Snap fit posts for fence panels balustrades and the like

Abstract

A post for a fit together panel comprising at least one said post and at least one slat, the post comprising a base member and a cover member, the cover member comprising a pair of sidewalls and an interconnecting end wall, the interconnecting end wall containing a plurality of openings through which the end of a slat can pass, the sidewalls adapted for extension over the channel member, the base member comprising a base wall and opposed sidewalls, at least one sidewall comprising a clamping leg adapted for clamping engagement against the end of a said slat passing through a said opening in the cover member, and snap fitting means on the channel member and/or the cover member to enable the channel member and the cover member to be snap fitted together.

Claims

1. A post comprising: a base member and a cover member having complementary snap fit formations by which said base member and said cover member may be secured to each other, said base member including an end wall and opposing first and second walls that extend away from said end wall, said first and second walls each having a distal end portion that includes an inclined face and wherein said inclined faces converge towards one other so as to form a throat having opposed throat portions that define a narrow continuous opening; said cover member including an end wall with spaced apart first and second side walls extending therefrom and wherein said first and second side walls at least partially extend over an adjacent one of said distal end portions; at least one opening formed through said end wall of said base member and/or said end wall of said cover member, said one or more openings being adapted to receive therein an end portion of one or more slats or rails, whereby, after having secured said base member to said cover member using said snap fit formations, the end portion of the slat or rail may then be extended through said opening in said end wall and guided by said inclined faces through said narrow elongate opening towards said other end wall, and wherein the end portion will be frictionally retained between opposed throat portions by the engagement of said distal end portions with said side walls and/or end wall of said cover.

2. A post according to claim 1, wherein said first and second side walls each include a first wall portion that extends away from said end wall and generally converges towards the other and a second wall portion that extends away from said first wall portion and which diverges away from the other, and wherein said first wall portion is located between said second end portion and said end wall.

3. A post according to claim 2, wherein said second wall portions each terminate in a distal end portion and, when said base member is secured to said cover member, shall engage an adjacent side wall or end wall of said cover member.

4. A post according to claim 1, wherein said narrow continuous opening is defined by a portion of each of said first and second legs where said first wall portion transitions into said second wall portion.

5. A post according to claim 4, wherein said snap fit formations include inwardly projecting lips formed along said first and said second side walls of said cover member and complimentary rebates formed in outer edge portions of said end wall of said base member.

6. A post according to claim 4, wherein said first and second side walls of said base member are formed with outwardly disposed first grooves that receive corresponding inwardly projecting first lips of said first and second side walls of said cover member.

7. A post according to claim 1, wherein said base member and said cover member comprise aluminium extrusions.

8. A fence panel assembly comprising a pair of posts according to claim 1 with a plurality of slats disposed therebetween and with opposed ends of the slats being respectively clamped between first and second walls of each of said base members.

9. A post according to claim 1, wherein said first and second side walls each include a first wall portion that extends away from said end wall and which are generally parallel to one another and a second wall portion that extends away from said first wall portion and which converges towards the other, and wherein said first wall portion is located between said second wall portion and said end wall, and wherein when said base member is secured to said cover member, each of said second wall portions shall engage an adjacent side wall of said cover member.

10. A post according to claim 9, wherein said second wall portions each terminate in a distal end portion having an inclined face that defines said throat.

11. A post according to claim 10, wherein said narrow continuous opening is defined by a portion of each of said distal end portions.

12. A post according to claim 9, wherein said snap fit formations include inwardly projecting lips formed along said first and said second side walls of said cover member and complimentary rebates formed in outer edge portions of said end wall of said base member.

13. A post according to claim 9, wherein said first and second side walls of said base member are formed with outwardly disposed first grooves that receive corresponding inwardly projecting first lips of said first and second side walls of said cover member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

(2) FIG. 1. Illustrates an exploded view of a panel containing slats and a post according to an embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2. Illustrates a section view of a post according to the embodiment of the invention and an attached slat.

(4) FIG. 3. Is a top view of a fence comprising a slat and posts according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4. Is an exploded isometric view of the fence of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5. Is an exploded isometric view of a fence according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6. Is an isometric view of a portion of a post of the fence of FIG. 5 according an embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7. Is an end view of the post of FIG. 6 illustrating the engagement of the two portions of the post.

(9) FIG. 8. Is an end view of a narrower version of the post of FIG. 7 showing the two parts prior to their engagement together.

(10) FIG. 9. Is an end view of the post of FIG. 8 subsequent to the engagement of the two parts of the post.

(11) FIG. 10. Is an isometric, exploded view of a post and rail fence according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 11. Is a top plan view of the post of FIG. 10.

(13) FIG. 12 depicts a balustrade assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, these illustrate an embodiment of the invention which comprises a specially designed two-part post which overcomes the number of disadvantages with existing fit together panels. The various posts that will be described according to embodiments of the invention make use of “snap fit” joints. A snap fit or “snap lock” or sometimes as it is called a “press fit” joint is a joint which is self-locking and which requires no additional fasteners such as screws or rivets to hold the joint together. The mating parts of a snap-fit joint exert a cam action on each other, flexing until one part slips past a raised lip on the other part. Once past this lip, the flexed parts snap back to their normal shape and the lip prevents them from separating. Once snap fitted together the joint cannot usually be unintentionally dissembled.

(15) The post 15 comprises a base member 17 and a cover member 16. In the embodiment, each of these is formed from extruded aluminum. Cover member 16 is substantially C shaped and comprises a base wall 18 and a pair of sidewalls 19 this being best illustrated in FIG. 2. The outer edge of each side wall 19 contains a small turned in lip 20 which forms part of the snap fitting means and which will be described in greater detail below.

(16) Base wall 18 (see FIG. 3) is formed with a number of punched out openings 21 to accommodate edges of slats 22.

(17) Base member 17 is similar to cover member 16 in that it is also substantially U-shaped or C shaped and comprises a bottom wall 24 (see FIG. 4) and opposed sidewalls 25. Base member 17 is sized to fit within cover member 16, or put differently, cover member 16 can snap fit over the sidewalls 25 of base member 17. The peripheral edge of bottom wall 24 contains a small rebate 26 which forms the other parts of the snap fitting means such that the cover member 16 can be snapped over base member 17 by the turned in lips 20 on cover member 16 engaging against the rebate 26 on the peripheral edge on bottom wall 24 of base member 17. It can be seen that cover member 16 can substantially conceal base member 17 to provide an aesthetically pleasing effect.

(18) The sidewalls 25 of each base member 17 are shaped to converge towards an apex 27 and thence to diverge outwardly and away from each other. The apex 27 comprises a turned in portion which forms a clamping leg on each side wall 25. The opposed turned in portions function to clamp a slat therebetween. The sidewalls 25 diverge outwardly from the turned in portion 27 to the outermost edge 28 of each side wall. The diverging portions of the sidewalls 25 facilitate entry of a slat 22.

(19) A slat 22 can be pushed through one of the openings 21 in cover member 16. As the slat passes through the opening 21 will be guided by the diverging portion to push against the turned in portion 27 and to push these portions outwardly as the thickness of the slat “T” is greater than the distance “X” between the turned in portions. This causes the slat to be securely clamped between the sidewalls 25 which comprise clamping legs.

(20) The entire side wall 25 can form the clamping leg with the turned in portion forming the contact area and the remainder of the side wall providing the required bias or clamping force. As the side wall is turned in from the bottom wall 24, this provides a good reliable and long-lasting “memory” to each clamping leg.

(21) The slat is usually pushed through the opening 21 such that the edge of the slat sits against or closely spaced from the bottom wall 24 such that each turned in portion 27 can properly clamp against a respective side wall of slat 22 and at a position spaced some distance from the edge of the slat.

(22) A panel can be easily snap fitted together by providing a pair of posts 15 and inserting the slats into the openings on each post 15 with the slats being clamped in place between an adjacent pair of clamping legs 27. The base member 17 can be screwed or otherwise attached to a supporting post (if required) and the cover member 16 can then be snapped fitted to the base member to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish and completely concealing all the fixing screws to the supporting post. A damaged slat 22 can be removed by uncapping cover member 16 and it is not necessary to remove base member 17. Different types of cover member 16 can be attached to a common base member 17 which can reduce assembly cost. The openings 21 in cover member 16 can be quickly and inexpensively formed using a punch process. The large clamping legs (suitably comprising each entire side wall of base member 17) provide a good clamping force and will function reliably over a long period.

(23) Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 there are presented top plan and isometric exploded views of a fence 30 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the post 32 that is used in this embodiment includes a cover 34 that has a cover member 18 and side members 19 as for the embodiment of FIG. 2. However the post 32 has a wing 36 that extends laterally from one of the side walls 19 and which is used to fasten the post 32 to a support structure 38 by means of fastener 40. The post 32 also includes internal wings 42 which are integrally formed on the interior of the sidewalls 19 and which assist the clamping legs 25 to clamp the 3rd member, in the form of slat 22, therebetween.

(24) FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively depict a further fence panel assembly 46 and a further post 44 that is used in that fence panel assembly, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

(25) FIG. 7 is an end view of the post 44 of FIG. 6. It can be seen from FIG. 7 that the post 44 comprises a base 48 that is snap fitted to cover member 50 by snap fit joints 52a, . . . , 52d.

(26) The base 48 includes a base wall 54 from which first and second clamping legs 58a, 58b extend. It further includes first and second sidewalls 60a, 60b which extend from opposed sides of the base wall 54 with the first and second clamping legs 58a, 58b being located between the first and second sidewalls 60a, 60b.

(27) It will be observed that remote ends of the first and second sidewalls 60a, 60b are snap fitted to opposed sides of the cover 50 by snap fit joints 52a, 52d.

(28) The cover 50 includes an end wall 62 from which buttressing walls 64a and 64b project. The buttressing walls 64a, 64b and the clamping legs 58a and 58b are joined by snap fit joints 52b and 52c. The snap fit joints 52b and 52c are due to the clamping legs 58a, 58b being formed with outwardly disposed first grooves 66a, 66b, that receive corresponding inwardly projecting first lips 68a, 68b of the buttressing walls 64a, 64b.

(29) The first and second clamping legs 58a, 58b terminate remotely in respective tapered heads 70a, 70b to assist in guiding a third member to be clamped there between in use. The third member, e.g a slat 22, enters through an opening 72 (visible in FIG. 6) formed through the cover 50. The first and second clamping legs 58a and 58b are also formed with second outwardly disposed grooves 74a, 74b that engage with corresponding inwardly projecting second lips 76a, 76b of the buttressing walls 64a, 64b during clamping of the third member.

(30) As the third member, e.g. slat 22, is inserted through opening 72 its end proceeds between tapered heads 70a and 70b thereby abutting the heads and causing the heads to swing outwardly until they are stopped by the abutment of the second lips 76a and 76b with the second grooves 74a, 74b. It will therefore be understood that the normal, unclamping, distance between the tapered heads is a little less than the width of the slat that is to be clamped therebetween.

(31) FIGS. 8 and 9 show an exploded and assembled post 78 in use clamping a third member in the form of a post 22. Post 78 is entirely similar to post 48 of FIG. 7 save that it is a little narrower.

(32) FIG. 10 depicts a fence assembly 80 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The fence assembly 80 makes use of a post 82 according to a further embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in cross section in FIG. 11 receiving an end of a 3rd member in the form of slat 22. It will be observed that the base member 84 is formed with a base wall 88 from which sidewalls 86 extend both forwardly, portions 86a, and rearwardly, portions 86b. In this embodiment a second cover member 88 spans between the rearward portions 86b of the sidewall 86 and is fitted thereto by snap-joints 90. Fasteners such as screw 92 may be provided to secure for example a lockbox in the fence. In that case the second cover member 88 covers fastener 92. A first cover member 94 with buttressing walls 96 is also provided. The buttressing walls 96 have lips 98 that engage the outside of tapered heads 100 of clamping legs 102.

(33) Referring now to FIG. 12, there is illustrated a balustrade assembly 104 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Balustrade assembly 104 makes use of a horizontally disposed post 106 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The post 106 includes a base member 108 and a cover member 110. It will be observed that first and second lateral wings 112a, 112b extend from distal ends of the first and second sidewalls 114a, 114b of base member 108. Outer edges of the lateral wings are formed with snap fit formations 116a, 116b for receiving an edge of a balustrade 118 or other cover. The snap fit formations 116a, 116b include a slot 120a, 120b formed as an undercut adjacent tapering ridges 122a, 122b which assist in installing edges of the balustrade 118 into the slot. The base member 108 locates over the cover member 110.

(34) The base member 108 is formed with clamping legs 132a, 132b which extend from base wall 133 and which clamp a member 130 therebetween in use. Buttressing walls 128a, 128b extend from the interior of the end wall 126 of the cover member 110 past and adjacent to the clamping legs 132a, 132b. The buttressing walls 128a, 128b are formed with remote, inwardly projecting lips 134a, 134b which engage with corresponding grooves 136a, 136b formed along the outsides of the clamping legs. Accordingly, as the member 130 is inserted through an opening in cover member 110 it passes between the clamping legs 132a and 132b and pushes them outwardly so that the grooves 136a, 136b engage the lips 134a and 134b thereby assisting in fastening the base member 108 to the cover member 110 and firmly clamping the member 130. The lateral wings 112a, 112b are fastened to a structure such as a railing assembly 138, of which member 130 is a constituent by means of screws or other fasteners 140a, 140b, which extend through lateral wings 112a, 112b.

(35) The above description identifies at least one specific, substantial and credible use for the invention. For example, preferred embodiments of the invention provide aluminum extrusion posts which are readily attached to each other and which are capable of clamping members such as fence slats.

(36) In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term “comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising” and “comprised of” is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

(37) Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term “substantially” or “about” will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

(38) Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

(39) Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

(40) Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.