SWARTZ, Trevor, Michael, Valiant (Unit 65 Winchester Peaks, 17 Nante Place, Extension, Gauteng Province 2091 Winchester Hills, ZA)
| CLAIMS 1. A fencing system, which includes a plurality of posts, each post having a longitudinally extending lip formation; a plurality of wire mesh fencing panels, with an edge portion of each fencing panel contactable with the lip formation of a post; and a plurality of elongate retaining members, each retaining member having a channel formation slidably engageable, in use, over a lip formation of a post and an edge portion of a fencing panel in contact therewith, thereby to retain the fencing panel against the post. 2. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 1 , in which each post is oriented, in use, with an outer surface of its lip formation facing outwardly with regard to the fence. 3. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 1 , in which each post has a pair of opposed lip formations, on the same side of the post, with the lip formations facing one another and defining substantially coplanar outer surfaces with which the edge portions are engageable 4. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 3, in which each post is rectangular, of mild steel and hollow, having a lipped channel section and an inner wall opposed to the lip formations, which defines an external surface, that is inwardly facing relative to the fence. 5. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 4, in which the retaining member defines two opposed channel formations, facing away from one another, and being connected by a bridge. 6. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 5, which includes a locking arrangement for locking each retaining member to its associated post. 7. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 6, in which the locking arrangement comprises a screw threaded bolt engageable with a complementary engaging formation in or on an associated retaining member, a head of the bolt being engageable with the inwardly facing external surface of the inner wall of the post. 8. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 7, in which he complementary engaging formation is a longitudinally extending groove on an inner side of each retaining member. 9. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 8, in which each groove has a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs to facilitate locking engagement of the screw threads of the bolts with the groove. 10. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 5, in which, the channel formations are dimensioned such that they are an interference fit over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations. 1 1. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 5, in which, the retaining members are slidable over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations from above. 12. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 1 , in which each fencing panel has a vertically oriented edge bar at each lateral end. 13. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 12, in which each edge bar is, in use, positioned adjacent an inner edge of its associated lip formation, with end regions of horizontal bars being in contact with the outer surfaces of their associated lip formation. 14. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 1 , which includes a number of cleats, that are securable to the lip formations, when the fencing panel edge portions are in position and before the retaining members are engaged therewith, to hold the fencing panel edge portions in place, when the retaining members are engaged over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations. 15. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 1 , which includes a plurality of capping units to cap the tops of the posts. 16. The fencing system as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the retaining members have attaching formations for attaching signage thereto. 17. A length of fence which includes a plurality of posts having a lower end anchored in a support medium, with each post having a vertically extending lip formation; a plurality of wire mesh fencing panels, with a fencing panel extending between adjacent posts and with an edge portion of each panel in contact with a lip formation of an associated post; and a plurality of elongate retaining members, each retaining member having a channel formation, with each channel formation being engaged over a lip formation and its associated contacting fence panel edge portion. 18. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 17, in which each post is oriented, in use, with an outer surface of its lip formation facing outwardly. 19. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 18, in which each post has a pair of opposed lip formations, on the same side of the post, with the lip formations facing one another and defining substantially coplanar outer surfaces with which the edge portions are engaged 20 The length of fence as claimed in Claim 19, in which each post is rectangular, of mild steel and hollow, having a lipped channel section and an inner wall opposed to the lip formations, which defines an external surface, that faces inwardly.. 21. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 20, in which each retaining member defines two opposed channel formations, facing away from one another, and being connected by a bridge. 22 The length of fence as claimed in Claim 21 , which includes a locking arrangement for locking each retaining member to its associated post. 23 The length of fence as claimed in Claim 22, in which the locking arrangement comprises a screw threaded bolt engaged with a complementary engaging formation in or on an associated retaining member, a head of the bolt being engaged with the inwardly facing external surface of the inner wall of its associated post. 24. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 23, in which the complementary engaging formation is a longitudinally extending groove on an inner side of each retaining member. 25. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 24, in which each groove has a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs to facilitate locking engagement of the screw threads of the bolts with the groove. 26. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 21 , in which, the channel formations are dimensioned such that they are an interference fit over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations. 27. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 17, in which, the retaining members are slidable over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations from above. 28. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 17, in which each fencing panel has a vertically oriented edge bar at each lateral end. 29. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 28, in which each edge bar is, in use, positioned adjacent an inner edge of its associated lip formation, with end regions of horizontal bars being in contact with the outer surfaces of their associated lip formation. 30. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 17, which includes a number of cleats, that are securable to the lip formations, when the fencing panel edge portions are in position and before the retaining members are engaged therewith, to hold the fencing panel edge portions in place, when the retaining members are engaged over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations. 31. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 17, which includes a plurality of capping units to cap the tops of the posts. 32. The length of fence as claimed in Claim 17, in which the retaining members have attaching formations for attaching signage thereto. 33. A method of erecting a length of fence, which includes anchoring a lower end of a plurality of posts in a support medium, with each post having a vertically extending lip formation; positioning a wire mesh fencing panel between two adjacent posts with an edge portion of each panel in contact with a lip formation of its associated post; and slidably engaging a channel formation of a retaining member over each lip formation and its associated contacting fence panel edge portion. 34. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 33, in which each post is oriented, in use, with an outer surface of its lip formation facing outwardly. 35. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 34, in which each post has a pair of opposed lip formations, on the same side of the post, with the lip formations facing one another and defining substantially coplanar outer surfaces with which the edge portions are engaged. 36 The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 35, in which each post is rectangular, of mild steel and hollow, having a lipped channel section and an inner wall opposed to the lip formations, which defines an external surface, that faces inwardly.. 37. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 36, in which each retaining member defines two opposed channel formations, facing away from one another, and being connected by a bridge. 38 The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 37, which includes locking each retaining member to its associated post. 39 The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 38, in which the each retaining member is locked to its associated post by engaging a screw threaded bolt with a complementary engaging formation in or on the retaining member, a head of the bolt being engaged with the inwardly facing external surface of the inner wall of its associated post. 40. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 39, in which each complementary engaging formation is a longitudinally extending groove on an inner side of each retaining member. 41. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 37, in which, the channel formations are dimensioned such that they are an interference fit over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations and the retaining members are forced over their associated lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations.. 42. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 37, in which, the retaining members are slid over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations from above. 43. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 33, in which vertically oriented edge bars at each lateral end of each fencing panel are positioned adjacent an inner edge of their associated lip formation, with end regions of horizontal bars being in contact with the outer surfaces of their associated lip formations. 44. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed in Claim 33, which includes securing a number of cleats to the lip formations, when the fencing panel edge portions are in position and before the retaining members are engaged therewith, to hold the fencing panel edge portions in place. 45. The method of erecting a length of fence as claimed In Claim 33, which includes capping the tops of the posts with capping units. 46. A fencing system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 47. A length of fence substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 48. A method of erecting a length of fence substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
THIS INVENTION relates to a fencing system, a fence and a method of erecting a fence.
According to the invention there is provided a fencing system, which includes
a plurality of posts, each post having a longitudinally extending lip formation; a plurality of wire mesh fencing panels, with an edge portion of each fencing panel contactable with the lip formation of a post; and
a plurality of elongate retaining members, each retaining member having a channel formation slidably engageable, in use, over a lip formation of a post and an edge portion of a fencing panel in contact therewith, thereby to retain the fencing panel against the post
Further according to the invention there is provided a length of fence which includes
a plurality of posts having a lower end anchored in a support medium, with each post having a vertically extending lip formation;
a plurality of wire mesh fencing panels, with a fencing panel extending between adjacent posts and with an edge portion of each panel in contact with a lip formation of an associated post; and
a plurality of elongate retaining members, each retaining member having a channel formation, with each channel formation being engaged over a lip formation and its associated contacting fence panel edge portion
Still further, according to the invention there is provided a method of erecting a fence, which includes
anchoring a lower end of a plurality of posts in a support medium, with each post having a vertically extending lip formation;
positioning a wire mesh fencing panel between two adjacent posts with an edge portion of each panel in contact with a lip formation of its associated post; and slidably engaging a channel formation of a retaining member over each lip formation and its associated contacting fence panel edge portion.
It will be appreciated that each post is preferably oriented, in use, with an outer surface of its lip formation facing outwardly with regard to the fence. Each post may have a pair of opposed lip formations, on the same side of the post, with the lip formations facing one another and defining substantially coplanar outer surfaces with which the edge portions are engageable. Further, each post may be substantially rectangular, of mild steel and hollow, having a lipped channel section and an inner wall opposed to the lip formations, which defines an external surface, that is inwardly facing relative to the fence. The retaining member may then define two opposed channel formations, facing away from one another, and being connected by a bridge. It will be appreciated that the retaining members are slidable over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations from above. . It will further be appreciated that the length of each retaining member is substantially the same as the height of the panels
A locking arrangement may be provided for locking each retaining member to its associated post.
Conveniently, in one form, the locking arrangement may comprise having the channel formations dimensioned such that they are an interference fit over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations, such that they have to be forced over their associated lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations and are not easily removable therefrom.
In another form, the locking arrangement may comprise a screw threaded bolt engageable with a complementary engaging formation in or on an associated retaining member, a head of the bolt being engageable with the inwardly facing external surface of the inner wall of the post. It will be appreciated that holes will be provided in the inner wall through which shanks of the bolts pass, in use. The complementary engaging formation may be a longitudinally extending groove on an inner side of each retaining member. Each groove may have a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs to facilitate locking engagement of the screw threads of the bolts with the groove.
Each fencing panel may have a vertically oriented edge bar at each lateral end. Each edge bar may then, in use, be positioned adjacent an inner edge of its associated lip formation, with end regions of the horizontal bars being in contact with the outer surfaces of their associated lip formation.
A number of cleats may be provided, that are securable to the lip formations, when the fencing panel edge portions are in position and before the retaining members are engaged therewith, to hold the fencing panel edge portions in place, when the retaining members are engaged over the lip formation and fencing panel edge portion combinations. A plurality of capping units may be provided to cap the tops of the posts.
The retaining members may further have attaching formations for attaching signage thereto.
The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows schematically a perspective view of a length of fencing in accordance with the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 show schematically how the fence is erected;
Figure 4 shows a cross sectioned view of a post, edge portions of fencing panels and a first embodiment of a retaining member; and
Figure 5 shows a cross sectioned view of a post, edge portions of fencing panels and a second embodiment of a retaining member.
Referring to the drawings a length of fence in accordance with the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 10. The fence has a plurality of posts 12 with wire mesh fencing panels 14 secured between them by means of retaining members 16. Each post 12 is of mild steel, being hollow and defining a lipped channel profile. Thus, each post 12 has two opposed lip formations 18 that face one another, with an outer surface 20 of the lip formations 18 of each post 12 being substantially coplanar. The lip formations 18 extend vertically, in use. The wire mesh fencing panels 14 have a number of horizontal bars 22 and vertical bars 24. There is a vertical bar 24 at each end of each panel 14.
The retaining members 16 have a pair of opposed channels 26, with each channel 26 being defined by an inner side wall 28, a base 30 and an outer side wall 32. Each outer side wall 32 has an outer surface 34. The two channels 26 are connected by a bridge 36 that is aligned with the outer side walls 32, such that the outer surfaces 34 of the two outer side walls 32 and the bridge 36 define a planar surface. The ends of the outer side walls 32 have lips 38 for attaching signage (not shown) to the retaining members 16.
Cleats 40 are optionally provided to hold edge portions of the fencing panels 14 in position on the outer surfaces 34 whilst the channels 26 of the retaining members 16 are slid over the lip formations 18 with the edge portions of the fencing panels 14 in contact therewith, as is explained below.
Caps 42 are provided to close off the upper ends of the posts 12.
Thus, in use, lower end regions of the posts 12 are anchored in the ground 44 in predetermined spaced apart positions as determined by the widths of the fencing panels 14, with their lip formations 18 extending vertically and with their lip formations facing outwardly. Edge portions of a fencing panel 14 are brought into contact with the respective outer surfaces 20 of adjacent posts 12, with the end bars 24 lying against the inner edges of their associated lip formations 18. If required, the cleats 40 are placed in position, between horizontal bars 22, with their tips engaging the vertical end bars and secured to the outer side walls 32 by screws 46. When edge portions have been secured to both lip formations 18 of a post 12 a retaining member 16 is positioned above the post with its channels 26 aligned with the lip formations 18 and its lips 38 outside, and it is slid downwardly over the lip formations 18 and the edge portions secured thereto, such that the channels 26 retain the edge portions against their associated lip formations 18, the lip formations 18 and edge portions being held between the inner and outer side walls 30, 32. With the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the gap between the inner and outer side walls 30, 32 is dimensioned so that the lip formations 18 and edge portions are an interference fit therein, thereby providing a locking arrangement. Thus a degree of force is required to move the retaining members down over the lip formations 18 and edge portions and it is difficult to remove them. The upper ends of the posts 12 are closed by the caps 42. Referring in particular to Figure 5 a second embodiment of a retaining member 16 is shown, which uses a different locking arrangement. With this embodiment, the bridge 36 has a longitudinally extending inner groove 39 with longitudinal ribs 41 on the inner surfaces thereof and the gap between the inner and outer side walls 30, 32 is dimensioned so that the lip formations 18 and edge portions are a snug fit therein, so that the retaining members 16 may more easily be slid into position and removed therefrom. The retaining members 16 are locked in place by bolts 48 that are inserted into holes 50 provided in an inner wall 52 of the posts 12 with heads 54 of the bolts engaging an inwardly facing external surface 56 of the relevant inner wall 52. Screw threaded shank portions 58 of the bolts 48 engage with the grooves 39 to pull the side walls 32 against the edge portions and to lock them against the lip formations 18. In Figure 5 the bolt 48 is shown not fully screwed in, to assist in showing the ribs 41.