GB2261000A

GB2261000A - Portable support blocks

Info

Publication number: GB2261000A
Application number: GB9123167A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurence David Payne; Timothy Stewart
Original assignee: CROWNLEA PLANT
Current assignee: CROWNLEA PLANT
Priority date: 1991-11-01
Filing date: 1991-11-01
Publication date: 1993-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2011-11-01
Also published as: GB9123167D0; GB2261000B

Abstract

A portable support block e.g. of concrete has two pairs (14, 15) of generally upright post-receiving recesses such that upright fence posts may be located therein to support a fence extending transversely to the block along line (16, 17). Each post-receiving recess (14, 15) is slightly elliptical in plan thus to enable a post to assume a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the surface of the block in one plane whilst remaining substantially perpendicular thereto in a second plane normal to the first plane. in this way, the block may be located on uneven ground with the fence panels remaining substantially vertical. Each post-receiving recess presents a recessed shoulder (27) (Fig. 2, not shown) adapted to support a bottom horizontal frame member of a fencing panel. This feature enables the ground clearance beneath the fence to be minimised thus to increase stability. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE SUPPORT BLOCKS THIS INVENTION concerns portable support blocks usually of concrete or other material of like stability, which are used to support spaced upright posts, for example in temporary fencing or barriers.

Such blocks are produced usually by casting in open-top moulds which may be overturned to eject the block. Consequently, the mould walls are slightly tapered outwardly to permit easy removal.

The blocks are usually formed with several apertures for receiving the upright posts, and may be further recessed or externally shaped to minimise the amount of concrete used commensurate with the requirement that the finished block shall be of sufficient weight to provide adequate stability in use.

When such blocks are placed on uneven ground at spaced intervals to provide a support for an upright fence, the post receiving apertures of some blocks might be inclined displaced from vertical thus making it difficult to insert the posts when the latter are formed as part of a rigid fencing framework.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable support block wherein the post-receiving apertures are designed to compensate for use on uneven ground.

According to the present invention a portable support block of concrete or other material of like stability, having one or more post-receiving recesses extending downwardly into the block from an upper surface thereof is characterised in that the or at least one post-receiving recess is elliptical in plan thus to enable a post located therein to assume a non-perpendicular angle with respect to said upper surface in a first plane whilst maintaining the post substantially perpendicular to said upper surface in a second plane normal to said first plane.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a support block made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a post receiving aperture in said block; Fig. 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section taken on line V-V of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a support block with two adjacent fencing frames located therein; and Fig. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 7 in Fig.

6.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the block comprises a mass of concrete generally rectangular in plan having upper and lower surfaces 10 and 11 respectively and a peripheral wall generally indicated at 12 extending around the block. Two pairs 14 and 15 of post receiving holes are provided which extend throughout the entire height of the block between the upper and lower surfaces for receiving upright posts to support fencing or the like extending transversely of the block usually in the direction indicated by arrows 16 and 17. The option of locating the upright posts centrally or to one end of the block is provided for the convenience of positioning the fence.

Two large, rectangular apertures 19 and 20 are left to minimise the quantity of concrete utilised, commensurate with the required weight and stability of the block.

As can be seen generally in Fig. 6 each block is adapted to receive two adjacent fencing panels 21 and 22 having respective adjacent vertical posts 23 and 24 which are located as indicated at 23a and 24a in one pair of the vertical post holes 14 or 15 of the support block.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that each post hole 14, 15 is slightly elliptical in plan with its major axis extending in the direction of arrows 16 and 17, while its minor axis is designed to be approximately equal to the diameter of the post 23 or 24, so that when the post is located in the hole it may assume a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the upper surface 10 of the block in the direction of arrows 16 and 17. This is illustrated at 25 in Fig. 6. However, the post will be maintained substantially perpendicular to the upper surface 10, in a direction normal to that of arrows 16 and 17.

In this way, location of the support block on uneven ground may be accommodated whilst maintaining the fence posts 23 and 24 substantially vertical, whilst the stability of the fence is maintained in a transverse direction.

Preferably, the angular tolerance provided by the elliptical holes 14 and 15 is some 5 each side of the perpendicular in the direction of arrows 16 and 17 whilst only approximately 2" of movement may be afforded in each transverse direction as illustrated at 26 in Fig. 7.

The upper surface of the block is reduced in height in a region outside of each post receiving hole 14, 15 as illustrated at 27 in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. This produces a reduced-height horizontal surface upon which horizontal frame members 28 of the fence panels, may be located. Thus, the stability of the block is maintained by maximising its height generally throughout whilst the fence panels may be kept as close to the ground as possible providing a clearance of some 125mm beneath the horizontal frame members 28. However, the upper surface 10 of the block extends around each post circumference by greater than 1800 thus maximising stable support for the upright posts 23 and 24.

The depth of each recessed shoulder is approximately 25mm but may be increased if required to reduce, still further, the clearance beneath the fence panels.

Claims

1. A portable support block of concrete or other material of like stability, having one or more post-receiving recesses extending downwardly into the block from an upper surface thereof; characterised in that the or at least one post-receiving recess is generally elliptical in plan thus to enable a post located therein to assume a non-perpendicular angle with respect to said upper surface in a first plane whilst maintaining the post substantially perpendicular to said upper surface in a second plane normal to said first plane.

2. A portable support block according to Claim 1, including two pairs of post-receiving recesses for receiving upright posts to support fencing or the like extending transversely of the block.

3. A portable support block according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the or each post-receiving recess extends throughout the entire height of the block between the upper and lower surfaces thereof.

4. A portable support block according to Claim 2, wherein a first pair of said post-receiving recesses is located generally centrally of the block, and the second pair is located towards one end thereof.

5. A portable support block according to any preceding claim, wherein the elliptical form in plan of each post-receiving recess is such that its major axis is sufficiently in excess of the diameter of a post to be located therein to enable the post to have an angular tolerance of some 5 each side of a line perpendicular to the upper surface of the block, and its minor axis is substantially equal to the diameter of said post but permitting approximately 2" of angular tolerance each side of a line perpendicular to the upper surface.

6. A portable support block according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper surface of the block is reduced in height in a region partly surrounding each post-receiving recess, to provide a recessed shoulder to receive and support a horizontal lower frame lower member attached to an upright post located in said recess, whereby the stability of the block is maintained by minimising the ground clearance of said horizontal frame members.

7. A portable support block according to Claim 6, wherein the non-recessed upper surface of the block extends around the circumference of the or each post-receiving recess by an extent greater than 1800 to maximise support for the upright post.

8. A portable support block according to Claim 6, wherein the depth of said recessed shoulder below the upper surface is at or in the region of 25mm.

9. A portable support block of concrete or other material of like stability, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.