This invention relates tea barrier, parts appropriate for a barrier, and also a method of constructing a barrier

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I have previously described in patent applications which, to the best of my knowledge have not become generally known, barriers with tightening arrangements facilitating vertical wires being used.

This invention relates to an improvement to such barriers and especially to the tightening arrangement for these. The advantages in relation to this invention are that it facilitates an economic arrangement with positive control of a spreader when effecting either tensioning or loosening of vertical wires.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, the invention can be said to reside in a barrier comprising or including an upper elongate support and a lower elongate support which is parallel to the upper elongate support, and a two-wire tensioning assembly with two only substantially vertical portions extending between the upper and lower elongate supports, there being either one wire being a separate length of wire having a single length with thereby two respective ends, each end anchored at a position which is spaced apart one from the other, one end being secured directly or indirectly to a first of the elongate supports and the other end being secured to the same elongate support, one wire between its respective substantially vertical portions providing a loop portion which is inter-engaging- with either a. spreader which engages between the vertical portions keeping them separate, or the support oppositely positioned to the spreader, or there being two wires each being a separate length of wire with one end secured either directly or indirectly to, in each case, a one of the supports but spaced apart one from the other, and in the case of the other end in each case, with the other support either directly or indirectly, and where, by being indirectly attached, is by being attached through the spreader, the spreader in every case having a threaded aperture and a shaft threadably engaging the aperture and being positioned to either directly or indirectly engage a one of the elongate supports, where rotation of the shaft relative to the spreader will effect a change in tensioning of both substantially vertical portions of the wire or wires at the same time. In a further form, the invention can reside in a method of effecting the barrier where the barrier comprises or includes the characteristics as above stated and where the method includes effecting inter-engaging of the respective ends of the respective wires and then rotating the shaft relative to the spreader whereby to effect an increase in tension of both substantially vertical portions of the wire or wires at the same time.

In preference, each of the wire or wires at each respective end is bulbous and as such, is inter-engaging with a respective aperture either in a one or other of the supports or a one or other of ends which are oppositely positioned of the spreader. In preference, each wire is effected in having a bulbous end by having a ferrule swaged at or close to a respective end of the respective wire.

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In preference, at least one of these supports is comprised of a hollow tube.

In preference the hollow tube is selected from a one of being circular , or square or rectangular in cross section. In preference, the threaded shaft includes at least at one end, a shape adapted to provide for an interlocking relationship with a rotation driver. In preference, such a driver can be in one case a spanner, or in another case a screwdriver.

In preference, where the lower support is a tubular member extending crosswise to the otherwise vertical portions of the wires, there is provided a lower most aperture through which the spreader is adapted to be located.

One of the advantages of the arrangement described relates to the problem of providing compact economical tensioning for a barrier where this barrier is located adjacent a set of stairs.

The problem with stairs is that the angular relationship of the rails and in this case elongate supports inclined to the horizontal might be within the range of anything from 35-45% or more and hitherto, techniques for providing tensioning of wires defining a barrier have involved a substantial time and substantial effort. With this invention the application to stairs is very useful. If the angle of the stairs increase then the horizontal distance between wires can be reduced e.g. normally 70mm but can be reduced to 60mm for 40 degrees slope.

Such substantial time and substantial effort have been reduced, significantly when using the invention according to its description.

It would normally be expected that the threaded shaft that can be rotated relative to the spreader can be accessed externally of the elongate support whether this is the upper elongate support or the lower elongate support.

Further however, there is advantage in providing that, in the case that the upper or lower support is a tube of circular cross-sectional shape, that the bolt threadably passing through the spreader will then, in order to effect a tensioning of the vertical wires effect an engagement against an inner surface of the tube relating to the spreader.

In preference, where the shaft may be expected to engage against the tube and exert pressure to maintain the tension, it is of advantage to provide a pad so that effectively the end of the shaft will only indirectly engage against the tube so that the pad can dissipate the pressure and thereby not necessarily cause any localised distortion of the engaged surface.

A further issue however, is that when a spreader is attached either to the respective ends of two wires by respective interlocking thereby or by having the loop of a single wire passing respectively from one side to the other, there can be some difficulty when this is being subject to a rotational pressure by rotation of the threaded shaft which in turn then threads and thereby engages and screws through the spreader.

In order to restrict relative rotation within the pipe of the spreader while it is being subject to such rotational pressures while the bolt is being threaded through this, to effect a tensioning, there is provided in a further preferred feature, a guide which can fit and does fit within the tube and is such that the spreader which will conventionally be a rectangular member with elongate sides, will fit with a relatively slidable fit up and down the sides of the guide. In one preferred arrangement, the guide is a member having a U-shape cross- sectional shape and having a length substantially that of the spreader and having heights of its sides sufficient that its upper end will be adapted to engage respective inner surfaces on each side of the pipe forming an either upper or lower support. In preference, the guide can be held in position either/or by rotatable inter- engagement with the shaft and by an interference fit with an aperture into which it is introduced.

In preference, ends of the wires which are themselves not inter-engaging with the spreader can be effecting an interlocking engagement with an oppositely positioned support where there is one or more keyholes where in one position of the keyhole, the bulbous end of a wire can pass through, and in a further position within the keyhole, it is intercepted from passing there through.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with reference to embodiments which will be described with the assistance of drawings wherein

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment where the view shows and effectively transparent circular cross-section pipe in which the spreader end hits assembly are located within the pipe.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement as in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a further embodiment in which in this case there is no guide included. Figure 4 is an end view of the arrangement as in Figure 3, especially the lower part.

Figure 5 is the same view as in Figure 4 with the parts brought into position within the pipe.

Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment in which the elongate support in this case is a U-shaped section in this case acting as the guide alone with in this case the shaft passing freely through the guide but being restrained by reason of its head shape.

Figure 7 illustrates an assembly showing how the lower elongate support is positioned using the system as shown in Figure 6 beneath floor decking bopards and by reason of a slot in the upper end of the shaft can be adjusted in tension by a screwdriver from above.

Figure 8 is the same system as in Figures 1 and 2 and there is now shown in Figure 9 using upper and lower elongate supports each in this case tubes especially with the lower support being raised above ground level. This is very useful for uneven surfaces such as surrounds for swimming pools. Figure 10 illustrates a further arrangement in which the lower tensioning arrangement includes a spreader bar only and there is an upper elongate support which includes in the first instance a U-shaped member having in its base a plurality of spaced .apart keyhole apertures, and there is covering this an upper railing.

Figure 11 illustrates an alternate arrangement for the lower support is of square cross-sectional shape and where there is an insert of U-shaped cross-section.

Figure 12 illustrates the way in which the lower elongate support can in fact be secured under the decking boards and hidden within the rebated floor joists. The wires appear to disappear.

Figure 13 illustrates an arrangement which provides for the tightening to be in an upper elongate support with the spreader end threaded shaft with the spreader being appropriately threadably engaging with the shaft, and a lower elongate support having the keyhole engagements. Figure 14 shows the same arrangement.

Figure 15 illustrates how the lower support can be beneath slats or decking boards of a balcony.

Figure 16 is the side elevation of the arrangement showing how this applies in the case of stairs. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring in detail to the embodiments and the drawings, there is provided an upper elongate support and a lower elongate support each of which can be either permanently supported or adjustably supported. Referring then to Figures 1 and 2, there is a lower elongate support 1 which is in the form of a hollow tube and there is provided through an upper wall of this tube 1 apertures 2 and 3 through which a vertical wire 4 having vertical portions 5 and 6 pass. Within the lower elongate member 1 there is a spreader plate 7 which is of ^{^} rectangular shaped sides and where at each end shown there is an aperture through which the respective wire 4 can with respective bulbous portions, pass so that it extends from 1 vertical portion 5 through the aperture 8, beneath the spreader 7 and back through the aperture 9 through the upper aperture in the lower elongate member 1 at 3 to then form the further vertical portion 6.

Tightening or tensioning of the vertical portions 5 and 6 of the wires is achieved by reason that the threaded bolt 11 threadably engages aperture 12 in the spreader 7 so that relative rotation of the bolt 11 will effect by reason of relative screw action between the respective bolt and the aperture, movement of the spreader relative to the bolt 11.

The bolt 11 has at its upper end 13 a cowl 14 which is comprised of a plastics material which has the effect of spreading engaging pressure from the bolt 11 over a greater area of the wall of the lower elongate member 1.

In order to achieve relative alignment of the spreader 7 with respect to the elongate direction E lower elongate member 1 , there is a guide 15 which has parallel side walls 16 and 17 and a base 18.

An aperture 19 in the lower side of the elongate member 1 allows for positioning of this guide 15. A cover 20 has an interlocking fit with the aperture19 so that once the guide 15 with the remainder of the assembly of the tensioning equipment is fitted within the tube of the lower elongate support 1 , this can then be effectively closed allowing however an aperture there through for the bolt 11 and its head 21 to project there below for access by a spanner in this case. Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a further embodiment where there is an upper elongate support 30, and a lower elongate support 31. The wire 32 has two vertical portions 33 and 34 which at their upper end are caused to be bulbous by reason of having a ferrule 35 in one case and 36 in the other assuaged around the respective ends of the single length of wire 32.

This single length of wire with its assuaged ends 35 and 36 is located between respective upper elongate support 37 and lower elongate support 38. Each support 37 and 38 in this case are hollow tubes.

In the case of the upper elongate support 37, there are keyhole apertures at 39 and 40 which allow in one position the bulbous end of the single wire 32 to pass through the wall of the tube of the upper elongate support 37 and then by lateral movement enter a position where this will no longer then pass in that position through the WaIL ₁

The tensioning of the single wire 32 in this case is now further achieved by a threaded shaft 41 which threadably engages with a spreader 42 which in turn has end apertures 43 and 44 by which the single length of wire 32 is threaded and such that by downward pressure on the spreader 42, this will exert tensioning pressure on the respective vertical portions 33 and 34.

In this case, there is no guide as in the first embodiment but the cap 45 fits with engaging fit the rectangular aperture 46 in the lower side of the lower elongate support.38. As will now again be seen, relative rotation of the threaded shaft which has a hexagonal head better shown perhaps in Figures 4 and 5, this will effect a relative movement of the spreader 42 with respect to the cap 47.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a further support arrangement in which the lower elongate support is in the form of decking slates 50 and 51 leaving between them a slot 52. Beneath this slot 52 is a rectangular channel 53 which has a spreader bar 54 through which wire 55 is threaded and there is a threaded shaft 56 which threadably engages the spreader 54.

A slot 57 is located in the top of the threaded shaft 56 to enable adjustment of the arrangement by use of typically a screwdriver through the slot 52.

In this case, there is a head 58 which is wider than an aperture 59 so that relative rotation of the threaded shaft 56 can result in lessening the distance between the head 58 and the threaded aperture of the spreader 54 through which the threaded shaft 56 is engaging. The channel 53 in this case has a base 60 and sides 61 and 62 which are held by appropriate joists of a balcony system.

The whole assembly can now be seen generally in Figure 7 where there is an upper elongate member 63 and a corner post in this case 64.

In a further iteration of this arrangement, in Figure 9 which is a further embodiment, there is an upper elongate support 70, a lower elongate support 71 and these are in turn kept separate by intermediate posts 72 and 73 and by end posts 74 and 75.

In this case, as has been shown previously however, the tightening

arrangement is again as shown in Figure 8 where there is a spreader inter - engaging with a respective wire 77, the lower elongate support 78 being a hollow tube and having a guide 79 with a threaded shaft 80 threadably engaging the spreader 76. Various embodiments within the general concept can be now incorporated for instance as in Figure 10, the upper elongate support in this case is a U shaped tube 90 and in this case this is covered by a wooden moulding 91.

In Figure 11 , the lower elongate support 92 which is raised above a ground level includes a tube which is of square cross sectional shape. In this case there are a plurality of apertures shown typically at 94 through an upper side 95 of the square cross section tube 93.

In each case again, there is both for the embodiment shown in Figure 10 and in Figure 11 vertical wire portions 96 which are tensioned by a spreader 97 in which there is a central threaded shaft 98 threadably engaging the spreader 97 and thereby exerting effective tension for the reason that the vertical wire portions are threaded in this case through the respective outer holes 99 of the spreader 97.

Relative rotation of the threaded shaft 98 will effect pressure against the upper end of the shaft against the upper side of the lower elongate support 92.

Figure 12 illustrates a further installation arrangement in which the lower elongate support shown at 100 is affixed to extend across and above the floor 101 of a balcony.

While we have shown hitherto in the embodiments the examples in each case where the tensioning is effected by having the tensioning system with the spreader in the lower elongate support, it is appropriate in some cases to have this tensioning positioned as a part of the upper elongate support.

Figure 13 shows where an elongate member of U shape cross section at 103 has the appropriate apertures by which the wire portions shown typically at 104 can pass there through and a threaded shaft 105 threadably engages a spreader 106. In this case the threaded shaft 105 having a hexagonal head at its lower end at 107 which is indeed a hexagonal nut screwed onto a lower end of the threaded shaft 105 with a screw thread oppositely handed to a remainder of the thread where for instance it threadably engages the spreader 106 so that an aperture in the base of the right angle member 103 rotatably retains the threaded shaft 105.

It is in this way then, that by rotation of the hexagonal nut acting as a head 107 can be rotated in a direction opposite to that by which it would be unthreaded from the shaft, and this then will effect tension through the spreader 106 to the respective vertical wire portions 104.

Examples of the lower elongate member can include then 108 which is a circular tube with keyhole apertures shown typically at 109 which is positioned above a floor level by being secured at each end to a post such as 110.

In a further instance this lower elongate member can be a square cross sectional shape shown at 111 , and in a further instance, it can be positioned below flooring boards shown typically at 112 in Figure 15 by having the wire portions 113 pass between a gap 114 into keyhole slots in upper side of the rectangular-cross sectional shaped cube 115. The concept of using a positive threaded engagement of a spreader ensures that the control of the spreader is more positive and it also is of assistance where an upper and/or lower elongate support is not necessarily at right angles to the alignment of the wire portions.

This is the case for instance where stairs might be involved and in Figure 16, we have the case where there are stairs 120 with an upper elongate support 121 and a lower elongate support 122 both being parallel to each other but being supported so as to be inclined to horizontal alignment but being able to provide tensioned and compact support for a plurality of vertically aligned wires where the wire portions are shown typically at 123. In each case shown schematically there is a spreader 124 which is positively threadably engaged by a threaded shaft and the spreader itself holds the wire portions in a way that allows these to be tensioned but maintains the

advantages of the compactness and economy of the tensioning system as generally previously illustrated. A spreader and threaded shaft can be positioned in either an upper rail or a lower rail and for instance can be positioned in an upper hollow stair rail as an example.