Panel and kit for constructing fence

Abstract

A kit and a connector are provided for constructing a fence or barrier. The kit can include upper and lower rails formed with bar-connecting holes distributed along their lengths. First and second bar sections together with the rails can be used to form a fence panel. The first bar sections are mounted between and connect the upper and lower rails and extend between aligned pairs of holes in the upper and lower rails. The second bar sections are connectable to the tops of the first bar sections and each is mountable on the upper rail so as to extend upwardly from one of the holes in this rail. Upper connecting mechanisms join the first bar sections to the second bar sections. Lower connecting mechanisms join the first bar sections to the lower rail at the holes formed therein.

1 . A kit for constructing a fence panel or barrier panel, said kit comprising:
 a lower rail and an upper rail, said rails being formed with bar-connecting holes distributed along their length and adapted to extend horizontally in an assembled fence with the lower rail extending parallel to the upper rail;   first bar sections for mounting between and connecting the upper and lower rails so as to form a fence panel, each bar section in use extending between an aligned pair of said holes in the upper and lower rails;   second bar sections each connectable to a respective one of the first bar sections to form a bar and mountable on the upper rail so as to extend upwardly from a respective one of the bar-connecting holes in the upper rail;   upper connecting devices for joining upper ends of the first bar sections to the upper rail and to said second bar sections; and   lower connecting devices for joining lower ends of the first bar sections to the lower rail by means of the bar-connecting holes formed therein,   wherein when said fence or barrier panel is constructed, said first and second bar sections extend substantially perpendicular to said upper and lower rails.   
     
     
         2 . A kit according to  claim 1  wherein each of said upper connecting devices includes a threaded axial passage in an upper end section of its respective first bar section and a threaded end section of the second bar section connectable to its respective first bar section by being threaded into said axial passage. 
     
     
         3 . A kit according to  claim 2  wherein said lower connecting devices are bolts which are extendible through the bar-connecting holes in the lower rail and wherein, when said fence or barrier panel fence is assembled, each bolt extends into a further threaded axial passage in a lower end section of a respective one of the first bar sections. 
     
     
         4 . A kit according to  claim 2  including third bar sections for mounting to said lower rail so as to extend downwardly from the bar-connecting holes in the lower rail, wherein said lower connecting devices include threaded end sections of said third bar sections and further threaded axial passages in lower end sections of the first bar sections, wherein each of said threaded end sections of the third bar sections can be threaded into a respective one of the further threaded axial passages to mount the respective third bar section to the lower rail. 
     
     
         5 . A kit according to  claim 1  wherein each of the upper connecting devices is a flexible clip which is insertable into an axial passage of one of a respective one of said first bar sections and said second bar sections and is formed with at least one engagement member and the respective first bar section and second bar sections are formed with side apertures, and wherein when each second bar section is joined to its respective first bar section, said at least one engagement member projects into said side apertures to hold the two bar sections in locking engagement. 
     
     
         6 . A kit according to  claim 5  wherein said flexible clip has an elongate U-shape, is insertable into said axial passage which is formed in each second bar section, and is formed with two of said at least one engagement member, and wherein each first bar section is formed with two of said at least one side aperture near its upper end which are adapted to receive the two engagement members. 
     
     
         7 . A kit according to  claim 2  including a plurality of threaded sleeve and collar pin assemblies for adjustably connecting the first bar sections at opposite ends of the fence panel to adjacent posts. 
     
     
         8 . A kit for constructing and mounting a fence panel for a fence having a plurality of posts comprising:
 elongate rails adapted for mounting horizontally between adjacent posts so that upper and lower rails can extend substantially from one post to an adjacent post when the fence is erected;   a plurality of bars adapted for mounting between and joining the upper and lower rails in order to construct said fence panel, the bars in the panel including two end bars located at opposite ends of the fence panel; and   a plurality of connectors for attaching said end bars to adjacent posts of the fence, each of said connectors including a collar section with a bar-receiving hole whereby when one of said end bars is inserted through said bar-receiving hole of a respective connector, the connector is at least initially free to pivot about and along the one end bar for connecting and adjustment purposes, each connector further including an end section spaced from said collar section and adapted for fixedly joining the connector to an adjacent post.   
     
     
         9 . A kit according to  claim 8  wherein each connector comprises an assembly that includes a collar pin, a separate elongate sleeve member having an axial passageway formed therein, and a threaded adapter providing said end section, wherein said collar pin has an elongate shaft section adapted for insertion in said axial passageway and said collar section, which is located at one end of said shaft section. 
     
     
         10 . A kit according to  claim 8  wherein each connector includes a threaded fastener for fixedly attaching the collar section of the connector to its respective end bar after the position of said connector on its end bar has been adjusted to a required position for the fence. 
     
     
         11 . A kit according to  claim 9  wherein said elongate sleeve member is internally threaded and said adapter has external threads whereby said sleeve member can be threadably connected to said adapter. 
     
     
         12 . A kit according to  claim 9  wherein each connector includes a threaded fastener for fixedly attaching said shaft section to said sleeve member after insertion of said shaft section into said through passageway. 
     
     
         13 . A connecting device for connecting a fence panel to a post, said panel being made of a series of picket members and rails connecting the picket members together, said connecting device comprising:
 a collar pin having an elongate shaft section and a collar section located at an end of the shaft section, said collar section having an aperture for receiving one of said picket members;   an elongate connecting member formed with a central passageway and adapted to receive said shaft section in said passageway, said connecting member having first thread means for securing said shaft section in said central passageway; and   an adapter for securing one end of said connecting member to a fence post, said adapter having second thread means for securing said connecting member to said adapter.   
     
     
         14 . A connecting device according to  claim 13  wherein said first thread means comprises a screw member and a threaded screw hole in a side of the connecting member for receiving said screw member. 
     
     
         15 . A connecting device according to  claim 14  wherein said adapter has an axial passage extending through said adapter and comprises first and second portions with said first portion being wider in a radial direction relative to said axial passage than said second portion. 
     
     
         16 . A connecting device according to  claim 13  including a screw member for fixedly securing said collar pin to said one picket member, said collar section having a threaded hole, that extends to said aperture, for, receiving said screw member. 
     
     
         17 . A connecting device according to  claim 15  including a bolt adapted for connecting said adapter to the fence post, wherein said axial passage is threaded and adapted for threaded engagement with said bolt. 
     
     
         18 . A connecting device according to  claim 13  wherein said second thread means comprises external threads formed around at least a portion of said adapter and adapted to engage threads formed in said central passageway of said connecting member. 
     
     
         19 . A fence panel for constructing a fence, said panel comprising
 an elongate upper fence rail;   an elongate lower fence rail extending substantially parallel to the upper fence rail, both rails having a plurality of bar-connecting holes formed therein and distributed along their lengths;   first bar section extending between and connecting the upper and lower fence rails, each first bar section extending from one of said holes in the lower fence rail to one of said holes in the upper fence rail;   separate second bar sections each connected to a respective one of the first bar sections to form an elongate bar and each extending upwardly from a respective one of said holes in the upper fence rail, said second bar sections being mounted on the upper fence rail; and   means for connecting bottom ends of said first bar sections to said lower fence rail using the bar-connecting holes in said lower fence rail.   
     
     
         20 . A fence panel according to  claim 19  wherein each of said first and second bar sections has a threaded end section and each first bar section is threadably connected to its respective second bar section by means of their threaded end sections at said upper rail. 
     
     
         21 . A fence panel according to  claim 19  wherein said connecting means comprise bolts each connecting a respective one of said bottom ends to said lower fence rail, a bottom end section of each first bar section having a threaded passage for threadably receiving a respective one of said bolts. 
     
     
         22 . A fence panel according to  claim 19  wherein said connecting means comprise a plurality of third bar sections each connected to the bottom end of a respective one of the first bar sections and each extending downwardly from the bar-connecting holes in the lower fence rail, each third bar section having a threaded upper end section which engages an internally threaded bottom end section of a respective one of the first bar sections. 
     
     
         23 . A fence panel according to  claim 19  wherein each second bar section is connected to its respective first bar section by a flexible clip located in an axial passage of one of the second bar section and its respective first bar section, said flexible clip having at least one engagement member that projects into at least one side aperture of the other of the second bar section and its respective first bar section to lock the two bar section together.