GB2509195A - An extruded fence post with support plates and retaining plates - Google Patents

Abstract

An extruded fence post, for supporting a fence panel between a pair of such posts, the post comprises a tubular fence support 1 from which extends a pair of panel support plates 3a 3b the tubular support having a face portion 2c remote from the support plates. The face portion receives a fence panel retaining plate 8a 8b securable thereto for capturing a fence panel 10a 10b between the support plate and the retaining plate. A plurality of posts can be used to support a plurality of panels to form a fence. The elongate tube may be hollow and rectilinear in cross section. The post may have two outwardly extending channels that are either opposite to each other or perpendicular to each other (a corner post). Preferably aluminium or aluminium alloy is used. Preferably there is a slidable reinforcing strut located within and slidable out of the tube thus extending the post and for attachment to a trellis. A method of construction is also defined.

Description

ihis invention relates to fence posts for supporbng fence panels therehetween Wooden fence panels are conventionally attached between wooden posts, but suffer the obvious disadvantage that wood shrinks naturally and can lead to the panels becoming loose from the posts causng the panel and its fixings to get overstressed and fail when a high wind load is applied. This shrinkage also causes gaps to form between the panel and post which leads to a loss of pdvacv. An alternative to this use. of a wooden post is to use reinforced concrete posts: having generally shallow Ushaped channels on opposing sides into each of which a respective edge. of a fence panel can be inserted. The use el a reinforced concrete post has the' obvIous advantage in terms of norft shrinkage hut their mode of manufacture means that the channels for a pair of posts are not always the same width and they have tapered side walls to facilitate demoldinq in manufacture, This means that the panels rattle in the wind and can lead to fence panels poppiri.g out with respect to their channels during high wind conditions.A further disadvantage rs that concrete posts do not look aesthetically pleasing to the eye, being large and of an industrial nature.

[hey also considerably exceed the recommended weight that a person can lift and carry.

A third alternative post tar use in supporUng fence panels is through the use of ftsection rolled steel posts which are ery strong and have the preferred advantage in that the opposing walls forming the channels are almost parallel and therefore are not prone to the problem of fence panels popp{ng' out under a high wind load. Nevertheless such rolled steel posts are also very heavy and, particulaijy where they are to be used to support relatively high fence panels, whether the panels are constructed onsite oroffslte, this often requires the use of lifting equipment' due largely to the weight of such posts and the. consequent S need to ensure that when they are embedded in concrete they remain in the vertical position through the use of props until the concrete has set. Further the front flanges of the posts impede the insertion of prefabricated panels into the channels at ground level, therefore prefabrIcated panels, which themselves are heavy, must be lifted above the top of the posts so as to insert th8 panel in the channels of the posts. The only way to avoid this is to progressively put posts and panels in ore at a time. This is a very slow process and requires supporting the assembly with props whilst waiting for the wet concrete Itundations around the posts to set.

The present invention is derIved from the realisation that none of the fence posts referred to above provide a problem-free solution and hence there is a need for an afternative solution which resolves or ameliorates these problems for what should be the essentially simple task of supporting fence panels.

Actording to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an extruded fence post, comprising an elongate tube from which laterafly extend' a pair of fence panel support plates for supporting' respective side portions of separate fence panels when in situ, the tube having a face portion remote from the pair of panel support plates, the face portion receiving, in use, at least one fence panel retaining plate securabie thereto for capturing the panels between, the support plates and the at least one retaining plate such that a plurality of posts can be a used to sfldeably support a plurallty of panels to form a fence.

Preferably, the elongate tube comprIses a continuous hollow inner tube defined by contIguous walls of the extrusion.

In a preferred embodiment, the contiguous walls of the tube are rectihnear S in section.

Beneficially, the paw of support plates extend either side of at least one wall of the elongate fence support tube.

Preferably. in use, the. pair of support plates and the at east one fence panel retaining plate are co-one table to format least two outwardly extending channels for receivinq side portions of separate fence panels.

Beneficially, the outwardly extending channels are oppositely asposed to each other Alternatively, the outwardly extending channels are perpendicular to eachother.

Preferably, the elongate tube and pair of fence pane! support pates are made from aluminium or aluminium alloy.

Preferably, a post protector is fixably arranged onto the top end of the elongate tube, Desirably, the fence post further comprises a rigid strut at least part of which is moveably arranged within at least part of the interior of the elongate tube, the strut having a first end and a second end and being moveable between a first position where the first end of the strut is contained within the tube., or in line with a first end of the tube, and a. second position where the first end of the strut is positioned externally from the tube at a distance away from the first end of the tube so as to lengthen the fence post.

Beneficially, when in the first poaftion the second end at the strut. is positioned externally from the tube at a distance away from, a second end of the tube. This enables a single stiut to provide the support advantage when installing a fence on sloped terrain and then once the' feize has been erected.

the strut. can be moved along the tube to extend from. its other end so as to enable' trellis to be flxed above 0* fence panel.

Alternatively, when in the first position the second end of'the strut is also positioned within the interior of the tube.

Preferably, the strut is maveable along the longitudinal axis of the elongate tube.

I3enefldally,. the strut is slideable along at least pad of the interior of the tube.

In an alternative embodiment, there is included a first and second strut, wherein the first strut is positioned to extend from the first end of the fence post and the second strut Is positioned to extend from a second end of the fence post.

Preferably, wherein there Is included a grasping means attached to the first end of the strut for enabhng a user to pull the strut so as to actuate movement of the strut from the first position to the second position.

Additionally, there is included a post sleeve arranged around the part of the fence post to be received by the ground.

Beneficially, the post sleeve has a substantially hexagonal cross-sectian when arranged around the post.

Preferably, the sleeve is bendable from a fiat net having seven defined zones defined by fold lines, wherein in use, the zones form the sides of the sleeve.

Desirably, in use, two of the zones located at the remote ends of the sleeve are arranged to overlap and are attached together so as to fix the sleeve around the fence post.

In an alternative embothment of the invenuon there is provided a fence post arrangement comprising an extruded elongate tube from which laterally extend a pair of fence panel support plates for suppcrtinq respective side porfions of separate fence panels when in situ, the tube having a face portion remote from the pair of panel support plates, and at least one fence panel retaininq plate releasably securable to the tace portion so as to capture the panels between the support plates and the at least one retaining plate such that a plurality of posts can be used to slideably support a plurality of panels to form a fence. Ireferably, the at least one panel retaining piate is a facia board.

Desirably. the fence post arranoement further comprises a rigid strut at least part of which is moveably arranged within at least part of the interIor of the elongate tube, the strut having a first end and a second end and being moveable between a first position where the first end of the strut is contained within the tube or in line with a first end of the tube to a second position where the first end of the strut is positioned externally from the tube at a dtance away from the first end of the tube so as to lengthen the fence post.

Beneficially, when in the first position the second end of the strut is posdioned exteinay from the tube at a dsance away tram a second end ut the tube. This enables one strut to provide the support advantage and then once the fence has been erected, the strut can be moved along the tube to extend from its other end so as to affix trellis above the fence panel.

Alternatively; when iii the first position the second end of the strut Is also posItioned within the interior of the tube.

Preferably, the strut is moveable along the longitudinal axis of the Songate tube.

Beneficially, the strut i slideable along at least part of the interior of the tube.

In an alternative embodiment, there is included a first and second strut, wherein the first strut is positioned to extend from the firsi end of the fence post and the second strut is positioned to extend from a second end of the tnce post.

Preferably, wherein there is included a. grasping means attached to the filet end of the strut for enabling a user tcs pull the strut so as to actuate movement of the strut from the first position to the second position; In a fuithar embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of constructing a fence, the method comprising the steps of installing at least two extruded fence posts4 each comprising elongate tubes from which lateratly ectend a pair of fence panel support plates, the tubes having a face portion remote from the respective pair of fence panel support plates; placing a pre-formed fence panel against a support plate of each of the fence posts; securing at least one fence panel retaining plate to a face portion of the tube at one of the at least two fence posts so as to capture the fence panel between a support plate and the at least one fence panel retaining plate of one of the at least two fence posts so that the panel becomes slideably supported by said fence post Beneficially, the method further comprises securing a further support panel retaining plate to the face portion of the tube of the other of the at least two fence posts so as to capture the fence panel between a support plate and the at least one fence panel retaining plate of the other of the at least two fence posts so that the panel becomes slideably supported by said other fence post.

Whilst the invention has been disclosed above it extends to any inventive cOmbination of the features set out above, or In the following description.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of the *ince post arrangement, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fence support and a fence panel retaining plate of the invention, t5 Figure $ is a sectional view of the fence support and an alternative fence panel retaining plate of the invention, Figure 4 is a side view of a fence panel retaining plate and connecting means of the invention, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fence post arrangement of the friventioh with a separate facia element.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fence post arrangement with the fence panel retaining plate as the facia, Figure 7 is a crosssectlonal view of the fence post arrangement of the invention with a packing element, Figure 8 is a crass sectional view of the fence post arrangement of the invention with an alternative positioning of a packing arrangement, Figure 9a and 9b are perspective views of a first side of the extruded fence post of the invention from the front showing the retracted and extended states; Figure Wa and lOb are perspective views of a first side of the extruded 1: fence post of the invention from the back, showing respective retracted ana extended states; Figure 11 is a cross*sectjonaj view of the extn ed fence post of the invention and the telescopic attn portion; Figure 12 is a crosssectionaI view of the extruded tónce post of the Invention and the sleeve; Figures 1 3a to I 3e are a perspective view of a method of constructing a fence using the fence post arrangement of FIgure 1, 16 Figures 14a to 144 are a top view of a method of constvucfin9 a fence using the fence post arrangement of Figure 1, Figure 15 is a perspective view of a protector for a fence post arrangenint of Figure 1, and Figure 16 is a cmss-sectjonal view of thO fence post arrangement include a facla attached to the fence support.

In Figure 1 there is itluafr*d an extruded fence post I having an elongate tube 2 from which laterally extend a first and second support plate Sa, 3b (or a pair of panel support plates), so as to form a tT-box' section post. The elongate tube 2 is defined by four contiguous watts 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d which Collectively are rectflinear in section (e.g. rectangle), although it will be appreciated that the elongate tube 2 may instead have a single circular or efliptical wall or any other shape imparting a stiffness to the fence post The first and second support plates Sa, 3b are extensions of a first wall Za ofthe elongate S tube 2. The elongate tube has a face portion 4 correspondIng to at' least part of the wall 2c of the elongate tube 2 that is remote from the plane Of the first arid second support plate 3a, Sb and the first wall 2a. The fate portion 2d is parallel to the plane of the first and second supporj plates aa, b and includes an aperture 5.

The fence post 2 is used in combination with a fepce panel retaining plate 6 as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3.

In Figure 2 the fence panel retaining plate 6 has a top-hat shaped cros;-section which comprises a central portion, 7 from which laterally extend projecting portions Ba, Sb. The face' portion 4 receives the fence paneJ retaining plate 6 and a connection mean; 9 secures the fence panel retaining ptate 6 to the face portion 4. The connection means 9 is, for example, a threaded boft that cooperates with a thread located in the wafis of the aperture 5. AlternatIvely, the connection means 9 is a self drilling screw whith fomis its own thread as it peneWates the face. portion 4 of the elongate tube 2. This removes the need to predrill an aperture In the face portion of the elongate tube 2.

The first and second support plates Sa, 3b of the, fence post I and the prgjecting portions Ba, Sb of the fence panel retaining plate 6 are spaced apart and co-operable so as to form two outwardly extending channels ba, lOb therebetween extending either side o. the elongate tube. 2, therefore oppositely 1 0 disposed to each other, Alternatively, the outwardly extending channels are perpendicular to each other.

The pair of fence panel support plates 3a, 3b support respective side portions of separate fence panels when the fence post 2 is in situ and the face portion 4 receives, in use, the fence panel retaining plate. $ as described above.

The fence panel retaining plate 6 is secured to the face portion 4 by the connection means P and the fence post arrangement 11 captures an end of a fence panel between the support plate 3a and the respective end of the r&ainiriq plate $a. An edge of the fence panei is therefore secured within a channel 1 Qa, lOb of the fence post arrangement 11. A first end of a fence panel can then he secured within a first channel iCe of a first post and retaining plate arrangement ii and the other end of the fence panel can be secured within a first channel I Ca' of a second fence post and Ietairung Plate arrangement ii. mportantly, this arrangement aHows the fence panels to be slideably supported by a pair of fence posts 11, 11'. The fence panel is permitted to flex slightly in this anangement but is prevented from popping out ot the channel 1 Ca when the fence panel retaining plate C has been secured against the face portion 4 on application of the connection means C. A plurality of fence posts 1 can be used in combination with a piuraUty of fence panel retaininq plates $ to support a plurality of panels Sc) as to form a fence.

1"he Pence panel retaining plate 6 is made from aluminium, however Figure 3 shows the fence panel retaining plate 6 made from wood arid having a different shape to that of Figure 2, i.e. the fence panel retaining plate. 6 is a facia plate where Its comets are curved to improve the aesfhetics of the tacit The projecting portions now correspond to the edges of the elongate plate Ba, 8b.

The projecting portions Ba, Ob, of the fence panel retaining plate are resilient members having a small amount of give thereby allowing them to be S bent away from their original position on application of a force, whilst also allowing them to regain their original position on removat of the force, as shown in Figure 4. Flexing or bending the projecting portions Ba, 8b enables the width of the channel ba, lob to be adjusted (since the projecting portions Ba1 Oh define a first sMe wall of the respective channels lOa, lOb) so as to accommodate and ffrmly hold, for example, fence panels having varying thicknesses.

The inner faces Of the first and second support plates 3a, 3b of the elongate tube 2 four, the second side wall of the respective channels iOa lOb.

The first and second side walls of a channel lQa, overlap an edge of the fence panel and contact the surface of the fence panel so as to clamp or grip the edge ofthe fence panel between the two side walls of the channels ba, lOb.

Eflmlnatfrtg the need to screw (or otherwise secure) the fence panel& to the fence posts aHow fence panels to flex so they don't self destruct and tear apart from the post thereby extending the life of the fence compared to non-flexing fence arrangementj Gripping the fence paflel between the walls of the channel lOa, lOb, also ensures that there no gaps are formed between the posts 2 and the panels which makes the fence arrangement peefrproof and noise tight The channel IDa, lOb of thi; arrangement are deeper channels compared to those of commonly used fence posts, thereby enabling fence 1 2 panels to be more securely held in rlce and preventing the panels popping out or rattlIng uneer high wind loads.

Due to the rigidity of the projecting portions Ba, $b of the fence panel retainin plate $ there is a point where the projecting portions Ba, 8b cannot be bent any further without causing the projections to break. Iherefore it may not be possible to deform the channel to accommodate a particularly narrow fence panel. In such instances a packing element 12, for example a long bead packing element, or other wedging means can be positioned wthin the gap fonned between the inner surface of the projection portion of the fence panel retaining plale and the face of the fence panel, as Uustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 7 shows the packing element to be an o-ring 12a, for example made of rubber or.

alternatively, th packing element may be a Neoprene sponoe packer Fiqurc $ shows the packing element placed between the inner faces of the first and second support plates 3a, 3b of the post 2. and the canal.

The fence post arn.ingement Ii can he used to grip complete preforrned fence panels or ioose components for panels (e.g. in a kit form). Horizontal rails (not shown) may also be secured at varying heights between two aajacent fence post arrangements 11 without the need for other fixings, such as bolts or screws to pass throuch the rails. Vertical boards can then be attached to the rails e.g. using nails. When the rails are at the required level, vertical boards can then be attached to them using e.g. nails.

On the side of the first and second. support plates 3a. 3b remote from the elongate tube 2 are surface fcnmations (not shown) in the form of longitudinal ridges which impart an aesthetically pleasing look to the externally viewable faces at the fence post arrangement 11 and also have the practical advantage of capturinci fasteners such as nads or selfdriflinq and tapping screws which could otherwise wander or skid across a smooth metal surface when heino driven in.

ihese fasteners could be used to further secure panels and posts from theft 1 he fence panel retanng plate $ may also include the surface formations so that a facia can be applied. as shown in Figure 6. In an alternative embodiment, the fence panel retaining plate 6 is a thcia hoard that is attached to the fence post 2 via the threaded bolt 9.

As wifl be apparent. the use of an extruded aluminium fence post as described has a number of advantages over the use of wood or concrete, including that the fence support is relatively lightweight and yet sufficiently stiff and strong due to its tubular construction to he able to support relatively high fence panels, such as two or more metres hiqh with whole life cost savings being availahl. due to the much greater recyclability of aluminium compared to 16 wood or concrete posts. In the case of rolled stee H'sections, these are primarily used in engineering and building construction and because of the hniited range of sections available the posts can be overengiriecred i.e. they are very strong and very heavy, requiring correspondingly strong and substantial concrete footings even though the fence panels are relatively lightweight.

Although the cost of aluminium is generally higher than steel as a material for use in fence posts, it will be appreciated that by using the extrusion approach the post can nstead be purpose. designed and made specifically for supporting fence panels only and therefore does not need to be oveNenqneered for that purpose.

There is the further advantaae that aluminium can be recycled many more times than stee4, wood or concrete and Is therefore more economical overall. The arrangement of the fence. panel retaining plate 8. used in combination with a T-bOx shaped fence post is also advantageous because it eliminates any gaps occurring' between the panels and pasts because the channel walls of the post arrangement 11 overlap' the ends of the fence panels and hold them, at both ends, thus increasing privacy.

The ability of the fence panel retaining plate 8 to flex or bend due to the resilient nature of the projection portions 8, Rb of the retaining plate B enables the past arrangement to be universal La. to be used with a wide variety of fence panels or rails of varying thicknesses oç widths.

In Figures 9a, 9b, Wa and lOb there s shown.a rigid strut 1. which is moveably arranged within the interior of the elongate tube 2, The strut 15 has a first end ISa, for example a leading end, and a second end (not shown), for 16 example a trailing end, and is mow*able between a first position where the first end of the strut 15 is contained within the tube 2 or in line with a first end of the tube 2 to a second position where the first end ISa of the strut 15 is positioned externally from the tube 2 at a distance away from the first end 2e of the tube 2 so as to lengthen the fence post 1.

Changing the Length of the fence post I may be desirable to allow for a trellis (nc$t shown)' to be fixed above a fence panel, or to support the fence post 1 from below when the fence is being installed on sloping ground while the concrete or other material used to mull the post hole sets. it The strut 15 is moveable along the longitudinal axis of the tube 2 and along the interior of the tube. In the first, refracted position the leading end Of the strut 15 is positioned within the interior of the tube 2 such that the first end of the strut is surrounded by the walls' 2a, 2b, 2c. 2d of the tUbe, or in line with a first end 2e of the tube 2. In the second, extended position the fónce post is increased in length by an amount equating to the length of the strut 1 Sc extending therefrem. The strut is slideable along at least part of the interior of the tube so as to move the strUt between the first and second position, or vice versa.

As illustrated in Figure 12, the, arm portion 15 is made from wood, but other materials may be used as desired, &g. plastics. At the first end, of the fence post is inclu4ed a graspIng means formed of an eyelet and a length of a piece (3? string or other cord. To actuate movement of the strut along the interior' of the tube 2 of the post I the user must hold the end of the string that is remote from the end of the stn4 on to apply a. puffing farce on it so as to putt the strut frtm the first position to the second position.

In a first arrangement, the fence post 1 can include a single strut (not shown) located to cause extension of one end of the tube 2e, and which can be moved to subsequently cause extension of the' other end of the tube by applying a pulling force to the grasping portion. When, the strut is in the first position, Le when the first end of the strut Is contained within the tubØ, or in line with the' first end of the tube the second end of the strut may be located in one of two configurations. In the first' configuration the second end of' the strut may be positioned, externally from the tube at a distance away from a second end of the tube. Whereas, in the second configuration, the second end of the strut may also be positioned within the interior of the tube.

Alternatively in a second arrangement, as. shown In Figure Ob a first and second strut may be used, wherein the first strut is Iotated to extend from a first end 2e of the tube of the fence post and the second strut is located to extend from a second end 2f of the tube of the fence post 1. The combined length of the first and second struts cannot equate to greater than the total length of the tube 2 If the first and second struts are to be retracted simultaneously. It is, however envisaged that the combined length of the first and second struts can be less that the length of the tube 2 of the fence post 1. if desired.

The struts 15 are held in the first (retracted) or second (extended) position by securing the fence panel retaining plate 6 to the face patton 4 of the tube 2 via the connection means 9. The cqnnectiaq means 9 therefore extends through the face portion 4 of the rube 2 and through to the strut 15 located within at least part of the tube 2. Alternatively, the strut 15 can, be held directly by a second connection means 16 and the fence panel retaining plate 6 may be connected subsequently by the first connection means 9.

move the strut 15 from the first stored position to the second extended position for use, or vice versa, the fence panel retaining plate 6 and hence the oonnection means 9, or alternatively the second connecting means 16, must be removed. The strut 15 may then be slid from the first position to the second position by the user, or vice versa, via the grasping means.

In figure 13 there is shown a post sleeve 17 that can be arranged around the pail of the rr..box post I to be received In the ground. The sleeve is created from a single sheet of corrugated plastic which, In use, Is wrapped tightly' around the 1flbox shaped post 1. The sheet is shaped via pta-scored lines 18 allowing for the sheet to be bent along the score lines 181. The ISs define seven zones 19 and the sheet is arranged to enable two zones located at the remote ends 20a, 20b of the sheet to overlap. The two zones tocated at the remote ends are fixed together by staples, or a tab and cooperating slot arrangement to form the substantially hexagonal sleeve. Alternatively, other suitable ftxrns of fixing the remote ends may be applied, for example a screw or pin member may be applied.

In use, a zone 19 forms a side wall of the substantially hexagonal sleeve when it is wrapped around the fence post 1. When the fence post suttoundad by the sleeve 17 ii placed in a predug hole and surrounded by concrete, the sleeve 17 pushes towards the fence past I to form a socket The sheet is made from a corrugated polypropylene sheet (Corre') which enables the sleeve 17 to act as a self dralnable arid ventilated fence post foundation. Due to the ability for the sleeve to be manufactured and transported as a flat sheet, the sleeve is extremely cheap to produce and can be transported at a very low cost.

Accordingly, the invention also extends to a method of constructing a lance, the method comprising the steps of installing a first and second fence post I, 1', each comprising elongate tubes 2 from which laterally extend a pair of fence panel support plates Sa, Sb. The tubes 2 have a face portion 4 remote from the respective pair of fence panel support plates 3a Sb. Next a pie-formed fence panel is placed. against a suppoxt plate 3a of the first and second fence POStS I r V. A fimnce. panel retaining plate is then sectwed to a face portion 4 at the elongate tube 2 of the first fence post I so as to capture the fence panel between a fence panel support plate Se and the fence panel retaining plate 6 of the first fence post I so that the panel becomes sildeably supported by the first fence post 1.

S The fence panel retaining plate 6 is secured to the fae portion 4' via a connection means 9, thereby forming a channel IOa into which the edge of a panel is sildOabty captured.

A furthet support panel retaining plate 6' is secured to the face portion 4 of the tube 2' of the second fence post 1' so as to capture the other and of the féflqG panel between a fence panel supped plate 3a' and the fence panel retaining plate 6' of the second fence post 1' so that the panel also becomes slideably supported by the second fence post 1'. The process Is repeated until a fence Is formed.

This method, as illustrated in Figures 13a-i e and 14a-14d, allows panels 10 be installed or removed from one side only. This allows easy repairs and treatment, or other maintenance, avoiding possible neighbour disputes and damage to plants by spraying hi situ. For example the panel qan be removed by unscrewing the connection means 9 to enable removal of the fence panel retaining plate 6, theteby allowing access to the panel which can then be removed for re-treatment or repair. The panel can then be replaced and the retaining plate 6 repositIoned an. secured into place by re-application of the connection means 9. this same method can be applied to remove any panel for temporary access as desfred. 1 9

The fence post footings of the lighter aluminium posts need not use concrete. Instead, the earth that was dug to form the fence post hole can be used to backfffl the hole and the earth can he compacted progressively around the post to fix it in position. Setting the fence post in the ground in this way is known as the <rammed back footing method. This method eliminates the need to remove what was prevously surplus earth from the site and the need for cement, aggregates and water. Therefore, any corwsive effects on the post.

caused by the lime in the cement, is also eliminated. This saves money and is better for the environment.

The unique profile of the T box*shape of the post proides a tighter fit and key into the ground when using the rammed back footing method, enabling the resistance of high wind loads applied to the. panels. When cornpaied to a square or rectangular post, the 1 boxshape of the post is better suited to this method of post footing.

[he aforesaid method is particularly convenient when erecting fences in places with restricted access for carting concrete for post footings and where there is difficult terrain to he accessed. The fence post is made of extruded auminium which is iiqht in weight compared to the steeL timber or concrete posts, and therefore is easier to transport or move to the fence line and place accurately into the holes safely by hand, being only 20% of the weight of their contemporaries.

A further advantage is that the fence panels can be positioned between a pair of fence posts without the need for lilting them above the tops of the fence posts to insert them into the grooves in the posts.

In areas with a high accident 1sk, e.g. roadsides where there may be vehicle damaged posts, posts are generally secured in the 9round with concrete, however this makes replacerriertt at vehicle damaged posts very difficult and costly to remove, replace and to recycle. Therefore, fence posts that are back-filled and compacted with the earth that was dug but to provide the post footings are easier to replace, whilst also saving on the cast of concrete foundations.

Further, traffic management casts to protect the works can be reduced because the operation is much quicker than conventional methods and recycling of the post Is much easier and more cost effective as there are no concrete ID foundations (with posts permanently attathed) to dispose of via expensi:ve landfill sitet Various modifications to the pdrtciples described above would suggest themselves to the skilled person. For example, the material for the resilient first and second ends Ca, Sb of the fence panel retaining plate 6 may be any material that provides the desired resilient property e.g. composite material, metal,. plastic etc. A fence post arrangement may have only a single channel, rather than two or more channels. Such a fence post arrangement can be applied to terminate a plurality of linear fence post arrangements, known as end posts'.

To increase the longevity of the post life, the posts are set in plastit sleeves to ensure the prevention of corrosion caused by cement which could occur on contact with the post with the concrete foundation.

To further increase the longevity of the post life, a protector in the form of an end cap 13 is positioned at the top edge of the post, as shown In Figure 15.

The end cap pratects this vulnerable region from weather conditiotis tg. rain.

The end cap can be formed from aluminium or plastic. The post cap a formed of a plate having a front lip. The end cap is bonded, e.g. glued, under its front Up and onto the top edge of the box-section of the post support. it is not fixed to the panel so as to retain the paneS ability to flex free of the post Figure 16 shows an aiternaths arrangement where a timber faciä 14 ks also attathed to the outer surface of the pair of support plates 3a, 3b of the fence post 1, this being for cosmetk purposes only.