GB2245614A

GB2245614A - Fence bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2245614A
Application number: GB9014583A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Cornes; Kenneth Peter Blease
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-29
Filing date: 1990-06-29
Publication date: 1992-01-08
Also published as: GB9014583D0

Abstract

A fence bracket (24) particularly for securing fence panels located in slotted fence posts, comprises a first flange (28) for attachment to a first fence panel and a second flange (28) for attachment to a second fence panel. The bracket can also be secured to the post. The flanges (26), (28) may be vertically off-set for use with a stepped fencing arrangement. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FENCE BRACKETS The present invention relates to fence brackets for use in securing together fence panels. In particular, though not exclusively, the invention relates to brackets for securing together fence panels of the type which are located in slotted fence posts.

A common form of fencing comprises fence panels which are located in slots of fence posts secured in the ground at spaced apart intervals.

Fences of this type are suitable for many purposes and are relatively easy to construct and erect. However some disadvantages do exist.

For example, the panels can be blown out of the slots in a high wind or pushed out by use of force. Also the panels can vibrate in the slots due to the effect of wind which cannot only be annoying in terms of the noise generated but can also damage both the panels and the concrete posts.

The present invention seeks to provide a bracket so as to firmly fix the fencing panels in position.

Accordingly the present invention provides a bracket having a first flange for attachment to a first fencing panel and a second flange for attachment to a second fencing panel, the said panels being stacked apart in use by a fencing post.

The bracket can be attached to a rail of each panel, for example the top rails or the side rails of adjacent panels, or the top rail and the side rail of adjacent panels. Preferably the bracket is made from a moulded plastics material and is attached to the fencing panels by wood screws which are preferably of a non-rusting material or coated with a non-rusting material.

Whilst a bracket according to the present invention is particularly useful for securing together fencing panels which are located in slotted fencing posts, the bracket can also be used where the fence posts are not slotted. Such fence posts are commonly of a rectangular wooden section and the fencing panels are secured to the fence posts by nails or other suitable attachment means. In such a case the bracket according to the present invention can be secured to adjacent fencing panels and if necessary to the post itself.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a section of fencing incorporating one form of bracket according to the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the bracket shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show a plan, and side and front elevations respectively of the bracket shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 there is shown a section of fencing 10 comprising a fencing post 12 having slots 14 in which are located the ends of fencing panels 16. Each fencing panel 16 has a pair of top rails 18 and a pair of side rails 20. Between the pairs of top and side rails are secured laps of timber. The pair of top rails 16 is covered by a weather rail 22.

The adjacent panels 16 are secured together by a bracket 24 which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 2-5 inclusive. The bracket 24 which is preferably formed from a moulded plastics material has flanges 26 and 28 each provided with two screw holes 30. The bracket 24 is shaped to conform to the dimensions of the fence post 12 with the flanges 26 and 28 in contact with the top and side rails 18 and 20 of the fencing panels 16. Preferably the bracket 24 is secured to both the top and side rails 18 and 20 by means of brass wood screws.

If necessary the bracket can be attached only to the side rails or if for any reason adjacent fencing panels 16 are staggered vertically one with another, one of the flanges 26 and 28 can be attached to the side and top rails while the other flange is attached only to the side rail.

In an embodiment of a bracket according to the present invention which is not illustrated the bracket can be staggered so that the flanges 26 and 28 are not vertically aligned enabling the bracket to be secured more easily in the case where adjacent fencing panels are staggered vertically.

Whilst the bracket 24 has been illustrated for use in conjunction with a slotted fence post it can also be used where a plain fence post is used. Such fence posts are usually made from a rectangular wooden section and adjacent fencing panels secured to the post by means of nails or other suitable attachment means. The adjacent fencing panels can also be secured one to another by means of a bracket according to the present invention. Also such a bracket can be secured to the post itself by means of wood screws and a hole provided in the bracket at a suitable location.

Therefore brackets according to the present invention can be used to render fencing more sturdy and to restrain the fencing panels against movement relative to the fencing posts.

The use of brackets according to the present invention also provides additional security against casual intruders, and also against removal and/or theft of the fence panels themselves.

Claims

1 A bracket having a first flange for attachment to the first fencing panel and a second flange for attachment to a second fencing panel, the said panels being spaced apart in use by fencing posts.

2 A bracket as claimed in claim 1 attached to one of the rails of a pair of adjacent fencing panels.

3 A bracket as claimed in claim 2 which is attached to the top rail of each pair of adjacent panels.

4 A bracket as claimed in claim 2 which is attached to the side rail of each panel of a pair of adjacent panels.

5 A bracket as claimed in claim 2 attached to the side and top rails of a pair of adjacent fencing panels.

6 A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims attached to the fencing panels by means of wood screws.

7 A bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims formed from a moulded plastics material.

8 A bracket constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9 A fence comprising fence panels located with respect to fence posts, and secured to each other by brackets as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

10 A fence as claimed in claim 8 in which the fence posts are slotted and the fence panels are secured in the fence posts.

11 A fence as claimed in claim 8 in which the fence posts are plain and the fence panels are attached to the posts by securing means, and the brackets are also attached to the fence posts.

12 A fence constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.