GB2241000A

GB2241000A - Wind-responsive fencing panel

Info

Publication number: GB2241000A
Application number: GB9003312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-14
Filing date: 1990-02-14
Publication date: 1991-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-14
Also published as: GB2241000B; GB9003312D0

Abstract

In order to reduce the wind resistance-of a fencing panel in high winds, the panel 10 is constructed of slats 24 which pivot from a closed configuration (Figure 2) in normal conditions to an open configuration (Figure 3) in high winds. <IMAGE>

Description

FENCING This invention relates to fence panels and fencing, such as that which is used to mark property boundaries or to provide screening in, for example, a garden.

Panel fencing, such as shiplap or interwoven fencing, as opposed, for example, to chain-link fencing is often used because it screens off an area to provide privacy in that area. However, a severe disadvantage of panel fencing is that is has a high wind-resistance. Accordingly, if a panel fence is not constructed with sufficient strength, or if it is not properly maintained, there is a risk that it will be blown down, thus requiring repair or replacement, and there is also a risk that a fencing panel which has been blown loose will cause other damage, for example to people, garden plants and shrubs, greenhouses and cars.

The aim of the present invention is to alleviate the above problems, and to this end the invention provides a fencing panel having elements which move in the panel in a high wind to break up the continuous screening which is normally provided by the fencing panel and thus reduce the wind resistance of the panel.

There follows a description, by way of example, of a specific embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fencing panel and a pair of fence posts according to the invention; Figure 2 is a sectioned plan view of the panel of Figure 1 taken along the section line II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2, but showing slats of the panel in an open position; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 2 showing the slats in greater detail; Figure 5 is an enlarged sectioned view of part of Figure 1, showing a pivoting arrangement for the slats in greater detail; and Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a part of Figure 4, showing a modification to the slats.

Referring to Figure 1, a fencing panel 10 comprises a pair of 100 mm x 100 mm (4" x 4") stiles 12, 14 and a pair of 50 mm x 50 mm (2" x 2") rails 16, 18 arranged as a rectangular frame 20. The stiles and rails are hollow square-section extrusions of plastics material and are joined at the corners by any suitable means, such as L-shaped spigot connectors bonded into the hollow extrusions at the corners. The panel 10 is conveniently of a standard length (such as 1.83 m (6') for the U.K.) and a standard height (such as 1.22 m (4'), 1.52 m (5') or 1.83 m (6') for the U.K.). The panel 10 is fixed between a pair of fence posts 22 by conventional means, such as clips nailed or screwed to the posts 22 and embracing the stiles 12, 14, or nails or screws passing through holes in the stiles 12, 14 and into the posts 22.

Mounted within the frame 20 are a series of vertically extending slats 24, such as sixteen slats each of a nominal width of 100 mm (4").

Referring particularly to Figure 4 and 5, each slat has an elongated peardrop shape, and is an extrusion of plastics material which may have elongate cavities 26 therein for reasons of weight and cost reduction. A hole 28 is formed in the top and bottom of each slat adjacent to and parallel to the thicker edge 30 of the slat. A pivot pin 32 is bonded into each hole and projects therefrom into a pivot bush 33 which is bonded into a hole in the lower surface of the top rail 16, or in the upper surface of the lower rail 18. The slats 24 can therefore each pivot about vertical axes adjacent their thicker edges 30 between closed positions as shown in Figure 2 and open positions as shown in Figure 3. The slats can also pivot in the opposite direction to that shown in Figure 2.When in the closed configuration of Figure 2, the slats are all generally coplanar and provide a contiguous screening surface like a conventional fencing panel.

However, when in the open configuration of figure, for example, wind can blow between the slats, as shown by the arrows in Figure 3, and thus the wind resistance of the panel is reduced. Accordingly, the risk of the wind damaging the panel 10 or the supporting posts 22 is reduced.

Referring again to Figure 4, one form of arrangement is shown which automatically holds the slats in the closed configuration until an excessive wind pressure arises. The thicker edge of each slat is formed with a longitudinal rounded groove 34 into which the rounded thinner end 36 of the adjacent slat is a snap-fit. The left-hand stile 12 also has a similar groove to receive the thinner end 36 of the left-most slat. With all of the slats engaged in this manner, the snap-fit arrangements ensure that in normal conditions including moderately windy conditions, the slats remain in the closed configuration of Figure 2.However, if an excessive wind pressure is applied to one of the slats, the slat will bow slightly, the pivot pins will give slightly, and the snap-fit arrangement will deform slightly, with a net result that the thinner end 36 of the slat is released from the groove 34 in the adjacent slat, and the slat can then pivot to the open position. As the slats move to the open position the wind resistance of the panel progressively decreases.

In a modification of the snap-fit arrangement, as shown in Figure 6, the thickness 2t of the thicker end 30 of the slat is not more than half of the distancer between the axis of the pivot pin 32 and the root of the groove 34. It will therefore be appreciated that once one slat has moved to the open position, the next slat to the right is no longer held in the closed position and is free to move to the open position. Thus, with this modification, once one slat has opened in a strong wind, all of the slats to the right of that slat will open in quick succession.

With the above arrangement, the slats are intended to be manually returned to the closed configuration (once the wind has died down), by reengaging the snap-fittings, most conveniently starting with the slat to the left.

Various other modifications and developments may be made to the arrangement described above. For example, rather than the snap-fit system for releasing the slats, a frangible arrangement may be provided.

For example, in a simple form the slats could be joined at the top and bottom by strips of adhesive tape which normally hold the slats in the closed configuration, but which, in a high wind, tear so that the slats can pivot. Also, rather than holding the slats closed by snap-fit arrangements between adjacent slats, snap-fit arrangements may be provided which act between each slat and the upper and/or lower rail. Furthermore, rather than providing separate fence posts, the stiles 12, 14 may project downwardly below the bottom rail 18 so that they can be inserted into the ground.

It is also envisaged that a resetting mechanism may be provided, for example using cranks and links or chains or cable extending through the stiles and rails and coupling the slats to a single handle or other manually operable member, so that all of the slats can be reset to the closed configuration simultaneously.

Claims

1. A fencing panel having a series of slats each movable between one position in which the slats together form a screen and another position in which there are substantial gaps between the slats to reduce the wind resistance of the panel, and means for releasably holding the slats in said one position.

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the releasable holding means is arranged to hold the slats in said one position until an excessive wind resistance is applied to the slats.

3. A panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the releasable holding means is resettable so that the slats can be returned from said other position to said one position and held again in said one position.

4. A panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the releasable holding means comprises a frangible element which is broken when the slats move from said one position to said other position, the frangible element being replaceable with a fresh element when the slats are reset to said one position.

5. A panel as claimed in any preceding claim, and further comprising a rectangular frame for the panel, each slat extending between two parallel members of the frame and having its ends pivotally mounted to said two members.

6. A panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slats are contiguous when in said one position and are each mounted to said parallel members for pivoting about an axis adjacent one longitudinal edge of the slat, the adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent slats being formed to provide a snap-fit engagement with each other to hold the slats in said one position until the snap-fit is disengaged.

7. A fence comprising a series of panels as claimed in any preceding claim.

8. A fence, or fencing panel, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.