EP4455429A1 - Screening or screening panel for rigid lattice fences and method for fixing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Privacy or screening panel (1-1) for a rigid mesh fence, comprising a plate (10) having a so-called front face and an opposite so-called rear face, and fixing and locking means (5) intended to lock the fixing of the plate against the mesh in the assembled position of the panel, said fixing and locking means (5) comprising at least one attachment part (50) capable of cooperating with at least one pair of a first bore (70) and a second bore formed in the thickness of the plate, characterized in that the attachment part (50) is a rigid part which comprises a first part (50A) positioned on the front face (16) of the plate in the position of use of the attachment part on the plate, and a second part capable of passing through the first bore (70) to be arranged on the side of the rear face of the plate and opposite the second bore, and in that the fixing and locking means (5) comprise in besides at least one locking element (51) which is able to cooperate with the second bore and the second part of the attachment part (50).

Description

The invention relates to the field of privacy screening or screening devices for rigid mesh fences.

A rigid mesh fence comprises posts and rigid panels fixed between these posts, the panels being made up of an interweaving of vertical and horizontal rigid wires forming a rigid openwork mesh. In addition, the vertical wires have in a localized manner, generally at least in the upper part and in the lower part, a V-shaped relief from one of the panel faces (called the ribbed face in the remainder of the description) to reinforce the rigidity of said panel.

It is sometimes desired to dress such a fence to obscure the view or at least break the view.

Particularly known are individual blades which are slid vertically between the vertical wires of the trellis and thus close the space between two vertical wires. Various fastening systems exist for fastening the blades.

However, these blades, which are made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride (PVC), age slowly; they discolour over time and deteriorate. In addition, they have a privacy screen function, but in combination with the trellis, they are not actually completely opaque.

It is also known from the patent application FR3032217 , a sheet of pliable material which includes near one of its edges a line of edge holes for positioning the sheet on the mesh, and a plurality of holes arranged in regularly spaced strips having multiple functions. The sheet is first positioned on the mesh of the fence by passing the edge holes around the distal ends of the vertical wires, the sheet is then folded perpendicularly to bring it against the ribbed face of the mesh panel, then folded to conform to the V-shapes of the mesh, and finally secured by clamps or straps which are passed around the vertical or horizontal wires via the edge holes and through a plurality of holes arranged in the surface of the sheet. In addition to the function of attaching the sheet to the mesh, which the holes provide, the latter are arranged in regularly spaced strips in order to draw fold lines and help to bend the plate. In addition, they allow air to pass through the plate to prevent it from deforming and even being damaged in the event of wind.

However, the aforementioned plate is not at all convenient and quick to implement; in fact, it is necessary to fold the plate in different places, on the one hand, to press it against the mesh, and on the other hand, so that it can perfectly match the ribbed shapes of the mesh. In addition, it is advisable to fold the plate skillfully the first time, because otherwise, when trying to unfold it and fold it again correctly, it will retain deformation folds in certain places. Furthermore, the multiplicity of holes is unsightly. Finally, this plate, which is made of foldable material, may discourage the user from purchasing it, because it does not immediately give an appearance of solidity.

Furthermore, the fixing of the aforementioned plate is obtained by flexible collars to be passed through the multiplicity of holes in the plate, or by pinching the sheet metal of the plate at specific cutouts, which is not practical and quick and also requires that the panel be accessible to the operator on the front and rear faces. However, sometimes depending on the location of the fence, the operator cannot access the rear of the fence.

The invention therefore aims to propose a privacy screen device, or even a total privacy screen, which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular is simple and quick to implement and allows the device to be fixed in a locked manner from its front face (face from which the device is positioned against the fence). The device will also be solid and durable over time, while being aesthetically pleasing.

• une plaque (de préférence rigide, c'est-à-dire qu'elle n'est pas apte à être pliée lors de son installation sur la clôture) présentant une face dite avant et une face opposée dite arrière (le treillis étant destiné à être du côté de la face arrière de la plaque du panneau),
• des moyens de fixation et de verrouillage pour le panneau (les moyens de fixation et de verrouillage étant destinés à verrouiller la fixation de la plaque contre le treillis en position montée du panneau), lesdits moyens de fixation et de verrouillage comportant au moins une pièce d'attache apte à coopérer avec au moins une paire d'un premier alésage et d'un second alésage, les alésages étant ménagés dans l'épaisseur de la plaque (de la face avant à la face arrière),

caractérisé en ce que la pièce d'attache est une pièce rigide qui comprend une première partie se positionnant en face avant de la plaque en position d'utilisation de la pièce d'attache sur la plaque, et une seconde partie apte à traverser le premier alésage pour être agencée du côté de la face arrière de la plaque et en regard du second alésage, et en ce que les moyens de fixation et de verrouillage comportent en outre au moins un élément de verrouillage (qui est une pièce indépendante de la pièce d'attache) qui est apte à coopérer (depuis la face avant de la plaque) avec le second alésage et la seconde partie de la pièce d'attache (qui se trouve en face arrière en position d'utilisation de la pièce d'attache).Thus, the invention relates to a privacy or screening panel for a rigid mesh fence, comprising:

• a plate (preferably rigid, i.e. it is not capable of being bent when installed on the fence) having a so-called front face and an opposite so-called rear face (the mesh being intended to be on the side of the rear face of the panel plate),
• fixing and locking means for the panel (the fixing and locking means being intended to lock the fixing of the plate against the trellis in the mounted position of the panel), said fixing and locking means comprising at least one attachment part capable of cooperating with at least one pair of a first bore and a second bore, the bores being provided in the thickness of the plate (from the front face to the rear face) the back side),

characterized in that the attachment part is a rigid part which comprises a first part positioned on the front face of the plate in the position of use of the attachment part on the plate, and a second part capable of passing through the first bore to be arranged on the side of the rear face of the plate and opposite the second bore, and in that the fixing and locking means further comprise at least one locking element (which is a part independent of the attachment part) which is capable of cooperating (from the front face of the plate) with the second bore and the second part of the attachment part (which is located on the rear face in the position of use of the attachment part).

According to one feature, the first and second bores are spaced apart by an appropriate distance so as to be positioned, in the mounted position of a panel on a fence trellis, on either side of at least one vertical wire of the trellis.

In the remainder of the description, the term "height", the qualifiers "upper", "lower", "high" and "low" relative to the privacy screen or screening panel of the invention, called screening panel, are used in the context of a normal installation of said panel, i.e. relating to a vertical concept of its installation on a rigid fencing trellis. "Length" relative to a component of the screening device means the largest dimension in a horizontal plane.

Thus, the combination of the pair of appropriately spaced bores, and the fastener which is rigid and capable of being positioned for a portion at the rear of the panel plate while another portion remains on the front face of the plate, makes it possible to effortlessly fix the fastener from a single face of the panel (here the front face) without the user having to go behind the panel. More particularly, the first bore is used to introduce a portion of the fastener (its second part) so that it passes to the rear of the plate and is positioned opposite the second bore (which is done without difficulty because the part is rigid), the fastener (its second part) having covered on the rear face side at least one vertical wire of the mesh in the installed position of the plate against the mesh; the second bore allows access from the front face to the second part of the attachment piece, which is nevertheless arranged at the rear of the plate, in order to be able to engage the locking element there from the front face. The first part of the attachment piece remaining on the front face of the plate allows leverage so that the second part of the attachment piece cooperating with the locking element remains in a stable position at the rear of the plate while the user who inserts the locking element into said second part of the attachment piece nevertheless transmits thrust forces on said second part in a direction opposite to the plate. Without the first part of the attachment piece bearing on the front face of the plate, the attachment piece would tend to move away from the plate when the user tries to fix the locking element. According to a characteristic, the first part of the attachment piece intended to bear against the front face of the plate has dimensions adapted to counterbalance the thrust forces intended to be applied against the second part of the attachment piece when fixing the locking element to said second part.

According to another feature, the second part cooperates with the second bore so that the second part remains only arranged on the side of the rear face of the plate (without crossing the plate again - which further simplifies the shape of the part). According to another feature, the second part comprises a fixing zone capable of being located opposite said second bore so that the locking element cooperates with the fixing zone to fix the attachment part (and consequently to lock the fixing of the plate and therefore of the panel against the mesh by having trapped at least one vertical wire of the mesh).

Preferably, the attachment piece is of elongated shape and comprises as first part and second part, respectively two spaced apart, parallel and oppositely extending arms, and being connected by a substantially perpendicular connecting part. In particular, the attachment piece is of elongated shape and is doubly bent to define the first and second parts which are both elongated and a substantially perpendicular connecting part and connecting the two parts, preferably the connecting part having a width which is just greater than the thickness of the plate and the thickness of a wire of the mesh for which the panel is intended. By "just", it is meant that the dimension is adjusted to have a minimal clearance between the piece and the wire of the mesh so as to allow a grip at the rear of the wire of the mesh and to wedge it.

In a particular example, the locking element is removable, preferably the locking element is a screw while the second part of the attachment part has a fixing zone which is constituted by a threaded housing projecting towards the opposite of the plate in the mounted position of the attachment part. Alternatively, the locking element locking is a rivet while the second part of the fastener has a fixing area which includes a hole.

According to another characteristic, the first bore is of a section adapted to the passage of the second part of the attachment part and the connecting part. Preferably, the first bore is square or rectangular.

According to another feature, the second bore is oblong.

Advantageously, the attachment part is metallic, preferably galvanized.

According to yet another feature, the attachment part comprises a decorative element which is integral with the first part (so as to be visible on the front face of the plate). The decorative element makes it possible in particular to minimise the locking element from view and makes it possible to blend the attachment part into a decorative element of the plate.

Preferably, the screening panel comprises a so-called fixing wing which extends from or near the so-called upper edge of the plate, in particular perpendicular to the general plane of the plate, and which is provided with spaced holes. The spaced holes of the fixing wing constitute a means of direct installation of the panel by vertical attachment or suspension after the trellis of the fence. Once the screening panel is thus installed, the operator has his hands free to lock the fixing of the panel by said at least one attachment part associated with the locking element, and this while remaining on only one side of the plate.

Consequently, the installation and locking of the panel are quick. The user lifts the panel slightly above the trellis and translates it up and down to introduce the distal ends of the vertical wires through the holes until the wing abuts against generally the first inclined V-shaped portion of the raised shapes of the trellis, providing the attachment of the panel and its installation directly against the trellis. The panel has a weight such that it is able to be held by gravity and pressed against the fence. The attachment of the panel is therefore very easy and quick. In addition, the screening panel of the invention, being rigid and non-foldable, therefore has a sturdy and durable appearance. Furthermore, a rigid fence has the ribbed face of the trellis generally on the outside; consequently, the screening panel of the invention, being installed on the face opposite the ribbed face, is on the side of the inner perimeter of the fence and not on the ribbed face outside the fence as in the prior art, which is much more convenient for the user to install the privacy or screening panel against the flat surface and inside the fenced perimeter. The privacy or screening panel may be solid or not, painted and/or decorated. Finally, as mentioned above, locking the panel to the trellis is easy and quick, the user remaining on one side of the panel. By passing the attachment piece from the first bore to opposite the second bore (spaced the appropriate distance), the attachment piece passes behind at least one vertical wire of the trellis, and after fixing the locking element in the attachment piece, the trellis wire is trapped without the possibility of releasing the plate from the panel which is then locked in position. Since the fixing is done from the front face, a third party placed outside the fence (rear face side) will not be able to dismantle the panel.

Preferably, the holes in the fixing wing have an oblong shape (their length being parallel to the upper edge of the plate), in particular rather than circular. The oblong shape can be with straight and/or curved segments. The oblong shape of the holes facilitates the installation of the panel for the user by making them cooperate directly with the vertical wires of the trellis, without having to position themselves exactly in line with the vertical wires. In addition, the oblong shape makes it possible, with the same panel of the invention, to adjust to fence panels whose mesh widths of the trellis are different (different center distances of the vertical wires). For example, the length of the holes is between 30 and 50 mm, and the spacing (full portion) between two adjacent holes is of the order of 10 mm. Preferably, the oblong holes are of different lengths, with an alternation of a first length and a second length, while being separated by solid areas to maintain rigidity to the panel. This configuration of different hole sizes makes it possible to cover all rigid meshes on the current market.

In an alternative embodiment, the fixing wing has an orthogonal return which is parallel to the general plane of the plate and is intended to come into abutment on the upper V-shaped relief of the lattice. This return contributes to the rigidity of the panel (all the more so when there are a multiplicity of holes of different lengths which follow one another), as well as to the wedging of the panel.

Today's rigid fences differ mainly in the way the rigid mesh fence panels are arranged in the rebate of the fence posts. There are mainly two types of arrangement in the rebate of the posts.

The first type of fence corresponds to a first type of arrangement of a rigid lattice fence panel; this first type of arrangement is done inside the rebate of the post, which provides, on the side of the face opposite the ribbed face of the lattice, a free space between the lattice panel and the edge of the rebate. The free space allows the screening panel of the invention to be slid directly vertically into the rebate of the post between the rigid lattice and the edge of the rebate, locking it directly in position along a horizontal plane by its vertical edges. To this end, according to a characteristic of the invention, the screening panel has a length adapted so that at least one of its vertical edges cooperates in the installation position with the inside of the rebate of a post, the entire height of the vertical edge of the screening panel being intended to be trapped in the rebate.

A second type of fence which corresponds to a second type of arrangement of a rigid lattice fence panel, is designed so that the lattice panel is arranged against one edge of the post rebate, the ribbed face of the lattice panel developing towards the opposite edge of the rebate. In this configuration, the entire vertical edge of the screening panel of the invention cannot be inserted into the post rebate.

In an exemplary embodiment (in particular for the second type of fence), the screening panel comprises on a vertical edge of the plate or on two opposite vertical edges of the plate, at least one tab (or lug), preferably rigid, projecting from the vertical edge while being coplanar with the plate (making it possible to retain the plate in the rebate of a post of the fence), preferably at least two tabs from the same edge of the plate, one of which is arranged at the lower end of the plate. In this embodiment, the plate of the screening panel has a length from one vertical edge to the other (therefore without the tabs), such that this length corresponds in the position of its installation on the fence, at most to the separation distance of the opening plane of the opposite rebates of two adjacent fence posts. The tabs are intended to be housed in the rebates of the posts, in particular by translation of the panel in a plane parallel to the lattice, which is made possible once the panel is installed via the fixing wing thanks to the holes in the fixing wing which are oblong in shape.

Advantageously, the plate comprises at least one decoration, in particular the decoration constituting cutouts in the thickness of the plate. Thus, the plate can be completely solid, as it can comprise decorations directly resulting from the cutting of the plate. The plate can be painted. The plate is for example metallic, such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or is made of plastic or even composite material.

The invention also relates to a privacy screen or screening device for a rigid mesh fence comprising a plurality of aforementioned screening panels of the invention which are joined vertically and intended to cover one or more mesh fence panels. Either the screening panel covers a single mesh panel, or several screening panels are joined to each other to cover one or more mesh panels. The privacy screen or screening device with several joined screening panels may have a decoration extending over all of the screening panels and each of the panels comprises a mark for joining the panels together in a sequential order in order to draw the decoration.

The invention relates to a rigid mesh fence comprising at least one rigid mesh panel consisting of an interweaving of vertical and horizontal wires (and generally of relief shapes such as a V on one of the faces of the mesh panel while the other face of the mesh panel is flat), and at least one aforementioned privacy or screening panel or device of the invention, the plate of a panel being installed against the mesh panel (in particular against the flat face of the mesh panel opposite the face provided with the relief shapes) and being locked in position by at least one attachment piece passing behind at least one vertical wire of the mesh and by the locking element associated with the attachment piece, preferably the plate also being retained by at least one fixing wing provided with holes cooperating with the upper ends of the vertical wires.

• introduction depuis la face avant de la plaque, de la seconde partie de la pièce d'attache dans le premier alésage de la plaque jusqu'à venir en regard du second alésage de la plaque (en face arrière de la plaque), ladite seconde partie de la pièce d'attache passant derrière au moins un fil vertical du treillis rigide ;
• maintien (en particulier par simple pression de la main de l'opérateur) de la première partie de la pièce d'attache contre la face avant de la plaque tandis que l'élément de verrouillage est amené en face avant de la plaque en vis-à-vis du second alésage et est fixé (en particulier en traversant ledit second alésage) à la seconde partie de la pièce d'attache, de préférence l'élément de verrouillage étant une vis vissée dans une zone de fixation taraudée de la seconde partie de la pièce d'attache.

Finally, the invention relates to a method of installing and fixing a aforementioned screening panel of the invention against a rigid mesh fence comprising spaced vertical wires, the method comprising the installation of the screening panel pressed against the rigid mesh (not necessarily by the fixing wing if the panel does not have one) and the locking the fixing of said concealment panel via the fixing and locking means, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

• introduction from the front face of the plate, of the second part of the attachment piece into the first bore of the plate until it comes opposite the second bore of the plate (on the rear face of the plate), said second part of the attachment piece passing behind at least one vertical wire of the rigid mesh;
• holding (in particular by simple pressure of the operator's hand) the first part of the attachment piece against the front face of the plate while the locking element is brought to the front face of the plate opposite the second bore and is fixed (in particular by passing through said second bore) to the second part of the attachment piece, preferably the locking element being a screw screwed into a tapped fixing zone of the second part of the attachment piece.

• Figure 1 représente une vue en perspective en face avant d'un dispositif de brise-vue ou d'occultation fixé et verrouillé selon l'invention sur une clôture en treillis rigide, le dispositif comprenant ici plusieurs panneaux d'occultation et selon un exemple de réalisation quant à leur coopération avec les poteaux de la clôture.
• Figure 2 représente une vue en perspective d'un autre exemple de panneau d'occultation d'un dispositif brise-vue ou d'occultation selon l'invention.
• Figure 3 est une vue en perspective montrant les panneaux d'occultation d'extrémité du dispositif de la figure 1.
• Figure 4 est une vue agrandie d'un panneau d'occultation de la figure 1 ou 2, en face avant et montrant les moyens de fixation et de verrouillage une fois mis en place.
• Figure 5 correspond à l'arrière de la figure 4, côté treillis rigide.
• Figure 6 correspond à la vue figure 4 avant verrouillage et au début de l'opération d'installation des moyens de fixation et de verrouillage.
• Figure 7 représente une vue agrandie sur les moyens de fixation et de verrouillage dans une étape qui suit l'étape de la figure 6, plus particulièrement lors de l'introduction d'une partie de la pièce d'attache dans le premier alésage de coopération de la plaque du panneau.
• Figure 8 illustre une vue en perspective du panneau d'occultation en visualisant par des pointillés l'arrière du panneau, cette figure correspond à l'étape qui suit l'étape de la figure 7, l'une des parties de la pièce d'attache étant complètement introduite dans le premier alésage en étant disposée à l'arrière du panneau et en regard du second alésage de coopération.
• Figure 9 suit l'étape de la figure 8 et correspond à la dernière étape d'installation des moyens de de fixation et de verrouillage, en particulier lors de l'introduction de l'élément de verrouillage dans la pièce d'attache.
• Figure 10 montre une vue de face d'un exemple de pièce d'attache selon l'invention comprenant un élément décoratif.
• Figure 11 illustre une vue partielle d'un panneau d'occultation à décor usiné (découpé) dans la plaque, le panneau étant monté sur un treillis rigide en y étant fixé et verrouillé via des pièces d'attache du type de celle de la figure 10 avec un autre élément de décor.

The present invention is now described with the aid of examples which are solely illustrative and in no way limitative of the scope of the invention, and from the attached illustrations, in which:

• Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the front face of a privacy or screening device fixed and locked according to the invention on a rigid mesh fence, the device here comprising several screening panels and according to an exemplary embodiment as to their cooperation with the posts of the fence.
• Figure 2 represents a perspective view of another example of a screening panel of a privacy or screening device according to the invention.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the end occultation panels of the device of the figure 1 .
• Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a blackout panel of the figure 1 or 2 , front view and showing the fixing and locking means once in place.
• Figure 5 corresponds to the back of the figure 4 , rigid mesh side.
• Figure 6 matches the view figure 4 before locking and at the start of the installation operation of the fixing and locking means.
• Figure 7 represents an enlarged view of the fixing and locking means in a step following the step of the figure 6 , especially during the introduction of a portion of the fastener into the first cooperating bore of the panel plate.
• Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of the occultation panel by visualizing the back of the panel using dotted lines, this figure corresponds to the step which follows the step of the figure 7 , one of the parts of the attachment piece being completely introduced into the first bore while being arranged at the rear of the panel and opposite the second cooperating bore.
• Figure 9 follows the step of the figure 8 and corresponds to the last step of installation of the fixing and locking means, in particular when introducing the locking element into the attachment part.
• Figure 10 shows a front view of an example of a fastening part according to the invention comprising a decorative element.
• Figure 11 illustrates a partial view of a concealment panel with machined (cut) decoration in the plate, the panel being mounted on a rigid trellis and being fixed and locked there via fasteners of the type of that of the figure 10 with another decorative element.

The device of the invention, for screening or concealing a rigid mesh fence, hereinafter referred to as a concealing device and illustrated in the figure 1 , is intended to be mounted on the rigid trellis 2 of a fence 3 while being preferably retained by attachment at least at the level of the upper part of the trellis 2 while being able to remain falling by gravity against the trellis 2. The fence 3 comprises posts 30 and 31 with a groove 4, only two posts being shown here, and mesh panels, of which only one mesh panel 20 is visible here and is fixed between the two posts 30 and 31 while being engaged laterally in the grooves 4 of the posts.

According to the invention, the concealment device 1 is fixed in a locked manner thanks to the presence of fixing and locking means 5 which are described later. Thus, the concealment device cannot be simply removed by simply unhooking the trellis. In addition, the fixing and locking means 5 allow implementation of only one side of the device, namely the front face where the operator is located when he has hung the concealment panel(s), the operator does not need to access the outside or rear side of the fence at all.

In view of the figure 5 showing the rear face of the device on the fence 3, the mesh panel 20 is made up of the rigid mesh 2 which comprises in a known manner an interweaving of vertical 21 and horizontal 22 rigid wires forming an openwork mesh, the vertical wires 22 having from one of the faces of the mesh panel, relief shapes 23 according to a V-fold which are generally arranged in the upper part and, in the lower part and/or in the middle part, in order to participate in the rigidity of the mesh panel. The face comprising the relief shapes 23 is called the ribbed face. This face is generally turned towards the outside of the fence (rear face of the fence).

The concealment device 1 is intended to be mounted to cover one of the faces of the mesh panel 20, the flat front face opposite the ribbed one. The concealment device 1 preferably covers the entire surface of the mesh panel 20 between the two posts 30 and 31, but could only partially cover the mesh panel 20 (by adapting its length and height).

The occultation device 1 comprises at least one privacy screen or occultation panel of the invention 1-1 ( figure 1 ) or 1' ( figure 2 ), hereinafter referred to as a screening panel to correspond to the length or part of the length of a fence mesh panel 20. The screening device 1 may therefore comprise a single screening panel whose length corresponds to that of a fence mesh panel 20 or may comprise (as visible in the figure 1 ) several screening panels 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 and 1-5, depending on the length to be covered by a mesh panel and/or the length of the screening panel at the end of manufacture and/or the installation method of the screening device 1 depending on the type of fence.

The concealment device 1 has a weight allowing it to be held by simple gravity when it is attached to the upper part of the trellis via its fixing wing 11 provided with orifices 12 (as more visible in the example of the figure 2 ).

The plate 10 is rigid. It is for example metallic. The plate 10 is made of a material that is not bendable when it is installed on the fence. It has a thickness, for example of the order of 1.5 to 3 mm.

The fixing wing 11 is arranged in the upper part of the plate 10, preferably at the edge of the upper distal end of the plate 10. The fixing wing 11 projects from one of the faces of the plate, extending at least perpendicularly and along the entire length of the plate. Alternatively, the fixing wing 11 could not extend over the entire length and be discontinuous, but the rigidity of the concealment panel would be lost and it would be less aesthetic. Preferably, the fixing wing 11 has at its longitudinal edge opposite the plate 10, an orthogonal return 13, parallel and facing the plate 10. This return 13 contributes to the rigidity of the concealment panel. In addition, the return 13 can provide a wedging of the screening panel on the fence mesh 2, in particular by coming into abutment against the upper ribbed shape or line 23 which is, depending on the type of mesh, in the immediate vicinity of the upper end of the wire mesh panel 20. The fixing wing 11 and its return 13 are produced during the manufacture of the screening panel, by folding the plate 10 from a metal sheet, or by molding when the material of the screening panel is based on plastic.

The holes 12 of the fixing wing are through holes which are arranged in the horizontal surface of the wing, a surface which is perpendicular to the plate 10. Each of the holes 12 has a section capable of receiving each of the vertical wires 21 of the mesh. The section of the holes is also adapted to provide with the vertical wires 21 a minimal clearance in a direction perpendicular to the plate 10 (therefore to the general plane of the mesh panel) so that the concealment device 1 can remain pressed against the mesh panel. The holes 12 constitute means for retaining the concealment device 1 in the installed position on the fence 3. The holes 12 have a closed perimeter so that in combination with their arrangement in a plane orthogonal to the plate 10, they make it possible to retain the plate 10 in the falling position against the mesh panel 20.

Preferably, the orifices 12 are oblong in shape, their length being parallel to the length of the plate, which facilitates the positioning of the concealment panel around the vertical wires 21.

The holes 12 can have different lengths, which makes it possible to cover all current rigid mesh fences regardless of the pitch of the vertical wires 21.

The concealment device 1 is designed so that in the installed position on the fence 3, in particular on the mesh panel 20, the entirety (exemplary embodiment of the concealment panel of the figure 2 ) or part of its vertical edges (example of the construction of the occultation panel of the figure 1 ) is suitable for being trapped in the groove 4 of the two opposing fence posts 30 and 31.

There figure 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a screening panel 1' whose plate 10 has a length adapted so that its two vertical edges 14 and 15 cooperate in the installation position of the screening panel with the inside of the rebate 4 of the two respective posts 30 and 31, the entire height of the vertical edges 14 and 15 of the screening panel being trapped in each rebate 4. The screening device 1 is thus retained in a complementary manner by the posts 30 and 31 of the fence 3. This type of screening panel is perfectly suited to fences (so-called first type) whose mesh panel 20 is fixed inside the rebate 4 of the posts, leaving a free space over the entire height of the posts, between the lateral edge of the rebate of the posts (plane perpendicular to the opening of the rebate) and the flat face of the mesh panel 20 (the one opposite the face ribbed), which allows the 1' privacy panel to slide vertically into this free space in the rebate.

Furthermore, in this example of realization of the figure 2 , plate 10 is completely solid. It could include painted decorations or decorations D drawn by cutting out the plate, as visible in the example of the figure 1 .

There figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a screening device 1 whose end screening panels 1-1 and 1-5 ( figure 3 ) have on their vertical edge intended to cooperate with the grooves 4 of the posts 30 and 31, preferably rigid tabs 6, here three spaced tabs on the two vertical edges 14' and 15' of the plate 10. The installation of the last concealment panel 1-5 is done by positioning the orifices 12 of the fixing wing around the upper ends of the vertical wires 21 and by pressing the plate 10 against the trellises 2 while slightly translating the plate towards the opposite post to be able to insert the tabs 6 of the vertical edge 14' into the groove 4 of the associated post. In this case, the orifices 12 are able to be sufficiently large in the direction parallel to the plate 10, and are preferably oblong, to allow this latitude of translation of the last plate 10. The junction edges 14" and 15" of the concealment panels with the other intermediate concealment panels are straight without tabs. Alternatively, forms of mutual cooperation could be envisaged on the junction edges 14" and 15", but this would complicate the manufacture.

The privacy screen or screening device with several abutting screening panels ( figure1 ), may have a decoration extending over all of the blackout panels and each of the occultation panels 1-1 to 1-5 comprises a mark 18 for joining the panels in a sequential order in order to draw the decoration. As a non-limiting example, the end of the first occultation panel 1-1 in the upper part comprises a mark in the form of a line 18A, the second occultation panel 1-2 comprises on the left side a line 18A and on the right side a mark in the form of a double line 18B, the third occultation panel 1-3 comprises on the side the double line 18A and on the right side a new mark 18C, and the fourth occultation panel 1-4 comprises on the left side the same mark 18C as the previous panel 1-3 and on the right side a new different mark 18D, and the last occultation panel 1-5 comprises on the left the mark 18D of the previous panel.

Whatever the design of the vertical edges of the plate 10 of the screening panel(s), the screening device 1 in place on the trellis 2 is intended to be fixed and locked to the trellis from a single face of the panel, the front face 16, while the trellis is nevertheless on the rear face 17. For this purpose, the screening device 1 comprises the fixing and locking means 5 which cooperate with the screening panels and the trellis 2. These fixing and locking means 5 which cooperate at the rear ( figure 5 ) with the trellis 2 are fixed from the front because it is not necessary to access the rear of the privacy panel to fix said panel to the trellis.

The fixing and locking means 5 (better visible on the Figures 4 to 10 ) comprise at least one fastening piece 50 and at least one associated locking element 51. For mounting the fastening and locking means 5 on the panel and around the lattice, the plate 10 of a screening panel comprises at least one pair of a first cooperating bore 70 and a second cooperating bore 71 which are spaced apart and with which the fastening and locking means 5 cooperate. The fastening piece 50 is for front fastening and is nevertheless intended to cooperate with a vertical wire 21 of the lattice 2 located on the rear side of the panel ( figure 5 ). Each front-fixing fastener 50 is capable of trapping at least one vertical wire 21 at the rear of the plate. The fastener 50 is arranged in a localized manner on the surface of the plate 10 of the panel. The number of fasteners 50 is adapted to the dimensions of the panel. Each fastener 50 is designed to allow its cooperation and locking from the front face 16 of the panel without the user (the user himself or his arm) having to pass to the rear of the panel and therefore of the trellis.

As shown in the figure 7 , the attachment part 50 comprises a first part 50A and a second part 50B. The attachment part 50 is preferably metallic; its two parts are in particular the result of a folding of the part. The second portion 50B is capable of engaging through the first engagement bore 70 to pass to the rear of the concealment panel 1-1 and is intended to be positioned opposite the second engagement orifice 71 to be fixed to the plate 10 by the locking element 51 intended to pass through said second engagement orifice 7. The first portion 50A is intended to be pressed against the front face 16 of the concealment panel 1 adjacent to the first engagement orifice 70 and opposite the second bore 71. This first portion 50A of the attachment piece 50 is designed to act as a lever on the attachment piece 50 so that the second portion 50B can be brought closer from the rear against the second engagement orifice 71. By always keeping the first portion 50A pressed against the plate 10 while the second portion 50B is opposite the second bore 71, it is possible to insert the locking element 51 into said second part 50B. The first part 50A has a suitable surface so as to sufficiently bear against the front face 16 of the panel while the user, when inserting the locking element 51 into the second part 50B positioned at the rear of the concealment panel, exerts a pushing force against said second part 50A; in this way, said second part 50B remains in a stable position against the rear face when inserting the locking element 51.

More particularly, the two cooperating bores 70 and 71 are aligned horizontally and spaced apart by a distance which is such that in the mounted position of a screening panel, said two cooperating bores 70 and 71 are arranged on either side of at least one vertical wire 21 of the trellis 2. The first cooperating bore 70 has a section suitable for the passage of the attachment piece 50. For example, the first cooperating bore 70 has a square section and a section greater than the height of the attachment piece 50. The second cooperating bore 71 has a section suitable for the passage of the locking element 51. For example, the second cooperating bore 71 has a circular section for the passage of a screw. Preferably, the second cooperating bore 71 is of oval section (the major axis of the oval being horizontal) for the passage of a screw and to allow a clearance for placing the attachment part 50 in relation to the spacing of the vertical wires 21 of the trellis 2. This oval geometry facilitates systematic placing of the part in relation to the vertical wires 21 of the trellis 2. attachment 50 (of the attachment part fixing area) opposite the second cooperating bore 71.

In particular, the front-fixing attachment piece 50 (still visible in detail on the figure 7 ) has a body that is elongated and is doubly bent in its substantially central portion. The attachment piece 50 has a substantially S-shaped general shape. The attachment piece 50 comprises (as the respective first and second portions described above) a first arm 50A and a second arm 50B that are spaced apart and parallel to each other while extending in an opposite direction and being connected by a portion 52. The connecting portion 52 extends substantially perpendicular to the arms. The connecting portion 52 comprises a first bend 52A connecting the first arm 50A and a second bend 52B connecting the second arm 50B. At least the first arm 50A is flat. In the mounted position of the attachment part 50, the first arm 50A is intended to be pressed against the front face 16 of the plate 10. In the mounted position of the attachment part 50, the second arm 50B is intended to be arranged parallel to the rear face 17 of the plate 10 while being offset by a thickness corresponding to the width of the connecting portion 52 (the width being the dimension perpendicular to the length of the part). The connecting portion 52 has a width slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet metal of the plate 10 and the section of a vertical wire 21 of the trellis 2. Indeed, the connecting portion 52 has a dimension (width) which must allow the second arm 50B to be automatically positioned at the rear of at least one wire 21 of the trellis 2. The clearance between the second arm 50B and the wire 21 of the trellis is minimal so that the attachment piece 50 traps the wire 21 as closely as possible. The second arm 50B comprises, opposite the connecting portion 52, preferably at its free end, a fixing zone 53 which is intended to accommodate the locking element 51 to block the attachment piece 50 in position once in place.

The fixing area 53 is in the example shown a threaded housing projecting (perpendicularly) from the second arm 50B in a direction opposite to the connecting portion 52. The threaded housing is for example an insert which is welded or crimped. The threaded housing is intended to accommodate a screw as a locking element 51. The screw 51 constitutes a removable locking element if the user wants to disassemble the panel. Alternatively, the fixing area 53 could be a simple hole, while the locking element 51 would be a rivet.

The dimensions of the attachment part 50 are, for example (non-limiting), the following (to adapt to all types of rigid mesh currently on the market): the length of the attachment part 50 from one end to the other of the first part 50A to the second part 50B (40 mm) is 90 mm; the height of the first and second parts 50A and 50B is 15 mm; the width (transverse dimension to the length of the part) of the connecting part 52 is 10 mm.

The implementation of the fixing and locking means 5 from the front of a concealment panel is now described.

The assembly process is repeated for each privacy panel.

The occultation panel 1-1 is put in place by being pressed against the rigid mesh. Then the operator takes hold of a fastener 50 and positions it in front of the first cooperation bore 70 from the front face 16 of the plate ( figure 6 ). He then introduces the attachment part 50 into the first cooperation bore 70 by passing the second part 50B there ( figure 7 ). It continues the introduction by pivoting the attachment part using the doubly bent connecting part 52 until said second part 50B, in particular the fixing zone 53, is opposite the second cooperation bore 71 of the plate ( figure 8 ); said second part 50B of the attachment piece automatically (necessarily) passes behind at least one vertical wire 21 of the rigid mesh 2. Then, the operator keeps the first part 50A of the attachment piece 50 pressed against the front face 16 of the plate with one hand, while with the other hand he brings the locking element (screw) 51 to the front face of the plate opposite the second cooperation bore 71 ( figure 9 ). He then introduces the screw 51 by crossing said second bore 71 in the second part 50B of the attachment piece. The operator can begin to screw the screw without difficulty in the fixing zone 53, here the tapped housing, although there is no support behind the fixing zone because the first part 50A, being sufficiently elongated and pressed against the plate 10, allows the forces to be taken up. Once the screw is engaged with the tapped housing 53, the operator can continue screwing with both hands without having to hold the attachment piece 50. After tightening, the panel is fixed and locked in place, the attachment piece trapping at least one vertical wire 21 of the mesh.

Finally, in view of the Figures 10 and 11 , the attachment part 50 may comprise, integrally with the first part 50A, a decorative element 54. The decorative element 54 may have any shape extending from the elongated base of the first part 50A.

Claims (14)

Privacy or screening panel (1'; 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5) of rigid mesh fence, comprising: - a plate (10) having a so-called front face (16) and an opposite so-called rear face (17), - fixing and locking means (5) for the panel, said fixing and locking means (5) comprising at least one attachment part (50) capable of cooperating with at least one pair of a first bore (70) and a second bore (71), the bores being formed in the thickness of the plate, characterized in that the attachment part (50) is a rigid part which comprises a first part (50A) positioned on the front face (16) of the plate in the position of use of the attachment part on the plate, and a second part (50B) capable of passing through the first bore (70) to be arranged on the side of the rear face (17) of the plate and opposite the second bore (71), and in that the fixing and locking means (5) further comprise at least one locking element (51) which is capable of cooperating with the second bore (71) and the second part (50B) of the attachment part (50). Panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the second part (50B) comprises a fixing zone (53) capable of being located opposite said second bore (71) so that the locking element (51) cooperates with the fixing zone (53) to fix the attachment part. Panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the attachment part (50) is of elongated shape and comprises as first part (50A) and second part (50B), respectively two spaced apart, parallel and oppositely extending arms, and being connected by a substantially perpendicular connecting part (52), preferably the connecting part (52) having a width which is greater than the thickness of the plate and the thickness of a wire of the mesh for which the panel is intended. Panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (51) is removable, preferably the locking element (51) is a screw while the second part (50B) of the attachment piece (50) comprises a fixing zone (53) which consists of a threaded housing projecting towards the opposite side of the plate in the mounted position of the attachment part (50). Panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking element (51) is a rivet while the second part (50B) of the attachment piece (50) comprises a fixing zone (53) which comprises a hole. Panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second bore (71) is oblong. Panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening part (50) is metallic, preferably galvanized. Panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment piece (50) comprises a decorative element (54) which is integral with the first part (50A). Panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a so-called fixing wing (11) which extends from or near the so-called upper edge of the plate, in particular perpendicular to the general plane of the plate, and which is provided with spaced holes (12). Panel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises on a vertical edge (14') of the plate or on two opposite vertical edges (14', 15') of the plate, at least one tab (7), preferably rigid, projecting from the vertical edge while being coplanar with the plate. A screening or screening device (1) for a rigid mesh fence comprising a plurality of screening panels (1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5) according to any one of the preceding claims which are joined vertically and intended to cover one or more mesh fence panels (20). Privacy screen or screening device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has a decoration extending over all of the panels (1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5) and in that each of the screening panels has a mark (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D) for joining the panels together in sequential order in order to draw the decoration. Rigid mesh fence comprising at least one mesh panel (20) made of rigid mesh (2) consisting of an intersection of vertical (21) and horizontal (22) wires, and at least one panel (1'; 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5) or a privacy or screening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the plate (10) of a panel being installed against the mesh panel (20) and being locked in position by at least one fastener (50) passing behind at least one vertical wire (21) of the mesh and by the locking element (51) associated with the fastener, preferably the plate also being retained by at least one fixing wing (11) provided with holes cooperating with the upper ends of the vertical wires (21). Method for installing and fixing a screening panel (1'; 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 against a rigid mesh fence (2) comprising spaced vertical wires (21), the method comprising the installation of the screening panel (1'; 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5) pressed against the rigid mesh (2) and the locking of the fixing of said screening panel via the fixing and locking means (5), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: - introduction from the front face (16) of the plate, of the second part (50B) of the attachment piece (50) into the first bore (70) of the plate until it comes opposite the second bore (71) of the plate, said second part (50B) of the attachment piece passing behind at least one vertical wire (21) of the rigid mesh (2); - holding the first part (50A) of the attachment piece (50) against the front face (16) of the plate while the locking element (51) is brought to the front face of the plate opposite the second bore (71) and is fixed to the second part (50B) of the attachment piece, preferably the locking element (51) being a screw screwed into a tapped fixing zone (53) of the second part (50B) of the attachment piece.

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