Support Means

The present invention relates to support means and a method of use and/or manufacture of said support means.

Although the following description refers almost exclusively to support means in the form of a fence post, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the support means of the present invention can be used to support a variety of different elements, such as one or more barriers, screens, decorative panels, garden and/or agricultural type structures, temporary and/or permanent walls and/or the like.

The use of barriers such as walls and fences to designate boundaries, confine livestock or people in a designated area and/or to protect property is well known. Fences can be made out of various materials such as wood, plastic, metal and/or the like, the choice of which generally depends upon the application the fence is to be used for, the location of the fence and the cost of providing the fence. For fences which need to be strong to provide protection, be resistant to extreme weather conditions and/or withstand relatively large forces applied against the fence, more robust materials such as metals are required. However, such fences can often suffer from the problems of excessive weight and increased expense. In addition, support posts which are used to support intermediate support panels also need to adequately support the weight of the panels and also suffer from weight and cost problems.

In fitting a conventional fence, intermediate fence posts are typically driven or located in the ground, or in other suitable retaining medium, at spaced apart intervals and to a sufficient depth in the ground or retaining medium to provide a suitable amount of stability and rigidity to both the post and the fence as

a whole. If the fence posts are too heavy, fitting of the same can be difficult, time consuming and often requires a number of fitters. In addition, one or more notches or sockets defined in conventional fence posts to allow attachment of intermediate panel or fence members thereto can result in a reduction of the mechanical strength of the fence posts.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide support means which are strong, relatively lightweight and inexpensive to overcome the problems described above.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a method of using support means which overcome the abovementioned problems.

It is a yet further aim of the present invention to provide a manufacture of support means which overcomes the abovementioned problems.

It is a yet further aim of the present invention to provide a fence or barrier including support means.

In the first aspect of the invention there is provided support means for supporting one or more objects in use, said support means including a first member and at least a second member, said first and/or second members having a recessed portion defined therein, the rear of said recessed portion on at least one of said members providing a surface to which the at least other member is attached.

Preferably the first and second members are formed from sheet like material.

Preferably the front surface of the first and/or second members substantially follows the contours of the rear surface of the first and/or second members.

In one embodiment, the remaining portions of the first and second members which are not joined together define a channel therebetween for receiving one or more objects therein in use. The one or more other objects can include one or more panels, fence panels, rails and/or the like.

Preferably the remaining portions of the first and second members define at least two channels. Further preferably the two channels are provided either side of the joined recessed portion. The two channels are preferably provided substantially parallel or aligned with each other to allow one or more objects to be joined therein in a substantially aligned or parallel manner. However, the channels can be provided at an acute angle to each other to allow the one or more objects joined thereto to be provided at an acute angle to each other, such as at a corner of a boundary or fence and/or the like.

In an embodiment one or more walls forming the one or more channels of the supporting means are provided with at least one socket or aperture defined therein to receive one or more objects and/or one or more engagement means for engaging or retaining the objects in the channels in a desired position.

In one example, the engagement means are in the form of a pin for location in the socket or aperture and said pin retains the further object, fence post, rail and/or the like in place.

Preferably at least one of the first and second members includes a recessed portion and at least one flanged portion.

The recessed portion typically includes a rear wall and a side wall or walls. Preferably the rear wall is substantially parallel and a spaced distance apart to the at least one flanged portion.

Preferably the at least one flanged portion is attached or integrally formed to the side wall defining the recessed portion, and further preferably an outermost edge of said side wall, and protrudes outwardly from said recessed portion.

Preferably the rear wall of the recessed portion has two side walls, each side wall joined to either end of the rear wall. Each side wall is typically angled outwardly relative to the other side wall and rear wall.

Preferably a flanged portion is joined to an outer edge of each side wall.

Preferably the flanged portions either side of the recessed portion are substantially aligned (i.e. horizontally) and parallel to each other, although the flanged portions can be non-aligned or non-parallel if required.

The one or more sockets or apertures can be defined in a side wall of the recessed portion or a flanged portion.

In one embodiment the first and second members are substantially mirror images of each and are joined together via the rear surface of the rear walls of the recessed portion.

Preferably the at least one channel of the support means is defined between a flanged portion and an adjoining side wall of each member.

In one embodiment the first and at least second members are substantially elongate in form and the at least one channel and/or recessed portion is defined substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the joined members.

Preferably the recessed portion is provided substantially centrally of said support means.

Preferably at least one end of the support means is provided with retaining means for helping to locate the support means in the ground or retaining medium in use.

The free end of the retaining means, which is typically the base, can be provided with or in the form of a spike, a narrowing taper and/or the like. The retaining means can be integrally formed with the support means or attached thereto, such as by welding, one or more nuts and bolts, screws and/or the like.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a fence arrangement, said fence arrangement including support means placed at spaced apart intervals and at least one rail member located between adjacent support means. Preferably the at least one rail member is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to said support means in use.

Further preferably the support means are located substantially vertically in the ground and/or in retaining medium in use and the at least one rail member is located substantially horizontally and/or substantially parallel to the ground in use.

In a preferred embodiment the first and second members are made of metal. Preferably the metal is stainless steel. Yet further preferably the metal is galvanised and power coated.

The recessed portions of the first and second members can be joined together via welding, one or more nuts and bolts, screws, adhesive, inter-engaging means and/or the like.

The supporting means are typically painted in use to compliment their surroundings.

Preferably the retaining media in which the support means can be located is a hole in the ground, sand, soil, gravel, clay and/or concrete.

In one embodiment the support means is provided with illumination means.

The illumination means are typically provided in a housing and the housing can be integrally formed with, detachably attached or attached to the support means.

Preferably the illumination means is located adjacent a top of the support means (i.e. at an end opposite to the retaining means in one embodiment).

The illumination means can include any type of lamp, such as one or more LEDS, bulbs and/or the like. In a preferred embodiment the illumination means is a solar powered illumination means, thereby removing the requirement to require electrical cabling between adjacent support means.

The illumination means can have one or more batteries associated therewith to provide power thereto. The batteries can be rechargeable. The illumination means could be powered by mains power if required.

The illumination means can be provided with coloured glass and/or bulbs for different aesthetic effects if required. The illumination means can be used to illuminate the support means and/ or one or more attached objects so they are not a collision hazard, such as on the side of a road or railway.

One or more reflective elements can be associated with the support means if required.

In one embodiment one or more mirrors and/or reflective elements are provided in addition to the illumination means to increase the illumination provided by the same.

In one embodiment one or more sensors are associated with the support means. The one or more sensors can be used to detect movement, pressure, temperature, sound and/or the like. For example, the sensor can be used to detect whether an unauthorised person or animal is adjacent to or climbing over the support means or fence panels to provide a security device.

The illumination means can be activated on detection/initiation of a signal from said sensors when one or more pre-determined sensor conditions are met. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more alarms can be activated on detection/initiation of a signal from said sensors. The alarm can be any suitable visual, audio and/or kinaesthetic means.

Preferably the support means is used to support fencing or rails used as a barrier and/or to designate a boundary on for example, agricultural land, highways, railways, residential housing, paddocks and the like.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for producing and/or using support means.

A method of using support means, said support means comprising a first member and at least a second member, said first and/or second members having a recessed portion defined therein, the rear of said recessed portion on at least one of said members provides a surface to which the at least other member is attached, two or more support means being arranged at spaced apart intervals in a retaining medium in use and one or more objects placed between and support by said support means.

In a further embodiment the first and second members of the supporting means are adjoined by a common recessed portion. Typically the supporting means is produced as a single integral member unit and therefore there is no requirement to weld the first and second members together.

In yet a further embodiment the first and/or second members are provided with a slot in the recessed portion. Typically the slots extend from the end of an extremity of a member to half way down the recessed portion of the member. Preferably the first and second members can be adjoined to form the supporting means, without requiring welding, by engaging the slots.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fence assembly.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an illumination assembly.

According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of use and/or of manufacture of support means.

According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using an illumination assembly.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of support means according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the support means in figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support means with fence rails associated therewith;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a spike for use with an end of the support means in figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of support means with a solar powered light associated therewith; and

Figure 6 is a sketch of support means for use in a garden fence arrangement.

Referring firstly to figure 1 , there is illustrated support means in the form of a fence post 2 for supporting one or more objects, such as fence rails, fence panels and/or the like. The fence post 2 is substantially elongate in form and is typically located in the ground and/or in a retaining medium in use.

The fence post 2 includes a first member 4 and a second member 6. The members 4 and 6 are also substantially elongate in form and run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fence post. In this embodiment, members 4, 6 are substantially mirror images of each other but it will be appreciated that the members

4, 6 could be different shapes and/or dimensions. Each member 4, 6 includes a recessed portion 8, 8' comprising a rear wall 10, 10' and side walls 12, 14, 12', 14'. Flanged portions 16, 18, 16', 18' are joined to outer edge 20, 20' of side walls 12, 14, 12', 14'.

The rear surface of rear walls 10, 10' of members 4, 6 are welded together and are substantially parallel and in abutting relationship. Side walls 12, 14, 12', 14' are joined to each end 22, 24, 22', 24' of rear wall 10, 10' and diverge at an angle outwardly from the rear wall. Thus, side wall 12 diverges outwardly from side wall 14 to provide recessed portion 8 with an opening which is wider than rear wall 10. The same is true for second member 6.

Flanged portions 16, 18 each also diverge outwardly from the recessed portion 8 in opposite directions. In the illustrated embodiment flange portions 16, 18 are substantially parallel to rear wall 10. In addition, the width of flange portions 16, 18 are each substantially the same as the width of rear wall 10. Flange portion 16 is substantially parallel to and aligned with flange portion 18. The same is true for second member 6.

A channel 26 is defined between side walls 12, 12' and flange portions 16, 16' and opens laterally of the fence post. A channel 28 is defined between side walls 14, 14' and flange portions 18, 18' and opens on the opposite side of the fence post to channel 26. Thus, channels 26, 28 are substantially mirror images of each other in the illustrated example. Each channel 26, 28 runs substantially longitudinally of fence post 2. Recessed portions 8, 8' also runs substantially longitudinally of fence post 2.

The channels 26, 28 are provided to allow location of one or more further objects, such as fence rails 34, therewith, as shown in figure 3. The narrowing taper of channels laterally thereof

from open end 30 to the rear 32 of the channel helps to retain the objects. The free ends of fence rails 34 are located in sockets (not shown) provided at spaced apart intervals along the length of the channels. More particularly, the sockets are defined in the flanged portions and/or side walls defining the channels. Each fence rail 34 is located substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fence post and each free end of the fence rail is located in spaced apart adjacent fence posts to create a fence assembly, as shown in figure 6. One or more pins can be associated with the socket or free ends of the fence rails to ensure secure engagement in the channel of the fence post.

In the embodiment illustrated in figure 3 and figure 4, a spike 36 is provided for attachment to an end 39 of the fence post 2. The spike 36 has a similar arrangement to fence post 2 including a first member 38 and second member 40 substantially equivalent to members 4, 6. However, end 42 of spike 2 has a narrowing taper to increase the ease with which the spike can be located in a ground surface or retaining medium.

Spike 36 can be integrally formed with fence post 2 or can be attached thereto via welding and/or other suitable attachment means. Alternatively, spike 36 could define a channel at end 44 thereof to allow end 39 of fence post 2 be located therein.

In a further embodiment, illumination means in the form of a solar powered light 46 is attached to top end 48 of fence post 2. The solar powered light 46 is provided in a housing 50 and at least one window 52 is defined in a wall or walls of the housing to allow light from a lamp located in the housing to be emitted from the housing. One or more solar panels 54 can be located on the top 56 of housing 50 to allow the batteries contained in the housing and associated with the lamp to be recharged during

the day. Housing 50 can be integrally formed with fence post or can be attached thereto via suitable means, such as one or more bolts, welding and/or the like.

The fence post 2 is preferably made from galvanised steel to provide sufficient strength and rigidity to the post whilst keeping the post as lightweight as possible. The shape of the fence post provides stability to the post whilst minimising the amount of material required to form the post. However, other materials can be used to form the post if required.

Referring to figure 6, there is illustrated an example of a fence arrangement 100 for which the fence posts 2 could be used. The fence posts 2 are located in the ground at spaced apart intervals to define a required boundary. Fence panels 102 are located between adjacent posts 2 and the side edges of panels 102 are engaged in the lateral channels of the adjacent posts. The fence panels can take any suitable, shape, form, size and can be formed from any suitable material. A gravel board 104 is located between adjacent fence posts at the base of the fence arrangement.

The support means of the present invention is typically maintenance free and the appearance of the same can be changed to match the appearance of the objects, fence panels or fence rails which are located therewith.