GB2392927A

GB2392927A - Fencing assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2392927A
Application number: GB0218596A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Brian Shortland; Tracey Christina Shortland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-10
Filing date: 2002-08-10
Publication date: 2004-03-17
Also published as: GB0218596D0

Abstract

A fence post assembly comprises a fence post (10) and a cap (30, Figure 11) each having an integral mounting formation, such as a pin (41, Figure 11) or slot (25) which allows the cap to be mounted on the post. Preferably the post and cap have at least one recess (16, 18, Figure 4, 38, 40 Figure 9) which in use, receive part of a fence panel. A further invention comprises two fence post parts, the first of which includes a lug, the second of which includes a socket and where the first and second parts are engageable whilst permitting rotational movement of the first part with respect to the second part. The parts may be decorated with a moulded pattern. Also claimed are a gravel board (Figures 34-43) and a fence post part having a moulded pattern on at least part of one side. The fence parts may be decorated with a moulded pattern.

Description

: FENCE POST ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a fence post assembly and a gravel board. The invention also relates to a fence which comprises a fence post assembly and/or a gravel 5 board.

US Patent 4958470 describes a two-part fence post assembly. A metal shaft is arranged to elevate the base of a wooden post above a concrete surface where it would otherwise be subject to water-related damage. A lower end of the shaft is embedded in concrete.

10 The upper end of the shaft has a cup-like support, which receives a lower end of the wooden post. Two (or four) apertures defined in the lower end of the wooden post receive a corresponding number of tabs on the inside of the cup-like support to hold the metal shaft and wooden post together. It should be noted that the wooden post in US Patent 4958470 is, like conventional fence posts, made from a single piece of material.

15 Therefore, if there is any damage to the top of the post, e.g. from a falling object, the whole post must be replaced.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fence post assembly comprising a fence post part and a cap for mounting on top of the fence post part, 20 wherein the fence post part and the cap each has an integral mounting formation arranged to cooperate so as to allow mounting of the fence post part.

In this way, the need for tools or separate fixings is obviated. The fence post assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention allows quick engagement and 25 disengagement of the fence post part and the cap. Also, if the cap is damaged, the cap can be replaced rather than the whole post.

One of the fence post part and cap may have a socket and the other of the fence post part and cap may have a lug, which cooperate to allow mounting of the cap on the fence 30 post part. Preferably, the socket is arranged on the fence post part and the lug is arranged on the cap. In this way, when only the fence post part of the assembly has

been installed in the ground there is no protrusion from the fence post part, which can give rise to safety concerns and look unsightly.

The lug and socket may be designed to allow rotation of the cap with respect to the 5 fence post part. Preferably, the lug and socket are both of circular cross-section. The lug and socket may each be tapered. This can restrict turning of the cap with respect to the fence post part, whilst still permitting a certain amount of relative rotational movement. 10 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a fence post assembly comprising a first fence post part and a second fence post part, one of the first and second fence post parts having a socket and the other of the first and second fence post parts having a lug, wherein the lug and socket are arranged to cooperate to allow the engagement of the first and second fence post parts, whilst permitting rotational 15 movement of the first part with respect to the second part.

The fence post and the cap preferably each have at least one recess defined thereon so as to receive part of a fence panel, and the recesses are arranged, in uses substantially aligned with each other.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a fence post part for a fence post assembly, the fence post part having a moulded pattern defined on at least part of a side thereof.

25 The moulded pattern may extend substantially along the length of the or each side of the part. In one embodiment of the invention, the pattern is not applied to a lower end of the fence post part since this part is intended to be buried in the ground.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a gravel board 30 comprising, the gravel board having a moulded pattern defined on at least part of a side thereof.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a fence comprising at least one fence assembly in accordance with the first, second or third aspect of the invention and at least one fence panel.

5 According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a fence comprising at least one gravel board in accordance with the fourth aspect of the invention and at least one fence panel.

The fence post assembly and gravel board in accordance with the invention allow for 10 continuation of a pattern across an entire surface of a fence. This contrasts with known fences which have patterns broken by standard flat-sided posts and gravel boards.

Fence post assemblies and gravel boards in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, 15 in which, Figure I is a frontal perspective view of a fence post part of a fence post assembly in accordance with the invention, 20 Figure 2 is a side view of the part of Figure 1, Figure 3 is the front view of the part of Figure I, and Figure 4 is a plan view of the part of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a frontal perspective view of another fence post part in accordance with the invention. Figure 6 is a side view of the part of Figure 5, Figure 7 is a front view of the part of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a plan view of the part of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a frontal perspective view of a fence post cap in accordance with the invention, s Figure 10 is a side view of the cap of Figure 9, Figure 11 is a front view of the cap of Figure 9, 10 Figure 12 is a plan view from above of the cap of Figure 9, and Figure 13 is a plan view from below, of the cap of Figure 9.

Figure 14 is a frontal perspective view of another fence post cap in accordance with the Figure 15 is a side view of the cap of Figure 14, Figure 16 is the front view of the cap of Figure 14, Figure 17 is a plan view, from above, of the cap of Figure 14, and Figure 18 is a plan view, from below, of the cap of Figure 14.

25 Figure 19 is a frontal perspective view of yet another cap in accordance with the Figure 20 is a side view of the cap of Figure 19, 30 Figure21 isafrontviewofthecapofFigure 19 Figure 22 is a plan view, from above, of the cap of Figure 19, and

s Figure 23 is a plan view, from below, of the cap of Figure 19.

Figure 24 is a frontal perspective view of a further fence post cap in accordance with 5 the invention, Figure 25 is a side view of the cap of Figure 24, Figure 26 is a front view of the cap of Figure 24, Figure 27 is a plan view, from above, of the cap of Figure 24, and Figure 28 is a plan view from below, of the cap of Figure 24.

15 Figure 29 is a frontal perspective view of still another fence post cap in accordance with the invention, Figure 30 is side view of the cap of Figure 29, 20 Figure 31 is a front view of the cap of Figure 29, Figure 32 is a plan view from above of the cap of Figure 29, and Figure 33 is a plan view, from below, of the cap of Figure 29.

Figure 34 is a side view of a gravel board in accordance with the invention, and Figure 35 is a plan of the gravel board of Figure 34.

30 Figure 36 is a side view of another gravel board in accordance with the invention, and Figure 37 is a plan view of the gravel board of Figure 36.

Figure 38 is a side view of yet another gravel board in accordance with the invention, and 5 Figure 39 is a plan view of the gravel board of Figure 38.

Figure 40 is a side view of a further gravel board in accordance with the invention, and Figure 41 is a plan view of the gravel board of Figure 40.

Figure 42 is a side view of the last gravel board in accordance with the invention, and Figure 43 is a plan view of the gravel board of Figure 42.

15 Referring to Figures I to 33, a fence post assembly comprises a first (main) post part 10, 26 and a second (cap) post part 30, 40, 50, 60, 70.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the main post part 10 is elongate, typically extending to a length of 1.0 metros to 2.0 metres, and is of I-crosssection. Flanges 12, 14 and web 16 20 of the main post part 10 define two longitudinal grooves 18, 20 designed to receive edges of fence post panels (not shown). The outer flange 14 has a moulded pattern defined on it. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 4, the moulded pattern comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves 22 towards an upper end of the main post part 10 and a plurality of grooves 24 towards the lower end of the main post part 10.

In accordance with the invention, the upper end of the main post part 10 comprises a central blind bore 25, which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main post part.

Referring to Figures 5 to 8, the foot of the main post part 26 is left unpatterned. The 30 foot of the fence post part 26 is buried underground in use and therefore the pattern is not required. Indeed, it is wasteful to provide the pattern on the foot of the post 26.

Referring to Figures 9 to 13, a fence post cap 30 is also of I-cross section. The flanges 32, 34 and web 36 are of a similar size to the corresponding flanges 12, 14 and web 16 of the fence post part 10 in Figures 1 to 4. Accordingly, grooves 38, 40 are provided like grooves 18, 20 in the post part 10. The outer flange 34 comprises a moulded 5 pattern over its surface.

The fence post caps 42, 50, 60 and 70 are of generally similar construction to the fence post cap 30 but each is supplied with a different pattern. Each of the fence post caps 30, 42, SO, 60 and 70 fit within a similar mould volume.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11 the cap 30 comprises a central pin 41 which extends from a lower end thereof. The pin 41 is dimensioned to be received in the slot 25 of the fence post part 10. The cap 30 is arranged on the fence post part 10 by using the pin and slot 41, 25. The weight of the cap 30 keeps it on the fence post part 10. Depending IS on the tolerance of the fit between the pin and the slot, the cap 30 can remain rotatable with respect to the fence post part 10. However, insertion of fence panels in the channels 18, 20, 38 and 40 of the parts 10, 30 will tend to align the parts 10 and 30. If it is desirable to resist rotation slot 25 and pin 41 may have corresponding tapered surfaces. If rotation of the parts must be eliminated for a particular use, the pin 41 in 20 the slot 25 can simply be made square or other non-circular cross- section. If, in use, the cap 30 is damaged by a falling branch of a tree the cap can be removed and replaced easily and cheaply.

Referring to Figures 34 to 43, various gravel boards (which are also known as "gravel 25 planks"), 80, 90, 100 and 110 and 120 are shown. The gravel boards 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 have a pattern defined on one side, substantially covering the same.

It will be appreciated that the fence post assemblies and gravel boards in accordance with the invention allow for an unbroken three dimensional pattern across a fence.

Claims

1. A fence post assembly comprising a fence post part and a cap for mounting on 5 top of the fence post part, wherein the fence post part and the cap each have an integral mounting formation, which are arranged to cooperate so as to allow mounting of the cap on the fence post part.

2. A fence post assembly according to Claim l, wherein one of the fence post part 10 and cap has a socket and the other of the fence post part and cap has a lug, which cooperate to allow mounting of the cap on the fence post part.

3. A fence post assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the socket is arranged on the fence post part and the lug is arranged on the cap.

4. A fence post assembly according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the lug and socket are designed to allow rotation of the cap with respect to the fence post part.

5. A fence post assembly according to any one or more of Claims 2, 3 and 4, 20 wherein the lug and socket are both of circular cross-section.

6. A fence post assembly according to any one or more of Claims 2, 3, 4 and 5, wherein the lug and socket are each tapered.

25

7. A fence post assembly according to any one or more of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the fence post part and the cap each have at least one recess defined thereon so as to receive part of a fence panel, and the recesses are arranged, in use, substantially aligned with each other.

30

8. A fence post assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the fence post part has a moulded pattern defined on at least part of a side thereof.

9. A fence post assembly according to Claim 8, wherein the pattern is not applied to a lower end of the fence post part since this part is intended to be buried in the ground.

10. A fence post assembly comprising a first fence post part and a second fence post 5 part, one of the first and second fence post parts having a socket and the other of the first and second fence post parts having a lug' wherein the lug and socket are arranged to cooperate to allow the engagement of the first and second fence post parts, whilst permitting rotational movement of the first part with respect to the second part.

10

11. A fence post assembly according to Claim 10, wherein the fence post and the cap each have at least one recess defined thereon so as to receive part of a fence panel, and the recesses are arranged, in use, substantially aligned with each other.

12. A fence post assembly according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the fence post part 15 has a moulded pattern defined on at least part of a side thereof.

13. A fence post part for a fence post assembly, the fence post part having a moulded pattern defined on at least part of a side thereof.

20

14. A fence post part according to Claim 13, wherein the pattern is not applied to a lower end of the fence post part since this part is intended to be buried in the ground.

15. A gravel board having a moulded pattern defined on at least part of a side thereof.

25

16. A fence comprising at least one fence post assembly in accordance with any one or more of Claims I to 12 and at least one fence panel.

17. A fence comprising at least one gravel board in accordance with Claim 15 and at least one fence panel.

18. A fence post assembly substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 33 of the drawings.

19. A gravel board substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 34 to 43 of the drawings.