Fence and method of installing a fence

Abstract

A fence (1) and a method of installing a fence (1) in which the fence (1) has front panels (2), bottom panels (3) and side panels (4), in which the method comprises the burying of the bottom panels (3) such that the bottom panels (3) are located underground and such that part of the front panels (2) and side panels (4) are located underground. The front panels (2) of the installed fence (1) further extend in the same plane and the side panels (4) work as wind bracing.

Claims

1. A method of installing a fence in which the fence comprises front mesh panels and; bottom mesh panels; wherein in an installed state of the fence the front panels are connected at an angle with the bottom panels, in which the method comprises: placing the fence on the ground, such that the bottom panels are located on the bottom; and burying the bottom panels such that the bottom panels are located underground and such that part of the front panels is located underground and part of the front panels is located aboveground; wherein in the installed state of the fence the front panels extend substantially in the same plane, and the fence comprises side panels which are, in the installed state of the fence, connected at an angle with the front panels and are connected at an angle with the bottom panels and after the burying of the bottom panels, part of the side panels are located underground and part of the side panels are located aboveground.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method comprises, prior to placing the fence, making a ditch, during the placing of the fence, placing the fence in this ditch and, in order to bury the bottom panels, refilling the ditch.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fence comprises rear panels which are, in the installed state of the fence, connected with the bottom panels at an angle and are connected with the side panels at an angle and that in the installed state of the fence, the fence comprises containers, confined by the bottom panels, the front panels, the side panels and the rear panels, in which during the burying of the bottom panels, the containers are filled such that they are substantially located underground.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the fence comprises top panels which in the installed state of the fence delimit the containers, and in which the top panels are placed on top of the containers after the containers are filled up.

5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that during the burying of the bottom panels, the top panels are also buried.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein in the installed state of the fence the rear panels are located underground.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein in the installed state of the fence the height of the rear panels is less than the height of the front panels.

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the front panels are connected at an angle of substantially 90 with the side panels, the front panels are connected at an angle of substantially 90 with the bottom panels and the side panels are connected at an angle of substantially 90 with the bottom panels.

9. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fence comprises at least two states, the installed state and a more compact state suitable for transport and storage, wherein the fence is delivered on site in its compact state and wherein the fence is at least partially transformed from its compact state to its installed state before placing the fence on the ground.

10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the fence, in its compact state, comprises several separate units which are connected to each other during the transformation from the compact state to the installed state.

11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that each said separate unit comprises at least one front panel, at least two side panels, at least one bottom panel and at least one rear panel wherein the side panels are pivotally connected to the front panel; the bottom panel is pivotally connected to the front panel; the rear panel is pivotally connected to the bottom panel wherein the dimensions of the bottom panel, the side panels and the rear panel extend within the dimensions of the front panel, wherein in the compact state of the fence each separate unit is folded up and that during the transformation of the fence from its compact state to the installed state, each unit is unfolded, the bottom panel is connected at an angle to the side panels, the rear panel is connected to the side panel at an angle and the units are connected to each other.

12. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that in the compact state of the fence each separate unit is folded up such that the side panels are located between the front panel on the one hand and between the bottom panel and the rear panel on the other hand and in which during the unfolding of the units, the bottom panel is pivoted before pivoting a said side panel.

13. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that each said separate unit comprises two top panels which are pivotally connected to the bottom panel, wherein in the compact state of the fence each separate unit is folded up such that the side panels are located between the front panel on the one hand and between the bottom panel, the rear panel and the top panels on the other hand and in which during the transformation of the fence from the compact state to the installed state each top panel is connected to the front panel and to the side panels.

14. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the bottom panel is connected to the side panels, the rear panel is connected to the side panels and the units are connected to each other with the aid of spirals.

15. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that adjacent panels are connected to each other with the aid of hooks.

16. A method for installing a fence according to claim 1, wherein in an installed state of the fence the bottom panels are connected at an angle with the front panels and the bottom panels and part of the front panels are located underground, and at least the part of the front panels and side panels which are substantially located aboveground comprises a first set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another; a second set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another, wherein the wires from the first set and the second set intersect, and where these intersect are mutually welded, and wherein a part of the first set of wires is arranged on the other side of the wires of the second set from the rest of the wires of the first set, and with this fence each of the wires of the part of the first set which are arranged on the other side of the second set, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the wires of the second set, are arranged at a certain spacing from the rest of the wires of the first set.

17. A fence comprising front mesh panels and; bottom mesh panels; wherein in an installed state of the fence the bottom panels are connected at an angle with the front panels and the bottom panels and part of the front panels are located underground, wherein in the installed state of the fence the front panels extend substantially in the same plane, the fence comprises side panels which, in the installed state of the fence, are connected at an angle with the front panels, are connected at an angle with the bottom panels and are partly located underground, and at least a part of the front panels and side panels which are substantially located aboveground comprise a first set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another; a second set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another, wherein the wires from the first set and the second set intersect, and where these intersect are mutually welded, and wherein a part of the first set of wires is arranged on the other side of the wires of the second set from the rest of the wires of the first set, and with this fence each of the wires of the part of the first set which are arranged on the other side of the second set, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the wires of the second set, are arranged at a certain spacing from the rest of the wires of the first set.

18. A Pence according to claim 17, characterized in that the wires of the first set are arranged, alternately on both sides of the second set of wires.

19. A fence according to claim 17, characterized in that, the wires from the first set, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the wires from the second set, are arranged at a mutual spacing of between 10 and 15 mm.

20. A fence according to claim 17, characterized in that the fence comprises rear panels and that in the installed state of the fence, the rear panels are connected to the bottom panels and to the side panels such that the fence comprises containers which are delimited by the front panels, the side panels, the bottom panels and the rear panels.

21. A fence according to claim 20, characterized in that each container comprises a bag.

22. A fence according to claim 21, characterized in that the bag is made of a water-permeable material.

23. A fence according to claim 17, characterized in that the part of the front panels and the part of the side panels, which are substantially located underground in the installed state of the fence, comprise a first set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another and a second set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another, wherein the wires from the first set and the second set intersect, and where these intersect are mutually welded, and wherein the first set of wires are arranged on one side of the wires of the second set.

24. A fence according to claim 17, characterized in that side panels are connected by their edges to the other front and bottom panels and that the unconnected edge of the side panel is reinforced with a profile.

25. A fence according to claim 24, characterized in that the profile is a U-shaped profile.

26. A fence comprising front mesh panels and; bottom mesh panels; wherein in an installed state of the fence the bottom panels are connected at an angle with the front panels and the bottom panels and part of the front panels are located underground, wherein in the installed state of the fence the front panels extend substantially in the same plane, the fence comprises side panels which, in the installed state of the fence, are connected at an angle with the front panels, are connected at an angle with the bottom panels and are partly located underground, and at least the part of the front panels and side panels which are substantially located aboveground comprise a first set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another; a second set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another, wherein the wires from the first set and the second set intersect, and where these intersect are mutually welded, and wherein a part of the first set of wires is arranged on the other side of the wires of the second set from the rest of the wires of the first set, and with this fence each of the wires of the part of the first set which are arranged on the other side of the second set, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the wires of the second set, are arranged at a certain spacing from the rest of the wires of the first set, wherein the side panels have a pentagonal shape in which the part of the side panel, which is substantially located aboveground in the installed state of the fence, has a right-angled triangular shape and in which the other part of the side panel, which is substantially located underground in the installed state of the fence, has a rectangular shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is now explained in greater detail below with reference to the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of a fence and a method of installing a fence according to the present invention. The aim of this description is solely to give illustrative examples and indicate further advantages and particularities of this fence panel and this method and thus cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the field of application of the invention or of the patent rights claimed in the claims.

(2) In this detailed description, reference is made by means of reference numerals to the appended drawings, wherein

(3) FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of a perspective view of an embodiment of a fence according the invention;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a simplified representation of a perspective view of a folded unit;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a simplified presentation of a perspective view of several folded units stacked on top of each other;

(6) FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show simplified perspective views of the unit as shown in FIG. 2 during the unfolding of the unit;

(7) FIG. 7 shows a simplified perspective view of a fence which is placed in a ditch;

(8) FIG. 8 shows a simplified perspective view of the fence as shown in FIG. 7 during the refilling of the ditch;

(9) FIG. 9 shows a detailed representation of a unit of an embodiment of a fence according to the invention, wherein a side panel has been detached.

(10) FIG. 10 shows a diagram of wires of the front and side panels;

(11) FIG. 11A shows a simplified representation of a perspective view of an embodiment of a fence according to the invention, having a U-shaped profile reinforcing the unconnected edge of the side panel, and FIG. 11B shows a detail view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(12) The fence (1), as viewed in FIGS. 1 to 8, is a first embodiment of a fence (1) according to the invention which comprises front panels (2), bottom panels (3), rear panels (5) and side panels (4). All these panels (2, 3, 4, 5) are mesh panels. The FIGS. 1 to 8 are simplified representations were every panel (2, 3, 4, 5) is represented as a white surface. The meshes would make the figures unclear. Also not all panels (2, 3, 4, 5) are indicated with their number for clarity reasons.

(13) FIG. 9 shows a more detailed representation of a unit (6) according to a second embodiment of a fence (1) according to the invention. In this unit (6) the meshes can be seen. Every unit (6) of this second embodiment has next to a front panel (2), bottom panel (3), two side panels (4) and a rear panel (5) also two top panels (9). Here one side panel (4) has been detached from the front panel (2).

(14) Of course other embodiments are also possible.

(15) The following is a detailed description of the first embodiment of a fence (1). However all this also applies to the second embodiment of the fence (1). All front panels (2) have the same dimensions, all bottom panels (3) have the same dimensions, all rear panels (5) have the same dimensions, also all side panels (4) have the same dimensions. The front panels (2) have a rectangular shape, the bottom panels (3) have a rectangular shape, the rear panels (5) also have a rectangular shape and the side panels (4) have a pentagonal shape, namely a square shaped part plus a right-angled triangular shaped part. The rear panels (5) and bottom panels (3) have the same dimensions.

(16) The front panels (2) comprise a first set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another and comprises a second set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another, wherein the first set and the second set intersect under an angle of 90, and where these intersect are mutually welded. The wires of the first set of wires (13) are arranged, in a systematic way, alternately on both sides of the second set of wires (12). The second set of the wires extend, in the installed state of the fence (1), vertically and the first set of wires extend, in installed state of the fence (1), horizontally. Of course these wires could also extend in other directions for example they could form a diagonally gridded mesh. The wires from the first set, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the wires from the second set, are arranged at a mutual spacing of between 10 and 15 mm and the wires of the second set, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the wires from the first set, are arranged at a mutual spacing of between 60 and 140 mm, preferably between 80 and 120 mm. The wires have a round cross section and they have a diameter between 2 and 8 mm, preferably between 3 and 5 mm. The wires are made out of steel. However also wires with other cross sections, for example wires with a rectangular cross section are possible. Also the wires can be made out of a different metal or out of plastic. The abovementioned configuration of the wires provides a very strong panel (1) that has also a certain resistance to bullets. The right-angled triangular shaped parts of the side panels (4) also have the same configuration of wires mentioned above.

(17) The wires of the square shaped parts of the side panels (4) have a different configuration. In this different configuration the wires comprise a first set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another and a second set of wires extending substantially parallel to one another, wherein the wires from the first set and the second set intersect, and where these intersect are mutually welded, and wherein the first set of wires are arranged on one side of the wires of the second set. Also the spacing between the wires of each set is larger. Such configuration provides in a less firm panel, but such configuration of wires is less expensive. The square shaped part of each side panel (4) is located underground in the installed state of the fence (1) (see further). Especially the part of the fence (1) which is located aboveground should have a strong and rigid configuration of wires. The part of the fence (1) that is meant to be located underground need not to be that strong and can have a less strong and less expensive configuration of wires. Also the meshes of the part of the fence (1) that is located aboveground should have small meshes to prevent intruders from using these meshes to climb over the fence (1). In FIG. 9 the specific configuration of the wires of a side panel (4) can be viewed.

(18) The configuration of the wires of the bottom panels (3) and rear panels (5) is the same configuration as the configuration of the square shaped parts of the side panels (4). This because the bottom panels (3) and rear panels (5) are located underground in an installed state of the fence (1) and need not to be that strong (see further). The configuration of the wires can clearly be seen in FIG. 9 wherein also a top panel (9) is shown. This top panel (9) has the same configuration as the configuration of the square shaped parts of the side panels (4), because the top panels (9) are also located underground in installed state of the fence (1) (see further).

(19) The fence (1) has two configurations, a compact configuration which is convenient for storage and transportation and also an erected configuration. The erected configuration is the configuration of the fence (1) when it is in its installed state.

(20) The fence (1) comprises in its compact state several equal separate units (6). Each unit (6) comprises a front panel (2), a bottom panel (3), a rear panel (5) and two side panels (4). One unit (6) of the fence (1) has three side panels (4). Each front panel (2) is pivotally connected to the two side panels (4) and pivotally connected to the bottom panel (3). Each bottom panel (3) is pivotally connected to the rear panel (5). These connections are between the edges of the panels (2, 3, 4, 5) except the connection between the front panel (2) and one of the two said side panels (4). One side panel (4) is connected with its edge to the central area of the front panel (2). In the compact state the units (6) are folded up in such a way that the side panels (4) are located between the front panel (2) on the one hand and between the bottom panel (3) and the rear panel (5) on the other hand. Each side panel (4) extends parallel with respect to the front panel (2). The bottom panel (3) and the rear panel (5) extend in the same plane and they are parallel with respect to the side panels (4) and also to the front panel (2). The dimensions of the pivotally connected panels (2, 3, 4, 5) in the direction of their mutual connection are equal. The dimensions of the side panels (4) are situated within the dimensions of the front panel (2) and also the bottom panel (3) and the rear panel (5) who extend in the same plan are situated within the dimensions of the front panel (2). The said pivotal connections are spiral connections (11).

(21) In installed state of the fence (1) each front panel (2) is connected to a bottom panel (3) and three side panels (4). Each rear panel (5) is connected to a bottom panel (3) and is connected to three side panels (4). All these connections are at an angle of 90. This provides a very strong and solid fence (1). The edge of the side panels (4) which is not connected to the other panels (2, 3, 5) is reinforced with a U-shaped profile (7). This edge corresponds to the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangular shaped part of the side panel (4). With this profile (7), the fence (1) obtains additional rigidity.

(22) The following is a detailed description of the installation of this fence (1). The fence (1) is delivered on site in its compact state. The number of units (6) that is necessary depends on the length of the desired fence (1). The longer the fence (1), the more units (6) are necessary. Each unit (6) is at least 6 meters.

(23) For start, in the ground (10), a ditch (8) is excavated. This can be done with a bulldozer or an excavator. In this ditch (8) the fence (1) will be placed. Before placing the fence (1) in the ditch (8), each unit (6) is unfolded. The unfolding of the unit (6) can be seen in the FIGS. 4 to 6. First the bottom panel (3) is pivoted with respect to the front panel (2). This leaves the side panels (4) being easily accessible. After this the side panels (4) are pivoted with regard to the front panel (2). Then the bottom panel (3) is pivoted with respect to the front panel (2) towards the side panels (4) and the rear panel (5) is pivoted with respect to the bottom panels (3) towards the side panels (4). The bottom panel (3) and the rear panel (5) are connected to the side panels (4) with the aid of spirals (11). After this the separate units (6) are connected to each other with the aid of spirals (11). All units (6) can be connected to each other before placing the fence (1) in the ditch (8) or several units (6) can be connected to each other to create two or more partial fences and these partial fences can then be placed separately in the ditch (8). These partial fences are then connected to each other, after they have been placed in the ditch (8). Even separate units (6) can be placed in the ditch (8). For example for a fence (1) of several kilometers it is not possible to place the entire fence (1) at once in the ditch (8). Partial fences then are placed in the ditch (8).

(24) In an alternative method the side panel (4) of a unit (6) which is connected to the edge of the front panel (2) is separated from the unit (6). During the connection of the different units (6) this side panel (4) is reconnected to the front panels (2) of the units (6) which are connected.

(25) After the connection of the units (6), the fence (1) has several containers. Each container is limited by a bottom panel (3), a front panel (2), side panels (4) and a rear panel (5). These containers provide rigidity and strength to the fence (1).

(26) To place the fence (1) partly underground, the ditch (8) is refilled using the ground (10) that was removed during the excavating of the ditch (8). The ditch (8) is refilled by filling up the space of the ditch (8) surrounding the fence (1) and also by filling the containers. The containers can easily be filled with the aid of an excavator. Preferably the containers are filled before filling up the rest of the ditch (8).

(27) Additionally, before filling the containers, bags (15) of geotextile can be placed inside the containers as shown in FIG. 11A. With the aid of these bags (15), the ground (10) that is put inside the containers during the refilling of the ditch (8) will not leave the containers as such simplifying the filling of the containers. Geotextile is also water-permeable, so no water problems will arise later on. Each bag (15) is then preferably connected to the 4 corners of the top side of the container.

(28) Here the bottom panels (3), the rear panels (5), a part of the front panels (2) and the square parts of the side panels (4) are completely located underground.

(29) In the second embodiment, the fence (1) has top panels (9). The top panels (9) are pivotally connected to the rear panels (5) in the compact state of the fence (1). In each folded unit (6), the bottom panels (3), rear panels (5) and top panels (9) extend in the same plane and they lie inside the dimensions of the front panel (2). Two top panels (9) have approximately the same dimension as one bottom panel (3).

(30) During the refilling of the ditch (8), when each container is substantially completely filled, the top panels (9) are pivoted with respect to the rear panels (5) towards the upper side of the containers. These containers are then closed by connecting the top panels (9) to the side panels (4) and the front panels (2) with the aid of spirals (11). After this the top panels (9) are buried until the ditch (8) is completely refilled.