The present invention relates to a fence post for facilitating the erecting and manufacture of fence elements and for achiev¬ ing a uniform appearance for the fence on both sides, the post being secured to a footing driven into the ground.

In practice, fence elements are often erected by first erectin posts entirely separate from the element, and by then fastenin the elements to the posts either by nailing or by using so- called clippers.

The biggest disadvantage of current-day fence elements is the posts being separate from the element. Therefore the structura outer appearance of a completed fence is often different on on side from the other. For example, such a fence is not very suitable for the boundary line between two properties. Further more, the erecting of present-day fence elements is slow owing to the separate posts. It is also to be noted that the fence will not be sturdy, especially when so-called clipper fastenin is used.

The disadvantage of footings of known fence posts in use is that, for example if the soil is stony, it is difficult to get the footing into a vertical position. If the footing is left a a tilt, also the post to be secured in the sleeve of the foot¬ ing will be tilted. When an attempt is made to straighten a tilted footing, its distance from the previous footing often changes and thus complicates the fastening of elements of pre¬ determined length to the posts.

With the help of the post footing according to the invention, the disadvantage described above is eliminated to some degree. The footing which is an object of the invention may, when driven into the ground, turn into a tilted position in the

longitudinal direction of the fence without tilting the post or complicating the erecting of the fence elements. The footing according to the invention functions in a manner different from that of other, known systems, and it is suitable for use only for the erecting of prefabricated fence elements with a specif¬ ic post system.

The fence post according to the invention is characterized in that the footing is made of tubing having, for example, a rec¬ tangular cross section, and that the fence post is fastened to the upper section of the footing by means of metal plates bent into a U-form, by pressing, with the help of two metal plates, by means of a bolt, the upper section of the footing into a slot which is left in the lower section of the two pairs of battens making up the post and has the thickness of a fence board or had been widened. The metal plates, the upper section of the footing, and the joining point of the two pairs of bat¬ tens making up a completed post have holes for the bolt. By means of a post according to the invention, a crucial improve¬ ment is achieved with respect to the disadvantages described above. The said footing system also provides some of the ad¬ vantages described above.

One embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the post is made up of two opposite pairs of vertical battens with a slot having the width of a fence board between them.

Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that notches for horizontal boards have been formed inside the bat¬ tens.

A third embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the fence elements are fastened to each other by means of bolts passing through the batten pairs which make up the post.

The following advantages are also achieved by means of the

systems according to the invention:

- No separate posts are required. The elements are fastened to each other end-to-end to produce a completed fence.

- In all designs the fence has structurally exactly the same appearance on both sides. It is also very suitable for use on the boundary between two properties.

- The fence will be impressive and sturdy.

- The invention will facilitate and speed up the industrial manufacture of fence elements.

- It will speed up and facilitate the erecting of fences.

- Owing to the bolt joints the fence is easy to dismantle and relocate, when necessary.

- Rapid manufacture/erecting lowers the costs of the fence.

The invention is described below with the help of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 depicts a footing to be driven into the ground,

Figure 2 depicts a U-shaped metal plate,

Figure 3 depicts two fence elements fastened to each other by means of a footing,

Figure 4 depicts an end view of a fence element, erected.

Figure 5 depicts a front view of an individual fence element.

Figure 6 depicts an end view of a fence element.

Figure 7 depicts two elements, fastened to each other, and Figure 8 depicts an end view of a fence element.

The fence post is made up of two opposite pairs 1 of vertical battens, between which there is a slot having the thickness of a fence board 3. In Figures 5-8, notches 4 for horizontal boards 2 have been formed inside the battens 1. The actual post, which at the erecting stage of the fence is made up of two pairs 1 of vertical battens, is fastened to a footing 7 to be driven into the ground. The footing is made of tubing rec¬ tangular in cross section, to be driven into the ground. The fence post is fastened to the upper section of the footing l ^' with the help of metal plates 6 bent into a U-shape, by

pressing by means of a bolt 8 the upper section of the footing by means of two metal plates into the slot left in the lower section of the two pairs of battens and having the width of a fence board or having been widened. The fence elements are fastened to each other by means of bolts 5 passing through the batten pairs 1 which make up the post.