FENCE COMPRISING FENCE MODULES

Abstract

Fence comprising at least a first and a second fence module (1), wherein said fence modules (1) comprise a base (2) with a receptacle for a substance, wherein the first fence module (1) comprises a first connecting element (3a) with an upright passage (4a), the second fence module (1) comprises a second connecting element (3b) with an upright passage (4b), and the fence comprises a connecting rod (5) for extending through both said passages (4a, 4b) to connect the fence modules (1) to each other, and in that in a connected state of the fence modules (1), these fence modules (1) can occupy at least two positions with regard to each other, being a first position where the distance between the said passages (4a, 4b) along the connecting rod (5) is minimal and a second position where the distance between the said passages (4a, 4b) along the connecting rod (5) is maximal.

Claims

1. A fence comprising at least a first and a second fence module which are consecutive connectable to each other, wherein said fence modules comprise a base with a receptacle for a substance such as concrete, gravel, water or sand, wherein the first fence module comprises a first connecting element with an upright passage, the second fence module comprises a second connecting element with an upright passage, and the fence comprises a connecting rod for extending through both said passages to connect the fence modules to each other, and wherein in a connected state of the fence modules, these fence modules can occupy at least two positions with regard to each other, being a first position where the distance between the said passages along the connecting rod is minimal and a second position where the distance between the said passages along the connecting rod is maximal.

2. The fence according to claim 1, wherein the base of each fence module comprises the respective connecting element.

3. The fence according to claim 1, wherein, viewed along the connecting rod in a connected state, the sum of both the dimensions of the passages is smaller than the corresponding dimension of the connecting rod such that the fence modules can occupy in a connected state different positions with regard to each other having different distances between the passages.

4. The fence according to claim 1, wherein the connecting rod is an elongated rod and wherein the first and the second passage can be brought into alignment according to a first direction, and wherein the connecting rod extends through both said passages along substantially said first direction in a connected state.

5. The fence according to claim 1, wherein in a connected state, the first fence module and the second fence module are rotatable with regard to each other along the connecting rod.

6. The fence according to claim 4, wherein in a connected state, the first fence module and the second fence module are rotatable with regard to each other along the said first direction.

7. The fence according to claim 5, wherein the connecting rod has a tubular shape and the first and the second passage have a tubular shape.

8. The fence according to claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a third connecting element with an upright passage wherein the passage of the third connecting element extends at a distance from the passage of the first connecting element and wherein, in a connected state, the passage of the second connecting element extends between the passages of the first and the third connecting element and the connecting rod extends through the three said passages, and wherein, viewed along the connecting rod the dimension of the second connecting element, is smaller than the dimension of the space between the first and the third connecting element, such that the passage of the second connecting element can occupy different positions along the connecting rod within said space, such that in a connected state the fence modules can occupy different positions with regard to each other.

9. The fence according to claim 8, wherein the passages of the first and the third connecting element are aligned.

10. The fence according to claim 8, wherein the first and the third connecting element form protrusions of the first fence module such that a groove extends between said first and third connecting element and wherein in that the second connecting element forms a protrusion of the second fence module wherein said second connecting element extends substantially within said groove in a connected state.

11. The fence according to claim 10, wherein the section of the groove according to the plane in which the first direction and the lengthwise direction of the said fence module extends, has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid and wherein the second connecting element according to the plane in which the first direction and the lengthwise direction of the said fence module extends, also has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid.

12. The fence according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a frame and outer plates connected to said frame, wherein said frame and outer plates form the said receptacle and the outer plates form the edges of the receptacle.

13. The fence according to claim 12, wherein the frame comprises several reinforcement beams which are interconnected to each other.

14. The fence according to claim 13, wherein the frame comprises several hollow elements which form the said passages, wherein each said hollow element at least extends partly within a said reinforcement beam.

15. The fence according to claim 8, wherein an outer plate forms the front plate, and the frame comprises at least three of said reinforcement beams which are respectively connected to and lie against, according to the lengthwise direction of the fence module and at a distance from each other, the top of the front plate, the central part of the front plate according to the height direction and the bottom of the front plate, wherein each hollow element extends within a said respective reinforcement beam, such that part of each said reinforcement beam forms part of a said respective connecting element.

16. The fence according to claim 1, wherein the second fence module also comprises a said first connecting element and the first fence module also comprises a said second connecting element, wherein said first and second connecting element of each fence module are located at opposite sides of the fence module.

17. The fence according to claim 1, wherein at least one fence module comprises a panel which is supported on the base and which extends upright and in which the base comprises the said connecting element, wherein said connecting element is located on a side of the base at the height of a side of the panel according to the lengthwise direction of the panel.

18. The fence according to claim 16, wherein the panel substantially extends between said first and second connecting element of the fence module, viewed along the lengthwise direction of the panel.

19. The fence according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a front side and a back side and the base has a certain depth between said front side and back side, the passages are located at the height of the front side and wherein the maximal length dimensions of the base decreases from the passages on to the back side.

20. The fence according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises at the height of its bottom an anti-slip layer.

Description

[0033] In this detailed description, reference is made by means of reference numerals to the appended drawings, wherein

[0034] FIG. 1 is a front view of a fence module according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fence module of FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the fence module of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the fence module of FIGS. 1 to 3;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a front view of a fence according to the invention comprising two fence modules a shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fence as shown in FIG. 5;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a back view of the fence as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

[0041] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the fence as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7;

[0042] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the frame and part of the outer plates of the base of the fence module as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

[0043] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the frame and part of the outer plates as shown in FIG. 9;

[0044] FIG. 11 is a back view of a fence module according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0045] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fence comprising two fence modules as shown in FIG. 11

[0046] The fence, as shown in the figures, comprises a first and a second fence module (1) which are consecutive connectable to each other. Each fence module (1) has a similar design and comprise a base (2) with a receptacle, wherein said receptacle is filled with concrete, and comprises a panel (7) which is supported by the base (2).

[0047] The fence module (1) has a height direction (A) which extends according to the vertical direction when placed upon a horizontal flat surface, a length direction (B) and a width direction (C). The fence modules (1) are situated next to each other as such that the lengths of two consecutive fence modules (1) lie in line with each other and determine the length of the fence. Each fence module (1) has a height of approximately 2.5 m, a length of approximately 2.6 m and a depth of approximately 0.7 m.

[0048] The base (2) of the fence module (1) has a first connecting element (3a), a second connecting element (3b) and a third connecting element (3c). The first and the third connecting elements (3a, 3c) are located on one side of the base (2) according to the lengthwise direction of the fence module (1) and the second connecting element (3b) is located on said other side of the base (2). Each connecting element (3a, 3b, 3c) forms a protrusion of the base (2) according to said lengthwise direction. Each connecting element (3a, 3b, 3c) comprises an elongated passage (4a, 4b, 4c) which extends according to the height direction (A).

[0049] The first and the third connecting element (3a, 3c) are located at a distance from each other such that a groove (6) extends between said first and third connecting element (3a, 3c). This groove (6) has, according to the plane in which the height direction (A) and the lengthwise direction (B) of the fence module (1) extends, the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, wherein the smallest of the parallel sides forms an edge of the base (2). The second connecting element (3b) according to the plane in which the height direction (A) and the lengthwise direction (B) of the fence module (1) extends, also has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, with the smallest of the parallel sides forming an edge of the base (2).

[0050] To connect the fence modules (1) to each other, the second connecting element (3b) of a said fence module (1) is placed in the groove (6) between the first and third connecting element (3a, 3c) of another fence module (1) in such a manner that the passages (4a, 4b, 4c) of said first, second and third connecting element (3a, 3b, 3c) are substantially aligned and a tubular elongated connecting rod (5) can be placed into said three passages (4a, 4b, 4c) to connect the fence modules (1) to each other. The second connecting element (3b) is smaller than the said groove (6) such that it can occupy different positions in the groove (6) in function of the surface upon which the fence modules (1) are placed. The diameter of the elongated rod (5) is approximately 40 mm and the said passages (4a, 4b, 4c) also have a tubular shape with a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the elongated rod (5).

[0051] Further the base (2) comprises a front side and a back side, according to the depth direction (C) and the base (2) has a certain depth between said front side and back side, the connecting elements (3a, 3b, 3c) are located at the height of the front side and the maximal length dimensions of the base (2) decreases from the connecting elements (3a, 3b, 3c) on to the back side. This ensures that the connected fence modules (1) can pivot backwords along the height direction (A). This ensures that angles are possible between the connected fence modules (1).

[0052] The base (2) further comprises a frame and plates (9a, 9b) which form the receptacle, wherein said plates (9a, 9b) are attached to the frame and form the edges of the base (2). The plates (9a, 9b) comprises a front plate (9a) which extends according to the height direction (A) and the length direction (B), side plates, back plates which form the back side, a top plate and a bottom plate (9b) which is provided to rest upon the surface upon which the fence is placed. In the second embodiment according to the invention, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the top plate is removable connected to the rest of the base (2) with the aid of bolts. By removing the top plate, one can easily fill up the receptacle with concrete. After the receptacle is filled up, the top plate is reattached.

[0053] The frame comprises three hollow reinforcement beams (8a) which are respectively connected, according to the lengthwise direction of the fence module (1) and at a distance from each other, to the top of the front plate (9a), the central part of the front plate (9a) according to the height direction (A) and the bottom of the front plate (9a). The frame further comprises three hollow tubes (10) which form the said passages (4a, 4b, 4c), wherein each tube (10) extends within a said respective reinforcement beam (8a), such that part of each reinforcement beams (8a) forms part of a said respective connecting element (3a, 3b, 3c). The frame also comprises three upright hollow reinforcement beams (8b) which extend according to the height direction and lie against the said three reinforcement beams (8a) of the front plate (9a). The frame also comprises two hollow reinforcement beams (8d) which are attached to the bottom plate (9b) and extend according to the depth direction (C) and which form openings (11) into which the forks of the forklifts can engage to pick up the fence module (1). At last the frame comprises hollow reinforcement beams (8c) which connect the reinforcement beams (8d) of the bottom plate (9b) at the height of the said opening (11), to the upper reinforcement beam (8a) of the front plate (9a). The frame here then has a triangular shape, such that the frame provides sufficient strength to the base (2).

[0054] A fence made of these fence modules (1), can stop moving vehicles which weigh up to 7.2 ton and which move at a speed of maximum 80 km/h within one meter. Such fences can be used for the protection of people against terrorist, but can also be used as windshields and/or sound screens next to for example air ports and roads.