STACKABLE FENCING PANEL

Abstract

There is provided a stackable fencing panel and a method for stacking fencing panels. The fencing panel including: a first outside post including a post depth; a second outside post opposing the first outside post and including the post depth; and two or more horizontal cross-members each intermediate the first outside post and the second outside post, each horizontal cross-member including a cross-member depth, each horizontal cross-member including a narrowed section proximate both the first outside post and the second outside post, the narrowed sections including a narrowed depth less than the post depth.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following relates generally to physical barriers, and more specifically, to a stackable fencing panel.

BACKGROUND

Barriers often are required to be erected at, for example, construction sites, festivals, events, or the like. An example of such a barrier is a temporary fencing. Temporary fencing typically includes a series of interconnected fence panels; with each fence panel including two outside posts interconnected by, for example, boards, wire, rails, netting, or the like. Temporary fencing is generally trucked, shipped, or otherwise transported between storage and various sites by stacking of these fence panels.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, there is provided a stackable fencing panel, the fencing panel comprising: a first outside post comprising a post depth; a second outside post opposing the first outside post and comprising the post depth; and two or more horizontal cross-members each intermediate the first outside post and the second outside post, each horizontal cross-member comprising a cross-member depth, each horizontal cross-member comprising a narrowed section proximate both the first outside post and the second outside post, the narrowed sections comprising a narrowed depth less than the post depth.

In a particular case of the fencing panel, the first outside post and the second outside post comprise a square tube.

In another case of the fencing panel, the two or more horizontal cross-members comprise a square tube except at the narrowed sections that are compressed along an axis coincident with the narrowed depth.

In yet another case of the fencing panel, the narrowed depth is less than 75% of the post depth.

In yet another case of the fencing panel, the narrowed depth is less than 50% of the post depth.

In yet another case of the fencing panel, the post depth is approximately 1 inch and the narrowed depth is less than 0.6 inches.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for horizontal stacking of fencing panels, the fencing panels comprising opposing outside posts and two or more horizontal cross-members positioned intermediate the opposing outside posts, the two or more horizontal cross-members each having narrowed sections proximate each of the opposing posts, the method comprising: positioning a first of the fencing panels horizontally; and positioning a second of the fencing panels horizontally on the first fencing panel with one of the outside posts of the second fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections on the same side of the first fencing panel and the narrowed sections on the opposite side of the second fencing panel resting on the outside posts of the respective side of the first fencing panel.

In a particular case of the method, the method further comprising positioning a third of the fencing panels horizontally on the second fencing panel with one of the outside posts of the third fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections on the same side of the second fencing panel, on the side opposite the outside posts of the second fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections of the first fencing panel, the third fencing panel positioned with the narrowed sections on the opposite side of the third fencing panel resting on the outside posts of the respective side of the second fencing panel.

In another case of the method, the first outside post and the second outside post comprise a square tube.

In yet another case of the method, the two or more horizontal cross-members comprise a square tube except at the narrowed sections that are compressed along an axis coincident with the narrowed depth.

In yet another case of the method, the narrowed depth is less than 75% of the post depth.

In yet another case of the method, the narrowed depth is less than 50% of the post depth.

In yet another case of the method, the post depth is approximately 1 inch and the narrowed depth is less than 0.6 inches.

These and other embodiments are contemplated and described herein. It will be appreciated that the foregoing summary sets out representative aspects of embodiments to assist skilled readers in understanding the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of fencing panels erected for use;

FIG. 2 illustrates a horizontal stacking arrangement of fencing panels according to an example approach;

FIG. 3 illustrates a horizontal stacking arrangement of fencing panels according to another example approach;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a fencing panel in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for horizontal stacking of fencing panels, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the Figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Various terms used throughout the present description may be read and understood as follows, unless the context indicates otherwise: “or” as used throughout is inclusive, as though written “and/or”; singular articles and pronouns as used throughout include their plural forms, and vice versa; similarly, gendered pronouns include their counterpart pronouns so that pronouns should not be understood as limiting anything described herein to use, implementation, performance, etc. by a single gender; “exemplary” should be understood as “illustrative” or “exemplifying” and not necessarily as “preferred” over other embodiments. Further definitions for terms may be set out herein; these may apply to prior and subsequent instances of those terms, as will be understood from a reading of the present description.

The following relates generally to physical barriers, and more specifically, to a stackable fencing panel.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of fencing panels 100, as described herein, erected for use. In this example, the fencing panels 100 include an outside post 102, horizontal posts 104, with a wire mesh 106. In this example, the fencing panels 100 are mounted to concrete barriers 120.

FIG. 2 illustrates a horizontal stacking arrangement of fencing panels according to an example approach. In this example approach, the outside posts 202 have a square tube design. The outside posts 202 for each panel are joined by upper and lower horizontal cross-members 204. In between the rectangle created by the outside posts 202 and the horizontal cross-members 204 is a fencing material; for example, a wire mesh.

In the above example, the depth ‘D_H’ 214 of the horizontal cross-members 204 is equal to, or marginally smaller than, the depth ‘D_O’ 212 of the outside posts 202. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the geometry of the stacking arrangement is generally alternating between having the outside posts 202 resting on the horizontal cross members 204 of the panel directly below it, and having the horizontal cross members 204 resting on the outside posts 202 of the directly panel below it. Accordingly, in the horizontal stacking arrangement, a limiting factor to the compactness of the stack is the depth D_H 214 of the horizontal cross-members 204 and the depth D_O 212 of the outside posts 202.

Some approaches to reducing the compactness of the horizontal stacking arrangement for fencing panels includes using much thinner walls for the tubes comprising the outside posts 202 and/or the horizontal cross-members 204. However, while these approaches may result in a more compact stacking arrangement, the panels themselves are significantly less durable and not suitable for most uses.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, other example approaches address the compactness challenge by using cylindrical tube outside posts and a series of horizontal cross-members curved to conform to the shape of the cylindrical tube outside posts. However, with this example approach, the horizontal cross-members and/or panel mesh is not continuous and can generally have critical weak points; resulting in significantly reduced durability. In some cases, because the mesh is being mounted to a cylindrical tube, it may be hard to attain a good weld adhesion; which significantly affects durability as the placement of the welds can leave them more prone to being struck and detached. In some cases, it may also become unsafe for fence installers because the mesh can become tangled when loading and unloading; and when moving the panels, they are highly prone to shifting or spilling. In some cases, the cylindrical tube may have to be flattened at the end to allow the tube to rest; which can result in a very large weak point. In contrast, a square tube outside post has increased strength is due to the hollow nature and ability to withstand compression.

Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide fencing panels having outside posts with, for example, a square tube design, and which has a compact horizontal stacking configuration. In an example embodiment of the present disclosure, the fencing panels can have a compact alternating horizontal stacking configuration whereby every-second outside post is only approximately ½″ apart from each other.

Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide a compact horizontal stacking configuration that can use legacy outside posts with square tube design. In this way, the many fencing companies that have invested considerable money on, and built large inventories of, bases and caps can still use such bases and caps with the outside posts of the present embodiments. In some cases, roughly 30% of the cost of a panel set consists of the costs for such bases and caps.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective top view of a stackable fencing panel 400, in accordance with an embodiment. For illustrative purposes, a break is illustrated instead of showing the full length of the horizontal cross-member 404. The panel 400 includes outside posts 402 that have a square tube design. The outside posts 402 for each panel are joined by horizontal cross-members 404. In between the rectangle created by the outside posts 402 and the horizontal cross-members 404 is a fencing material; for example, a wire mesh.

In this case, the horizontal cross-members 404 include narrowed sections 406 that are proximate each of the outside posts 402. The outside posts 202 have a post depth ‘D_O’ 412. In most cases, the majority of the horizontal cross-members 204 have a cross-member depth ‘D_H’ 414; except at the narrowed sections 406 that have a narrowed depth ‘D_N’ 416 that is less than the cross-member depth D_H 414. Thus, in the horizontal stacking configuration, as exemplified in FIG. 6, there is an alternating configuration of having a first side of the outside posts 202 resting on the narrowed sections 406 of the panel directly below it and the narrowed sections 406 proximate the second side of the outside posts 202 resting on the outside posts 202 of the directly panel below it. Then, the next panel above in the stack has the second side of the outside posts 202 resting on the narrowed sections 406 of the panel directly below it and the narrowed sections 406 proximate the first side of the outside posts 202 resting on the outside posts 202 of the directly panel below it. In further cases, the narrowed sections 406 need not be adjacent the outside posts 202, but can be located at any suitable position along the horizontal cross-members 204 that provides a suitable horizontal stacking arrangement. In most cases, the narrowed sections 406 have a suitable length, along the horizontal cross-members 204, that is a minority percentage of the total length of the horizontal cross-members 204; in an example, each of the narrowed sections 406 can be 30mm in length for a horizontal cross-members 204 that is 1800 mm length in total.

Any suitable depth D_N 416 of the narrowed sections 406 can be used as long as the fencing panel retains a desired level of rigidity or durability. In some cases, the depth D_N 416 of the narrowed sections 406 can be less than 75% the depth D_O 412 of the outside posts 202. In further cases, the depth D_N 416 of the narrowed sections 406 can be less than 50%, or even 25%, the depth D_O 412 of the outside posts 202. In some cases, the depth D_N 416 of the narrowed sections 406 can be 10 mm or less. In this way, advantageously, there is significant space savings due to having compact arrangements from the narrowed sections, without significantly affecting the durability or strength of the fencing panel.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the stackable fencing panel 400. In this example, there is a wire mesh in between the outside posts 402 and the horizontal cross-members 404. In further cases, any suitable fencing material can be used; for example, bars, paneling, a sheet of material, or the like. While the example of FIG. 5 illustrates two horizontal cross-members 404, at the top and bottom of the panel 400, in further cases, any suitable number of horizontal cross-members 404 can be used that are positioned intermediate the outside posts 402, in between the top and bottom horizontal cross-members 404. While the example of FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates certain ratios of sizing between the various components of the panel 400, it is understood that this is merely an example and any suitable sizing ratios, and sizes of the panel 400, can be used.

FIG. 6 illustrates an elevation view of a horizontal stacking arrangement 600 of fencing panels 400. For illustrative purposes, a break is illustrated instead of showing the full length of the horizontal cross-members 404. In this arrangement, an alternating configuration is shown. A first side of the outside posts 202 rests on the narrowed sections 406 of the panel directly below it and the narrowed sections 406 proximate the second side of the outside posts 202 rests on the outside posts 202 of the directly panel below it. Then, the next panel above in the stack has the second side of the outside posts 202 resting on the narrowed sections 406 of the panel directly below it and the narrowed sections 406 proximate the first side of the outside posts 202 resting on the outside posts 202 of the directly panel below it.

In the example of FIGS. 4 to 6, the horizontal cross-members 404 and the outside posts 402 can have a square tube design, except at the narrowed sections which are compressed along the depth axis. In this example, the the depth D_N 416 of the narrowed sections 406 can be 15 mm square or 0.59″; which is a depth that has been found to provide a reasonable strength. This means that the fencing panel would nest approximately 0.41″ below outside posts 202 having a depth D_O 412 of 1″, which is a common size for square tube outside posts. This compactness is a substantially improvement over horizontal cross-members without a narrowed section.

With the above example embodiment, the present inventor conducted an example experiment of horizontal stacking of fencing panels. Using the other approaches described herein, 20 fencing panels with a 1″ D_H square tube horizontal cross-members 204 were stacked and required 20″ in height. In contrast, using the fencing panels of the example embodiment, 20″ in height was able to contain 33 fencing panels; a 65% increase in compactness. In further examples, thinner depths D_N 416 of the narrowed sections 406 have been used; for example, resulting in a 100% increase in compactness and thus doubling the storage capacity.

Advantageously, this increased compactness allows for increased capacity on a truck or other transportation, dramatic reductions in labour and manpower required, reduced storage and warehouse spaces required. In addition, the narrowed sections 406 can result in lighter panels; which would increase health and safety of workers handling the panels and reduce transportation costs. Also advantageously, the present embodiments can be safer because when the fencing panels are stacked and interlocked, they are less prone to spillage.

In overview, as shown in FIG. 7, there is provided a method for horizontal stacking of fencing panels 700. The fencing panels having opposing outside posts and two or more horizontal cross-members positioned intermediate the opposing posts. The two or more horizontal cross-members each having narrowed sections proximate each of the opposing posts. At block 702, a first fencing panel is positioned horizontally; for example, with its largest face on or parallel to the floor. At block 704, a second fencing panel is positioned horizontally on the first fencing panel with one of the outside posts of the second fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections on the same side of the first fencing panel and the narrowed sections on the opposite side of the second fencing panel resting on the outside posts of the respective side of the first fencing panel. At block 706, a third fencing panel is positioned horizontally on the second fencing panel with one of the outside posts of the third fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections on the same side of the second fencing panel, on the side opposite the outside posts of the second fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections of the first fencing panel. The third fencing panel also having the narrowed sections on the opposite side of the third fencing panel resting on the outside posts of the respective side of the second fencing panel. The alternating stacked configuration of blocks 704 and 706 can be repeated for further fencing panels in the stack.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto. The entire disclosures of all references recited above are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A stackable fencing panel, the fencing panel comprising: a first outside post comprising a post depth;a second outside post opposing the first outside post and comprising the post depth; andtwo or more horizontal cross-members each intermediate the first outside post and the second outside post, each horizontal cross-member comprising a cross-member depth, each horizontal cross-member comprising a narrowed section proximate both the first outside post and the second outside post, the narrowed sections comprising a narrowed depth less than the post depth.

2. The stackable fencing panel of claim 1, wherein the first outside post and the second outside post comprise a square tube.

3. The stackable fencing panel of claim 2, wherein the two or more horizontal cross-members comprise a square tube except at the narrowed sections that are compressed along an axis coincident with the narrowed depth.

4. The stackable fencing panel of claim 1, wherein the narrowed depth is less than 75% of the post depth.

5. The stackable fencing panel of claim 4, wherein the narrowed depth is less than 50% of the post depth.

6. The stackable fencing panel of claim 1, wherein the post depth is approximately 1 inch and the narrowed depth is less than 0.6 inches.

7. A method for horizontal stacking of fencing panels, the fencing panels comprising opposing outside posts and two or more horizontal cross-members positioned intermediate the opposing outside posts, the two or more horizontal cross-members each having narrowed sections proximate each of the opposing posts, the method comprising: positioning a first of the fencing panels horizontally; andpositioning a second of the fencing panels horizontally on the first fencing panel with one of the outside posts of the second fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections on the same side of the first fencing panel and the narrowed sections on the opposite side of the second fencing panel resting on the outside posts of the respective side of the first fencing panel.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising positioning a third of the fencing panels horizontally on the second fencing panel with one of the outside posts of the third fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections on the same side of the second fencing panel, on the side opposite the outside posts of the second fencing panel resting on the narrowed sections of the first fencing panel, the third fencing panel positioned with the narrowed sections on the opposite side of the third fencing panel resting on the outside posts of the respective side of the second fencing panel.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first outside post and the second outside post comprise a square tube.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the two or more horizontal cross-members comprise a square tube except at the narrowed sections that are compressed along an axis coincident with the narrowed depth.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the narrowed depth is less than 75% of the post depth.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the narrowed depth is less than 50% of the post depth.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the post depth is approximately 1 inch and the narrowed depth is less than 0.6 inches.