NL2003413C2

NL2003413C2 - A plate for forming a fence.

Info

Publication number: NL2003413C2
Application number: NL2003413A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Piet-Jan Kommer
Original assignee: Meubelmakerij P J Van Den Kommer B V
Priority date: 2009-08-31
Filing date: 2009-08-31
Publication date: 2011-03-01

Description

A plate for forming a fence FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plate for forming a fence wall and a fence comprising at least one such plate.

5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fences, e.g. made of concrete, exist consisting of a number of poles (at least two) with grooves where the poles are dug into the ground and placed apart with a given standard length between them and where a number of plates are put on top of each other between two poles to form a fence or segment thereof.

10

Such fences exist, e.g. in the Netherlands but also elsewhere, and are generally not that attractive to look at nor especially useful other than serving as a traditional fence.

15 OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a plate for forming a fence that improves on existing ones.

A further object is to enable the saving of space at a location with a fence, e.g. like 2 0 in a garden, yard, etc.

The invention provides in a first aspect a plate for forming a fence wall having at least one functional element being integrally formed with the plate.

25 In this way, the fence serve more purposes than only being a fence. In addition, the functional element is provided with the fence, so such element does not have to be added afterwards once the fence is ready. This saves time and money.

In one embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the functional element is a 30 shelf and the shelf is located perpendicular to the plate. This enables the fence to be decorated at specific locations. In addition, storage space is provided.

2

In another embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the shelf has substantially the same length as the plate and the shelf has a recess at a location adjacent to the plate. In this way, the shelf can be slit into grooves provided by a vertical support member like a pole, thus forming part of a fence, without 5 interfering with walls of the pole adjacent to the groove. By providing another plate with a shelf adjacent to the plate with the shelf, a contiguous longer shelf can be provided.

The invention provides in another aspect a fence comprising a first vertical support 10 member and a second vertical support member, each vertical support member having at least one groove at an elongated side of the vertical support member, and at least one plate as described above, wherein a first short side of the plate is fit into a first groove of the first vertical support member and a second short side of the plate is fit into a second groove of the second vertical support member.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings, in which: 2 0 Figure 1 A schematically illustrates a wall as an embodiment of the fence according to the invention;

Figure 1 B schematically illustrates a top view of a wall from which the top of a shelf can be seen; 25

Figure 2 schematically illustrates a plate with a shelf in perspective;

Figure 3 schematically illustrates another plate as an embodiment according to the invention; 30

Figure 4 schematically illustrates a further plate comprising a further shelf and a container integrally formed with the further plate and the further shelf;

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a support for a grid to grill meat and other 35 foodstuff provided on yet another plate provides with grooves; 3

Figure 6 schematically illustrates another wall comprising a first plate, a second plate, a third plate, and a fourth plate forming a shower; 5 Figure 7 schematically illustrates a top and side view of en embodiment of the fence;

Figure 8A schematically illustrates a further wall as embodiment of the fence according to the invention; and 10

Figure 8B schematically illustrates another wall as embodiment of the fence according to the invention.

15 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1A shows a wall 100 as an embodiment of the fence according to the invention. The wall comprises a first pole 104, a second pole 106 as vertical support members and several plates including a plate 102 as an embodiment of the plate according to the invention. The plate 102 comprises a shelf 108 as a 2 0 functional element integrally formed with the plate 102 and a vertical member 110 that is intended to form part of the wall 100. Preferably, the shelf 108 is placed perpendicular to the vertical member 110.

Alternatively, the plate 102 may comprise two or more shelves placed apart in the 2 5 horizontal and/or vertical direction.

A plate 102 with a single shelf may also have a length that is smaller than the length of the plate and the shelf may optionally be attached to the plate differently than on a vertical center-line (not shown) of the plate, i.e. the shelf is shifted either 30 to the left or right of the center of the plate.

Figure 1B shows a top view of the wall 100 from which the top of the shelf 108 can be seen. The first pole 104 has a first groove 110 and the second pole 106 has a second groove 112 for holding the plate 102 with the shelf 108 and further plates. 35 The bottom of the poles are buried into the ground. In another embodiment, the 4 poles are fixed to the ground by attaching them other elements buried in the ground or securely fixed to the ground by other means. The poles should be properly fixed to remain vertical and to hold the plates.

5 Figure 2 shows the plate 102 with the shelf 108 in perspective. The shelf 108 has a first recess 202 and a second recess 204 enabling the sides of the plate 102 to be slit in the first groove 110 and the second groove 112, respectively. If the plate 102 is fixed to the poles by other means, for example by means of screws, nails, glue, cement or other fastening means, the recesses are not required.

10 Alternatively, if the shelf 108 is made less wide than the vertical member 110 of the plate 102 to accommodate the sides of the poles adjacent to the grooves, no recesses are required, either.

Though the shelf 108 shown by Figure 2 is integrally formed at the top, or bottom, 15 with a vertical element of the plate 102, the shelf 108 may also be integrally formed at any other location between top and bottom of the vertical element.

The presence of the first and second recess of the plate and the corresponding grooves of the poles enables a tight fit of the plate to the poles.

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Figure 3 shows another plate 302 as an embodiment according to the invention. The plate 302 comprises another shelf 304, a first shelf support 306 and a second shelf support 308 for supporting the other shelf 304. It is to be understood that the number of support can be more or fewer than the illustrated two.

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Figure 4 shows a further plate 402 comprising a further shelf 404 and a container 406 integrally formed with the further plate 402 and the further shelf 404 as a functional element integrally formed with the further plate 402. In further embodiments of the plate according to the invention, a container similar to the 30 container 406 shown by Figure 4 can be adapted to serve as a sink by providing at least one hole or similar in the bottom of the container, the hole(s) being optionally connected to a drain. The further shelf 404 may also comprise one or more holes or similar to accommodate a tap, supply of a liquid like water or the like (not shown).

5

Alternatively, a container can be adapted to serve as a barbecue where charcoal or another combustible is to be put in the container and a grid could be placed on top of the container. Additionally, the front side of the container, in this case the side furthest away from the vertical member of the plate 402, may be omitted to 5 enable better access to the charcoal or other combustible while foodstuffs are placed on the grid above the barbecue.

Figure 5 shows a support for a grid to grill meat and other foodstuff is provided on yet another plate 502 comprising grid support ridges 504 supporting a grid 506.

10 This plate 502 can advantageously be put over a plate like the one shown in

Figure 4 if the container is adapted to serve as a barbecue whereby a grid may be readily available (and height adjustable via the different ridges).

Figure 6 shows another wall 600 comprising a first plate 602, a second plate 604, 15 a third plate 606 and a fourth plate 608. The four plates comprise a first guiding element 612, a second guiding element 614, a third guiding element 616 with a tap control unit 620 and a shower element 618, respectively, as their integrally formed functional elements. The third plate 616 with the tap control unit 620 can be interchanged with the first plate 602 or the second plate 604.

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The first guiding element 612, the second guiding element 614, the third guiding element 616 with the tap control unit 620 and the shower element 618 form a shower 630. Water to be provided by the shower 630 is controllable by means of the tap control unit 620. To guide water to the shower element 618, a tube or a 2 5 pipe is provided within the guiding elements. The tube of the pipe is interrupted by the tap control unit 620 to control the amount of water.

Alternatively, no tube or pipe is provided and water is guided only by the guiding elements. In such embodiment, the tap control unit 620 could be omitted or be 30 located elsewhere.

The shower element 618 is provided with an open pipe to provide water for showering to fit with the character of the wall. Alternatively, another shower element may be provided, for example a shower element providing multiple spurts 35 of water.

6

The guiding elements may e.g. alternatively be provided (with a similar of different shape and/or location) in order to supply electrical power.

5 The plate according to the invention can be embodied in a wide variety of materials. Such materials include, but are not limited to concrete, metal, glass fibre, carbon fibre, wood or plastic. The plate can be manufactured using only one single material, but also by using a mix of the aforementioned materials like concrete reinforced with glass fibre and/or metal wire. The glass fibre and the 10 metal wire can be provided as either single wires, a mesh, or both. Mixing materials in that way reinforces the concrete and avoids cracks in the vertical member of the plate and the functional element like a plate or a sink. Use of metal wire(s) also enable(s) an easy forming of the plate during manufacture. For example, for a shelf 108 as e.g. shown in Figure 2, a mesh or number of individual 15 metal wires may form a general L-shape that concrete (e.g. with glass fiber) or another material is formed about. This strengthens the shelf substantially.

The plate(s) may also be provided in a number of colours.

2 0 In particular when only one material or only one base material with reinforcements is used to manufacture the plate 102, advantageously only one mould is used to model the plate 102. This enables manufacturing a seamless element, which reduces the risks of cracks and provides an element that looks nice. In addition, this reduces handling during manufacturing, resulting in lower costs.

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The plates and the poles can be provided in all measures thinkable, though using standardised measures is preferred. Referring to Figure 7, the thickness of the first pole 104 indicated by a first arrow 702 is 120 millimetres, the height of the plate 102 indicated by a second arrow 704 is 330 millimetres and the width of the plate 30 102 indicated by a third arrow 706 is 1850 millimetres or 1450 millimetres. The thickness of the vertical member of the plate 102 is 33 millimetres. The grooves in the first pole 104 are between 33 millimetres and 35 millimetres wide and between 20 millimetres to 25 millimetres deep. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the plate 102 can be cut or sawn off at any length required or desired for a specific 35 application. In addition, it will be appreciated that for any functional element 7 integrally formed with the plate 102 there is no requirement as to standard measures. For example, the shelf 108 can be provided wider or less wide than the vertical part of the plate 102, preferably at 1970 millimetres. The advantage of providing the shelf 108 at 1970 millimetres wide is that if another plate with a shelf 5 is provided on a wall element next to the wall 100, both shelves form one larger continuous shelf.

Though the first pole 104 is shown with only the first groove 110, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that more grooves may be applied to the first pole 104, 10 opposite to the first groove 110 and/or on a side of the first pole adjacent to the side where the first groove 110 is provided. The same may apply for the second pole 106.

Figure 8A shows a wall 800 as an embodiment of the fence according to the 15 invention. The wall 800 comprises multiple poles 802, multiple single plates 804 as wall elements, multiple plates integrally formed with a shelf 806, a plate integrally formed with a sink 808, a plate integrally formed with a barbecue 810 and a plate integrally formed with a grid support 812.

2 0 Figure 8A shows that various plates with an integrally formed functional element may be combined with single wall plates between the same two poles or between adjacent poles. In addition, Figure 8A shows that providing a longer wall with plates with integrally formed functional elements may be combined at the same height, resulting for example in an outdoor kitchen; the barbecue 810, the sink 808 2 5 and several shelves form a sideboard.

Figure 8B shows a wall 850 as a further embodiment of the fence according to the invention. The wall 850 comprises multiple poles 852, multiple single plates 854 as wall elements, multiple plates integrally formed with a shelf, multiple plates 30 integrally formed with a sink 858, multiple plates integrally formed with a guiding element 860, a plate integrally formed with both a guiding element 862 and a shelf 864 and a plate with a shower element 866.

Figure 8B shows that a plate according to the invention can be embodied with 35 multiple functional elements, being in this embodiment the guiding element 862 and the shelf 864. A person skilled in the art will understand from this that also other functional elements may be integrally formed with a plate without departing from the scope of the invention.

8 5 In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be constructed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

10

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the various embodiments of the invention as disclosed can be combined without departing from the scope of the invention. This is in particular the case with respect to the way the functional element is embodied. In addition to what has been disclosed above, also a bench, 15 a worksheet or a wide range of other functional elements may be added while integrally formed with a plate.

Claims

1. Plaat voor het vormen van een wand van een schutting omvattende ten minste een functioneel element dat integraal is gevormd met de plaat.A plate for forming a wall of a fence comprising at least one functional element integrally formed with the plate.

2. Plaat volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het functionele element een plank is en de 5 plank in hoofdzaak loodrecht op de plaat geplaatst is.2. Plate according to claim 1, wherein the functional element is a shelf and the shelf is placed substantially perpendicular to the plate.

3. Plat volgens conclusie 1 of 2, waarbij het functionele element een plaat is en de plank langs een langgerekte zijde van de plaat geplaatst is.The shelf of claim 1 or 2, wherein the functional element is a plate and the shelf is placed along an elongated side of the plate.

4. Plaat volgens conclusie 2, waarbij de plank in hoofdzaak dezelfde lengte heeft als de plaat en waarbij de plank een inkeping heeft op een locatie nabij de plaat.The plate of claim 2, wherein the board has substantially the same length as the plate and wherein the board has a notch at a location near the plate.

5. Plaat volgens conclusie 1, waarbij het functionele element ten minste een van de volgende is: 15 -barbecue; - gootsteen; - bank; - werkbank; - verticaal geleidingselement; of 0. douche element.The plate of claim 1, wherein the functional element is at least one of the following: barbecue; - sink; - Bank; - workbench; - vertical guide element; or 0. shower element.

6. Plaat volgens een der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de plaat ten minste een van de volgende materialen omvat: - beton 2 5 -metaal; - glasvezel; - koolstofvezel; en - hout. 3 06. Plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate comprises at least one of the following materials: - concrete - metal; - optical fiber; - carbon fiber; and - wood. 3 0

7. Plaat volgens conclusie 5, waarbij de plaat is gemaakt van een enkel materiaal.The plate of claim 5, wherein the plate is made of a single material.

8. Plaat volgens conclusie 5, waarbij de plaat hoofdzakelijk is gemaakt van beton en is verstevigd met metaal en/of glasvezel.8. Plate according to claim 5, wherein the plate is mainly made of concrete and is reinforced with metal and / or glass fiber.

9. Plaat volgens een der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de plaat omvattende het functionele element is gevormd in een enkele mal.The plate of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate comprising the functional element is formed in a single mold.

10. Plaat volgens een der voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de plaat is ingericht om 5 in verticale groeven te worden geschoven, welke groeven zijn voorzien in twee nabije verticale ondersteuningselementen welke zijn voorzien op een afstand welke in hoofdzaak gelijk is aan de lengte van de plaat minus twee maal de diepte van de groeven.10. Plate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the plate is adapted to be slid into vertical grooves, which grooves are provided in two nearby vertical support elements which are provided at a distance which is substantially equal to the length of the plate minus twice the depth of the grooves.

11. Plaat volgens een der voorgaande conclusies, ingericht om bovenop een vergelijkbare plaat gestapeld te worden en ingericht om een verdere vergelijkbare plaat bovenop te stapelen.11. Plate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, adapted to be stacked on top of a comparable plate and arranged to stack a further comparable plate on top.

12. Schutting omvattende: 15. een eerste verticaal steunelement en een tweede verticaal steunelement, elk verticaal steunelement voorzien van ten minste een groef in een langwerpige zijde van het verticale steunelement; en - ten minste een plaat volgens een der voorgaande conclusies, waarin een eerste korte zijde van de plaat in een eerste groef van het eerste verticale 2 0 steunelement is geplaatst en een twee korte zijde van de plaat in een tweede groef van het tweede verticale steunelement is geplaatst.A fence comprising: 15. a first vertical support element and a second vertical support element, each vertical support element provided with at least one groove in an elongated side of the vertical support element; and - at least one plate according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a first short side of the plate is placed in a first groove of the first vertical support element and a two short side of the plate in a second groove of the second vertical support element is placed.