GB2564462A

GB2564462A - Hoarding support and hoarding system

Info

Publication number: GB2564462A
Application number: GB1711227.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Markun Radoslaw; Lewis Brendan
Original assignee: ALEXANDRA SECURITY Ltd
Current assignee: ALEXANDRA SECURITY Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-12
Filing date: 2017-07-12
Publication date: 2019-01-16
Also published as: GB201711227D0

Abstract

A hoarding support comprising a planar base plate 110, a post 120 pivotally mounted to the base plate at a first position, and a brace 130 pivotally mounted to the base plate at a second position spaced from the first position. The second end of the brace is connected to the post intermediate the first and second ends of the post at one of a plurality of possible positions, for example using mounting holes, which provide a range of different angles of the post relative to the base plate, including vertical. The range of angles may be 80 degrees to 100 degrees. Ballast may be placed on the base plate. The base plate may be planar with no upstanding edges. The angle of the post can be adjusted to accommodate ground slope or to reduce wind loading. The base plate, post, and brace may be metal. Also claimed is a hoarding system comprising a plurality of the supports attached to one or more hoarding panels.

Description

Hoarding Support and Hoarding System

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hoarding support and a hoarding system.

Background Art

Hoarding, comprising a plurality of panels making up a vertical screen, is used in a variety of situations, usually as a temporary barrier around a site. The main use is to secure construction sites but hoarding can also be used more generally as a type of fencing or barrier. It can be used to secure off an area of land, such as at concerts and festivals for example.

Traditionally, hoarding has been constructed in a manner similar to fencing, in which vertical posts are driven into the ground and the vertical panels attached to the posts.

For a temporary barrier, this method of construction is relatively time-consuming and also requires the ground to be suitable for accepting and supporting the posts. Drilling or creating holes in the ground may also not be possible or desirable in certain situations.

There is a need for a more flexible and adaptable system for supporting hoarding. Also, a reusable support system would be highly desirable, to overcome the waste element associated with traditional wood and plywood hoarding systems.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a hoarding support comprising: a planar base plate; a post having a first end pivotally mounted to the base plate at a first position; and a brace having a first end pivotally mounted to the base plate at a second position spaced from the first position; wherein the second end of the brace is connected to the post intermediate the first and second ends of the post at one of a plurality of possible positions which provide a range of different angles of the post relative to the planar base plate, including substantially vertical.

The plurality of possible positions is preferably provided by a plurality of mounting holes along at least part of the length of the post. The range of angles may be from substantially 80 degrees to substantially 100 degrees relative to the plane of the base plate.

The first and second positions may be located at any suitable location on the base plate, but are preferably adjacent different corners of the base plate to provide a relatively wide support base for the post.

The base plate may be any suitable configuration, including one with upstanding edges into which ballast such as paving slabs can be inserted, but an important preferred feature of the invention is a planar base plate with no upstanding edges. This greatly increases the options for the type, size and configuration of the ballast employed to secure the support in position, as well as the ease with which ballast can be located on the base plate, as discussed in further detail below.

Preferably, the base plate has one or more apertures. These may be provided for convenient handling and transportation of the base plate when disassembled, and/or for fixing the assembled support to the ground by using stakes if desired.

For durability, the base plate, post and brace are preferably made of metal. This allows the apparatus to be reused.

The invention also provides a hoarding system comprising a plurality of supports as described above, together with one or more hoarding panels for attachment to the supports in use.

The present invention, at least in its preferred embodiments, provides an improved hoarding support and hoarding system which is reusable, more environmentally friendly, cheaper and quicker to assemble than standard hoarding solutions. The system can be used on flat or sloping surfaces or in places where post holes cannot be drilled. The angle of the post can be adjusted to accommodate ground slope and/or to reduce wind loading.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1A and IB show side elevation and plan views respectively of a hoarding support in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a hoarding support in accordance with the invention; Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C respectively show detailed views of parts of the hoarding support of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C shows side elevations of the hoarding support of the invention fixed at different angles; and

Figs. 5A and 5B respectively show rear and front views of a hoarding system in accordance with the invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Figs. 1A, IB and 2 show a hoarding support 100 comprising a base plate 110, a vertically-extending post 120 and a brace 130. The support 100 is designed to be universal, so that a left-end, central or right-end post all have the same structure.

Base plate 110 comprises a generally flat, planar metal plate which is provided with apertures 111. These apertures provide a handle for convenient transportation of the base plate 110 when disassembled. Four holes 112 in the corners of base plate 110 are provided for fixing the base plate to the ground if desired by using stakes, although this is not in any way essential for the support to perform its function, as discussed further below. Base plate 110 is also provided with mounting lugs 113 for the post 120 and brace 130 (shown in detail in Figs. 3B and 3C).

Post 120 is mounted to base plate 110 by means of a bolt 121. Brace 130 is mounted to base plate 110 by means of a bolt 131. With referenced to Fig. 3A, post 120 and brace 130 are connected together by means of a bolt 122 which can be inserted through any of a plurality of holes 123 provided in the post 120. The hole which is selected will determine the angle of the post 120 relative to the base plate 110. Three different angles are shown in Fig. 4 as an example, ranging from 79 degrees to 90 degrees to 99 degrees. This allows the hoarding to be angled relative to the base plate 110, so maintaining the hoarding in a vertical orientation even if the ground has a natural slope, or allowing the hoarding to be fixed in an orientation to reduce wind loading from the prevailing direction.

As well as the base plate 110, the post 120 and brace 130 are preferably made from metal which allows the components to be reused many times.

Figs. 5A and 5B show an assembled hoarding system 200 employing the support 100 of the invention. Three supports 100 are assembled in a spaced-apart relation and rails 210 are fixed across between the posts. Hoarding panels 220 are attached to the rails, and the hoarding is then completed as required, for example by adding edging 230, paint and/or graphics. Other than the support 100, this is a typical structure for a wooden hoarding system, but the panels could be made from metal in which case separate rails may not be required. Finally, ballast (not shown) is placed on top of the base plates 110 to secure the supports in position. This can be in the form of filled containers (filled e.g. with sand or water), concrete blocks, paving slabs, or in fact any suitable medium with the required weight. Because the base plates are planar and do not have upstanding edges, the ballast does not have to conform exactly to the shape of the plate and can overhang onto the ground. Delivery of the ballast to the base plate is also made easier as the ballast can be slid onto the base plate or, if being delivered by sack trolley, the trolley platform can be parked on or directly adjacent the base plate and the ballast moved across. As mentioned above, the base plates may optionally be fixed to the ground by means of stakes, although this should not be necessary in most conditions.

Claims

1. A hoarding support comprising: a planar base plate; a post having a first end pivotally mounted to the base plate at a first position; and a brace having a first end pivotally mounted to the base plate at a second position spaced from the first position; wherein the second end of the brace is connected to the post intermediate the first and second ends of the post at one of a plurality of possible positions which provide a range of different angles of the post relative to the planar base plate, including substantially vertical.

2. The hoarding support of claim 1, wherein the plurality of possible positions is provided by a plurality of mounting holes along at least part of the length of the post.

3. The hoarding support of claim 1 or 2, wherein the range of angles is from substantially 80 degrees to substantially 100 degrees relative to the plane of the base plate.

4. The hoarding support of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second positions are adjacent different corners of the base plate.

5. The hoarding support of any preceding claim, wherein the base plate is planar with no upstanding edges.

6. The hoarding support of any preceding claim, wherein the base plate has one or more apertures.

7. The hoarding support of any preceding claim, wherein the base plate, post and brace are made of metal.

8. A hoarding system comprising a plurality of supports as claimed in any preceding claim, together with one or more hoarding panels for attachment to the supports in use.