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.
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.
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 may be formed from tubing formed from a fiber reinforced thermoset resin such as fiberglass. An alternative embodiment of the base is formed from two fiberglass shoes secured to a metal, mounting stud base having a mounting stud projecting upward therefrom and over which a post is positioned. The fiberglass shoes cooperatively cover the bottom and sides of the mounting stud base and in one embodiment have a T-shaped cross-section and in another embodiment are L-shaped with inwardly extending legs extending across the bottom of the mounting stud base.
In an 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.
Referring to the drawings in more detail,
The posts 5 and bases 6, for the embodiment shown in
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
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
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
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
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
In the embodiment shown in
The web 125 and the first and second mounting flanges 126 and 127 are preferably formed longer than the width of the post 5. The fastener receiving holes 129 one each mounting flange 126 and 127 are spaced apart wider than the width of the post 5 and in equal spacing from a center line extending through the mounting stud 114 so that the fastener receiving holes 129 are spaced outward on the first and second mounting flanges 126 and 127 past the post 5 mounted on the mounting stud 114.
In the preferred embodiment, each of the first and second insulating feet 121 and 122 are formed with a T-shape cross section including a central stem 131 and first and second flanges 132 and 133 projecting perpendicular to the central stem on opposite sides of an end thereof. First and second flanges 132 and 133 may also be referred to as inner and outer flanges or first and second legs or inner and outer legs 132 and 133. The width of each leg 132 and 133, from the stem 131 is preferably one half the width of the web 125 of mounting stud base 115. For example, in one embodiment the legs 132 and 133 are each approximately two and one half inches wide and the web 125 of the mounting stud base 115 is approximately five inches wide. Two fastener receiving holes 135 are formed in the central stem 131 of each insulating foot 121 and 122, generally medially relative to the length of the foot 121 and 122 and in a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the fastener receiving holes 129 in the first and second mounting flanges 126 and 127 of mounting stud base 115.
The stem 131 of each insulated foot 121 and 122 is fastened to one of the first and second mounting flanges 126 and 127 by inserting fasteners 137 through aligned sets of fastener receiving holes 129 and 136 in the mounting flanges 126 and 127 of the mounting stud base 115 and the central stem 131 of the respective foot 121 and 122. The inwardly extending legs 132 of the feet 121 and 122 extend under the mounting stud base 115 and are sized so that the outer ends of each of the inwardly extending legs 132 abut and the inwardly extending legs cover the entire bottom of the mounting stud base 115 to provide an insulating layer between the mounting stud base 115 and the ground. The outwardly extending flanges 133 provide additional surface area to provide greater lateral support for the vertical support post 5.
In an embodiment, the length of each T-shaped foot 121 and 122 is approximately 36 inches, the stem 131 is one quarter inch wide and the inner and outer legs 132 and 133 are two and one half inches wide. When two T-shaped feet 121 and 122 are secured to the mounting stud base 115 and extend adjacent to each other in abutting relationship the total width of the two feet 121 and 122 is approximately 10½ inches. The stem 131 of each foot 121 and 122 preferably has a height or length equal to the height of each of the first and second mounting flanges 126 and 127 of the mounting stud base 115. The stem 131 is typically shorter than or equal in length to the width of each inner and outer leg 132 and 133 of the feet 121 and 122. In the example described herein, the stem 131 may range 1-2.5 inches in height. The mounting stud base 115 in the example described is approximately 9 inches long or one quarter the length of each foot 121 and 122. In the example described, the vertical support post 5 may be formed from three inch by three inch square tubing with the mounting stud 114 sized to be received in the hollow interior of the vertical support post 5.
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.
In a further alternative embodiment as shown in
The fiber reinforced components may be formed using a variety of manufacturing methods including a pultrusion process. Pultrusion involves pulling reinforcing fibers or matting through a vat of resin and then through a heated die where the resin undergoes polymerization encasing the fibers and forming the desired, uniform shape of the component.
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.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/261,124, filed Jan. 29, 2019 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/623,135, filed Jan. 29, 2018, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16261124 | Jan 2019 | US |
Child | 17451595 | US |