GB2375550A

GB2375550A - Fence post cover system

Info

Publication number: GB2375550A
Application number: GB0110259A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David O'grady
Original assignee: INFOMETAL Ltd
Current assignee: INFOMETAL Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-26
Filing date: 2001-04-26
Publication date: 2002-11-20
Also published as: GB0110259D0

Abstract

The cover comprises a sheet member (10 fig. 1) dimensioned to cover at least one side of a fence post. In a second embodiment a cover 18 comprises fixing means 30 attached to the cover and attachment means 20 wherein the fixing means may engage the attachment means and the attachment means is adapted for fixing to a fence post. The cover provides the post with improved appearance and weather resistance.

Description

Fence Post Cover System This invention relates to a system for partly covering a fence post, particularly a concrete fence post.

Concrete fencing systems are widely used. Where appearance is a material consideration traditional wooden panels are often used with concrete posts that have longitudinal slots down each side face to allow a panel to be inserted between two posts from above. This overcomes the problem of unsightly concrete panels but still suffers the drawback that unsightly concrete posts are visible. Traditional wooden posts do not suffer this disadvantage, but of course are prone to weathering. Thus, generally the consumer has to choose between unsightly concrete posts and less weather resistant wooden posts.

An object of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the above or other drawbacks of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fence post cover system for use with a fence post comprising a sheet member dimensioned to substantially cover at least one side of a fence post. The fence post cover may comprise an elongate main face and a secondary face, that in use extends sideways and outwardly from the main face. The fence post cover may have a front face and secondary faces extending backwardly from each side of the front face such that the direction in which the secondary faces extend are mutually divergent.

The cover preferably covers substantially the entire front or rear face of the post and at least part of each side face of the post. The system may include fixing means attached to the rear of a face of the cover that co-operate with, for example hang upon, attachment means that engage the post.

The fence post cover may be between 0. 6ni and 3m long. Thus, when in place it substantially hides an unsightly post. Preferably, the cover has an attractive colour of design/pattern on its visible face. The sheet member may be made of a plastics material, this having a further advantage of being generally resistant to weathering.

Alternatively, the sheet material may be metal, for example steel with a decorative covering. Paint or a plastics coating are particularly suitable when using sheet metal.

The cover may also be used with a wooden posts. For example, in a domestic garden the occupier may have a mixture of wooden and concrete posts. Thus, both types of post can be covered, thereby providing a uniformly pleasing appearance. When used with wooden posts the sheet member may have several holes to allow fixing to the post by screws and the like. Alternatively, the panel may have fixing means on its rear side to allow it to be hung to a bracket, bolt, screw or the like attached to the post.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a fence post cover system for use with a fence post comprising a bracket member with attachment means for attaching the bracket member to a fence post and fixing means for mounting a fence cover thereupon. The attachment means may comprise a clamp,

the clamp may be substantially"U-shaped"and the grip exerted by the clamp in use may be adjustable. The fixing means may also comprise a generally"U-shaped" bracket and it may have a slot for engaging a screw or bolt fixed to a post.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cover system comprising a sheet member, Figure 2 is a plan view of a cover system with attachment and fixing means, Figure 3 is a plan view of the attachment means shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a side view of the attachment means shown in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of fixing means connected to the rear face of the cover.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the top and bottom sections of a fence post cover 10, according to the invention, fitted over the front face and part of the side faces of a post P. The cover 10 may comprise a main face 12 and two secondary faces 14 arranged so that the included angle (x between the plane A'-A'of the main face 12 and the plane B-B'of a secondary face is obtuse. The cover is preferably made from a single piece of sheet material, for example steel or plastics. The included angle a may be between 100 and 170 , and is preferably between 120 and 150 , more preferably about 135 . When the cover is to be attached to a wooden post fixing holes 16 may be provided in the main face to facilitate attachment by screws and the like.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of another fence post cover 18, according to the invention, especially suited for attachment to a concrete fence post Pc having longitudinal slots S down each side face to allow a fence panel (not shown) to be inserted from above between adjacent vertical posts.

In order to avoid drilling into the concrete post when attaching the cover 18 attachment means 20 (see Figures 3 and 4) are be provided in the form of a generally"U-shaped"clamp having a front part 22 and side-arms 24. Each side-arm 24 receives a threaded bolt 26 with a pointed end 28, for example conical. The clamp 20 may readily be attached or detached from a post Pc by simply tightening or loosening bolts 26.

Post cover 18 has fixing means comprising at least one and preferably several hooks 30 or the like, provided at longitudinally spaced intervals. The front part 22 of the clamp 20 has an engaging portion, for example formed by two Z-shaped sections 32.

In use, several clamps 20 are fixed to post Pc at spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the hooks 30 on the rear side of main face of fence post cover 18.

The hooks 30 of tge fence post cover 18 can then be lowered on to the engaging portions of the clamps, thereby firmly attaching the fence post cover 18 to the fence post Pc without the need to drill holes in the post.

Figure 5 shows a hook 40 with a slot 42 fixed to the rear side of main face 12 of fence post cover 10 (part of cover only shown). When attaching the fence post cover to a concrete post each hook 40 engages a bracket member, for example"U-shaped" clamp 20. When attaching the fence post cover to a wooden post each slot 42 in hook 40 engages a wood screw located at an appropriate position on the post.

The invention also provides means of covering the sharp edges often associated with fence posts and thereby advantageously provides protection to individuals who may accidentally impact such posts.

Claims

Claims 1. A fence post cover system for use with a fence post comprising a sheet member dimensioned to substantially cover at least one side of a fence post.
2. A fence post cover system according to Claim 1 wherein the sheet member comprises an elongate main face and a secondary face, that extends sideways and outwardly from the main face.
3. A fence post cover system according to Claim 2 wherein the secondary face

extends in a plane at an angle (a) within the range 100 to 170 , and preferably in the range 1200 to 1500 to the plane of the main face.
4. A fence post cover system according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 comprising a front face t : l and a secondary face extending backwardly from each side of the front face, the secondary faces diverging from one another as they extend backwardly.
5. A fence post cover system according to any preceding claim wherein the fence post cover is between 0.6m and 3m long, and/or between 0. 05m and 0. 3m wide.
6. A fence post cover system according to any preceding claim wherein the fence post cover comprises fixing means for attaching the cover to the fence post.
7. A cover system according to Claim 6 wherein the fixing means comprises a generally"U-shaped"bracket.
8. A fence post cover system according to any preceding claim comprising fixing means attached to the cover and attachment means wherein the fixing means may operably engage the attachment means and the attachment means is adapted for fixing to a fence post.

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9. A fence post cover system comprising a cover, fixing means attached to the cover and attachment means wherein the fixing means may operably engage the attachment means and the attachment means is adapted for fixing to a fence post.
10. A fence post cover system according to Claim 8 or 9 wherein the attachment means is a substantially"U-shaped"bracket.
11. A fence post cover system according to any of Claims 8 to 10 wherein the attachment means comprises a clamping mechanism to operably engage a post member.
12. A fence post cover system according to Claim 11 wherein the grip exerted by the clamping mechanism is adjustable.
13. A fence post cover system according to any of Claims 8 to 12 wherein the attachment means includes a threaded bolt member.
14. A cover system substantially as described above by reference to Figures 1 to 4