GB2344117A - Fence connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A fence connector comprising at least two joinable parts (12) for connecting two fence sections (26), the fence connector being attached to corresponding elements of both fence sections such that these elements do not overlap one another, at least one such attachment pivoted so as to allow the fence connector to rotate, thus allowing one of the fence sections to rotate relative to the other. Alternatively the connector may attach said fence sections to a post (29).

Description

Fence connector The present invention relates to a fence connector, in particular, but not exclusively, for the connection of prefabricated sections of fence.

When it is necessary to enclose a site with fencing, it is often found that the boundaries encompassing the area do not consist exclusively of straight sides and right angles, but include other angles and curved edges.

To follow these curved edges, the fence installers will approximate the curve using straight prefabricated fence sections joined at different angles according to the curve.

A conventional fence section comprises horizontal and vertical members arrange in some sort of grid. Whether the fence sections end in a vertical end member or the horizontal members extend beyond this, the fence section is likely to end in a square end. Such fence sections may easily abut against each other in a line, or so as to make 90 angles which each other. Square or rectangular fence posts may be interposed between each fence section, or only between the fence sections meeting to make a corner. All such abutments will involve two flat, parallel surfaces coming squarely together. These abutments may then be joined together by some conventional method such as being bolted together.

When one attempts to join two such fence sections together so as to make an angle other than 90 , the ends will only meet at a line, that is, the corner of end portion will touch the edge of the other end portion, or both corners will touch, when viewed from above. Attempting to join this junction will produce a weak join. Either one or both ends must be mitred so as to produce a join along the end surfaces, or an angled section must be interposed between the end surfaces.

The object of the present invention is to allow fence sections to be connected together at any desired angle in an efficient and attractive manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a fence connector for connecting two fence sections, the fence connector being attached to corresponding elements of both fence sections such that these elements do not overlap one another, at least one such attachment pivoted so as to allow the fence connector to rotate, thus allowing one of the fence sections to rotate relative to the other.

Preferably, the fence connector has an attachment capable of pivoting upon both fence sections. Preferably also, the fence connector comprises at least two joinable parts to accommodate the inclusion of a fence post between the fence sections.

By connecting the fence sections by an attachment which pivots, and holding the corresponding elements so that they do not overlap, the fence sections are allowed to pivot about each other prior to being secured in position. When in to two parts, the fence connector may be secured to a fence post, which serves to disguise the appearance of the fence connector.

A fence connector embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of which; Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the fence connector in operation.

Referring to Figure 1, the joining elements 10,11 are arrange in pairs, one disposed upon each horizontal member of both the fence sections to be joined. Each joining element consists in plan of a circular portion 12, with a rectangular portion 13 extending out from the circle's circumference, the solid figure being a short prism of this plan, though with the circle's sides converging downwards somewhat. A threaded hole 15 passes through the centre of the circular portion 12.

The thickness of the joining element is similar to the length of the short side of the rectangular portion, so that the rectangular portion presents a face which is approximately square when viewed from the side. This face has a threaded hole 16 in the square's centre, the hole being drilled perpendicular to the face's surface.

The horizontal members 20,21 of the fence sections are of the rectangular channel type, that is, it has two parallel upright sides 26 joined by a horizontal bottom surface 27 to form a channel. The fence post 24 is an I-beam, that is, it has two parallel outer members 28 joined by a perpendicular cross member 29, whose section thus resembles the letter I.

In order to fix two portions of fence section together, the first joining element 10 is placed in the channel of a horizontal member 20 of the first fence section. The upright sides 26 of the horizontal members 20,21 are not precisely straight upon their inner surface, but thicken as they join to the bottom surface 27. The joining element is placed so that the sloping sides of the circular portion 12 converge downwards so as to be accommodated in this thickening.

The joining element 10 is secured to the horizontal member 20 by a nut 31 and bolt 32 passing through the threaded hole 15 in the circular portion 12 and a hole (not visible in the first horizontal member 20, but similar to the hole 36 in the second horizontal member 21) directly beneath this in the bottom surface 27 in the horizontal member 20. The hole in the horizontal member is located so that when the joining element 10 is secured, a chord of the circular portion 12, and the whole of the rectangular 13 portion, extend beyond the end of the horizontal member 20. At this stage, the nut 31 and bolt 32 securing the joining element 10 are left sufficiently loose that the joining element is free to rotate about the bolt.

This procedure is followed in all the horizontal members of the first fence section which are to be joined. The fence section is erected in its final position in the conventional manner. A fence post 24 is also erected at the end of the fence section, so that the square ends of the rectangular portions 13 of the joining elements squarely abut against the cross member 29 of the fence post. In order to do this, it will be necessary to align the joining elements. When this has been done, they may be firmly secured.

The second joining element 11 is now attached to the first joining element 10, by means of a threaded member 17 which engages with the rectangular portions'threaded holes 16 of both joining elements. The second joining element l I is screwed upon the threaded member until tight, and then unscrewed until its circular faces are horizontal with its sloping sides converging downwards. This procedure of connecting a second joining element is repeated for all the first fence section's joining elements.

The second fence section is erected by the fence post in its final position, so that the second joining element 11 rests in the rectangular section 27 of the horizontal member 21, in a similar fashion to the joining element in the first fence section's horizontal member. Also in the same fashion, a hole 36 in the bottom surface 27 of the horizontal member 21 allows the second joining element 12 to be secured to the horizontal member 21 by a nut 34 and bolt 33. All the second joining elements are positioned and secured to the horizontal members of the second fence section in this way.

The joining element may be secured to the horizontal member in a number of positions. In fact, it is capable, before being firmly secured by the nut and bolt, and constrained by the other elements of the fence system, of rotating such that its rectangular member may describe a horizontal arc of about 160 , that is 80 to the left and right of the horizontal member's axis before being limited by the upright sides of the horizontal member. The actual freedom of movement is determined by the position of the horizontal member's hole securing the joining element, and the width of the rectangular portion of the joining element, but may not be more than 180 whilst the horizontal member's hole is behind the edges of the upright sides.

To increase the freedom of movement beyond this, it is necessary to cut away a portion of the upright sides 26, or extend the bottom surface 27.

Considering only the freedom of two such joining elements, one fence section may be hinged upon another describing an arc of 340 , utilising each joining elements full 160 capability, the fence sections being disallowed to form acute angles of less than 20 . The actual freedom of two fence section will also depend upon the dimensions of the horizontal members and the fence post.

Two fence sections then function in the manner of a two hinged system, with three rigid members. It will be seen that apart from the most extreme angle, a particular angle between the two fence sections may be achieved by many different orientations of the paired joining elements.

The joining elements'orientation will however effect the orientation of the fence post, whose cross member will always be perpendicular to the square faces of the joining elements'rectangular portions, and thus its outer members will always be parallel. From an aesthetic consideration, it is probably desirable to so orientate the joining elements that the cross member of the fence post falls along the bisector of the angle formed by the two fence sections, although other orientations may be preferred.

The outer members 28 of the fence post conceal the rectangular portions of the joining elements, so that at most only part of the circular portions will be visible. This is more aesthetically satisfying than sharp angles and recesses that would otherwise be visible. I-beam having wider outer members could be chosen to further hide the joining elements, although the increased width will also restrict the angle that the horizontal members may make. The circular portion helps to soften the hard edges of the upright sides of the horizontal member. The region where the circular portion joins the rectangular portion may be smoothed to further improve the joining element's appearance. Additional strips of material may be attached to the fence post of the fence sections to hide the joining elements completely when viewed from a side elevation. Material may also be attached to the horizontal members so as to cover the upper surface of the joining elements.

By joining both ends of all the fence sections in this way, each fence section junction may have a large choice of angles, and an irregular boundary may be quite closely followed.

Such joining elements of course be used to join sections of fence having different characteristics from that described here. The horizontal members (or fence members having at least a surface which is not vertical) could be of various form and cross section. The fence post is not essential to the joining of the fence sections and could be left out of the arrangement.

The fence sections do not have to be joined at their ends, but at any point.

For instance, to subdivide an area already encompassed by a fence, it will be necessary to join a fence section to a pre-existing line of fence. This could be done by joining the new fence section's end to the middle portion of one of the established portions of fence section, its horizontal member being so formed as to accept a joining element in this region.

There is also considerable scope for variation of the joining elements. It is only necessary for one of the joining elements to be capable of being set at a particular angle, although the ability for both to be so settable gives greater flexibility. Many shapes are capable of being used, provided that they can be accommodated by the horizontal members, and can support joining means for connection to the horizontal member and to one another. The rectangular portion could be tapered into the circular portion to present a smoother appearance.

The means of attaching the joining elements to the horizontal members could include means such as rivets and the like, as well as nuts and bolts, and rather than using a threaded member to attach the joining elements together, one of the joining elements could included a threaded male member extending from the rectangular portion to screw directly to the other joining element. The means of attaching the joining elements to the horizontal members do not have to firmly secured so as to disallow pivoting in order to fix the arrangement of the fencing, as once the fence posts have been embedded the system is in any case constrained against pivoting. The means of attaching any of the members should however be secure from unauthorised people loosening the joining elements, by using security bolts for example.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS l. A fence connector for connecting two fence sections, the fence connector being attached to corresponding elements of both fence sections such that these elements do not overlap one another, at least one such attachment pivoted so as to allow the fence connector to rotate, thus allowing one of the fence sections to rotate relative to the other.
2. 2. A fence connector according to Claim 1 wherein the fence connector has an attachment capable of pivoting upon both fence sections.
3. 3. A fence connector according to either previous claim wherein the fence connector comprises at least two joinable parts to accommodate the inclusion of a fence post between the fence sections.
4. 4. A fence connector according to Claim 3 wherein the two joinable parts each include a threaded hole, the two joinable parts being secured together by a threaded member which screws into both threaded holes.
5. 5. A fence connector according to Claim 3 wherein one joinable part includes a threaded hole, whilst the other joinable part includes a corresponding threaded male member, the two joinable parts being secured together by the threaded member which engages with the threaded hole.
6. 6. A fence connector substantially as herein described and illustrated.
7. 7. Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).