GB2342375A

GB2342375A - A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence.

Info

Publication number: GB2342375A
Application number: GB9821607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Richard Marsh
Original assignee: LH Woodhouse and Co Ltd
Current assignee: LH Woodhouse and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1998-10-06
Filing date: 1998-10-06
Publication date: 2000-04-12
Also published as: GB9923388D0; GB2342945A; US6474029B1; CA2284848C; CA2284848A1; GB2342945B; IE990833A1; GB9821607D0

Abstract

A roadway or fence comprising a series of panels 11, linked together by means of flexible joints 13,16. A series of panels are connected in sequence by means of a flexible or rigid compression member 17. A unit of panels thus secured is flexibly connected to further units by pairs of connectors 22 (Figs. 2,3). The panels 11 are preferably lightweight, extruded plastic panels containing hollow recesses sealed against the ingress of fluids. The assembly may be used in an upright orientation as fence panels.

Description

2342375 A ROADWAY, HARDSTAND, FLOOR OR FENCE/WALL This invention relates

to a roadway, hardstand, floor or fence/wall (referred to collectively herein as a panel construction), especially but not exclusively such panels construction built as temporary structures at eg. indoor and outdoor events such as sporting events; concerts; agricultural shows; equestrian events; and festivals.

There is a long recognised need for eg. fences and pedestrian and I0 vehicular roadways, at such events, that may be delivered from a remote location; rapidly assembled and laid; and easily removed when no longer required.

Traditionally such panels construction have been formed by linking together a series of panels to define a roadway or fence. Known panels comprise a series of timber boards side by side and banded with pairs of parallel, metal straps to define each panel. The metal straps are pinned or bolted to the boards. They may be linked together to connect series of the panels together.

The known panels are portable and are generally robust, but they suffer numerous disadvantages. Probably the most serious is that they are heavy in order to provide robustness. The panels are prone to breakages. Therefore they are awkward and occasionally dangerous to handle and lay.

Also their weight limits the number of them that may be transported on a lorry, thereby increasing the transportation costs associated with the known designs.

A further disadvantage of the banded timber panels is that they are 1 awkward to repair, since the metal banding usually must be unpinned and removed before any of the boards can be replaced.

Yet a further problem is that if the banding becomes damaged it can 5 puncture vehicle tyres or injure pedestrian users.

An alternative to the banded timber panels is known from GB-A-2 199 864, in which a series of narrow (approximately 460mm (18") wide), discrete, rigid panels is secured together side by side by pairs of rigid, elongate, threaded bolts received in aligned, through-going bores in the panels. Spigots extending from each panel are received in recesses in the adjacent panel. Tightening of the bolts and the use of the spigots Jointly contribute to the rigidity of the lengths of roadway shown in GB-A2199864.

The arrangement of GB-A-2 199 864 also suffers some disadvantages, as follows:

(i) the need to tighten the bolts to rigidify lengths of the panels is time consuming during assembly of the panels; (ii) the rigidity of lengths of roadway made in accordance with GB-A-2 199 864 means that the roadway cannot easily conform to undulations in the ground on which it is laid. When the panels of GB-A-2 199 864 are used in an upright orientation, as fence panels, a similar problem arises; (iii) the elongate bolts are each made up from a series of sub-lengths that must be screwed together on site during assembly of the 2 roadway. This is time consuming to achieve; (iv) the requirement for rigidity of a roadway made from the panels of GB-A-2 199 864 means that the panels must be inher6ntly heavy.

Therefore the length of each panel is limited in order to permit its handling. Consequently it is time consuming to assemble a large number of the panels into a long roadway.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a temporary

Claims

roadway, hardstand, floor or fence/wall as defined in Claim 1.

One advantage of this arrangement is that it permits a panel construction to be flexible when assembled. This in turn allows the ground or other surface supporting the panel construction to provide a significant part of its load bearing capability.

An advantage of the projections is that they can be shaped during manufacture of the panels to provide a liquid dispelling seal when the panels are assembled together. This can assist in providing buoyancy, which in turn assists the apparatus of the invention to support loads, especially (but not exclusively) on wet or muddy ground.

The use of the compressing member primarily to prevent separation of the panels from one another (and not primarily to rigidify a series of the panels) assists in providing flexibility. It also permits the compressing member to be of a predetermined length, corresponding to a known plurality of the panels lying side by side, thereby eliminating the need individually to assemble the rods of GB-A-2 199 864.

3 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a panel as defined in Claim 16.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method as S defined in Claim 20.

Various optional, advantageous features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

There now follows a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a panel construction according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the Figure 1 arrangement, in more detail; Figure 3 shows a coupling mechanism forming part of the invention; Figure 4 shows a curved panel construction according to the invention; Figure 5 shows an alternative coupling; and Figure 6 shows a preferred coupling pin- Referring to the drawings there is shown a panel construction 10 according to the invention. Panel construction 10 comprises a plurality of planar panels 11 linked together to define a substantially continuous surface 11a, having only small, elongate gaps llb between adjacent panels. The gaps llb extend transversely of the rectangular panel construction shown, although of course panels 11 of other shapes would 4 give rise to gaps 1 lb in other patterns.

Each panel 11 is rectangular or square in the embodiment shown, although other regular or irregular shapes may be used. In preferred einbodiments each panel is less than 50mm deep, and most preferably approximately 25mm deep, thereby defining side edges of the panels. Preferably the panels are 1.2m long. Typically each panel is less than 200mm wide, and preferably about 140mm wide. In typical installations sets of the panels may be joined together, as detailed below, to create unitary lengths of the panels, of up to 1.5m - 3m long.

One side edge 12 of each panel has protruding therefrom substantially along its length an elongate protrusion 13. The major dimension of protrusion 13 is generally parallel to the plane of surface 1 la in the embodiment shown, although this need not necessarily be so.

A side edge 14 of each panel 11 includes a recess 16 of complementary shape to the protrusion 13, for receiving the protrusion 13 when two or more of the panels 11 are compressed into a generally abutting relationship. The dimensions of the protrusion 13 and recess 16 are such that two adjacent, abutting panels 11 may flex or tilt relative to one another when the protrusion 13 is received in an adjacent recess 16.

The protrusion 13 and recess 16 defme a joint that is substantially liquid proof, thereby preventing seepage or flow upwards through the panel construction when it lies on eg. wet ground. As indicated this improves the buoyancy of the construction.

It will readily occur to the skilled reader how, within the scope of the invention, to modify the protrusion 13 and recess 16 to permit flexible linking of panels 11 of non-rectangular shapes.

A series of the panels 11 linked together to form a unitary length of panel construction is prevented from separating into a plurality of discrete panels by means of a compression member. In the embodiment shown this takes the form of an elongate metal rod 17 threaded (18) at either end and received in mutually aligned, through-going bores extending through the panels 11 in the elongate direction of the panel construction. A nut 19 may be screwed onto each threaded end 18 of the rod 17 to prevent separation of the unitary length of panels 11.

The rod 17 need not be threaded at each end. One or both ends may include flanges, clips or other retention devices that serve to prevent separation of the individual panels from one another.

Alternatively the compression member may be a flexible member such as a cable, a metal or textile ribbon or a rope. This permits arrangements such as that shown in Figure 4, in which sector-shaped panels 11 are linked by a flexible (or curved) member 17 to define a curved panel construction unit.

The compression member may, instead of being received in a throughgoing bore, pass through eg. an external eye on each panel 11, or be received in a surface channel, in order to perform its anti-separation function. Also, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, preferably there is a plurality of the compression members in each unitary length. An important feature of the invention is that the compression members do not perform a substantial rigidifying function.

6 Also, in preferred embodiments the compression members are all of the same length, corresponding to a unitary length of panel construction equivalent to the length of, say, 24 to 36 of the panels 1 1,'so that the S number of the bolts 19 requiring threading and tightening is kept to a minimum compared with the arrangement in GB-A-2 199 864, in which rigid rods must be assembled to a required panel construction length.

The above-mentioned features ensure that the panel construction is quick to assemble on site.

Once a unitary length of the panel construction is assembled, it may be flexibly secured to an adjacent panel or unitary length using eg. the offset hasp arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3; or eg. the rod eye arrangement of Figure 5.

In Figures 2 and 3 a plate 21 eg. of steel is secured eg. by bolting onto the upright side edge 13a of protrusion 13. Plate 21 has upstanding therefrom a hasp plate 22 having a through-going bore. Hasp plate 22 is offset relative to the centre line of plate 21 so that it may lie adjacent a further such hasp plate, offset to the opposite side of the aforesaid centre line, upstanding relative to a further plate 21 secured to a further panel or unitary length. When thus arranged the through-going bores of the two hasp plates 22 are aligned for receiving a nut and bolt 23 (or similar fastening) that permits pivotable linking of the unitary length and the further panel together. Thus lengths of the panel construction of the invention may rapidly be pivotably linked together. The gap x between the adjacent protrusions 13 may if desired be closed by a filler piece.

7 Figures Sa and 5b show an alternative arrangement, in which a rod end 30 having a threaded recess 30a (Figure 4) is screwed onto each rod or cablelike bolt 19.

S Each rod end 30 includes a plate 30b having formed therein an eye 31. If as shown in Figure 4a the locations of the members 19 are offset relative to one another in the transverse direction, the respective eyes 31 may in use of the panel construction be mutually aligned for receiving a bolt or other fastening.

As an alternative to a bolt, an elongate pin 32 (Figure 6) may be used for pinning the unitary lengths of the connected panels together.

The embodiment of pin 32 shown in Figure 6 includes a crank 33,34 at each end. The respective cranks extend in mutually different directions (opposite directions in the embodiment shown, although the cranks need not be parallel). Thus if the eyes 31 of rod ends 30, or the bores of the hasp plates 22 are of an elongate form, or at least have an elongate portion, it is possible to insert the pin 32, in one orientation, into the eyes/bores (as indicated by the chain line in Figure 4a); and subsequently rotate it to a further orientation in which the cranks 33,34 prevent the pin 32 from working out of the eyes/bores.

Numerous designs of the eyes 31 and the retaining feature exemplified by cranks 33 and 34 are within the scope of the invention.

The elongate or otherwise shaped aperture exemplified by eye 31 may be employed in a range of possible apparatuses for securing the unitary lengths together.

8 The panels 11 preferably are extruded ftom a material such as PVC. Recycled PVC has been found to offer good lightness and durability.

The lightness of the panels is further improved by the extruded panels I I each having formed therein one or more hollow recesses 24. In preferred embodiments the hollow recesses are formed during the extrusion process, and hence are through-going. This allows drainage of water or other fluids from the panels 11 following use in wet environments. More importantly, when lengths of the panel construction shown in Figure 1 are rotated through 90' to define a series of upright fence panels, the fence may be staked to the ground via eg. the hasps 22 or eyes 3 1. Alternatively supporting stakes may engage with or pass through some or all of the recesses 24.

The recesses 24 may be sealed against ingress of fluids (eg. by using suitable bungs; or by plugging with a formable material such as mud or a resilient polymer) thereby increasing the flotation of a roadway made from the panels 11. This is especially useful when the roadway is to be used on muddy, wet or marshy ground.

As shown in Figure 4 the surfaces Ila of the panels may have a variety of:finishes such as the non-slip finishes 11 c shown; or a smooth finish. A preferred finish is that visible at 35 in Figure 1, in which grip ridges are extruded in the transverse direction of the panels, during manufacture.

The lightness of the panels 11 means that a large number of them can be carried to a site on a conventional lorry trailer. The panel construction is then created by threading the compression members through the panels 11, 9 and applying the nuts 19, as necessary, to the compression members to define the unitary, flexible lengths previously mentioned. The completed panels quickly are then lain on the ground and connected together or staked in position as fencing, and subsequently connected to further such 5 unitary lengths using the arrangement of Figures 3 or 5.

CLAIMS 1. A temporary roadway or floor, comprising: a plurality of flexible but substantially self-suppofting panels secured together, each panel having protruding therefrom on at least one side a projection securable with a complementary projection protruding from a further said panel to prevent separation of the panels, the joint defined by the said projections being flexible; and the roadway or floor being flexible as a whole to permit adaptation of the roadway or floor to contours on which it rests; and each panel having extending therethrough or along a side a flexible or rigid reinforcing member.
2. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to Claim 1 wherein the panels are extruded from a plastics material.
3. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein each panel has formed therein one or more hollow recesses.
4. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to Claim 3 wherein each hollow recess is sealed against ingress of fluids.
5. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to any preceding claim, wherein each panel has formed therein on at least one side a recess for receiving a projection, of complementary shape, protruding from a side of an in-use adjoining panel.
6. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to Claim 5 wherein 11 the recess extends along substantially the length of one side edge of a said panel.
7. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence wherein each pahel includes one or more through-going bores for receiving a corresponding number of rigid or flexible compressing members.
8. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to Claim 7, wherein bores of in-use adjoining panels are mutually aligned.
9. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to any preceding claim including a rigid compressing member having means for engaging each of the first and last of a series of the panels, whereby adjustably to compress a said series of panels to define a unitary length of roadway, hardstand, floor or fence.
10. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to any preceding claim wherein the compressing member is a rigid rod threaded at at least one end for receiving a tensioning nut.
11. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to any of Claims I to 9 wherein the compressing member is a flexible cable threaded at at least one end for receiving a tensioning nut.

12. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein each unitary length of the roadway, hardstand floor or fence includes a coupling for coupling the unitary length with a further said panel or unitary length having a complementary coupling.
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13. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to Claim 12 wherein the coupling includes a first plate securable to a said panel having upstanding therefrom a second plate engageable with a further plate, protruding from an adjacent panel, and offset relative to the sedond plate.
14. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence/wall according to Claim 12 wherein the coupling includes an eye securable to each said compressing member.
15. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein the plates or eyes are perforated by in-use aligned apertures for receiving a coupling member.
16. A panel for forming a roadway, hardstand, floor or fence according to any preceding claim, comprising a flexible but substantially self supporting body of extruded plastics material defining at least one major, planar surface and having formed therein at least one hollow recess, the panel including a projection and/or a recess for engagement with a further said panel, and means for engaging a compressing member.
17. A panel according to Claim 16 wherein the plastics material is recycled PVC.
18. A panel according to Claim 16 or Claim 17 wherein the or a said hollow recess is sealed against ingress of fluids.
19. A panel according to any of Claims 16 to 19 wherein the planar surface includes a chosen surface finish.

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20. A method of assembling a roadway, hardstand, floor or fencelwall comprising the steps of using one or more compressing members to assemble a plurality of panels each according to Claim 16 into a unitary length of the roadway, hardstand floor or fence; and coupling a plurality 5 of the unitary lengths together.
21. A roadway, hardstand, floor or fence generally as herein described, with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing
22. A panel generally as herein described, with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
23. A method generally as herein described, with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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