GB2315081A

GB2315081A - Hoardings

Info

Publication number: GB2315081A
Application number: GB9622550A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Edward Dainty
Original assignee: DAINTY TIMOTHY E
Current assignee: DAINTY TIMOTHY E
Priority date: 1996-07-09
Filing date: 1996-10-29
Publication date: 1998-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-29
Also published as: GB2315081A8; GB9622550D0; GB9614365D0; GB2315081B

Abstract

A hoarding element (2) comprises a pair of upright posts (4,6) which carry a pair of spaced horizontal U-section elongate channels (8,10) which face each other, and a corrugated steel panel (12) received in each U-shaped channel. Each channel may comprise interconnected angle members, and the posts may comprise a central round section connected to the channels by coupling tubes (16) (Figs 4,8, not shown) welded to the channels.

Description

2315081 1 IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO HOARDINGS This invention relates

to hoardings, especially but not exclusively to hoardings that are temporarily erected around things such as roadwork 5 holes in the ground, construction sites and the like.

There are two common types of hoarding for such things as construction sites. The first is basically a wooden lattice frame with plywood sheet secured to the lattice. This is expensive and can be used only once or twice before it has to be discarded. The second common kind of fencing for building sites and the like is a wire mesh fence that is secured to upright poles, the mesh being profiled to give it extra rigidity.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an alternative hoarding/fencing.

According to a first aspect of the invention 1 provide a hoarding comprising frame means which supports and retains panel means, the frame means comprising a first elongate member having a first channel provided with first and second opposed surfaces, and a second elongate member, spaced from and opposed to the first elongate member, the second elongate member having a second channel provided with third and fourth opposed surfaces, the first and second channels facing each other, and the panel means being retained by the first and second channels and being located between the first and second surfaces and the third and fourth surfaces.

When the panel means is opaque a casual passer-by cannot see through the hoarding, and is therefore not tempted to break into the secure compound or area defined by the hoardings to try to steal anything 2 of value that he would be able to see if the panel were of, for example, wire mesh.

The hoarding preferably includes longitudinally spaced first and second transverse members extending between the first and second elongate members, and secured to the first and second elongate members. The transverse members preferably contribute significantly to the rigidity of the hoarding.

The elongate members preferably have a first coupling at or adjacent one of their ends and a second coupling at or adjacent the other of their ends, which couplings are preferably releasably connectable to respective third and fourth couplings provided at or adjacent the ends of the first and second transverse members.

is The couplings may comprise a tube or spigot slidably received in a socket.

Lock means may be provided to lock the connection of the first couplings with the third couplings, andlor the connection of the second couplings with the fourth couplings. The lock means may be releasable, and preferably have their release means provided all to one side only of the frame means. This means that I can create an enclosure or secure area in which the release means are not operable from outside the secure area defined by the boarding (or hoardings). The locking means may comprise screws or bolts.

The panel means may comprise a corrugated panel member.

3 The panel means may comprise a plurality of panel members held between the same pair of elongate members. This allows us to have a stock of differently coloured panels and build up a hoarding from different panels placed side by side, received in the first and second channels, with a choice of colour combinations. Businesses can therefore have their hoardings readily colour coded to their corporate colours (eg all blue, or blue, red and white stripes, vertical or horizontal).

The elongate members will preferably extend generally horizontally in use, but as an alternative they may extend generally vertically.

The elongate members are preferably U-section integrally formed channel members. They may be of metal eg steel. They may be extruded sections. The U-section is preferably 32 mm wide.

The U-section elongate members preferably have notches at their ends, with components (eg cylindrical tubes) of the coupling mechanism affixed in the notches.

Alternatively the elongate members may be formed from two lengths of L-shaped angle material, which may be steel. The two lengths of angled material may be arranged so as to form an effective U-channel.

The elongate members, or at least the bottom, upwardly facing, one may have one or more drain holes to allow water to drain away.

According to a second aspect of the invention I provide a kit adapted to be assembled into a hoarding according to the first aspect of the invention, the kit comprising a pair of elongate members each having a channel having a base portion and opposed side face portions, and the 4 elongate members having at or adjacent each of their ends coupling means; a pair of transverse connecting members provided with complementary coupling means at or adjacent their ends; and at least one panel member; the arrangement being such that opposed edge portions of the panel member are adapted to be received and located in the channel sections of the elongate members, with the elongate members in spaced opposed relationships and bounding the panel member, and the coupling means adapted to couple with the complementary coupling means so that the elongate members and transverse members form a frame.

The kit may have a plurality of panel members adapted to be received in the same pair of elongate members.

There may be enough elongate members and transverse members and panels to form a plurality of hoardings. The kit may have joining means adapted to join two hoardings together. The kit may have feet attached to, or adapted to be attached to, the frame to assist in holding the frame upright.

According to a third aspect of the invention I provide an enclosed secure space with at least a part of its boundary defined by one or more hoardings in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention 1 provide a method of constructing a hoarding comprising slotting a panel member into a first channel, slotting the panel member into a second channel and joining the two channels together with transverse members so as to prevent the channels from moving away from each other, thereby retaining the panel member between them.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:- Figure I shows a hoarding member; 5 Figure 2 shows schematically a vertical cross section through the hoarding member; Figure 3 shows schematically a horizontal cross section through the hoarding member; Figures 4 and 5 show a detail of a part of the hoarding member; Figure 6 shows two hoarding members joined together; 15 Figure 7 shows a clip for joining two hoarding members; Figure 8 shows an exploded view of the hoarding member of Figure 1; 20 Figure 9 shows a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 9a. shows a detail of the embodiment shown in Figure 9; 25 Figure 10 shows features of a variation of the hoarding member; and 6 Figure 11 shows yet more features of a variation of the hoarding members.

Figure 1 shows a hoarding member 2, a plurality of which can be used to construct a hoarding, perhaps for surrounding a construction site.

The component parts of the hoarding member 2 can be best seen in Figure 8.

The member 2 comprises two transverse members 4,6, circular in cross section (and fabricated from 1.5mrn gauge steel) a first elongate member 8, a second elongate member 10 and a panel means 12.

The diameter of the transverse members is about 30 mm, or in another embodiment 35, 40 or 45 mm (or even 25 mm).

The two elongate members 8,10 are best seen in Figure 8. Each comprises a length of "U" shaped channel 14, of 1.5 mm gauge steel, with an internal channel width of 32 mm, with a length of circular tube 16 attached at each end portion. The lengths of circular tube 16 are substantially perpendicular to the channel 12.

The diameters of the two transverse members and of the lengths of circular tube 16 are such that the transverse members fit inside the lengths of circular tube 16.

The panel means 12 is formed from a corrugated sheet of material, in this embodiment steel. The steel is galvanised to protect it, and is of 0.5mm or 0.7mm gauge. Of course the steel could also be zinc plated, or painted or plastic coated steel. The corrugations can be best seen in Figure 3, and provide extra rigidity for the panel.

7 Figures 4 and 5 detail a portion of either of the elongate members 8,10 (it will be appreciated that the two elongate members 8,10 are substantially the same). They show in detail how the lengths of circular tube 16 are attached to channel 14.

Each end portion of the channel 14 is shaped so that a W' 34 is formed; the W' being concave within the channel 14. Providing a W' 34 in this manner allows the channel 14 to contact the length of circular tube 16 at two points 36,38, which provides a stronger join than if no W' 34 were provided. The channel 14 is welded to the lengths of circular tube 8, 10 at the points of contact. The welding of the channel to the tube also increases the rigidity of the channel.

The coating of the steel (by galvanising, painting, or plastic coating) only occurs after the lengths of circular tube 16 are attached to the elongate members 8,10. Otherwise the coating would affect the welds or visa versa.

Figure 7 details a clip 40. The clip comprises two pressed steel plates 42,44. These plates are substantially identical in shape; one is merely turned over so that is a mirror image of the other.

Each plate 42,44 comprises a flat section 46 with a substantially semi circular region 48,50 at each end portion. Through each flat section 46 is a hole via which the plates 42,44 can be secured together.

To assemble the clip 40 a bolt is passed through the hole in the flat sections 46 and the plates 42,44 secured together so that the substantially 8 semi circular regions f ace each other substantially f orming a circumference of a circle.

The components detailed above (the two transverse members 4,6, the two elongate members 8,10 and the panel means 12) can be assembled into the member 2 from which a hoarding can be constructed. To achieve this the panel means 12 is placed into the second elongate member 10. The panel means fits between a first 18 and a second 20 opposed surface of the second elongate member 10, that is the walls of the 'U' channel.

Next the two transverse members 4,6 are inserted into the lengths of circular tube 16 at each end portion of the second elongate member 10.

The first elongate member 8 is positioned at an upper edge portion of the panel means 12 opposite the second elongate member 10. The panel means 12 fits between a third 22 and a fourth 24 opposed surface (between the walls of the 'U' channel). Also the two transverse members 4,6 insert into the lengths of circular tube 16 at each end portion of the first elongate member 8.

Lock means (in this example self-tapping screws) 26,28,30,32 are used to secure the transverse members 4,6 to the elongate members 8,10. In an alternative embodiment the lock means 26,28,30,32 may be bolts, which may be threadably received by the transverse members 44 This completes the structure of the hoarding panel.

Generally at least two people will be required to construct the member 2; at least the task will be easier if at least two people are present.

9 Once a number of the members 2 has been assembled a hoarding can be constructed. To achieve this the lengths of circular tube 16, at the bottom edge of the member 2 are positioned in concrete blocks, not shown. These blocks support the member. The blocks act as feet, and are movable.

To form the hoarding a number of members 2 are aligned, (the number of panels used is determined by the desired length of the hoarding), so that the members 2 abut one another. Clips 40 are used to secure the members 2 to one another (generally two clips are used at each end portion of the members 2 but more or less could be used).

The clips operate so that the transverse member 4,6 are received between the substantially semi circular regions 48,50. The bolt holding the two plates 42,44 together is tightened thus clamping the clip 40 in place.

It should be noted that in Figure 8 the lock means 26,28,30,32 are shown in the same side of the member 2. This is a feature designed to increase the security of the hoarding once assembled. The hoarding should be constructed so that the lock means 26,28,30,32 are positioned toward the inside of the area being fenced off. Thus people on the outside will not be given access to the lock means and so will not readily be able to disassemble the member 2.

In its disassembled state the member 2 is more compact (and thus easier to transport) than when its assembled state. Thus, in use, the members 2 may be transported to the site where a hoarding is to be assembled in a van. The people constructing the hoarding then only need to remove the components from the van and assemble them to form the hoarding.

The panel means 12 may have a colour scheme applied to it. The colour scheme may be the colours of the business /company for which work is being performed or for that business/company which is performing the work. This may give a corporate identity to the hoarding.

The colour scheme may be applied to the entire surface member 2 so that perhaps different colours are present on neighbouring members 2 in a hoarding. Alternatively patterns may be applied to the surface of the member 2.

It will be appreciated, and as can be seen in Figure 5 that the technique used to join the channel 14 to the lengths of circular tube 16 forms a void 42. The void 42 may provide useful for tying things through, perhaps to support banners etc.

The panel means 12 may comprise a number of smaller panels, which are rested next to each other in the channels 14 to give the effect of one large panel means 12. This has the advantage that when the member 2 is disassembled the resulting components occupy less space. Adjacent edge portions of panels may overlap each other in the assembled hoarding member. When the panels are corrugated they may rest in each other.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 9. A hoarding member 100 is shown comprising a lower opaque panel 102 and an upper substantially transparent panel 104.

The opaque panel 102 comprises corrugated sheet material of a similar nature to panel means 12 of Figure 1. The transparent panel 104 comprises a mesh material; that is a grid of metal rod or other similar material. The mesh of the transparent panel 104 in the Figure is shown to be coarse, that is with large spaces between the metal rod. However, the mesh could also be fine, that is with the elongate members closely packed and of thinner gauge than for the coarse mesh.

Figure 9a details two lengths of angled material 106,108 which have been overlapped so that an effective 'U' channel section is formed.

A formation such as detailed in Figure 9a is used between the transparent 104 and opaque 102 panels of the hoarding member 100, as indicated at 110. In the completed hoarding member 100 the effective U channel 110 is arranged so that parallel sides are vertical (and depend downwardly from the web of the effective U channel) and either side of the opaque panel 102, thus retaining the opaque panel 102 in place.

At a lower portion of the hoarding member 100 is provided a 'U' channel 112 arranged to receive a lower edge portion of the opaque panel 102 so that the opaque panel 102 is retained within the parallel sides of the U channel.

Uprights 114,116 are provided from tubular members. The U channel 112 is welded at either end to the uprights, thus securely forming three edges of the hoarding member 102.

The length of angle material 106 is welded at both ends to the uprights 114,116, whilst the other length of angle material 108 is bolted to the uprights at both ends.

12 The top most section of the hoarding members comprises a length of tube 118 to which the transparent panel 104 is welded.

To construct the hoarding member 102, a user starts with the pre formed three sides of the frame comprising the lower U channel 112 and the two uprights 114,116 with the length of angle 106 towards a centre section. The user then places a lower edge portion of the opaque panel 102 into the lower U channel and rests an upper edge portion of the opaque panel 102 against the angle material 106.

The length of angle 108 is then bolted in place securing the opaque panel 102 in place. The upper edge portion of the opaque panel 102 being retained in the effective U channel 110. The tube 118 is then bolted to the uprights 114,116 with the lower edge portion of the transparent panel 104 being retained in clips provided along an upper surface of the effective U channel 112.

A hoarding member as shown in Figure 9 could be considered to be Z:1 a viewing panel and may be provided at intervals around a site to allow people outside to see the work progressing.

It will be realised that the U channel 112 and the length of angle 106 could also be bolted to the uprights 114,116 to allow the hoarding member 100 to be fully collapsed and transported easily.

Figure 10 details the use of two lengths of angle material to form an effective U channel. A frame 119 for a hoarding member is shown.

The top most member of the frame is shown constructed from two lengths 13 of angle 120,122 (much in the same way as the effective U channel 110 was formed from angles 106,108 in Figure 9).

Uprights 124,126 are provided from tubular material. A lower most member 128 of the frame 119 is either a U channel or two lengths of angle (much the same as the two lengths of angle 120,122).

The frame may be bolted together at its four corners or may be welded. If the joints are welded it is preferable to still bolt the length of angle 120 to the uprights 124,126 so that it can be removed allowing a panel held in the frame 119 to be replaced.

If the frame is bolted together it may be disassembled and therefore transported more easily.

Figure 11 shows yet a further embodiment of a frame 130 in which the four edge portions are provided either from two lengths of angle or lengths of U channel. Providing U channel at side edge portions (instead of from tubular members) as well as upper and lower edge portions may be advantageous as it holds a panel placed in the frame 130 more securely.

The four lengths of U channel (or lengths of angle) may be bolted at the corners (allowing the frame 130 to be disassembled and transported easily) or may be welded.

Claims

14 CLAIMS

1. A hoarding comprising frame means which supports and retains panel means, the frame means comprising a first elongate member having a first channel provided with first and second opposed surfaces.. and a second elongate member, spaced from and opposed to the first elongate member, the second elongate member having a second channel provided with third and fourth opposed surfaces, the first and second channels facing each other, and the panel means being retained by the first and 10 second channels and being located between the first and second surfaces and the third and fourth surfaces.

2. A hoarding according to claim 1 in which the panel means is opaque and a casual passer-by cannot see through the hoarding.

is 3. A hoarding according to claim 1 or claim 2 which has longitudinally spaced first and second transverse members extending between the first and second elongate members, and secured to the first and second elongate members.

4. A hoarding according to any preceding claim in which the elongate members have a first coupling at or adjacent one of their ends and a second coupling at or adjacent the other of their ends.

5. A hoarding according to claim 4 in which the first and second couplings are releasably connectable to respective third and fourth couplings provided at or adjacent the ends of the first and second transverse members.

6. A hoarding according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the couplings comprise a tube or spigot slidably received in a socket.

7. A hoarding according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which lock means are provided to lock the connection of the first couplings with the third couplings, andlor the connection of the second couplings with the fourth couplings.

8. A hoarding according to claim 7 in which the lock means are releasable.

9. A hoarding according to claim 8 in which the lock means have their release means provided all to one side only of the frame means, so as to enable an enclosure or secure area to be created in which the release means are not operable from outside the secure area defined by the hoardings.

10. A hoarding according to any one of claims 6 to 9 in which the lock means comprise screws or bolts.

11. A hoarding according to any preceding claim in which the panel means comprises a corrugated panel member.

12. A hoarding according to any preceding claim in which the panel means comprises a plurality of panel members held between the same pair of elongate members.

13. A hoarding according to any preceding claim in which the elongate members extend generally horizontally in use.

16 14. A hoarding according to any one of claims 1 to 12 in which the elongate members extend generally vertically.

15. A hoarding according to any preceding claim in which the elongate members are U-section integrally formed channel members.

16. A hoarding according to any preceding claim in which the elongate members are extruded sections.

17. A hoarding according to claim 14 in which the U-section elongate members have notches at their ends, with components of the coupling mechanism affixed in the notches.

18. A hoarding according to any one of claims 1 to 14 in which the elongate members are formed from two lengths of L-shaped angle material arranged so as to form an effective U-channel.

19. A hoarding according to any preceding claim in which at least the bottom, upwardly facing, elongate member has one or more drain holes to allow water to drain away.

20. A hoarding substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 8, or with reference to Figure 9, or with reference to Figures 1 to 8 or 9 as modified by Figure 10 or Figure 11.

21. A kit adapted to be assembled into a hoarding according to any one of claims 1 to 20, the kit comprising a pair of elongate members each having a channel having a base portion and opposed side face portions, and the elongate members having at or adjacent each of their ends coupling means; a pair of transverse connecting members provided with 17 complementary coupling means at or adjacent their ends; and at least one panel member; the arrangement being such that opposed edge portions of the panel member are adapted to be received and located in the channel sections of the elongate members, with the elongate members in spaced opposed relationships and bounding the panel member, and the coupling means adapted to couple with the complementary coupling means so that the elongate members and transverse members form a frame.

22. A kit according to claim 21 which has a plurality of panel members 10 adapted to be received in the same pair of elongate members.

23. A kit according to claim 21 or claim 22 in which there are enough elongate members and transverse members and panels to form a plurality of hoardings.

24. A kit may according to any one of claims 21 to 23 which also has joining means adapted to join two hoardings together.

25. A kit according to any one of claims 21 to 24 which has feet attached to, or adapted to be attached to, the frame to assist in holding the frame upright.

26. A kit adapted to be assembled into a hoarding substantially as described herein.

27. An enclosed secure space with at least a part of its boundary defined by one or more hoardings in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 20.

18 28. A method of constructing a hoarding comprising slotting a panel member into a first channel, slotting the panel member into a second channel and joining the two channels together with transverse members so as to prevent the channels from moving away from each other, thereby 5 retaining the panel member between them.

29. A method of constructing a hoarding substantially as described herein.