GB2279975A - A fixing device for post-and-rail fence - Google Patents

Abstract

A fixing device 10 for connecting two elements of a fence arrangement has a plate-like section 13 and oppositely disposed sets of first and second extensions 15, 17. The fence post is disposed behind the plate-like section 13 and is secured using nails through the holes in extensions 15. The rail is disposed on the other side of section 13 and secured using nails through the holes in extensions 17 and 18. <IMAGE>

Description

A FIXING DEVICE This invention relates to a fixing device for joining two elements of a fencing arrangement. The invention is particularly but not exclusively suitable for joining a fence rail to a fence post.

The majority of post and rail timber fencing falls into the category of "butt jointed rail systems" in which rectangular or half-round rails are abut one another and the ends are nailed to the face of the posts which may be rectangular or circular in section.

Such fencing has a number of disadvantages. Firstly the fence is not symmetrical in plan view and is, therefore, not pleasing to the eye. The mechanical joint depends on the use of large nails which tend to split the ends of the rails. The system is best suited to rectangularly cut timber, but a rustic look is often desired which means nailing half-round rails to round posts. The efficiency of the mechanical joint in such situations is clearly reduced.

Another well known fencing system utilises posts which have been morticed to receive the ends of the rails, which ends have usually been shaped to slot into the mortice. The mortice, however, weakens the posts which can often fail by splitting along their length through the mortices. There are considerable difficulties in site fixing because the rails are frequently poorly jointed and nails are used to secure the rails. This results in a weak and unattractive joint. Also the rails have to be fixed before the posts are secured in the ground, thus leading to erection difficulties. In addition rails in a mortice system are difficult to replace.

According to the present invention there is provided a fixing device for joining two elements of a fencing arrangement, the device having a plate-like portion, which in use engages sections of both elements one section on each side, and a number of first projections projecting from the plate-like portion, which projections, in use, are angled relative to the plate-like portion and are adapted to be secured to one of said elements, said devise being securable to said second element.

Preferably said projections are formed integrally with the plate-like portion. A further preferred feature is that a second set of projections is provided integrally with the plate-like portion for securing the fixing device to the second element.

Conveniently both sets of projections are provided with nail holes to facilitate the attachment to the elements. In a preferred arrangement the first set of projections comprises a plurality of projections aligned in a first series spaced from a plurality of projections aligned in a second, parallel series. Another preferred feature is that the first set of projections also comprises a further projection or projections at one end of the plate like portion between the two series and 900 out of alignment with the projections of the first and second sets.

The first set of projections may be pre-bent at generally 900 to the plate-like portion. The device may be made from mild steel sheet which is subsequently galvanised or from stainless steel sheet The sheet may be between 1 and 2 mm in thickness so at to be strong yet bendable so that the angle of the projections can be changed to accommodate variations in the elements.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fixing device according to the present invention, in use, Figure 2 is a front view of the fixing device of figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of the device of figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device of figure 1, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified fixing device according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a front view of the device of figure 5, Figure 7 is a side view of the device of figure 5, Figure 8 is a perspective view of another modified fixing device according to the present invention, and Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are perspective views of various fence arrangements utilising the fixing device according to the present invention.

Referring to figures 1 to 4 there is shown a fixing device 10 for securing relative to each other two elements 11, 12 of a fence arrangement. The first element 11 is an upstanding post which is secured relative to the ground by, for example, being embedded and the second element 12 is a rail which may extend generally parallel to the ground and terminate at a further post spaced from post 11.

The fixing device 10 may be made from mild steel sheet which is galvanised either before or preferably after manufacture or from stainless steel sheet. Other suitable materials will, however, be apparent. The device 10 has a plate-like central section 13 which engages on one side the plain sawn end face of the rail 12 and on its other side a plain sawn face 14 of the post 11. The central section 13 has a series of three flat extensions 15 projecting from each opposite edge. Each extension 15 has a nail hole 16.

Adjacent the extensions 15 are extensions 17 which are bent back at 900 to the central section 13.

In addition there is a further extension 18 which is bent back at 900 to the central section 13 and which is located at the bottom edge of the central section 13. Extensions 17 and 18 are also provided with nail holes 16.

In use a rail 12 is sawn so as to have roughly parallel side faces 19. The fixing device 10 is placed on the end of the rail 12 with the extensions 17 lying against the respective side faces 19 and like further extension 18 lying against the underside of the rail 12. The device is then secured to the rail by hammering nails through the holes 16 and into the rail 12. The rail 12 and device 10 are then offered up to the face 14 of the post 11 and nails are driven through holes 16 into the post 11. Alternatively of course the devices 10 could be attached to the posts 11 and then the rails 12 secured to the devices 10.

Thus the device 10 provides a simple, effective and unobtrusive fixing method. Various examples of the application of the device 10 are shown in figures 9 to 12. In figure 9 the post 11 and rails 12 are rectangular sawn sections. In figure 10 the post 11 is formed with a rounded top and the rectangular sawn rails 12 have bevelled edges. In figure 11 the post 11 has parallel plane sawn faces 14 and the rails 12 are simple logs with scalloped ends 20 for engagement with the fixing devices 10. In figure 12 the arrangement incorporates the types of post 11 and rail 12 shown in figure 1. Many other constructions are of course possible.

Another embodiment of device 10 is shown in figures 5 to 7. This is similar to that shown in figures 1 to 4 except that no bottom extension 18 is provided.

In figure 8 the extensions 17 for engaging the side faces 19 of the rail 12 are larger and central and incorporate three nail holes 16. Extensions 15 flank the enlarged extensions 17.

These are of course only examples of suitable devices, but many others are envisaged. The devices 10 may be supplied in a planar, unbent form, the extensions 17 having to be manually bent into position. It will be appreciated that the devices 10 discussed above can be used in many situations as well as when the rail 12 is simply perpendicular to the post 11. The end face of the rail may be sawn at an angle either relative to the vertical plane or to the horizontal plane. This will enable the fencing arrangement to turn corners in the first case and to cope with hills in the second case. With the first case, however, it will be necessary to bend the extensions 17 at angles different to 90 to the central section 13.

The nails to be used are a matter of design choice but galvanised nails would be suitable either of plane round section or even square section, twisted nails. Other fixing means could be used such as screws.

Size is of course variable depending on the posts and rails being used for the fencing.

Claims (11)

1. A fixing device for joining two elements of a fencing arrangement, the device having a plate like portion, which in use engages sections of both elements one section on each side, and a number of first projections projecting from the plate-like portion, which projections, in use, are angled relative to the plate-like portion and are adapted to be secured to one of said elements, said device being securable to said second element.

2. A fixing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said projections are formed integrally with the plate-like portion.

3. A fixing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second set of projections is provided integrally with the plate-like portion for securing the fixing device to the second element.

4. A fixing device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the sets of projections are provided with nail holes to facilitate the attachment to the elements.

5. A fixing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first set of projections comprises a plurality of projections aligned in a first series spaced from a plurality of projections aligned in a second, parallel series.

6. A fixing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first set of projections also comprises a further projection or projections at one end of the plate like portion between the two series and 90" out of alignment with the projections of the first and second sets.

7. A fixing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein The first set of projections may be pre-bent at generally 900 to the plate-like portion.

8. A fixing device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second set of projections are in the same plane as the plate-like portion.

9. A fixing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the device is made from galvanised mild steel.

10. A fixing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the device is made from stainless steel.

11. A fixing device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.