GB2261449A

GB2261449A - A fence panel

Info

Publication number: GB2261449A
Application number: GB9124374A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Peter Pizey
Original assignee: CLAYDON ARCHITECTURAL METALWOR
Current assignee: CLAYDON ARCHITECTURAL METALWOR
Priority date: 1991-11-15
Filing date: 1991-11-15
Publication date: 1993-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2011-11-15
Also published as: GB9124374D0; GB2261449B

Abstract

A fence panel has upright members 10 and cross-members 12 connecting the uprights. The uprights 10 and cross-members 12 are connected by deformable links 24 of, e.g. metal strip which are immovably fixed to the uprights and to the cross-members and can twist to allow a skewing movement to take place in which the angle between the uprights and the cross-members changes. The deformation of the links 24 is a plastic deformation so that the panel remains in its skewed configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

A FENCE PANEL This invention relates to a fence panel, the shape of which can be modified to suit local conditions where it is to be erected.

Fence panels conventionally consist of a plurality of uprights joined by cross members. The uprights are generally parallel to each other and at right angles to the cross members. The shape of the panels is generally rectangular. Such panels are easy to erect where the ground is level, but where a fence is to be erected along a slope, then a special panel has to be constructed to conform to the land contour where the panel is to be erected, so that the uprights in the panel will still be upright when the panel is erected.

In order to avoid the necessity to construct custom-built panels for each sloping site, it is desirable to provide a panel which can be modified on site to conform to a particular slope occurring at the site.

According to the present invention, there is provided a fence panel having a plurality of uprights and at least two cross-members, wherein each upright is connected to an upper and to a lower cross-member by deformable links so that the panel can be skewed in its own plane in the manner of a parallelogram linkage, the deformable links being immovably fixed to respective uprights and cross-members and being deformable to allow skewing movement to take place.

The deformable links are preferably formed from metal strip which is welded to the respective uprights and crossmembers, but is free between the positions where it is fixed to the uprights and the cross members so that it can deform to allow twisting or skewing movement to take place between the uprights and the cross members.

In a preferred form, each upper and each lower cross member comprises two parallel bars so that one bar lies on one side of the uprights and the other bar lies on the other side of the uprights with the deformable links connecting the bars and having the uprights connected to them.

With such a panel, by securing one end of the panel and then applying an upward or downward force at the other end of the panel, the whole panel can be skewed in its own plane with the uprights remaining parallel to one another, the cross members remaining parallel to one another but with the angle between the uprights and cross members changing.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a fence panel in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross section through part of the panel of Figure 1, on the lines II-II; Figure 3 is a cross section through part of the panel of Figure 1, on the lines III-III; and Figure 4 illustrates the use of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a fence panel which has five uprights 10 (also known as palings), an upper cross member 12 and a lower cross member 14. In practice a fence panel in accordance with this invention is likely to have more than five uprights 10, but the principle of operation will not differ from that described here.

Each cross member 12, 14 is made up of two bars 16, 18, and 20, 22. As can be seen in Figure 2, the bars 16 and 18 are square section tubing. The bars are connected by links 24 which are metal strips welded at each end to the bars 16, 18, 20, 22 by welds indicated at 26. The uprights 10 are located between the bars 16 and 18 and between the bars 20 and 22, and are then welded to the link 24 at 28.

In the as-manufactured condition, the uprights 10 will be at right angles to the cross members 12, 14, and the links 24 will be flat.

In use, the panels will be mounted between posts 30 (see Figure 4). Where the ground is level, the panel can be fitted between two posts in its "as-manufactured" condition.

However where two adjacent posts are at different heights, as is the case with the posts 30a and 30b shown in Figure 4, then it is necessary for the panel 32 to be skewed to follow the slope of the land.

The panel 32 can conveniently be skewed by connecting it at one end to the post 30a, and then applying a downward force to the free end in the direction of the arrow 34, so that the panel takes up the position shown at 32a in dotted lines. Once this skewing has been completed, the panel can be connected to the post 30b.

When the downward force is applied at 34, what will happen is that the links 24 which connect the uprights to the cross member will deform in the areas between the welds 26 and 28.

The links will be able to twist sufficiently to accommodate the change of angle between the uprights 10 and the cross members 12, 14 without disrupting the welds 26 or 28 and without twisting or deforming the uprights 10 or the cross members 12, 14 in themselves.

Normally both the top and bottom edge of the link 24 will be welded to the upright 10, at 28, so that the panel can be skewed in either direction to accommodate either a downhill slope or an uphill slope. However if it is known that the panel will only be skewed downhill, then the lower welds 28 could be omitted.

Where it is known that a particular fence panel will not need to be skewed and can be erected in a fixed rectangular condition, then the links 24 can be omitted and the bars 16, 18 can be welded directly to the tubes 10. Such fixed panels (which are not part of this invention) and deformable panels (which are part of this invention) will then have a very similar appearance and can form part of one and the same fence.

The arrangement of the bars 16, 18 relative to the upright 10 as shown in Figure 3 is advantageous because the gap between the bars and the upright allows a good clearance for galvanising.

The dimensions of the various parts of the fence which are required in order to ensure that the necessary deformation can take place can be determined by trial and error.

However it has been found that the following component sizes produces a fence panel which has the desired characteristics in accordance with the invention.

The bars 16, 18, 20, 22 can be 20mm x 20mm. The uprights 10 can be tube of 26mm diameter, and the spacing between the bars 16, 18 can be 30mm. The cross sectional dimension of the links 24 can be 13mm x 3mm, and the length of the weld 28 between the links and the uprights can be about 6mm.

It is not intended that these dimensions should be in any way limiting on the invention; they are given merely as examples of one particular embodiment which has been found satisfactory.

The invention allows the production of a deformable fence panel with very little additional manufacturing outlay compared to that of a standard, rigid panel. The panel can be easily deformed on site to follow particular land contours, and because the deformation of the links 24 will be plastic, the panel will take up a permanent position.

The fence panel moves in the manner of a parallelogram linkage because the uprights 10 remain parallel to one another and the cross members 12, 14 remain parallel to one another. However the angle between the uprights and the cross members changes as is shown in Figure 4.

Claims

1. A fence panel having a plurality of uprights and at least two cross-members, wherein each upright is connected to an upper and to a lower cross-member by deformable links so that the panel can be skewed in its own plane in the manner of a parallelogram linkage, the deformable links being immovably fixed to respective uprights and crossmembers and being deformable to allow skewing movement to take place.

2. A fence panel as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the deformable links are formed from metal strip which is welded to the respective uprights and cross-members, but is free between the positions where it is fixed to the uprights and the cross members.

3. A fence panel as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each upper and each lower cross member comprises two parallel bars so that one bar lies on one side of the uprights and the other bar lies on the other side of the uprights with the deformable links connecting the bars and having the uprights connected to them.

4. A fence panel as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each upright comprises two parallel posts so that one post lies on one side of the cross-members and the other post lies on the other side of the cross-members with the deformable links connecting the posts and having the crossmembers connected to them.

5. A fence panel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the uprights are all parallel to one another and the cross-members are all parallel to one another but the uprights are not perpendicular to the cross-members.

6. A fence panel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.