BARRIER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a barrier which is constructed from high density mesh panels secured to suitable posts.

[0002] The invention is concerned particularly with different methods of attaching a mesh panel of the kind referred to, to a post, in a cost-effective and secure manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention provides a barrier which includes at least one mesh panel which lies in a vertically extending plane, at least one vertical fence post adjacent a vertical edge of the panel, at least one fixing member and a fastener which secures a part of the vertical edge of the panel to the fixing member.

[0004] The fixing member may be of any appropriate kind. The fixing member may be formed integrally with the post and for example may comprise a flange or rib on the post which, optionally, extends the length of the post.

[0005] The post may for example comprise an elongate member with one or more flanges projecting from the member, which may be channel-shaped. For example the post may comprise a channel with a base, first and second opposed sides which extend from the base, a first flange which extends from the first side and a second flange which

extends from the second side and, viewed in plan, the two flanges are substantially co- planar and in line with the mesh panel.

[0006] In a different approach the fixing member is secured to the post using any appropriate technique. For example the fixing member may comprise a bracket or clamp which at least partly surrounds the post. In a variation the fixing member is in the nature of a plate or clamp which sandwiches a portion of the mesh panel between opposing surfaces of the clamp and of the post.

[0007] The invention also extends to a post for use in the erection of the barrier which includes an elongate body and first and second outwardly extending formations on opposed sides of the body.

[0008] The formations preferably define flat, co-planar faces to which edges of mesh panels can be attached. Preferably the body is tubular. A surface of the body, between the formations, may be curved or flat. In a preferred form of the invention the body of the post includes a central rectangular or square section, opposing, outwardly projecting, substantially flat and co-planar surfaces, and an intermediate section which extends between extremities of the surfaces.

[0009] The intermediate section may be flat or arcuate. In the latter case the body may be mushroom-shaped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fixing arrangement according to one form of the invention,

Figure 2 shows the fixing arrangement of Figure 1 in plan,

Figures 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8, are views which correspond respectively to Figures 1 and 2 and which illustrate different fixing arrangements according to the invention, Figure 9 is a plan view of a different type of post to which a mesh panel is secured in a different way,

Figure 10 illustrates another fixing arrangement according to the invention, and Figure 11 is a view in cross section of a custom-built post to which mesh panels are secured.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a portion of a high density mesh panel 10 which is formed, using techniques known in the art, by overlapping and securing to each other a plurality of steel rods 12.

[0012] The panel 10 has one or more V-shaped reinforcing formations 14 formed in it by bending the rods 12.

[0013] The panel is secured to a post 16. This is one of a plurality of similar posts arranged along a line which is to be fenced. Each panel is vertically oriented and at its opposing vertical edges is secured to respective posts in each case substantially in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0014] A number of angle brackets 20 are fixed to opposed sides 22 and 24 of the post at spaced intervals along its length. This is done by means of anti-vandal bolts 26 which are directly screwed into the corresponding wall of the post. The brackets present protruding flanges to the mesh panel and provide a ready means whereby the panel can be secured to the post using nut and bolt fasteners 30. Each fastener has a washer 32 on an outer side of the mesh panel so that a portion of the panel is sandwiched between the washer and an opposing surface of the bracket.

[0015] Figures 3 and 4 show an arrangement wherein a vertical edge 34 of the panel 10 is bent through 90° to form a flange 36 which is brought into direct abutment with an opposing side 22 of a post 16. Anti-vandal bolts 26 act through washers 32 so that the flange 36 is in each case directly fixed to the corresponding side wall of the post.

[0016] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a post 16A which is in the form of a channel with a base 40, opposed side walls 42 and 44, and elongate flanges 46 and 48 respectively which extend along the length of the post from extremities of the corresponding side walls 42 and 44. These flanges present useful surfaces against which a corresponding edge 34 of a panel 10 can be directly bolted using fasteners 30 similar to those described in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

[0017] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an arrangement which in many respects is substantially the same as what is shown in Figures 5 and 6. A post 16 is the same as the post shown in Figures 1 and 2 but a flat strip 50 is attached to one face of the post, for example by means of welding, not shown. The strip 50 performs the functions of the flanges 46 and 48 shown in Figure 5 in that it provides an easily accessible surface against which vertical edge portions of mesh panels 10A and 10B (see Figure 8) can be attached using suitable fasteners 30.

[0018] Figure 9 illustrates a different attachment arrangement applied to a fence post 16C which is circular in cross section. The principle shown in Figure 9 can however be applied with equal effect to a fence post of any other cross section.

[0019] Use is made of a clamp 60 formed from two substantially identical, semi-circular sections 62A and 62B which circumscribe the post. The sections have opposing flanges 64A and 64B respectively which are bolted together, using appropriate fasteners 30, to secure edge portions of adjacent mesh panels 10A and 10B to the clamp.

[0020] Figure 10 shows a post 16D in dotted outline with an overlapping edge 34 of a mesh panel 10D. A shaped plate 70 with a central hole 72 has two bent edges 74 and 76 respectively adjacent respective notches 80 and 82 which can receive a portion of a wire rod 12 of the mesh panel. A bolt 88 is passed through the hole 72 and is either directly threaded into a wall of the post 16D or is engaged with a nut, not shown, on a far side of the post. In the latter event a protruding end of the bolt is engaged with a similar plate, not shown, so that one bolt is used to fix two plates to the post.

[0021] Figure 11 shows a custom-designed post 90 in cross-section. The post is elongate and tubular, and is formed in a rolling process. The post has a body 92 which, in cross-section, can be regarded as being a mushroom shape. This results from a central section 94 which is rectangular or square and two opposed outwardly projecting, co-planar and flat surfaces 96 and 98 respectively. An intermediate arcuate section 100 curves outwardly, away from the central section 94, and links extremities of the flat surfaces.

[0022] The surfaces 96 and 98 receive corresponding vertical edges 102 and 104 of mesh panels 106 and 108 respectively. These edges are fixed to the surfaces by means of self-tapping screws 110.

[0023] The post 90 offers the following significant benefits:

1. the outer face of the post is smooth i.e. the outer surface of the arcuate section;

2. the fixing screws can be used with ease and are not exposed on an "outer" side of the barrier; and

3. the post can be used with flat panels and no bending of vertical edges of the panels is required for rigidity. As a result a requirement for a close tolerance in the spacing between adjacent posts is relaxed to some extent. Similar benefits would, however, be obtained with a modified form of the post in which the arcuate section is replaced by a flat or planar section, indicated by a dotted line 100A in Figure 11.