GB2536312A - Fence post assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The fence post assembly comprises a H-section post 1 formed from folded sheet steel, having a central web formed by two overlapping sections, and two channels 2, 3 to hold fencing panels 11; there is also an anchor 7 which the pole slides into and is held in an upright position. The I-section post may be made from two C-shaped bars attached back to back, or from a single sheet of metal bent into shape. Lips 5, 6 may be formed at the leading edge of the post so that spring clips 12 can secure the fencing. The anchor may be formed from two U-section brackets 9, 10 placed back to back, with a gap between them into which the post slots, or it may be formed from a tube (fig. 5, 15) formed from two flanged halves (fig 5, 15a, 15b) which is filled with a granular material (fig. 5, 16) such as gravel, shingle or sand to allow draining of rainwater away from the post. A method of installing the fencing is also included.

Description

Fence P Assembly This invention relates to fence posts for rsecuring fence panels around a perimeter such as a garden.

it is veil known to secure fence panels between respective pairs of enera ly "Fir section concrete or steel posts partially embedded within the ground in a block of concrete or otherwise secured to a suitably durable surface structure such as a pavement or wall_ In the case of such steel posts they are conventionally formed from hot rolled steel and whilst being durable and strong they are also very heavy, sometimes even requiring lifting equipment during installation. In the case of such concrete posts they are age!n durable but also very heavy and suffer the further disadvantage in that the moulding process used for their manufacture inevitably introduces variations in dimensions. In addition, in order to allow the post to be removed from the mould within which it t5 is f r ed during manufacture it is necessary for it to have shallow grooves with tapering surfaces between which the edge of the fence panel is to be received, inevitably meaning that the fence panel itself can rattle between such tapered surfaces and can also be released in high winds due to insufficient depth of grooves holding the panel. in each case, roiled steel or concrete, the posts are far stronger than needed for the purpose of securing relatively lightweight fence panels in position. Treated wooden posts can also be used instead of steel or concrete posts but it is well known that their durability is very limited due to rotting at ground level.

The present invention is derived from the realisation that there is a need for user-friendly fencing system which provide much greater longevity at rid level, is s' and quicker to install and also has theadded advantage of being able to remove and replace damaged or expired, posts.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fence post assembly comprising a fence post and associated fence post anchor, the post being of folded sheet steel and having, a central web formed by two overlapping sheets of steel, each sheet defining the base of a respective panel receivingchannel and both channels collectively defining a generally "H" section post, the post anchor comprising means to grip, directly or indirectly, the lower end of the post when the post is upright, whereby, in use, the post is supported by the 10anchor but is slideably removable therefrom along the major axis of the post.

With this arrangement the generally "H" section post can be made from lightweight folded sheet metal, such as by forming two channels and connecting them together back-to-back by any suitable means including pop rivets. glue or spot welding, to form a generally 'H" section post which may thereafter be l5 inserted between andhor about the post anchor. Alternatively, the generally "H" section post can be made from a single sheet of folded steel composed of, say, 9 folded sections of which. for exampie, the 3rd and 7th define when folded the b of two overlapping sheets of steel.

Preferably, the otherwise leadinc edges of the channels forming the generally "H" section post are folded back inwardly such that the free end of the folded edge is co operable with a barbed orwedge-shaped spring clip insertable between a fence panel and the post, the clip serving to firmly but slideably hold panel in position whereby to prevent rattling of the fence panel due to e,g. gusts of wind, whilst nevertheless allowing flexing of panels in high winds without damaging their integrity; the clip is releasahly held captive by the folded return edge of the post but allows. the panel to flex.

Conveniently, the post anchor is made from metal in the form f a pair of heavier "U" or "C" section brackets having parallei surfaces between or about which the post can be slotted, which brackets can be partially insertable within the ground, such as within a bed of concrete, or attachable to the ground or some other firm out substantially flat surface by means of an attachment base to bolted to the surface In an alternative arrangement, the post anchor is an open-ended tube of shape and size permitting the lower end of the post to be inserted within the tube and held inside with particulates inserted between the post and walls of the tube, such as pea shingle or similar granular inert material, thus allowing free drainage of rainwater through the bottom of the tube and into the ground The tube is formed from metal or plastic and conveniently comprises a pair of flanged halves which, when joined together, form a tube of any convenient shape, such as square, rectangle or cylindrical section. The flanges may be joined together by any suitable means, including bolts, clips or adhesive tape, The two halves of the tube are adapted to be fitted around the post, whereupon this assembly is lowered into the post hole and positioned for fence line and levels after which the tube is then supported by compacted earth (from the excavation of the hole) or concrete. The remaining space inside the tube is then tilled with granular inert material such as pea shingle to provide support for the post and free drainage at ound level to enhancelongevity of the post and also to allow easy replacement of e.g. vehicle damaged posts The use of a flanged tubular anchor is particularly convenient since multiple halves of such tubes can be folded ever each other and stacked for transport and storage, each tube only being formed when a respective pair of such flanged tube halves are connected together.

S According to a second aspect of the invention there provided a method of installing a fence comprising: forming a fixed row of post anchors in or on a perimeter to be fenced, each anchor having means for stideably receiving a fence panel support post of generally "H" section having respectively opposite fence panel-receiving channels, and thereafter, in any required order, sequentially erecting a post and thereafter inserting an edge panel into a respective channel of the post, the sequence continuing until the last succeeding' panel is secured within the channel of the last post of the fence The invention wilt now be described. by way of example only, reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the upper and lower parts of a fence post assembly according to the invention supported by a steel anchor set within a block of concrete, Figure 2 is a top plan view of air a fence panels cured within the fence post assembly of Figure 1, Figure 3 Is schematic view of the lower part of the assert/hi' in Figure 2 with the fence panels removed, but showing one of the g:el boards on which the panels sit, Figure 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of enc OS to use with the fence post assembly of the invention. and is a tap plan view of the fenee post ofFigure 1 releasably secured e ground by an alternative anchor: Referring firstly to Figure 1 a generally "H" section fence post (1) comprises a pair of generally "U" shaped channels arranged back-to-back to form the central web (4) of the post (1) for receiving respective side edges of a pair of fence panels (not shown). The otherwise leading edges of the channels (2,3) are folded over towards the central web (4) to form lips (5,6) which serve to strengthen the edge of sheet metal and also to at as a means for retaining fence panel retaining clips in a manner to be described with reference to Figure 2.

Below the post is a were piece anchor (7), which may be of thicker and hence stronger sheet o that used for the fence post (1), being partially embedded within a block of concrete (8) and comprising a pair of generally "U" shaped channels (9,10) arranged back-to-back but space° apart by an amount slightly greater than the width of the central web (4) of the post (1) such that the-lower end thereof can be slotted therebefween and thereabout to thinly anchor the Ir wirer end of the post (1) in position above the concrete block (8), but in a removable manner The lower end of the anchor (7) extends through the lower end of the concrete block 8, both of which are supported on a bed of gravel "G" so that rainwater can freely drain away. The lower end of the anchor (7) is also preferably provided with a plastics sock to prevent the concrete from directly contacting it causing corro Turning now to Figure 2 there is shown a plan view or the pos (1) secured between and about the channels (9,10) making up the anchor (7) shown r Figure 1, form ng, in combination, the fence post assembly of the Edge parts of a pair of fence panels (11) are shown received within the post channels (2,3), each panel (11) being slideably secured therewithin by means of respective spring clips (12) having barbed ends (13) engageable behind the lips 5,6) of the post channels (2,3). These clips (12) prevent the panels (11) from rattling in the wind and allow different thicknesses of panel to be used.

In Figure 3 there is schematically shown a gravel board (14) to be fitted below a panel (11) (not shown) of height relative to the block of concrete (8) corresponding to the exposed part of the anchor (7). In use, the lower edge of the gravel board, which. may be of concrete or wood, sits on top of the post foundation and prevents the panels inking into the ground. if made of wood each gravel board (14) can be secured to the anchor (7) b/ means of e.g. screws extending into the gravel boards (14) through holes (shown) in the channels (9,10) of the anchor (7) and of the post (1) of Figure 1.. This 14 arrangement has a significant advantage when installing the anchor (7) in the ground since it allows for crete to be poured around the lower part of the screw-suspended anchor (7) and also ensures that lines of such anchors (7) can be laid out at the correct depth and spacing relative to a line of such gravel boards (14), one for ach panel (11), with the gravel boards acting also as fixed spacers between post centres. the latter being important for allowing the panels to be accurately fitted 'later.

Turning now to the embodiment shown with reference to Figure 4 it will be seen that the fence post (la) is formed from a single sheet of folded sheet steel when inserted between and about the post anchor (7) of Figure 2 the overall hickness of each of the wails forming the generally "H" section is By such an arrangement very thin sheet, s 1mm thick, can be used to form an "H" section post with essentially 2rnm thick walls when folded. A return lip (not shown) of the type shown in Figure 2 may also be used for securing spring clips (12) as required.

in both embodiments of fence posts 1 1 there may conveniently be apertures near to one end co operable 1 nding apertures in the post anchor through which e.g. screws may be inserted to temporarily attach and align the post with the post anchor (7) whilst it is being secured in the ground, such as witt it a concrete base,whereafter upon vertical alignment of tree posts they can be removed while the concrete hardens around the anchors. This is a particularly useful feature because it dispenses with the otherwise to support the posts while the concrete hardens, with minip minimal risk of the post anchors moving from their required position once the posts have been removed. It also allows for the fence panels to be readily installed with the post at he time.

Turning now to the embodiment shown with reference to Figure 5, the lower part of a fence post (1) is shown releasably embedded within a post anchor in the form of an elongate two-piece flanged tube (15), for receiving the ower end of the post (1) and a suitable particulate (16) such as pea sningle, above a bed of grave/ '61, or even just earth. Other shapes of tube may be utilised as required, such as a tube cf circular section. The tube (15) can selectively surrounded by concrete (8) or, if the earth is sufficiently dense, it can simply be back-fined with earth and compacted to secure the tube (15) in position. Where the tube (15) is surrounded by concrete it extends well below the depth of the concrete (8) and rests n a bed of ra or earth so as t provide natural drainage under the post Each half of the tube 15b) can be joined to the other by e. g threaded fasteners rr adhesive tape. This arrangement is particularly convenient because each respective half of the tube (15) is s aokable above other such halves, therefore providing efficient transport and storage until the tube ( is assembled. A further feature is that the tube (15) is adjustable as to width so as to accommodate posts of varying dimensions, the flanges affording mean by h each can slide over the other to shorten the width of the tube (15) whilst still leaving a void into which particulates can be poured and compacted against the post and the exposed inside,f the tube (15). This is a particularly useful feature since it elbows for a shorter spur post to be inserted within the tube to give extra strength at ground level if their s is sufficiently small. in addition, in the event of e g. a post (1) being accidentally broken the presence of the particulates allows rt to be withdrawn and the presence of the tube prevents the particulates from migrating into the surrounding compacted soil, in the event that it is not surrounded by concrete. To assist in this and to provide drainage around the post (1). the tube preferably has fluted or ribbed walls to provide rainwater drainage and an improved key into the surrounding concrete or earth.

The ability for each pos to be easily removed has a number of significant advantages both during and after installation of a fence using the fence post assembly of the invention, in that a continuous line of post anchors 15) can be set in or fixed to the ground or some other hard surface whereafter fence panels can be sequentially slotted sideways into the channels (9, 0) in the posts (1,1a) as the posts are installed or re-installed on or in their respective post anchors by simply sliding the leading edge of one panel into a respective..hannel and then Fitting the next successive fence post into or onto the next successive anchor and sc on. This contrasts with the co ventional requirement of erecting a line of "H" section posts and then slotting such panels between the panel-receiving channels of oppositely disposed fence posts made of concrete or rolled steel from above the top of the posts after the concrete into which the posts have been embedded has set, thus requiring lifting equipment to carry out such work safely and also requiring the posts to be supported until the concrete sets.

A further feature of the fence post assembly of the invention 6s that it enables the fence panels try be easily dismantled for the purposes of, for example, creating temporary access for a caravanto be moved into or out of a storage area such as a garden. Also,, in the event that posts become damaged by a vehicle at a roadside boundary, it is very easy to replace them with new ones, as compared to dioging up the concrete foundations supporting a damaged fence post made from concrete, steel or wood set in concrete foundations, which have to be disposed of via landfill, thereby saving the labour, transportation and environmental cost cif this requirement. Also, where such replacement of a post according to the invention is required due to e.g.. vehicle damage, it is less likely that the anchor itself will have been damaged because of the essentially lightweight nature of the fence post as compared to the more robust post anchor, the post being strong enough to support fence panels but nevertheless being deformable under violent load. This deformabil4 compares with a conventional post of rolled steel or concrete which is strong h to act as a lever by which the concrete foundation in which it is set can be displaced, thereby requiring complete removal of the damaged post and the attached concrete foundation. This is an expensive and time-consuming task that can also be dangerous where the damage has occurred at a roadside boundary.

whereas the invention provides a much weedier and safer way of replacing subsequently damaged posts and panels with new fencing using the originally installed post anchors. The anchor is set in a concrete, foundation above drainage material and, preferably, with a protective Plastic sleeve around the steel to prevent corrosion from the concrete and to allow rainwater to freely drain into the gravel and ground beneath the concrete foundation. This provides an environmentally friendly solution to the issue of post replacement which avoids the need otherwise to excavate and replace the concrete foundation and dispose of it at a landfill site along with the damaged post, which can instead be re-cycled and easily replaced_ IC)