GB2378473A

GB2378473A - Barrier fence with rails and uprights clamped together

Info

Publication number: GB2378473A
Application number: GB0107021A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Wakefield; Graham Henry James Tyler; Geoffrey Robert Cecil
Original assignee: BLAKENEY IRONWORKS Ltd
Current assignee: BLAKENEY IRONWORKS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-21
Filing date: 2001-03-21
Publication date: 2003-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-21
Also published as: GB0107021D0; GB2378473B

Abstract

A barrier fence comprising two rails 2, at least one upright baluster 1 and support 4 which is attached to at least one rail, rails and uprights are clamped together. Each rail 2 may comprise two parts, one or both of which may have a channel to receive the upright balusters which may be clamped between by nut and bolt fastenings. The upright balusters may be joined at one end and clamped at four points along the railings. Support 4 may be clamped to the rails by a bracket 3 which extends around the post. The barrier may form a railing or gate including a hinge and latch and may be suspended between two posts.

Description

Improvements in or relating to barriers The present invention relates to a barrier, which is typified by, but not necessarily limited to, railings and/or a gate, and to the barrier in combination with one or more supporting elements.

Railings and gates are well known. Typically, these are of welded construction. However, this prevents self-assembly and can make self-installation difficult.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier comprising two rails, one or more elongate members, means for clamping the said one or each elongate member to the rails, and means for connecting at least one end of each rail to a supporting element so that the barrier can be supported and the rails can extend in parallel spaced relationship.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the present invention are set out in claims 2 to 9, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier comprising two rails which in use extend horizontally in vertically spaced relationship, a plurality of elongate members which in use extend transversely to the rails, each rail being formed in two parts, at least one of which has a plurality of recesses spaced apart along its longitudinal extent, and means for clamping the two

parts in side-by-side relationship with the elongate members in the recesses.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supporting element in combination with a barrier in accordance with the first or second aspects of the present invention.

Preferable and/or optional features of the third aspect of the present invention are set out in claims 13 to 16, inclusive.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a barrier, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan view through the supporting element shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the supporting element shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a barrier is shown therein which comprises a plurality of elongate members 1, two rails 2 and means for clamping the elongate members 1 to the rails 2.

As shown in Figure 1, the elongate members 1 may be provided in pairs which are joined at one end to create a hoop-top effect. However, other configurations are also obvious.

Each rail 2 is assemblable from two parts 2a and 2b (see Figure 2), between which the elongate members I can be clamped by the clamping means.

The clamping means, in this embodiment, is in the form of a plurality of nutand-bolt fastenings 2c. Each rail 2 is provided with apertures or openings (not shown), which are typically spaced equi-distantly or substantially equi-distantly along its length and which are adapted to be able to receive the fastenings 2c.

Obviously, it will be realised that any suitable form of, typically releasable, fastening can be used.

To enable the elongate members 1 to be easily and positively located between the parts 2a and 2b of the rails 2, channels or recesses 2d are formed in facing surfaces 2a'and 2b'of the parts 2a and 2b, respectively. The channels or recesses 2d each extend transversely to the longitudinal extent of the rail 2 and are spaced along the length of the rail 2, typically equi-distantly or substantially equi-distantly. The channels or recesses 2d also alternate with the apertures or openings for the fastenings 2c. The channels or recesses 2d are adapted to receive part of the elongate members 1.

The barrier also comprises means for connecting the rails 2 to at least one supporting element. The connecting means is typically in the form of a bracket 3, and the supporting element is typically in the form of a post 4. However, the supporting element may equally be, for example, a surface of a fixed structure, such as a wall.

The bracket 3 enables the ends of the rails 2 and the supporting element to be interconnected (best shown in Figure 2). In this embodiment, each bracket 3 comprises an arcuate portion 3a and two lugs 3b, each being formed on a respective end of the arcuate portion 3a. The lugs 3b are dimensioned so that a shoulder exists between the arcuate portion 3a and each lug 3b. In this way, two brackets 3 are of complementary shape, thereby enabling them, in use, to be contra-oriented to produce a neat and tidy appearance. See Figure 3.

When the supporting element is of suitable dimension, such as in the case of post 4, the arcuate portion 3a of the bracket 3 extends around or substantially around the circumference of the post 4. The lugs 3b are then engagable with the end of the rail by using a fastening 2c, the tightening of which causes the arcuate portion 3a to constrict around the post 4 and the bracket 3 to thus be clamped in place.

The barrier is assembled by positioning each end, or a portion adjacent each end, of each elongate element I in one of the channels or recesses 2d of one of the parts 2a or 2b of each of the rails 2. The remaining part 2b or 2a is then positioned in side-by-side relationship so that it aligns with the first part 2a or 2b and so that the

elongate elements 1 are received in its respective channels or recesses 2d.

The fastenings 2c are inserted through the apertures or openings in the rails 2 and tightened. The parts 2a and 2b and the elongate members 1 are thus clamped together in such a manner that the rails 2 extend in parallel spaced relationship.

If the supporting element is to be the post 4, it will typically be erected prior to the barrier being affixed thereto. Two brackets 3, corresponding to two adjacent ends of the rails 2, are placed on the post 4 and these ends are positioned between the respective openings in the brackets 3. A fastening 2c is then used to engage the bracket 3 with its respective rail 2 and, upon tightening, to clamp the bracket 3 to the post 4. In use, therefore, the rails 2 extend in horizontally spaced relationship and the elongate members 1 extend transversely to the rails 2.

In the case where the barrier is a railing, there will be a supporting element at each end of the rails 2. These supporting elements can either take the form of posts 4 or one or both may be replaced by a wall, as mentioned above. In that case, the bracket 3 would be suitably modified to enable fixing to the wall.

Alternatively, in the case where the barrier is a gate, typically only one supporting element, usually the post 4, is utilised. An in use upright element, which may be another post or a wall, is provided, along with means for latching the gate to the upright element when in use the gate is closed. The brackets 3 would typically be adapted to hinge to permit the gate to be openable and closeable, and the connecting a

means at the end opposite the supporting element would typically be replaced by a finishing element that interconnects the free-ends of the rails 2.

The brackets 3, as described above, are advantageous, particularly when utilised in conjunction with a post of circular or substantially circular cross-section, in that they enable a set of railings to be erected along a non-linear path, if required.

The barrier and the post are preferably formed from metal, such as mild steel. However, any other suitable material, or suitable combination of materials, could be utilised.

By use of the invention described above, it is possible to provide a barrier and a barrier in combination with one or more supporting elements which, when stored, is compact and which can be self-assembled and self-installed.

The embodiments described above are given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the post (s) may be of non-circular cross-section; the elongate members may in fact be just one elongate member; more than two rails may be provided; and the channels or recesses may be only provided in one of the parts of the rails.

Claims

Claims 1. A barrier comprising two rails, one or more elongate members, means for clamping the said one or each elongate member to the rails, and means for connecting at least one end of each rail to a supporting element so that the barrier can be supported and the rails can extend in parallel spaced relationship.
2. A barrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein each rail comprises two parts between which the elongate member (s) can be clamped by the clamping means.
3. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clamping means is in the form of a plurality of nut-and-bolt fastenings.
4. A barrier as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each of the rail parts is formed with a plurality of channels which extend transversely to the longitudinal extent of the rails, the channels being spaced along the length of the rails and being adapted to receive part of the said one or each elongate member.
5. A barrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein pairs of the said elongate members are provided, each pair being joined together at one end and, in use, clamped at four points between the two rails by the said clamping means.
6. A barrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting means is in the form of a bracket which can interconnect the said at least

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one end of the rail and the supporting element.
7. A barrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the barrier is a railing.
8. A barrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the barrier is a gate.
9. A barrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connecting means is adapted to hinge.
10. A barrier comprising two rails which in use extend horizontally in vertically spaced relationship, a plurality of elongate members which in use extend transversely to the rails, each rail being formed in two parts, at least one of which has a plurality of recesses spaced apart along its longitudinal extent, and means for clamping the two parts in side-by-side relationship with the elongate members in the recesses.
11. A barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A supporting element in combination with a barrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.
13. A combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein the supporting element is a

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post.
14. A combination as claimed in claim 13 when claim 12 is dependent on claim 6, wherein the bracket can extend around or substantially around the post and, in use, is clamped to the post via its connection to the end of the rail.
15. A combination as claimed in claim 13 when claim 12 is dependent on claim 7, wherein two posts are provided between which the barrier can be supported.
16. A combination as claimed in claim 13 when claim 12 is dependent on claim 8 or claim 9, the combination further comprising an in use upright element and means for latching the gate to the upright element when in use the gate is closed.
17. A combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.