Field of Invention The present invention relates to fence components and a fence assembled from these components.

Background The use of fences to contain livestock is well known. Fences can provide both physical and psychological confinement.

Existing fencing systems are usually of wire or post and rail construction. Wire fences are relatively inexpensive, but lack in aesthetic appeal. Post and rail fences are more elegant, but are usually permanent and not easily altered. Wooden post and rail fences require high maintenance such as regular painting to preserve their appearance and structural integrity. Metal railings can be used instead of wooden rails, but this often requires complicated construction methods such as those disclosed in New Zealand Patent No. 229361 by Adams which uses mounting brackets with spigots.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fence that has sufficient mechanical strength to contain livestock.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fence which is constructed from materials which will require little or no maintenance to protect them from degradation as a result of exposure to the elements and which is elegant in appearance.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fence that can be erected rapidly and can be dismantled equally rapidly, and can therefore be used either as a semi¬ permanent system or as a purely temporary system.

Disclosure of Invention The invention provides a fence which includes a plurality of vertical posts and horizontal rails, in which the posts are spaced along the line of the fence and the rails are supported between adjacent posts; characterized in that: - each rail is a metal tube; - an end cap is secured to each end of each rail; - the rails are releasably connected between adjacent posts by means of a connector which passes through each post and engages the end cap.

The posts may be conventional wooden posts, but preferably are metal tubes, which may be dug into the ground in known manner or may be provided with a spiked fitting at the base of the tube to engage each post with the ground.

Preferably, the posts and the rails are constructed of powdered coated galvanised steel tube.

In one embodiment of the invention, the posts are set into the ground in known manner but for a fully portable fence, the posts may be provided with feet which simply rest on the surface of the ground.

Brief Description of Drawings By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of the assembled fencing system; Figure 2 is an exploded horizontal cross-section of the fitting system; with a circular cross-section post; Figure 3 is an exploded horizontal cross-section of the fitting system, with a square cross-section post; Figure 4 is a schematic isometric view of the end cap; Figure 5 is a schematic isometric view of the post fitting; Figure 6 is a side view of one unit of a fully-portable version of the fence; Figure 7 is a side view of a second unit of a fully-portable version of the fence; and Figure 8 is an end view of a supporting post for use in combination with the units of Figures 6 and 7.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring in particular to Figures 1 , 2, 4 and 5, a fencing system consists of posts 2 and rails 3. There may be several rails 3 running parallel to each other, but for simplicity only one row is shown in Figure 1. The rails 3 are lengths of powder-coated galvanized steel tube. The posts 2 may be wooden fence posts of a conventional type, which are driven in known manner into the ground. Preferably, the posts 2 are lengths of powder-coated galvanized steel tube. These may be set in the ground in known manner.

Alternatively, spiked fittings 20 are set in the ground at regular intervals. Each spiked fitting 20 comprises an upper portion 20a and a spiked end portion 20b. The upper portion 20a has the same cross-sectional shape as post 2, but is slightly smaller in cross-section so that the lower end of the tube 2 is a sliding fit over the part 20a. The spiked end portion 20b is formed integrally with the portion 20a and is a smooth- surfaced cone tapering to a point at its lower end. A post 2 engages with the top of each spiked fitting 20 and may optionally be secured thereto by riveting. Alternatively, the end portion 20 is formed integrally with the lower end of each post.

Each rail 3 is slightly shorter than the distance between two of the posts 2 and is secured at each end to the adjacent post 2 by the use of an end cap 5, optionally a post fitting 9, and a bolt 7 which passes through a hole 6a in post 2.

An end cap 5 consists of a circular portion 4 which contains a central hub 4b and is substantially hollow and supported by structural ridges 4a. The external diameter of the circular portion 4 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the rail 3. On one side of the end cap 5 is a flange 6 whose outer diameter is the same as the outer diameter of the rail 3. That side of the end cap 5 is a substantially flat surface 13, with a central recess 15. A central hole 16 passes through the entire end cap 5. A nut 17 is fixed in central hub 4b so that its axis is co-linear with central hole 16.

When the post 2 is circular in cross-section (Figure 2) there is provided a post fitting 9 whose outer diameter is the same as the outer diameter of the rail 3. Post fitting 9 has a central hub 12b and is supported by structural ridges 12a, providing a substantially flat surface 12, from which projects a boss 14 corresponding in position, shape and size with the recess 15 on end cap 5. On the side of the post fitting 9 opposite to the boss 14, a segment cut-out 10 substantially matches the curvature of post 2. A central hole 8 passes through the entire post fitting.

In order to assemble the fence, the circular portion 4 of end cap 5 is push fitted into the end 3a of rail 3 so that the end of the rail 3 is adjacent the flange 6 around the outer rim of the end cap 5. The end cap 5 is secured to the rail 3 by inserting rivets (not shown) through the rail 3 and the circular portion 4 of the end cap 5, between the structural ridges 4a.

A hole 6a is drilled right through the post 2 at the level at which the rails 3 are to be secured to the post 2. When the post 2 has a circular cross-section a post fitting 9 is placed against the post 2 so that the central hole 8 in the post fitting 9 lines up with the hole 6a in the post 2 and with the cut-out 10 in contact with the post. The segment cut-out 10 enables the post fitting 9 to lie on the surface of post 2.

When post fitting 9 is used, the substantially flat surface 13 of end cap 5 rests against the substantially flat surface 12 of post fitting 9 so that the boss 14 on post fitting 9 is fitted into recess 15 on the end cap 5. A double-ended bolt 7 passes through hole 6a in the post 2 and hole 8 in post fitting 9 and enters the central hole 16 in end cap 5 to screw into nut 17.

As shown in Figure 3, when the post 2 has a substantially flat side, post fitting 9 is not used. In this case, surface 13 of end cap 5 rests against the side of post 2 so that the central hole 16 is aligned with the hole 6a in the post 2 as shown in Figure 3. The bolt 7 passes through hole 6a in post 2 and enters the central hole 16 in end cap 5 to screw into nut 17.

A fence made of the above described components can be erected relatively quickly to provide strong, permanent and attractive fencing. To erect the fence, the posts are driven into the ground at the desired spacings if wooden posts are used, and holes are drilled through each post at the level of each set of rails. If metal posts are used, then the posts either are dug into the ground in known manner or are secured using the spiked fittings 20 or in any other suitable manner. The metal posts are pre-formed with holes through the posts at the desired levels for the sets of rails.

To secure the rails to the posts, one end of the first rail has its end cap 5 secured to it as described above, and if the post 2 is of circular cross-section, the post fitting 9 is positioned as described above. A bolt 7 is then passed through the hole 6a in the post, through the centre hole 8 of the post fitting 9 if a post fitting is present, and then through the central hole 16 of the end cap 5 and screwed into nut 17. The end cap for the end of the rail on the opposite side of the post is then screwed onto the other end of the bolt 7, and that second end cap is then pushed into the corresponding end of the next rail and riveted in place as described above. This sequence is repeated around the whole fence until the fence is completed. If gates are required in the fence, they are supported from the posts using any suitable hinging system, e.g. conventional agricultural gate gudgeons and brackets.

The above described fence can be dismantled relatively quickly if metal posts supported upon the spiked fittings 20 are used. However, for some applications, fully portable fencing is required. Fencing of this type is shown in Figures 6 - 8 inclusive.

As shown in Figures 6 and 8, in this embodiment, alternate pairs of posts 2a are supported upon feet 22 which extend horizontally under the post and are secured to the post by a V shaped brace 21. Each pair of posts 2a and the corresponding rails 3a form a first fence section A. The other pairs of posts 2b are cut short so that they finish at the level of the lower rail 3b (Figures 6 - 8 illustrate a two rail fence) to form sections B which are hung onto the sections A using any suitable connection system:- a gate pin and gate gudgeon system is illustrated.

In this embodiment, the system of connecting the rails to the posts is modified slightly, to accommodate the fact that each post has a rail secured to only one side of the post. Each rail is secured to the corresponding post in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 , 2, 4 and 5 (if the post is of circular cross-section) or Figure 3 (if the post is rectangular in cross-section), but the bolt 7 is secured at one end to the nut 17 in the rail and at the other end to a nut (not shown) on the outer face of either the gate gudgeon 24 or the gate bracket 25, so that the same bolt 7 secures both the rail and the gate gudgeon or gate bracket in position.

It will be appreciated that the sections A and B shown in Figures 6 - 8 are very quickly erected and dismantled:- the sections A are positioned along the fence line spaced apart by the width of the sections B, which are then hung between adjacent sections A simply by engaging the gate gudgeons 24 with the corresponding gate brackets 25. If it is necessary to ensure that a fence of this type cannot be pushed around easily, then the feet 22 can be temporarily dogged down into the underlying ground using staples or spikes.

If metal posts are used, the open upper end of each post preferably is closed off by a press-in cap, (not shown).