GB2403737A - Fence panel bracket with means to receive hanging basket or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A fence panel support bracket comprises a body (1) having a hollow protrusion therein which, in use, is located over a face of the fence post and is capable of receiving a bracket of a hanging basket or the like. The main body also includes at least one laterally extending flange (3) which in use is attached to a fence panel. Two like support brackets may be used in combination with one on each of two opposing sides of the fence post. Alternatively the main body may, in use extend almost entirely around the post to secure a single panel to one side (Figures 12 and 13)

Description

A FENCE PANEL SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH PROVISION FOR ATTACHING

AN ACCESSORTY BRACKET.

This invention provides the means for securing a fence panel to a fence post and at the same time provides for the attachment of various accessories such as are needed to support hanging baskets, bird boxes or the like.

Typically the type of fence panel which slots into a concrete fence post can suffer from long term problems such as shrinkage. This brings about a reduction in the length of the panel and consequently results in a poor fit between the fence panel and the post. In most cases the effect of this is to make the fence panel loose and in extreme cases the fence panel will fall out of engagement with the post altogether particularly on windy days.

There are many examples in the art of solutions to these problems. In GB 2362 895 a bracket is described which bridges the fence post and attaches by means of a screw to the fence panels which are located on either side of the fence post. It is obvious however that this type of bracket can secure the fence panels individually, but does not help if a number of panels have shrunk in length, since the panel is then no longer engaged with the post.

A solution to the problem of shrinkage in the panel length can be found in GB 2372 053. In this example of the art a clip is formed to be inserted over the top of the fence and the panels, without screws. It then secures both panels to the fence post and permits lateral movement caused by shrinkage, whilst will securing the fence panels to the post. This example specifically addresses the problem of using screws which are evidenced in the previous

example of the art.

A further solution to the problem of loose fence panels is to be found in GB 2365 457. This example of the art addresses the problem of fixing a single panel and illustrates a clip which is designed to fill the gap between the end of the fence panel and the post. This clip is attached to a single panel and eliminates movement of the panel on a windy day.

A further problem to be found in fencing systems is that it is often desirable to attach accessories such as hanging baskets or bird boxes to the fence or more appropriately to the fence post.

One solution to be found in the art can be found exampled in GB 2378 637.

In this disclosure a bracket is so shaped as to allow it to be fed over the upstanding end of the fence post. The bracket has arms which grips the fence post and gravity forces the clip to lean downwards and to grip the post.

To adjust the position of the clip it is only necessary to lift the clip to the horizontal position and slide it up and down the post. This clip is independent of the method used to secure the fence panel to the post.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution both to securing fence panels and to attaching accessories within the same system. The present system therefore provides solutions to all of the problems addressed by the previously quoted art, by taking an entirely new approach to the design of the basic fence panel support.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fence panel support for joining two panels to a fixed post. Such support will fasten to the panels with one or more bolts or other securing means at each end and may include a second support on the opposite side of the fence panels. This support includes provision in the support to attach additional brackets which could be used to secure any required accessory to the fence post by attaching it to said fence panel support.

A second aspect of the invention provides a fence panel support for fixing a single panel in line with other panels, by bolting to the fence panel and clipping said panel to the fence post and incorporates provision for attaching accessories.

A third aspect of the invention provides a clip for securing an end fence panel.

Such clip surrounds the periphery of the post and bolts to the fence panel on each side respectively and incorporates provision for attaching accessories.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides for a bracket which attaches to the fence panel support for the purposes of attaching a hanging basket or the like to the support.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides for two or more brackets which can be attached to a bird box or any other accessory and in combination provide a means for attaching the said accessory to the fence panel support.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 illustrates the basic fence panel support used for joining two fence panels which are aligned one after the other in a straight line.

Fig 2 Shows the support illustrated in Fig 1 in use.

Fig 3 illustrates an accessory bracket for the supports shown in Fig 1 and 2 which attaches to the support and is used for hanging for example a hanging basket. This figure illustrates the bracket with the bottom steady plate adjusted for shipment.

Fig 4 Shows the same bracket as Fig 3 with the bottom steady plate adjusted for use.

Fig 5. Illustrates the bracket shown in Figs 3 and 4 in use.

Fig 6 Illustrates a series of three brackets which can be used to attach different accessories to the basic fence panel support.

Fig 7 Illustrates the brackets in Fig 6 in use.

Fig 8 Illustrates the basic fence panel support featuring different piercing for fixing bolts.

Fig 9 Is an alternate view of the bracket shown in Fig 8 when viewed from above.

Fig 10 Illustrates a fence panel support which attaches to one panel only viewed from above.

Fig 11 Shows the Fig 10 bracket viewed from the side.

Fig 12 lilustrates a bracket used for securing an end panel.

Fig 13 Shows the Fig 12 bracket in use.

Fig 14 Illustrates an alternative profile shape for the basic fence panel support.

Fig 15 Shows a further variation on shape designed to grip the fence post.

The basic fence panel support (1) is shown in Fig 1 surface (3) is bolted to each fence panel by passing bolts through the fence and through bolt holes 2a. Alternate bolt holes (2b) are shown in Fig 8. The support may be used either on both sides of the fence as in Fig 1 or on one side of the fence as shown in Fig 9.

It will be seen from Fig 2 that the support follows the contour of the fence post and that at the centre a protrusion of any shape (4) is provided for fixing accessories.

Figs 10 and 1 1 show a further version of the support which attaches to one fence panel only and which hooks into engagement with the fence post at one end whilst bolting to the fence at the other.

A further variation of the support is shown in Fig 12 and in use in Fig 13. In this case the bracket traverses the periphery of the fence post and bolts to each side of the fence panel. The protrusion (4) is still provided for fixing accessories.

The shape of the basic support may vary. The principal of following the contour of the fence post will remain but additional corner detail may be added as shown in Fig 14. Alternatively additional shape may be added to assist in gripping the post as shown in Fig 15.

Figs 3, 4 and 5 show an example of a design for a support bracket for the suspension of a hanging basket or the like. The top of the bracket has a securing arm 5 which fits into the accessory fixing protrusion 4 to secure the bracket. The bracket is provided with a bottom support 6 which rests upon the fence post. In Fig 3 the bottom support is packed for transit and in Fig 4 the bottom support is turned through 90 degrees for attachment to the post.

The bracket in use is shown in Fig 5.

An alternative bracket system is shown in Fig 6 where a combination of 7 and 8 or 7 and 9 may be used. These brackets are attached to a bird box or the like as shown in Fig 7 and attached to the support in the same manner as before.

Each feature disclosed in this specification including the drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments, the invention extends to any novel one or any novel combination of the features disclosed in this specification including any accompanying claims and drawings.

Claims (9)

1 A fence panel support for attaching one or more fence panels to a fixed post which support includes means for receiving accessories.

2 A fence pane support as described in claim 1 where said means for receiving accessories is provided by shaping the support to include a hollow protrusion which is a receptacle for said accessory.

3 A fence pane support as described in claims 1 and 2 where said receptacle is semi circular.

4 A fence pane support as described in claim 1 where said means for receiving accessories is provided with any protrusion which is a receptacle for receiving accessories.

A fence pane support as described in any previous claim which may be attached to either on or both sides of a fence.

6 A fence pane support as described in any previous claim which includes provision for fixing means for securing the support to one or more fence panels.

7 A fence pane support as described in any previous claim which is formed to grip the profile of the fence post.

8 A fence pane support as described in any previous claim which fits around a fence post and is attached to both sides a single fence panel.

9 A fence pane support as described in any previous claim which incorporates means to secure the support to the fence post.

A fence panel support substantially as describe herein with reference to figures 1 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.