Patent Publication Number: US-2009236580-A1

Title: Fence assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fence assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fences are use to mark out boundaries of properties and sometimes to prevent people or animals from entering or leaving the property. There is a continued need for fencing systems with versatility and flexibility in their manner of assembly to allow for construction of fences suited for a wide range of specific circumstances found at various locations where a fence is to be installed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect the present invention provides a fence assembly comprising: a first fence panel provided with an elongate first post member along an edge margin of the panel a second fence panel provided with an elongate second post member provided along an edge margin of the panel; the first and second post members being adapted to be displaced lengthwise with respect to one another to provide for a range of displaced positions or being adapted to be rotated with respect to one another to provide for a range of rotated positions and to be attached in fixed association with one another in any one of the range of displaced or rotated positions respectively; and wherein each fence panel further includes at least one fence rail, each fence rail is adapted to be fixed in any one of a range of angular positions relative to the fence post. 
     The post members may be attached in fixed association by way of at least one slot provided on each of the members and a fastener passing through both slots. 
     The post members may be attached in fixed association by way of a series of slots. 
     The upper ends of the first and second post members may have pointed ends. 
     The first and second post members may be of identical construction. 
     The range of angular positions may extend for 20 degrees on either side of being perpendicular. 
     The first and second post members may each include a flange portion for fixedly securing the post members together; the panels may be rotated with respect to one another and fixed together by way of the flange portions of their respective posts in any one of a range of relative rotational positions. 
     The flange portions may be curved. 
     The range of rotational positions may extend from the panels being aligned in a straight line, to being rotated by 90 degrees with respect to one another. 
     At least one of the first and second post members may have a rail attachment portion which includes a first post aperture and a second post aperture; and the corresponding fence rail may have a post attachment portion which includes a first rail aperture and a second rail aperture; the first post aperture and the first rail aperture may be of substantially equal dimensions; and one of the second post aperture and the second rail aperture may be in the form of an elongate slot. 
     The first post aperture and first rail aperture may be circular holes of a particular diameter and the other of the second post aperture and the second rail aperture may be a circular hole of a larger diameter. 
     The fence assembly may further include a fastener, the fastener comprising: an enlarged head portion; a shank extending from the head portion; the shank having a gripping portion for gripping and rotating the fastener, and the shank further including a threaded section disposed between the gripping portion and the head portion, the gripping portion being adapted to separate from the fastener at a predetermined shear force. 
     The fastener may further include a nut. 
     The nut may include opposed flat edges. 
     In use, following shearing of the gripping portion, the shank may terminate substantially flush with the outer surface of the nut. 
     The fastener may further include a washer. 
     The washer may include opposed flat edges. 
     In a second aspect the present invention provides a fence assembly comprising: a first fence panel provided with an elongate first post member along an edge margin of the panel; a second fence panel provided with an elongate second post member provided along an edge margin of the panel; the first and second post members each including a flange portion for fixedly securing the post members together; the panels may be rotated with respect to one another and fixed together by way of the flange portions of their respective posts in any one of a range of relative rotational positions. 
     In a third aspect the present invention provides a fence panel assembly comprising: at least one fence post having a rail attachment portion which includes a first post aperture and a second post aperture; at least one fence rail having a post attachment portion which includes a first rail aperture and a second rail aperture; the first post aperture and the first rail aperture are of substantially equal dimensions; and one of the second post aperture and the second rail aperture is in the form of an elongate slot. 
     In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a fastener for use in a fence assembly comprising: an enlarged head portion; a shank extending from the head portion; the shank having a gripping portion for gripping and rotating the fastener, and the shank further including a threaded section disposed between the gripping portion and the head portion, the gripping portion being adapted to separate from the fastener at a predetermined shear force. 
     In a fifth aspect the present invention provides a fence assembly comprising: a first fence panel provided with an elongate first post member along an edge margin of the panel; a second fence panel provided with an elongate second post member provided along an edge margin of the panel; the first and second post members being adapted to be displaced lengthwise with respect to one another to provide for a range of displaced positions and being adapted to be rotated with respect to one another to provide for a range of rotated positions and to be attached in fixed association with one another in any one of the range of displaced or rotated positions respectively. 
     Embodiments of the present invention have at least the following advantages:
         The position of adjacent fence posts with respect to one another may be adjusted in a vertical direction. This allows for adjustment of adjacent panels to give the appearance of continuous rails running along across both panels.   Adjacent panels in a fence assembly may meet at any one of a range of angles. This allows the fence to be installed to mark out an irregular shaped boundary.   Incline of rails with respect to the posts may be adjusted. This allows the fence rails to lie parallel with regions of sloping ground.   Following tightening and shearing of the fasteners, they are difficult to unfasten.       

     Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. 
     All publications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application. 
     The features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a fence assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a fence post used in the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the fence panel of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view illustrating the lengthwise profile of the fence post of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  show the fence rail of the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view showing the lengthwise profile of the rail of  FIG. 5 , 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  show a fastener used in the fence assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows the bolt of the fastener of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  shows the join of a fence post with a fence panel in the assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  shows two fence panels of the assembly of  FIG. 1  meeting in a straight line; 
         FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  15  illustrate the joining of fence posts at various angles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a fence assembly  100  is shown formed from two fence panels  11 . Each panel  11  includes two elongate post members in the form of fence posts  12 , two fence rails  14  attached between the posts  12 , and a number of pickets  16  attached to rails  14 . The panels are joined together by joining of the two innermost posts  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , fence post  12  includes a series of four slots  18  which are used to affix two posts  12  in fixed relation to one another. Post  12  further includes a series of four rail attachment portions  20 . Each attachment portion includes a first post aperture in the form of a 6.3 mm diameter hole  21  and above that is provided a second post aperture in the form of an 8 mm diameter hole  23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , each post  12  is formed from two limbs  24 ,  26  which meet at 90 degrees to one another. Limb  24  includes a curved flange portion  30 . Limb  26  includes ribs  28  which receive flat edges of a washer of a fastener to prevent rotation of the washer as will be described later. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 , rail  14  includes a post attachment portion at either end in the form of a pair of apertures being a first rail aperture in the form of a 6.3 mm circular hole  36  and a second rail aperture in the form of an elongate slot  38  which is 6.3 mm in width. A series of holes  34  are provided along the length of rail  14  for attaching pickets  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , rail  14  is shown in cross section with cover plate  40  attached. Rail  14  is of substantially the same profile along its length and includes ribs  42  which receive flat edges of a nut of a fastener to prevent rotation of the nut as will be described later. The cover plate  40  is fitted following assembly of the fence as shown in  FIG. 1  and obscures from view fasteners within rail  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 to 10 , a fastener  50  is shown of the type used to assemble the fence assembly of  FIG. 1  and includes a bolt  51 , a nut  53  and a washer  55 . Both of nut  53  and washer  55  have opposed flat edges which serve to resist rotation of nut and washer during and after installation of a fastener. Bolt  51  includes an enlarged head portion  52  and a shank  54  extending from the head portion. Shank  54  includes a gripping portion  56  for gripping and rotating the bolt  51 , and a threaded portion  58  for engaging with the internal screw thread of nut  53 . Shank  54  includes a narrowed portion  60 . Bolt  50  is a type of shear bolt. To fasten the fastener  50 , gripping portion  56  is gripped and rotated to engage bolt  51  with nut  53  by way of their complementary screw threads. As the fastener is tightened, the gripping portion shears off at a predetermined shear force. Following shearing off of the gripping portion, the shank terminates substantially flush with the outer surface of nut  53  (See  FIG. 12 ). This makes subsequent disassembly difficult to achieve as the bolt  51  cannot be easily grasped and turned to loosen the bolt. 
     Construction of a fence assembly  100  commences by constructing a number of fence panels  11 . First, two rails  14  are attached between a pair of posts  12  by way of their respective post and rail attachment portions. Referring to  FIG. 11 , hole  21  in the post  12  and hole  36  in the rail  14  are both of 6.3 mm diameter. These holes  21 ,  36  are aligned and a fastener  50  is passed through both holes. This alignment of holes accurately positions rail  14  with respect to post  12 . Then, a second fastener is passed through hole  23  in the post and slot  38  in the rail. The oversize hole  38  and slot  23  provide a degree of adjustment to allow rail  14  to be inclined with respect to the fence post by about 20 degrees on either side of being perpendicular. In  FIG. 11 , the rail  14  is shown sloping upwardly to the left of post  12 . This degree of adjustment is useful when installing the fence on sloping ground. The angle of the rails  14  can be adjusted to correspond with the slope of the ground. When rail  14  is in the desired angular position, fasteners  50  are fully tightened to shear off their gripping portions. As mentioned earlier, ribs  28  of post engage with flats of washer  55  and ribs  42  of rail engage with flats of nut  53  to prevent rotation of either washer or nut during and after installation of the fastener  50 . 
     Following assembly of a number of fence panels  11 , a fence  100  is formed by joining a series of fence panels  11  to one another. The panels may be placed end to end in a straight line, or may meet at various angles as will now be described. 
     To install a fence, the positions of each of the fence posts  12  in the ground are determined and holes are dug or otherwise formed to receive the fence posts  12 . The fence panels  11  are then erected to loosely seat one post  12  in a hole at either end of each panel  11 . The fence posts  12  are then joined along their lengths as described below, and concrete poured into the holes and allowed to set. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , two fence panels  11  are shown joined in a straight line. The fence posts  12  of each panel  11  are joined along their lengths by way aligning the series of slots  18  provided along the length of each post and passing fasteners  50  through aligned pairs of slots  18 . With the fasteners partially tightened, the fasteners may slide in the slots which provides for a degree of adjustment by allowing one of a pair of posts  12  to be displaced with respect to the other post along its length. This allows the position of one panel  11  to be adjusted upwardly or downwardly in a vertical with respect to its neighbouring panel. This degree of adjustment is useful when installing a fence on uneven ground as it allows for alignment of sloping rails  14  of neighbouring panels  11  to give the appearance of a continuous rail provided along fence  100 . That is, step changes in the vertical positions of rail ends at the junction of neighbouring panels  11  can be eliminated to provide for an improved visual appearance. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  15 , posts  12  at the ends of panels  11  may meet at various angles. The fence rails are omitted from these figures for ease of illustration.  FIG. 13  shows the same arrangement as  FIG. 12 , with adjacent panels joining in a straight line. 
     In  FIG. 14 , the posts  12  are shown meeting at an angle whereby one panel is inclined to the adjacent panel by an angle of about 30 degrees. Posts  12  can then be fixed to one another by passing fasteners (not shown) through the region of curved flange portions  30  which abut one another along the length of the posts  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the posts  12  are shown meeting at an angle whereby one panel is at 90 degrees to an adjacent panel. Again, fasteners are inserted through flanges  30  to secure the posts together. In  FIG. 15 , a corner post  70  is attached between posts  12  to provide additional strength. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications can be made without departing from the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.