GB2609188A - Fence apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable or temporary fence system with a tilt adjustment mechanism for use on uneven ground, having a fence element, e.g. post 2, and support 4, the support connected to the fence element by a pivotable means 6 allowing pivoting of the fence element, an alignment bar 8 extending between and connecting the fence element and the support at a location spaced from the pivotable means, wherein a support connection means 14 is located on the alignment bar securing it to the support, an element connection means 16 is located on the alignment bar securing it to the fence element, wherein the relative spacing of the two connection means is adjustable when the alignment bar is disconnected form the fence element/support to set the orientation or angle of the fence element relative to the support. The alignment bar may be a threaded rod and the support may be a wheelie bin filled with aggregate, sand, fluid etc. to act as ballast. There may be a second mechanism for adjusting angle in a second plane. A method of use is claimed also.

Description

Fence Apparatus and Method The present invention relates to a fence, to apparatus to making a fence, particularly a temporary fence, and to a method of supporting a fence element, particularly a fence post or a fence panel, and more particularly supporting for a temporary fence post or fence panel.

Fences may be erected to prevent access to a selected area, for example to prevent unauthorised access to an event, construction site, premises or roadworks. These fences may be permanent or temporary and may be formed using wire mesh fence panels having a substantially rigid frame and legs extending from the frame. To support the panels the legs may be inserted into openings in weighted bases and, with the legs inserted into the bases, the frames may be secured together, for example using temporary ties, to provide the fence. These types of temporary fence tend to be unstable, do not lend themselves to use on uneven ground and the framed panels are relatively expensive compared to an unframed mesh panel. In other examples fence posts, each supported by a post base, are erected along a planned fence line and frameless wire mesh panels are secured between the posts to provide the fence.

The invention provides a fence comprising a fence element and a support; the support connected to the fence element at a coupler location of the fence element such that the fence element is pivotable about the coupler location; an alignment bar extending between the fence element and support, and secured to the support at a support location and to the fence element at an element location to set the orientation of the fence element relative to the support, the element location being offset from the coupler location along an element axis; wherein a support pitch location along the alignment bar is secured to the support location and an element pitch location along the alignment bar is secured to the element location, the distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location determining the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in a first plane; wherein the distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location along the alignment bar can be altered only when the alignment bar is disconnected from at least one of the fence element and support.

The invention also provides a method of erecting a fence, the method comprising: connecting a coupler location of the fence element to the support such that the fence element is pivotable about the coupler location; selecting a distance between an element pitch location and a support pitch location along an alignment bar; using the alignment bar to secure an element location of the fence element to a support location of the support to set the orientation of the fence element relative to the support, the element location being offset from the coupler location along an element axis; wherein a support pitch location along the alignment bar is secured to the support location and an element pitch location along the alignment bar is secured to the fence element, the distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location determining the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in a first plane; wherein the distance between the element pitch location and the support pitch along the alignment bar can be altered only when the alignment bar is disconnected from at least one of the fence element and support.

This allows adjustments to be made in the distance between the support and element pitch locations before the parts are connected together, but prevents adjustment thereafter.

The distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location along the alignment bar can be altered by changing at least one of the support pitch location and the element pitch location along the alignment bar. This change in at least one of the support pitch location and the element pitch location can alter the distance between the support location and the element location. As the fence element is pivotable about the coupling location, a change in distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location which alters the distance between the support location and the element location changes the orientation of the fence element in one plane, for example changing the pitch of the fence element relative to the support. Thus the ability to change the distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location provides a user with the ability to adjust the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in one plane. So that the fence element can be plumbed in one plane when erected on a non-level surface.

The distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location along the alignment bar can only be changed when the alignment bar is disconnected from at least one of the fence element or the support. This provides greater security in the orientation of the fence element relative to the support as it is less easy to tamper with the fence. Also, it may provide more robust fence during the utilisation of the fence. This may be particularly the case for temporary fences which are intended to be constructed and subsequently deconstructed meaning that fixings used must be releasable. For example a slight loosening of a fixing, for example a nut and associated bolt, that secures the alignment bar to either the fence element or the support would not result in an ability to change the distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location. This means that re-tightening the fixing will restore the original orientation of the fence element relative to the support in at least the first plane. Only when a fixing is completely released and the alignment bar disconnected from one of the support and the fence element is it possible to change the element pitch location or support pitch location.

The fence element is pivotable about the coupler location to allow the change in orientation to occur. The coupler location may be substantially fixed relative to the support. The support may comprise a coupler extending therefrom to engage the coupler location. The coupler may be adapted to engage the coupler location at a predetermined position therealong. The coupler may be fixed to the support so that the location of the coupler, and therefore the coupler location when the coupler location is engaged with the coupler, is fixed with respect to the support.

One of the support pitch location and the element pitch location along the alignment bar may be a fixed pitch location such that it cannot be changed whether or not the alignment bar is connected to, or disconnected from, one or both of the support and fence element. The fixed pitch location may be at, or adjacent, an end of the alignment bar to avoid unnecessary use of material and may be fixed by the inclusion of one or more features non-adjustably fixed to the alignment bar. For example one of more plates or other obstructions may be welded to the alignment bar to define a fixed support or element pitch location The fixed pitch location may be the element pitch location.

The fence element may be any element of a fence. The fence element may be a fence post, or may be a fence panel. The fence panel may be wire mesh, solid panels or railings.

The support may be any suitable size or shape and may comprise a frame to which other components can be connected and may be manually movable, or may be mechanically movable to facilitate positioning if the support for erecting a temporary fence. The support may comprise one or more features to facilitate movement or manipulating the position of the support. Such features may include one or more handles, or grip portions, wheels which can engage the ground or features such as lips, hooks or ridges that can be engaged by lifting mechanism.

The support may comprise a container into which ballast can be placed to change the weight of the frame. The support may comprise a base to rest on a surface such as the ground or a floor. The support may comprise a platform on which one or more weights may be arranged. The weights may be, for example metal or concrete, plates or blocks, or they may be water, or other ballast, filled containers. One or more weights may rest upon the base, or may be coupled to the base. The platform may be formed on, or by, the base.

The support may include wheels arranged to facilitate movement of the frame. The wheels may be arranged such the wheels do not engage a surface on which the base rests when in use. The wheels may be arranged such the wheels can engage the surface and hold the support above a surface when the base is tilted relative to that surface. The wheels may be removable to facilitate storage, nesting and / or stacking. The wheels may be arranged on the support on a side opposite the fence element. The wheels may be arranged on a movable element which can be moved relative to the support to cause the wheels to engage the ground and to raise the support above the ground.

As noted above, the support may comprise a container into which ballast can be added at act as a weight. The ballast may be a liquid such as water, or may be an aggregate material such as sand, gravel, crushed concrete, or soil. The container may have an opening at an upper end, or may include an opening elsewhere, so that ballast may be added into the container. The container may include a lid or plug to close or cover such an opening. The lid may be lockable to prevent items/ballast being added or removed. The support may include a handle. The support may include a ridge, which may be strengthened, with which a machine lifting / emptying apparatus can be engaged. The ridge may be undercut and may include on or more strengthening flanges or webs. The support may be formed from a plastic material. The support may have a form similar to that of a wheelie bin. The support may comprise a wheelie bin, or a modified wheelie bin as such products may be readily available and may be robustly designed. The wheelie bin, or wheelie bin which is modified to provide the support may be a 120, 240 or 360 litre wheelie bin.

A wheelie bin may comprise wheels on one side of a base of the body to facilitate moving the wheelie bin. The wheelie bin may include a handle near a top of the body. The handle may be located on the same side of the body as the wheels to facilitate tilting and rolling the wheelie bin. The wheelie bin may have an opening at a top of the body to allow material to be placed in the body. The lid may be hinged near the handle. The wheelie bin may include a ridge on a side of the body. The ridge may be on a side of the body opposite the handle.

The ridge may be strengthened. The ridge may be located near a top of the body.

The support and / or container may be stackable for transportation and storage. As noted above, the wheels may be removed to allow stacking.

A changeable support or element pitch location can be defined in any suitable way, for example by a movable element, the position of which can be moved along the alignment bar.

The movement could be through relative rotation of the alignment bar and the moveable element and the interaction of a threaded portion of the alignment bar and threaded portion of the movable element. The changeable support or element pitch location be achieved by providing a plurality of predetermined support or element pitch locations defined by feature of the alignment bar, for example a slot, hole or other feature with which the support location or element location can be engaged, with which a movable element can be engaged to define the support or element pitch locations, or by fixing a plurality of members to the alignment bar to define the support or element pitch locations.

As set out above, support and element pitch locations are provided so that a support pitch location and an element pitch location can be selected which sets a distance between the support and element pitch locations and thereby sets the orientation of the fence element in one plane. It should be noted that the support and element pitch locations may include a degree of play or slack permitting a limited change in orientation in the first plane, but such play or slack is not considered to be an adjustment. To adjust the orientation in the first plane at least one of the support and element pitch locations must be changed and this can only be done when the alignment bar is disconnected or disengaged from at least one of the support and element.

The alignment bar may not be directly attached to, or engaged with, both the fence element and the support. One or more linking components may provide a link between the alignment bar and the support and / or the fence element to secure the alignment bar thereto and to thereby fix set the orientation of the fence element relative to the support. Linking components may comprise plates, bars or other elements fixedly or movably attached to the alignment bar. An aligner is an example of a linking component that secures the alignment bar to one of the support and the fence element. An aligner may extend from the support pitch location to the support location. An aligner may extend from the element pitch location to the element location. An aligner may be releasably secured to the support or the fence element.

There may be a plurality of aligners that extend from a plurality of support pitch locations or from a plurality of element pitch locations. Changing the support pitch location or element pitch location in such an example may comprise selecting a different aligner to secure to the support location or element location, which is only possible when the alignment bar is disconnected from one or both of the support and fence element, for example by disconnecting the aligner from the support location or element location.

The alignment bar may comprise an externally threaded portion, for example the alignment bar may be formed from a threaded rod or a bolt. An aligner may comprise a corresponding internally threaded portion which is engaged with the alignment bar such that relative rotation between the alignment bar and aligner causes the aligner to move along the alignment bar to thereby alter one of the support pitch location and the element pitch location along the alignment bar. Relative rotation between the aligner and the alignment bar may be prevented when the alignment bar is connected to both the support and the fence element.

The aligner may comprise a plate having an internally threaded opening therethrough and an attachment portion to be secured to the support location or the element location. The attachment portion may be releasably secured to the support location or the element location. The internally threaded opening therethrough may be provided by a nut welded to a plate forming a body of the aligner, or by forming a thread in the aligner, for example by cutting or providing a threaded insert or rivet.

The support may comprise a plurality of support locations to which the alignment bar can be secured. The fence element may comprise a plurality of element locations to which the alignment bar can be secured. The plurality of support locations and / or plurality of element locations may be distributed transverse to the element axis such that changing the location to which the alignment bar is secured changes the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in a second plane transverse to the first plane. During erection of the fence one of the plurality of support locations and / or plurality of fence location is selected. The choice determines the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in the second plane.

Providing a plurality of support locations and / or element locations allows the orientation of the fence element to be changed in a second plane allowing the orientation of the fence element to be adjusted with more degrees of freedom. The second plane may be substantially perpendicular to the first plane. For example, if movement in the first plane alters the pitch of the fence element relative to the support, movement in the second plane may adjust the roll of the fence element relative to the support.

If a plurality of support locations are provided it may not be possible to change the support location without disconnecting the alignment bar from the support. If a plurality of element locations are provided it may not be possible to change the element location without disconnecting the alignment bar from the element. This means that the secure connection cannot be loosened and the support location or element location changed, for example by sliding along a slot, to adjust the orientation of the fence element in the second plane. It should be understood that, when coupled to the support location and / or element location some movement of the alignment bar may be possible in a direction substantially parallel with the element axis without changing the support location and / or element location so that orientation of the fence element relative to the support in the second plane is not changed, but to account for pivoting of the fence element about the coupling location.

The support location or element location cannot be changed to a different one of the plurality of support locations or element locations while the alignment bar is connected to the respective support or fence element. In order to change the support location or element location a second of the plurality of support locations or plurality of element locations is selected that is different from the first, the alignment bar is disconnected from the first of the plurality of support locations or plurality of element locations and is connected with the selected second of the plurality of support locations or plurality of element locations. The alignment bar can then be secured, for example by tightening fixings or the like.

As above in connection with the support pitch location and element pitch location, preventing the change of support location or element location can provide additional security and or robustness for the fence as the alignment bar must be disconnected from one, or both, of the support and fence element before a change can be made.

In some examples the support may comprise a plurality of support locations, the alignment bar may comprise a threaded portion and the element pitch location along the alignment bar may be fixed. The alignment bar may include an aligner threadedly coupled to the threaded portion at a support pitch location, and the aligner may comprise an attachment portion secured to a support location. This allows the connection to the fence element to be comparatively simple in nature and may allow a reduction in the complexity of the fence element.

Each support location, or element location may be defined by an alignment feature, for example a flange, detent, projection, through hole, web or similar feature. The alignment features may be the same, or may differ. All the alignment features for support locations or element locations may be the same. This alignment feature may cooperate with the alignment bar, a linking element, or an engagement portion of an aligner to prevent movement of the alignment bar in a direction that would result in an adjustment of the orientation of the fence element in the second plane.

As mentioned above, the support may comprise a container into which ballast can be added, for example a wheelie bin. The support may comprise a ridge or lip with which a mechanical lifting apparatus can engage to lift the support. For example a wheelie bin may include a strengthened front ridge to facilitate emptying of the wheelie bin. The front ridge may be strengthened by the use of webs which extend from a front wall of the ridge to a body of the wheelie bin.

The coupler and coupler location may be configured such that, with the coupler is engaged with the coupler location and the fence element is oriented upright, for example, substantially vertically the fence element cannot be disengaged from the coupler. Engaging or disengaging the fence element and the coupler may require that the fence element is tilted from the vertical, or relative to its intended position with respect to the support, by at least 20°, by at least 30°, by at least 45°, or by at least 80°. This can be achieved, for example, by providing a coupler including a coupling feature such as a hook or other shaped portion comprising extensions, projections or cutouts. The coupler location may be shaped to cooperate with the coupler to prevent and / or permit engagement or disengagement of the coupler in some predetermined orientations of the coupler relative to the fence element or coupler location.

The coupler may comprise a hook formed from a bar and the coupler location may comprise an opening that substantially matches the cross section of the bar so that the fence element must be rotated to an orientation in which the hole is substantially perpendicular to an end of the hook allowing the end of the hook to pass into the hole. The orientation of the fence element can then be manipulated to allow the coupler to move further into the hole until the fence element is upright and can pivot about the coupler location.

The coupler may include a plate element with a plate that extends in a predetermined plane, for example the plate may be substantially vertical and extend from the support. The coupler may include a waisted section and the coupler location may include a slot which extends along an axis transverse to the element axis, for example the slot may extend substantially perpendicular to the element axis.

To engage the coupler with the coupler location the fence element must be arranged such that the slot extends substantially parallel with the plane in which the coupler plate extends. The slot may be shaped such that when the waisted section enters the slot the fence element can be rotated so that the fence element can move towards an upright, for example vertical, orientation and thereby secure the coupler to the coupler location. When the fence element has been moved towards vertical the alignment bar can be used to secure the support to the fence element at a different location.

The coupler location may be located on the fence element at or adjacent a base of the fence element. This may reduce or prevent movement of the base of the fence element during orientation adjustment so that the fence element base position is substantially fixed when the support is initially places as this may facilitate the erection of the fence. The coupler location may be located on the fence element such that adjusting the orientation of the fence element relative to the support by changing the support pitch location, the element pitch location, the support location or element location can result in movement of the base of the fence element by no more than 5 cm from a central position, by no more than 2.5 cm from a central position, or by no more than 1 cm from an initial position or a central position. This may be an absolute maximum deflection so that the base can move no more than the specified distance from any position, such that the base is constrained within a circle with a diameter of the specified distance. Alternatively, the deflection may be about a central position such that the base is constrained within a circle with a radius of the specified distance centred on the central position.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which: Figures 1 to 4 show schematic views of part of a fence; Figures 5 to 8 show schematic views of part of a different fence; Figure 9 shows a schematic view of an alignment bar and associated aligner; Figure 10 shows a schematic view of the alignment bar and associated aligner of Figure 9 secured to a fence element; Figure 11 shows a schematic view of another alignment bar and associated aligner; Figure 12 shows a schematic view of the alignment bar and associated aligner of Figure 11 secured to a fence element; Figure 13 shows a schematic view of a coupler engaging the coupler location; Figures 14 and 15 show a schematic view of support comprising wheels; and Figure 16 shows a schematic view of another coupler engaging the coupler location.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a part of a fence 1 comprising a fence element 2, in this case a fence post, and a support 4. The support 4 is connected to the fence element 2 at a coupler location 6 of the fence element 2 such that the fence element 2 is pivotable about the coupler location 6 so that the orientation of the fence element 2 can relative to the support can be changed.

An alignment bar 8 extends between the fence element 2 and support 4. The alignment bar 8 is secured to the support 4 at a support location 10 and to the fence element 2 at an element location 12. This sets the orientation of the fence element 2, in this case a fence post, relative to the support 4. The element location 12 is offset from the coupler location 6 along an element axis 34. With all parts secured, i.e. securely fastened in place, the orientation of the fence element 2 relative to the support 4 cannot change.

A support pitch location 14 along the alignment bar is secured to the support location 10 and an element pitch location 16 along the alignment bar is secured to the element location 12. A distance between the support location 10 and the element location 12 in this case depends upon a distance between the support pitch location 14 and the element pitch location 16. The distance between the support pitch location 14 and the element pitch location 16 determining the orientation of the fence element 2 relative to the support 4 in a first plane towards/away from the support 4 as indicated by arrow 20. The distance between the support location 10 and the element pitch location 12 may be measured as a distance substantially perpendicular to the element axis 34. In this example the element pitch location 16 is fixed and non-adjustable and the connection between the alignment bar 8 and the fence element 2 at the element pitch location 16 will be described in more detail in connection with later figures.

In this example the support 4 comprises a frame 22 having a base 24 which can, in use, engage the ground. The support 4 also comprises a container 26 which can be filled with a ballast material such as water, sand or gravel.

The distance between the support pitch location 14 and the element pitch location 16 along the alignment bar 8 can be altered only when the alignment bar 8 is disconnected from at least one of the fence element 2 and the support 4. In this example the alignment bar 8 is secured to the support 4 by an aligner 28. The alignment bar 8 comprises a threaded bar and the aligner 28 comprises a threaded through hole 30 coupled to the threaded bar such that relative rotation between the threaded bar and aligner 28 causes the aligner 28 to move along the alignment bar 8 to alter the support pitch location 14. The aligner 28 includes an attachment portion 32 this is secured to the support location 10. In this case the attachment portion 32 is secured to the support location using two bolts to restrict the freedom of movement of the aligner 28, but other fixing means could be used.

When the alignment bar 8 is connected to both the fence element 2 and support 4 relative rotation of the alignment bar 8 and aligner 28 is prevented and therefor the support pitch location 14 cannot be changed. In this example the connection between the alignment bar 8 and the support 4 is such that rotation of the alignment bar 8 relative to the fence element 2 is prevented.

The nature of the connection between the fence element 2 and the alignment bar 8 and between the support 4 and the alignment bar 8 will be shown in more detail in later figures.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the fence 1 of Figure 1 in which the support pitch location 14 along the alignment bar 8 has been changed to alter the orientation of the fence element 2 relative to the support 4 in the first plane. In this case the pitch of the fence element 2 has been changed.

In order to change the pitch of the fence element 2 the attachment portion 32 of aligner 28 is disconnected from the support location 10 so that the aligner 28 can be rotated relative to the alignment bar 8 which moves the aligner 28 along the alignment bar 8. As noted above rotation of the alignment bar 8 relative to the fence element 2 is prevented by the connection of the alignment bar 8 to the element location 12.

It should be noted that the support location has moved along the element axis 34 to permit the pitch of the fence element 2 to change by pivoting about the coupler location 6.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the fence element 2 has rotated, or pivoted, about the coupler location 6. The adjustment changes the orientation of the fence element 2 in a first plane to alter the pitch of the fence element 2 relative to the support 4.

Although the support has been described in this example as comprising a container 26, the other examples the container 26 could be replaced by a solid weight, for example a concrete block. The weight could be secured to the base 24, or may be formed integrally with the base 24. In further examples, the weight may rest on the base without any connection.

Figure 3 shows a view from the front of the part of the fence 1 of Figure 1. This view from the front shows that the support 4 includes a plurality of support locations 36 to which the aligner 28 can be secured.

The aligner 28 (not visible in this Figure) is secured to a first support location 10 of the plurality of support locations 36. The aligner 28 can be disconnected from the first support location 10 and then connected and secured to a second support location 10' of the plurality of support locations 36 as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows a view from the front of the fence element support 1 of Figure 1 in which the support location 10' to which the aligner is secured has been changed from the support location 10 of Figure 3 and thus the orientation of the fence element 2 relative to the support 4 in second plane has been changed. In this case the second plane is perpendicular to the first plane and can be considered to adjust the roll of the fence element 2 relative to the support 4 as shown by arrow 86.

Figures 1 to 4 show that, in this example the pitch and roll of the fence element 2 relative to the support 4 can be adjusted providing two degrees of freedom, or orientation adjustment in two planes. However, these can only be adjusted by disconnecting, or disengaging, the alignment bar 8 from the support 4. This allows the orientation of the fence element 2 to be adjusted to ensure that the fence element 2 can be made substantially vertical even when the support 4 is placed on a non-horizontal surface.

Figures 5 to 8 show views of part of a different fence 101. Figure 5 shows a side view of a part of a fence 101 comprising a fence element 102, in this case a fence post, and a support 104. The support 104 is connected to the fence element 102 at a coupler location 106 of the fence element 102 such that the fence element 102 is pivotable about the coupler location 106.

An alignment bar 108 extends between the fence element 102 and support 104. The alignment bar 108 is secured to the support 104 at a support location 110 and to the fence element 102 at an element location 112. As in the example of Figures 1 to 4 this sets the orientation of the fence element 102 relative to the support 10. The element location 112 is offset from the coupler location 106 along an element axis 134. With all parts secured, i.e. securely fastened in place, the orientation of the fence element 102 relative to the support 104 cannot change.

A support pitch location 114 along the alignment bar 108 is secured to the support location and a fixed, non-adjustable element pitch location 116 along the alignment bar 108 is secured to the element location 112. A distance between the support location 110 and the element location 112 in this case depends upon a distance between the support pitch location 114 and the element pitch location 116. The distance between the support pitch location 114 and the element pitch location 116 determines the orientation of the fence element 102 relative to the support 104 in a first plane towards/away from the support 104.

The alignment bar 108 comprises a plurality of support pitch locations 114,114,114". In this example each support pitch location 114,114,114" includes an aligner 128,128128" secured thereto that can be secured to the support location 110. In this example the alignment bar is not threaded and the aligners are fixed to the support pitch locations 114,114',114". A user can change the pitch location 114,114'1 14" which is secured to the support location 110 by disconnecting the aligner 128,128'128" from the support location and then securing a different one of the aligners 128,128'128" to the support location 110. In this way the orientation of the fence element 102 can be altered with respect to the support 104 in a first plane.

In Figure 5 the support location 110 is secured to the first aligner 128, while in Figure 6 the support location 110 is secured to the second aligner 128'.

Figure 7 shows a view from the front of the part of the fence 101 of Figure 5. This view from the front shows that the fence element 102 includes a plurality of element locations 38 to which the alignment bar 108 can be secured.

The alignment bar 108 (not visible in this Figure) is secured to a first element location 112 of the plurality of element locations 38. The alignment bar 108 can be disconnected from the first element location 112 and then connected and secured to a second support location 112' of the plurality of element locations 38 as shown in Figure 8. In order to change the element location 112 in this example the alignment bar 108 must be disconnected from the support location 110. The plurality of element locations 38 may comprise a plurality of slots or other alignment features with which the alignment bar 108 can be engaged.

Figure 9 shows a schematic view of an alignment bar 208 and associated aligner 228. This alignment bar 208 and associated aligner 228 may be used in the apparatus of Figures 1 to 4. In this example the alignment bar 208 comprises a threaded bar 40 and a pair of opposed curved plates 42,44 which define a fixed element pitch location 216 therebetween. The plates 42,44 of this example are welded or otherwise secured to the alignment bar 208 to fix the position of the element pitch location. The aligner 228 comprises a threaded portion 46 the engagement between the aligner 228 and the alignment bar 208 defines the support pitch location 214. The aligner 228 includes an attachment portion 232 for securing to a support location. The attachment portion 232 in this example includes two bolt holes 48 so that the attachment portion 232 can be secured to a support location using fixings such as bolts, nuts and bolts, or other fixings. The use of two fixings can help secure the orientation of the aligner with respect to the support, but two fixings are not required.

Figure 10 shows a schematic view of the alignment bar 208 and associated aligner 22 of Figure 9 secured to a fence element 202. In this example the fence element 202 has a rectangular cross section and has a front face 50 and a side face 52. The side face 52 includes a shaped entry slot 54 through which an end of the alignment bar 208 and one of the curved plates 42 can pass into the fence element 212 such that the element pitch location 212 is aligned with the front face 50 of the fence element 202. The front face 50 includes a slot 58 which extends along the element axis and defines the element location 212. With the alignment bar 208 engaged in the slot 58 as described, the curved plate 42 within the fence element 202 prevents the threaded bar 40 from being rotated.

When the alignment bar 208 is also secured to a support location by the aligner 228 the orientation and configuration of the alignment bar is fixed and so the orientation of the fence element cannot be altered in either the first plane or the second plane. The first plane may be parallel with the side face 52 and the distance between the fixed element pitch location 216 and the support pitch location 214 cannot be adjusted without disconnecting the aligner 228 from the support. The second plane may be parallel with the front face 50 and the orientation of the fence element cannot be adjusted in the second plane due to the engagement between the alignment bar 208 and the slot 58 and the securing of the aligner 228 to the support location. It should be noted that there may be a small amount of play in the connections, but this play is not considered to be an adjustment.

The fixed element pitch location 216 can slide along the slot 58 when an adjustment is being made to allow for the changes in engagement position along the element axis, but this does not allow the orientation of fence element 202 with respect to the support to be changed without disconnecting the alignment bar from the support.

Figure 11 shows a schematic view of another alignment bar 308 and associated aligner 328. In this example the aligner 328 again includes a threaded portion 346 and an attachment portion 332. However, the attachment portion 332 comprises a clamp plate 60 including a slit 62. This enables a support location to be clamped between the clamp plate 60 and the attachment portion 332 to secure the alignment bar 308 to the support location. The aligner also includes a register bar 88. In this example the register bar 88 is fixed and the clamp plate 60 is movable. In other examples both the register bar 88 and the clamp plate 60 may be movable or the register bar 88 may be movable and the clamp plate 60 may be fixed. It is also possible for both the register bar 88 and the clamp plate 60 to be fixed.

Figure 12 shows a schematic view of the alignment bar 308 and associated aligner 328 of Figure 11 secured to a fence element 302 and support 304. The support 304 comprises a ridge 64 to which the aligner 328 can be secured. In this case the ridge 64 is an undercut ridge which can be used to lift the support 304 using a machine, the machine engaging the undercut of the ridge 64 as with wheelie bin emptying. The ridge 64 includes a plurality of strengthening webs 66 distributed along the ridge 64. The webs 66 define a plurality of support locations to which the aligner 328 can be secured. The clamp plate may be too wide to fit between adjacent strengthening webs 66 such that, when the aligner 328 is engaged with the ridge 64 the slit 62 of the clamp plate 60 engages with a web 66 and prevents the aligner 328 from sliding to another support location while still connected and fixing 92, in this case one or more nut and bolt connectors can be tightened to enhance the security of the connection between the aligner 328 and ridge 64. The register bar 88 engages a top surface 90 of the support to limit the movement of the aligner relative to the ridge 64. As noted above, the register bar 88 may be movable to allow a fixed clamp 64 plate to be used while allowing easy attachment and detachment of the aligner 328 to the ridge as desired by releasing the register bar 88 To change support location the aligner 328 must be disconnected from the ridge 64.

In this example a slit 62 of the clamp plate 60 of the attachment portion 338 engages a strengthening, or other, web 66 which defines a support location. It should be understood other parts of the aligner 328 may engage with one of more webs 66, for example being arranged on both sides of one or more webs 66 to limit movement using projections, slits or similar features, or being located between a pair of webs 66 so that sides of the aligner 328 limit movement or the aligner along the ridge 64.

Figure 13 shows a schematic view of a coupler 68 engaging a coupler location 306 of a fence element 302. In this example the coupler 68 extends from the support 304 and comprises hook 70 which passes into the fence element to provide a secure connection. A base 72 of the hook 70 may include a cutout 74 to define the position along the coupler 68 at which the fence element 302 is secured. The coupler 68 also includes a washer 82 welded therealong to limit the movement of the fence element 302 towards the base 304.

Figures 14 and 15 show a schematic view of a support 404 comprising wheels 76. The support 404 of this example is a modified wheelie bin. The wheels 76 are offset from a base 424 so that they are arranged above the base 424 and, in this example, on the side of the support opposite a fence element 402. The support 404 is secured to a fence element 402 using an alignment bar 408 and a coupler 468.

When the base 424 of the support 404 is resting on the ground 78 the wheels 76 are not in contact with the ground 78, as shown in Figure 13. However, the fence element support 201 can be tilted so that the wheels 76 engage the ground 78 and support the support 404. This facilitates movement of the support 404.

In the example the support 404 comprises a ridge 464 and aligner 428 arrangement similar to that of Figure 12. The support 404 comprises a container 80 into which ballast can be added through a top opening which is closed by a lid 82. The support 404 also includes a handle 84 above the wheels 76 to facilitate movement of the support 404.

In this example the alignment bar 408 is similar to the alignment bar 308 of Figure 11, but with a fixed clamp plate and movable register bar. As discussed above, the clamp plate is engaged between two webs under the ridge 464 to limit the movement of the aligner along the ridge 464 when it is coupled thereto. The register bar can be loosened and/or removed to facilitate connection / disconnection of the aligner to the ridge and tightened in place to secure the aligner in place. The coupler 468 is similar to the coupler 68 of Figure 13, or that shown in Figure 16.

Figure 16 shows a schematic view of another coupler 568 engaging the coupler location 506. The coupler 568 is a substantially flat plate in form and is oriented in a vertical plane. The coupler 658 is shaped to pass through a slot 94 at the coupler location 506 into the fence element 502 in a predetermined orientation. The slot 94 extends perpendicular to the element axis. During installation the fence element is rotated through 90° so that the slot 94 is oriented substantially vertically and aligns with the coupler 568 align so that the coupler 568 can be inserted into the slot 94. The coupler 568 includes a pair of notches 574 forming a waist in the coupler 568. The notches 574 cooperate with the slot 94 to allow the fence element 502 to be rotated to assume an upright orientation. Together the slot 94 and notches 574 limit the movement of the fence element 502 towards or away from the support and allow the fence element to pivot about the coupler location 506, but not to disengage whilst the element is in a substantially upright orientation.

The coupler location 506 is arranged adjacent a base 96 of the fence element 502. This reduces movement of the base 96 of the fence element 506 during orientation adjustment so that the base 96 of the fence element 506 is substantially fixed relative to the support.

Claims (21)

1. Claims 1. A fence comprising a fence element and a support; the support connected to the fence element at a coupler location of the fence element such that the fence element is pivotable about the coupler location; an alignment bar extending between the fence element and support, and secured to the support at a support location and to the fence element at an element location to set the orientation of the fence element relative to the support, the element location being offset from the coupler location along an element axis; wherein a support pitch location along the alignment bar is secured to the support location and an element pitch location along the alignment bar is secured to the element location, the distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location determining the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in a first plane; wherein the distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location along the alignment bar can be altered only when the alignment bar is disconnected from at least one of the fence element and support.
2. 2. A fence as claimed in claim 1, in which an aligner secures the alignment bar to at least one of the support and the fence element, the aligner extending from the support pitch location to the support location or from the element pitch location to the element location.
3. 3. A fence as claimed in claim 2, in which the alignment bar comprises an externally threaded portion and the aligner comprises a corresponding internally threaded portion which is engaged with the alignment bar such that relative rotation between the alignment bar and aligner causes the aligner to move along the alignment bar to thereby alter either the support pitch location or the element pitch location, such relative rotation being prevented when the alignment bar is connected to both the support and the fence element.
4. 4. A fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which: the support comprises a plurality of support locations to which the alignment bar can be secured; or the fence element comprises a plurality of element locations to which the alignment bar can be secured; wherein the support locations or element locations are distributed transverse to the element axis such that changing the support location or element location to which the alignment bar is secured changes the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in a second plane transverse to the first plane.
5. 5. A fence as claimed in claim 4, in which: the support location cannot be changed without disconnecting the alignment bar from the support; and the element location cannot be changed without disconnecting the alignment bar from the element.
6. 6. A fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which: the support comprises a plurality of support locations; the alignment bar comprises a threaded portion; the element pitch location is fixed; the alignment bar includes an aligner threadedly coupled to the threaded portion at a support pitch location; and the aligner comprises an attachment portion secured to a support location.
7. 7. A fence as claimed in claim 6, in which each support location includes a flange and the attachment portion of the aligner is configured to engage with the flange to prevent movement of the aligner relative to the support in a direction that would result in a change in the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in the second plane.
8. 8. A fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support comprises a container into which ballast can be added to adjust the weight of the support.
9. 9. A fence as claimed in claim 8, in which the support includes a base to rest on a surface and wheels arranged on the support such that the wheels can engage the surface and hold the support above the surface when the base is tilted.
10. 10. A fence as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a coupler extends from the support to engage the coupler location and connect the coupler location to the support, and in which the coupler and coupler location are configured such that, with the fence element oriented upright, the coupler cannot be engaged with, or disengaged from, the coupler location.
11. 11. A fence as claimed in claim 10, in which the coupler comprises a plate extending from the support in a vertical plane, the coupler including a waisted portion, and the coupler location comprising a slot extending transverse to the element axis, the coupler engagable with the slot only when the slot is aligned with the plate forming the coupler.
12. 12. A method of erecting a fence, the method comprising: connecting a coupler location of the fence element to the support such that the fence element is pivotable about the coupler location; selecting a distance between an element pitch location and a support pitch location along an alignment bar; using the alignment bar to secure an element location of the fence element to a support location of the support to set the orientation of the fence element relative to the support, the element location being offset from the coupler location along an element axis; wherein a support pitch location along the alignment bar is secured to the support location and an element pitch location along the alignment bar is secured to the fence element, the distance between the support pitch location and the element pitch location determining the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in a first plane; wherein the distance between the element pitch location and the support pitch along the alignment bar can be altered only when the alignment bar is disconnected from at least one of the fence element and support.
13. 13. A method as claimed in claim 12, in which an aligner is used to secure the alignment bar to at least one of the support and the fence element, the aligner extending from the support pitch location to the support location, or from the element pitch location to the element location.
14. 14. A method as claimed in claim 13, in which the alignment bar comprises an externally threaded portion and the aligner comprises a corresponding internally threaded portion which is engaged with the alignment bar and selecting a distance between an element pitch location and a support pitch location along an alignment bar comprises moving the aligner along the alignment bar by relative rotation between the alignment bar and aligner, such relative rotation being prevented when the alignment bar is connected to both the support and the fence element.
15. 15. A method as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14, in which the support comprises a plurality of support locations to which the alignment bar can be secured, and / or the fence element comprises a plurality of element locations to which the alignment bar can be secured, the support locations or element locations being distributed transverse to the element axis such that changing the support location or element location to which the alignment bar is secured changes the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in a second plane transverse to the first plane and the method comprises selecting a first of the plurality of support locations or plurality of element locations and securing the alignment bar thereto.
16. 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the selected support location or element location cannot be changed to a different one of the plurality of support locations or element locations while the alignment bar is connected to the respective support or fence element and the method comprises: selecting a second of the plurality of support locations or plurality of element locations different from the first; disconnecting the alignment bar from the first of the plurality of support locations or plurality of element locations; and connecting the alignment bar with the selected second of the plurality of support locations or plurality of element locations.
17. 17. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which: the support comprises a plurality of support locations; the alignment bar comprises a threaded portion; the element pitch location is fixed; the alignment bar includes an aligner threadedly coupled to the threaded portion at a support pitch location; and the aligner comprises an attachment portion secured to a support location.
18. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, in which each support location includes a flange and the method comprises engaging an attachment portion of the aligner with the flange of a selected support location to prevent movement of the aligner relative to the support that would result in a change in the orientation of the fence element relative to the support in the second plane.
19. 19. A method as claimed in any of claims 12 to 18, in which the support comprises a container into which ballast can be added to adjust the weight of the support and the method comprises adding ballast to the container.
20. 20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the support includes a base to rest on a surface and arranged on the support such the wheels can engage the surface and hold the support above the surface when the base is tilted, and the method comprises tilting the support so that the wheels engage the ground and using the wheels to move the support to a desired location.
21. 21. A method as claimed in any of claims 12 to 19, in which the support is arranged in a desired location and the coupler location is located on the fence element such that adjusting the orientation of the fence element relative to the support by changing the support pitch location, the element pitch location, the support location or element location results in movement of a base of the fence element by no more than 5 cm from a central position of the base.