GB2259923A

GB2259923A - "Fencing connectors"

Info

Publication number: GB2259923A
Application number: GB9119293A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Carter; Beverley Samuel Swayne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-10
Filing date: 1991-09-10
Publication date: 1993-03-31
Also published as: GB9119293D0

Abstract

A fencing connector 1 for connecting a fencing panel or cross-member to a fencing post comprises a backplate 2 by means of which the connector is attached to the post, a bottom flange 3 on the backplate by means of which the panel or cross-member is supported at the required height above the ground. and side flanges 4, 5, 6, having gripping tongues 9, between which the panel or cross-member is supported laterally. In use of such a connector the panel is supported by the bottom flange 3 at the required height above the ground during fitting without it being necessary for the panel to be supported at the required height by a further person or by a separate support arrangement. <IMAGE>

Description

"Fencing Connectors" This invention relates to connectors for connecting fencing panels and cross-members to fencing posts.

It is known to fasten fencing panels to fencing posts by top and bottom clips which are typically U-shaped or Z-shaped. For example, Patent Specification No. 1589864 discloses a system in which each panel is supported along its vertical edge on an adjacent wooden post by means of upper and lower Ushaped clips. Each clip has a flat base through which it is nailed or screwed into the post, and arms which extend on the two sides of the panel and through which nails or screws are driven into the panel from both sides.

However such known systems for attaching fencing panels to fencing posts suffer from a number of disadvantages in use. Firstly they can render the action of fitting a panel to a post relatively timeconsuming and labour-intensive. The clips must be positioned on the posts correctly, and nailing and screwing is required both to the post and to the panel.

Furthermore the panel must be supported at the correct height above the ground whilst nailing or screwing of the clips to the panel is effected. Also access must be obtainable to both sides of the fence in order to effect nailing or screwing on both sides.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fencing connector which may be used to overcome some or all of these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a fencing connector for connecting a fencing panel or cross-member to a fencing post, the connector comprising a backplate by means of which the connector is attached to the post, a bottom flange on the backplate by means of which the panel or cross-member is supported at the required height above the ground, and side flanges on the backplate between which the panel or cross-member is supported laterally.

In use of such a connector to connect a panel to a post the panel will be supported by the bottom flange at the required height above the ground during fitting without it being necessary for the panel to be supported at the required height by a further person or by a separate support arrangement.

The connector may be of a length so as to extend over substantially the complete height of a panel, or alternatively the connector may be of considerably smaller length so that it will support only a lower part of the panel in which case a further connector will be required to support the upper part of the panel.

Also the side flanges may consist of a single side flange on each side extending over substantially the complete length of the connector, or of two or more side flanges on each side at different positions along the length of the connector. In the latter case the side flanges on one side may be in register or staggered in relation to the side flanges on the other side.

Apertures may be provided in the backplate and/or side flanges to accept screws or nails.

The invention also provides a fencing connector for connecting a fencing panel or cross-member to a fencing post, the connector comprising a backplate by means of which the connector is attached to the post, and side flanges on the backplate between which the panel or cross-member is supported laterally, the side flanges being provided with inwardly directed projections to assist gripping of the panel or crossmember between the side flanges.

In use of such a connector the panel or crossmember may be held between the side flanges by the gripping exerted by the inwardly directed projections without it being necessary to drive screws or nails through the side flanges. This saves time during the fitting operation and avoids the problems which may occur due to splitting of the wood when nails are driven into the panel or cross-member. It is also particularly convenient when access cannot be gained to the other side of the fence to drive in a screw or nail.

The projections may be in the form of tongues bent out of the plane of the side flanges.

Furthermore the flanges may be generally triangular in shape being connected to the associated side flange along one edge and projecting generally inwardly of the side flange and rearwardly towards the backplate so that a panel or cross-member cannot easily be withdrawn once it has been inserted between the side flanges.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut-away perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention from the rear; Figure 4 is a perspective view of three different parts of a fourth embodiment of the invention, the parts being shown in different orientations; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a post support in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 shows a fencing connector 1 bent from a single sheet of metal and consisting of a backplate 2, a bottom flange 3, two bottom side flanges 4, two top side flanges 5 and two or more intermediate side flanges 6. The connector 1 is cut away in an intermediate region to show that it may be of various lengths, and the number of intermediate side flanges 6 provided will depend on the length of the connector which in turn will depend on the height of the fence with which it is to be used.

The backplate 2 is provided with cutouts 7 and apertures 8 for screws or nails by which the backplate 2 is secured to a vertical face of a fence post. If required the bottom flange 3 may be supported along each side edge by a turned under part of a respective one of the bottom side flanges 4 or by welding to the bottom side flange 4. Furthermore each of the side flanges 4, 5 and 6 is provided with gripping tongues 9 bent out of the plane of the side flange and projecting generally inwardly and rearwardly. It is to be noted also that a lip 10 extends along each lateral edge of the backplate 2.

In use of such a connector 1 during erection of a fence the backplate 2 is attached to the fencing post after the post has been secured in the ground and one edge of the fencing panel is then inserted between the side flanges 4, 5 and 6 whilst the bottom of the panel rests on the bottom flange 3. The gripping tongues 9 then grip the sides of the panel and prevent the panel from being withdrawn from between the side flanges 4, 5 and 6. If required the side flanges 4, 5 and 6 may be secured to the panel by driving screws or nails through the apertures 11 in the side flanges.

Figure 2 shows a fencing connector 20 moulded from a plastics material and consisting of a backplate 21, a bottom flange 22 and two side flanges 23. In addition apertures 24 and 25 are provided in the backplate 21 and the side flanges 23 respectively. Such a connector 20 is used in substantially the same manner as the connector 1 of Figure 1, except that no gripping tongues are provided to grip the panel between the side flanges 23.

Figure 3 shows a fencing connector 30 which is bent from metal in a similar manner to the connector 1 of Figure 1 and which consists of a backplate 31, a bottom flange (not visible in the figure), and side flanges 32. The backplate 31 is provided with apertures 33 for nails or screws. Although not shown in the figure the side flanges 32 may be provided with inwardly directed projecting tongues and/or apertures similar to the tongues 9 and apertures 11 shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a three part connector consisting of a lower part 40, an upper part 41 and an intermediate part 42, each part having a respective backplate 43, 44 or 45 and respective side flanges 46, 47 or 48. In addition the lower part 40 has a bottom flange 49, and the upper part 41 has a top flange 35.

Also the backplates 43, 44 and 45 are provided with apertures 36, 37 and 38 for screws or nails.

In use of such a connector the parts 40, 41 and 42 are secured to the fencing post at the appropriate levels by screws or nails, and the fencing panel is then inserted between the side flanges 46, 47 and 48 of the parts 40, 41 and 42 substantially in the manner described with reference to Figure 1. Each of the side flanges 46, 47 and 48 and each of the backplates 43, 44 and 45 is provided with gripping tongues such as 39 for holding the panel within the connector parts.

In a modification of the connector of Figure 4 the connector may simply comprise two or more parts of the form of the intermediate part 42. In this case it is advantageous if the apertures for the screws or nails are provided in upper and lower extensions 45A of the backplate 45 (only the upper extension 45A being shown in broken lines in Figure 4).

Figure 5 shows a tubular fencing post 50 and a post support socket 1 respectively extruded and moulded from uPVC. The post 50 is topped by a metal ferrule 52 having a portion with a gasket which extends into the top of the post 50.

The socket 51 comprises a base plate 53 having an upwardly facing surface 54, and a tubular member 55 rigidly connected to the baseplate 53 and having its lower end closed off by the base plate 53.

The socket 51 is installed in the ground by placing it in a pre-dug hole so that the base plate 53 lies parallel to, and the tubular member 55 projects above, the surface of the ground. The hole is then filled with material, such as soil or concrete, which bears on the upwardly facing surface 54 of the baslate 53 to rigidly hold the socket in the ground. The post 50 is then slid into the open end of the tubular member 55 projecting above the surface of the ground, and is held therein by gluing, cementing or ultrasonic welding. Alternatively the post 50 may be a snap fit within the tubular member 55.

The socket 51 is provided with ribs 56 which stiffen the base plate 53 and also help to provide resistance to movement of the socket 51 within the ground in planes normal to the base plate 53. In addition holes 57 are provided in the base plate 53 to save material. Headed spikes could also be driven through these holes 57 into the surrounding soil to further resist movement of the socket 51 in the ground.

If required, ribs 58 may be provided on the post 50 defining a slot 59 therebetween for receiving one edge of a fencing panel. These ribs 59 extend into rib-receiving portions 60 of the socket 51.

The present invention also provides a post support socket or post base for embedding in the ground, the support socket or base comprising a base plate adapted to lie substantially horizontally at a predetermined depth in the ground and to be held rigidly in the ground by the weight of the material within which the socket is embedded acting on an upwardly facing surface of the base plate, and & tubular member rigidly connected to the base plate and adapted to extend from said predetermined depth to the surface of the ground, the tubular member either serving to support a post by means of a lower part of the post held within the tubular member or itself forming the lower part of the post.

The invention also provides a fencing connector for connecting a fencing panel or cross-member to a fencing post, the connector comprising a backplate by means of which the connector is attached to the post, and side flanges on the backplate between which the panel or cross-member is supported laterally, the backplate having portions which extend above and below the side flanges in use and which have apertures to receive nails or screws for attaching the connector to the post.

Claims

1. A fencing connector for connecting a fencing panel or cross-member to a fencing post, the connector comprising a backplate by means of which the connector is attached to the post, a bottom flange on the backplate by means of which the panel or cross-member is supported at the required height above the ground, and side flanges on the backplate between which the panel or cross-member is supported laterally.

2. A connector according to Claim 1, wherein the side flanges consist of a single side flange on each side extending over substantially the complete length of the connector.

3. A connector according to Claim 1, wherein the side flanges consist of two or more side flanges on each side at different positions along the length of the connector.

4. A connector according to Claim 1, 2 or 3) wherein apertures are provided in the backplate and/or side flanges to accept screws or nails.

5. A fencing connector for connecting a fencing panel or cross-member to a fencing post, the connector comprising a backplate by means of which the connector is attached to the post, and side flanges on the backplate between which the panel or cross-member is supported laterally, the side flanges being provided with inwardly directed projections to assist gripping of the panel or cross-member between the side flanges.

6. A connector according to Claim 5, wherein the projections are in the form of tongues bent out of the plane of the side flanges.

7. A connector according to Claim 6, wherein the projections are generally triangular in shape being connected to the associated side flange along one edge and projecting generally inwardly of the side flange and rearwardly towards the backplate so that a panel or cross-member cannot easily be withdrawn once it has been inserted between the side flanges.

8. A fencing connector for connecting a fencing panel or cross-member to a fencing post, the connector comprising a backplate by means of which the connector is attached to the post, and side flanges on the backplate between which the panel or cross-member is supported laterally, the backplate having portions which extend above and below the side flanges in use and which have apertures to receive nails or screws for attaching the connector to the post.

9. A post support socket or post base for embedding in the ground, the support socket or base comprising a base plate adapted to lie substantially horizontally at a predetermined depth in the ground and to be held rigidly in the ground by the weight of the material within which the socket is embedded acting on an upwardly facing surface of the base plate, and a tubular member rigidly connected to the base plate and adapted to extend from said predetermined depth to the surface of the ground, the tubular member either serving to support a post by means of a lower part of the post held within the tubular member or itself forming the lower part of the post.

10. A fencing connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A post support socket or post base substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.