GB2307253A - Palisade fencing - Google Patents

Abstract

A fence structure comprising a plurality of elongate pales (6) and at least one strut (8) to which the pales are secured by fastening means extending through a section of the pales to the strut, has spacer means (14) provided to retain the section spaced from the strut. The spacer means, which may be a simple tube or which may have a cross-section similar to an underside of the pale, takes the forces involved during tightening of the fastening means, and spreads such force over an extended area of the pale when the spacer means has a cross section similar to the underside of the pale, enabling the pale to be secured to the strut more tightly without crushing the pale, and thus providing additional security.

Description

Title: Improvements relating to fencing Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to fencing, particularly of the kind comprising elongate pales secured, conventionally at spaced intervals, to horizontal support members or struts.

Conventionally to give the pale additional strength, it is provided with a curved cross section, and is secured to the struts with a central convex portion facing outwardly of the fence structure, spaced from the strut. Holes are provided in the central section, by which the pale may be secured to the strut, conveniently by the use of a fastener such as a bolt extending through a complimentary hole in the strut and secured in position by a nut on the inner side of the strut.

Alternative to the use of a bolt and nut, the pale may be secured to the strut by a rivet, such as a blind rivet.

Where a nut and bolt are used, conventionally the nut is provided with a tightening formation, to enable the nut to be tightened onto the bolt by the use of a convenient tool such as a spanner, the tightening formation shearing off at a predetermined torque, to make it difficult subsequently to release the nut and remove the pale.

Two problems are encountered in the use of a conventional fence structure of the kind specified, the first being that, to obtain maximum security of the fence, it is desirable to tighten the securing means to the maximum extent possible, and where this is a nut, this may result in crushing of the convex-section pale in the vicinity of the hole, this being of course slightly weaker than the remaining portions of the length of the pale.

The second problem is that, whilst under normal circumstances it is difficult to remove the fastening, by hitting the head of the fastening element such as with a hammer, the central portion of the pale may be moved towards the strut a sufficient distance to allow the fastening element on the other side to become spaced slightly from the rear face of the strut, enabling the fastening element to be detached more easily. In particular, where the fastening element is a combination of a nut and bolt, such deformation of the pale may enable the nut to be removed from the bolt, and hence the pale from the strut, by the use of finger pressure alone.

According to this invention there is provided a fence structure comprising a plurality of elongate pales, at least one strut to which the pales may be secured, the pales when secured to the strut having a central section which is spaced from the strut, through which central section fastening means extend by which the pale is secured to the strut, wherein spacer means is provided to retain said central section spaced from the strut.

In this manner the pale may be secured to the strut to a maximum pressure, the forces involved being taken by the spacer, without causing crushing of the pale. This enables the pale to be secured to the strut more tightly, with additional security.

Additionally the pale cannot be crushed such as by hitting with a hammer, and the problem of thereby allowing the pale to be removed relatively easily are obviated.

The spacer member may be in the form of a simple tube, such as of metal or of a suitable plastics material such a nylon, or may have a cross-section similar to the underside of the pale, thereby spreading the load between the securing means over an extended area of the pale.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a fence structure which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional fence structure; Figure 2 is a sectional view of part of the fence structure shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a fence structure which is a first embodiment of this invention; and Figure 4 is a view showing a cross-sectional view of a fence structure in accordance which is a second embodiment of this invention.

The conventional fence structure shown in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of vertical pales 6L 6b secured at spaced intervals to a horizontal member in the form of a strut 8, conventionally there being utilised two or more struts spaced vertically. Each pale is of convex-section when viewed from the outside, comprising a central portion 10 which when in position is spaced from the strut 8. Conventionally provided in the central portion 10 are spaced holes through which a fastening element 12 may be inserted, passing through corresponding holes in the strut 8, to enable the pale 6 to be secured to the strut by the use of a cooperating fastening element 12b.

The left hand pale shown in Figure 1 is secured to the strut correctly, whilst the right hand pale 6a is shown in a deformed condition. This deformed condition may be obtained either by over-tightening the securing means, particularly where the securing means is provided by a nut and bolt combination, or alternatively by striking the fastening element 12a such as with a hammer in the direction A (Figure 2), causing the central section 10 to be crushed towards the strut 8. As will be seen, this slackens the fastening means 12, causing the fastening element 12b to become spaced from the rear side of the strut 8, enabling said fastening element 12E more readily to be detached from the element 12a.

As shown in Figure 4, the fence structure incorporates a tubular spaced 14 between the strut 8 and the inner side of the central portion of the pale 10, through which the fastening means is inserted, to prevent such movement of the central portion 10 of the pale towards the strut 8. The spacer 14 may be of any suitable material, conveniently metal or nylon.

As shown in Figure 4, if desired the spacer may, rather than be simple tubular, be provided with a cross-section which is similar to the internal cross section of the pale 6, such that load between the pale and the strut 8, caused when the fastening means 12 is tightened fully, to be spread over a larger area of the pale.

This enables the pales to be tightened to the strut to a greater extent, providing additional security of assembly, without any significant disadvantage.

Whilst the pales utilised in the preferred embodiment of the invention are of the type known as the D-pale, the invention may be utilised with pales of different cross-sectional profile, in circumstances where the pale is secured in position by the use of a fastening means which passes through a section of the pale which in use will be spaced from the strut.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. A fence structure comprising a plurality of elongate pales, at least one strut to which the pales may be secured, the pales when secured to the strut having a section which is spaced from the strut, through which section fastening means extend by which the pale is secured to the strut, wherein spacer means is provided to retain said section spaced from the strut.

2. A fence structure according to claim 1 wherein the spacer means is in the form of a tube.

3. A fence structure according to claim 1 wherein the spacer means has a cross-section similar to the underside of the pale.

4. A fence structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spacer means is made of metal.

5. A fence structure according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spacer means is made of a plastics material.

6. A fence structure according to claim 5 wherein the plastics material is nylon.

7. A fence structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A spacer member for use with a fence structure comprising a plurality of elongate pales, and at least one strut to which the pales may be secured, the pales when secured to the strut having a section which is spaced from the strut, through which section fastening means extend by which the pale is secured to the strut, the spacer member being adapted to be interposed between the section of the pale and the strut to maintain said section spaced from the strut.

9. A spacer member according to claim 8 which is in the form of a tube.

10. A spacer member according to claim 8 which has a cross section similar to the underside of the pale.

11. A spacer member according to any one of claims 8 to 10 which is made of metal.

12. A spacer member according to any one of claims 8 to 10 which is made of a plastics material.

13. A spacer member according to claim 12 wherein the plastics material is nylon.

14. A spacer member substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.