FENCE PANEL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a fence panel which has a significant deterrent effect but which is aesthetically pleasing.

[0002] Security fences can be constructed using a wide range of techniques. If welded mesh is used as a barrier in a fence then, typically, the fence suffers from a number of disadvantages. Often the fence is floppy or prone to bending. Also the wires or rods used in the mesh can offer a foothold to allow an intruder to scale the fence. In some cases it is possible to breach the fence simply by removing or cutting some of the wires or rods to make a substantially large hole.

[0003] A mesh fence can however be aesthetically pleasing and it offers the advantage that it does not unduly ^■ impede visibility through the fence. If the aforementioned disadvantages are addressed, for example by attaching a frame or stiffening rod or bars to the mesh then, generally, the aesthetic appeal of the fence is diminished.

[0004] A panel which has been used in a fence, has a mesh body and flanges on opposed vertical sides of the body. The flanges are at 90° to the plane of the body and provide a mechanism whereby the panel can be attached to adjacent fence posts of square or rectangular cross section. This approach does however present a severe practical problem for a satisfactory erected fence can only be obtained if the spacing between adjacent posts, which are embedded in concrete plinths in the ground before the panels are attached to them, is almost exactly equal to the width of

the pane! measured between outer surfaces of the flanges. If a pair of posts are embedded in the ground with a spacing between them which is slightly less than the width of a panel, the panel is caused to bulge outwardly when fixed to the posts. Also, due to their strength, the first and second flanges cannot readily be bent, in situ, to take account even of a relatively small variation in the spacing between posts.

Another problem is that the volume required to transport a number of panels is excessive, for the panels are identical to one another and cannot be closely stacked with a nesting configuration.

[0005] The invention aims to address these difficulties.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides a fence panel which includes a welded mesh body with first and second opposed parallel edges and third and fourth opposed parallel edges, the body having first and second flanges at the first edge and second edge respectively, formed respectively by bending a first portion and a second portion of the mesh, and wherein each flange has an inner surface which subtends a respective included angle to an adjacent surface of the mesh body which is greater than 90°.

[0007] Each flange may be formed by bending the respective mesh portion through an angle which is less than 90°.

[0008] Preferably the fence panel includes at least a first rigidifying formation, formed by bending the mesh, which extends between the first and second flanges and which is parallel to, and positioned between, the third and fourth edges. This formation in cross section may be V- or U-shaped.

[0009] In one form of the invention the mesh body includes a first array of spaced parallel wires which extend in a first direction and which are superimposed on a second array of spaced parallel wires which extend in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction, with the wires in the first array being welded to the wires in the second array at locations at which they overlie and contact one another, and wherein first and second wires, respectively at opposed extremities of the first array, form parts of the first and second flanges respectively and are located on respective outer surfaces of the flanges, opposed to the inner surfaces, and the remaining wires in the first array are on the surface of the mesh body which is adjacent the inner surfaces of the flanges.

[0010] Preferably a portion of each flange, which includes a wire which is at a respective extremity of the first array, is displaced from the remainder of the flange.

[0011] For each flange, the respective portion may be substantially parallel to, and spaced from, a plane which is occupied by the mesh body between the flanges.

[0012] Preferably the two portions project in opposing respective directions.

[0013] The invention also provides a fence post which includes an elongate tubular body with first and second opposed, divergent sides.

[0014] Preferably the body has third and fourth opposed planar sides which are parallel to each other.

[0015] The body may be made from a mesh material but preferably is made from sheet metal e.g. in a rolling process.

[0016] The first and second sides are preferably each formed with a respective elongate recess.

[0017] The invention also extends to a fence which includes at least a first post and a second post which is spaced from the first post, a lower end of each post being embedded in the ground, and at least one fence panel with a mesh body which has first and second flanges on opposed vertical edges of the mesh body, each flange subtending a respective included angle to an adjacent surface of the mesh body which is greater than 90°, the panel being positioned between the first and second posts with the first flange abutting and fixed to a first side of the first post and with the second flange abutting and fixed to a second side of the second post which opposes the first side.

[0018] In a preferred variation the fence includes at least a first post and a second post which is spaced from the first post, and a fence panel between the first and second posts with the first flange abutting and fixed to a first side of the first post and with the second flange abutting and fixed to a second side of the second post which opposes the first side, and wherein a displaced edge portion of the first flange is located at least partly within an elongate recess in the first side, and a displaced edge portion of the second flange is located at least partly within an elongate recess in the second side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a cross sectional view of a fencing post according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view, on a reduced scale compared to Figure 1 , of a fence according to the invention;

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1 showing a different type of fence post; Figure 4 is a perspective view from a rear side of part of the fence of Figure 2; Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the addition of deterrent material to the fence;

Figure 7 illustrates fence panels, according to one form of the invention, in a stacked configuration;

Figures 8 and 9 depict modifications to the fence panel which allow for a greater stacking density; Figure 10 shows a variation to the post of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 11 shows how the post of Figure 10 is connected to a panel of the kind shown in Figure 9.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Figure 2 shows, in plan, a fence 10 which includes a number of fence panels 12A, 12B, 12C etc.

[0021] Each fence panel 12 has a welded mesh body 14 which is formed from a first array of horizontally extending wires or rods 16 and a second array of vertically extending wires or rods 18.

[0022] The rods 16 are spaced apart by a distance 20 while the vertically extending rods 18 are spaced apart by a distance 22, see Figure 4. The distance 22 is significantly greater than the distance 20. The rods 16 are welded using electrical resistance welding techniques, which are known in the art, to the rods 18 at the points at which they overlie one another.

[0023] Due to the geometry of the panel it has inherent significant rigidity against bending about a vertical axis. The panel's resistance to bending about a vertical axis is further increased by forming the panel with at least one rigidifying formation 24. This is done using a suitable bending brake under factory conditions.

[0024] Each formation 24 has sloping sides of equal length and is V-shaped in cross section. Thus a person who attempts to use the formation, on the inner side or on the outer side of the panel, as a step in an attempt to climb over the panel, encounters a sloping surface which does not provide any significant foothold.

[0025] The horizontally extending rods 16 are closely spaced. This means that it is not possible for a person easily to get a foothold on the rods nor to grip the rods by hand, if a attempt is made to climb over the panel.

[0026] The panel is rigidified in the vertical direction, i.e. against bending about a horizontal axis, by bending portions of the panel, adjacent vertical edges 26 and 28 respectively, through an angle which is less than 90°, see Figure 2, to define flanges 30 and 32 respectively which oppose each other. Each flange has a width which is slightly less than the width 34 of a side of an adjacent fencing post 36.

[0027] As the spacing 22 between the rods 18 is relatively large each flange has only one vertical rod 18 and this is located at an outer extremity of the flange.

[0028] Figure 4 illustrates one way in which the panel is secured to adjacent fencing posts 36. Bolts 40 are passed through holes in small plates 42 which are brought to bear against an outer surface of each flange. The bolts are threaded through registering holes, not shown, in the respective posts. A similar construction is

adopted for the flange of an adjacent panel on an opposing side of the post. When the bolts are tightened the flanges are drawn towards the posts.

[0029] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a mesh panel 12 which has a flange 44 at an upper edge and a corresponding flange, not shown, at an opposing lower edge. The panel is rigidified in the manner described by means of one or more

V-shaped formations 24 which extend in a horizontal direction (not shown in Figure 5).

[0030] A deterrent component 46 which is formed from a metallic strip has a flange 48 which is directly fixed to the flange 44 by means of suitable fasteners 50, and a plurality of spike formations 52 which project upwardly.

[0031] The spike formations provide an additional deterrent yet do so in a way which is attractive and cost effective.

[0032] Figure 6 is a perspective view of portion of a panel 12 which has an upper rigidifying flange 54. A strip 56 of diamond mesh material which is formed from lengths 58 of barb tape material welded to each other at points of contact, is secured, at a lower longitudinal edge to the flange 54 of the panel and, at an upper longitudinal edge to a supporting member 60 which is formed from mesh material similar to that employed in the construction of the panel 12. The mesh material is however shaped to have flanges at a right angle to each other, much in the manner of a length of angle iron or, if required as a length of channel.

[0033] The construction shown in Figure 6 results in a fence which has a rigid lower section formed by a panel 12 and a low cost yet substantially effective, deterrent

upper portion, formed by the diamond mesh material, which in turn is braced by the mesh strip 56. This represents a cost-effective security solution.

[0034] Figure 7 shows a -number of fence panels 12A, 12B, 12C ... stacked on one another in a closely-nestling space-saving configuration. This is possible because, as stated, portions of each panel adjacent respective opposed edges are respectively bent through an angle 80 which is less than 90° for example of the order of 85°. This means that an included angle 82 which is subtended by what is referred to as an inner surface 84 of a respective flange 30 and 32, as the case may be, relatively to an adjacent surface 86 of the mesh body 88 is of the order of 95°. The extent to which the included angle 82 differs from 90° is dependent, at least, on the thickness of the rods 16 and 18 used to make up the mesh body.

[0035] As the flanges 30 and 32 flare outwardly it is possible for a plurality of the panels to be stacked one on top of the other, as shown in Figure 7, in a relatively close-spaced configuration which allows for fairly effective transport and storage.

[0036] To enable the flared panels to be used in an effective and neat manner use is made of fencing posts 36, each post being of the kind shown in enlarged cross section in Figure 1. Each post has an elongate tubular body formed from sheet steel of a suitable quality. The post is substantially trapezoidal in cross section and has opposed first and second sides 90 and 92 respectively which are divergent, and opposed third and fourth sides 94 and 96 respectively which are substantially parallel to each other.

[0037] The divergent sides 90 and 92 each subtend an angle 98 to a normal 100 (see Figure 1) which is substantially the same as an included angle 102 between

each flange and a normal 104 to an adjacent surface of the mesh body 14. This holds significant benefits.

[0038] Firstly, if the posts are embedded in the ground and the panels are then fixed to the posts it is possible to move a panel in a lateral direction, as is indicated by a double-headed arrow 106 in Figure 2, to a slight extent, to cater for the situation in which the posts are not accurately positioned apart taking into account the effective width of a panel 12. Secondly, each flange is brought squarely into contact with the respective side of a post. This is aesthetically pleasing and moreover has a structural advantage in that the flange can then be fixed more securely to the post.

[0039] In a different approach to the erection of the fence shown in Figure 2, holes, in which lower ends of the posts 36 are to be embedded, are prepared and the lower ends are then placed in the holes. The panels 12 are then fixed to the posts using fasteners 40, 42. Each panel is precisely positioned so that its "front" surface is accurately in line with the longer sides 96 of the posts. Once the panels have been fixed to the posts the lower ends of the posts are concreted in the ground with the posts in a vertical position.

[0040] This technique means that it is not necessary to determine the spacing between adjacent posts accurately beforehand for the spacing is, in effect, determined when the panels are fixed to the posts. The panels are made from mesh which is robust and the difficulty of trying to bend the flanges on site, if necessary, is avoided.

[0041] If the flanges of selected panels are bent, under factory conditions, through defined angles then it is possible to erect a fence, using the technique described,

which can follow a straight line or, when appropriate, which can be gently curved, in a smooth manner, by changing the angle through which the flanges are bent, and thereby provide an end product with a neat and attractive appearance.

[0042] The post 36 can be made from sheet metal in the tubular form illustrated in Figure 1. It is however possible to form an equivalent tubular post, shown in Figure 3 and designated 36A, from a mesh material. The post 36A has vertically extending rods 108 which are closely spaced to each other and a large number of closely spaced horizontally extending rods 110 which are welded to the rods 108 at regular intervals. A post can be constructed in this way to have sufficient strength to serve as an adequate replacement for a sheet metal post of the kind shown in Figure 1.

[0043] A benefit of using the post 36A is that it is not as visible as a sheet metal post and this can add to the aesthetic qualities of an erected fence.

[0044] Although the stacking density of the panels in the Figure 7 arrangement is fairly high it can be improved. A fairly large gap 120 is created between opposed large planar sections of adjacent panels even though adjacent flanges closely abut each other.

[0045] Figure 8 shows a first way to address the problem. An outermost (vertical in use) rod or wire 122 on each flange is positioned on an "outer" side 124 of the flange, while the remaining (vertical) wires 18 are on the "inner" side 126 of the panel. This displacement of the outer wires 122 allows for intimate nesting of the stacked panels.

[0046] In the arrangement shown in Figure 9 an edge portion 128 of each panel is bent, ideally to a position at which it is substantially parallel to the main central portion of the panel. The outermost wire 122 is left on the "inner" side of the flange.

This process displaces the wire 122 from the sloping portion of the flange, a position at which the wire compromises the stacking density of the panels. The panels can then be stacked closely one on the other with the spacing between panels more or less equal to the diameter of the wires 18.

[0047] To accommodate the modifications in Figures 8 and 9 the post 36 is preferably altered, as shown in Figure 10. This Figure shows a post 36B with sides 90 and 92 which are formed, e.g. in a rolling or bending process, with respective elongate slots or recesses 130 shaped and positioned to receive respective edge portions 128 of adjacent panels, as is shown in Figure 11.

[0048] Apart from allowing a better stacking density, which assists with storage and transport aspects, the flared flanges with bent edge portions further rigidify the resulting panel. Similarly, the recesses 130 help to add rigidity to the posts 38B.