GB2535551B - Spacing element for spacing a fence panel from a gravel board - Google Patents

Description

Spacing Element for spacing a Fence Panel from a Gravel Board

The present disclosure relates to a spacing element for spacing a fence panel from agravel board.

Traditionally fences for gardens and properties have been constructed of verticallymounted posts either securely mounted to metal spikes that have been deeply driven intothe ground or concreted directly into the ground around the base. These posts are usually ofwood or concrete construction. Between these posts panels of wooden constructed fencingare provided. These panels can be of a variety of forms and construction but rely on thevertical posts to support them in position and add rigidity to the fence. To protect the baseof the wooden fence panels from ground splashes and rising wetness they are ideallymounted over a gravel board that runs on or close to the ground at the base of the uprightposts and extending between respective adjacent posts. These gravel boards are usually ofeither wood or pre cast concrete and are generally between 15 and 20cm in depth.

The attachment of the panels and gravel boards to the posts is usually, in the case ofwooden posts, by nailing or screwing directly to the post. Another frequently used methodof attachment to wooden posts is via metal clips or brackets, which are attached by nails orscrews to the innermost sides of the posts between which the panel is to be fitted. Theseclips or brackets allow the gravel board and panel to be slid between them andsubsequently fixed in place by attachment to the clips by nails or screws. This methodreduces the forces on the panel while fixing to preserve the integrity of its construction andalso allow for easier removal of the panel and/or gravel board for servicing or replacement. A further alternative method, usually used in the case of the posts being of pre castconcrete construction and usually used in conjunction with pre cast concrete gravel boards,is to have posts of a form which encompasses a slot within its form on either side intowhich, when positioned at the correct pitch, a gravel board and pre-constructed fence panelcan be slid between two adjacent posts. Once the posts have been positioned and securedthe gravel board is slid in place between the posts. The fence panel is subsequently sliddown the opposing inward facing slots in the formed posts to sit atop of the gravel board.

This method has the advantage of having longevity due to the weather resistance of theconcrete posts and gravel board when used in conjunction. The pre constructed wood fencepanels are the only remaining perishable item in the fence construction.

The gravel board, when in position, is levelled using a spirit level or laser levellingdevice to ensure that the subsequent fitting of the pre constructed fence panel sitting atopof the gravel board results in the top of the fence panels making up the fence being equallylevel. This is the levelling method conveniently employed whether using direct fixing, clipsor channelled posts to secure the fence panels.

In all cases described above the gavel board is at the base of the fence panelbetween a pair of posts and the pre constructed fence panel is mounted to rest atop of thegravel board. The pre constructed fence panels are manufactured from wood that hasusually been treated with preservative either by dipping or pressure treatment to extend itslife beyond that of the natural wood used in its construction. It is desirable to eliminate anyprolonged wetness of the wood which would add to the onset of wood destroying fungusand susceptibility to wood boring invertebrates. It is generally seen that fence paneldeterioration initiates at the base of a panel. This being the area most exposed to wet andaccumulation of debris. Rainwater, ground splashes and airborne dirt accumulate on thelowest rail of the fence panel construction and also between the gravel board and the baseof the fence panel where it becomes trapped. These are both areas that have little or noaccommodation for natural flushing through by periodic rain fall or wind action. The dirtforms areas of closed environment, blocking any initially present pathways for waterescape. These accumulations of dirt typically retain moisture and create an idealenvironment for fungus and moss to form which further adds to the water retentionproperties of these areas. These areas in turn create a habitat in which wood damaginginvertebrates can thrive.

The present invention arose in a bid to provide a solution to the above problems,which is useful for prolonging the life offences.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a spacingelement as recited in Claim 1.

Further, preferred, features are presented in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a fencecomprising a gravel board and a fence panel supported by the gravel board, wherein one ormore spacing elements in accordance with the first aspect are provided between the gravelboard and the fence panel.

By the provision of one or more spacing elements, as described above, a clear spacemay be created between the top of a gravel board and the base of a fence panel. This spacemay be of a suitable magnitude to enable water droplets to be removed cleanly from thebase of the fence panel by natural forces. Furthermore, the space allows clear air to passbetween the top of the gravel board and the base of the fence panel. Such free passage ofair has both a cleaning and drying effect on the base of the fence panel and the top of thegravel board. Moreover, with a controlled slot between these two members a naturallyincreased airspeed through this slot is provided, which further adds to the drying effect. Thisis due to the differential in the force of the wind acting on either side of the fence panelcausing a draught effect. A slot of this nature would, when used in conjunction with fence panels of verticalclose boarded construction, enable the washing through of the slots created by theboarding overlap. The resultant free flow of natural flushing water from periodic rain wouldremove debris from the lower horizontal timber member of the panel. When used inconjunction with woven or horizontally boarded fence panels it would allow the flushingthrough of natural slots created by the deviations between the panel timbers and the lowerhorizontal timber member of the panel.

Fence panels being constructed of natural timber are prone to distortion and saggingif not sufficiently supported over their length. Accordingly, it is preferable that width of theslot created between the fence panel and the gravel board using the spacing element iscontrolled along the length of the panel by provision of multiple spacing elements for eachfence panel at a predetermined maximum pitch. The slot is preferably not such as to beeasily noticeable or detrimental to the privacy created by the fence or in any waydetrimental to the appearance of the fence. The height of the spacing elements will be setaccordingly. A non-limiting embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of a spacing element according to a firstembodiment;

Figure 2 shows a perspective bottom view of the spacing element;

Figure 3 shows side view of the spacing element; and

Figure 4 shows a sectional side view of the spacing element.

With reference to the figures, there is shown a spacing element 1 for spacing a fencepanel from a gravel board. The spacing element comprises a first (upper) surface 2 and asecond (lower) surface 3 spaced therefrom. The spacing element further comprises asloped intermediate surface 4 that lies at least partially between the first and secondsurfaces. The sloped intermediate surface may lie entirely between the first and secondsurfaces, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. The sloped intermediate surface 4 is a solid/continuoussurface. Moisture may not penetrate the sloped intermediate surface 4. The slopedintermediate surface 4 slopes away from the first surface 2 towards the second surface 3. Inuse, any moisture that falls on the sloped intermediate surface (in particular water dropletsthat form on the underside of the fence panel) will run along the sloped surface under theeffect of gravity away from the fence panel.

In the present arrangement, the first and second surfaces 2, 3 are substantiallyparallel to one another and the sloped intermediate surface 4 lies at an oblique angle to both the first and second surfaces 2, 3. The sloped intermediate surface 4 comprises asubstantially conical surface.

In the present arrangement there are a plurality of protrusions 5 provided thatprotrude from the sloped intermediate surface 4 and define the first surface 2. Whilst thereare six protrusions provided, in alternative arrangements there may be a single protrusiononly or may be a different number or configuration of protrusions. The spacing element 1 isarranged such that in use the first surface 2 opposes an underside of the fence panel. Theprotrusions 5 defining the first surface 2 space the underside of the fence panel from thesloped intermediate surface 4. In other words, by virtue of the protrusions 5, a gap isprovided between the sloped intermediate surface 4 and the underside of the fence panel.The gap is preferably large enough to allow moisture droplets to form on the underside ofthe fence panel.

The first surface 2 (and thereby the protrusions 5) preferably support the undersideof the fence panel. The second surface 3 is supported by the gravel board in use. Theprotrusions allow for a limited contact area with the underside of the fence panel to allowfor maximum airflow at this surface. The contact area of the first surface is preferablysmaller than the contact area of the second surface with the gravel board. The spacingelement 1 may be fixed to either the fence panel or to the gravel board, as discussed below.

The spacing element 1 may be formed from any suitable weather resistant material.It is preferably of unitary construction. It may comprise moulded plastic. Ideally the spacingelement 1 is injection moulded but could be cast compression moulded or produced bysome other method, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In the present arrangement the sloped intermediate surface 4 is formed by a conicaldisc. The disc (and the spacing element as a whole) preferably extends to a dimension ofless than the width of the base of the fence panel that the spacing element is to be used inconjunction with. In the present arrangement, the spacing element may have a diameter of40mm or less. The spacing element will always generally be less than 50mm wide. Thedimensions will, however, depend on the fence panel with which the spacing element is to be associated. The protrusions 5 comprise a plurality of radially extending ribs. The ribsmay have flat upper surfaces, which wholly or in part define the first (upper) surface 2. Theribs in the present arrangement extend radially outwardly from a central boss to thecircumferential outer edge of the spacing element 1. The upper surface of the boss 6 ispreferably flat and co-planar with the flat upper surfaces of the ribs, as seen most clearly inFigure 4. The central boss may be provided with an axial through hole 7 for receiving afastening means, such a nail, pin, screw or otherwise, for attaching the spacing element tothe gravel board or fence panel as appropriate. The radial ribs may be straight or curvedand continuous or intermittent, their form is not particularly limited so long as they are ableto make sufficient contact with the underside of the fence panel so as to support its weighton a reduced contact area. In alternative arrangements, the central boss may be omitted.

Whilst it is preferable, in accordance with the present arrangement, that the body ofthe device is circular, it could of course take other forms. It may be oval, square,rectangular or some other shape. Moreover, whilst the protrusions extend from the slopedintermediate surface, in dependence on the specific arrangement of the spacing elementthey could alternatively be provided adjacent to the sloped surface, or otherwise arranged.

The spacing element 1 is preferably less than 10mm thick. It is preferably not lessthan 5mm thick.

The axial fixing hole of the present arrangement, as seen most clearly in Figure 4,facilitates a pin, nail or screw to be passed through from the underside of the spacingelement so as to fix it to the underside of the fence panel. The axial fixing hole mayalternatively/additionally be arranged to facilitate the spacing element to be fixed to awooden gravel board. The axial fixing hole may be suitably countersunk at either or both ofits ends to receive the head of a fixing element. The spacing element can alternatively befixed to the underside of the fence panel or to a gravel board by some other means such asa clip, adhesive or suitable location peg pressed into a suitably sized hole or counter bore inthe underside of the lower member of the fence panel or in the upper surface of the gravelboard. In dependence on the fixing means employed, the hole may be reconfigured oromitted.

In use, the sloped surface serves to channel water away from the area of the spacingelement that surrounds its points of contact with the fence panel. The angle of the slopedsurface (with reference to the horizontal in use) is selected such that water and dirt arequickly dispersed from the conical surface.

The second (bottom) surface 3 of the spacing element 1 can be relieved or solid tosuit the method of manufacture. The spacing element 1 is manufactured to have sufficientstrength so as to withstand the loading of the fence panel and the effects of variousweather fatigues.

Whilst in the above arrangement the sloped intermediate surface is substantiallyconical, this need not be the case. All that is required is that the intermediate surface isarranged to promote the flow of fluid off the surface. The sloped intermediate surface maybe planar or conical and can be made up of multiple planar or curved faces. It may, forexample comprise a planar surface that is angled to the horizontal in use. In such anarrangement the spacing element may be square or rectangular in form. With one or moresuitable protrusions in the form or ribs or otherwise provided to form the first (upper)surface 2 of the spacing element 1. The sloped intermediate surface would run sideways.

Furthermore, the spacing element could have a combination of protrusions thatfacilitate fixing to the fence panel and sloped/angled surfaces so as to facilitate more thanone fixing to the fence panel.

Another embodiment of the spacing element may be designed to fit on top of a precast concrete gravel board and to be secured in place by protrusions or clips prior to it beingtrapped in place by the fence panel sitting atop of it. In this instance the spacing element 1may have an underside form to match the manufacturing angle of the top edge of the precast concrete gravel board. Also for use with pre cast concrete gravel boards the devicecould be constructed of a formed metal suitable for external use and providing sufficientcontact area with the fence panel so as to support its weight.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, within the scope ofthe claims that follow.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. A spacing element for spacing a fence panel from a gravel board, the spacingelement comprising first and second surfaces that are spaced from one another and asloped intermediate surface that lies at least partially between the first and second surfaces,wherein, in use, the first surface supports the fence panel and the second surface issupported by the gravel board, and the sloped intermediate surface is sloped relative to thehorizontal.

2. A spacing element as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces aresubstantially parallel to one another.

3. A spacing element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slopedintermediate surface is curved or planar.

4. A spacing element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slopedintermediate surface is formed from a plurality of curved or planar portions.

5. A spacing element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first surface isdefined by one more protrusions which extend from the sloped intermediate surface oradjacent to the sloped intermediate surface.

6. A spacing element as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the one or more protrusionscomprise ribs.

7. A spacing element as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, comprising a plurality of radiallyextending protrusions.

8. A spacing element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slopedintermediate surface is substantially conical or frustoconical.

9. A spacing element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the slopedintermediate surface is continuous.

10. A spacing element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the maximumdimension of the spacing element is less than 50mm.

11. A spacing element as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the depth of thespacing element is 10mm or less.

12. A fence comprising a gravel board and a fence panel supported by the gravel board,wherein one or more spacing elements in accordance with any preceding claim are providedbetween the gravel board and the fence panel.