GB2546758A - Modular post assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular fence post having a first part comprising a stackable channel having opposite, outwardly extending flanges at its open end, and a second part, comprising a substantially flat channel-closure sheet. The second part having inwardly extending return lips on opposing edges which are slideably co-operable with the flanges of the first part, such that, in use, the two parts form a hollow, flanged tube. The tube preferably having a frusto-triangular, a triangular, or a part-circular cross-sectional shape.

Description

itoduiaf Post Assembly

This invention relays to posts for supporting fence panels, such as those used to form a harrier around a domestic garden, typically using pre-fabricated fence panels having a 6ft span (1J metres), or tor supporting larger panels made up on-site, typically having a span of 10 ft (3.048 metres) used for screening and noise privenion along highways such as motorways.

There are three traditional kinds of fence post, each having advantages and disadvantages, these being pre-treated Wooden posts, !Ή” section concrete posts and hot roll-formed steel posts also of Ή" section. Wooden posts are generally lightweight and inexpensive, but have the obvious disadvantage in teat when they are ipstoiled in the ground they are pone to retting at tee base even rf embedded in concrete, due to accumulation of moisture, such that replacement posts may need to be installed after several years together with a replacement concrete base and disposal of the original to landfill, leading to considerable inconvenience and additional cost On the other Hand, concrete and rolled steel posts do not suffer from this disadvantage but they are intrinsically heavy, often requiring lifting equipment for their installation, which again increases the cost of the overall installation. In each case, such posts are considerably stronger than the wooden fence panels which they support and it is known that In high winds fence panels can be easily blown out from these types offence posts. A further disadvantage during construction of the fence, if prefabricated panels am being used,in that they have to be inserted between posts from above the tops of the posts once they have been fixed into concrete footings. This can be hazardous if the panels are fled manually and even where filing equipment is available the process cm fee time-consuming and awkward. In either instance, precise positioning of the posts with respect to each other Is necessary In order to ensure that; the panels can fee slotted In place: and due to the inevitable variations in the dimensions of toe panels and consequent positional allowances made when installing such posts it 1$ often necessary to provide packing in order to prevent the panels from rattling in the wind.

The present invention is derived tom the realisation that standard concrete or rolied-sfeel fence posts are unnecessarily strong and hence heavy and because they are pre-formed they are not amenable to compact storage* Their manufacture can fee complicated, requiring expensive moulding tools or hot-roiling equipment, as the case may fee, even though the purpose of the posts is simply to support relatively lightweight wooden fence panels. In addition, especially In the ease of concrete posts which have: generally1 shallow grooves for receiving the edges of fence panels, accurate positioning of the posts with respect to each other is unnecessarily complicated and time-consuming.

According to the invention there is provided a modular fence post haying a first; part comprising a stackable channel having respectively opposite: outwardly extending flanges at its opm end, the second part of the post comprising a generally flat channel-dosing fascia sheet having Inwardly extending return lips Oh opposing edges siideably oo-operabie with the flanges of the first part, thereby to collectively form when assembled a hollow flanged tube.

With ills arrangement, when disassembled each part of the post is stackable with: other such parts and both parts can be formed from e*g> galvanised sheet steel cut from a roll and subsequently bent or rolled to the required shape.

The cross^eciicnai shape of the channel part of the modular fence post is preferably frustotriangular, although other stackable shapes may be used, such as triangular or part-circular.

In use, once the required number of modular fence posts have been installed in or on the ground, respectively opposite edges of fence panels can be secured thereto by means offasteners driven through the flanges into the wood. Where, however, access to both sides of the fence posts Is limited, due to the presence of e.g. a wall or a garden shed in an adjacent property, the panels may be secured to the posts via elongate clamp plates connected, directly or indirectly to the fascia sheets of the modular posts by threaded fasteners, whereby to clamp the edges of the fence panels to the flanges of the posts.

Preferably, the clamp plates are connected indirectly to the posts by means of wood screws received in pre-formad over-sized holes in the fascia sheets driven into wooden battens within the channels. Alternatively, the clamp plates may foe difeeiiy connected to the fascia sheets through the use of setf-driling thmaded festenem.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-section of a modular two piece fence post according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the modular fence post of Figure 1 supporting a pair of fence panels via screw fasteners, and

Figure: 3 is a cross-section of the modular fence: post of Figure 1 shown supporting a pair of fence panels with the aid of a clamp plate and timber batten to receive screws for the clamp plate.

Referring firstly to Figure i, the modular fence post shown generally at 1 Comprises a first part in the form of a stackable channel 2 having outwardly extending flanges 3 onto which are slideahly received the return lips 4 of a: second part ip the form of a generally flat fascia sheet.5, The first 2 and second 5 parts in the region of the return lips 4 and outwardly emending flanges 3 can e,g. fee fixed together by means of fasteners driven through apertures 8 so as to form a rigid tubular two-piece post 1 of generally frustc-triangular inner section. The first and second parts 2,5, of the post 1 can be formed from any suitable sheet material, such as galvanised mild steel, which is then Pent or relied to the required shape so as to form, when joined together, m rigid structural member suitable for supporting fence panels, such as garden fence panels. However, before the first and second parts 2,5 are joined together fey means of e.g. screws for other suitable fastener means), i wifi be appreciated fiat before assembly they are each stackable with other such parts, thereby minimising the volumetric space required for storage and transport as compared to prior art posts which are stored and transported in their end-use condition, such as a folly formed concrete post or folly formed hoi-roiled ”H" section steel post.

The post 1 of Figure 1 can be used to directly support edge portions of a pair of wooden panels 7 as shown in Figure I, with screw fasteners 8 feeing driven through the apertures 6 into the wood. This method of fence construction has considerable advantages over the use of ”fif section posts, since i allows fixing of the- panels horizontally against the posts rather than inserting them vertically between them when ’’B section posts are used.

Figure 3 is a part-seetional view showing how the assembled modular post 1 can alternatively support the edge portions of a pair of wooden fence panels 7 by means of an optional elongate clamp plate 8 haying a centrally disposed1 reinforcing rib 10 through· which a plurality of screws 11 can: be Inserted:in pre-formed over-sized holes and then driven into a: wooden batten 12 within the modular post 1 between the fence panels 7, the central rib 10 functioning to provide a pleasing appearance between the fence panels 7 and also serving to provide additional stiffness for the modular post 1. This arrangement is particularly useful where access to the post-side of the fencing is not possible in order to insert screws through flanges, such as where there is an existing wail or shed. The use of the damp plate i acts to damp the edges of the panels 7 to the post 1 via the batten 12 whilst allowing them to fiex and return to their original position in high winds without damaging their Integrity, thereby enhancing panel longevity and allowing easier removal of any panel for temporsiry access purposes or repiacement/maintenance without the need for access from the neighbouring property. in an alternative arrangement where battens 12 are not used, the clamp plate 8 can instead fee secured directly to the fascia sheet S via seif-drilling screws. yWlth the realisation that fence posts of generally Ή” section made from concrete or steel are much stronger and heavier than is necessary for supporting wooden fencing, the current invention therefore provides i means whereby fence pests can be made from steel of relatively thinner gauge compared to traditional hot-rolled steel posts to form, when mmh part is connected to the other* a generally lightweight, hollow rigid structure which is easy to assemble but also easy to store, transport and manoeuvre on site in its disassembled state. This has considerable cost savings as compared to the overall cost of mihnfaciuiing, storing, transporting and installing concrete or roll-formed sled posts in which the overall strength of the post 1 and hence its weight, can foe reduced without compromising its ability to satisfactorily support i fence panel under severe wind loads, in addition, the flanged nature of the post 1 makes it considerably easier to erect fencing by allowing the panels to foe secured against the flanges from the side father than #©m the top, as in the case of "If' section posts. The Invention therefore provides an elegant solution to the otherwise difficult problem of installing fencing where nan-wooden fence posts are preferred.

Claims (3)

1. Claims A modular fence post 'haying a first part comprising a stackable channel having 'respectively· opposite outwardly extending flanges at its open end, the second part of the post comprising a generally flat channel-dospre sheet having inwardly extending return lips on opposing edges sideably eo-operabie with the flanges of the first part, thereby to collectively form when assembled1 a hollow flanged tube,
2. 2. A fence post according to Claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the channel is frustortriafigutar, triangular or part circular,
3. 3. A modular post substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 4 A modular post and damp plate assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with: reference to Figure 3,