Fencing bracket

Abstract: A fencing bracket (10) for securing wooden fencing panels (21) to wooden support posts (30) comprises a member (11) moulded from polypropylene having a centre section (14) and ends (12 and 13). The ends are joined to the centre section (14) by thinned areas (15,16) of substantially less thickness than the centre (14) and end sections (12,13). The thinned areas (15,16) extend transversely across the full width of the member (11) and allow the member (11) to be folded along a plurality of notional transverse lines positioned within the thinned area (15,16) to form a U-shaped bracket. The centre section (14) is nailed to the post (30) and the end sections (12,13) are nailed to the panel (21).

Description: The present invention relates to an improved form of fencing bracket used to secure a fence panel to a support post. In fencing of the type in which preformed wooden panels, e.g. larch overlap panels, are positioned between wooden support posts that are normally concreted into the ground, the panels are frequently secured to the posts by U-shaped metal brackets. Such brackets are first nailed or screwed to the tops and bottoms of the post and the panel then lowered between the arms of the U-shaped brackets which are finally secured to either side of the panel again by nails or screws. This system suffers from the disadvantage that the brackets have to be sized for particular panel depths and also that the panels have to be lifted above the upper brackets in order to be fitted between the bracket arms. GB 2248642 discloses a fence panel fixing system which presents the features of the preamble of claim 1. The present invention relates to an improved form of bracket that overcomes the above particular difficulties and difficulties associated with the fence panel fixing system of GB 2248642. According to the present invention a fencing bracket as set out in claim 1 is provided. The expression "notional transverse lines" is intended to denote that folding may occur along transverse lines positioned anywhere within the thinned areas. Preferably the thinned areas have a widthwise dimension of at least 10mm to allow for a number of possible fold lines in each area. The members are preferably moulded from polypropylene and preferably also contain holes in the ends and centre sections to enable the bracket to be secured to fence posts and panels. One embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a representation of a prior art bracket. Figure 2 is a representation in plan view of a bracket according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross section along the line A-A of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an illustration of the bracket of Figure 2 secured to a fencing post; Figure 5 is an illustration of a portion of a panel secured to a fencing post by the bracket of Figure 2. A prior art bracket generally indicated at 1 and as illustrated in figure 1, comprises a base portion 2 and parallel side portion 3 and 4 extending therefrom at right angles. Holes 5, 6, and 7 are provided for securing the bracket to a fence post and to either side of a fencing panel. Typically such brackets are made of mild steel and are of fixed size which means that different sized brackets are required for panels of different depths. Furthermore the bracket is not readily secured to an upright fence post by reason of interference of the arm portions 3 and 4 when nailing or securing the bracket to the post. Figure 2 and 3 illustrate a bracket according to the present invention generally indicated at 10 and comprising a flat member 11 having end sections 12 and 13 and a centre portion 14 separated from ends 12 and 13 by parallel thinned sections 15 and 16. Holes 17, 18 and 19 are provided to allow the bracket to be secured to a fence post and either side of a panel respectively. The member is preferably moulded from polypropylene plastics material and typically has an overall length of 108mm, the end sections being 20mm long, the centre section 34mm and the thinned areas 17mm measured along the longitudinal axis of the member. Typically the member is 3mm thick with the thinned areas 15 and 16 being 1.5mm thick. In use the bracket is first secured to a fencing post 30 as shown in figure 4. The bracket may be secured to the post by use of nails or screws passing through holes 17. This operation is relatively easy since the member is in a flat condition and sections 12 and 13 do not interfere. A fencing panel 21 (Figure 5) is then offered up to the post 30 and end portion 12 of bracket 10 is folded over against the end section 22 of the panel 21 and secured to the panel by nails or screws. End 13 is then folded against the other side of support 22 and again secured by nails or screws. Because the thinned areas extend over a substantial longitudinal length of the member the bracket is enabled to accommodate panels of different depths, typically between about 38 and 70mm. In securing the member 10 to the fence post it is preferably that the centre section 14 is located adjacent the post with the flat surface 20 of the member facing outwardly to provide sharper fold lines when secured to the panel. The bracket is a moulded plastics member which has the advantage of being non-corrodible under atmospheric conditions and therefore of longer potential life.

Claims: A fencing bracket (10) comprising an elongate member (11) having two end sections (12 and 13) and a centre portion (14), the two end sections (12 and 13)being joined to the centre portion by zones of reduced resistance to bending (15 and 16), the elongate member (11) being foldable about any one of a plurality of notional transverse lines positioned within each of the zones of reduced resistance to bending (15 and 16), the elongate member (11) being folded to form a substantially U-shaped bracket in use, characterised in that the elongate member (11) is flat and is moulded from plastics material, the zones of reduced resistance to bending (15 and 16) are thinned areas extending transversely the full width of the elongate member (11) and having a thickness substantially less than the thickness of the centre portion (14) and end sections (12 and 13). A fencing bracket according to Claim 1, characterised in that the plastics material is polypropylene. A fencing bracket according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that there are holes (17, 18 and 19) in the end sections (12 and 13) and centre portion (14) to enable the bracket to be secured to fence panels and support posts respectively. A fencing bracket according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the thinned areas (15 and 16) are at least 10mm wide transversely. A fencing bracket according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the thinned areas (15 and 16) are 1.5mm thick. A fencing system comprising wooden support posts (30), preformed wooden panels (21), and brackets (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the centre portions (14) of the brackets are secured to the support posts (30), the brackets are folded against end sections of the panels (21) along lines that are transverse to the thinned areas (15 and 16) and the end sections (12 and 13) are secured to the panels (21). A fencing system according to Claim 6, characterised in that in which each member (11) is flat on one side (20) and concaved in the thinned areas (15 and 16) on the other side of the member, the bracket being mounted on the support post (30) with the flat side (20) facing outwardly.

Inventors: HENSON TIMOTHY GEORGE, HENSON, TIMOTHY GEORGE
Applicants: METPOST LTD, METPOST LIMITED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E04H17
IPC codes: E04H17