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 and rails 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 few or no attempts have been made to enhance the appearance of such a fence by varying the nature of the infill means of the fence to enhance its visual interest.

As a result, such fences have not found widespread acceptance in domestic situations.

Therefore it has been proposed to provide sheet metal fencing that is more appealing to the eye than has been usual hitherto by using infill means comprising two or more visually different component parts.

A difficulty arises where plural component infill means are used in the one fence, namely, to provide a simple, visually attractive separating frame member at the junction of the two components. That difficulty is increased because of the probabili that the infill components on each side of the junction may very likely be of different thicknesses.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore, a specific object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive and yet effective fence frame member for the suppor and separation of differing infill components.

The invention consists in a fence comprising infill means comprising two disparate components and a fence frame membe separating and supporting said disparate components, wherein said frame member comprises a length of a resilient sheet metal section of S shaped cross-section defining two oppositely directe slot-like recesses extending longitudinally of the frame member, and wherein each recess accommodates an edge margin of a respective infill component and is dimensioned such that the respective component is resiliently clasped by the frame member

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an end view of a horizontal fence frame member in a fence according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through a vertical fence frame member in a fence according to the invention.

Figure 3 is cross-section of the frame member in figure 2, drawn to a larger scale.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

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

The fence frame member illustrated in figure 1 is preferably cold roll-formed from a strip of steel with an under coat of a corrosion resistant metallic material, for example zinc or an alloy of aluminium and zinc, and a finish coat of a protective and ornamental polymeric paint.

A relatively hard grade of steel is selected to ensure that the finished product is stiff and resilient.

The frame member comprises a main web 1 having two longitudinally extending edges, two intermediate flanges 3 and 4 respectively extending along and projecting in opposite directions from the longitudinal edges of the main web and two outer flanges 5 and 6 respectively extending along and projecting in opposite directions from outboard edges of the intermediate flanges 3 and 4. The outer flanges 5 and 6 are resilient and in their unstrained condition have free edges that are closer to the main web 1 than the flange's opposite edge or junction line with the corresponding intermediate flange. Thus the frame member presents two oppositely directed slot-like recesses extending longitudinally thereof, namely recess 7 defined by the web 1 and flanges 3 and 5, and recess 8 defined by the web 1 and flanges 4 and 6 having restricted but resiliently expansible mouths.

The figure 1 embodiment is intended to be used at the junction of two infill panels of differing thickness, a relatively thick panel, such as a corrugated or ribbed, sheet steel panel 9 (shown in ghost in the drawing), with an edge margin clamped within recess 8, and a thinner panel, such as a sheet of expanded metal mesh or a pane of toughened glass (not shown) with an edge margin clamped within recess 7. To that end, intermediate flange 4 is wider than intermediate flange 3.

The outer flange 6 is shown in its "as-rolled" position in broken line in the drawing. It has to be sprung to the full line

position to accept the panel 9. Being resilient it thereafter bears firmly against the panel to maintain a secure grip and to prevent rattling. Outer flange 5 has likewise to be sprung from the illustrated position to open the mouth of recess 7 to accept the other panel.

To assist in the insertion of the panel margins into the recesses 7 and 8 without exposing cut edges, the free edges of flanges 5 and 6 preferably have inwardly rolled lips 10 and 11 respectively.

In use, in a fence according to the invention the frame member of figure 1 may extend horizontally from post to post of the fence as an intermediate rail of the fence, so as to separate an upper infill panel or like component from a lower panel. If each panel is rigid and secured to the fence posts and to the top and bottom rails of the fence respectively, then no further fixing is required between the frame member and the panels beyond that provided by the resilient grasp of the member on the panels.

Likewise separating frame members that characterise fences according to the invention may extend vertically from a top rail to a bottom rail of a fence to provide a vertical junction between two infill panels. Frequently, in such instances, two frame members will be used to support the vertical edges of a so called feature panel between two other panels, where the three

panels together fill the space between neighbouring posts of the fence.

One such vertical frame member is illustrated by figures 2 & 3, and comprises a non-planar main web 21 , two intermediate flanges 23 and 24 respectively extending along and projecting in opposite directions from the longitudinal edges of the main web and two outer flanges 25 and 26 respectively extending along and projecting in opposite directions from outboard edges of the intermediate flanges 23 and 24. The outer flanges 25 and 26 are resilient and in their unstrained condition each has a free edge that is closer to the main web 1 than the flange's opposite edge or junction line with the corresponding intermediate flange. Thus the frame member presents two oppositely directed slot-like recesses extending longitudinally thereof, namely recess 27 defined by the web 21 and flanges 23 and 25, and recess 28 defined by the web 21 and flanges 24 and 26 having restricted but resiliently expansible mouths. Thus the separating frame members of figure 1 on one hand and figures 2 and 3 on the other are essentially the same in function and have directly corresponding components. They differ only in their design shape or configuration.

In this instance the frame member is adapted to extend from a conventional channel sectioned fence bottom rail 31 to a corresponding inverted channel top rail and to clasp an upright

edge margin of a board type infill panel 29 within recess 28 and a corrugated steel panel 30 within recess 27.

The cross-sections of the illustrated frame members are examples of S-shaped cross-sections, as that term is used herein, in other embodiments of the invention the S shaped cross-section may differ in design from either of the illustrated frame members, for example they may be more curvilinear without distinct angular transitions between the several flanges and the web, nevertheless such sections are S shaped, as that term is used herein, if they display oppositely directed recesses, each defined in part by a resilient outer flange adapted to clasp an infill panel between itself and the web.