Abstract:
The present invention relates to temporary fencing, and in particular to a barrier panel for a temporary fence comprising a perimeter frame comprised of a plurality of frame members, and an infill panel, where at least one of the frame members is at least partially wrapped in a covering of high-visibility material.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority from: 
         [0002]    Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2013902330 titled “TEMPORARY FENCING IMPROVEMENTS” and filed on Jun. 25, 2013. 
         [0003]    The content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to temporary fencing. For the purpose of explanation reference will be made herein to temporary fencing of the type commonly employed around construction sites for the purposes of protecting public safety and providing a deterrent to theft. It should be understood however that the present invention is not necessarily so limited in application. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    Temporary fencing of the above described type is generally fabricated of steel tubing which is hot dip galvanised to prevent corrosion, resulting in fencing with a dull grey finish which can be difficult to see in low light and at night. 
         [0006]    It is against this background that the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present invention has been developed. 
         [0007]    Objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    According to a first aspect, there is provided a barrier panel for a temporary fence comprising a perimeter frame comprised of a plurality of frame members, and an infill panel, where at least one of the frame members is at least partially wrapped in a covering of high-visibility material. 
         [0009]    A high-visibility material is one which has highly reflective properties, and/or is of a colour that is easily discernible from any background. Examples include materials which are brightly and/or fluorescently coloured, reflective and/or retro-reflective. 
         [0010]    In one form, a substantial portion of each frame member is wrapped in a covering of the high-visibility material. 
         [0011]    In one form, this high-visibility covering is a lamina or sheet, this being in the form of a sheet, a strip, a film or in a tubular form. 
         [0012]    In one form, the high-visibility material is a retroreflective material. 
         [0013]    In one form, the high-visibility material or covering comprises an adhesive backing, or an adhesive is applied to a backing of the covering to adhere this to one of the frame members. 
         [0014]    In one form, the high-visibility covering is formed into a tube which is disposed over the frame element. In one form, the high-visibility covering is wound around the frame element. 
         [0015]    In one form, the high-visibility material is wrapped in a covering of transparent material. 
         [0016]    In one form, the covering of transparent material is protective of the covering of high-visibility material. 
         [0017]    In one form, the transparent covering is a lamina or sheet, this being in the form of a sheet, a strip, a film or in a tubular form. 
         [0018]    In one form, the transparent covering comprises an adhesive backing, or an adhesive is applied to a backing of the protective transparent covering. 
         [0019]    In an alternative, the transparent covering is formed into a tube which is disposed over the frame element. 
         [0020]    In one form, the infill panel is secured to the perimeter frame by a releasable securement means. 
         [0021]    In one form, the frame members are separably assembled to form the perimeter frame. 
         [0022]    In one form, the assembled frame members are maintained in an assembled state to form the perimeter frame, by the releasable securement means. 
         [0023]    In one form, the releasable securement means comprises any one or more of a clip, a clamp, a fastener or a tie. 
         [0024]    In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a barrier panel for a temporary fence comprising a perimeter frame comprised of a plurality of frame members, and an infill panel, wherein each of the frame members is at least partially enfolded in a covering of high-visibility material, and the covering of high-visibility material, and the frame member in turn, are enfolded in a covering of a transparent material. 
         [0025]    In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a temporary fence module comprising a barrier panel of the above described type, and a base for supporting the barrier panel upright. 
         [0026]    In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a temporary fence comprised of a plurality of fencing modules of the above described type. 
         [0027]    In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a method of constructing a barrier panel for a temporary fence comprising a perimeter frame comprised of a plurality of frame members, and an infill panel, the method comprising the steps of wrapping at least a portion of one of the frame members in a covering of high-visibility material, and then securing the infill panel to the frame. 
         [0028]    In one form, the method comprises the further step of wrapping the high-visibility material, and the frame element in turn, in a covering of protective transparent material. 
         [0029]    In one form, in an alternative, the method comprises the further step of forming the high visibility material into a tube, and then disposing this tube over the frame element. 
         [0030]    In one form, the method comprises the further step of forming the protective transparent material into a tube, and then disposing this tube over the frame element and the high visibility material. 
         [0031]    In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a frame member assembly for a temporary fence, the frame member assembly being as described above. 
         [0032]    In yet a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a method for forming a frame member assembly for a temporary fence, the method being as described above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a barrier for a temporary fence; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the barrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0036]      FIGS. 3 through 5  illustrate successive stages for applying a high visibility finish to a frame member of the barrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view through the frame member of  FIGS. 3 through 5 ; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a base for supporting the barrier of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0039]    In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures. 
       DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , where there is illustrated a barrier panel  1  for a temporary fence module. The barrier panel  1  comprises a perimeter frame comprised of frame members or elements in the form of a pair of uprights  2 , upper and lower rails  4  and  6  bridging the uprights  2 , and an infill panel  8  for the frame. 
         [0041]    In use, a temporary fence module comprises a pair of base members  40  (see  FIG. 7 ) operatively supporting a barrier panel  1  substantially upright. Each base member  40  is weighted, elongate, extends outward to either side of the barrier panel  1 , and comprises a pair of sockets  42  for receiving uprights  2  of two adjacent barrier panels  1 . 
         [0042]    The uprights  2  of adjacent barriers  1  supported by a common base member  40  are further linked by securement means such as loops of wire, brackets or clips at one of more locations above the base  40 . This type of temporary fence then is of the type generally employed around construction sites, but is not so limited in application. 
         [0043]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that, in this embodiment, the uprights  2 , and upper and lower rails  4  and  6  comprise a length of a hot dipped galvanised mild steel steel tubing, and the infill panel  8  is a hot dipped galvanised and powder coated wire mesh panel. Opposing ends A of the upper and lower rails  4  and  6  are sized for press fit into apertures B provided in the uprights  2 . The infill panel  8  is secured to the frame via a releasable securement means, being namely clips (hose clamps in this case)  10 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , where there is illustrated a frame element representative of either of the uprights  2  or the upper or lower rails  4  and  6 . Prior to its assembly with other frame elements or the infill panel  8 , a high-visibility finish is applied to the frame element  2 , 4 , 6  by way of wrapping this in a covering of high-visibility material  20  so that the frame element is encircled or enfolded by the high-visibility material  20 . 
         [0045]    In this embodiment, this covering of high-visibility material  20  is a high intensity grade reflective PVC sheeting having an adhesive backing and bearing a pattern of alternating retro-reflective stripes (red and white in this case—although single colours and other colours may be used). In the illustrated embodiment, the covering of high-visibility material  20  is wound around the frame element  2 , 4 , 6 , so as to substantially cover this (although partial covering is an option), but in an alternative, it may come as a preformed tube which is slid over the frame element  2 , 4 , 6 . 
         [0046]    A protective transparent covering  30  of clear plastic material is then disposed over both the covering of high-visibility material  20  and the frame element  2 ,  4 ,  6  in turn. In the illustrated embodiment, the protective transparent covering  30  comes as a preformed tube which is slid over the now high visibility frame element  2 , 4 , 6 , so as to substantially cover this, but in an alternative, it may come as a sheet which is wound around the now high visibility frame element  2 , 4 , 6 . 
         [0047]    This protective transparent covering  30  protects the high-visibility material  20  from dirt, damage caused by wear and tear (i.e. scrapes and scratches), and water damage. 
         [0048]    Optionally, strips of additional high visibility material can be applied to the base members  40  and infill panel  8  (which would typically be powder coated in a complementary colour). 
         [0049]    Applying the high visibility finish to the frame elements  2 , 4 , 6  in this way and at this stage (i.e. pre-assembly) of barrier panel  1  production permits the creation of patterns which would be very time consuming to create using a painting or taping process, or which might not be otherwise possible. 
         [0050]    Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “comprise” and “include” and variations such as “comprising” and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. 
         [0051]    The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
         [0052]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.