AU628196B2 - Fence panel fixing bracket - Google Patents

Description

V

1 v1g 628196 S F Ref: 96990 FORM COMMONWEAL TH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: PJ5346 19 July 1989 Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: Boral Cyclone Limited Ferndell Street South Gratville New South

AUSTRALIA

Wales 2142 Actual Inventor: Alan Gardiner, George Allan Butler Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys, Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Address for Service: Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Fence Panel Fixing Bracket The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing iL known to me/us 0 16151 19/07/90 5815/2 ~I 2- FENCE PANEL FIXING BRACKET FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fencing accessory, and particularly to a bracket which allows fence rails to be supported against a fence post at a selectively variable angle with respect to the vertical and horizontal planes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fences may be prefabricated. Fence panels including rails may be prefabricated as rectangular units and transported to a site where they are errected by affixing the ends of the rectangular panels to upright supporting posts. Difficulties arise where the fence panels are not to be errected on flat ground or in straight lines. Where the vertical (or rake angle), or the horizontal angles are not 180 0 prefabrication of a fence using rectangular panels and upright fence posts is not possible.

o i 15 In such iistances, the fabrication of a regular fence is a custom job which must be done on site. Typically, customised connections of this 0 type are overly complex, time consuming and costly.

A separate problem is encountered particularly .ith expensive or high quality fencing with respect to theft. Fence connections which simply utilize common hardware such as nuts and bolts, while easy to install, are also relatively easy to disassemble and steal.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION SS It is an object of the present invention to substantially I °o ameliorate some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

Accordingly, a pivotable connector is provided. The pivotable ooo connector can be provided as an accessory or formed integrally with either an upright post or a cross-member.

In a first embodiment, a bracket and a pivoting member are provided. The bracket has a circular, countersunk opening formed therein. The pivoting member further comprises an extension which is pivotally mounted to a base. The base is rotatably received within the circular, countersunk opening.

A/0171E r -"71 i t I 3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fence illustrating rake angle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a fence illustrating angular misalignment between upright fence posts in a horizontal plane.

Figure 3 depicts two embodiments of the present invention interposed between an upright fence post and two different styles of cross-member.

Figure 4 is a cross section through a stem showing, in front elevation, a ball and extension of the type depicted in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a bracket utilized in conjunction with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a cross section of the bracket depicted in Figure Figure 7 is a front elevation of a pivot member used in conjunction with the brackat depicted in Figure Figure 8 is a side elevation of the pivot member depicted in Figure 7.

BEST MODE AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION o'i As shown in Figure 1, a fence 5 includes a plurality of upright posts 6 which are interconnected by a series of transverse cross-members 7. The o prefabrication of a fence is complicated where the rake angle 8 is more or less than 1800. Rake angle is generally defined as the angle, in a vertical plane, at which a cross-member 7 intersects a post 6.

As shown in Figure 2, the angle 9, in a horizontal plane, between adjacent cross-members 7 may also be more or less than 180°.

The types of misalignment depicted in Figures 1 and 2 may be accommodated by a pivotable connection 10 as depicted in Figure 3. The pivotable connection 10 further comprises a ball or spherical projection 11 o° which is rigidly attached to a base plate 12. Fasteners 13 may be used to affix the base plate 12 to a post 6. In the alternative, the base plate 12 or ball 11 may be integrally formed with the post 6. The pivotable connection 10 also includes an extension 14. The extension 14 is preferably formed from a hollow tube whose inside diameter is slightly larger than the external diameter of the ball or spherical project )n 11.

A first end 15 of the extension is cut or otherwise fabricated to form two or more lobes or tabs 16. The lobes or tabs 16 may be deformed around the ball 11 so as to resist disconnection. As shown in Figure 3, the rails or transverse cross-members 7 may be retained either by insertion into the bore 17 of an extension 14 or by slipping an end of a cross-member 7 over rhk/0171 E -4the free end 18 of an extension. It will be understood that a variety of connection methods can be used between the base plate 12 and post 6 as well as between the extensions 14 and the cross-members 7.

As shown in Figure 4, the ball engaging end 19 of an extension 14 may include three similarly configured lobes or tabs 20. Relief portions 21 between adjacent lobes 20 are able to receive the stem 24 which is preferably formed between a ball 11 and a base plate 12. This allows the maximum amount of misalignment to be accommodated.

In use, as suggested by Figure 2, the base plate 12 would be affixed to the post 6 by self-tapping screws, rivets or other fasteners 13.

Openings would be provided in the base plate 12 to accept the appropriate fastener. In a preferred embodiment, the extension 14 is engaged with the ball 11 before the base plate is affixed to the post. The cross-member or rail is then slid either into or over the extension 14 so as to be supported by the pivotable connection 10. Ideally, the interconnection between the cross-member 7 and extension 14 is snug and without excessive S interference. If required, the fasteners 13 may be welded to the base plate 12 to deter tampering. Industrial rivets can be used between the cross-member 7 and extension 14.

Zo0 In a preferred embodiment, the tube from which the extension 14 is o T a 0 formed has a 25 mm outside diameter with a wall thickness of approximately 1.6 mm. This size fit; neatly within a 30 mm square tube which is commonly used for fence panel rails or cross-members 7. Utilizing a preferred wall S thickness of between 1.5 and 2 mm in the extension 14, the device depicted 2L 5 in Figures 3 and 4 can support the weight of a fence panel weighing up 'co kg when attached to a 50 mm square fence post.

A further embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figures through 8. With reference to those figures, a pivotable connection is provided comprising a generally flat bracket 30 and a pivot member 31. A countersunk, circular opening 32 is located centrally of the bracket j The countersunk opening 32 includes a shoulder 33. A bottom surface 34 of the plate 30 is adapted to lie against the surface of a fence post 6.

Openings 35 may be provided for accommodating fasteners.

As shown in Figure 7 and 8, a pivoting member includes a hub 36 and an extension 37. The hub 36 includes upright ears 57. The ears 57 are separated from one another, forming a gap therebetween. Each ear 57 also includes a passageway 38. One end 39 of the extension 37 is narrow enough rhk/0171 E 5 to fit in the gap between the ears 57. This end 39 also has a passageway formed in it. A fastener, for example a nickel plated roll pin 41 is inserted through the ears 57 and the extension, so that the extension can pivot with respect to the base 36. Note that the diameter of the base 36 is stepped. While the base 36 is insertable through and rotatable within the countersunk opening 32, the larger diameter lower portion 42 of the base 36 becomes restrained between the shoulder 33 and the post 6 when i stalled. Because the base 36 is rotatable within the opening 32 of the base 30 and because the extension is pivotable with respect to the base 36, practically any vertical or horizontal angle of misalignment can be accommodated between an upright fence post 6 and a cross-member 7 which is attached to the extension. As previously mentioned any number of methods may be used of affix the plate 30 to the post 6 or the cross-member 7 to the extension.

A device as depicted in Figures 5 through 8 may be metallic or polymeric. While a UV stabilised 30% glass filled NYLON 6 is preferred, o the device may be die cast in aluminium. In the alternative, a B3L IE IMPACT MODIFIED NYLON 6 may be utilized, particularly in the fabrication of the extension.

o 0 o While the present invention has been described with reference to particular materials, fastening methods and details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

o t o a i 4' rhk/0171E 1 i

Claims (3)

1. A connection between a fence post and a cross-member comprising: a bracket, the bracket having formed therein a circular countersunk opening; the countersunk opening having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being larger in diameter than the first portion, the first portion fo:ming a shoulder with respect to the second portion; a pivoting member having a base; the base of the pivoting member comprising an enlarged bottom which is received by the second portion of the countersunk opening and which is larger in diameter than the shoulder; the pivoting member further comprising an extension having a portion which is pivotally attached to the base.

2. The connection of claim 1, wherein: the base further comprises two upright ears, the ears defining a gap; on a uo w D o arrwu ooonr;o u nuu i D u o O D ~on o 1? 110 a I n a a o o a ou o r a a oo a D D a c i,

3. reference the extension being pivotally attached to the ears. A connection substantially as hereinbefore described with to Figures. 5-8. DATED this ELEVENTH day of FEBRUARY 1992 Boral Cyclone Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON STA/01 71E