GB2601801A

GB2601801A - Closeboard fencing tool

Info

Publication number: GB2601801A
Application number: GB2019558.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Ian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-12-11
Filing date: 2020-12-11
Publication date: 2022-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-11
Also published as: GB2601801B; GB202019558D0

Abstract

A fencing tool comprising a substantially arc shaped body 1 having a handle 2 disposed intermediate opposite ends thereof; level indicating means 7 coupled to the body; and a spacing member 4 disposed at each end of the body 1. The body is secured at each end to the rear of each spacing member 4, wherein each spacing member comprises a substantially planar front face, a first and second side and a lip disposed along the first side of the member; the lip extending forwardly of the member away from the face, wherein the face of each spacing member extend in substantially the same plane.

Description

TOOL

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a tool to assist with fast, accurate vertical erection and even spacing of featheredge/close board fences.

Background

Featheredge fencing is a common construction used to define boundaries. It is most widely used to separate residential properties but is also suitable for commercial and industrial properties. It is cost effective, simple to construct and durable.

It creates good security; affording privacy between neighbours and if constructed correctly can be aesthetically pleasing. In contrast to prefabricated panel fences, there is greater flexibility with featheredge fencing as it is not constrained by specific lengths or heights.

The framework is primarily freestanding and formed of a series of vertical posts or uprights which are secured in the ground. In other circumstances, such as when the fence is constructed to cover an existing wall, the uprights can be drilled and fixed directly to the existing structure. In either case, the posts are typically spaced at two-meter intervals. Fixed to the uprights are top, middle, and bottom cross members, to which featheredge laths are then secured.

A kick/gravel board is usually fixed to the uprights on a spacer the same thickness as the horizontal cross members. The kick board is important not only to retain soil or gravel but also to position the laths above the ground, to minimise any degradation thereof.

Laths are available in different lengths and widths depending on the environment in which the fence is to be constructed. However, in residential settings the most commonly used lath comprises a length of approximately 1800mm, a width of approximately 125mm and a thickness which tapers from approximately 14mm to 5mm.

Fixing the laths The first lath is fixed to one end of the frame, namely upon the cross-members, using a spirit level to ensure it is orientated vertically. Traditionally, when subsequent laths are fixed, the user will space each lath using a pre-cut timber block of 100mm. In this manner, a subsequent lath to be secured is vertically aligned by reference to the previous lath.

The subsequent lath is rested on the kickboard overlapping the previous, fixed lath. The back face of the timber block is held to the rear edge of the fixed lath (feeling with fingertips) and the rear edge of the subsequent lath is abutted against the front face of the block to create an approximately 25mm overlap. The user typically starts spacing at the top of the lath, applying a fixing through the lath to the upper cross-member, repeating the process at the bottom and finally the middle cross-member.

However, this system has many flaws.

If the block has not been cut accurately and it is not placed on the fixed laths in exactly the same way each time, it will result in the laths not being evenly spaced.

If the block is not placed accurately to the back edge of the fixed lath i.e. in front of or beyond the back edge, the subsequent lath will be unevenly spaced and/or tilted with respect to the vertical.

Using the top then bottom spacing method mentioned above, will almost certainly put the laths out of vertical alignment.

The person using this system can use a spirit level and step away from the fence after securing several laths to check the vertical alignment. If a tilt has occurred, which is often the case, the laths will have to be carefully removed (to avoid splitting) and fixed a second time, which is not only time consuming but can lead to unnecessary wastage.

Other issues with this system are that the user must put down and pick up the block from ground level. The block can get dropped over a boundary wall, lost in sometimes muddy surroundings, or accidentally kicked aside whilst moving around the job.

All this leads to a very time-consuming experience to create a fence that is, in the end, often uneven and unsightly.

To reduce the time required to accurately fix the laths, certain solutions/tools have been proposed. Examples are found in GB2449674 and GB2475493.

GB2449674 does somewhat overcome the spacing issue by incorporating a flat plate with upturned and downturned lips. However, being a single face, it does not allow for tolerance and twist in the laths which are often present in rough sawn timber. Moreover, it is necessary to place the tool at ground level each time a lath has been put in place then picked up again to align the next lath to be secured.

Summary of the invention

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a fencing tool as described in the claims.

The present invention is a novel, beneficial, ergonomic one-piece fencing tool.

The present invention provides the user one tool, incorporating a non-directional central grip, matched spacing plinths and two spirit levels for fixing laths to a frame. The tool guarantees each lath is accurately spaced and vertically aligned, aiding correction for tolerance in the laths prior to fixing to cross members. Unlike the traditional system mentioned earlier, the tool allows the user to complete the task in one movement.

As fence laths are different heights and widths, there are no pre-determined dimensions to the length of the tool or the internal dimension of the plinth. However, as the majority of featheredge fences are erected in residential settings, the dimensions of the preferred embodiment are 900mm overall length with an internal plinth dimension of 100mm.

Preferred embodiment features include: * The lipped back edge has an internal dimension of 10mm. This allows the user to catch the tool at the back edge of a fixed lath without any difficulty.

* The internal angle of the back edge and the main face of the spacing plinth must be less than 90o (between 85o and 880) thus accounting for the taper of the lath.

* The wedged front edge has an external dimension of 10mm. This allows the user to place the back edge of the lath to be fixed against the leading-edge side of the tool without any difficulty.

* There are spirit levels at both ends of the tool to ensure vertical accuracy with rough sawn timber as described above.

Embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a front view including the main body shaft (1), the central grip (2), the two spacing plinths (4) and the two spirit levels (7).

Figure 2 shows a side view Including the main body shaft (1), the central grip (2), Curved step (3) and the two spacing plinths (4).

Figure 3 shows a top view, including the main body shaft (1) and the spacing plinth (4), revealing a view of the lipped back edge (5) and the wedged front edge (6) incorporating in internal angle of less than 880.

The tool comprises a main body shaft (1) with a central grip or handle (2). The shaft has a curved step at both ends (3) forming an arc shaped body, with a spacing plinth/member at both ends (4). Both plinths incorporate a lipped back edge/first side (5) and a wedged front edge/second side (6). A level indicating means (7) such as a spirit level is incorporated at both ends of the shaft, facing the user.

The present invention incorporates a non-directional grip (2) allowing right-handed or left-handed users to hold the tool firmly.

The present invention incorporates a curved step (3) from the shaft to the spacing plinths (4), providing a means for the user to retain or hang the tool at working height.

The present invention incorporates a spacing plinth (4) at both ends of the shaft (1) providing the user a means to evenly space the full length of a floating lath in one movement.

The present invention incorporates a 10mm lipped back edge (5) on both plinths (4) providing a means for the user to easily catch the back edge of the fixed lath.

The present invention incorporates a 10mm wedged front edge (6) on both plinths providing a means for the user to easily butt a floating lath to the tool.

The present invention incorporates spirit levels (7) at both ends of the shaft (1) providing a means for the user to ensure vertical accuracy of the lath allowing for tolerance in laths.

In use As described earlier, the first lath is set onto the kickboard using the spirit levels set into the tool to ensure vertical alignment. The lath is then fixed to the three crossmembers of the framework.

The user will then fix further laths with the help of the fencing tool as follows: Step 1: Place the lipped back edge of both plinths of the tool firmly against the back edge of the fixed lath.

Step 2: Place the next lath to be fixed (a floating lath) onto the kickboard with the back edge firmly against the wedged front edge of both plinths of the tool. This creates an even overlap of 25mm and spacing between the back edge of both laths of 100mm in a one-shot movement.

Step 3: the user will view the spirit levels inset in the tool to check for vertical accuracy, adjusting the spacing of the lath top or bottom as required correcting any tilt which may occur due to tolerance in the laths.

Ste 4: Once satisfied the floating lath is vertically aligned, holding the lath with one hand, the user can hang the tool by the curved step onto the already fixed lath while fixing the second lath to the cross members of the framework. This ensures the tool is always in easy reach.

Step 5: Steps Ito 4 are then repeated to the desired length of the fence.

Notes: Laths are fixed to the crossmembers using either a nail gun or a hammer and clout nails.

Trials have shown that in practice the tool can save the user as much as forty percent of time and effort required to align and fix laths to the framework compared with traditional methods, at the same time reducing the potential of waste to zero. Above all else the user is guaranteed to produce a fence that is correctly spaced and aligned and aesthetically pleasing.

Claims

Claims 1. A fencing tool comprising: a substantially arc shaped body (1) including a handle (2) disposed intermediate opposite ends thereof; level indicating means (7) coupled to the body (1); and a spacing member (4) disposed at each end of the body (1), the body being secured at each end thereof to a rear of each spacing member, each spacing member comprising a substantially planar front face, a first and second side, a lip disposed along the first side of the member, the lip extending forwardly of the member away from the face, wherein the face of each spacing member extend in substantially the same plane.
2. A fencing tool according to claim 1 wherein the body (1) extends in a plane substantially transverse to the plane in which the members (4) extend.
3. A fencing tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second side of each member (4) extend substantially parallel to each other.
4. A fencing tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the first side of each member (4) extend along a first axis and the second side of each member extend along a second axis, the first and second axis being orientated substantially parallel.
5. A fencing tool according to claim 4 as appended to claim 2, wherein the first and second axis extend substantially parallel with the plane in which the body (1) extends.
6. A fencing tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the member (4) comprises a thickness which increases from the first side to the second side thereof.
7. A fencing tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle (2) is located substantially at a centre of the main body (1).
8. A fencing tool according to any previous claim, wherein the level indicating means (7) comprises at least two spirit levels, one being disposed proximate each end of the body.
9. A fencing tool according to any previous claim, wherein an overall length of the fencing tool is substantially 900mm.
10. A fencing tool according to any previous claim, wherein an overall width of each member (4) is substantially 100mm.
11. A fencing tool according to any previous claim, wherein each lip extends approximately 10mm away from the respective face of each member (4).
12. A fencing tool according to any previous claim, wherein a thickness of the member (4) at the first side thereof is substantially 5mm and a thickness of the member at the second side thereof is substantially 10mm.
13. A fencing tool according to any previous claim, wherein the lip extends away from the member (4) at an acute angle with respect to the face.
14. A fencing tool according to claim 13, wherein the acute angle is greater than 85o.
15. A fencing tool according to claim 14, wherein the acute angle is in the range 85o -880.