WO2018011598A1

WO2018011598A1 - Fence

Info

Publication number: WO2018011598A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/052083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenny SCOTT
Original assignee: Hesco Bastion Limited
Priority date: 2016-07-14
Filing date: 2017-07-14
Publication date: 2018-01-18
Also published as: GB201612257D0; GB2552211A

Abstract

The present invention provides a fence comprising at least one fence post having an interlocking member attached thereto and at least one fence panel having an interlocking member attached thereto, wherein the interlocking members attached to the fence post and the fence panel engage in a complementary fashion to form an elongate channel common to both interlocking members wherein a locking member extends into the elongate channel to retain the interlocking members connectively in an interlocked position, thereby connecting the fence post and the fence panel.

Description

FENCE

The present invention concerns a fence, a fence post, a kit comprising said fence post and a fence panel and a method of deploying a fence.

Fences conventionally comprise fence posts and fence panels, wherein the fence posts are spaced apart from one another and the fence panels are attached to adjacent fence posts, such that they extend between two or more fence posts. The fence panels are generally attached to the fence posts with fixing means such as screws or nuts and bolts.

The use of such fixing means often creates an overlap between adjacent fence panels at the regions where they are connected to the fence posts. This acts to connect adjacent fence panels to one another, as well as only requiring one fixing means to connect two fence panels to a fence post. However, this also means that the potential total fence length is reduced.

This conventional arrangement means that the points of connection between the fence panels and the fence posts, as well as between adjacent fence panels, are only at the points where the fixing means are present. Additionally, the deployment of such conventional fences is often slow and requires tools in order to attach the fence panel to the fence post using the fixing means.

GB139231 1 discloses a fence in which catch pins extend through apertures in lugs and eye bolts in order to connect a fence panel to a fence post.

EP1662074 discloses a fence post having a coupling device with two parts that align with a union piece on a fence panel. A protruding portion of one part then extends through the union piece and the other part to hold the fence panel to the fence post.

GB2230280 discloses a fence in which nuts and bolts are not used and instead, the ends of the wires of the mesh fence panels interlock with holes cut in the fence post. However, this arrangement will have increased manufacturing costs due to the holes drilled in the fence post and will be relatively difficult to deploy, as there is no

l tolerance in the positioning of the panels because the wires must fit inside the holes. Further, an embodiment of this arrangement requires the fence panels to overlap, as in the conventional arrangements discussed above.

Thus, there is a requirement for a stronger fence, which is quicker and easier to manufacture and deploy as it has greater tolerance and flexibility.

According to the present invention there is provided a fence comprising at least one fence post having an interlocking member attached thereto and at least one fence panel having an interlocking member attached thereto, wherein the interlocking members attached to the fence post and the fence panel engage in a complementary fashion to form an elongate channel common to both interlocking members wherein a locking member extends into the elongate channel to retain the interlocking members connectively in an interlocked position, thereby connecting the fence post and the fence panel.

The use of an interlocking member attached to the fence post can increase the strength of the fence as it can allow more points of contact between the fence post and the fence panel. In conventional arrangements, the fence panel is only connected to the fence post at the points at which the fixing means are positioned. In the present invention, the interlocking means can provide many points of contact between the fence panel and the fence post. Additionally, the interlocking member attached to the fence post can be attached to the fence post at numerous points along its length, further increasing the strength of the connection between the fence panel and the fence post.

The arrangement of the present invention also means that energy from a collision will be rapidly spread along the fence post, rather than being concentrated at the point of impact, due to the interlocking member extending along a length of the fence panel. This is particularly the case as the interlocking member is attached to the fence post and fence panel, rather than being part of these components. The fence of the present invention is therefore stronger than many prior art arrangements. This is particularly the case over the disclosure of GB2230280, which would not create such efficient dissipation of energy as each wire of the wire mesh fence panel is individually attached to the fence post.

Additionally, the fence of the present invention does not require an overlap between adjacent fence panels at the fence post, as is often needed in the arrangements of the prior art. This increases the potential total length of the fence. The present invention also provides a fast, simple method of creating a fence, which does not require additional tools, such as those needed to apply nuts or bolts to the fence post in the prior art arrangements. The present invention also does not require holes to be drilled in the fence post, which increases manufacturing costs.

There is also a tolerance during the deployment of the fence of the present invention, as the interlocking members can have varying degrees of overlap in the plane parallel to the direction of engagement, forming elongate channels with varying widths. Additionally, the interlocking member attached to the fence post and the interlocking member attached to the fence panel may not be perfectly complementary, such that there can be movement between the two interlocking members in the plane perpendicular to the direction of engagement. One or both of these features can improve the ease of deployment and help to absorb undulation along the fence line, thereby allowing the fence to be erected on uneven terrain.

These features are not possible in the arrangements of the prior art, in which nuts and bolts are applied, or the wire mesh ends are inserted, at the points at which holes are drilled into the fence post. This is because the holes in the fence post prevent movement of the panels in the plane perpendicular to the direction of engagement and can require a specific positioning in the direction parallel to the direction of engagement, as in GB2230280.

Additionally, there may be variation in the possible positioning of the interlocking member attached to the fence post relative to the interlocking member attached to the fence panel, such that different regions of the two interlocking members may engage. In other words, the relative positioning of the two interlocking members may vary in a direction perpendicular to the direction of engagement. This can also help to absorb undulation along the fence line, thereby allowing the fence to be erected on uneven terrain.

The interlocking members may be pivotally engaged. This means that no special parts are required to create corners in the fence, or to allow the fence to change direction, due to the rotation of the fence panel relative to the fence post that a pivotal engagement allows. This is not the case in the arrangement of GB2230280, in which cross-strands 1 1 and 12, as well as the orientation of the slots 13, prevent the fence panels from rotating relative to the fence post.

The fence posts used in the present invention extend at least part of the height of the fence. The elongate direction of the fence post extends parallel to the vertical length or height of the fence and/or perpendicular to the surface on which the fence is placed. The fence posts used in the fence of the present invention may extend the entire height of the fence. The fence post may comprise plastic, metal and/or composite materials. Preferably, the fence post is metal. The fence post may comprise a powdered coated finish. The fence post may be attached to or part of a larger structure, such as a shipping container.

The fence posts used in the fence of the present invention preferably engage in some way with the surface on which the fence is positioned in order to support the fence relative to said surface. The fence posts may directly engage, for example the fence post may be buried or inserted into the surface. This can provide a stable and fixed fence. Alternatively, the fence post may engage indirectly with the surface. For example, a plate may be located at the base of the fence post. This can provide a level of stability to the fence relative to the surface on which it is placed, while still allowing the fence to be movable. The plate may then be weighed down in order to further improve the stability of the fence, using any known means, such as one or more gabions.

The interlocking member attached to the fence post preferably extends along at least part of the height of the fence. The interlocking member may extend less than, equal to or greater than the elongate length of the fence post. The interlocking member may extend along more than half of the elongate length of the fence post. The interlocking member attached to the fence panel preferably extends along at least part of the height of the fence. The interlocking member may extend less than, equal to or greater than the height of the fence panel. The fence panel may comprise top, bottom and side edges and the interlocking member may extend along at least one of the side edges of the fence panel.

The fence panel of the present invention may be any fence panel known in the art. The fence panel may comprise plastic, metal and/or composite materials. Preferably, the fence panel is metal. The fence panel may be a mesh panel, optionally a wire mesh panel. The fence panel may comprise part of a gabion. The fence panel may be the front panel of a gabion.

The interlocking member may comprise plastic, metal and/or composite materials. Preferably, the interlocking member is metal. The interlocking member may be attached to the fence panel with any conventional means, including welding such as tack or spot welding.

The fence may comprise a plurality of fence posts as discussed above spaced apart from one another, wherein a plurality of fence panels as discussed above are attached to the plurality of fence posts such that a fence panel extends between two adjacent fence posts. This creates an alternating arrangement of fence posts and fence panels. The plurality of fence posts and plurality of fence panels can comprise any number of fence posts and fence panels, as long as there are sufficient fence panels so that a fence panel can extend between at least two adjacent fence posts. Each pair of adjacent fence posts in the plurality may have a fence panel extending between them. In this arrangement, many of the fence panels will comprise two interlocking members, so that the fence panel can be connected to two fence posts. The interlocking members may be at opposite ends of the length of the fence panels, optionally along both side edges of the fence panels. However, the fence panels at the end of the fence need not comprise two interlocking members.

At least one fence post in the fence may comprise a single interlocking member, which is attached to one side thereof. Thus, the fence post comprises only one interlocking member. This is a simple arrangement and is cheaper to manufacture than an arrangement having more than one interlocking member.

The fence may then further comprise at least a first and a second fence panel, both comprising an interlocking member, wherein both the interlocking member attached to the first fence panel and the interlocking member attached to the second fence panel engage with the single interlocking member attached to the fence post. This can create a single elongate channel common to all three interlocking members and so a single locking member can be used to connect the fence post to both fence panels, as well as connecting the fence panels to one another.

Alternatively, two separate elongate channels can be created by the interlocking members on the first and second fence panels and so two locking members can be used to connect the fence post to the two fence panels. In this embodiment, both channels may be considered to extend along the centre of the single interlocking member attached to the fence post. This arrangement allows internal corners to be created within the fence, as the two fence panels can move independently relative to one another, without the requirement for additional corner parts. The internal corners of the fence created may be from 45° to 90°.

These arrangements can directly connect adjacent fence panels as well as connecting the fence panels to the fence post. This increases the strength of the fence, as it means that the fence panels are still connected even if the interlocking member attached to the fence post is removed from the fence post during a collision. Thus, even if a collision separates the interlocking member from the fence post, the fence will still provide a barrier. Additionally, this arrangement means that energy can be transferred efficiently directly between fence panels. This more effectively dissipates energy applied to the fence as a result of a collision, thereby increasing the strength of the fence. The collision may be a hostile vehicle collision and these arrangements are particularly useful for mitigating such collisions.

At least one fence post in the fence may comprise a first interlocking member attached to a first side of the fence post and a second interlocking member attached to a second side of the fence post. The second side may be opposite the first side. The second side may not be opposite the first side, thereby allowing the fence to comprise a corner or a change in direction.

The fence may then further comprise at least a first and a second fence panel, both comprising an interlocking member, wherein the interlocking member attached to the first fence panel engages with the interlocking member attached to the first side of the fence post and the interlocking member attached to the second fence panel engages with the interlocking member attached to the second side of the fence post. Each interlocking member attached to the fence panels therefore forms a separate elongate channel common to the respective interlocking members attached to the fence post.

This arrangement is easier to deploy as only one fence panel is connected to the fence post at a time. Thus, only two interlocking members need to be positioned relative to one another at any time in deployment. Additionally, changes in direction of the fence can more easily be created.

The interlocking member may be any member that is capable of interlocking with a similar member at a plurality of points along its length. The interlocking member on the fence post and/or the interlocking member on the fence panel may have more than one interlocking portion, wherein it is the interlocking portions on the interlocking members that create the elongate channel once the two interlocking members engage.

One or both interlocking members may have a sufficient number of interlocking portions such that, once the two members engage to create the elongate channel, the interlocking member comprises two adjacent interlocking portions having an interlocking portion of the other interlocking member positioned between them. One or both interlocking members may have a sufficient number of interlocking portions such that, once the two members engage to create the elongate channel, the interlocking member comprises more than one pair of adjacent interlocking portions, each pair of adjacent interlocking portions having an interlocking portion of the other interlocking member positioned between them. The interlocking member may comprise a coil. The coil may be a helical coil. Such interlocking members are readily available and easy to interlock, as well as being easy to attach to both the fence post and the fence panels. The interlocking members may also comprise tubes in which slots have been cut.

When a coil attached to the fence post engages with a coil attached to the fence panel, the areas defined by the circumferences of the coils overlap, with the turns of one coil fitting between the turns of the other coil. This creates an elongate channel common to both coils, into which a locking member can extend.

If the fence panel is a mesh panel, a coil may be attached to the fence panel by threading the coil through the apertures of the mesh. This provides a secure attachment with many points of contact between the coil and the fence panel, without requiring additional tools or expensive manufacturing processes.

The interlocking member may be attached to the fence post by welding at one or more points along the length of the interlocking member, for example by tack or spot welding. If a coil is used as an interlocking member, at least one and optionally a plurality of the turns of the coil at the side of the coil in contact with the fence post may be welded to the fence post. This increases the number of points of contact between the interlocking member and the fence post and therefore increases the strength of connection between the fence post and the fence panels. The interlocking member may be welded to the fence post at least every 450mm, preferably at least every 100mm and most preferably at least every 25mm. This provides a connection between the fence post and the fence panel up to 10 times more frequently than in the prior art arrangements.

The interlocking member may be attached to the fence post via a loop extending from a surface of the fence post, to which the interlocking member is attached. The loop may be attached to the fence post by any conventional means, for example welding, such as tack or spot welding. This is easy to manufacture as fewer points of attachment are required between the loop and the fence post compared to the embodiment in which the interlocking member is welded directly to the fence post. However, this attachment can provide a strong connection between the interlocking member and the fence post.

If an interlocking member is a coil, the coil may be threaded through the loop in order to attach the coil to the fence post or fence panel. The loop may extend through different numbers of turns of the coil. For example, the loop may extend through one turn of the coil, or through a plurality of turns of the coil. Other interlocking members can be attached via a loop in a similar manner. For example, if a tube comprising slots is used, the loop may extend into the tube through one slot and then out of the tube through another.

At least one of the interlocking members may be magnetised. This can create an attraction between the magnetised interlocking member and the interlocking member or members with which it engages. This would prevent the interlocking members from moving relative to one another, which could create a gap between the fence panel and the fence post. In the embodiment in which a fence post comprises a single interlocking member, it is preferably this single interlocking member that is magnetised. This means that the single interlocking member attached to the fence post can attract both of the interlocking members attached to the adjacent fence posts, thereby preventing all three interlocking members from moving relative to one another.

Additionally or alternatively, the fence may comprise at least one wedge that can be inserted between an interlocking member attached to a fence post and an interlocking member attached to a fence panel to prevent the interlocking members moving relative to one another, which could create a gap between the fence panel and the fence post. This is cheap and easy to manufacture.

The locking member may be an elongate locking member that extends along the elongate channel. The locking member may comprise an elongate pin. Such pins are readily available and cheap to manufacture, as well as being easy to deploy. Alternatively, the locking member may comprise another means for connecting the two interlocking members, such as a means for tying one interlocking member to another. Said means for tying one interlocking member to another may comprise metal ties.

The elongate member may comprise a portion that extends perpendicular to the length of the elongate channel. This portion can retain the two or more interlocking members forming the elongate channel at a constant position relative to one another. This can prevent the interlocking members from moving relative to one another, which could create a gap between the fence panel and the fence post.

If the elongate member comprises an elongate pin, this portion may comprise an open loop at one end thereof, which may optionally include a bend at the end of the open loop and which can be tied with a metal tie on one side of the fence once it has been inserted into the elongate channel to prevent it being subsequently removed. The open loop extends perpendicular to the length of the elongate channel such that it is in contact with opposite sides of said channel, thereby holding the two or more interlocking members at a constant position relative to one another.

The elongate locking member may be shorter than the length of at least one of the interlocking members creating the elongate chamber in which it is located. The locking member may be shorter than the length of all of the interlocking members creating the elongate chamber in which it is located. This is particularly the case if the locking member is an elongate pin.

This means that it is difficult to remove the elongate locking member from the elongate channel, thereby preventing the fence panel from being separated from the fence post. In one embodiment, the elongate locking member is cut to a shorter length after it has been inserted into the elongate channel formed by the engagement of two or more interlocking members.

Alternative means may be used to prevent the locking member from being removed from the elongate channel, thereby preventing the fence panel from being separated from the fence post. In one embodiment, a cap may be fitted to one end of the elongate channel. The cap may comprise metal, plastic and/or composite materials and may extend over the ends of all of the interlocking members forming the elongate channel. In another embodiment, a material may be inserted into one end of the elongate channel to prevent the locking member from being removed. The material may subsequently harden and may be a rapid hardening putty.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fence post comprising at least one interlocking member attached to the fence post. This fence post may be used to create the fence discussed above and so may have any of the features relating to fence posts discussed above.

The interlocking member may be attached to the fence post by welding at one or more points along the length of the interlocking member. This can increase the number of points of contact between the interlocking member and the fence post, thereby increasing the strength of the connection between the fence post and the fence panel.

The interlocking member may be attached to the fence post via a loop extending from a surface of the fence post, to which the interlocking member is attached. The loop may be attached to the fence post by any conventional means, such as welding. This is simple and cheap to manufacture as fewer points of attachment are required between the loop and the fence post compared to the embodiment in which the interlocking member is welded directly to the fence post. However, a strong connection between the interlocking member and the fence post is still formed, as discussed above.

The fence post may comprise a single interlocking member attached to one side thereof. Alternatively, the fence post may comprise a first interlocking member attached to a first side of the fence post and a second interlocking member attached to a second side of the fence post. The second side may be opposite the first side. These embodiments provide alternative arrangements of connecting the fence panels to the fence posts, as discussed above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising any fence post as discussed above and a fence panel having an interlocking member attached thereto. The kit may comprise a plurality of fence posts and fence panels. The interlocking member on the fence panel is configured to engage with the interlocking member on the fence post in a complementary fashion to form an elongate channel common to both interlocking members. This kit can be used to create the fence discussed above. The kit may further comprise a locking member, as discussed above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of deploying a fence comprising positioning any first fence post as discussed above, engaging the interlocking member attached to the fence post and an interlocking member attached to a first fence panel in a complementary fashion to form an elongate channel common to both interlocking members and inserting a locking member into the elongate channel to retain the interlocking members connectively in an interlocked position, thereby connecting the first fence post and the first fence panel.

This is a simple method of creating a fence that does not require additional tools. The locking member may be an elongate locking member that is subsequently cut to a length shorter than one or more of the interlocking members once it has been inserted, in order to make it more difficult to remove and therefore separate the fence post and the fence panel.

The method may further comprise the step of positioning any second fence post as discussed above at a distance such that the interlocking member attached to the second fence post can engage with a second interlocking member on the first fence panel in a complementary fashion to form an elongate channel common to both interlocking members. A locking member can then be inserted into the elongate channel to retain the interlocking members connectively in an interlocked position, thereby connecting the second fence post and the first fence panel. This therefore creates adjacent fence posts with a fence panel extending between them.

An interlocking member attached to a second fence panel may then be engaged with an interlocking member attached to the second fence post in a complementary fashion to form an elongate channel common to both interlocking members. This interlocking member attached to the second fence post may be the same interlocking member as that engaged with the interlocking member attached to the first fence panel or it may be a different interlocking member. A locking member can then be inserted into the elongate channel to retain the interlocking members connectively in an interlocked position, thereby connecting the second fence post and the second fence panel. If the interlocking member on the second fence post is the same interlocking member as that engaged with the interlocking member on the first fence panel, a single locking member can be used to retain all three interlocking members connectively in an interlocked position, thereby connecting the second fence post, the first fence panel and the second fence panel.

Similar steps may be repeated to create a fence with a plurality of fence posts and a plurality of fence panels, in an alternating arrangement with a fence panel extending between adjacent fence posts.

One or more locking members may be stored within an interlocking member attached to a fence post or within an interlocking member attached to a fence panel during transport of the fence post or panel to the site of deployment. This is particularly relevant if the locking members are elongate locking members, as it can prevent the elongate locking member from becoming bent during transport, which would prevent the locking member from being easily inserted into the elongate channel during deployment.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the following figures, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of portion of a fence according to the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a portion of a fence according to the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of a portion of a fence according to the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates one way in which an interlocking member may be attached to a fence post, according to the present invention;

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative way in which an interlocking member may be attached to a fence post, according to the present invention; and

Figure 6 illustrates the interlocking of an interlocking member attached to a fence post and an interlocking member attached to a fence panel, according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a view from above of a fence post 1 comprising a single interlocking member comprising a helical coil 2 on one side thereof. Also shown are adjacent fence panels 3a and 3b, each of which have an interlocking member comprising helical coils 4a and 4b respectively attached thereto. Coils 4a and 4b extend vertically along one side edge of the panels 3a and 3b respectively, parallel to the height of the fence.

Coils 4a and 4b both engage with single coil 2, with the turns of each coil fitting between the turns of the other coils. The fence panels 3a and 3b are moved together such that coils 4a and 4b also engage with each other, thereby creating elongate channel 6. A locking member comprising an elongate pin 5 is inserted into the elongate channel 6, such that it extends along the centre of all three coils 2, 4a and 4b, parallel to the height of the fence, thereby securing the fence panels 3a and 3b to the fence post 1 and to one another. The elongate pin 5 has been cut such that it is shorter than the length of all three coils 2, 4a and 4b.

Figure 2 shows a view from above of a fence post 1 1 comprising a single interlocking member comprising a helical coil 12 on one side thereof. Also shown are adjacent fence panels 13a and 13b, each of which have an interlocking member comprising helical coils 14a and 14b respectively attached thereto. Coils 14a and 14b extend vertically along one side edge of the panels 13a and 13b respectively, parallel to the height of the fence. Coils 14a and 14b both engage with single coil 12, with the turns of each of coils 14a and 14b fitting between the turns of coil 12. The fence panels 13a and 13b are moved together such that coils 14a and 14b engage with coil 12, but do not engage with one another, thereby creating two elongate channels 16a and 16b. Locking members comprising elongate pins 15a and 15b are inserted into the elongate channels 16a and 16b respectively, parallel to the height of the fence, such that elongate pin 15a extends along the centre of coils 12 and 14a, while elongate pin 15b extends along the centre of coils 12 and 14b.

This secures the fence panels 13a and 13b to the fence post 21 , while allowing fence panels 13a and 13b to rotate freely relative to one another, thereby allowing the creation of angles less than the 180° shown in Figure 2 to be formed, if desired. The elongate pins 15a and 15b have been cut such that they are shorter than the length of all three coils 12, 14a and 14b.

Figure 3 shows a view from above of a fence post 21 , which comprises two interlocking members comprising helical coils 22a and 22b. The first coil 22a is attached to a first side of the fence post 21 , while the second coil 22b is attached to a second side of the fence post 21 , which is opposite the first. Also shown are adjacent fence panels 23a and 23b, each of which have an interlocking member comprising helical coils 24a and 24b respectively attached thereto. Coils 24a and 24b extend vertically along one side edge of the panels 23a and 23b respectively, parallel to the height of the fence.

Coils 24a and 24b engage with coils 22a and 22b respectively, to form channels 26a and 26b respectively, with the turns of each coil 24a and 24b fitting between the turns of each coil 22a and 22b. Locking members comprising elongate pins 25a and 25b are inserted into channels 26a and 26b, such that elongate pin 25a extends along the centre of coils 22a and 24a, while elongate pin 25b extends along the centre of coils 22b and 24b, thereby securing the fence panels 23a and 23b to the fence post 21 . The elongate pins 25a and 25b have been cut such elongate pin 25a is shorter than the lengths of coils 22a and 24a and elongate pin 25b is shorter than the lengths of coils 22b and 24b. Figure 4 illustrates a side view of fence post 31 , to which an interlocking member comprising a helical coil 32 is attached. Coil 32 has been welded directly to the fence post 31 at points 37 along its length. Each of the turns of the coil 32 at the side of the coil 32 in contact with the fence post 31 are welded to the fence post 31 in the region of the fence post 31 shown.

Figure 5 illustrates a side view of fence post 41 , to which an interlocking member comprising a helical coil 42 is attached. Loop 48 is welded to the fence post 41 at points 47. Coil 42 has then been threaded through loop 48, such that part of loop 48 extends down the centre of coil 42. Loop 47 extends through four turns of coil 42.

Figure 6 illustrates a side view of fence post 51 , to which an interlocking member comprising a helical coil 52 is attached. An interlocking member comprising a coil 54 is attached to a wire mesh fence panel 53 by threading the coil 54 through the apertures in the fence panel 53. Coil 54 engages with coil 52 such that the areas defined by the circumferences of the coils overlap to form elongate channel 56. A locking member comprising an elongate pin 55 extends into elongate channel 56, along the centre of both coils 52 and 54. This therefore connects the fence panel 53 to the fence post 51 .

Claims

1 . A fence comprising at least one fence post having an interlocking member attached thereto and at least one fence panel having an interlocking member attached thereto, wherein the interlocking members attached to the fence post and the fence panel engage in a complementary fashion to form an elongate channel common to both interlocking members wherein a locking member extends into the elongate channel to retain the interlocking members connectively in an interlocked position, thereby connecting the fence post and the fence panel.

2. A fence according to Claim 1 comprising a plurality of fence posts spaced apart from one another, wherein a plurality of fence panels are attached to the plurality of fence posts such that a fence panel extends between adjacent fence posts.

3. A fence according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein at least one fence post comprises a single interlocking member, which is attached to one side thereof.

4. A fence according to Claim 3 further comprising at least a first and a second fence panel, wherein both the interlocking member attached to the first fence panel and the interlocking member attached to the second fence panel engage with the single interlocking member attached to the fence post.

5. A fence according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein at least one fence post comprises a first interlocking member attached to a first side of the fence post and a second interlocking member attached to a second side of the fence post, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

6. A fence according to Claim 5 further comprising at least a first and a second fence panel, wherein the interlocking member attached to the first fence panel engages with the interlocking member attached to the first side of the fence post and the interlocking member attached to the second fence panel engages with the interlocking member attached to the second side of the fence post.

7. A fence according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein one or more of the interlocking members comprises a coil.

8. A fence according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the interlocking member is attached to the fence post by welding at a plurality of points along the length of the interlocking member.

9. A fence according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the interlocking member is attached to the fence post via a loop extending from a surface of the fence post, to which the interlocking member is attached.

10. A fence according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 wherein at least one of the interlocking members is magnetised.

1 1 . A fence according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 further comprising at least one wedge that can be inserted between the interlocking member attached to the fence post and the interlocking member attached to the fence panel to prevent the interlocking members moving relative to one another.

12. A fence according to any one of Claims 1 to 1 1 wherein the fence post comprises a plate at its base.

13. A fence according to any one of Claims 1 to 12 wherein the locking member is an elongate pin.

14. A fence according to Claim 13 wherein the elongate pin is shorter than the length of the interlocking member attached to the fence post and/or the interlocking member attached to the fence panel.

15. A fence post comprising at least one interlocking member attached to the fence post.

16. A fence post according to Claim 15, wherein the interlocking member is attached to the fence post by welding at a plurality of points along the length of the interlocking member.

17. A fence post according to Claim 15 wherein the interlocking member is attached to the fence post via a loop extending from a surface of the fence post, to which the interlocking member is attached.

18. A fence post according to any one of Claims 15 to 17 wherein the fence post comprises a single interlocking member attached to one side thereof.

19. A fence post according to any one of Claims 15 to 17 wherein the fence post comprises a first interlocking member attached to a first side of the fence post and a second interlocking member attached to a second side of the fence post, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

20. A kit comprising a fence post according to any one of Claims 15 to 19 and a fence panel having an interlocking member attached thereto.

21 . A method of deploying a fence comprising positioning a fence post according to any of Claims 15 to 19, engaging the interlocking member attached to the fence post and an interlocking member attached to a fence panel in a complementary fashion to form an elongate channel common to both interlocking members and inserting a locking member into the elongate channel to retain the interlocking members connectively in an interlocked position, thereby connecting the fence post and the fence panel.