GB2276401A

GB2276401A - Securing a fencing panel to a fence post

Info

Publication number: GB2276401A
Application number: GB9405170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Georges Maillot
Original assignee: S M CERRAMIENTO
Current assignee: S M CERRAMIENTO
Priority date: 1993-03-26
Filing date: 1994-03-16
Publication date: 1994-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2014-03-16
Also published as: GB9306390D0; GB2276401B; GB9405170D0

Abstract

A securing device (28) for securing a fencing panel (22) to a fence post (2) includes an element (30) having a portion (32) such as a channel for retaining said fencing panel against the post, and locking portion for engagement with the post. The device also includes a locking element (40) operable to urge the locking portion from an unlocked into a locked condition in which it locks the retaining element with respect to the post. Flanges (38) at each side of an aperture in element (30) may be bent outwardly into locking relation with dove-tail channel (18) formed by legs (12, 14) by hammering a rectangular block (40) into said aperture. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SECURING A FENCING PANEL TO A FENCE POST The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for securing a fencing panel to a fence post.

Many types of fencing systems are available, typically involving fencing panels secured between fencing posts. Fencing panels may commonly be solid, eg.

of wood, plastic or metal construction, or alternatively made from a mesh such as plastic or wire netting or interlaced members.

The usual means of fastening a fencing panel to a fence post is either a fastener such as a nut which goes through the post, or a tie which goes around the post.

Both of these existing fastening systems have the problem that they are relatively time-consuming to use. In addition, they tend to be rather "fiddly" - a nut must be threaded onto the bolt etc - and this can be difficult to do, particularly in awkward locations or, eg. when wearing gloves.

The present invention aims to alleviate some of the above problems.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a securing device for securing a fencing panel to a fencing post, the device including: a retaining element having a retaining portion for retaining said fencing panel against the post, and at least one locking portion for lockable engagement with the post; and a locking element operable to urge the at least one locking portion from an unlocked condition into a locked condition in which the at least one locking portion locks the retaining element with respect to the post in a fencing panel-retaining condition.

Thus, when fixing a fencing panel to a fencing post using this securing device, the fencing panel is placed against the fencing post with the retaining portion of the retaining element holding the panel against the post.

The locking element is then operated which causes the locking portion of the retaining element to lock onto the post and the fence panel is then secured to the post.

This avoids the need for any fastening of bands or operation of nuts and bolts etc - the panel is simply placed against the post and the locking element of the security device operated.

Preferably the locking portion cooperates with or fits into a channel provided in the fence post. The locking portion may then be placed in or slid into the channel and the retaining element positioned correctly with the retaining portion retaining the fencing panel in position.

Preferably the locking portion is either expanded or contracted when moving from the unlocked to the locked condition.

In a preferred embodiment the locking portion is moveable between a contracted state in which it is in its unlocked condition and an expanded state in which it is in its locked condition. In the contracted state it may be able to slide in the channel and when in the expanded state it may grip a portion of the post, eg. the side walls of the channel. This allows for simple and effective engagement procedure.

Equally, if for example the channel and the securing device are suitably arranged, the locking portion may be movable between a contracted state in which it is in its locked condition and an expanded state when it is in its unlocked condition.

Preferably there are two locking portions in the form of two flanges extending away from the body of the retaining element. The flanges may be arranged so that, when in place in a channel in a fence post, each flange abuts a part of a respective side wall of the channel.

The flanges may be flexible to a suitable degree so that they can be pressed into engagement with, or entrapped under a lip of, the channel as required in the locked condition.

In a preferred embodiment there may be an aperture through the body arranged in relation to the flange or flanges so that a locking element, such as a wedge, can be passed through the aperture to engage with the flange(s). If the flanges are suitably tapered when the wedge contacts the flanges it may force them outwards to grip the channel as indicated above.

The retaining portion of the retaining element may suitably be a part of the retaining element which extends from the main body thereof to trap a portion of the fencing panel against the fence post. If the fencing panel is of the wire mesh type an edge of the panel, eg.

a length of the wire mesh, may fit into a second slot or groove in the fencing post and be trapped therein by the retaining portion of the retaining element. The retaining portion may also include a suitably shaped groove to provide positive engagement with such a length of wire trapped against the fence post.

The securing device may be designed to be of sufficient size and strength that the locking portion, eg. the wedge, can be operated using a hammer. In this way, the fencing panel may be held against the fencing post and the securing device placed in position following which the locking element is struck with a hammer to engage the locking portion with the fence post.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a fencing system including a fence panel locatable against a fence post and a securing device according to the first aspect of the present invention for securing the fence panel to the post. Again, as described above, the fence post may preferably include a channel into which the locking portion of the securing device is fittable and/or a second channel into which a portion of the fence panel is locatable.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of securing a fencing panel to a fencing post including the steps of: (i) retaining a portion of the fencing panel against the post using a retaining portion of a retaining element of a securing device and (ii) operating a locking element of the securing device to urge at least one locking portion of the retaining element from an unlocked condition into a locked condition in which the locking portion locks the retaining element with respect to the post.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a fencing panel, fence post and securing device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a side view of a securing device according to the present invention, Fig. 3 shows a top view of a part of a securing device according to the present invention, Fig. 4 shows a top view of a fencing post according to one aspect of the present invention, and Fig. 5 shows a top view of a fence post against which a fence panel is held by a securing device according to the present invention.

In Fig. 1 a fence post generally indicated by the reference numeral 2 consists of a main post portion 4 and a T-shaped (in cross section) portion 6 extending away from the main post 4. The T-shaped portion 6 consists of a stem 8 and a head 10, and extends for substantially the same length as the main post 4 of the fence post 2.

Provided on each side of the T-shaped portion 6 are a pair of channel side wall members 12, 14. These channel side wall members 12, 14 also extend for substantially the same length as the T-shaped portion 6.

The channel side wall members 12, 14 form three channels on the side of the T-shaped member 6 indicated generally by 16, 18, 20. Channel 16 is formed between side wall member 12 and the main fence post portion 4; channel 18 is formed between the two side wall members 12, 14; and channel 20 is formed between side wall member 14 and part of the head 10 of the T-shaped member 6.

The channel side wall members 12, 14 are inclined at an angle to the stem 8 of the T-shaped member 6 so that they lean towards each other. The angle formed between each side wall member 12, 14 and the stem 8 may be between 30 and 60 and preferably is around 45".

A fencing panel is generally indicated by reference numeral 22 and is preferably a mesh fencing panel formed from horizontal wire members 24 and vertical wire members 26. A vertical wire member 26 at the end of the fencing panel 22 locates in the channel 20.

A securing device (or security device) 28 is shown holding fencing panel 22 in place against the fence post 2. The operation of the securing device 28 will be described in more detail below.

Fig. 2 shows a securing device 28 which consists of a retaining element 30 having a retaining portion 32 and a locking portion 34. The locking portion 34 comprises two flanges 36, 38 which extend away from the main body of the retaining element 32. These flanges 36, 38 are sufficiently flexible that they may be bent so as to lie under the inclined channel wall members 12, 14.

The securing device 28 also includes a locking element 40 of generally cubic shape which fits through an aperture 42 in the retaining element 32 (best seen in Fig. 3).

The flanges 36, 38 may be tapered as shown in Fig.

2, or alternatively they may be inclined towards each other, to provide a portion of each flange 44, 46 on which the locking element 40 may bear when it is inserted through the aperture 42. When the locking element bears on the flanges 36, 38 it forces the flanges outwards in the direction shown by arrows A in Fig. 2.

The securing device is preferably made of plastic, and ideally of a plastic which does not degrade when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet rays etc since the fencing system may be used outdoors. On the underside 48 of the securing device 28 are provided two notches 50, 52. These notches extend across the width of the securing device 28. As shown in Fig. 1, notch 50 may be located around the vertical wire member 26 of the fencing panel 22 when in place.

In use, as shown in Fig. 1, a fencing panel 22 is located in channel 20 of the fence post 2. A securing device 28 is then placed in position one the fence post so that the flanges 36, 38 extend into the channel 18 and the fencing panel is held in position by the retaining element 30. The locking element 40 is then inserted, eg.

by use of a hammer, through aperture 42 to engage the portions 44, 46 of the flanges 36, 38. This forces flanges 36, 38 in an outwards direction so that they lie under the edges of the channel side wall members 12, 14.

The securing device is thus locked in place against the fence post 4 and retains the fencing panel 22 in position.

The flanges 44, 46 may grip the sides of the channel side wall members 12, 14, although this is not necessary - all that is required is that the flanges are forced outwards so that the securing device 28 cannot be withdrawn from the channel 18.

This process may of course be repeated with subsequent fence posts and fencing panels 22 to form a fencing surround. A second such fencing panel 22 may be similarly fixed to the other side of the fence post 2 using the second pair of channel side wall members 12, 14 attached to the other side of the stem 8 of the T-shaped member 6, as shown in Fig. 1.

An alternative arrangement may be employed whereby the vertical wire member 26 of the fencing panel 22 may be located, if of a suitable size, in the channel 16.

The groove 52 on the securing device 28 (best seen in Fig. 2) then helps to hold the fencing panel in position.

The securing device 28 is utilised as before.

Fig. 4 shows more clearly the angled nature of the side wall members 12, 14 and the position of channels 16, 18, 20.

Fig. 5 shows a vertical member 26 of a fencing panel 22 trapped in channel 20 by the securing device 28. The groove 50 in the underside 48 of the retaining element 30 helps to fix the vertical member 26 in place. The locking element 40 is shown inserted into the retaining element 30, forcing the flanges 36, 38 outwardly to trap the securing device against the fence post and to hold the fencing panel in position.

The above description is only of a single embodiment of the invention and as such is not intended to be limiting. Alternative ways of retaining the fencing panel against the fence post and gripping the securing device to the fence post will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A securing device for securing a fencing panel to a fencing post, the device including: a retaining element having a retaining portion for retaining said fencing panel against the post, and at least one locking portion for lockable engagement with the post; and a locking element operable to urge the at least one locking portion from an unlocked condition into a locked condition in which the at least one locking portion locks the retaining element with respect to the post in a fencing panel-retaining condition.

2. A securing device according to claim 1 in which the locking portion cooperates with or fits into a channel provided in the fence post.

3. A securing device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one locking portion is either expanded or contracted when moving from the unlocked to the locked condition.

4. A securing device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the locking portion is moveable between a contracted state in which it is in its unlocked condition and an expanded state in which it is in its locked condition.

5. A securing device according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the locking portion is slidable in the channel and in the expanded state a portion of the post is grippable by the locking portion.

6. A securing device according to any of the above claims in which the locking portion includes two flanges extending away from the body of the retaining element.

7. A securing device according to claim 6 wherein, when the device is in place in a channel in a fence post, each flange abuts a part of a respective side wall of the channel.

8. A securing device according to claim 7 in which the flanges are sufficiently flexible to permit pressing engagement with, or entrapment under a lip of, the channel in the locked condition.

9. A securing device according to any of claims 6 to 8 in which the body of the device includes an aperture arranged in relation to the flange or flanges so that the locking element is passable through the aperture to engage with at least one of the flanges.

10. A securing device according to claim 9 wherein the flanges are tapered so that when the locking element contacts the flanges they are forceable outwards to grip the channel.

11. A fencing system including a fence panel locatable against a fence post and a securing device according to any one of the above claims for securing the fence panel to the post.

12. A fence including a plurality of fencing panels located against a respective plurality of fence posts and secured to the posts by a plurality of securing devices according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. A method of securing a fencing panel to a fencing post including the steps of: (i) retaining a portion of the fencing panel against the post using a retaining portion of a retaining element of a securing device and (ii) operating a locking element of the securing device to urge at least one locking portion of the retaining element from an unlocked condition into a locked condition in which the locking portion locks the retaining element with respect to the post.