FENCE ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a fence assembly and in particular but not limited to a temporary fence assembly for use adjacent to construction sites or the like as a barrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The art of fencing is a crowded art. In particular the field of portable fencing and temporary fencing is well developed and over many years there has not been a truly inexpensive and effective barrier that may be easily installed and utilising readily available materials. Thus there remains a need for ever more efficient use of materials and labour in a field that is crowded with all manner of fencing variations and combinations. Thus there is always a need for fencing that is cheap and economical to make and install there being a long felt need to optimise these two factors but still ensure that the fencing is adequate for the intended purpose. Recent granted patents show that there continues to be a need for cost effective and improved fencing in a competitive field. The present invention relates to the use of rigid mesh panel as the basic element in the assembly. A search of the patent literature reveals relevant recent patents that also use rigid mesh as the basic element. These include US 6,581 ,914, US 5,039,250, US 5,542,649, US 4,290,602, US 6,719,279, US 5,586,753, US

5,556,080 and US 5,184,800.

In some situations the appropriateness of particular barriers is questionable as to the cost and efficacy. For example, as is occasioned temporary barriers range from flexible roll out perforated plastics sheeting which

is very cheap, usually used near pedestrian traffic, but may be easily displaced by wind or minor impacts to rigid structures. The rigid structures which are very expensive are usually used near vehicular traffic.

While many of these patents describe fencing that is suitable for the application to a temporary or portable fence, they have a number of disadvantages relating to use. These include problems with ease of assembly/disengaging, difficulties associated with ease of relative panel movement to account for non-straight fence requirements and difficulties inhibiting flow of site debris particularly dust through the fence. OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly it is an objection of the present invention to provide a fence assembly that enables a non-straight fence to be easily assembled from mesh panels and wherein a cheap and effective fence is provided and where the invention provides a useful alternative to the prior art. In one broad aspect there is provided a fence assembly comprising panels formed from a covered rigid mesh adjacent panels having overlapping sections of the panels, the overlapping sections of the panels forming a post pass through passage means, and there being post means interconnecting the adjacent panels at the overlapping sections and passing through post pass through passage means.

In one preferred form the invention provides a fence assembly comprising panels formed from a covered rigid mesh preferably covered with a shrink-wrap coating, adjacent panels having overlapping sections of the panels, the overlapping sections of the panels forming part of an operative pivot means

enabling construction of an non-straight fence, and there being post means interconnecting the adjacent panels at the overlapping sections.

In another preferred form the panels are covered with a shrink-wrap plastics coating so the panels are impermeable to passage of dust, adjacent panels having longitudinal upper and lower flanges spaced at their ends so that the flanges of one panel fits inside the flanges of the other panel in overlapping relation, the mesh at the flanges at the region of overlap forming the post pass through passage means and in conjunction with the post forming an operative pivot means enabling construction of an non-straight fence, and the post means interconnecting the adjacent panels at the overlapping sections.

Preferably the post means connects the panels at the pivot means so that the post functions as a pivot pin passing through the overlapping sections of the adjacent panels.

The panels are preferably formed from a pre-shrink wrapped rigid mesh sheet formed while flat and having folded upper and lower rails formed byfolding over upper and lower edges of the mesh respectively. Thus the rails have end apertures formed by a portion of the mesh, the end apertures of adjacent panel rails overlapping and a post is able to operative pass through overlapping upper and lower rail apertures to connect the panels together in a hinge pin configuration. Preferably, each panel tapers to one end so that the narrow end of an adjacent panel fits inside the wide end of the next adjacent panel at the region of overlap.

Preferably, each post has a cap applied to the post. Typically, the cap comprises a mushroom shaped cap having a hollow stem section which fits over

the post. The cap also preferably includes a groove so that a strap secured to the post, usually by a pin, may pass over the cap to retain the cap in operative position.

Each post is usually driven into the ground a predetermined distance suited to the panel height and therefore the panel height may be adjusted by adjusting the post height.

Preferably, each post has spaced holes so that a pin may be inserted through one of the holes to enable the panel position on the post to be adjusted.

In one embodiment a strap, comprising a U-shaped filament, typically wire, having eyelets at its free ends passes over the top of the post, usually over the cap, the eyelets being positioned in-line with one of the holes in the post and then a pin is inserted through the eyelets and the hole in the post. In this case the panel slides down onto the pin. This means the panel may either rest on the ground or subject to how far the post is driven into the ground the bottom of the panel may be held above ground.

Preferably, an extruded coping is applied to the upper rail of the assembled fence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:-

Figure l isa perspective drawing of a fence including a non-straight fence assembly according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cutaway part view of a an operative pivot means derived from overlapping rail sections and a star picket as post and hinge pin.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C are respective section, side view and end view of a panel and rail construction; Figures 4A and 4B are respective section and side views of a preferred panel;

Figures 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate the embodiments of Figures 3Ato 3C but in a shorter panel;

Figures 6A to 6C corresponds to the embodiment of Figures 4A to 4B but in a smaller panel;

Figures 7 to 9 illustrate various accessories; and Figures 10 to 17 illustrate the assembly process

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated a fence assembly 10 comprising a plurality of panels 11 , 12, 13 and 14 with a panel 15 about to be connected to panel 11. The panel 11 is shown in part with a dappled appearance at 16 and 17 due to the inclusion of a shrink-wrap cover applied to the panel 11. All other panels also have a similar coating. The panel

11 has a based form of a rigid mesh. The shrink-wrap material is applied to the mesh as a flat panel. The panel with the shrink-wrap so applied is then folded over at the top and bottom to form rail 18 as a lower rail and 19 an upper rail.

The panels taper so the spacing between the upper and lower rails is wider at one end than the other so the panels are effectively left and right handed. This enable the narrow end of one panel to be inserted inside the wide end of the

next panel It is usual to provide a positioning sticker at one end to identify the right or left ends.

By reason of the mesh dimension and the selection of the rail width for rails 18 and 19 the end of the rail is created with a suitably sized plastic covered aperture at 20 and 21 which may simple be cut or speared through so that a star picket 22 may punch through to form the apertures 20 and 21 to secure the panel in its operative position by driving the star picket into the ground.

The panel 11 is 2400 mm long and the panel 12 is 1125 mm long, the height of the panels is nominally 1070 mm high. The rails 18 and 19 simply overlap so the respective end apertures 20 and 21 are positioned in overlapping configuration so that the star picket may pass through the overlapping apertures to connect the panels together as shown in the assembled portions of the fence in Figure 1.

The star picket is so sized and the aperture of the folded rail section so chosen that the panels are able to rotate with the star picket 22 operatively performing the function of a pivot pin thus the combination provides a pivot means at the juncture between adjacent panels. Thus the panels may be positioned say at 90 degrees the post 22 driven into position and then the panel so connected may be swung through various angles up until the straight on position as panels 11 and 12 illustrated so that either a straight or non-straight fence may be formed. Thus the basic fence of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1.

In addition to this in Figure 1 reflective warning tape is adhered to the panels as illustrated at 23. This will be described further below in relation to Figure 3A.

Figure 2 illustrates in more detail the preferred arrangement at the pivot connection between adjacent panels such as 11 and 15 whereby the star picket

22 is capped by a cap 24 held in place by a wire retainer 25. The ^' wire retainer itself is retained by a latching pin 26 as illustrated passing through a hole in the post. An extruded plastic coping 26 is applied to the upper rail 19, the upper rail

19 in this case including return flange 27, the coping 26 having an outer surface 28 which may be marked in accordance with the striped warning marking illustrated on the tape 23 of Figure 1. An alternative again is that the tape 23 may be applied to the coping 26 as illustrated in Figure 3A.

The coping is an extrusion illustrated in Figure 7 while the retainer and latching pin are illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. The process for assembly of a barrier on-site is illustrated with regard to Figures 10 to 17 and the steps involved are set out as follows:

1. Check for underground services.

2. Visualise where the barrier is to be placed.

3. Run a string line between beginning and end points of each straight section .

4. Lay panels out along the line.

5. Cut a small cross (Fig 11 ) in plastic membrane at both ends of top and bottom flanges in each panel.

6. Stand the first panel at left hand end of the line.

7. Ensure the flanges of the panel face away from you and the positioning sticker is positioned to the right (Fig 10). The panels are folded with the left-hand end slightly narrower than the right-hand end so larger end can overlap the narrower end. 8. Place a 650 mm long star picket (Fig 12, 13) through the cuts in the top and bottom flanges on the left-hand end of the panel, with holes in picket furthest away from you. 9. Drive picket into ground until second hole from top of picket is approx 50 mm above the top flange (Fig 13). 10. Stand the second panel and place its narrower end into the wider end of the first panel overlapping the second panel by 50 mm. 11. Place a second star picket through the cuts in the overlapped flanges of the first and second panels, and drive picket into ground same as Step 9. 12. Repeat Steps 10 and 11 until all panels have been erected.

13. Place a cap (Fig 15) onto top of each picket.

14. Place cap retainer (Fig 6) over cap into locating groove.

15. At each picket, lift panels approx 50 mm so retainer passes through cuts in top flanges. 16. Line up holes in retainer with second hole from the top of the picket, and place latching pin through all 3 holes (Fig 17). Bottom of barrier will be approx 50 mm off ground.

Where a retainer & latching pin cannot be used, a 550 mm nylon cable tie may be used to retain the caps in place.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.