F ield of the Invention

[1 ] The present invention relates to a support arrangement for supporting structures. In particula r, a lthough not exclusive, this invention relates to a support arrangement for supporting structures such as hoardings and panels.

B ac kg rou nd of the Invention

[2] S tructures such as hoardings, pa nels often time need to be erected to form a ^' .wall _, or ^' fence _, at a construction site or renovation site to fence off areas in which construction or renovation is being carried out. The structure is typically made of wood, wooden composites, or plastics a nd is typically screwed to a support post. However such an arrangement is not a lways able to provide sufficient stability to the structure especia lly during windy conditions or when the structure is pushed by people accidentally. Moreover, if the structures are temporary installations, it is generally not possible to fix the support posts without making any indentations on the ground.

[3] It should be noted that although this present invention is described with reference to supporting hoardings or pa nels used at a construction or renovation site, the present invention can also be used to support structures such as billboards, advertisement boards, or screens, etc., without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[4] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute a n admission that the information forms pa rt of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or a ny other countries.

S ummary of the Invention

[5] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure support arrangement for supporting a structure, the structure support arrangement comprising a body member, a nesting formation defined on the body member a nd configured to prevent latera l movement of the structure support a rrangement in at least one transverse direction when the structure support arrangement is nested with a further structure support arrangement and a post receiving formation defined on the body member and configured for receiving a support post to support the structure. The nesting formation makes the structure support arrangement a nd the further structure support arrangement stackable a nd prevents displacement between the structure support arrangement a nd the further structure support a rrangement in transverse directions.

[6] P referably, the post receiving formation is any one or more selected from an aperture a nd a recess.

[7] P referably, the structure support arrangement defines at least one support side a long which the structure is supported in operation, and the post receiving formation is located adjacent to the at least one support side.

[8] P referably, the structure support a rra ngement further comprises one or more plates secured to the body member, in proximity of the post receiving formation, and adapted to prevent latera l movement of the support post in at least one transverse direction when the support post is received in the post receiving formation.

[9] P referably, the one or more plates comprise one plate secured to the body member to at least partia lly cover an opening of the post receiving formation so as to prevent the support post from latera lly sliding out of the post receiving formation.

[10] P refera bly, the one or more plates comprise two plates secured to the body member, such that a gap between the two plates, when secured to the body member, is smaller than the opening of the post receiving formation.

[1 1 ] P refera bly, the one or more plates are at least partially embedded in the body member when secured to the body member. [12] P refera bly, the one or more plates are remova bly secured to the body member.

[13] P refera bly, the one or more plates are provided with holes adapted to receive one or more fasteners in order to secure the one or more plates to the body member.

[14] P refera bly, the body member has threaded holes corresponding with the holes of the one or more plates.

[1 5] P refera bly, the one or more plates comprise one plate, the one plate being a pivota ble latch ada pted to pivot between an open position and a closed position, such that, in the open position, the one plate ena bles the support post to move in a nd out of the post receiving formation and in the closed position, the one plate prevents the support post from latera lly moving out of the post receiving formation.

[16] P refera bly, the body member has an embedded pin about which the one plate is adapted to pivot.

[17] P refera bly, the one or more plates comprise one plate, the one plate being a slidable latch adapted to slide between an open position and a closed position, such that, in the open position, the one plate enables the support post to move in and out of the post receiving formation and in the closed position, the one plate prevents the support post from latera lly moving out of the post receiving formation.

[18] P refera bly, the body member has a s liding cavity along which the one plate is adapted to slide.

[19] P refera bly, a s hape of the post receiving formation conforms to a cross-sectional sha pe of the support post.

[20] P refera bly, the shape of the post receiving formation is rectangular. [21 ] P refera bly, the structure support arrangement further comprises one or more dovetail formations defined on the body member a nd configured for sliding engagement with one or more dovetail formations on the further structure support a rrangement in operation. The dovetail formations provide additional restriction against the displacement of the structure support arrangement in tra nsverse directions.

[22] P refera bly, the structure support arrangement further comprises one or more pole receiving a pertures defined on the body member. The one or more pole receiving a pertures a llow the structure support arrangement to be used as fence supports. Additiona lly, the one or more pole receiving a pertures allow a lever to be inserted through the structure support arrangement, such that, a plurality of stacked structure support arrangements may be pivoted to receive the support post.

[23] P refera bly, the one or more pole receiving apertures are located towards an edge of the structure support arrangement.

[24] P refera bly, the body member is made of plastic.

[25] P refera bly, the body member is made using a technique selected from a group of technologies including injection moulding, rotary moulding and blow moulding.

[26] P refera bly, the body member is a hollow member. The hollow member is filled with a coagulable material. T he coagulable material provides sufficient weight to the structure support arrangement.

[27] P refera bly, the structure support arrangement further comprises one or more handle formations defined on the body member and configured to facilitate stacking of the structure support arrangement with the further structure support arrangement in operation. [28] P refera bly, the structure support arrangement further comprises a recess defined on the body member and configured to receive a bar that extends into a corresponding recess of another further structure support arrangement. The bar prevents displacement of stacks of the structure support arrangements.

[29] Other as pects of the invention are a lso disclosed.

B rief Des cription of the Drawings

[30] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred embodiment / preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[31 ] F ig. 1 illustrates a plurality of structure support arrangements stacked a long a support post in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[32] F ig. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a structure support a rrangement in accorda nce with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[33] F ig. 3 illustrates a nesting formation in accordance with a nother preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[34] F ig. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the structure support a rrangement in accorda nce with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[35] F ig. 5 illustrates the structure support arrangement in accordance with a nother preferred embodiment of the present invention; [36] F ig. 6 illustrates a structure support arrangement in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[37] F ig. 7 illustrates a use of the structure support arra ngement in stacks of structure supporting arra ngements in accorda nce with an embodiment of the present invention.

Des cription of E mbodiments

[38] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numera ls in different embodiments denote the sa me or similar features.

[39] F ig. 1 illustrates a plurality of structure support arrangements 1210, 1220 1230, 1240, 1250, a nd 1260 stacked along a support post 1 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment 100 of the present invention. At a construction site or shop renovation site, multiple stacks of the structure support arra ngements are placed a long the boundary of the site. One or more hoardings or panels are fixed to the support posts 1 10. This way, a wa ll or a fence is formed along the boundary of the site to for example prevent pedestrians from entering into this site.

[40] F ig. 2, illustrates a top perspective view of a structure support arra ngement 1220 of the plurality of structure support arrangements 1210 to 1260, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in F ig. 2, the structure support arrangement 1220 comprises a body member 210. In one embodiment of the invention, the body member 210 is made of plastic. F urther, in one embodiment, body member 210 is made using a technique selected from a group of technologies including injection moulding, rotary moulding and blow moulding.

[41 ] F urther, the structure support arrangement 1220 includes a nesting formation 220 defined on the body member 210. The nesting formation 220 is configured to prevent lateral movement of the structure support arra ngement 1220 in at least one transverse direction when the structure support arrangement 1220 is nested with a further structure support arrangement, particularly, a n adjacent similar structure support arrangement 1210 or 1230. The transverse direction is a direction defined by x and y directions (as indicated by the x a nd y a rrows in F ig. 3) and is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support post 1 10 in operation. For example, a transverse direction that is between x a nd y directions can be defined by a linea r combination of x and y directions. Fig. 3 illustrates the nesting formation 220 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in F ig. 3, the nesting formation 220 comprises an I-shaped projection 2210 and an I-shaped cavity 2220. The I-sha ped projection 2210 has one or more projection heads 2212 a nd a projection neck 2214. F ig. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the structure support arrangement 1220 in accordance with a preferred embodiment 400 of the present invention. As shown in F ig. 4, the I-shaped cavity 2220 has one or more cavity heads 2222 and a cavity neck 2224.

[42] If the structure support arrangement 1220 is nested with the adjacent similar structure support arrangement 1210, the two projection heads 2212 of the structure support arrangement 1220 mate with the two cavity heads of the adjacent simila r structure support arrangement 1210. Further, the projection neck 2214 of the structure support arrangement 1220 mates with the cavity neck of the adjacent similar structure support arrangement 1210. The adjacent simila r structure support a rrangement 1210 is insta lled on the top of the structure support arrangement 1220. As a result, the lateral movement of the structure support arrangements 1210 and 1220 relative to each other in at least one transverse direction ca n be prevented. On the other hand, as shown in F ig. 1 , the one or more cavity heads 2222 and cavity neck 2224 of the structure support arrangement 1220 mate with the corresponding one or more projection heads a nd projection neck of the structure support a rrangement 1230, which is installed under the structure support arrangement 1220. As a result, the lateral movement of the structure support arrangements 1220 and 1230 relative to each other in at least one tra nsverse direction can be prevented.

[43] Returning now to Fig. 2, the structure support arrangement 1220 further comprises a post receiving formation 230 defined on the body member 210. The post receiving formation 230 is configured for receiving the support post 1 10. In one embodiment, the post receiving formation 230 is any one or more selected from a n a perture and a recess. The post receiving formation 230 includes an opening formed on a side (particularly, the support side 510, as shown in F ig. 5) of the structure support a rra ngement 1220. Further, in one embodiment, a shape of the post receiving formation 230 conforms to a cross-sectiona l s hape of the support post 1 10 in order for the support post 1 10 to fit into the post receiving formation 230. In a nother embodiment, the shape of the post receiving formation is rectangular regardless of the cross-sectiona l shape of the support post 1 10.

[44] In one embodiment, the structure support arra ngement 1220 comprises one or more plates (i.e., lip plates) 240 secured to the body member 210, in proximity of the post receiving formation 230. F urther, the one or more lip plates 240 are ada pted to prevent latera l movement of the support post 1 10 in at least one transverse direction when the support post 1 10 is received in the post receiving formation 230. In one embodiment, one lip plate is secured to the body member 210 to entirely or partially cover the opening of the post receiving formation 230 so as to prevent the support post 1 10 from laterally sliding out of the post receiving formation 230 in at least one transverse direction. In one embodiment in which two lip plates are used, a gap between the two lip plates 240, when secured to the body member 210, is sma ller than the opening of the post receiving formation 230, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus when the support post 1 10 is received in the post receiving formation 230, the one or more lip plates prevent the support post 1 10 from laterally sliding out of the post receiving formation 230 in at least one tra nsverse direction. In one embodiment of the invention, the one or more lip plates 240 a re removably secured to the body member 210, such as by means of one or more fasteners. F urther, the one or more lip plates 240 are provided with holes ada pted to receive the one or more fasteners in order to secure the one or more lip plates 240 to the body member 210. Accordingly, the body member 210 has threaded holes corresponding with the holes of the one or more lip plates 240. In another embodiment, the one or more lip plates 240 are at least partia lly embedded in the body member 210 when secured to the body member 210.

[45] In another embodiment, the one lip plate 240 is a pivota ble latch adapted to pivot between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the lip plate 240 ena bles the support post 1 10 to move in and out of the post receiving formation 230. In the closed position, the one lip plate 240 prevents the support post 1 10 from laterally moving out of the post receiving formation 230 in at least one transverse direction. Accordingly, the body member 210 has an embedded pin about which the one lip plate 240 is ada pted to pivot. In yet another embodiment, the one lip plate 240 is a slida ble latch adapted to slide between the open position and the closed position. Accordingly, the body member 210 has a sliding cavity along which the one lip plate 240 is adapted to slide.

[46] In one embodiment, the structure support arrangement 1220 further comprises one or more dovetail formations 250 defined on the body member 210. F urther, the one or more dovetail formations 250 a re configured for sliding engagement with one or more dovetail formations on the adjacent similar structure support arrangement 1210 in operation. In one embodiment, the one or more dovetail formations 250 comprise respective one or more dovetail projections 2510 (shown in F ig. 4) and respective one or more dovetail cavities 2520 (shown in F ig. 2). In sliding engagement, the one or more dovetail projections of the adjacent similar structure support arrangement 1210 mate with the one or more dovetail cavities 2520 of the structure support arrangement 1220. The one or more dovetail formations 250 provide additiona l restriction to the structure support arrangement 1220 against lateral movements in at least one transverse direction.

[47] In one embodiment, the structure support arrangement 1220 further comprises one or more pole receiving apertures 260 defined on the body member 210. In one embodiment, the one or more pole receiving a pertures 260 a re configured to receive poles. The pole can be part of a structure such as a web with poles at the edges of the web. The pole at one edge of the web is received into the pole receiving aperture 260 of the structure support arrangement 1220, and the pole at another edge of the web is received into the pole receiving aperture of another structure support a rrangement. When the web is erected, the two structure support a rrangements servers as the bases of the web and keep the web upright.

[48] In one embodiment, the structure support arrangement 1220 further comprises one or more handle formations 270 defined on the body member 210. F urther, the one or more ha ndle formations 270 are configured to facilitate stacking of the structure support arrangement 1220 with the adjacent similar structure support a rrangement 1210 or 1230 in operation. F ig. 5 illustrates the structure support a rrangement 1220 in accordance with another preferred embodiment 500 of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, the structure support arrangement 1220 defines at least one support side 510 and at least one non-support side 520. Further, the structure is supported along the at least one support side 510 in operation. Also, the post receiving formation 230 is located adjacent to the at least one support side 510.

[49] Also, the one or more pole receiving apertures 260 are located towards a n edge 540 of the structure support arrangement 1210. In one embodiment, the edge 540 is located at the at least one non-support side 520. Also, in one embodiment, the body member 210 is a hollow member. The hollow member 210 is filled with a coagulable material, such as cement. The coagulable material provides a sufficient weight to the structure support arrangement. T his provides the structure support a rrangement with further stability. A filling aperture 530 is provided at the hollow member 210 at the at least one non-support side 520. The coagula ble material is filled into the body member 210 through the filling aperture 530.

[50] As shown in F ig. 1 , multiple structure support arrangements 1210 to 1260 are stacked to form a stack of structure support arrangements 1210 to 1260. Multiple stacks of structure support arra ngements are placed a long the boundary of a site, for example, a construction site or a shop renovation site. T he structures, for example, hoardings or panels, are fixed to the support posts 1 10. Thus, a wall or fence along the boundary of the site is formed to for example prevent pedestrians from entering into this site.

[51 ] However, due to external forces caused by for example storms, the multiple stacks of structure support arrangements may be displaced. That is, the multiple stacks of structure support a rra ngements a re no longer positioned along the boundary of the site, a nd the structures fixed to the support posts 1 10 appear to be like a snake _, when viewed from top. In a n extreme case, this may cause the structures to fall off the support posts 1 10 and damage pedestrians nearby or workers working at the site.

[52] F ig. 6 illustrates a structure support arrangement 1220 in accordance with yet a nother preferred embodiment 600 of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 6, the structure support arrangement 1220 further comprises a recess 610 defined on the body member 210. The recess 610 is provided along an entire width of the body member 210 with open ends 61 10 and 6120 at two sides 620 and 630 of the structure support arrangement 1220, respectively. The recess 610 is configured to receive a horizontal ba r 730 that extends to a further structure support arra ngement, particula rly, into the corresponding recess of a further structure support arrangement (shown in F ig. 7).

[53] F ig. 7 illustrates a plurality of structure support a rrangement stacks 71 10, 7120 and 7130. The stacks 71 10 to 7130 are placed along a bounda ry of a site. A horizontal bar 730 is placed in the recesses 610 of the top structure support a rrangement of each stack 71 10 to 7130. The horizontal ba r 730 connects the plurality of structure support arrangement stacks 71 10, 7120 and 7130, and keep the plurality of structure support arrangement stacks 71 10, 7120 and 7130 along the boundary of the site. The structures a re fixed to support posts 7210, 7220 a nd 7230.

[54] If an external force is applied to the structures, the horizontal bar 730 in the recesses 610 of the plura lity of structure support a rrangement stacks 71 10, 7120 and 7130 effectively prevents the displacement of the plurality of structure support a rrangement stacks 71 10, 7120 and 7130, which dramatica lly reduces the possibility of the fa lling of the structures from the support posts 7210, 7220 and 7230. This improves the safety at the site.

[55] T he structure support arrangement 1210 to 1260 as described above offers a number of advantages. First, they are easy to manufacture and ship. The design of the body member provides sufficient prevention against displacement in transverse directions. The structure support arrangement a llows easy support to structures without making any temporary or permanent indentations on the ground. F urther, the structure support arrangement can be easily reused any number of times between different sites. Also, the recess for receiving the horizonta l bar prevents the s naking of the structures. E mbodiments:

[56] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment _, or an embodiment _, mea ns that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appea rances of the phrases In one embodiment _, or In an embodiment _, in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suita ble manner, as would be a pparent to one of ordina ry skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[57] S imilarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention a re sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understa nding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting a n intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than a ll features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. T hus, the claims following the Detailed Description of S pecific E mbodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of S pecific E mbodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[58] F urthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[59] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordina l adjectives 'first., second., ^' third., etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different insta nces of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either tempora lly, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

S pecific Details

[60] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

[61 ] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equiva lents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", ^' top., ^' bottom., 'under _, and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points a nd are not to be construed as limiting terms.

[62] For the purposes of this specification, the term ^' plastic _, shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products, and generally including a hydrocarbon-based polymer.

[63] As used herein the term ^' a nd/or. mea ns ^' and. or ^' or., or both.

[64] As used herein ^' (s) . following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

C omprising and Including

[65] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessa ry implication, the word comprise . or variations such as comprises . or comprising. are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[66] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. T hus, including is synonymous with a nd mea ns comprising.

S cope of Invention

[67] T hus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. F unctionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functiona l blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[68] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Industrial Applicability

[69] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applica ble to construction, advertising, maintenance services industries, a nd other applicable industries.