GB2588079A

GB2588079A - Fence

Info

Publication number: GB2588079A
Application number: GB1911231.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mclester Kemp Roger
Original assignee: Genwork Ltd
Current assignee: Genwork Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-06
Filing date: 2019-08-06
Publication date: 2021-04-21
Also published as: GB201911231D0

Abstract

The modular fence 1 includes a panel formed of a plurality of cassettes 3 and a pair of channel sections 4. Each cassette has first and second ends 3a, 3b received within a respective one of the channel sections. Each cassette also has a hook-shaped key 31 along its upper side 3c and a keyway 32 on its lower side 3d, both of which which extend along its entire length between the ends. The hook-shaped key of a respective cassette is configured to engage a corresponding keyway of an adjacent cassette by orienting the cassettes at an oblique angle relative to one another and pivoting one of the cassettes whilst forcing the key into the keyway in snap-fit so as to lock the cassettes together. Also claimed is the cassette itself, the support with the channel and a kit for a fence.

Description

FENCE

This invention relates generally to a fence, and more particularly to an acoustic fence. More specifically, although not exclusively, this invention relates to a modular acoustic fence that allows for easy assembly and disassembly.

Acoustic barriers are often used to protect inhabitants of sensitive land use areas from noise pollution and to mitigate roadway, railway and industrial noise sources. In most cases, due to the permanent nature of the noise sources, these acoustic barriers tend to be large, io complex and permanent structures, requiring significant amounts time and resources to transport and erect.

Therefore, such acoustic barriers are deemed unsuitable for transient noise pollution, e.g. noise generated by construction or maintenance works or projects, music festivals and other public events It would be advantageous to provide an acoustic fence that can be erected and disassembled quickly and easily onsite, and that provides a reliable barrier to noise pollution whilst erected. Further, it would be advantageous to provide an acoustic fence that allows for easy transportation when disassembled.

It is therefore a first non-exclusive object of the invention to provide an acoustic fence that overcomes, or at least mitigates, the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a modular fence comprising a panel formed of a plurality of cassettes and a pair of channel sections, each cassette having first and second ends received within a respective one of the channel sections and having a hook-shaped key on its upper side extending between its first and second ends and a keyway on its lower side extending between its first and second ends, wherein the hook-shaped key of a respective cassette is configured to engage a corresponding keyway of an adjacent cassette by orienting the cassettes at an oblique angle relative to one another, e.g. angularly offsetting the cassettes relative to one another, and pivoting or tilting one of the cassettes whilst forcing the key into the keyway in snap-fit so as to lock the cassettes together.

The modular fence may be an acoustic fence or a modular acoustic fence.

The modular fence may be, or may be configured to be, a permanent fence or a permanent structure. Alternatively, the modular fence may be, or may be configured to be, a temporary fence, a temporary structure or a 'pop-up' fence.

One or more cassettes may be at least partially reflective (e.g. acoustically), for example may be a reflective cassette (e.g. an acoustically reflective cassette). In embodiments, each cassette may be at least partially reflective (e.g. acoustically).

One or more cassettes may comprise a pocket or receptacle. The pocket or receptacle may io be configured to receive acoustic material, e.g. an acoustic foam or acoustic fibre. The acoustic material or acoustic fibre may be or may comprise a mineral fibre. The acoustic foam may be or may comprise a closed cell foam and/or an open cell foam. The pocket or receptacle may be configured to receive a foam, e.g. a closed cell foam and/or an open cell foam.

A pocket or receptacle of one or more cassettes may have an acoustic material, e.g. an acoustic foam or acoustic fibre (for example a mineral fibre) received therein.

One or more cassettes may comprise a plurality of pockets or receptacles. One or each of the plurality of pockets or receptacles may be configured to receive an acoustic material.

One or more cassettes comprise a hollow, elongate body. The plurality of pockets may be described, e.g. in part, by reinforcement ribs or support ribs. The reinforcement ribs or support ribs may be configured to provide structural support or rigidity to the hollow, elongate body. The reinforcement ribs or support ribs may extend along a length of the one or more cassettes, e.g. between the first and second ends.

The or each channel section may comprise a resilient insert shaped to cooperate with one side of the panel so as to be retained within the channel, e.g. between the panel and channel, whilst providing acoustic absorption. The resilient insert may be formed from an acoustic material, e.g. an acoustic foam or rubber. The resilient insert may be formed from a foam, e.g. a closed cell foam or an open celled foam. The resilient insert may be formed from an elastomeric material. The resilient insert may be an elongate insert, e.g. configured to extend along the height of modular fence or panel.

The hook-shaped key of a respective cassette may be configured to engage a corresponding keyway of an adjacent cassette, e.g. by orienting the cassettes at an angle of between 5 and 45 degrees relative to one another, for example between 10 and 40 degrees relative to one another, between 15 and 35 degrees relative to one another, or between 15 and 30 degrees relative to one another.

The hook-shaped key may comprise a hook portion, e.g. a hook. The hook-shaped key may comprise a stem extending between a respective cassette and the hook portion.

to The keyway may comprise a neck which, together with the hook portion of the hook-shaped key, may provide the snap-fit arrangement.

In embodiments, an acoustic barrier or sound barrier is described between the stem and neck. In embodiments, an acoustic barrier or sound barrier is described by the arrangement is of the stem and neck.

In embodiments, the key may cooperate with the keyway such that there is no gap in the interface therebetween.

The key may cooperate with the keyway so as to provide an acoustic barrier or sound barrier therebetween.

The neck may be narrower than the stem, e.g. so as to provide an interference fit therebetween. The neck may be narrower than the stem, e.g. so as to provide an acoustic barrier or sound barrier therebetween.

The key may cooperate with the keyway such that there is an absence of a gap described between the stem and neck.

The hook-shaped key may be provided with a curved or arcuate guide surface. The curved or arcuate guide surface may be configured to rotatably guide the keyway during assembly.

Each respective cassette may comprise a shoulder or abutment surface either side of their respective key and keyway.

In embodiments, the corresponding shoulders or abutment surfaces of adjacent cassettes abut one another when locked together so as to provide an acoustic barrier or sound barrier therebetween One or more shoulders or abutment surfaces may be provided with a layer of acoustic material, e.g. an acoustic foam, closed cell foam or open celled foam.

A portion of the hook-shaped key and/or keyway may be flexible or deformable, e.g. so as to allow for deformation during assembly or when locking the cassettes together.

In embodiments, the hook-shaped key and keyway are formed on opposing edgewise faces of a respective cassette.

One or more cassettes may comprise a plurality of perforations, e.g. formed or fabricated is in an external wall thereof.

One or more of the perforations may be arranged so as to expose acoustic material received, in use, within one or more pockets or receptacles.

An outer wall of one or more cassettes may comprise a plurality of longitudinal corrugations, e.g. extending between the first and second ends.

The resilient insert may be configured to cooperate with one or more of the longitudinal corrugations. The resilient insert may comprise a complementary surface profile or complementary corrugations, e.g. to that of the one or more cassettes.

In embodiments, one or more of the perforations are formed or described in one or more grooves of the corrugations.

Each cassette may be formed or fabricated as an extruded polymer material.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cassette for use in a modular fence as described above.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a panel for a modular fence, the panel comprising a plurality of cassettes as described above.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a support assembly for a modular fence as described above, one or more cassettes as described above and/or one or more panels as described above.

The support assembly may comprise a pair of channel sections configured to receive, in use, a respective first and second end of a cassette as described above.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising one or more cassettes as described above.

The kit of parts may comprise a support assembly as described above.

In embodiments, the kit of parts comprises a resilient insert shaped to cooperate, in use, with one side of an assembled panel.

For the avoidance of doubt, any of the features described herein apply equally to any aspect of the invention.

Another aspect of the invention provides a computer program element comprising and/or describing and/or defining a three-dimensional design for use with a simulation means or a three-dimensional additive or subtractive manufacturing means or device, e.g. a three-dimensional printer or CNC machine, the three-dimensional design comprising an embodiment of the cassette, resilient insert, hook-shaped key and/or keyway described above.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms "may", "and/or', "e.g.", "for example" and any similar term as used herein should be interpreted as non-limiting such that any feature so-described need not be present. Indeed, any combination of optional features is expressly envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, whether or not these are expressly claimed. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is partial perspective view of a modular fence according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a resilient insert of the modular fence of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a pair of adjacent cassettes during a first stage of assembly; Figure 4 illustrates the cassettes of Figure 3 locked together and with the optional perforations removed; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative cassette design; Figure 6 is a perspective view of yet another alternative cassette design; and Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the modular fence of Figure 1 during assembly.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an end of a modular fence 1 having a panel 2 formed of a plurality of cassettes 3 stacked vertically and locked together. One of a pair of channel sections 4 is shown, which is in the form of an I-beam or l-section in this embodiment. A first end 3a of each cassette 3 is received within a channel 40 described by the channel section 4. A resilient insert 5 (shown in Figure 2), formed from an acoustic foam in this embodiment, is received within the channel 40, between the panel 2 and a portion of the channel section 4 and is arranged to cooperate with the panel 2. A retaining member 6, in the form of a channel section in this embodiment is also received within the channel 40 as to retain both the panel 2 and resilient insert 5 in place. The retaining member 6 is secured in place by screws S that extend through the channel section 4.

In the present embodiment, an end cassette E is engaged with the uppermost cassette 3. The end cassette E has a planar upper side and a keyway on its lower side (not shown) so as to engage the uppermost cassette 3 and provide a smooth upper surface to the panel 2.

io Referring now to Figure 2, the resilient insert 5 is formed of a foam, e.g. an acoustic foam in this embodiment. The resilient insert 5 has a plurality of castellations or corrugations 50 configured to correspond to and complement corrugations of the cassette 3 of the panel 2, e.g. such that the corrugations 50 intermesh with corrugations of the fence panel 2.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a pair of adjacent cassettes 3. Figure 3 shows the pair of cassettes 3 during assembly and Figure 4 shows the pair of cassettes 3 locked together.

Each cassette 3 has a hook-shaped key 31 on an upper side 3c and a corresponding keyway 32 on a lower side 3d. Each of the hook-shaped key 31 and keyway 32 extend along their respective sides 3c, 3d between the first end 3a (Figure 1) and second end 3b. Although each of Figures 3 and 4 depict only an upper side 3c and hook-shaped key 31 of one cassette 3 and a lower side 3d and keyway 32 of an adjacent cassette, it will be appreciated that each of the cassettes have the arrangement as described, i.e. that the cassette 3 showing the upper side 3c and hook-shaped key 31 also has a lower side 3d and keyway 32 as per the adjacent cassette 3 and vice-versa.

The hook-shaped key 31 has a hook portion 31a and a stem 31b extending between the cassette 3 and the hook portion 31a, in particular between the upper side 3c and the hook portion 31a. The hook-shaped key 31 is also provided with an arcuate or curved guide surface 31c, configured to rotatably guide the keyway 32 during assembly.

The keyway 32 has a neck 32a which, together with the hook portion 31a of the hook-shaped key 31, provides a snap-fit arrangement. In the present embodiment, the neck 32a is narrower than the stem 31b so as to provide an interference fit therebetween, i.e. such that there is no gap or space in the interface therebetween.

Each of the cassettes 3 have a hollow elongate body 33 and a plurality of pockets P are described, in part, by reinforcement ribs 34 (shown more clearly in Figure 4). Each of the cassettes 3 shown in Figure 3 have acoustic material A, in the form of acoustic foam in this embodiment, received within pockets P. Each cassette 3 includes a shoulder 35 either side of their respective key 31 and keyway 32. As shown in Figure 3, when adjacent cassettes 3 are locked together, corresponding shoulders 35 of adjacent cassettes 3 abut one so as to provide an acoustic barrier therebetween.

An outer wall of each of the cassettes 3, i.e. a noise source facing wall, is provided with a plurality or longitudinal corrugations 36, extending between the first and second ends 3a, 3b. In the case of Figure 3, a plurality of elongate perforations 37 are formed in the grooves of the corrugations 36. The perforations 37 are arranged so as to expose the acoustic material A received within the pockets P. A panel 2 as per Figure 1 is assembled by locking cassettes 3 together. The cassettes 3 are assembled by orienting them at an oblique angle relative to one another, as shown in Figure 3. In the present embodiment, the hook-shaped key 31 of a respective cassette 3 is configured to engage a corresponding keyway 32 of an adjacent cassette 3 by orienting the cassettes 3 at an angle of between 15 and 30 degrees relative to one another.

Once the cassettes 3 are brought into contact, as in Figure 3, a force is applied such that the keyway 32 is rotatably guided by the guide surface 31c and the key 31 enters into the keyway 32 in snap-fit arrangement so as to lock the cassettes together.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a cassette 3 according to an embodiment of the invention in isolation. The cassette 3 has a the hook-shaped key 31 and keyway 32 extending along their respective sides 3c, 3d between the first end 3a and second end 3b.

Each of the cassettes 3 have a hollow elongate body 33 and a plurality of pockets P are described, in part, by reinforcement ribs 34. The pockets P are absent acoustic material in this embodiment.

Longitudinal corrugations 36, extending between the first and second ends 3a, 3b are shown, each having a plurality of elongate perforations 37 formed in the grooves thereof. The perforations 37 extend into the pockets P. Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a cassette 3 as per cassette 3 of Figure 5, absent perforations formed in the grooves of the corrugations 36.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a modular fence 1 during assembly. As is shown, a first of the cassettes 3 is received between a pair of channel sections 4 (of which one is shown). Each of the first and second ends (of which first end 3a is shown) are received within a channel 40 of a respective one of the channel sections 4. A second of the cassettes 3 is brought adjacent, and into contact with, the first cassette 3. The cassettes 3 are oriented at an oblique angle relative to one another, by an angle of between 15 and 30 degrees in the present embodiment, so as to lock the cassettes together. The process by which the cassettes 3 are locked together is as described above regarding Figures 2 and 3.

The process is repeated for subsequent cassettes 3 until the modular fence 1 is of a suitable height.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several variations to the aforementioned embodiments are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the cassettes 3 need not have corrugations and, instead, may have any other suitable acoustic surface.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein

Claims

CLAIMS1. A modular fence comprising a panel formed of a plurality of cassettes and a pair of channel sections, each cassette having first and second ends received within a respective one of the channel sections and having a hook-shaped key on its upper side extending between its first and second ends and a keyway on its lower side extending between its first and second ends, wherein the hook-shaped key of a respective cassette is configured to engage a corresponding keyway of an adjacent cassette by orienting the cassettes at an oblique angle relative to one another and io pivoting or tilting one of the cassettes whilst forcing the key into the keyway in snap-fit so as to lock the cassettes together.
2. A modular fence according to claim 1, wherein one or more cassettes comprise a pocket configured to receive acoustic material and the channel section comprises a resilient insert shaped to cooperate with one side of the panel so as to be retained within the channel whilst providing acoustic absorption.
A modular fence according to claim 2, wherein one or more cassettes comprise a plurality of pockets.
A modular fence according to or claim 3, wherein one or more cassettes comprise a hollow elongate body and the plurality of pockets are described, in part, by reinforcement ribs.
5. A modular fence according to claim 1, wherein the hook-shaped key of a respective cassette is configured to engage a corresponding keyway of an adjacent cassette by orienting the cassettes at an angle of between 15 and 30 degrees relative to one another.
6. A modular fence according to claim 1, wherein the hook-shaped key comprises a hook portion and a stem extending between a respective cassette and the hook portion.A modular fence according to any claim 6, wherein the keyway comprises a neck which, together with the hook portion of the hook-shaped key, provides the snap-fit arrangement 8. A modular fence according to claim 7, comprising an acoustic barrier described between the stem and neck.A modular fence according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the neck is narrower than the stem so as to provide an interference fit therebetween. 10. 11 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.A modular fence according to any preceding claim, wherein the hook-shaped key is provided with a curved guide surface configured to rotatably guide the keyway during assembly.A modular fence according to any preceding claim, wherein each respective cassette comprises a shoulder either side of their respective key and keyway.A modular fence according to claim 11, wherein corresponding shoulders of adjacent cassettes abut one another when locked together so as to provide an acoustic barrier therebetween.A modular fence according to any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the hook-shaped key and/or keyway is flexible so as to allow for deformation during assembly.A modular fence according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more cassettes comprise a plurality of perforations formed in an external wall thereof.A modular fence according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the perforations are arranged so as to expose acoustic material received, in use, within one or more pockets.A modular fence according to any preceding claim, wherein an outer wall of one or more cassettes comprises a plurality of longitudinal corrugations extending between the first and second ends.17. A modular fence according to claim 16 when dependent on claim 14, wherein the perforations are formed in one or more grooves of the corrugations.18. A modular fence according to any preceding claim, wherein each cassette is formed as an extruded polymer material.19. A cassette for use in a modular fence according to any preceding claim.20. A panel for a modular fence, the panel comprising a plurality of cassettes according ic to claim 19.21 A support assembly for a modular fence according to any one of claims 1 to 19, one or more cassettes according to claim 20 or one or more panels according to claim 21, the support assembly comprising a pair of channel sections configured to receive, in use, a respective first and second end of the cassettes.22. A kit of parts comprising one or more cassettes according to claim 19.23. A kit of parts according to claim 22, comprising a support assembly according to claim 21.24. A kit of parts according to claim 22 or claim 23, further comprising a resilient insert shaped to cooperate, in use, with one side of an assembled panel