GB2591744A

GB2591744A - Mesh panel fence and clips therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2591744A
Application number: GB2001388.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Gladstone Peter; Edward Hall James; Gavin Chambers Damian; Keith Blackman Jamie; Russell James Stacey
Original assignee: J B CORRIE AND Co Ltd
Current assignee: J B CORRIE AND Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-31
Filing date: 2020-01-31
Publication date: 2021-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-31
Also published as: GB2591744B; GB202001388D0

Abstract

The mesh fencing panel system, particularly for use defining a ball game court, comprises one or more mesh panels 310 and a plurality of clips 300 that secure each panel to a fixed structure 308. Each clip comprises a body portion secured to the fixed structure and a plurality of L-shaped fingers, having at least one corner, engaged with a portion of the mesh, wherein the fingers engaged with the portion of the panel do not protrude forwards beyond a front face of the panel. Each clip preferably comprises 2 or more L-shaped fingers. The panels preferably comprise a first plurality of wires extending in a first direction and a second plurality of wires extending in a second, substantially perpendicular direction. The body portion of the clip may be connected to the fixed structure either directly or via an interconnection member. Also claimed is a clip for securing a mesh panel to a fixed structure.

Description

MESH PANEL FENCE AND CLIPS THEREFOR

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to mesh panel fences and particularly clips for assembling a mesh panel fence suitable for sporting applications, such as the rebound walls of padel courts.

BACKGROUND

Sports such as padel require barriers from which to rebound a ball from during play. To allow for spectators, it is desirable that at least some portion of these barriers be transparent. Conventional courts tend to use such materials as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) panels (often referred to as Perspex or plexiglass).

One downside of such courts is that these panels can be subject to scuffing, scratching, or even cracking due to use, which can obscure spectators' vision, and necessitate replacement of the panels. It is therefore desirable to provide a substitute for such panels that is less susceptible to such wear and tear.

Mesh panel fencing can provide a suitably flat surface through which spectators can see, which is not as susceptible to wear and tear as conventional surfaces. Mesh panel fencing, as used herein, refers to fences formed from one or more panels constructed from wires which are generally welded together in a grid-like pattern. These panels are secured to a stable structure, such as one or more vertically extending posts, one or more horizontal rails, and/or other structures such as walls. A well-known form of mesh panel fencing is so-called 358 fencing, which refers to the spacing of the grid being 76.2 mm (3 inches) by 12.7mm (0.5 inches) by 3.2mm (8 gauge).

Mesh panel fencing is generally well-known for use in such applications as security fencing and, more particularly, climb-proof fencing. A necessary requirement for such uses is significant integrity. As such, a further benefit of mesh panel fencing over conventional PMMA panels is that they are significantly more resistant to damage from external sources, such as vandals.

In known mesh panel fencing, the panels are secured to the structure via one or more fixings. These fixings can take various shapes and are generally affixed to the front of the fence (i.e. the side of the fence opposite the structure to which the panels are secured) using one or more bolts that extend through the mesh and the clip and into the structure (such as into a bolthole in a post). Examples of such conventional fixings can be seen in Figures 1A-1C.

Figure 1A shows a substantially C-shaped clip 10A, having a central, flat, rectangular plate 12A, a first set of matching protrusions 14A extending perpendicularly from two opposite edges of the plate, and a second set of matching protrusions 16A extending perpendicularly from the other two edges of the plate. Protrusions 14A are arranged to protrude through panels of a mesh panel fence and protrusions 16A are arranged to space the clip 10A away from, for example, a fence post. An opening 18A is positioned in the centre of the plate 12A.

Figure 1B shows a similar clip 10B to that of Fig. 1A, attached to a fence post 110B by a bolt or screw 112B. The clip of Fig. 1B has three protrusions 14B extending from each of two edges of the plate. As shown in Fig. 1B, a vertical wire 114B of a mesh panel passes between plate 12B, protrusions 14B and 16B, and fence post; while two horizontal wires 116B attached to the vertical wire extend between adjacent protrusions 16B. In this way, the clip fixes the mesh panel in place.

Figure 10 shows another known mesh panel fencing system that uses a substantially flat clamp bar 100 to attach mesh panels to fence posts. In this arrangement, two mesh panels overlap at a fence post, and the clamp bar is affixed via a plurality of bolts or screws 1120 that extend through the bar and both mesh panels and into the fence post. In contrast to the system shown in Figure 1B, a panel 113C positioned on one side of the post has a vertical wire 1140 on the other side of the post, and vice versa for the panel on the other side. As such, there is no need for any protrusions from the clamp bar, as the bolt/screw and flat clamp bar prevent horizontal movement of the mesh panel.

As can be seen from Figures 1A-1C and discussed above, known fixings for mesh panel fences tend to be mounted on the front face of the fence. This disrupts the otherwise substantially planar front face of the fence, and makes them unsuitable for certain sporting applications. In addition, persons outside the fence are free to access the bolts/screws which hold the fence together, which may be considered a security flaw.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a mesh fencing system as claimed in claim 1.

The present invention also provides a clip for securing a mesh panel to a fixed structure, as claimed in claim 12.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1A-1C show known fixings for attaching mesh panels to a fixed structure. Figure 1A shows a fixing alone, while Figures 1B and 10 show various fixings in situ, attaching mesh panels to fence posts.

Figures 2A and 23 relate to a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2A shows a clip alone, while Figure 2B shows a portion of a fencing system including the clip.

Figures 3A-3C relate to a second embodiment of the invention. Figure 3A shows two component parts of a clip, Figure 3B shows the assembled clip, and Figure 30 shows a portion of a fencing system including the clip.

Figures 4A and 4B relate to a third embodiment of the invention. Figure 4A shows a clip alone, while Figure 4B shows a portion of a fencing system including the clip.

Figures 5A and 53 relate to a fourth embodiment of the invention. Figure 5A shows a clip alone, while Figure 5B shows a portion of a fencing system including the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Any use of the terms horizontal and/or vertical in relation to the embodiments of the present invention is purely to increase the comprehensibility of the description. These terms should be understood as meaning a first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, respectively.

The term L-shaped as used herein should be interpreted as meaning a structure having a shape or cross-sectional area that comprises two substantially straight portions that meet at a substantially perpendicular angle. The corner of such an L-shape may be substantially square or alternatively rounded.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 2A and 28. As shown in Fig. 2A, an L-shaped clip 200 comprises a body 202 having a plurality of L-shaped fingers 204 and an optional opening 206.

Fig. 23 shows the same clip 200 in use, as a part of a mesh fencing system. As shown in Fig. 23, a first portion of each finger of the clip extends from the edge 203 of body 202 perpendicularly through a back face of a mesh panel 210, the back face being defined by vertical wires 212, and a second portion of each finger extends parallel to horizontal wires 214 so as to lie substantially flush with a front face of the panel, the front face being defined by the horizontal wires.

Clip 200 may be secured to fixed structure 208, such as a fence post or rail, via any suitable method or means. Optional opening 206 allows the use of bolts and/or screws alternatively or additionally, the clips may be secured by brazing or welding to the fixed structure. In contrast to the known prior art, clip 200 may be secured to fixed structure behind the fence, rather than in front of the fence, which may be desirable in security applications.

A second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3A-3C. As shown in Fig. 3A, clip 300 comprises two parts. The first part 301 corresponds essentially to the clip 200 shown in Figs. 2A and 2B (though it is shown in Figs. 3A-3C as having three fingers), while the second part 316 is an L-shaped interconnection member that connects the body 302 of the first part to the fixed structure 308.

As shown in Fig. 3B, the first part 301 of clip 300 may be joined to interconnection member 316 via any suitable means or method. A preferred joint 317 is made using a bolt via optional openings 318, though the two parts could alternatively or additionally be brazed or welded together.

As shown in Fig. 30, interconnection member 316 allows for the clip 300 to be secured to a fixed structure such that the fingers 304 extend parallel to the surface of the fixed structure 308 to which the clip is secured. Interconnection member 316 may be secured to fixed structure 308 using any suitable method or means, such as those disclosed in relation to the securement of clip 200.

A third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4A and 4B. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, with the clip 400 comprising a body 402 and fingers 404. This clip 400 further comprises a tubular member 405 comprising opening 406, which may be used to secure the clip to the fixed structure 408. As in the second embodiment, this tubular member allows the clip to be secured to a face of the fixed structure that extends parallel to the fingers 404.

Tubular member 405 is preferably secured to fixed structure 408 via a bolt or screw extending through the opening 406. Alternatively or additionally, the clip 400 could be secured by other methods or means, as discussed in relation to the other embodiments.

A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5A and 5B. This clip 500 has many features in common with the second embodiment. However, rather than having a separate interconnection member 316, the clip 500 has an interconnection member 516 formed integrally with the body 502. Dotted line 517 indicates an arbitrary divide between the interconnection member and the body, for comparison with the joint 317 between the interconnection member 316 and body 302 of the second embodiment.

As will be understood by the skilled person, this embodiment conveys many of the advantages of the second embodiment, and may also simplify the method of construction of a fence using the clips 500 as fewer assembly steps must be performed.

Clip 500 may be secured to fixed structure 508 by any method or means discussed above. As such, opening 506 is optional.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

For example, the clips 200, 300, 400, 500 of the present invention may have any number of fingers 204, 304, 404, 504 greater than or equal to two.

Additionally, though Figs. 2B, 3C, 4B, and 5B show the second portion of fingers 204, 304, 404, and 504 as being substantially flush with the front face of the mesh panel, the skilled person would understand that the clips are suitable for sporting applications so long as the clips do not protrude beyond the front face. As such, the thickness Tf of the second portion of the fingers may be any thickness less than or equal to the thickness Try, of the horizontal wires; such as less than or equal to: 4 mm; 3mm; 2mm....

Further, though the fingers of the clips have been described as substantially L-shaped, either of the first and/or second portion(s) of each finger may be somewhat curved, so long as the front-most point of the curve does not extend beyond the front face of the mesh panel. This may enable the fingers to better secure the mesh panel to the fixed structure.

The first portion of the fingers may have a length Lff equal to or greater than the thickness T of the vertical wires; such as greater than equal to: 4mm; 5mm; 6mm; 7mm.... The second portion of the fingers may have any suitable length.

The spaces between fingers may be sized so as to be substantially equal to the width Whw wires of the mesh so as to minimize gaps between the mesh and the clips.

Similarly, the width Wf of the fingers may be substantially equal to the spaces in the mesh panel between the horizontal wires.

The clips 200, 300, 400, 500 of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material for fence construction. A preferred material is steel, more preferably mild steel which has been galvanised to the BS EN ISO 1461:2009 standard. The clips may be subject to any coating or finish suitable for use in fencing, such as a powder coating formed of a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer.

Claims

Claims: 1. A mesh fencing system suitable for defining a ball game court comprising: one or more mesh panels; and a plurality of clips securing each mesh panel to a fixed structure, wherein each clip comprises a body portion secured to the fixed structure and a plurality of L-shaped fingers, having at least one corner, engaged with a portion of a mesh panel; wherein the plurality of L-shaped fingers of the clip engaged with the portion of the mesh panel do not protrude forwards beyond a front face of the mesh panel.
2. A mesh fencing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each clip comprises 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more than 6 L-shaped fingers.
3. The mesh fencing system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the panel comprises: a first plurality of wires extending in a first direction; and a second plurality of wires extending in second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
4. The mesh fencing system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first plurality of wires defines the front face of the mesh panel; and/or the second plurality of wires defines a back face of the mesh panel.
5. The mesh fencing system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein a first portion of each of the L-shaped fingers of a clip extends from the body portion of the clip through the mesh panel from the back face towards the front face in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.
6. The mesh fencing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each L-shaped finger of a clip extends through the panel between a different pair of wires of the first plurality of wires; and/or between a same pair of wires of the second plurality of wires.
7. The mesh fencing system as claimed in any of claims 3-6, wherein a second portion of each of the L-shaped fingers of a clip extends in the first direction within a spacing between adjacent wires of the first plurality so as to engage with one or more of the wires of the second plurality.
8. The fence system of claim 7 wherein the first portion of each L-shaped finger extends in the first direction between a different pair of adjacent wires of the first plurality of wires; and/or each L-shaped finger secures a same wire of the second plurality of wires to the fixed structure.
9. The fence system of claim 7 or 8, wherein the second portion of each L-shaped finger has a thickness in the third direction less than or equal to a thickness in the third direction of a wire of the first plurality of wires.
10. The mesh fencing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body portion of a clip is secured to the fixed structure via an interconnection member; and/or one or more bolts.
11. The mesh fencing system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the interconnection member is formed integrally with the body; or wherein the interconnection member is connected to the body via one or more bolts.
12. A clip for securing a mesh panel to a fixed structure, wherein the clip comprises a body portion configured to be secured, in use, to the fixed structure and a plurality of [shaped fingers, having at least one corner, which are arranged to engage with a portion of the mesh panel; wherein the plurality of L-shaped fingers of the clip are arranged and adapted so that in use, when engaged with the portion of the mesh panel, the L-shaped fingers do not protrude forwards beyond a front face of the mesh panel.