fence elements

Abstract

A fence element comprising a base (1), at least two slats (2) and a handrail (3), wherein: the slats (2) are arranged side by side; the slats (2) are arranged substantially vertically; each slat (2) has a lower end (4) connected to the base (1); each slat (2) has an upper end (5) connected to the handrail (3); the lower ends (4) of the slats (2) are connected to the base (1) offset and spaced apart from each other when the fence element is viewed in side view; the upper ends (5) of the slats (2) intersect each other at the connection to the handrail (3) when the fence element is viewed in side view; and the slats (2) form a force-fitting triangle.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to fence elements.

[0002] A fence is, for example, the boundary of a plot of land or area. A fence consists of fence elements arranged accordingly to enclose or define an area (e.g., a plot of land). The fence elements are arranged in a base, for example, directly in the soil or foundation. The fence elements must be designed to be stable so that they cannot tip over, for example, due to wind, objects, or people leaning against them. Fences typically have a connector at the top for securing the fence elements and are often designed as handrails. In the field of this invention, several documents are known to describe fence elements that have an A-shape when viewed in a side view (e.g., DE102011082745A1, GB2605835A, FR2860537A1, and WO9616230A1) or fence elements with a widened portion at the bottom (e.g., GB2475899A, GB2475904A, US2695159A, and WO2021226641A1). All of these fence elements have a solid structure.

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple, lightweight, yet stable fence element.

[0004] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by providing a fence element comprising a base, at least two slats, and a handrail, wherein: the slats are arranged side by side; the slats are arranged generally vertically; each slat has a lower end connected to the base; each slat has an upper end connected to the handrail; when the fence element is viewed in a side view, the lower ends of the slats are offset from each other and spaced apart from each other when connected to the base; when the fence element is viewed in a side view, the upper ends of the slats intersect each other at the connection with the handrail; and the slats form a force-fitting triangle.

[0005] The offset arrangement of the slats in the base at the bottom and their intersecting arrangement in the handrail at the top create a force-fitting triangle, which imparts extremely high stability and strength to the fence element. This invention requires significantly less material than A-shaped fence elements or fence elements with a shape wider at the bottom than at the top. Therefore, it is more resource-efficient and less costly to manufacture compared to fence elements according to the prior art.

[0006] The base can be placed directly in the soil or foundation. The base and foundation can be different or the same. In another case, the base and foundation can be implemented as one unit.

[0007] In a side view, the lower ends may overlap each other or be spaced apart.

[0008] The front view is the view of the fence as seen from the roadside.

[0009] A side view is a view along the railing of a fence, like the view of a person walking through a garden gate and looking at the railing from the side.

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention, when the fence element is viewed in a side view, the upper ends of the slats can form an alignment line at their connection with the handrail. Therefore, the upper ends are aligned in a line (i.e., an alignment line). This makes the handrail narrower, thereby further saving costs.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, when the fence element is viewed in a side view, the upper ends of the slats can form two alignment lines at their connection with the handrail, wherein when the fence element is viewed again in a side view, these two alignment lines are in contact with each other. Therefore, the slats contact the virtual line extending through the handrail from both sides (preferably alternately). This further improves the stability of the fence element.

[0012] In an embodiment of the invention, the slats can be designed to be curved when viewed from the side. This achieves better stain resistance.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, when the fence element is viewed in a front view, the slats can be arranged spaced apart from each other. This allows light to pass through the fence element more effectively.

[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, when the fence element is viewed in a front view, the slats can contact each other. This provides both visual obstruction and better sound insulation.

[0015] In embodiments of the invention, the arc-shaped design of the slats achieves sound insulation. The arc shape absorbs sound, therefore, the fence element implemented in this way can be used as a soundproof wall.

[0016] In embodiments of the invention, the base, slats, and handrails can be made independently of each other from materials or combinations thereof: metal, plastic, wood, concrete, or polymer concrete. These materials possess weather resistance and ensure excellent stability.

[0017] The meanings of the reference marks are as follows: 1. Base 2. Slats 3 Handrails 4. Lower end of the slat 5. The upper end of the slat. Brief description of the attached diagram Figure 1 A fence element according to the invention is shown schematically and out of scale in a side view, wherein an alignment line is formed at the upper end of the fence element.

[0019] Figure 2 The previous view shows an embodiment of the invention with slats spaced apart.

[0020] Figure 3 Shown in top view Figure 2 The cross-section of the handrail (top) and the cross-section of the base (bottom) in the embodiment.

[0021] Figure 4 The previous view illustrates an embodiment of the invention with slats in contact with each other.

[0022] Figure 5 Shown in top view Figure 4 The cross-section of the handrail (top) and the cross-section of the base (bottom) in the embodiment.

[0023] Figure 6 An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically and not to scale in a side view, wherein the upper ends of the slats form two contacting alignment lines.

[0024] Figure 7 The previous view shows an embodiment of the invention with slats spaced apart.

[0025] Figure 8 Shown in top view Figure 7 The cross-section of the handrail in one embodiment has two contacting alignment lines formed at the upper ends of the slats.

[0026] Figure 9 The previous view illustrates an embodiment of the invention with slats in contact with each other.

[0027] Figure 10 Shown in top view Figure 9 The cross-section of the handrail in one embodiment has two contacting alignment lines formed at the upper ends of the slats.

[0028] Example Example 1 - A fence element that forms an alignment line at the handrail The fence element includes a base 1, a handrail 3, and at least two slats 2 arranged generally vertically side by side, wherein: each slat 2 has a lower end 4 connected to the base 1; each slat 2 has an upper end 5 connected to the handrail 3; when viewed in a side view, the lower ends 4 of the slats 2 are offset from each other and spaced apart from each other when connected to the base 1; when viewed in a side view, the upper ends 5 of the slats 2 intersect each other at the connection with the handrail 3; and the slats 2 form a force-fitting triangle.

[0029] When observing the fence element in the side view, the upper end 5 of the slat 2 forms an alignment line at the connection with the handrail 3 and is designed to be arc-shaped.

[0030] When viewing the fence elements in the front view, the slats 2 are arranged spaced apart from each other.

[0031] The base 1 is made of concrete, the slats 2 are made of wood, and the handrail 3 is made of plastic.

[0032] Example 2 – Fence element forming two alignment lines at the handrail The fence element is as described in Example 1, except that when viewed in a side view, the upper end 5 of the slat 2 forms two alignment lines instead of one alignment line at the connection with the handrail 3, where the two alignment lines touch each other when viewed in a side view again.

[0033] When the fence elements are viewed in the front view, the slats 2 are in contact with each other.

[0034] Example 3 - Fence element with sound insulation protection The fence element is as described in Example 1 or 2, wherein the slats 2 are designed to achieve sound insulation. The surface of the slats 2 has protrusions and depressions that cause sound reflection and sound wave cancellation.

Claims

1. A fence element comprising a base (1), at least two slats (2), and a handrail (3). Its features are, The slats (2) are arranged side by side. The slats (2) are arranged generally vertically. Each slat (2) has a lower end (4) that is connected to the base (1). Each slat (2) has an upper end (5) that is connected to the handrail (3). When the fence element is viewed in a side view, the lower ends (4) of the slats (2) are offset from each other and spaced apart from each other, and are connected to the base (1) respectively. When the fence element is viewed in a side view, the upper ends (5) of the slats (2) intersect each other at the connection with the handrail (3), and The slats (2) form a triangle with force engagement.

2. The fence element according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the fence element is viewed in a side view, the upper end (5) of the slat (2) forms an alignment line at the connection with the handrail (3).

3. The fence element according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the fence element is viewed in a side view, the upper end (5) of the slat (2) forms two alignment lines at the connection with the handrail (3), wherein when the fence element is viewed again in a side view, the two alignment lines are in contact with each other.

4. The fence element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, When the fence element is viewed in a side view, the slats (2) are designed to be arc-shaped.

5. The fence element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, When the fence element is viewed in the front view, the slats (2) are arranged spaced apart from each other.

6. The fence element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, When the fence element is viewed in the front view, the slats (2) are in contact with each other.

7. The fence element according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, The arc-shaped design of the slats (2) achieves sound insulation and protection.

8. The fence element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The base (1), the slats (2), and the handrail (3) are each made independently of the following materials or combinations thereof: metal, plastic, wood, concrete, or polymer concrete.

Images