GB2415712A

GB2415712A - Fence connector

Info

Publication number: GB2415712A
Application number: GB0414692A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alastair Henman
Original assignee: Zaun Ltd
Current assignee: Zaun Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-30
Filing date: 2004-06-30
Publication date: 2006-01-04
Also published as: GB0414692D0

Abstract

A fence connector for connecting a fence panel 6 to a fence post 4 comprises first and second members 32, 34 connected to one another at an angle. The first member 34 comprises means 40 for locating the member either side of a portion 10 of a fence panel or fence post to be gripped. Locating means 40 may be an aperture extending through the member 34 or a U-shaped portion of the member 34. The second member 32 may comprise an aperture for receiving a fastener 38. A fencing system may be formed from panels and posts connected together at connection points using such a connector, preferably using pairs of such connectors at each connection point.

Description

FF,NCING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME The present

invention relates to a fencing system and method of manufacturing the same.

Fencing systems generally comprise one or more panels which are secured to the ground or a fixed structure in an upright position by fence posts. Typically, each end of a panel is connected to a fence post so as to ensure a rigid construction. Furthermore, each post will generally have one or two panels connected thereto, although a single post may in certain circumstances provide support to three or more fencing panels.

Several prior art techniques are known for securing a fencing panel to a post. For example, the connection between the two components may be made with a bolted angle cleat. However, the technique used for connecting fencing panels and posts must ideally allow for a rigid connection to be provided in a convenient and inexpensive manner at any point along the length of the post and at any angular orientation about the longitudinal axis of the post. Hithertofore, a convenient technique for inexpensively and releasably providing a compact connection having such a degree of adjustment has not been available.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fencing system with a convenient, inexpensive, compact, releasable and adjustable connection between post and panel members.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a first fence comprising two fencing panels secured to a single fencing post in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic enlarged view of a connection between the fence post and one of the fence panels of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic front view of a second fence comprising two fencing panels secured to a single fencing post in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 4 is a schematic view of a further connection between a fence post and panel in accordance with the present invention.

A first fencing system 2 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. The fencing system 2 comprises a plurality of interconnected fencing posts 4 (only one shown in Figure 1) and fencing panels 6 (only two shown in Figure 1). The fencing post 4 is of a bow type comprising an elongate metal bar with a U- shaped bend forming a head 8. Two legs 10 extend downwardly from the head 8 with associated feet 12 being set in a solid foundation 14 (for example, a concrete base).

Each fencing panel 6 comprises a plurality of vertically arranged pale members 16 interconnected with one another by upper and lower rail members 18,20. The upper and lower rail members 18,20 are flat elongate metallic bars, whereas the pale members 16 comprise an elongate metallic bar having a circular cross-section and a U-shaped bend forming a head similar to that of the fencing posts 4. Legs extending downwardly from the head of each pale member extend through circular apertures in the upper rail member 18 and locate in abutment with the upper surface of the lower rail member 20. The pale members 16 are secured to the upper and lower rail members 18,20 by welds.

The present invention however is of particular use in providing a versatile connection between posts 4 and panels 6 and is applicable to any system with rails. With reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that the upper rail member 18 of a fencing panel 6 is connected to a leg 10 of the fencing post 4 by means of a single clamp arrangement 22, whilst the lower rail member 20 of a fencing panel 6 is connected to a leg 10 by means of a double clamp arrangement 24. The double clamp arrangement 24 comprises two single clamp arrangements 22 wherein one of said single clamp arrangements 22 is oriented upside down and located on the opposite side of the rail member 20 to the other single clamp arrangement 22. The single and double clamp arrangements 22,24 are secured to associated upper and lower rail members 18,20 by means of a nut 26 and bolt 28 (extending through apertures in the clamp arrangements and the rail members). An enlarged view of one of the double clamp arrangements 24 is shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

With reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that the leg 10 of a fencing post 4 is connected to the rail members 20 of a fencing panel 6 by means of a plurality of single and double clamp arrangements 22,24 comprising a plate member 30. The plate members of the clamp arrangements are identical to one another but may be arranged with opposite orientations so as to allow them to be located adjacent one another and extend from the same portion of rail member (as in the double clamp arrangement 24). Each plate member 30 comprises two portions 32,34 angled relative to one another and joined to one another at a bend 36 in the plate member 30. The first portion 32 of each plate member 30 is, in use, located in abutment with the rail member of a fencing panel 6 and is provided with a bolt hole 38 for receiving the aforementioned bolt 28 with which the plate member 30 and rail member are rigidly secured to one another.

The second portion 34 of each plate member 30 is provided with an aperture 40 dimensioned so as to allow the passage therethrough of the leg 10 of a fencing post 4 to be gripped/clamped. In an alternative arrangement, the aperture 40 may open to an edge of the plate member 30 so as to define a generally U-shaped recess or slot in the side of the second portion 34. In this alternative arrangement, a leg to may be moved directly into the slot of the plate member 30 with a lateral motion rather than, in the case where an aperture 40 is provided, first feeding the foot 12 followed by the leg 10 of the fencing post 4 in a longitudinal direction through the plate member 30. Each plate member 30 is of a metallic material (although other material may be used) and is sufficiently rigid to resist significant flexing or bending when used in clamping the fencing post 4 to the fencing panel 6.

As will be understood from the above, the aperture 40 (or slot) must be sufficiently large to allow location therein of the fencing post 4. The particular size of the aperture 4 depends upon the desired relative orientation of the fencing post 4 relative to the fencing panel 6 and the relative orientation of the first and second portions 32,34 of the plate member 30. Generally speaking, the fencing post 4 will be set at an angle of 90' to the fencing panel 60 and the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings have such an arrangement. As a consequence of the angle between the first and second portions 32,34 of each plate member 30, when the post 4 and panel 6 are arranged in the desired relative orientation (i.e. perpendicularly to one another), the second portion 34 of each plate member 30 locates at an angle to the post 4 and, as a result, the post 4 sits at an angle within the aperture 40. the dimensions of the aperture 40 are such that, with the post 4 sat at the aforesaid angle, the sides of the aperture 40 press with considerable force at points 42,44 against the fencing post 4. As the nut 26 and bolt 28 are tightened, it will be seen from Figure 2 that the first portion 32 of each plate member 30 is increasingly forced into a parallel relationship with the adjacent rail member. As such, the second portion 34 rotates relative to the fencing post 4 and increasingly presses/grips thereagainst. The aperture 40 is dimensioned so that, when the nut 26 and bolt 28 are fully tightened, the second portion 34 of each plate member 30 securely grips the fencing post 4 and thereby connects the fencing post 4 to the fencing panel 6. [n this regard, it will be understood by the skilled person that, if the diameter of the aperture 40 is made increasingly larger than the diameter of the leg 10 to be gripped, then the plate member must be increasingly bent (i.e. angle 46 must be increased - see Figure 2) in order to ensure sufficient clamping for the same post/panel orientation.

It will also be understood that at least two plate members 30 must be used in order to secure any one fencing panel 6. This is necessary in order to provide a rigid structure against which clamping forces may be reacted. In this respect, the double clamp arrangement 24 shown in Figure 2 may be used to rigidly connect a panel and post or, alternatively, a single clamp arrangement 22 may be used to connect each of the upper and low rail members 18,20 of a panel 6 to a fencing post 4. However, alternatively, where two fencing posts 4 are already secured in an upright position (i.e. are fixed in position relative to one another), just one single clamp arrangement 22 may be used in connecting opposite ends of the same fencing panel 6 to the posts. In this way, forces resulting from clamping against a post can be reacted against the other post.

With regard to the fencing system 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that the plate members 30 may be moved axially along the length of the fencing post 4 to a required position before the nuts 26 and bolts 28 for securing them to the fencing panels 6 are tightened. Furthermore, provided the legs 10 of the fencing post 4 have a circular cross-section, the plate members 30 may be clamped in any position about the longitudinal axis of a leg 10. In any event, it will be appreciated that a fencing panel 6 may be rotated relative to the plate members 30 about the longitudinal axis of each bolt 28 and a desired angle between fencing posts and panels may be thereby achieved. As such, the connection between fencing posts and panels provided by the present invention is extremely convenient and versatile.

A further fencing system 50 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. The fencing system 50 comprises a plurality of posts 52 (only one shown in Figure 3) and panels 54 (only two shown in Figure 3) s interconnected with one another. Each post 52 has a circular cross- section and is of a metallic or wooden material. Each panel 54 comprises upper and lower rail members 56,58 between which a plurality of pale members 60 extend. At the end of each upper and lower rail member, each panel 54 is connected to a post 52 by a single clamp arrangement 62. Each single clamp arrangement 62 is identical to the single clamp arrangement 22 described above other than that the aperture for receiving the post is sized and shaped appropriately. In order to allow consecutive panels 54 to be connected to the same post 52 at the same longitudinal position along said post 52, the clamp arrangement 62 of one panel is arranged upside down relative to that of the other panel located at the same longitudinal position along the post.

A yet further fencing system 70 is shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. This system 70 makes use of fencing panels 6 identical to those of the first fencing system 2 described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. However, each post 72 of the fencing system shown in Figure 4 has a square or rectangular cross-section and comprises a laterally extending lug 74 in which is defined a hole 76 for receiving a bolt 28 associated with a plate member 78. 'I'he plate member 78 is identical to the plate member 30 described in relation to the first fencing system 2, but has an aperture 80 sized and shaped to receive and grip the upper rail member 18 of the panel 6. A nut 82 is provided for engaging and tightening the bolt 28. The post/panel connection differs from those shown in Figures I to 3 in that a spacer element 84 is provided between the lug 74 and the plate member 78. The spacer element 84 ideally has the same thickness as the upper rail member 18. The spacer element 84 is also optional.

The advantage of the system shown in Figure 4 is that, in circumstances where a fencing panel 6 must be shortened by cutting the upper and lower rail members 18,20 and thereby allowing removal of one or more pale members 16, a bolt hole does not need to be re-drilled.

The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above.

Alternative arrangements and suitable materials will be apparent to a reader skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A fence connector for connecting a fence panel to a fence post,

the fence connector comprising first and second members connected to one another at an angle, the first of said members comprising means for locating said first member either side of a portion of fence panel or fence post to be gripped.
2. A fence connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locating means of said first member is an aperture extending through said one member.
3. A fence connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locating means of said first member is a generally U-shaped portion of said one member.
4. A fence connector as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second members are generally planar.
5. A fence connector as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said second member comprises an aperture for receiving a fastener.
6. A fence comprising a fence connector as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
7. A method of connecting a fence panel to a fence post using a fence connector as claimed in any of claims I to 5, the method comprising the steps of locating said first member of the fence connector either side of a portion of one of the fence panel and fence post; and securing said second member of the fence connector to the other of the fence panel and fence post.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of locating said first member in a desired position and orientation relative to said portion of fence panel or fence post prior to securing said second member.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said second member is secured to the other of the fence panel and fence post by means of a bolt.
10. A fence comprising first and second members connected to one another with connecting means, the connecting means comprising first and second spaced apart portions of said first member which are located adjacent opposite sides of an elongate portion of said second member; wherein said first and second portions are spaced apart by a distance greater than the distance between opposite sides of said second member, and wherein said first and second portions are oriented relative to the remainder of said first member such that, when said first member is oriented at a desired angle relative to said second member, the first and second portions abut said elongate portion.