GB2363402A - Demountable barrier held in position by ballast - Google Patents

Abstract

A barrier comprises a plurality of preformed L or T shaped sections, having ballast applied to a lower part to provide stability. The lower part may include perforations (c), allowing vegetation to grow through, a top part may include an aperture (d) to facilitate lifting of the section and the sections may be joined by tongue and groove means (e). An additional aspect comprises at least one container having a hole, through which a fence post may be placed (Figure 3), where ballast is placed in each container to provide stability. A further aspect discloses a means of levelling a fence including wedge shaped portions and an oval rod which are placed under adjacent fence panels (Figure 4). A still further aspect discloses a means for securing fence posts into support blocks (Figure 5).

Description

2363402 Improvements to fencing/Reusable Fencing Most forms of fencing, be

it for screening, security or containment are usually fixed and supported by means of posts set in the ground either in concrete or other compacted fill. Wind and other lateral forces are resisted and transferred to the ground.

Fencing, particularly concrete, steel and other manufactured materials have high embodied energy. Mainly because of the means of fixing, usually set in concrete, much of such fencing is not easily reusable, is usually smashed up with difficulty and as in the use of concrete incorporating steel reinforcement, is not gainfully recyclable.

This invention relates to a form of fencing that sits on or near to ground level and employs site applied ballast such as gravel, rock, soil and planting to fix and stabilise the fence and provide lateral/wind resistance and is thus able to be lifted, transferred and reused intact.

It is noted that L shaped concrete bunker3/silo retainers are used for storage of coal, sand, gravel etc whereby the weight of the material holds the sides of the silo in place and allows higher heaps of material to be stored. However, these are not principally using ballast for wind resistance.

It is envisaged.that, to facilitate and encourage the transferability and reusability of this form of fencing it may be provided under leasing or rental arrangements rather like Portakabins or some building plant with the provider responsible for the relocation and reusability.

I The principle form envisaged is an upturned T formation. This will be described with a precast concrete form in mind but this is not to preclude other appropriate materials such as plastics, polystyrene, timber and composites, steel, aluminium or any combination.

As shown on drawing no: 1 fig (1) the upturned T section would sit on or near ground level. The outer edges of the upturned T would incorporate lips or upturned edges which would retain site applied ballast loaded on to both sides of base cross member.

The height of the upstanding fence would be dependant on the height of the security or screening required and the width of the base crossmember dependent on the exposure and thus strength of cross winds and lateral forces/wind to be resisted by the combined ballast and the weight of the fence itself.

It is envisaged that the abutting edges of the upturned T section would embody a tongued and grooved or similar interlocking arrangement to facilitate the fencing sections to align and fit together and act in unison.

To facilitate planting within the trough of the fence, holes or perforations could be provided through the base cross member. Apart from the aesthetic improvement, root penetration through this perforation would help fix and stabilise the fence. Some form of slot or fixing device would be provided towards the top of the fence to facilitate hoisting.

Drawing 1 illustrates other forms and sections of such ballast fencing. Figs (2,3,4 & 5) show designs where the ballast is loaded on one side only and are configured to provide the lowest centre of gravity towards the centre of the base.

These one sided designs will be particularly appropriate for boundary fences and situations where a smooth, unclimbable and vandal proof fence is required.

Variations in base plan shapes provide serpentine, curved, angled and corner fence alignments as illustrated on drawing no: 2.

Fence panels could be aesthetically enhanced by perforations in various designs if visual penetration is desired, examples of designs illustrated on drawing no: 4 fig 2. Perforation would reduce wind resistance.

Ballast planters supporting fence posts Drawing No: 3 illustrates another embodiment of the site applied ballast principle. Two heavy plant containers connected at ground level and on this connection and in between the planters is an upstanding slot to accommodate a fence post which in turn will support various types of fencing panels such as trellis, close boarded, woven or similar.

In instances where the fence is a boundary fence or protruding planters on one side are not wanted, a single heavy planter with a ground level post slot built in at the rear would be employed.See Fig 3. Planters or ballast containers could be in various forms including hollow statues or animal forms as illustrated on drawing no: 3. Fig 4.

Reusable levelling device and components The reusable fencing aforementioned would sit on level ground and gradual slopes. Any gaps, due to slightly tilted fence modules could be made good with site applied fill/weak lime mortar. A fence profile former could be used to assist in application of fill as shown on drawing no: 4 Fig 1.

Steeper slopes would require some form of stepping which would normally involve accurate ground cutting or some form of levelling make up, bricks, blocks, concrete or similar, under each stepped fencing panel.

This invention relates to a method of adjustable or variable incline stepping using two reusable components.

As illustrated on drawing no: 4 Figs 2 & 3, these consist of an oval or egg section shaped rod and a ground plate.

The design and material as envisaged is reinforced pre cast concrete but other materials could be employed.

The rod and surfaces of the ground plate would have a serrated, grooved or roughened surface as would the area of the fencing panels they contact to provide a firm friction fit and prevent slippage. The ground plate would be wedge shaped section to coincide with the ground slope. A variety of wedge shaped ground plates would be available to accommodate varying ground slopes.

The rods and ground plates would be as wide as the fence base and contact with all upstanding edges and horizontal surfaces.

1 The egg or oval levelling rod would be, in section, probably twice as long as it is wide, providing levelling support for any increment between length and width when rotated. A selection of larger or smaller sectioned oval rods would complete this incrementation.

The method of levelling or stepping would be as follows: Starting from the bottom of the slope, the first fencing panel would be levelled and firmly fixed and bedded with make up at the bottom edge. Under the opposite edge on the rising ground would be placed, half under the panel, an appropriate wedge shaped ground plate. The next ground plate would be appropriately placed up the slope. The oval or egg shaped rod would then be placed on the protruding half ground plate resting up against the existing panel.

The egg/oval shaped rod would then be rotated to level with the next ground plate. The next panel would be lowered carefully into position and the process repeated.

Improvements to steel mesh security fencing Drawing no: 5 illustrates commonly employed lightweight, movable security fencing often used around building sites. The open mesh offers little wind resistance and thus the concrete base is manhandleable by two men. Down protruding upright frames of the mesh fencing sit in holes of the manhandleable concrete bases that sit on the ground at right angles to the fence. As presently configured, the mesh frames can be simply lifted out of the concrete bases offering little resistance to forced entry.

This invention relates to preventing the fence from being lifted from the concrete bases whilst the fence is in line.

Drawing no: 5 Fig 1 illustrates the locking device securing the metal frame into the base. A small crossmember passing though the bottom of the frame upright would, at an angle pass through vertical grooves in the base fixing hole. When the fence panel is then turned in line with the fence, the locking crossmember turns into a greater diameter hole below preventing the upright from being removed.

The process of erection of the fence as illustrated, would be to angle the fence, engage the locking crossmember and return the fence back in line to the next concrete base.

This base member would then be turned/angled to engage the locking crossmember of the other fence upright and then turned back to rightangle with the fence. This process would continue and the ends of the fence secured to prevent angling.

(P Improvements to fencing/reusable fencing KEY SHEET I OF 3 Drawing Nos 1,2,3,4,&5 Drawing No: I Fig I Isometric view of upturned T section fencing a Site applied ballast b Ballast/soil with planting c Base perforations for root penetration d Hoisting Slots e Alignment/interlocking tongues Figs 2,3 4 & 5 End views of single sided ballast loading fence profiles presenting smooth, unclimbable boundary security a Site applied ballast Drawing No: 2 Fig 1 Plan view of segmented base fencing interlocking to form serpentine fencing and curved fencing Fig 2 Axonametric sketch of serpentine/curved fencing showing smooth outer and baliast/planting inner faces Fig 3 Plan view of fencing showing angled and corner bases Fig 4 Isometric sketch of corner fence module Drawing No: 3 Fig 1 Double side planter/fence support Fig 2 Differing styles of planter/fence support Improvements to fencing/reusable fencing Key Sheet 2 of 3 Fig 3 Single sided planter/fence support showing heel and the toe protrusions to enhance stablility Fig 4 Single sided planter/ statue/f ence support showing hollow animal form with split/open top and filled with site applied ballast Drawing No: 4 Fig 1 Elevation of fence on gradual slopes showing site applied f ill to abuttment gaps a Site applied gap filler b Site applied ballast Fig 2 Elevation of fence on variable slope showing wedge shaped ground plates positioned and oval/egg shaped levelling rod rotated to various heights/levels a Egg/oval shaped levelling rods b Wedge shaped ground plates c Site applied ballast d f ixed make up or packing Fig 3 Close up section of egg/oval shaped levelling rods, ground plates and corresponding surfaces of fence modules showing grooved, serrated/ roughened edges for firm friction fit. Also showing examples of perforated design in fence modules a Egg/oval section levelling rods b Wedged section ground plates c Ground/ serrated/ roughened contacting surfaces of fence module d example of perforation designs 81 Improvements to fencing/reus able fencing Key sheet 3 of 3 Drawing No: 5 Fig 1 Isometric view shows base section and receiving holes and angled fence fitting/alignment Fig 2 Plan view showing fence erection and securing sequence Improvements to fencing/reusable fencing

Claims (1)

1. Claims (1) A form of fence that sits on or near the top of the ground and

   utilises site applied ballast for stability and resistance to lateral forces.

   (2) A form of fence as in claim (1) that in section is in the shape of an upturned (T) or various modifications of (L) shape.

   (3) A form of fence as in claims (1) and (2) whereby the base is perforated to facilitate root growth through that base.

   (4) A form of fence as in foregoing cla-Lms whereby the bases incorporate a raised edge or lip to retain site applied ballast.

   (5) A form of fence as in foregoing claims that incorporate tonged and grooved or similar abutting edge interlocking and alignment.

   (6) A form of fence as in foregoing claims that incorporates a slot or holes in the top of the UpStand to facilitate hoisting and positioning.

   (7) A form of fence as in foregoing claims whereby the upstand panel is perforated, pierced or slotted to various designs for aesthetic, see through., climber growth and lower wind resistance requirements.

   (8) A form of fence as in foregoing claims where the base is angled and shaped to form angles, corners and curves to the upstanding fence.

   (9) A form of fence as in foregoing claims which on removal of site applied ballast and with no other operations is liftable, movable, resitable, and reusable intact.

   (10) A form of fencing as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing Nos: 1,2, & 4.

   (11) A form of fence base that sits on or near the top of the ground consisting of variously shaped containers and objects incorporating a round or square hole into which a fencing post can be slotted and secured and which, when site applied ballast, gravel or soil fills the containers or objects, provides stability and resistance to lateral forces for the fence applied to the fencing post.

   (c (12) A form of fence base as in claim (10) whereby the bottom of the container or object is perforated to facilitate root penetration and growth.

   (13) A form of fence base as in claims (10) and (11) which incorporates 2 containers or objects each side of the fence and fencing post slot or hole.

   (14) A form of fence base as in claims (10) and(Il) which incorporates only one container or object one side of the fence and fencing post slot or hole.

   (15) A form of fence base as in claims (10), (11), (12) and (13) which incorporates a projecting toe and heel embodiment to facilitate enhanced stability.

   (16) A form of fencing is herein described and illustrated on accompanying drawing No:3 (17) A form of fence base levelling mechanism that employs the varying diameter of an egg or oval sectioned rod or cylinder to pack, support and accommodate varying differential heights of abutting fence panels on sloping ground.

   (18) A form of fence base levelling mechanism that employs various angled wedge shaped ground plates that provide a level base on sloping ground.

   (19) A form of fence base levelling mechanism as in claims (15) and (16) whereby the abutting faces of fence base, wedge shaped ground plate and egg or oval shaped packer/leveller are roughened, grooved or serrated to perform a tight friction fit.

   (20) A form of levelling mechanism as herein described and illustrated on accompanying drawing No: 4 (21) An improvement to demountable separate concrete or steel base plates and steel mesh fencing whereby a locking device within the base plates prevents removal of the steel mesh fence as and when the fence is aligned and end panels secured.

   (22) An improvement as in claim (18) consisting of an offset angled slotted hole in the base plates into which a projecting cross lug or pin in the bottom of the mesh fence post is inserted and when angled back onto the fence line turns within a securing collar in the base plate holes and prevent removal.

   (23) A method as in claims (18) and (19) whereby the sequence of angling the mesh fence post on entry to fence base and swinging fence back to fence line and then swinging next fence base plate engaging locking slot and then angling/swinging said base plate to right angles with fence on fence line prevents removal of in-line mesh fence panels.

   (24) A fence panel anchoring and locking device as herein described and illustrated on accompanying drawing No: 5.

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