Background to the Invention Fence/barrier rails are a well known means of providing safety protection or segregation which comprise a top rail and vertical posts which are fixed to the ground to provide anchorage. Sometimes infill panels are provided for further privacy or protection.

There are also removable barriers, which are demountable when access is required. However, fence or barrier rails that are of necessity demountable require a considerable effort to disassemble and require alternative storage space and have to be re- assembled making their use very costly.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a foldable fence arrangement comprising a top rail, standards, a ground box, and a plurality of cover plates releasably securing the standards in an erected position relative to the ground box in use, the top rail and standards being adapted to fold into the ground box.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a foldable fence arrangement comprising a top rail, standards, a ground box, and at least one cover plate releasably securing the standards in an erected position relative to the ground box in use, the top rail and standards being adapted to fold into the ground box.

Preferably, the ground box is insertable into the ground such that the cover plates are level with the ground surface in use.

Brief Description of the Drawings A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 illustrates the fence/barrier with the fence/barrier in the upright position.

Figure 2 shows, in perspective, the fence/ barrier with the cover plates removed.

Figure 3a shows a cross-section through the side of the ground box once the fence/barrier has been fully folded.

Figure 3b shows a cross-section through the ground box taken along the line A-A in Figure 3a.

Figure 3c shows the fence/barrier in the various stages of folding.

Figure 4 shows the fence/barrier fully folded into the ground box set into the ground.

Figure 5a shows a top and a side cross-section view of the ground box with the fence/barrier folded and the cover plates replaced.

Figure 5b shows a perspective view of the ground box with the fence/barrier folded and the cover plates replaced.

Figure 6 shows three sections joined together and an exemplary method of connection.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The Figures show a folding fence/barrier comprising a channel section or ground box 16 which, in use, is cast into the ground, three posts or

standards 12, and a top rail 10. Hinges 14,15, preferably pin hinges, are positioned between the top rail 10 and the standards 12, and between the standards 12 and the channel section 16 to enable the standards 12 and top rail 10 to fold into the channel section 16. Cover plates 17 are provided that both cover the channel section 16 and secure the standards 12 in the erected position. Although the Figures show channel sections 16 each having three standards 12, it will be appreciated that a channel section 16 having only two standards 12 or more than three standards 12 may be envisaged and implemented.

Each channel section 16 is constructed to facilitate multiple sections being connected to provide a fence/barrier of any length. Figure 6 shows a spigot 20 at one end of the top rail 10, provided to adjoin two adjacent sections.

In order to fold the fence into the channel section or ground box 16 the cover plates 17 are removed from the ground box 16 as shown in Figure 2.

The fence/barrier is then folded into the ground box 16 as shown in Figures 3a to 3c and is guided in to the centre of the box by guides 18. The cover plates 17 are then replaced. To re-erect the fence/barrier the steps described above are carried out in the reverse sequence.

The cover plates 17 may be fixedly secured and locked to the ground box 16 when the fence/barrier is in either of the erected or collapsed positions.

The locking mechanism may comprise, for example, four spring loaded pins at the corners of each cover plate 17, securing the cover plate 17 to the ground box 16 and releasable with an Allen key or similar device.

Preferably, however, the locking mechanism comprises a lock operated with a key and disposed, for example, in the centre of each cover plate. This prevents the fence/barrier being tampered with and also prevents

anyone except the holder of the key from raising and lowering the fence/barrier.

Preferably, the guide box or channel section 16 is set into the ground when installing the fence/ barrier. In this manner, further security against removal of the fence/barrier is provided. Also, by inserting the guide box 16 into the ground such that the cover plates 17 are level with the ground surface, a continuous, uninterrupted surface for pedestrians and vehicles is provided, making the fence/barrier in the collapsed position more discreet and less likely to cause an obstruction.

In the erected position clip on mesh panels can be provided if infills are required.