WO2005108678A1

WO2005108678A1 - Hoarding constructions

Info

Publication number: WO2005108678A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/001759
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Max Whitehouse
Original assignee: Is Consultancy (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 2004-05-11
Filing date: 2005-05-09
Publication date: 2005-11-17
Also published as: GB0410562D0

Abstract

A hoarding construction comprises an array of panels (10), which are connected edge to edge by vertical edge connectors (11) to form a barrier. Foundations are provided by piles or spikes (18) driven into the ground, and the panels are seated on plates (143) and fastened to them by bolts. The structure may include covered walkways, and some panels may be provided with light sources (50) at the top, which can also include an electronic display (48), and be powered by solar panels such as (46). Each panel (10) provides a preferably generally concave display surface with or without a pediment. A range of configurations are shown.

Description

HOARDING CONSTRUCTIONS

This invention relates to a new and improved hoarding construction. Hoarding constructions are widely used as boundary fencing for construction and civil engineering sites for example, and also as support structures for advertising displays, to carry large-scale posters for example. As fencing, the function of a hoarding construction is to provide for security and safety, by preventing unauthorised access, particularly casual or straying encroachment, and for protection of off-site passers-by from accidents due to falling tools or materials, partly by establishing a boundary and partly by providing a physical barrier to prevent or hinder encroachment in either direction. Another function of a hoarding construction is to mask from general view activity on the site, and unsightly partially built or demolished, or temporary and intermediate structures by providing a sight screen. This applies even where viewing ports or apertures are provided at selected points for the curious and to keep the public informed of progress. As constructed at present, hoarding constructions generally comprise a plurality of planar panels of timber laminate secured by nailing to a framework of vertical posts and horizontal battens. Pressboard or other composites are less satisfactory as they are less able to withstand impacts before shattering and thus vulnerable to vandalism or accidental impact. Advertising hoardings are generally speaking of a similar construction. Barrier hoardings are vulnerable also to graffiti and fly-posting which is to visual amenity. A partial solution has been to invite local groups such as schools to design and execute community art works on hoardings to fill empty space, preempting the unlicensed defacement. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hoarding construction which whilst fulfilling the main roles of a fence construction - establishing a boundary, preventing casual or accidental encroachment, maintaining public safety, and resisting deliberate trespass also makes possible improvement of the visual amenity. According to the invention, a safety hoarding construction is characterised in that it comprises a plurality of panel members, one or more of which is provided with a display surface adapted to be directed to the obverse (outer) side of the hoarding construction, the display surface having a shaped or contoured configuration. The panels preferably form a modular construction, are preferably interconnectable, and reusable. The display surface is preferably a generally concave surface and continuous - i.e. without apertures, or surface discontinuities, but in some cases may present an inclined surface. The surface may include extended planar vertical parts and / or inclined or sloping sections. The concavity of the surface may be defined about a horizontal axis, or in some cases, a vertical axis. The construction may include a base or pediment which may or may not be part of the display surface, or be continuous therewith. The base or pediment may connect to the display surface by means of an inclined or sloping surface. The construction may also include a rear-panel and side panels and include a structural framework within the construction. The outer surfaces of the structure, including the display surface may be formed by sheet material such as timber, including plywood; synthetic plastics including resin bonded composites; sheet metal such as steel or aluminium alloy. The structural framework, if required, may be of timber, metal or plastics solid or profiled stock. The parts forming the constructions may be assembled in such a way as not to require a structural framework. The display surface, would in use, be utilized for the display of advertising material, information material or artistic material such as "community art". Some embodiments of hoarding constructions according to the invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is an elevation of a hoarding or site fence comprising a plurality of conjoined panels, forming a construction according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a frontal elevation of a fencing panel forming part of the site fence of Fig. 1 , showing sub-surface structure; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a top view, a frontal view and a side view of a ground anchor member used in securing the panels forming the hoarding or site fence in the ground; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of walkway forming part of a site boundary fence; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of walkway forming part of a site boundary fence; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a lighting and display unit; Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section through the lighting and display unit of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a view of a solar cell array for mounting on the fence or hoarding constructions; Fig. 1 1 is a sectional view of an alternative solar cell array; Fig. 1 2 and Fig. 1 3 are top views respectively of attachment plates for connecting the lower parts of panels to a ground anchor member, respectively for in-line mounting of panels in Fig. 12, and for angled mounting of panels in Fig. 1 3; Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the panel connection shown in Fig. 1 2; Fig. 1 5 is a sectional side view of the connection shown in Fig. 1 4; Figs. 1 6 to 20 are a series of side elevations of panels according to several alternative embodiments of the invention, and Figs. 21 , 22 and 23 are respectively a perspective view and plan views of a further embodiment of panel and a modified version thereof. Referring first to the general elevation view of the hoarding or site fence according to the invention, this comprises an array of first panels 10, which are located edge to edge, secured by vertical edge connectors 1 1 . These panels 10 are about 2m in height, somewhat taller than the average adult human male. Certain ones of these panels 10 may be provided with viewing windows 1 2, to enable passers-by to view progress of work within the site, and these may be glazed with impact resistant transparent plastics material, such as polycarbonate, to prevent injury to viewers or passers-by due to debris or dust or other hazards from the site. The hoarding or fence also comprises a number of larger display panels 1 5, two of which are shown side by side in Fig. 1 , bearing an illustration, such as a poster for example showing an artist's impression of the complete project. The display panel units are of the same width as the first panels 10, that is for example 1 m or 1 .2m, and about 2.5m in height. At the upper edge of each display unit is a housing 1 6 which may include electronic display means and/or apparatus for illuminating the display on the panel 1 5. This housing will be described in more detail below with reference to Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 2 shows a typical panel 10, forming part of the hoarding or site fence of Fig.1 with edge connectors 1 1 securing the panel 10 to similar panels at each side. The panel 10 has a viewing window glazed with transparent impact resistant plastics material as mentioned above. The lower edge of the panel 10 rests on the ground 13, and each lower corner, and the adjacent lower corner of the adjacent panel is supported on a plate 14 as for example in Fig. 3. Vertically upstanding threaded bolts or shafts 1 6 mounted on the plate 14 engage in the corner regions of the panels 10 (See fig. 4). For an "in line" arrangement of panels 10, the panels may lie in the positions 10, 10 shown in Fig. 3, or in a corner arrangement, one panel may be located in position 10a. The plate 14 forms the head of a ground anchor member 1 8, consisting of a backplate 1 9 and tapered side members 20, 21 which form a spike-shaped member, about 1 m in depth which can be driven into the ground by a pile driver or jack-hammer. Member 1 1 covers the gap between adjacent edges of the panels 10. Figs. 6 and 7 show two different embodiments of walkway constructions using panel units of the type described. Such a covered walkway may be provided on the periphery of a construction site to provide for safe passage of passers by particularly for example where scaffolding overhangs a public right of way such as a street pavement. The walkway comprises a roof 22, which may be provided by scaffold boards of sufficient strength to ensure that debris, dropped tools and the like do not fall onto the walkway. The floor 23 of the walkway is preferably provided by boards or plates that provide safe footing even in wet and slippery conditions. The sidewalls 24, 25 of the walkway comprise hoarding panels forming part of the invention. In Fig. 6, these are shown as comprising a first panel 26 to the left of the drawing, to the site side of the walkway, presenting a concavely curved display surface 27 to the interior of the walkway, and merging with a vertical plinth 28 at the bottom of the panel. The other sidewall 25 on the street side of the walkway comprises a second panel 29 of the same geometry as the panel 26, having a concavely curved display surface 30 facing the interior of the walkway, and back-to-back with the second panel 29, a third panel 31 having a similar concavely curved display surface 32 facing the streetside of the walkway. The display surfaces 30, 32 similarly to surface 27, terminate in a vertical plinth, 33, 34 respectively similar to plinth 28. The panels 26, 29 and 31 are secured and ground anchored similarly to the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 to 5 described above. The embodiment of walkway shown in Fig. 7 again has side walls 24, 25 each of which however comprises a single panel, 35 in the case of wall 24 and 36 in the case of wall 25. The panels 35, 36 each comprise a flat vertical display surface 37, a plinth 38 at the foot thereof comprising a vertical skirting wall 39 and a slope 40, and a head beam 41 , comprising a slope 42 and a vertical 43. The head beam may accommodate lighting apparatus such as fluorescent tube lighting to illuminate the display surface and light up the walkway for safety reasons. The outer skin 44 of panel 36 may also form a display surface on which advertising or public relations material may be displayed. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a lighting unit 1 6 which is preferably provided at the upper side of at least the larger display panels 1 5 shown in Fig. 1 . The unit 1 6 comprises a housing 45 which provides a hood 46, and a front wall 47. An electronic display device 48 is mounted along the front wall 47 and this may be operated to provide messages containing information, news or advertising material, by way of non-exhaustive example. The hood 46 carries a solar collecting panel 49 comprising an array of photo voltaic cells which can be used to at least partially power the electronic display 48 and / or a fluorescent lighting tube 50 within the housing 45 disposed to illuminate the display surface 51 of a panel 52 on the top of which the unit 1 6 is mounted. The unit 1 6 is mounted on the top of panel 52 by means of a flange 53 which is held below a flange 54 of a bracket 55 mounted on top of the panel 52. Alternative forms of solar collecting panel are shown in Figs. 5, 10 and 1 1 , for mounting on respective poles 56, behind the panels 10 (within the site) - e.g. as in Fig. 10, a pair of solar panels 57, 58 on a pivotal mounting bracket 59, so that the direction of the panel may be adjusted to take advantage of available sunlight. Alternatively the array of photo voltaic cells may form the walls of a rhombic cross section member 60, as shown in Fig. 1 1 , mounted on a fixed position behind the panels 10. Figs. 1 2 and 13 show alterative fixings for panels 10 to plates 14 which cap the ground anchors 18. Here the plates 14 have flanges 61 to which a joint cover strip 62 is connected, and flanges 63 which secure the edges of panels 10 to the flange 61 . Fig. 12 shows an in-line installation and Fig. 1 3 an installation with adjustable angle for use at corners. Fig. 14 is a vertical elevation of the Fig. 1 2 arrangement, and Fig. 1 5 is a side view thereof. Where ground is unsuitable for driving a ground anchor, for example concrete or bedrock, the ground anchor 1 8 may be dispensed with and the plate 14 extended as shown by the broken line extension 14a, and a weight such as concrete block 64 or a mass of rubble used to anchor the structure. It will be appreciated that the fencing panels and display panels may be provided in a variety of configurations, a number of which are illustrated in Figs. 16 to 23. Each panel 71 comprises a display surface 72, a pedestal 73, side walls 74, and in some cases a slope 76. The display surface 72 may be flat as in Figs. 17, 19 and 20, concavely curved as in Fig. 1 6, vertical as in Fig. 1 7, inclined outwards to the top as in Fig. 19, or outwards to the bottom as in Fig. 20. It may comprise a lower downwardly outsloped part 72G and an upper upwardly outsloped part 72a as in Fig. 1 8, or by contrast may comprise a concave surface housing a vertical axis of curvature in Figs. 21 - 23; Figs. 21 and 23 being a perspective and plan view of a box panel structure, and Fig. 22 an alternative form presenting a convex rear surface. The panel members are usually of box-panel construction, providing sheet like side, rear and display side walls, with an internal structure featuring necessary supporting framework, including battens or cross members which may be horizontally extending or inclined or both. Details are not shown as these features are within the competence of a skilled fabricator. The panels form a modular construction and are reusable with only damaged panels needing to be replaced. The material from which the panels are formed is preferably glass reinforced plastics sheet material, but other materials may be used, including polyurethanes, polycarbonates, traditional timber laminates such as plywood, fibre boards or chipboard, and metal sheets including steel or aluminium alloy. It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.

Claims

Claims 1. A safety hoarding construction comprising a plurality of panel members, one or more of which comprises a structure providing rear and side walls and is provided with a display surface adapted to be directed to the obverse (outer) side of the hoarding construction, wherein the display surface has a shaped or contoured configuration.

2. A safety hoarding construction according to claim 1, wherein the panel members comprise a modular construction and are interconnectable by connection means.

3. A safety hoarding according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said display surface presents a continuous surface.

4. A safety hoarding according to claim 3, wherein the display surface has an overall concave configuration.

5. A safety hoarding according to claim 4, wherein the display surface includes one or more extended planar vertical parts and/or inclined or sloping planar parts whilst maintaining said overall concave configuration.

6. A safety hoarding according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the concave configuration of the display surface is defined about a horizontal axis.

7. A safety hoarding according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the concave configuration of the display surface is defined about a vertical axis.

8. A safety hoarding according to any preceding claim which includes a base or pediment.

9. A safety hoarding according to claim 8, wherein the base or pediment does not provide part of the display surface.

10. A safety hoarding according to claim 8, wherein the base or pediment is continuous with the display surface.

11. A safety hoarding according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the base or pediment is connected to the display surface by means of an inclined or sloping surface.

12. A safety hoarding according to claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the structure are formed by sheets of sheet material.

13. A safety hoarding according to any preceding claim wherein the panels are connected edge to edge by vertical edge connectors.

14. A safety hoarding according to claim 13, wherein each vertical edge connector comprises a plate secured, to a pair of adjacent panels.

15. A safety hoarding according to claim 14, wherein the vertical edge connectors stand upon ground anchors in the form of piles or spikes which are driven into the ground, below the hoarding, the panel members being secured to a plate forming a head of the ground anchor.

16. A safety hoarding according to any preceding claim, wherein a walk- way is formed by aligning parallel arrays of panels on either side of the walk way, and covering with a roof.

17. A safety hoarding according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein a lighting unit is mounted along the upper side of one or more of the panels, and includes a light source disposed to illuminate the display surface.

18. A safety hoarding according to claim 17, further including an electronic display device in association with the lighting unit.

19. A safety hoarding according to claims 17 or 18, wherein one or more solar panels are provided in association with the or each lighting unit and/or electronic display device.

20. A safety hoarding according to any preceding claim wherein one or more of the panels has a configuration as shown in Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A safety hoarding according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein one or more of the panels has a configuration as shown in Figure 17 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A safety hoarding according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein one or more of the panels has a configuration as shown in Figure 18 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A safety hoardmg according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein one or more of the panels has a configuration as shown in Figure 19 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A safety hoarding according to any of claim 1 to 19, wherein one or more of the panels has a configuration as shown in Figure 20 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A safety hoarding according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein one or more of the panels has a configuration as shown in Figures 21 to 23 of the accompanying drawings.