AU2006203115B2 - Panel seating device and fence assembly utilising the connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel seating device (40) comprising a body (42) defining an inner channel (44) to receive an edge of a panel (20), and itself receivable between opposed return lips (21) of an elongate outer channel (16, 17) to which the panel (20) is to be mounted. The 5 device (40) includes a plurality of projections (50, 51) on the body that extend into the interior of said channel (44) for engaging and co-operatively locating the panel (20) in the channel (44). Respective lip structures (52) are provided on said body (42) for overlying said return lips (21) and substantially sealing the edges of said return lips (21) against ingress of water and dirt into the interior of said elongate outer channel (16). 12&

Description

P/00/0 II Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Panel seating device and fence assembly utilising the connector The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 2 Panel seating device and fence assembly utilising the connector Field of the invention This invention relates generally to fencing, and has particular utility in the construction of panel fencing, e.g. fencing in which panels are supported by rails between upright 5 posts. Background to the invention Solid panel fencing, especially corrugated steel fencing, is widely used for boundary and yard delineation in industrial and commercial properties, and is also used extensively for domestic fencing. The conventional mode of assembly is to form posts of back-to-back 10 C-section channels, then to fit C-section or U-section rails into the channels of these posts. The rails are fastened to the posts by screws or other suitable means. The panels are retained in the opposed open sides of top and bottom rail pairs. Ground slope is provided for by initially mounting each rail with a single fastener and then rotating the rail on that fastener to the appropriate angle. To some extent, this traditional 15 approach has stood the test of time and is attractive for its simplicity and robustness. However, it results in a relatively "basic" appearance and is not aesthetically optimal. There are a number of prior approaches to the retention of panels in top and bottom rails, with the object of sealing the rails against ingress of water and dirt or other contaminants. Several involve an intervening sealing strip or gasket. For example, in US 20 patent 4,690,383 glass panels for a balustrade are sealingly retained in purpose designed channel-section rails by sealing strips that have an array of ribs and grooves to complement opposed internal faces of the respective channels. The arrangement of European patent publication 0 748 906 is similar, while US patent publication 2004/0128931 has separate gaskets in grooves at both sides of the panel receiving 25 mouth of the rail. Direct retention of the panels in rail grooves or channels is disclosed in US patents 4,275,492 and 6,796,101 and in US patent publication 2003/0038382. Many of these systems require specifically extruded rail configurations. International patent publication 3 WO 96/11317 discloses a profiled clip capable of accommodating different channel widths and of linking two overlapping panels. In this specification, any reference to a specific prior art document is not to be taken as an admission that all or part of the contents of the document is common general 5 knowledge, in Australia or elsewhere. It is an object at least a preferred embodiment of the invention to provide a panel seating device suitable for use in fencing that is an improvement over current practice and over other published proposals. Summary of the invention 10 The invention provides, in a first aspect, a panel seating device, comprising: a body defining an inner channel to receive an edge of a panel, and itself receivable between opposed return lips of an elongate outer channel to which the panel is to be mounted; a plurality of projections on the body that extend into the interior of said channel 15 for engaging and co-operatively locating the panel in the channel; and respective lip structures on said body for overlying said return lips and substantially sealing the edges of said return lips against ingress of water and dirt into the interior of said elongate outer channel. Preferably, said projections on the body include respective flanges forming part of said 20 lip structures to define between them a slot in which the panel is disposed in situ. In this arrangement, each lip structure forms a T-shaped cross-section with said body. The projections on the body may further include at least one inner flap integrally but hingedly attached to said body so as to be resiliently deflectable by the panel for enhancing sealing engagement between the at least one inner flap and the surface of 25 the panel.

4 Said body is preferably of generally rectangular U-shaped cross-section. The lip structures preferably include respective outer edges flush with outer faces of said elongate outer channels. Preferably, the panel seating device is an elongate element, formed for example by 5 extrusion, adapted to extend substantially the full length of the elongate outer channel. The device is preferably an integral moulding in a suitable polymer material, e.g. polyethylene. The invention further extends, in a second aspect, to a fence panel comprising an assembly of a pair of rails each defining an elongate outer channel, and a panel 10 mounted at opposite edges in the channels of the respective rails, wherein the panel is seated in the respective rails by one or more panel seating devices according to the first aspect of the invention. The invention also provides a fence comprising a plurality of posts and a plurality of fence panels according to the second aspect of the invention in which respective ends of the rails are mounted to respective posts. 15 Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a short segment of solid panel fence incorporating panel seating devices according to an embodiment of the 20 invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 in Figure 1 illustrating the arrangement by which each metal panel is seated in top and bottom rails for forming respective fence panels for the fence illustrated in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a fragmentary cut-away perspective view of the arrangement.

5 Detailed description of the preferred embodiments Figure 1 shows a typical kind of fence to which the invention is usefully applicable. The fence 10 comprises spaced posts 12 each consisting of a pair of back-to-back C-section channels 14, 15, and a pair of upper and lower rails 16, 17, also of C-section channel, 5 arranged so that their longitudinal openings are opposed and retain the upper and lower margins respectively of one or more panels 20. Panels 20 may be formed in a variety of materials including steel, timber, glass or fibrous cement, and may be substantially solid or include discontinuities to form a pattern or to replicate pickets or palings. They will typically be flat but may be corrugated and/or profiled for enhanced rigidity. Of particular 10 interest in this invention are panels designed for a pleasing aesthetic appearance. Channels 14, 15, 16, 17 may typically have curved or tapered walls 13. Posts 12 are fixed to ground pads or footings, or secured in holes in the ground 105, and are closed at the tops by caps 70. Panels 20 may be uniformly rectangular or have other shapes, eg. an inclined upper edge. 15 Post channels 14, 15 and rails 16, 17 are both of similar uniform cross-section, although the posts have relatively small return lips 19 and the rails relatively larger return lips 21. These lips minimise the risk of injury when handling the channels. Each rail 16 is connected at each end to a respective post 12 by being received into the open channel of the post between its return lips 19, or by being fitted to an intervening 20 connector element. The rail or connector element may be secured to the post by any suitable means, and is preferably such as to allow the rails to either side of a given post to be either aligned or offset. Each panel 20 is seated within the respective upper and lower rails 16, 17 by panel seating devices 40 according to an embodiment of the invention, in this case being 25 elongated extrusions of uniform cross-section in a suitable polymeric material. Each extrusion 40 has a box like body or core 42 of rectangular form, dimensioned to define an inner channel 44 to receive the panel 20, and itself receivable between return lips 21 of rails 16, 17. This box like body 42 has parallel side walls 46, 47 and an end wall 48 having shallow strengthening ribs 49 that engage the inside of the base wall of the rail.

6 Forming respective T-junctions with the outer edges of side walls 46, 47 are lip structures 50, 51 that have an outer portion 52 overlying and resting on respective return lip 21 of rail 16, 17, and an inner portion 54 that is contiguous with, and in cross section co-linear with, outer portion 52 and projects towards panel 20. 5 The outer longitudinal edge of portion 52 of lip structure 50 is flush and aligned with the respective outer face 1 6a of rail 16 at its junction with return lip 21. The two inner portions 54 of lip structures 50 are aligned but separated by a gap or slot 56 through which panel 20 extends so that its edge 23 abuts or nearly abuts base wall 48. In a modified arrangement, the base wall 48 may contain a raised lip to hold the 10 panel 20 off the base wall 148 to reduce deterioration of the panel edge. Lip portions 54 have a degree of resiliency so as to enhance their sealing engagement against the respective faces of panel 20. Panel 20 is further located and centred by respective longitudinally extending inner flaps 60, 61 that are integrally attached to the inner faces of side walls 46, 47 by web hinges 15 62. When the panel 20 is not received within channel 44 the hinged flaps 60, 61 project substantially at right angles to walls 46, 47 and overly each other, as indicated by dot dash lines 60', 61' in Figure 2. When the panel 20 is pushed through slot 56 into inner channel 44, the edge 23 of the panel pushes flaps 60, 61 back on their hinges to the oblique positions illustrated in Figure 2, in which they resiliently and firmly engage 20 respective faces of the panel. Lip portions 54 and hinged flaps 60, 61 effectively form a primary barrier, depressurizing the wind-borne water or detritus so that there is substantially no force driving the material into the secondary chamber formed between flaps 60, 61 and the base 48. Reverting to Figure 1, panels 20 may of course also be seated in each of the upright 25 post channels 14, 15 by a vertically oriented seating device according to the invention. It will be seen that panel seating devices 40 serve a number of useful purposes. They usefully seat panels 20 within C-section channel rails 16, 17 and/or post channels 14, 15 having a wider opening than the panels and thereby able to accommodate panels of 7 varying widths. The devices 40 do this while centering the panels firmly and thereby eliminating or minimizing vibration of the panels. Moreover, the panel sections devices substantially effectively seal the interiors of the rails against ingress of water and dirt and also provide a pleasing appearance along the respective interfaces between the 5 panels and rails. A significant advantage is that these benefits are achieved without any screws or other fastening devices being necessary between the panel, rails or posts, and seating devices. It will be appreciated that each set of an upper and lower rail, sheet panel and seating devices constitutes a fence panel assembly 102, 104, 106 and that the arrangement is 10 such as to facilitate easy substitution of panels of different profile or appearance along a section of the fence. As used herein, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. 15 It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A panel seating device, comprising: a body defining an inner channel to receive an edge of a panel, and itself receivable between opposed return lips of an elongate outer channel to which the 5 panel is to be mounted; a plurality of projections on the body that extend into the interior of said channel for engaging and co-operatively locating the panel in the channel; and respective lip structures on said body for overlying said return lips and substantially sealing the edges of said return lips against ingress of water and dirt 10 into the interior of said elongate outer channel.

2. A panel seating device according to claim 1, wherein said projections on the body include respective flanges forming part of said lip structures to define between them a slot in which the panel is disposed in situ.

3. A panel seating device according to any preceding claim, wherein each lip 15 structure forms a T-shaped cross-section with said body.

4. A panel seating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the projections on the body further include at least one inner flap integrally but hingedly attached to said body so as to be resiliently deflectable by the panel for enhancing sealing engagement between the at least one inner flap and the surface of the panel. 20

5. A panel seating device according to any preceding claim, wherein said body is of generally rectangular U-shaped cross-section.

6. A panel seating device according to any preceding claim, wherein said lip structures include respective outer edges flush with outer faces of said elongate outer channel. 9

7. A panel seating device according to any preceding claim, wherein said panel seating device is an elongate element.

8. A panel seating device according to any preceding claim, formed by extrusion.

9. A panel seating device according to any preceding claim, adapted to extend 5 substantially the full length of the elongate outer channel.

10. A panel seating device according to any preceding claim, composed of a suitable polymer material.

11. A fence panel comprising an assembly of a pair of rails each defining an elongate outer channel, and a panel mounted at opposite edges in the channels of the respective 0 rails, wherein the panel is seated in the respective rails by one or more panel seating devices according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A fence comprising a plurality of posts and a plurality of fence panels according to claim 11 in which respective ends of the rails are mounted to respective posts. Dated : 20 July 2006 5 Freehills Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: The Australian Steel Company (Operations) Pty Ltd