-strand 10 is located inwardly of the pane. 1 from the cross-strand 9 and lies in-line with the crcssstrand 9 in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the panel 1. Similarly, the ends 7 are bent or rolled so that the cross-strands 11 and 12 lie in line perpendicular t.

the plane of the mesh, with the cross-strand 11 joining the ends of the hooks 8 formed by the strands 5.

It will be appreciated, with reference to Figure 2, that the ends 6 and 7 are bent or rolled over to form the series of hooks 8 or loops along the edges of the mesh on the same side of the panel 1. This means that for the hooks 8 made from the strands 4, the cross-strands 9 and 10 lie inwardly of the hooks 8 whereas for hooks 8 made from the strands 5, the cross-strands 11 and 12 lie outwardly of the hooks 8.

As shown in Figure 3, each fence post 2 comprises a rigid hollow tube which defines two series of parallel transverse slots 13 along opposite sides of its length.

The slots 13 are spaced apart by the same distance as the parallel strands 4,5 making up the square mesh of the panel 1 and the dimensions of the slots 13 are made such that ea=h of the hooks 8 or loops formed along one ed- of the panel 1 can be inserted into one of the slots 13, as shown in Figure 1. The hooks 8 are prevented fror being inserted too far into the post 2 by the crossstrands which join the hooks 8 along that edge of the panel 1 together. If the hooks 8 formed by the strands 4 are inserted into the slots 13 then cross-strands 9 and 10 lying inwardly of the hooks 8 abut the post 2 whereas if hooks 8 formed by the strands 5 are inserted into the slots 13 it is cross-strands 11 and 12 lying outwardly of the hooks 8 which abut the post 2.

In order to secure the mesh panel 1 to a post 2 after the hooks 8 have been inserted into the slots 13, the rigid retaining bar 3 is located through the eyes formed by the hooks 8 within the post as shown in Figure 4. The panel 1 can, therefore be connected to each post to make up a fence of the desired length.

In an alternative arrangement, as illustrated in Figure 5, a single retaining bar 3 is used to secure two panels 1 to a single post 2. Here, the slots 13 in the post must either be offset from one another on opposite sides of the post 2 by the width of one strand of the mesh or be made wide enough to accommodate two strand widths. This enables the mesh panels 1 on opposite sides of the post 2 to be themselves offset vertically by the width of one strand so that when the hooks 8 are inserted into the slots 13 the hooks 8 of each panel can intermesh within the post 2, which must itself be sufficiently narrow to permit this to occur. A single retaining bar can then be located into the aperture defined by the eyes of the hooks 8 of both panels 1.

In use, it will be appreciated that a fence 0 any dimensions can be made up from a multiplicity of panels 1, posts 2 and bars 3. The fence can be made a permanent structure or be demountable. For example, in a permanent structure the posts 2 can be set firmly in the ground in concrete or similar, as can the bars 3, and the open top of the posts 2 can be capped to give the fence a finished and tidy appearance. Alternatively, in a demountable structure, the retaining bars 3 themselves can be used to hold the fence upright by being driven into the ground and the posts 2 left unmounted or only slightly buried s-that the structure can be taken apart without too much difficulty.

Advantageously, in a demountable arrangement the retaining bars 3 are preferably made from lengths of a rigid tube which is internally screw-threaded or are eacfl fitted with a length of internally screw-threaded tube at one end. A handle is also provided which has an externally screw-threaded spigot that can be screwed into the upper end of each of the bars 3 so that the latter can be be pulled out of the ground.

As previously described, unlike many fence assemblies using mesh panels, the fence assembly of the present invention is suitable for use in permanent structures and is particularly suitable for use in situations where security is a prime consideration, such as in prisons. The assembled fence is easy and quick to erect but exceedingly difficult to breach. The mesh panels used can be of heavy rigid welded mesh which cannot be deformed without considerable force being applied thereto and the posts 2 and bars 3 can be made similarly strong and rigid and permanently fixed into position. The posts 2 can be made with any crosssectional shape and do not need to be tubular but can be made open, such as with a U-shaped cross section.

Provided that they are rigid when completed, they can be made from tube which is cut to length and the slots 13 punched out therefrom or, alternatively, slots 13 can be punched from rectangular sheet metal, which is then rolled to form the hollow posts 2. Similarly, the hooks 8 or loops on the mesh panel 1 can define any shape, such as closed loops or rings or open hooks, which can be part circular as shown or any convenient shape.

Claims

1. A fence assembly comprising a hollow post defining a series of parallel transverse slots along its length, a mesh panel made up of strands forming along at least one edge of the panel a series of parallel hooks or loops which can each be inserted into one of the slots in the post, and a retaining bar which can be located through the eyes of the hooks or loops protruding into the post to secure the panel to the post.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which a crossstrand of the mesh is connected to the hooks or loops formed by said strands of the mesh to prevent the hooks or loops being inserted too far into the slots of the post.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which two cross-strands are connected to hooks formed by said strands of the mesh and oppose one another on opposite sides of each hook.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3, in which the two cross-strands are straight and parallel and lie in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the mesh.

5.- An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the post defines two series of said slots along opposite sides thereof and the panel is provided with said hooks or loops on two opposed edges.

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5, in which the two series of slots in each post are arranged so that when the hooks or loops of two panels are inserted into the opposite sides of the same post they intermesh with one another and a single retaining bar can.be located through the eyes of the intermeshing hooks or loops to secure both panels to a single post.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the hollow post is tubular.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the hollow post has a substantially U-shaped crosssection.

9. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the retaining bar is tubular and internally screwthreaded.

10. An assembly as claimed in Claim 9, in which a handle is provided which has an externally screw-threaded spigot that can be screwed into the retaining bar.

11. A fence assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1, Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.