FENCE CONSTRUCTION

Abstract: A fence comprises fence uprights (10) connected to mutually adjacent fence uprights (10). The fence uprights (10) consist of a tube member and another member (11), which is preferably of T or cruciform shape having three connexions (14A, 16, 16A). One connexion (16) is to the tube member and the other two (14A, 16A) are to adjacent such other members (11) on opposed sides. A sprinkler system may be provided in such a fence by having a connexion (19) for a garden hose and apertures for water flow (17A) incorporated in the fence. A gate self closing mechanism (26) may be included in a gate (22) in the fence, and includes an upright (10C) forming part of the gate (22) and connected to a fence tube member (25) by way of upper and lower connexions (35). The gate (22), except for upright (10C) pivots around the fence tube member (25) and the gate (22) is caused to pivot from an open position to a closed position by a spring member (33).

Description: FENCE CONSTRUCTION THIS INVENTION relates to an improved fence and method of construction of same. Hitherto conventional fences have involved the use of a plurality of components which in most cases were required to be prefabricated at a factory prior to transportation to the fence site. Usually also it was necessary to measure the length of the fence at the fence site before it was possible to manufacture the prefabricated component. This was normally the case with prefabricated metal fences of the WELDMESH type used as a barrier for swimming pools and the like. In relation to conventional chain wire fences it has been found that such fences have also required an initial measuring at the fence site prior to installation before the appropriate components such as posts and chain wire fencing material were obtained. Also conventional chain wire fences have been considered unsightly in some respects. Another problem with both types of conventional fences referred to above was that it was usually not possible to design the fence to incorporate ancillary functional systems such as sprinkler systems or heating systems. Yet another problem with the conventional fences discussed above were that they normally required skilled operators to instal same and thus could not be installed by the average home owner or handyman. Also conventional fences of the type discussed above were not versatile in nature and thus could not be changed readily to fit different aesthetic and/or security requirements necessitated by different installation sites. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fence and method of construction of same which alleviates the abovementioned disadvantages associated with the prior art. The method of the invention includes the steps of: (i) attaching an end member including a base portion and opposed side portions to at least one end of a tube member to form a fence upright; and (ii) attaching mutually adjacent fence uprights to each other wherein mutually adjoining end members are connected to each other. Preferably the end member is a T shaped member or cruciform shaped member. In one embodiment in step (i) a first T member is mounted on one end of a tube member and a second T member is mounted on the other end in an orientation which is inverted in relation to the first T member. Thus the required length of the fence to be formed may be accomplished by the attachment of as many upright members of the fence as are necessary to form the said required length. In step (ii) mutually adjoining T members of adjacent upright members at each end thereof are connected to each other. This may be carried out in any suitable fashion such as by the use of complementary engaging surfaces. Preferably however each T member includes a socket arm or female arm and a male arm wherein a male arm is suitably of lesser diameter than the female arm. The arrangement is suitably such that a male arm of one T member may be inserted into an adjacent female arm of an adjoining T member so as to connect one upright member to another upright member. In a particularly preferred form of the invention the T member may have a socket end of rearwardly convergent dimensions or of frusto-conical interior surface and a male end of substantially complementary shape. This arrangement facilitates the interconnection and retention of a male end within a corresponding socket or female end. It also will be appreciated from the foregoing that the stem arm of the T member is of greater diameter than the tube member so that the T member may be readily mounted to each end of the tube member. In some cases a cross or crucifix member may also be utilized instead of a bottom T member. In this embodiment the crucifix member may comprise a T member as described above mounted on a length of tube member used in forming the uprights of the fence. Alternatively the crucifix member may be of integral construction. Preferably the crucifix member may be used as fence supports and thus a base end of the crucifix member may be buried or embedded in the ground in any appropriate manner such as by being supported in concrete or other settable material. In this embodiment the frame may comprise a top rail formed of interconnected T members, a bottom rail formed of interconnected T members, intermediate uprights formed by the tube members and base supports formed by the crucifix members referred to above. If the fence is to be supported on a surface other than the ground then the base ends of the crucifix members referred to above may be inserted in pre---drilled holes located in a base plate or engage a series of supporting projections extending upwardly from the base plate. If desired additional tube members may be used as horizontal members so as to increase the length of the fence or provide for increased upright spacing. In this context the tube member is suitably of appropriate diameter to engage with a respective male or female end of a T member or alterna- tively a conventional T member could be utilized wherein a tube member at each end thereof may be of lesser diameter than the internal bore of each arm of the T member to allow insertion therein. Preferably each component which may be a T member, tube member, crucifix member or elbow member as hereinafter discussed is attached to each other by adhesive or fixing agent. Suitably the adhesive is such as to cause welding of one component to an adjacent component as is known in the art when each component is formed from plastics material such as PVC, Thus it is such as to cause fusing of the plastics components to each other. O PI _ As discussed above the fence of the invention may also incorporate a sprinkler system and/or a heating system if such is required. In one form a closure disc of the same diameter as the internal bore of the female end of the T member may be inserted therein before attachment of an adjacent T member or tube member forming a horizontal spacer. A closure disc may also be inserted in the stem of the T member before attachment of the tube member forming an associated upright. In this manner a selected portion of the top rail or bottom rail of the fence may be closed or blocked at each end to form a sprinkler zone. Subsequently a water source such as a garden hose may be attached to one of the T members included in the sprinkler zone by any suitable means. In one form a PVC plumbing screw is fitted into a preformed hole or aperture and fused in place with the abovementioned ' fixing agent. The threaded end of the screw extending from the T member will then enable an appropriate hose fitting as is known in the art to be fitted thereto such as a NYLEX "Gardena" fitting. When the hose cock is turned on, water may flow- along the sprinkler zone and as pressure builds up within the sprinkler zone it may escape in jets through a series of pinholes formed in the sprinkler zone. It also will be noted that due to the shape of the T member as described above with the inner ends of each arm of the T being of lesser diameter than the respective outer ends that water pressure within this relatively restricted zone of the T member will be greatest and hence it is preferred to form the abovementioned pinholes at these locations. It also will be appreciated that the stem of the T is also desirably incorporated with an inner end of lesser diameter than the outer end. Thus the stem of the T may also be formed from a frusto-conical shape. The fence of the invention may also have incorporated therein a gate system. Suitably the gate is formed in the same manner as described above in relation to a section of fence except that not only will the gate have a shorter length but also the ends of the gate will be formed by elbows interconnecting a top rail to an upright and a bottom rail to an upright. Also one end upright of the gate may function as a pivot upright or post and thus the pivot post will not be attached to its respective elbows at top and bottom by fixing agent but will only be incorporated therein in an interferenc fit. The gate may also be provided with biasing means associated with the pivot upright so as to provide a self closing mechanism. In one form the biasing means may compris a spring member mounted in or adjacent to a bottom end of the pivot upright wherein a top part of the spring may be fixed to the tube member and a bottom part of the spring may be fixed to the bottom elbow. An intermediate part of the spring may be unconfined or free and thus upon opening of the gate be sufficiently compressed or tensioned to cause the gate to return to its normally closed position. In this embodiment the adjacent fence may be provided with a halter or stop member to stop the gate from pivoting further from a position wherein it is substantially parallel with the fence. Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein: FIGS 1 arid 2 are alternative type of fences constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG 3 is a perspective view of a T member utilized in the fences shown in FIGS 1 and 2; FIG 4 is a perspective view of the T member shown in FIG 3 from an opposite orientation; FIG 5 is a side view of the T member shown in FIGS 3 or 4 incorporating a hose fitting; FIG 6 is an end view of the T member shown in FIG 5 showing the components of the hose fitting in exploded relationship; FIG 7 is a perspective view of an alternative type of fence constructed in accordance with the invention to those shown in FIGS 1 and 2; FIG 8 is a view of a fence constructed in accordance with the invention which may be utilized for a bank or sloping ground; FIG 9 is a view of a modified T member which may be utilized in the invention for fence corners; FIG 10 is a perspective view of a fence utilizing the T member of FIG 9; FIG 11 is a perspective view of a T member which may be utilized in the fence of the invention for forming a sprinkler zone; FIG 12 is a view of a fence constructed in accordance with the invention using a self closing gate; and FIG 13 is a detailed sectional view of the closing mechanism for the gate shown in FIG 12. In the drawings there is shown in FIGS 1-2 various forms of fences constructed in accordance with the invention. Each include upright members 10 formed by tube members and T members 11 utilized in a respective top rail and bottom rail. In FIG 2 the T members are butt jointed to each other and in FIG 1 there is provided horizontal spacers 13 inter¬ connecting adjoining T members 11. The fence of the invention functions as a security fence, pool fence or balustrade. The fence of the invention may also function as a garden fence. FIGS 3-6 show T member 11 having stem 16 and arms 14 and 15. Each of members 14, 15 and 16 are of frusto-conical shape with their respective inner ends being the ends of lesser diameter. There is also shown male end 15 having male projection or boss 16A and socket 14A in arm 14. «fe * This invention may also include within its scope a modi ied T member from that already described which includes locating means for locating one T member in operative alignment with an adjacent T member for mutual inter- connection. Suitably the locating means includes a key member which is associated with one arm of the T member and a keyway associated with the other arm of the T member. Preferably the key member is associated with the male arm and the keyway with the female arm. In one form the keyway is provided as an elongate open ended slot in the outer edge of the female arm. The key member may be provided as a rib extending from the junction of the male projection or boss and the male arm as described hereinafter. It will of course be appreciated that the locating means between adjacent T member may be of any suitable type and suitably of a plug-socket type of interconnection between a mating male arm of one T member and female arm o an adjoining T member. In FIGS 3-5 female arm 14 includes internal ledge 39 as does the stem arm 16. Male arm 15 has a pair of opposed keys or locating ribs 37 which may engage with corresponding keyways or slots 38 of a female arm 14 of an adjoining similar T member. In FIGS 3-5 there is also shown a hose fitting comprising a screw threaded pipe 19 inserted through a corresponding aperture in arm 15 and attached thereto by adhesive. There is also shown component 20 which may be screw threadedly attached to pipe 19 and which includes an end 21 of reduced size whereby a hose connection may be snap fitted thereon when required. In FIG 7 there is shown a modified ence including upright tubes 10 as described previously and T connectors 11 of the type shown in FIGS 3-6. There is also included a base plate 22 including upstanding projections 23 for telescopically engaging with a lower end of an associated upright tube 11. In FIG 8 there is shown a fence suitable for sloping ground or bank 24 comprising upright tubes 10 and T members 11. It will be noted however that the T members are oriented at right angles in FIG 8 to attach horizontal spacers 13A to the next upright tube 10. There is also shown upright tubes 10A and tube component 25 engaging with an upper T connector for embedding within bank 24. In FIG 9-10 modified T members 26 having arms all on mutually orthogonal axes 27, 28 and 29 are used to form fence corners of the fence shown wherein crucifix members 12 are used for the lower rail of the fence and T connectors 11 used for the upper rail of the fence. Tube uprights 30 attached to crucifix or cruciform members 12 are embedded in concrete 31 as shown. In the construction of a sprinkler zone as described above in FIG 11 closure discs 17 are inserted in arms 14 and 16 of T member 11 as shown. The dotted position shows the positions of discs 17 when inserted in arms 14 and 16. This shows how two T members when incorporated in a top rail of the fence (or even in a bottom rail if required) and modified as shown in FIG 11 form a closed pathway for water travel which may exit through pinholes 17A under pressure. The hose fitting 20 may be attached to arm 15 as shown in FIGS 5-6. In FIG 12 there is shown gate 22 formed of upright 10C attached to post 25. Elbows 24 attach the top rail and bottom rail of gate 22 to upright 10C and outer upright 10A. The top and bottom rails respectively of gate 22 are formed by T members 11 as shown. There is also shown an adjacent fixed fence having end upright 10B. Also shown is latch mechanism 27 and self closing mechanism 26. Post 25 is mounted in ground 23 as is the case with crucifix or cruciform member 12. In FIG 13 there is shown end upright IOC pivotally attached to post 25 by any suitable means (not shown) . Upright IOC is attached to elbow 24 at its bottom end. There is also shown interior tube 36 which is not fused to elbow 24 but which is fused to larger tube IOC. This enables gate 22 with the exception of fixed upright IOC to rotate or pivot relative to post 25. There is also shown tension spring 33 having fixed ends 33A and 33B and intermediate part 33C which is free. Ends 33A and 33B are supported in cement 34. End plates 32 facilitate part 33C of spring 33 to be unconfined. When the gate 22 is opened spring 33 is wound in tension and causes the gate to return automatically to the closed position. It is believed that the fence as described above may provide advantages in that (i) the fence may be constructed from a minimal number of components as described above to any required length; (ii) the tubular nature of the fence enables it to carry fluids within the top or bottom rail thereof. Thus besides incorporating a sprinkler system as described above the fence may be by thermal conduction and solar influence heat fluids contained therein; (iii) the fence may be installed or erected by a person of limited installation experience; (iv) the fence being of continuous interlocking nature is versatile and can be modified to form fences of various types as shown in FIGS 1-5; (v) the fence may be easily dismantled if required without structural damage to fence components. Preferably the tube components are formed from resilient plastics material and thus will not prove to be a lightning hazard or will cause harm to children who may collide with the fence. No sharp edges are incorporated in the fence. The fence being formed from durable plastics material requires very low maintenance. Thus it will not corrode or require painting. It will also never require re-setting which can arise in metal fences due to their own massive weight causing fatigue after a period of time.

Claims: The claims de ining the invention are as ollows; 1. A method of constructing a fence including the steps of: (i) attaching an end member including a base portion and opposed side portions to at least one end of a tube member to form a fence upright; and (ii) attaching mutually adjacent fence uprights to each other wherein mutually adjoining end members are connected to each other. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end members are T shaped or cruciform shaped. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein in step (ii) mutually adjacent T members or cruciform members are directly attached to each other. 4. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein in step (ii) cross members are utilized to interconnect mutually adjacent T members or cruciform members. 5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein each T member includes a socket arm and a male arm whereby a male arm is of lesser transverse dimensions or diameter than a corresponding socket arm whereby a male arm of one T member may be inserted in an adjacent socket arm of an adjoining T member in step (ii). 6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the socket arm has a rearwardly convergent or frusto conical internal surface and the male arm has an external surface of substantially complementary shape to assist in retention of a male arm within a mating socket arm. 7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein cruciform members are attached to selected lower ends of each fence upright whereby a base part of the cruciform members may be embedded in the ground. 8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a selected portion of a top or bottom rail of the fence may be closed or blocked at each end so as to form a sprinkler zone wherein said sprinkler zone may have water fed thereto from a water source. 9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein a closure member is inserted in the internal bore of the socket arm of a first T member and a closure member is also inserted in the stem of a second T member whereafter said first T member and said second T member are attached to each other to form said sprinkler zone. 10. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein said sprinkler zone includes a plurality of pinholes or apertures therefore forming water jets when water flows through said sprinkler zone. 11. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a base portion of the fence includes a base plate including a plurality of sockets or upwardly extending projections wherein each socket or projection receives an associated tube member of a fence upright. 12. A fence including: a plurality of fence uprights formed from tube members having attached thereto at least one end, an end member including a base portion and opposed side portions and connection means between mutually adjacent fence uprights interconnecting mutually adjoining end members. 13. A fence as claimed in claim 12 wherein the end members are T shaped members or cruciform members. 14. A fence as claimed in claim 13 wherein each T member includes - a socket arm and a male arm whereby a male arm is of lesser diameter or transverse dimensions than a corres¬ ponding socket arm whereby a male arm of one T member of one fence upright is inserted in an adjacent socket arm of an adjoining fence upright. OMPI 15. A fence as claimed in claim 14 wherein the socket arm has a rearwardly convergent or frusto conical internal surface and the male arm has an external surface of substantially complementary shape to assist in retention of a male arm within a female arm. 16. A fence as claimed in any one of claims 12-15 wherein there is provided a key member associated with one arm of the T member and a keyway associated with the other arm of • the T member. 17. A fence as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein a selected portion of a bottom or top rail of the fence may be closed or blocked at each end to form a sprinkler zone wherein the sprinkler zone may have water fed thereto from a water source. 18. A fence as claimed in claim 17 wherein a closure member is inserted in the internal bore of the socket arm of a first T member and a closure member is also inserted in the stem of a second T member whereafter said first T member and said second T member are attached to each other to form said sprinkler zone. 19. A fence as claimed in claim 18 wherein said sprinkler zone includes a plurality of pinholes or apertures therefore forming water jets when water flows through said sprinkler zone. 20. A fence including tubular uprights and/or tubular cross members including a sprinkler zone bounded by closure members at each end thereof which is connect- able to a water source. 21. A self closing mechanism for a gate including a pivot upright tube which may form part of said gate being pivotally attachable to a stationary adjacent fence upright wherein in the interior of the pivot upright tube there is included a spring member including rigidly attached ends and an intermediate unconfined portion whereby in use upon opening of the gate said spring causes said gate to pivot from an open position to a closed position.

Inventors: TREMAIN STEPHEN, TREMAIN, STEPHEN
Applicants: SPACE MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SPACE MANAGEMENT PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A01G25
IPC codes: A01G25, E04H17