TEMPORARY FENCE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A temporary fencing assembly comprises a plurality of rectangular fence panels formed from fiberglass supported between fiberglass posts pivotally supported on a base formed from fiberglass. Each post includes two sets of vertically aligned hinge pins or hinge pin receivers projecting outward from opposite sides of the post. The fence panels are formed from rectangular, fiberglass tubing formed into a rectangular frame, each panel including a pair of side rails, a top rail and a bottom rail. Relatively closely spaced vertical rods or pickets are attached to and extend from and between the top and bottom rail of each panel. Each of the pickets may also extend through a horizontal support rail extending medially between the top and bottom rails and laterally to provide additional rigidity to the assembly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to temporary fencing assemblies for constructing temporary enclosures. More specifically, it relates to fencing components manufactured from electrically non-conductive composite material.

Background & Description of the Related Art

There is a need for relatively lightweight but sturdy temporary fencing systems to deter access to selected sites. In particular, there is a need for such fencing systems that are not electrically conductive. Currently available temporary security fencing might take the form of panels of chain link fencing with vertical posts on each end of a panel mountable on pins or rods extending upward from a base. Chain link fencing is relatively easy to scale, the chain link mesh is relatively easy to cut with wire cutters and the chain link panels are often easily lifted off of their bases to allow access to the site to be secured.

Electric utilities and electrical contractors have a need for non-conductive fencing options for securing areas in which they are performing work on electrical equipment or systems which is not satisfied by conventional chain link fencing or other fencing systems that are currently available. Plastic mesh, temporary fencing lacks sufficient strength or rigidity to adequately limit access to a site to be secured.

There remains a need for a temporary fencing assembly formed from durable and electrically non-conductive materials that is formed of relatively easy to assemble components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a temporary fencing assembly formed from fiber reinforced, electrically non-conductive materials such as thermoset resins which may also be referred to as fiberglass. The temporary fencing assembly includes a plurality of identically constructed vertical support posts, each post having two hinge pins or hinge pin receivers projecting outward from opposite sides of the post. The post is rotatably mounted on a base with a round pin extending vertically upward and into a receiver on the lower end of an associated post such that the post pivots relative to the base about a vertical axis. A plurality of fence panels are formed from rectangular, fiberglass tubing formed into a rectangular frame, each panel including a pair of side rails, a top rail and a bottom rail. A plurality of relatively closely spaced vertical rods or pickets are attached to and extend from and between the top and bottom rail of each panel. Each of the pickets may also extend through a horizontal support rail extending medially between the top and bottom rails and laterally to provide additional rigidity to the assembly.

Each of the plurality of posts includes first upper and first lower hinge pins mounted on a first side of the post and second upper and second lower hinge pins mounted on a second side of the post opposite the first side. Each of the first upper and lower and second upper and lower hinge pins is supported in spaced relationship to the post and extends generally vertically. Upper and lower hinge pin receivers project outward from each of the first and second side rails. The upper and lower hinge pin receivers on the first side rail are pivotally securable on the first upper and lower hinge pins on the first side of a first one of the posts and the upper and lower hinge pin receivers on the second side rail are pivotally securable on the second upper and lower hinge pins on the second side of a second one of the posts such that each of the fence panels is supportable between two of the posts positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the fence panel with each of the posts capable of supporting ends of two of the fence panels on the first and second upper and lower hinge pins. A retainer, such as a nut is removably securable to each of the first and second upper and lower hinge pins for retaining a respective one of the upper and lower hinge pin receivers thereto.

The upper and lower rails and the first and second side rails and the pickets of each fence frame and each of the posts are formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin such as fiberglass. The base for each of the posts is preferably formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin such as fiberglass.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of fence panels comprises a gated panel having a gate opening bordered by a hinge jamb and a latch jamb extending in spaced relation between the top and bottom rails of the fence panel and a gate pivotally connected to the hinge jamb by at least one hinge connected between the gate and the hinge jamb. The gate is releasably securable to the latch jamb by a latch connected to the gate on a side opposite the at least one hinge. The gated panel comprises a gate frame formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin such as fiberglass.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a temporary fence assembly including a rectangular panel and a gated panel supported between posts supported on bases.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a gated panel supported between posts supported on bases.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a base and post of the temporary fence assembly.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and fragmentary, perspective view of the post and base as in

FIG. 3 with portions removed to show detail and including eye bolts for connecting the panels to hinge pins on the posts.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and exploded perspective view of the base.

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged and fragmentary front elevational view of the temporary fence assembly as in FIG. 1 showing a portion of one end of the rectangular panel supported on one of the posts.

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary and exploded, front elevational view of one of the posts with the eyebolts for connecting the panels to the hinge pins on the posts.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the hinge pins formed as hooks.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing a hinge pin mounted on a side rail of the rectangular panel and hinge pin receivers mounted on a post.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary and exploded perspective view of a corner of a frame forming the rectangular panel.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the corner of the frame.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a plurality of panels supported on posts to form an enclosure with the panels oriented at different angles relative to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in more detail, FIG. 1 shows an elevational view of two sections of a temporary fence assembly 1. Fence assembly 1 includes a plurality of vertical support posts 5, a corresponding number of bases 6, a plurality of standard rectangular panels 8, and preferably at least one, gated rectangular panel 9. The gated panel 9 is shown enlarged in FIG. 2. The posts 5 are supported on a respective base 6 and each panel 8 or 9 is hung from or supported between a pair of posts 5. The posts 5, bases 6 and panels 8 and 9 are preferably formed, at least in part, from non-electrically conductive material such as a fiber reinforced thermoset resin such as the material commonly referred to as fiberglass, so that a conductive path does not extend through the components of the fence assembly 1.

The posts 5 and bases 6, for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3-8. Each base 5 is formed from overlapping and spaced apart pairs of short sections of fiberglass tubing 11 arranged to generally form a cross. Notches 12 are formed in one or both pairs of the short sections of tubing 11 to allow the tubing to overlap. In one embodiment, each section of tubing 11 forming one of the bases 6 may be square in cross-section, approximately three inches by three inches, with a length of approximately three feet.

A mounting pin 14 is connected to and projects upward from the short sections of tubing 11. A base plate 15 is connected to the lower end of the mounting pin 14 and the base plate 15 is then bolted to the short sections of tubing 11 forming the base 6. The mounting pin 14 and base plate 15 may be formed of metal but are electrically insulated from the ground by the tubing sections 11.

Each post 5 is formed from fiberglass tubing of a desired length or height, such as 6 feet and 9 inches in one example. The mounting pin 14 is dimensioned to allow a lower end of the hollow tubing forming post 5 to be slid over the mounting pin 14 to support the post 5 on the mounting pin 14 and base 6. The mounting pin 14 is preferably round in cross-section to allow the post 5 to rotate or pivot relative to the pin 14 and base 6.

Two sets of vertically aligned, upper and lower hinge pins 18 and 19 are mounted on and project outward from opposite, first and second sides of each post 5. Each hinge pin 18 and 19 is connected to and projects upward from a horizontal, outwardly projecting flange 21 of a mounting bracket 22 such that the hinge pins 18 and 19 extend vertically and in spaced relationship from the first and second sides of the post 5 respectively. Aligned pairs of mounting brackets 22 are bolted together on opposite sides of and through each post 5 at upper and lower positions. The bolts connecting the mounting brackets 22 proximate the lower end of each post 5 are spaced apart sufficiently to extend on opposite sides of the mounting pin 14. A cap 24 may be inserted into the upper end of each post 5. As shown in FIG. 8, it is also foreseen that each hinge pin (only upper hinge pins 18 are shown) could be formed generally as a hook projecting outward and then upward from a bracket mounted on the side of the post 5. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, it is foreseen that the hinge pins, such as hinge pin 18′ could be mounted on the sides of the frame 9 and the hinge pin receivers 26′ on the posts 5. In such an application, the hinge pins preferably would be oriented to extend downward as shown to facilitate lifting the fence panels 8 and lowering them onto the posts 5 such that the hinge pins 18′ are inserted downward into the hinge pin receivers 26′ and then secured in place with a nut or other retainer 31.

Upper and lower hinge pin receivers 26 and 27 are connected to and project outward from the sides of the panels 8 and 9. In the embodiment shown, the hinge pin receivers 26 and 27 comprise eye bolts 28 with the eye 29 of each eye bolt 28 securable over and around an aligned hinge pin 18 or 19. Upper ends of each hinge pin 18 and 19 may be threaded such that a nut 31 may be threaded onto the threaded end over a respective hinge pin receiver 26 and 27 positioned on hinge pins 18 and 19. It is foreseen that retainers other than nuts 31 could be used to retain the hinge pin receivers 26 and 27 including for example, cotter pins or non-threaded caps secured on the end of the upper end of each hinge pin 18 and 19 by frictional engagement.

Rectangular panels 8 are formed from rectangular, fiberglass tubing formed into a rectangular frame 32 including a pair of side rails 33 and 34, a top rail 35 and a bottom rail 36. As best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, L-shaped reinforcing members 39 are secured within the tubing forming the frame 32 at each corner with mitered ends of the side rails 33 and 34 and the top and bottom rails 35 and 36 extending over the legs of the L-shaped reinforcing members 39. The tubing forming the side rails 33 and 34 and top and bottom rails 35 and 36 may be connected to the L-shaped reinforcing members 39 by conventional means including fasteners, such as screws, driven through the rails 33-36 and the legs of the L-shaped reinforcing members 39 or using adhesives or the like. The eye bolts 28 are mounted to the side rails 33 and 34 through bores formed through the rails 33 and 34 and the vertical legs of the reinforcing members 39 with the eyes 29 projecting outward.

A plurality of relatively closely spaced vertical rods or pickets 43 are attached to and extend from and between the top and bottom rail 35 and 36 of each panel 8. Bores (not shown) may be formed in the inner surface of the top and bottom rails 35 and 36 to receive the ends of the pickets 43. It is foreseen that for ease of assembly, bores could be formed completely through either or both of the top and bottom rails 35 or 36 with the pickets 43, inserted through the bores then secured in place with screws driven through the sides of the rails 35 and 36 and into the ends of the pickets 43. A horizontal support rail 45 is shown in FIG. 1 extending medially between the top and bottom rails 35 and 36 and laterally between the side rails 33 and 34 to provide additional rigidity to the assembly. The pickets 43 extend through aligned bores formed in the horizontal support rail 45.

A toe plate or footer 47 is secured to the bottom of the bottom rail 36. The footer 47 may be formed from a section of fiberglass tubing that is cut shorter than the bottom rail 36 with the footer 47 centered along the bottom rail 36. The footer 47 reduces the gap between the bottom of the panel 8 and the ground between the bases 6 when the panel 8 is hung between two posts 5. The footer 47 is shorter than the bottom rail 36 to provide clearance for each base 6.

Gated panels 9 are constructed similarly to panels 8 but include an opening 51 for a gate or door 53 with the gate or door 53 hung on the panel 9. The opening 51 is bordered by jambs 55 and 56 which are formed from fiberglass tubing connected to and extending between the top and bottom rails 35 and 36 in spaced apart relation.

The gate 53 includes or is formed from a hinge stile 61, latch stile 62, top rail 63 and bottom rail 64. The stiles 61 and 62 and rails 63 and 64 are preferably formed from mitered sections of fiberglass tubing connected together over L-shaped reinforcing members 66 in each corner of the gate 53. Pickets 68 are connected to and extend between the top and bottom rails 63 and 64 of the gate 53 in closely spaced relation. The pickets 68 also extend through a horizontal support rail 69 extending laterally between the hinge stile 61 and latch stile 62 and medially between the top and bottom rails 63 and 64.

The gate 53 is hung from the hinge jamb 55 on hinges 71, three of which are shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Each hinge 71 is connected between the hinge jamb 55 bordering the opening 51 and the hinge stile 61 of the gate 53. A latch or first latch member 73 is mounted on the latch stile 62 and a latch receiver or second latch member 74 (not shown) is mounted on the latch jamb 56. The latch 73 releasably engages the latch receiver 74 to secure the gate 53 closed relative to the gated panel 9 and across the gate opening 51. It is foreseen that the latch 73 may be designed to cooperatively engage the latch jamb 56 without the need for a separate latch receiver. Structure may be included on the first and second latch members 73 and 74 or elsewhere on the gate 53 and gate panel 9 for locking the gate 53 closed. Alternatively, cables or chains may be secured around and locked in place around the latch stile 62 and latch jamb 56 for locking the gate 53 closed.

In one example of the fence assembly 1, the panels 8 and 9 are sized so that they can be supported on posts 5 spaced ten feet apart. In assembling an enclosure using the components of the fence assembly 1, two bases 6 are spaced ten feet apart and the posts are set over the mounting pins 14. The posts 5 are rotated relative to their respective base 6 until opposed sets of upper and lower hinge pins 18 and 19 are aligned between the posts 5. A panel 8 or 9 is then lifted into place and hung from the spaced apart posts 5 with the eyes 30 of eye bolts 29 set over the two sets of upper and lower hinge pins 18 and 19. Nuts 31 are then threaded onto the upper ends of the hinge pins 18 and 19 over the eye 30 of the associated eye bolt 29 to secure the panel 8 or 9 to the hinge pins 18 and 19 and the posts 5.

Additional posts 5 are then positioned at a spacing of ten feet from the first set of posts 5 and panels 8 or 9 are hung between the posts 5 to form an enclosure. As shown in FIG. 11, the pivotal connection formed between the hinge pins 18 and 19 on the posts 5 and the eye bolts 29 projecting from the sides of the panels 8 and 9, allow selective angular orientation of adjacent panels 8 or 9 to form enclosures of infinite shapes to accommodate the shape of the items to be enclosed.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.

Claims

1. A temporary fencing assembly comprising: a plurality of posts, each post removably securable to a base and pivotal about a vertical axis through said post relative to said base; each of said plurality of posts having a first of a hinge pin or a hinge pin receiver on first and second sides of said post;a plurality of fence panels, each said fence panel comprising a frame including first and second side rails; each of said first and second side rails having a second of a hinge pin or a hinge pin receiver projecting outward therefrom; each of said hinge pin receivers pivotally securable around one of the first and second hinge pins when one of said fence panels is supported between two of said posts positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of said fence panel with each of said posts capable of supporting ends of two of said fence panels;a plurality of retainers, each retainer removable securable to one of the hinge pins for retaining one of the hinge pin receivers thereto.

2. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 1 wherein the frame of each of said plurality of fence panels further comprises upper and lower rails with the upper and lower rails and the first and second side rails forming a rectangular frame and the upper and lower rails and the first and second side rails of each frame and each of said posts are formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

3. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 2 wherein the base for each of said posts is formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

4. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 2 wherein a plurality of spaced vertical rods are connected to and extend between the top and bottom rail of each frame wherein the rods are formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

5. The fence assembly as in claim 4 wherein at least one of the plurality of fence panels comprises a gated panel having a gate opening bordered by a hinge jamb and a latch jamb extending in spaced relation between the top and bottom rails of the fence panel and a gate pivotally connected to the hinge jamb by at least one hinge connected between the gate and the hinge jamb and releasably securable to the latch jamb by a latch connected to the gate on a side opposite the at least one hinge.

6. The fence assembly as in claim 5 wherein the gate includes a gate frame formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

7. The fence assembly as in claim 6 wherein a mounting pin is mounted on and projects upward from each base and the mounting pin is sized to be received in one of the tubes forming the posts such that said post is rotatable relative to the mounting pin on which it is mounted.

8. A temporary fencing assembly comprising: a plurality of posts, each post removably securable to a base and pivotal about a vertical axis through said post relative to said base; each of said plurality of posts having at least one first of a hinge pin on a first side of said post and at least one second hinge pin on a second side of said post;a plurality of fence panels, each said fence panel comprising a frame including first and second side rails; said first side rail having a first hinge pin receiver projecting outward therefrom and said second side rail having a second hinge pin receiver projecting outward therefrom; each of said first and second hinge pin receivers pivotally securable around one of the first and second hinge pins when one of said fence panels is supported between two of said posts positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of said fence panel with each of said posts capable of supporting ends of two of said fence panels;a plurality of retainers, each retainer removable securable to one of the hinge pins for retaining one of the hinge pin receivers thereto.

9. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 8 wherein the frame of each of said plurality of fence panels further comprises upper and lower rails with the upper and lower rails and the first and second side rails forming a rectangular frame and the upper and lower rails and the first and second side rails of each frame and each of said posts are formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

10. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 8 wherein the base for each of said posts is formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

11. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 9 wherein a plurality of spaced vertical rods are connected to and extend between the top and bottom rail of each frame wherein the rods are formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

12. The fence assembly as in claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of fence panels comprises a gated panel having a gate opening bordered by a hinge jamb and a latch jamb extending in spaced relation between the top and bottom rails of the fence panel and a gate pivotally connected to the hinge jamb by at least one hinge connected between the gate and the hinge jamb and releasably securable to the latch jamb by a latch connected to the gate on a side opposite the at least one hinge.

13. The fence assembly as in claim 12 wherein the gate includes a gate frame formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

14. The fence assembly as in claim 8 wherein a mounting pin is mounted on and projects upward from each base and the mounting pin is sized to be received in one of the tubes forming the posts such that said post is rotatable relative to the mounting pin on which it is mounted.

15. A temporary fencing assembly comprising: a plurality of posts, each post removably securable to a base and pivotal about a vertical axis through said post relative to said base; each of said plurality of posts having first upper and first lower hinge pins mounted on a first side of said post and second upper and second lower hinge pins mounted on a second side of said post opposite said first side; each of said first upper and lower and second upper and lower hinge pins supported in spaced relationship to said post and extending generally vertically;a plurality of fence panels, each said fence panel comprising a rectangular frame including first and second side rails and top and bottom rails; each of said first and second side rails having upper and lower hinge pin receivers projecting outward from each of said first and second side rails; said upper and lower hinge pin receivers on said first side rail pivotally securable on the first upper and lower hinge pins on the first side of a first one of the posts and said upper and lower hinge pin receivers on said second side rail pivotally securable on the second upper and lower hinge pins on the second side of a second one of the posts such that each of said fence panels is supportable between two of said posts positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of said fence panel with each of said posts capable of supporting ends of two of said fence panels on the first and second upper and lower hinge pins;a plurality of retainers, each retainer removable securable to one of the first and second upper and lower hinge pins for retaining a respective one of the upper and lower hinge pin receivers thereto.

16. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 15 wherein the upper and lower rails and the first and second side rails of each frame and each of said posts are formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

17. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 15 wherein the base for each of said posts is formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

18. The temporary fencing assembly as in claim 16 wherein a plurality of spaced vertical rods are connected to and extend between the top and bottom rail of each frame wherein the rods are formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.

19. The fence assembly as in claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of fence panels comprises a gated panel having a gate opening bordered by a hinge jamb and a latch jamb extending in spaced relation between the top and bottom rails of the fence panel and a gate pivotally connected to the hinge jamb by at least one hinge connected between the gate and the hinge jamb and releasably securable to the latch jamb by a latch connected to the gate on a side opposite the at least one hinge.

20. The fence assembly as in claim 19 wherein the gate of the gated panel comprises a gate frame formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin.