TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to fences of the kind comprising a post and rail frame and infill means carried by the frame. The infill means constitute a barrier obstructing the passage of people or animals between the rails; they may, for example, comprise a rigid sheet, a rigid mesh or a plurality of spaced apart pickets extending from rail to rail.

More particularly the invention relates to fences of that kind wherein at least the posts are roll-formed, sheet metal components.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, sheet metal fences have been used primarily as perimeter fences and the like in industrial situations where the aesthetic appeal of the fence has been regarded as less relevant than the security it provides against intruders. Thus little or no attempts have been made to hide the fasteners holding the various frame parts together and the infill means to the post and rail.

Furthermore it has been usual for the various fence components to be assembled and fastened together on site, for

example by drilling and screwing, thereby requiring a considerable amount of on site assembly work by trades people or at least semi-skilled, experienced persons. As a result, such fences have not found widespread acceptance in domestic situations because of their appearance and difficulty of assembly.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore a primary object of the present invention is to provide sheet metal fencing that is more appealing to the eye than has been the case hitherto.

A further object of the invention is to provide sheet metal fencing that is inexpensive, both inherently, insofar as the material and manufacturing costs are concerned, and, equally importantly, in use, insofar as the labour costs of erecting the fence on site and its subsequent maintenance are concerned.

Both objects are seen as pre-requisites, if sheet metal fencing is to be better suited to use as domestic fencing around dwellings, and find wider acceptance as such, than has been the case hitherto.

According to the invention sheet metal fence posts are provided with anchorage formations adapted to be engaged by a fascia strip whereby the fascia strip is secured to the post without need for fasteners and the fasteners securing the post to the rails

are hidden from view.

The term "post" as used herein covers not only the main structural posts of the frame of the fence, that is to say those posts that are embedded in the ground and maintain the fence erect, but also picket type posts secured to and carried by the rails.

The invention is particularly beneficial when applied to multi- component, main posts, for not only are such posts inherently unsightly, but they also require substantial on site assembly that may with advantage be replaced by factory pre-fabrication with inherently better quality control and more automated procedures.

The invention consists in the combination of a roll-formed, sheet metal fence post and a fascia strip completely concealing one side of at least what would otherwise be an exposed length of the post.

In preferred embodiments the post and the fascia strip are provided with inter-engageable, longitudinal edge formations such that the fascia strip may be slid lengthwise relative to the length of the post to be covered to cause its formations to engage those of the post whereby the fascia strip is effectively secured to the post unless withdrawn in the reverse lengthwise direction.

For preference each of the post's edge formations comprises a scroll that is formed as an integral part of the post

during its roll-formation, but in some embodiments, a separately formed anchorage strip with appropriate edge formations or a plurality of similar but shorter anchorage clips, may be made separately from the post proper, and then affixed permanently to the post to become a part thereof, before the fascia strip is applied to the post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

By way of example, two embodiments of the above described invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a horizontal cross-section of a post and rail fence incorporating post and fascia combinations according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of an alternative picket post and fascia combination.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Both the posts and fascia strips of the illustrated embodiments are preferably cold roll-formed from strips, of steel with a coat of a corrosion resistant metallic material, for example zinc or an alloy of aluminium and zinc, and, in the case of the fascia strips at least, with a finish coat of a protective and

ornamental polymeric paint.

The main posts of the fence illustrated by figure 1 each comprise two channel sections 1 secured together, for example by through fasteners (not shown) or spot welding, back to back so as to provide two oppositely directed, vertical troughs able neatly to receive the ends of fence rails 2. The rails may be secured to the main posts by through fasteners such as, for example, self tapping screws 3.

Main posts comprising two channel sections are well known, but unlike those of conventional posts the channel sections 1 have hook shaped longitudinal edge formations 4 extending along the post. The illustrated formations 4 are angularly folded, but in other instances they may be smoothly scrolled.

Fascia strips 5 are applied to the main posts after the fence has been erected. Each fascia strip 5 has a troughed body with hook shaped longitudinal edge formations 6 that are complementary to the post formations 4, in that the respective formations may be inter-engaged by sliding the fascia strips downwardly against the respective sides of the main post to secure the fascia strips to the post in the manner shown.

Each fascia strip 5 is shaped to provide a substantial space between the body of the main post and the strip. This space may be used to conceal other components or auxiliaries as well as the

rail fasteners. For example, a ground level post stiffener, electric supply cables to a post top light fitting or intruder alarm, or other post mounted devices. Such a post stiffener comprises an additional member that is shorter than the post and is fixed to the post to strengthen it where the bending moment applied to the post by wind or other horizontal loads on the fence is a maximum. This enables a lighter post overall to be used, thereby to save material without detracting from the fence's appearance.

The illustrated embodiment also comprises infill means in the nature of picket posts in combination with fascia strips according to the invention.

In the figure 1 embodiment each picket post comprises a sheet metal strip 7 which is secured to the fence rails by fasteners 8 and furnished with angle sectioned longitudinal edge flanges 9.

The more exposed side of each picket post is covered by a fascia strip 10 comprising an arcuate body and inwardly directed edge flanges 11. The flanges 11 are inter-engageable with the flanges 9. Thus, these inter-engageable formations present a substantially flat surface on the rear face of the post between the fence rails.

Figure 2 illustrates a picket post and fascia strip combination that may be used in place of the combination of

post 7 and fascia strip 10 of figure 1. In this instance a picket post 12 with ribbed profile is furnished with hooked flanges 13 adapted to engage a fascia 5 that may be identical to the fascia 5 of figure 1. Thus, if the figure 2 combination is used in a fence otherwise the same as that of figure 1 a pleasingly uniform appearance is produced.

In either instance the finished fence may be provided with a finial or capping strip and its means of affixture to the main posts may also be hidden by associated fascia strips.