An Edge Finishing For a Mesh

Abstract

An edge finishing for a mesh formed by interlacing adjacent wire pickets, each picket formed in a zig-zag manner, the edge finishing comprising two interlinked loops where a first loop is formed from a first picket of the adjacent pickets and a second loop is formed from a second picket of the adjacent pickets, wherein the first loop and the second loop are interlocked together, via first and second loop-ends, at an intersection of the first picket and the second picket.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. An edge finishing for a mesh formed by interlacing adjacent wire pickets, each picket formed in a zig-zag manner, the edge finishing comprising two interlinked loops where a first loop is formed from a first picket of the adjacent pickets and a second loop is formed from a second picket of the adjacent pickets, wherein the first loop and the second loop are interlocked together, via first and second loop-ends, at an intersection of the first picket and the second picket, in a manner that substantially prevents lateral movement of the interlinked loops with respect to one another.

26. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first loop-end of the first loop interlocks with both the second loop and the second loop-end of the second loop; and the second loop-end interlocks with both the first loop and the first loop-end of the first loop.

27. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 25 wherein a longitudinal axis of each loop is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of an adjacent portion of the mesh pattern of the picket from which it is formed.

28. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 25, wherein a plane of each loop is orthogonal to a plane of the mesh.

29. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 25, wherein the shape and dimension of the mesh pattern of a picket adjacent the interlinked loops is substantially the same as the mesh pattern of the remainder of the picket.

30. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 25, wherein a free end of each picket is located inside the loop and in the plane of the loop of that picket.

31. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 25 wherein the edge finishing is applied to a plurality of adjacent pickets

32. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 31 wherein when the mesh is arranged to be flat, and tension is applied to the adjacent pickets, there is a substantially straight passageway formed through the loops.

33. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 32 wherein the passageway is configured to accept a support wire or cord.

34. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 31, wherein the adjacent pickets form a diamond pattern mesh.

35. A method of forming an edge for a mesh comprising a plurality of adjacent interlaced zig zag pickets, the edge being formed at the terminal end of adjacent first and second pickets forming a diamond pattern, the method including the steps of: bending the zag side of a first picket back over top of the zig side of first picket; partially straightening the first picket tail with respect to zag side of the first picket; bending the partially straightened first picket tail further around zig side of the second picket until it lies below the zig side of the second picket; twisting first picket tail until it has the same orientation as the zig side of the first picket to form first loop; bending the zag side of second picket back under the zig side of the second picket; partially straightening the second picket tail with respect to the zag side of the second picket; bending the partially straightened second picket tail further around zig side of the second picket until it lies above the zig side; twisting the second picket tail through the first loop and over the first picket tail until it has the same orientation as the zig side of the second picket to form a second loop; twisting both picket tails simultaneously so that the second picket tail meets up with zag side of the second picket, and the first picket tail meets up with zag side of the first picket, to form first and second loop-ends, which interlock the first and second loops.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein a plane of the first loop is orthogonal to a plane of the mesh.

37. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein a plane of the second loop is orthogonal to a plane of the mesh.

38. The method as claimed in claim 35, including the step of adjusting, if necessary, a distance between the first loop and the second loop at the interlocked outer ends of the loops to correspond to the maximum lateral distance between the pickets when tensioned.

39. The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein at least one of the steps is performed by a machine.

40. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 26 wherein a longitudinal axis of each loop is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of an adjacent portion of the mesh pattern of the picket from which it is formed.

41. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 26, wherein the shape and dimension of the mesh pattern of a picket adjacent the interlinked loops is substantially the same as the mesh pattern of the remainder of the picket.

42. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 27, wherein the shape and dimension of the mesh pattern of a picket adjacent the interlinked loops is substantially the same as the mesh pattern of the remainder of the picket.

43. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 26, wherein a free end of each picket is located inside the loop and in the plane of the loop of that picket.

44. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 28, wherein a free end of each picket is located inside the loop and in the plane of the loop of that picket.

45. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 32, wherein the adjacent pickets form a diamond pattern mesh.

46. The method as claimed in claim 36, including the step of adjusting, if necessary, a distance between the first loop and the second loop at the interlocked outer ends of the loops to correspond to the maximum lateral distance between the pickets when tensioned.

47. The method as claimed in claim 37, including the step of adjusting, if necessary, a distance between the first loop and the second loop at the interlocked outer ends of the loops to correspond to the maximum lateral distance between the pickets when tensioned.

48. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 26 wherein the edge finishing is applied to a plurality of adjacent pickets

49. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 48 wherein when the mesh is arranged to be flat, and tension is applied to the adjacent pickets, there is a substantially straight passageway formed through the loops.

50. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 27 wherein the edge finishing is applied to a plurality of adjacent pickets

51. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 50, wherein the adjacent pickets form a diamond pattern mesh.

52. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 28 wherein the edge finishing is applied to a plurality of adjacent pickets

53. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 52 wherein when the mesh is arranged to be flat, and tension is applied to the adjacent pickets, there is a substantially straight passageway formed through the loops.

54. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 52, wherein the adjacent pickets form a diamond pattern mesh.

55. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 29 wherein the edge finishing is applied to a plurality of adjacent pickets

56. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 55, wherein the adjacent pickets form a diamond pattern mesh.

57. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 30 wherein the edge finishing is applied to a plurality of adjacent pickets

58. The edge finishing as claimed in claim 57 wherein when the mesh is arranged to be flat, and tension is applied to the adjacent pickets, there is a substantially straight passageway formed through the loops.

59. The method as claimed in claim 36 wherein at least one of the steps is performed by a machine.

60. The method as claimed in claim 37 wherein at least one of the steps is performed by a machine.

61. The method as claimed in claim 38 wherein at least one of the steps is performed by a machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0051] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an edge finishing according to one embodiment of the prior art;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows an edge finishing according to another embodiment of the prior art;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows an edge finishing according to yet another embodiment of the prior art;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a view of part of a mesh including a finishing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] FIG. 5 shows another view of the edge finishing of FIG. 4;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows an initial configuration for forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures;

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures;

[0060] FIG. 9 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures;

[0061] FIG. 10 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures;

[0062] FIG. 11 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures;

[0063] FIG. 12 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures;

[0064] FIG. 13 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures;

[0065] FIG. 14 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures;

[0066] FIG. 15 shows a step in the method of forming a finishing in the embodiment shown in the previous figures; and

[0067] FIG. 16 shows part of a machine used to complete the edge finishing.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0068] An edge finishing for a diamond pattern wire mesh according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by arrow 1 in FIG. 4. The mesh is formed in a diamond pattern (this being the separation of parallel sides of the diamond pattern). The mesh is formed from interlacing pairs of adjacent pickets (2-6) where each picket is in the form of an elongate strand of wire bent at regular intervals into a zig-zag configuration (see for example the adjacent sides (picket end lengths) 7 and 8 of picket 3).

[0069] The edge finishing comprises two interlinked loops, generally indicated by arrows 9 and 10 on the left hand side of FIG. 4, where the first loop 9 is formed from a first picket 2 and the second loop 10 is formed from a second picket 3 (which is adjacent to picket 2). The first loop 9 and the second loop 10 are interlocked together at an intersection 11 of the first picket 2 and the second picket 3.

[0070] The interlocking of loops 9 and 10 is achieved by bending the end of the pickets 2, 3 to form respective loop-ends 60, 61 which are interlinked together to effectively interlock the first and second loops 9 and 10 together tightly in the vicinity of the intersection 11. This arrangement prevents the interlinked loops 9 and 10 from moving away from the intersection (i.e. prevents lateral movement of the loops with respect to the intersection where they are locked). In particular this arrangement may prevent, or at least minimise, any shortening of the perimeter of the mesh (the finished mesh edge), thus overcoming a problem with at least some of the prior art finishings.

[0071] However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are other ways in which the loops may be locked in place at an intersection, including, without limitation and depending on the type of wire used to form the mesh, welding, soldering, brazing and binding them in place with additional wire, cord or similar.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 4, the loop 9, and indeed each loop, lies in a plane orthogonal to a plane of the mesh. Thus, for example, if the mesh is laid on a flat horizontal surface then the plane of the mesh is a horizontal plane. In this orientation the plane of each loop (defined as the plane which contains the loop) is a vertical plane.

[0073] Furthermore, the loops 9 and 10 are formed and interlocked together such that the orientation of a longitudinal axis of the loop (shown as the dashed line 12 for loop 9) is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of side 8 of picket 3. A similar arrangement exists for loop 10. In this manner the overall symmetry of the mesh may be retained by the finishing. In other words the shape and dimension of the pickets adjacent the interlinked loops may be substantially the same as the remainder of the mesh. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the ends of each picket tail are not only twisted together, but the picket tails, 13 and 14 of the pickets 2 and 3 are formed into interlinked loop-ends 60, 61 inside the loops 9 and 10 respectively. This arrangement may reduce or eliminate the occurrence of injury caused by contacting the picket tail ends, thus adding significantly to safety in handling the edge finishing of the mesh.

[0074] FIG. 4 also shows a further pair of loops, 15 and 16, which are formed from an adjacent pair of interlaced pickets, 4 and 5, where picket 4 is also interlaced with picket 3. In this arrangement loop 15 is interlinked with loop 10. When the edge finishing is applied to all picket ends the result is a linked series of loops along the perimeter of the edge, where each neighbouring pair of loops is locked to an intersection of the pickets forming the mesh. With the picket tail ends of each picket tucked inside a loop the result is a series of smooth surfaces along the edge of the mesh.

[0075] As can be seen in FIG. 5, when viewed from a side the edge finishing of the tensioned mesh, when arranged to be flat, contains a substantially straight passageway 30 through the loops, through which a wire or cable or other type of support member can be passed. This may be done in such a manner that the support member supports the loops of the edge finishing without applying any force likely to distort the arrangement of the loops (i.e. twisting or shortening the distance between neighbouring loops). The support member may be used to provide shape to the edge (i.e. to keep it straight or to create a curve) as well as to provide a method of attaching the mesh to a support (e.g. a post or frame) and to attach other items to the mesh, such as floatation devices.

[0076] FIG. 6 shows the initial configuration of the pickets prior to formation of the edge finishing.

[0077] The method of forming the edge finishing will be described with reference to picket 6, which is interlaced on one side by picket 5 (already finished off) and loop 16, and on the other side is interlaced with picket 17.

[0078] The diamond shape of the mesh at the edge has a first zig side 18 and an adjacent second zag side 19, both formed from the same picket, 17, and a third zig side 20 and an adjacent fourth zag side 21, both formed from the same picket 6.

[0079] A first picket tail, 22, extends from the second zag side 19 and ends where the picket 17 is cut. A second picket tail, 23, extends from the fourth zag side 21 and ends where the picket 6 is cut. [0080] The first step of the method involves bending the zag side 19 of a first picket 17 back over top of the zig side 18 of picket 17; completion of this step shown in FIG. 7. [0081] The second step of the method involves partially straightening the first picket tail 22 with respect to zag side 19; completion of this step shown in FIG. 8. [0082] The third step of the method involves bending the partially straightened first picket tail 22 further around zig side 20 until it lies below the zig side 20; completion of this step shown in FIG. 9 [0083] The fourth step of the method involves twisting first picket tail 22 until it has the same orientation as the zig side 18 to form first loop 24; completion of this step shown in FIG. 10. [0084] The fifth step of the method involves bending the zag side 21 of picket 6 back under the zig side 20 of picket 6; completion of this step is shown in FIG. 11 [0085] The sixth step of the method involves partially straightening the second picket tail 23 with respect to zag side 21; completion of this step is shown in FIG. 12. [0086] The seventh step of the method involves bending the partially straightened second picket tail 23 further around zig side 18 until it lies above the zig side 18; completion of this step is shown in FIG. 13. [0087] The eighth step of the method involves twisting second picket tail 23 through the first loop 24 and over the first picket tail 22 until it has the same orientation as the zig side 20 to form second loop 25; completion of this step is shown in FIG. 14. [0088] The ninth step of the method involves twisting both picket tails simultaneously so that 23 meets up with 21, and 22 meets up with 19, to form first and second loop-ends 50, 51, which interlock the first and second loops; completion of this step is also shown in FIG. 15

[0089] Part of a machine used to complete the edge finishing is shown in FIG. 16. The machine is used to adjust the angle and separation between a pair of interlinked locked loops so that the end pattern of the mesh (i.e. the sides of the pickets below the locked intersection) are in the correct positions for the diamond pattern mesh. This may help ensure that the length of the finished edge of the mesh is not shortened, or at least that any shortening is minimised.

[0090] The machine comprises two sections, a first section, generally indicated by arrow 26, configured to hold the strands of the mesh in the vicinity of the edge in their correct diamond pattern, and a second section, generally indicated by arrow 27, which is configured to apply a force to the outer edges of the loops. The first section includes a series of blocks, 28-31 in FIG. 16, between which the pickets are held in place. The blocks are in turn configured to ensure the pickets are firmly held in a diamond pattern. The second section includes a moveable block 32 having a rebate 33 on the front edge which is configured to accept the outer edges of the interlinked locked loops.

[0091] A force may be applied to the loops by moving the second section 27 of the machine towards the blocks of the first section. The initial movement forces the ends of the loops into opposite sides of the rebate 33, which changes the angle between the planes of the loops which may remove any remaining gap at the intersections of picket pairs. Further movement may then push the loops back towards the mesh, thus partially flattening the edge finishing against the mesh. This movement may result in the pickets at the edge of the mesh moving slightly out of parallel with the axis of the neighbouring loop, as well as tightening the bent wire forming the locking mechanism at the intersection of the pickets.

[0092] The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.

[0093] Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.

[0094] The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

[0095] Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

[0096] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention.

[0097] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.