FENCING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A palisade security fencing assembly 10 with a plurality of spaced upright posts 12, with cross bars 16A, B and C extending therebetween. A plurality of pale members 18 are mounted to the cross bars 16A, B and C. The pale members 18 are profiled to define a recess facing the cross bars 16A, B and C. The pale members 18 are mounted to the cross bars 16A, B, C by rivet arrangements 36, with a front end 38 of the rivet arrangements 36 located in the recess, and a rear end 40 of the rivet arrangement 36 on the rear side of the cross bar 16A, B and C, thereby substantially preventing unauthorised access to the rivet arrangements 36.

Description

This invention concerns palisade fencing, and particularly but not exclusively metal security palisade fencing, and also a kit of parts for forming a palisade fencing assembly.

Palisade security fences are generally made of metal and have a structure along the following lines. A plurality of posts which are mountable on the ground to be upstanding therefrom are provided, with a plurality of cross bars extending between respective adjacent posts. A plurality of elongate pales are mounted on the cross bars to extend substantially vertically between each pair of posts to provide a barrier therebetween. Conventionally the pales have been mounted to the cross bars by nuts and bolts or other fixings, which fixings can be vulnerable to attack or vandalism, thereby potentially enabling unlawful access to be obtained through the fence.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a palisade fencing assembly, the assembly comprising a plurality of spaced ground engaging posts, a plurality of cross bars extending between adjacent posts, a plurality of elongate pale members extending generally vertically between the posts to provide a barrier, the pale members being mounted to the cross bars on a front side thereof by a plurality of mounting arrangements, the pale members being profiled to engage against the cross bars at two contact points and to extend forwards therebetween to define a recess facing the cross bar, each mounting arrangement including a mounting part provided on the respective pale member extending between the two contact points across the recess, and a fastening means extending between the cross bar and the mounting part, with one end of the fastening means locating in the recess, and the other end of the fastening means locating behind the respective cross bar.

The fastening means may be in the form of a blind fastener, and may be in the form of a rivet arrangement.

The mounting part may be in the form of a plate, and a discrete plate may be provided for each mounting arrangement. The plate may extend for a greater height than the height of the cross member, so as to spread any load along the pale member.

The posts may be hollow, and the cross members may engage in openings in the sides of the posts. The openings may be profiled to correspond to the profile of the cross members.

Some or all of the openings may be profiled such that an end of the cross member can locate therein and then be lowered such that a formation on the cross member engages with the opening to prevent the cross member from being slid laterally out of the opening.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a palisade fencing assembly, the assembly comprising a plurality of spaced ground engaging hollow posts, a plurality of cross bars extending between adjacent posts, a plurality of elongate pale members extending generally vertically between the posts to provide a barrier, the pale members being mounted to the cross bars by a plurality of mounting arrangements, the cross members engaging in openings in the sides of the posts, which openings are profiled to correspond to the profile of the cross members, with some or all or all of the openings being profiled such that an end of the cross member can locate therein and then be lowered such that a formation on the cross member engages with the opening to prevent the cross member from being slid laterally out of the opening.

The assembly may be according to any of the preceding six paragraphs.

The cross member may have an L-shaped profile, and one limb of the L may point rearwardly with the other limb pointing downwardly.

In one embodiment an anti cut bar extends through the recess on each pale member, and is a loose fit therein. The anti cut bar may be mounted to the pale for only a part of the length thereof. The anti cut bar may be mounted to the pale at an upper part thereof, may also be mounted at a lower part thereof, and may be mounted at one or more locations along the length thereof. A pair of anti cut bars may be mounted in each recess.

The bars may be cylindrical, and may be made of high tensile steel. The posts, cross bars and/or pale members may be made of metal.

A mesh may be mounted on the rear of the assembly.

The invention further provides a kit of parts to form a palisade fencing assembly according to any of the preceding seven paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:—

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of part of a first palisade fencing assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the part of the assembly shown in

FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged parts of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a further part of a palisade fencing assembly;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic front view of a section of the part shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of part of a second palisade fencing assembly according to the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the assembly of FIG. 7.

The drawings show parts of a first palisade security fencing assembly 10. The assembly 10 includes a plurality of spaced posts 12 mounted to the ground for instance in concrete 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Between each pair of adjacent posts 12 three spaced cross bars 16A, B, C extend, with the bar 16A being uppermost. A plurality of pale members 18 are mounted on the cross bars 16A, B, C and extend vertically between the posts 12 to provide a barrier therebetween. FIG. 1 shows twenty pale members 18 provided between a pair of posts 12, but different numbers of pale members may be provided as required.

The posts 12 are formed of hollow square section tube with rounded corners. The cross bars 16A, B, C are formed from L-shaped section bars, with one limb 20 facing rearwardly and the other limb 22 pointing downwardly.

The pale members 18 are profiled so as to define at each side engagement parts 24 engageable with the cross bars 16A, B, C and an outwardly extending profile to define a recess 26 therebehind facing the cross bars 16A, B, C.

A mounting part in the form of a plate 28 is provided on the pale members 18 at each connection thereof with a respective one of the cross bars 16A, B, C. The plates 28 extend for a greater height than the height of the downwardly extending limbs 22 of the cross bar 16A, B, C.

For mounting the cross bars 16A, B, C to the posts 12, laser cut L-shaped openings 30 are provided in the side walls of the posts 12. The openings 30 have a profile with a thicker cross limb than the thickness of the limb 20 such that the cross bars 16A, B, C can be pushed into the openings 30 and dropped. A slot 32 is provided spaced a short distance from the ends of each of the cross bars 16A, B, C to engage with the lower end of the opening 30 when the cross bars 16A, B, C are dropped thereinto, to prevent the cross bars 16A, B, C being slid laterally out of the openings 30.

The pale members 18 are mounted to the cross bars 16A, B, C by fastening means in the form of rivet arrangements 36 extending through aligned holes in the cross bars 16A, B, C and plates 28. This means that a front end 38 of the rivet members is located in the recess 26, whilst the other end 40 of the rivet assembly 36 is on the rear side of the cross bar 16A, B, C, and beneath the rearwardly extending limb 20 thereof.

In use the assembly 10 can be erected as follows. The posts 12 are fixed in position and retained therein by the concrete 14. The cross bars 16A, B, C are located extending between the posts 12 in engagement with the respective openings 30. It is to be realised that the assembly 10 can follow the ground profile, such that the cross bars 16A, B, C will not necessarily extend horizontally and may rather follow the ground profile.

The pale members 18 are now mounted on the cross bar 16A, B, C by inserting the rivet arrangements 36 from behind. It is to be realised that once the pale members 18 have been mounted on the cross bars 16A, B, C the cross bars 16, B, C and pale members 18 cannot be removed from between the posts 12 due to the engagement of the slots 32 with the openings 30.

There is thus described a palisade security fencing assembly which provides for a number of advantages. For instance, once assembled access to the fastening means cannot be achieved from the front of the fence with protection being provided by the rivet assemblies 36 being located in the recesses 26.

The construction of the assembly 10 is also such that it is not possible for persons on the front side of the assembly 10 to be able to interfere with the mounting of the cross bars 16A, B, C on the posts 12. The assembly therefore provides a rigid and secure assembly, yet one which can readily be assembled in situ as described above.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the cross bars or other components may have a different profile. A different number of cross bars and/or pale members can be used. Different fastening means may be used. Different materials could be used in the components.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second fencing assembly 50 which is similar in most aspects to the assembly 10, and only the differences will be described. In this instance, two anti cut bars 52 are provided one towards each side of each pale member 18. The bars 52 are mounted to the pale members 18 by welding just at the top and bottom thereof such that for the majority of their length the bars 52 are loose relative to the pale member. This has been found to act as a significant deterrent to persons trying to cut through the pale members 18. The assembly 50 has an additional security measure with a mesh 54 mounted on the rear side thereof as shown in FIG. 8.

Additional features may be provided on the assembly to enhance security. The pale members are shown as having pointed upper ends 46, and if required other anti-climbing features, structures or materials could be provided on the assembly 10. For instance barbed wire may be provided at a lower end of the assembly.

It is to be realised that a wide range of variations of fencing may be produced, which include the above described mounting of the cross bars on the posts with shaped openings and slots or other features to prevent relative sliding therebetween, irrespective of whether or not the pale members are mounted to the cross bars as described above, and/or whether bars are located in the recesses of the pale members to hinder cutting thereof.

Assemblies may be provided where such formations are also provided on the upper cross bars, and obviously different numbers of cross bars may be provided as required. The pale members may have many different shapes as required by particular situations. The anti cut bars may be mounted to the pale members at other locations, or in some instances may not be mounted to the pale members at all.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1-26. (canceled)

27. A palisade fencing assembly, the assembly comprising a plurality of spaced ground engaging posts, a plurality of cross bars extending between adjacent posts, a plurality of elongate pale members extending generally vertically between the posts to provide a barrier, the pale members being mounted to the cross bars on a front side thereof by a plurality of mounting arrangements, the pale members being profiled to engage against the cross bars at two contact points and to extend forwards therebetween to define a recess facing the cross bar, each mounting arrangement including a mounting part provided on the respective pale member extending between the two contact points across the recess, and a fastening means extending between the cross bar and the mounting part, with one end of the fastening means locating in the recess, and the other end of the fastening means locating behind the respective cross bar.

28. An assembly according to claim 27, in which the fastening means is in the form of a blind fastener.

29. An assembly according to claim 28, in which the fastening means is in the form of a rivet arrangement.

30. An assembly according to claim 27, in which the mounting part is in the form of a plate.

31. An assembly according to claim 30, in which a discrete plate is provided for each mounting arrangement.

32. An assembly according to claim 30, in which the plate extends for a greater height than the height of the cross bar, so as to spread any load along the plate member.

33. An assembly according to claim 27, in which the posts are hollow.

34. An assembly according to claim 33, in which the cross bars engage in openings in the sides of the posts.

35. An assembly according to claim 34, in which the openings are profiled to correspond to the profile of the cross bars.

36. An assembly according to claim 34, in which some or all of the openings are profiled such that an end of the cross bar can locate therein and then be lowered such that a formation on the cross bar engages with the opening to prevent the cross bar from being slid laterally out of the opening.

37. A palisade fencing assembly, the assembly comprising a plurality of spaced ground engaging hollow posts, a plurality of cross bars extending between adjacent posts, a plurality of elongate pale members extending generally vertically between the posts to provide a barrier, the pale members being mounted to the cross bars by a plurality of mounting arrangements, the cross bars engaging in openings in the sides of the posts, which openings are profiled to correspond to the profile of the cross bars, with some or all or all of the openings being profiled such that an end of the cross bar can locate therein and then be lowered such that a formation on the cross bar engages with the opening to prevent the cross bar from being slid laterally out of the opening.

38. An assembly according to claim 37, in which the fastening means is in the form of a blind fastener.

39. An assembly according to claim 38, in which the fastening means is in the form of a rivet arrangement.

40. An assembly according to claim 37, in which the cross bar has an L-shaped profile.

41. An assembly according to claim 40, in which one limb of the L points rearwardly with the other limb pointing downwardly.

42. An assembly according to claim 27, in which a loose bar extends through the recess on each pale member, the recesses being defined between the pale members and the cross bars, the loose bar being a loose fit in the recess, and being mounted to the pale for only a part of the length thereof.

43. An assembly according to claim 42, in which the loose bar is mounted to the pale at an upper part thereof.

44. An assembly according to claim 43, in which the loose bar is also mounted to the pale at a lower part thereof.

45. An assembly according to claim 42, in which a pair of loose bars is mounted in each recess.

46. An assembly according to claim 42, in which the bars are cylindrical, and are made of high tensile steel.

47. An assembly according to claim 27, in which the posts, cross bars and/or pale members are made of metal.

48. A kit of parts to form a palisade fencing assembly according to claim 27.