Patent Description:
Typically a fence is constructed from vertical fence posts which are secured in the ground and are provided with an H-shaped section with grooves on either side of the fence post and panels which are mounted between the fence posts and with their side edges are enclosed in said grooves of the fence posts.

The fence according to the present invention is intended for panels of the type composed of wires or rods which are mutually connected in a grid of horizontal and vertical wires.

In such panels on the one hand 2D panels are found which are essentially flat because the vertical wires are straight and located in a same plane and 3D panels which are not flat but have a certain thickness and a sort of open wave structure as it were with protruding pointed kinked projections to one side.

In the 2D panels there are also different commonly used heavier and lighter versions, with thicker or thinner wires. A disadvantage is that for attaching said different types of panels no universal method or clip exists.

A clip is known from <CIT> for mounting mesh panels in a fence post with a U-shaped groove on either side, whereby the clip is provided with notches which are hooked over a vertical wire of the panel and with which the panel is secured on the fence post with the vertical wire in a notch being clamped between the clip and the bottom of the groove.

The clip is provided with vertical clip parts with which the clip is hooked into the holes in the legs of the U-shaped groove.

Mounting is cumbersome and furthermore requires tools for mounting the clips or the like on the fence post, said clips only being usable in combination with a fence post with suitable dimensions and a suitable pattern of holes.

Another disadvantage is that such panels are easy to remove from between the fence posts and are thus easy to steal.

Analogously, a system is known from <CIT> with fence posts with legs that delimit a groove and clips for attaching a mesh panel between the clips and the bottom of the groove. The system can only be used with fence posts with a complex form, the legs of which are provided with inwardly oriented protrusions behind which the clips can be hooked.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to one or more of the aforementioned and other disadvantages.

To this end, the invention relates to a fence according to claim <NUM>.

Thus, the panel can be hooked via the entry of the support platelet in said groove or in one of said grooves in such a way that the panel with a horizontal wire, preferably the upper horizontal wire, can rest on the support platelet. For mounting the panel in the attachment platelet no tools are necessary.

Preferably, the support platelet is a rectangular platelet having a width E, which, apart from a lateral clearance S, is essentially equal to the width F of the groove and a length which is practically equal to the depth of the groove and said entry is machined in a corner of the support platelet on the opposite edge of said supporting edge.

In this way the support platelet can move little in the groove and the entry of the support platelet is easily accessible at the entry of the groove.

Preferably the grooves are connected with the entry of the support platelet via a connecting groove essentially parallel with the supporting edge of the attachment platelet, such that the panel with its vertical wire on a side edge is hooked by a perpendicular motion in a groove of the support platelet.

Preferably, the attachment platelet contains at least a central groove in the middle between the two side edges of the support platelet.

Said groove can for example serve for attaching a 2D panel in the middle between the legs of the groove.

According to a preferred embodiment, the attachment platelet contains at least two grooves at a lateral distance from each other and said grooves are connected with the entry via said connecting groove, whereby said grooves are each preferably located at the same lateral distance from an adjacent side edge of the support platelet.

Said grooves are intended for mounting a 3D panel, whereby one such groove is intended for mounting the 3D panel with its protruding pointed projections oriented toward one side of the fence and the other groove is intended for mounting with the protrusions oriented toward the other side of the fence.

Thus, the clip is universal for all commonly used 2D- and 3D panels.

Preferably, said entry tapers off conically from the contour of the support platelet onwards and ends in the connecting groove.

For a special aspect of the invention the smallest width G of the entry, measured relative to a side edge of the support platelet, is such that in mounted condition of the support platelet with a lateral clearance S in a groove (<NUM>), said smallest width G increased with said clearance S is smaller than the sum of the diameters of a vertical wire and a horizontal wire of the panel.

Thus, a panel can only be hooked in the attachment platelet when lifting the panel with its upper horizontal wire over a certain distance above the attachment platelet while holding its side edge in a slightly slanted position relative to the fence post.

Once the panels are mounted between the fence posts, the panels can no longer be removed as the panels can no longer be tilted in a slanted position and can also only be lifted to a limited extent, thereby hindered by the horizontal wires just under the upper wires.

Thus, the clips also provide security against theft of the panels.

Preferably, the fence posts are formed as a hollow H-profile that is folded in one piece from a metal sheet or band, whereby the bottom of the groove is formed by a transverse wall and the clip is provided with a hook-shaped part with which the clip can be fittingly hooked over the transverse wall.

The mounting of the panels between the fence posts does not require a single tool in this case, not for mounting the clips, nor for mounting the panels in the clips.

Additionally, the fence posts can be protected at the top by caps with a clamping section that is firmly clamped in the hollow fence post to make removal of the clips without damaging the fence difficult.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a preferred embodiment of a fence according to the invention is described hereinafter, by way of an example without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:.

The fence <NUM> shown in <FIG> is constructed from vertical fence posts <NUM> which are driven in the ground <NUM> for example and between which panels <NUM> are attached.

In the example shown the panels <NUM> are mesh panels which are composed of wires <NUM> or rods attached to each other, respectively straight rigid wires 5a which at different heights are always enclosed between two horizontal rigid straight wires <NUM> at a vertical distance A from each other.

In the technical jargon such panels <NUM> are called 2D panels which exist in different sizes and which are typified by the diameters of the wires <NUM>. For example, 2D panels <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> exist, referring to two horizontal wires 5b of <NUM>, with a vertical wire 5a of <NUM> in between. Analogously, 2D panels <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> also exist.

As shown in the cross-section of <FIG>, the fence posts <NUM> are made in the form of an H-profile <NUM> with two opposite grooves <NUM> on either side of the fence post <NUM> where a panel <NUM> with a wire 5a fits and is attached in the side edge <NUM> of the panel <NUM>, for example by means of a clip <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

The fence posts <NUM> are made of one single metal sheet or band <NUM> of which a strip with limited length A is shown in <FIG> and which breadthways B is folded between two side edges <NUM> along folding lines <NUM>, respectively folding lines 12a and 12b, which extend parallel to the side edges <NUM> to form the H-profile <NUM> as shown in <FIG> with a tubular square central part <NUM> and legs <NUM> which delimit the grooves <NUM> and lie in each other's extension in pairs.

More specifically, the folding lines <NUM> delimit a number of vertical bands which correspond with folding sections of the H-profile <NUM>, respectively bands and folding sections <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> with corresponding widths B15, B16, B17, B18 and B19.

On the level of the folding lines 12a, the sheet or band <NUM> is folded over in a straight angle to form the corners of the tubular square central part <NUM>, whereas on the level of the folding lines 12b the sheet or band <NUM> is folded over double over <NUM>° until the plate parts touch on either side of the folding line 12b to form the legs <NUM> with the folding lines 12b on the level of the free ends of the legs <NUM>.

The sheet or band <NUM> is folded such that the side edges <NUM> touch or practically touch, such that said side edges <NUM> of the bands <NUM> can be connected with each other by a welded joint <NUM>.

The bands <NUM> form flat parallel flanks <NUM> of the H-profile <NUM>, whereas the welded together bands <NUM> and the band <NUM> form the transversal walls <NUM> between the flanks <NUM>.

By folding a sheet or band <NUM> with thickness C of for example <NUM> in this way, a firm and slender tubular square central part <NUM> is obtained with a single thickness C of <NUM> and legs <NUM> with a double thickness D of approximately <NUM>.

The panels <NUM> are attached in the grooves <NUM> with their side edges <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, by means of clips <NUM>, as shown in the <FIG>.

The clips <NUM> are formed from die cut platelets <NUM> for example as shown in <FIG> with a narrowed lip-shaped part <NUM> which is folded over along a folding zone <NUM> to form a U-shaped hook-shaped folded over part <NUM> with which the clip <NUM> can be fittingly hooked over a transverse wall <NUM> of the fence post <NUM> as shown in the <FIG> and if necessary can be attached to it by means of a screw, rivet or the like.

Furthermore, at a distance from the folding zone <NUM>, the platelet <NUM> is folded over at right angles along a folding line <NUM> to form a rectangular support platelet <NUM> extending toward the groove <NUM> with a width E which fits between the legs <NUM> of the H-profile (<NUM>) with a minimum clearance S relative to the width F of the groove <NUM> and a length which approximately corresponds with the depth of the groove <NUM>. The folding line <NUM> also forms a supporting edge <NUM> with which the support platelet <NUM> rests against a transverse wall <NUM> of the H-profile <NUM>, said transverse wall <NUM> also forming the bottom of the groove <NUM>.

About three grooves <NUM> are provided in the support platelet <NUM> which extend essentially perpendicular to the direction of the folding line <NUM> at a distance from each other, respectively two outer grooves 29a and 29b and a central groove 29c.

The outer grooves 29a and 29b leave from a connecting groove <NUM> which is essentially parallel to the folding line <NUM> and which at one end is connected with a die cut entry <NUM> in a corner of the support platelet <NUM> for a vertical wire 5a on the side edge <NUM> of a panel <NUM>, said entry <NUM> tapering off conically from the contour of the support platelet <NUM> onwards and ending in the connecting groove <NUM>.

It is not excluded that the connecting groove <NUM> runs essentially parallel with only a part the folding line <NUM> or is at an angle with a part or the entire folding line.

The outer grooves 29a and 29b slightly taper from the connecting groove <NUM> in the direction of the folding line <NUM> toward each other.

The central groove 29c extends perpendicularly to and on both sides of the connecting groove <NUM>.

The grooves <NUM> and <NUM> have a width of approximately <NUM>, such that they can contain all most common wire diameters of vertical wires 5a.

<FIG> shows that a 2D panel <NUM> is attached in a clip by hooking the panel with a vertical wire 5b via the entry <NUM> in the central groove 29c, as shown in <FIG>, and lowering the panel <NUM> until two horizontal wires 5b rest on the support platelet <NUM>.

However, the clip <NUM> is designed such that hooking is not possible with an installed clip <NUM> without first lifting the panel with the upper wires 5b above the top of the fence post <NUM> and slightly tilting it.

For this purpose, the support platelet <NUM> is executed such that in a mounted condition of the support platelet <NUM>, the smallest width G of the entry <NUM> measured relative to a side edge of the support platelet <NUM> and increased with the clearance S is smaller than the sum of the diameters of a wire 5a and a wire 5b, such that a panel <NUM> which rests with its upper wires 5b on the support platelet <NUM> cannot go through said narrowest width of the entry <NUM>, neither for inserting a vertical wire 5a, nor for retracting it from a groove <NUM> of the support platelet <NUM>, not even when the support platelet <NUM> is completely slid in the groove <NUM> up against the leg <NUM> on the opposite side of the entry <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

In this way it is prevented that once the panel <NUM> is positioned between two fence posts <NUM>, the panel is removed without breaking and the fence <NUM> is protected against theft as it were.

The panel <NUM> is held in place between the fence posts by the spacers <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, in the form of blocks which fit in the grooves <NUM> of the fence posts <NUM> and which are provided with a groove <NUM> in which an outer vertical wire 5a fits.

For extra security, a cap <NUM> can be clamped at the top of the fence post <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, which for example is provided with a clamping part that is clamped in the tubular square central part <NUM> of the fence post <NUM>.

Assuming that the clips <NUM> are secured, a mounted panel <NUM>, even in the absence of a cap <NUM>, can only be lifted up over a limited height corresponding with the distance A between the wires 5b in the clips <NUM>, which prevents the panel <NUM> from being sufficiently tilted to remove the panel from the clip.

According to a practical embodiment of a support platelet <NUM> which is suitable for mounting all commonly used types of panels <NUM>, both 2D panels and 3D panels, the support platelet <NUM> is executed with a width G of the narrowest opening of the entry <NUM> of approximately <NUM>.

It is noted that for mounting the panels <NUM> not a single tool is needed apart from possibly a tool to screw the clips <NUM> on the fence posts <NUM> or the like.

The <FIG> show the mounting of a 3D panel <NUM> whereby the vertical wires 5a are not straight as with the 2D panels, but contain triangular curved parts which protrude from the plane of the panel, either forward as shown in <FIG> or backward as shown in <FIG>.

In the case of such 3D panels <NUM>, the groove 29a or the groove 29b is used for attaching a vertical wire 5a and this depending on the situation of <FIG>.

It is understood that the fence posts, instead of mesh panels <NUM>, can also be used for solid plates or beams which are slid in the grooves <NUM> with their ends.

In the same way the clips <NUM> can also be applied on other fence posts than described here, for example clips without hook-shaped section but with a lip instead with which the clip is attached in a groove <NUM> of a fence post.

It is also clear that the support platelet <NUM> is specifically executed for one of said assemblies of a panel <NUM> and to this end is only provided with one single groove <NUM>. Two or more than three grooves <NUM> is not excluded either, depending on the type of panels that need to be mounted.

Claim 1:
Fence composed of fence posts (<NUM>) in the form of a profile (<NUM>) with grooves (<NUM>) with a bottom (<NUM>) delimited by parallel legs (<NUM>) and panels (<NUM>) attached between the fence posts and composed of vertical and horizontal wires (<NUM>) which together form a mesh panel with side edges (<NUM>), whereby each side edge (<NUM>) is attached in a groove (<NUM>) of said grooves (<NUM>) of a respective fence post (<NUM>), whereby said mesh panel (<NUM>) is attached with a vertical wire (5a) in the groove (<NUM>) by means of a clip (<NUM>) containing a support platelet (<NUM>) with a width (E) delimited between two side edges and intended to be attached horizontally in said groove (<NUM>) of the fence post (<NUM>) to support a horizontal wire (5b) of the panel, whereby the panel (<NUM>) with said horizontal wire (5b) rests on the support platelet (<NUM>), said support platelet (<NUM>) further contains at least one groove (<NUM>) for a vertical wire (5a) on said side edge (<NUM>) of the panel (<NUM>), characterised in that said support platelet (<NUM>) further contains a supporting edge (<NUM>) oriented toward the bottom of the groove (<NUM>) of the fence post (<NUM>) to rest against the bottom (<NUM>) of the groove (<NUM>) and whereby said at least one groove (<NUM>) of said support platelet (<NUM>) is essentially perpendicular to the supporting edge (<NUM>) and is connected with an edge of the support platelet (<NUM>) via an entry (<NUM>) for the vertical wire (5a) and via a connecting groove (<NUM>) which is at least in part parallel or at an angle with the supporting edge (<NUM>), and whereby the concerned vertical wire (5a) is enclosed in one of the grooves (<NUM>) of the support platelet (<NUM>) which extend perpendicularly to the supporting edge (<NUM>) of the support platelet (<NUM>), essentially parallel with the legs (<NUM>) of the groove (<NUM>) of the fence post (<NUM>).