IES990410A2 - Fencing panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A fencing panel (10) comprises a rectangular wooden frame (12) having an upper horizontal frame (14) and lower horizontal batten (16) interconnected by four spaced-apart vertical battens (18). The frame (12) is covered on one side by horizontal laths (20) of overlapped thin wooden planks. The lowermost lath (20a) is secured to the lower horizontal batten (16) and the upright battens (18) and projects downwardly beyond the bottom edge of the lower horizontal batten (16) for overlapping engagement with another adjacent panel mounted directly below. Thus, a fence of a desired height can be constructed from a number of the panels which interengage, the joint between adjacent panels being concealed by the overlapping laths (20a) giving the impression of a continuous unitary fence panel. <Figure 1>

Description

Fencing panels for domestic purposes are of two main types and each type comprises a wooden framework to which is attached either a woven or lapped lengths of thin strips of wood. These two types are commonly known as woven or lapped panels. The present invention has particular relevance to the lapped type of domestic fence panel.

These fencing panels are typically provided in a standard width of approximately 6 feet and heights, of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5 feet so that a customer has a choice of height of fence.

However, this arrangement means that retailers of fence panels have to maintain a stock of five different sizes of fence panel. Also, whilst the smaller sizes, for example, 2 and 3 feet high are relatively easy to manage, the larger sizes are more difficult to handle and cannot usually be accommodated within customer's vehicles. Either the larger size panels have to be transported on a roof rack of a customer's vehicle or there has to be a special delivery arranged by the retailer.

Also, the fencing panels are relatively weak and considerable damage tends to be incurred during delivery to the retailer and during stock holding by the retailer. Also damage is likely to be incurred in transit from the retailer to the customer's premises.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fencing- panel in which only two sizes of panel need to be provided in order to provide a range of sizes of panel from two feet to six or more feet high in one foot - 2 IE990410 increments.

By means of the provision of panels in only two sizes, for example, 2 feet high and 3 feet high, the number of sizes of panels which have to be stocked by a retailer is considerably reduced and also the panels are easily manoeuvrable and transportable by a customer, and there is less risk of damage.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fencing panel comprising a frame to which is attached on one side of the frame a covering comprising overlapping strips of material in which one of the strips adjacent a side of the panel extends beyond an edge of the frame for overlapping engagement with another panel.

The edgemost strip has a fixed inner and a free outer end, the inner end being secured to the frame, and spacer means is provided for supporting the strip in an inclined position on the frame such that it extends away from the frame moving between the fixed end and the free end of the strip.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the frame is a wooden frame having four sides and the strips are of wooden material.

The said edgemost strip can be spaced from the lowermost member of the frame by any appropriate means.

For example, the lowermost member of the frame can be provided with projections as can the edgemost covering strip.

In another embodiment, there is provided a wooden fencing panel comprising a rectangular wooden frame having an IE990410 - 3 upper horizontal batten and a lower horizontal batten interconnected by at least two spaced-apart vertical battens which extend between the upper and lower horizontal battens, the frame being covered on one side by a plurality of overlapping horizontal laths forming the strips, an upper edge of each lath being attached to the frame and the lower edge of the lath overlapping an upper edge of the lath directly below it on the frame, the lowermost lath extending beyond a bottom edge of the frame for overlapping engagement with another panel. Preferably fasteners extend through adjacent overlapping laths to secure them to the frame.

Conveniently the lowermost horizontal batten is sized to project outwardly of the vertical battens such that the lowermost lath is supported in an inclined position on the frame projecting outwardly and downwardly of the frame.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the lower horizontal batten is sized to project outwardly of the vertical battens such that the lowermost lath is supported in an inclined position on the frame projecting outwardly and downwardly of the frame.

Preferably, the panels are approximately six feet wide and two and three feet high.

Clearly, different widths and heights can be provided as required, and the measurements can be in metric or Imperial units.

It will be appreciated that when the panels are assembled in the normal manner that is between two fence posts of any appropriate construction, ' the panels are the same width and when one panel is placed upon the other the edgemost strip of material on the upper panel extends over - 4 IE990410 the uppermost strip of material on the lower panel thereby covering the joint between the two panels and giving the appearance of a single panel of a width of approximately six feet and a height of either four feet by means of two 2 feet high panels, 5 feet by means of one 3 foot panel and one 2 foot panel or 6 feet by means of two 3 foot high panels.

The provision of a 2 foot high or a 3 foot high fence is obtained by means of a single 2 foot high or 3 foot high panel as will be obvious.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Fig. 1 shows a rear elevation of one form of fencing panel according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a front elevational of the fencing panel as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a partial section through two fencing panels according to the present invention; Fig. 4 shows a detail of the fencing panel shown in Figures 1 and 2;and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of portion of another fencing panel.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a fencing panel according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The fencing panel 10 comprises a rectangular wooden frame 12 having an upper horizontal batten 14 and a lower horizontal batten 16. At least two, - 5 IE990410 and in this case four, spaced-apart vertical battens 18 extend between the upper horizontal batten 14 and lower horizontal batten 16.

The frame 12 is covered on one side by a plurality of horizontal laths 20 or strips of thin wood which are overlapped, this type of panel construction being known as a lapped panel.

The lowermost lath 20a which is secured to the lower batten 16 and all of the upright battens 18 projects beyond the bottom edge 21 of the lower batten 16 as is shown in Fig. 1 and Figs. 3 and 4 more clearly.

In order to assemble for example a fence which is approximately 6 feet wide and 5 feet high, panels which are 3 feet high and 2 feet high according to the present invention are superimposed upon one another as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and are attached to fence posts 22 which are spaced-apart to give an approximate gap of 6 feet. It will be appreciated that when the lower horizontal batten 16 of the upper panel 10 of the assembly is placed upon the upper batten 14 of the lower panel 10, the lowermost lath 20a which is secured to the lower horizontal batten 16 of the upper panel 10 will overlap the uppermost lath 20 of the lower panel 10 thereby concealing the joint between the two panels 10 and giving the impression of a continuous unitary panel of the desired height.

The two panels 10 can be secured to the fence post 22 in the normal way, by nails or screws for example, and the mating battens 16 and 14 of the two panels 10 can also be secured together if desired for example by nailing.

It will be appreciated that by the provision of only two sizes of panel 10 that is 2 feet high and 3 feet high both IE990410 - 6 being 6 feet wide a combination of two or more of these two panels 10 will give a fence height of 4 feet, 5 feet or 6 feet or other heights in 1 foot increments. Fences which are only 2 or 3 feet high can be obtained by use of single panels 10 of these heights.

By this means, a retailer only need stock two sizes of panel and transportation both by the retailer and the customer is rendered easier and the panels being more robust are less liable to breakage.

The lath 20a which extends beyond the edge of the frame 12 can extend beyond the edge by any appropriate amount and the spacing means to ensure that the lowermost lath 20a will fit snugly with the uppermost lath 20 of the lower panel 10 can take any suitable form. In Fig. 4, the spacer is shown as an elongate spacer strip 23 at a bottom front edge of the lower horizontal batten 16.

The batten and/or the lowermost lath 20a can be formed with a projection or projections to provide the spacing or a separate strip of wood can be placed between the lowermost lath and the lower batten and secured in place as shown in Fig. 4.

The preferred arrangement is shown in Fig. 5. In this case, the lower horizontal batten 16 is sized such that it projects forwardly of the vertical battens 18 to incline the lowermost lath 20a which is secured to the vertical battens 18 and lower horizontal batten 16 by fasteners 25.

As can be seen in the drawing a fixed inner end, in this case the top end 26 of the lath 28, is secured to the frame 12. A free outer end, in this case the lower end 27 of the lath, projects downwardly of the frame 12. - 7 IE990410 The remaining laths 20 are then overlapped and secured to the frame as shown. This construction is particularly advantageous from a manufacturing point of view as it provides a simple and robust construction which minimises the manufacturing steps required and hence the cost of production.

It will be appreciated that the panels may be mounted as described one above the other for overlapping engagement or side by side for side overlapping engagement with the outwardly extending lath at the side rather than the bottom of the panel.

It is also envisaged that the panels might be used as wall panels in the construction of garden sheds or the like in addition to fencing, and in this context the term fencing panel, as used in this patent specification, should be taken to include wall panels of this construction also.

The various component parts of the panels may be secured together by any suitable fashion such as by fasteners such as nails or staples for example.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A fencing panel comprising a frame to which is attached on one side of the frame a covering comprising overlapping strips of material in which one of the strips adjacent a side of the panel extends beyond an edge of the frame for overlapping engagement with another panel.

2. A fencing panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the edgemost strip has a fixed inner and a free outer end, the inner end being secured to the frame, and spacer means is provided for supporting the strip in an inclined position on the frame such that it extends away from the frame moving between the fixed end and the free end of the strip.

3. A fencing panel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fencing panel comprises a rectangular wooden frame having an upper horizontal batten and a lower horizontal batten interconnected by at least two spaced-apart vertical battens which extend between the upper and lower horizontal battens, the frame being covered on one side by a plurality of overlapping horizontal laths forming the strips, an upper edge of each lath being attached to the frame and a lower edge of the lath overlapping an upper edge of the lath directly below it on the frame, the lowermost lath extending beyond the bottom edge of the frame for overlapping engagement with another panel.

4. A fencing panel as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lowermost horizontal batten is sized to project outwardly of the vertical battens such that the lowermost lath is supported in an inclined position IE990410 on the frame projecting outwardly and downwardly of the frame.

5. A fencing panel constructed and arranged for use and 5 operation substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.