Supporting fences

Abstract

A fence-support apparatus, having a top 301, a bottom 302, a first side 303, a second side 304, a first end 305 and a second end 306, arranged to receive respective legs (901, 1001 fig 10) of adjacent fence panels (911, 1012 fig 10). The top includes a first manual support orifice 311, a second manual support orifice 312, first finger indentations 313 around the first manual support orifice and second finger indentations 314 around the second manual support orifice. The first side includes a first gripping channel 321 substantially aligned with the first manual support orifice and a second gripping channel 322 substantially aligned with the second manual support orifice. The second side includes a third gripping channel 403 substantially aligned with the first manual support orifice and a fourth gripping 424 channel substantially aligned with the second manual support orifice. Each gripping channel includes additional finger 15 indentations 323.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a fence-support apparatus for receiving respective tubular legs of adjacent fence panels. The present invention also relates to a method of positioning an apparatus for supporting a first fence panel and an adjacent second fence panel. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to provide fence-support apparatus for fence panels that have tubular legs. Often, fences of this type are constructed as a temporary measure during a sporting event or while construction is taking place. A known apparatus is often referred to as a “shoe” or a “boot” and includes at least two holes for receiving the legs of adjacent fence panels. Traditionally, apparatus of this type may be cast in concrete but more recently recycled thermosetting plastics have been used to provide a more robust product. However, a problem arises in that the apparatus has been primarily designed to achieve its desired function without much attention being directed to the ergonomic requirements involved in moving and positioning the apparatus. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fence-support apparatus for receiving respective tubular legs of adjacent fence panels, comprising a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end, wherein: said top includes: a first manual support orifice; a second manual support orifice; first finger indentations around said first manual support orifice; and second finger indentations around said second manual support orifice; said first side includes: a first gripping channel substantially aligned with said first manual support orifice; and a second gripping channel substantially aligned with said second manual support orifice; said second side includes: a third gripping channel substantially aligned with said first manual support orifice; and a fourth gripping channel substantially aligned with said second manual support orifice; and each said gripping channel includes additional finger indentations. In an embodiment, the top further includes a central pair of holes for receiving said tubular legs; a second pair of leg-receiving holes longitudinally displaced from said central holes in a first direction; and a third pair of legreceiving holes longitudinally displaced from said central holes in a second direction, wherein said second direction is opposite to said first direction. The first manual support orifice may be between the central pair of leg-receiving holes and the second pair of leg-receiving holes; and the second manual support orifice may be between said central pair of leg-receiving holes and said third pair of leg-receiving holes. In an embodiment, the first end includes a first slot for receiving a first visibility-enhancing element and the second end includes a second slot for receiving a second visibility-enhancing element. Preferably, a bottom edge of the first end and a bottom edge of the second end do not include a gripping channel, such that the bottom edges of the ends are substantially in line with bottom edges of said sides. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of positioning an apparatus for supporting a first fence panel and an adjacent second fence panel, comprising the steps of: inserting a first hand into a first manual support orifice; inserting a second hand into a second manual support orifice, wherein the holding of the apparatus is facilitated by the provision of first finger indentations in a top surface of the apparatus around the first handling orifice and second finger indentations around the second handling orifice; and lifting, locating and depositing the apparatus at a required location, wherein: a first side of the apparatus includes a first gripping channel substantially aligned with said first manual support orifice and a second gripping channel substantially aligned with said second manual support orifice; a second side includes a third gripping channel substantially aligned with said first manual support orifice and a fourth gripping channel substantially aligned with said second manual support orifice; and each said gripping channel includes additional finger indentations. Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed embodiments show the best mode known to the inventor and provide support for the invention as claimed. However, they are only exemplary and should not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims. Their purpose is to provide a teaching to those skilled in the art. Components and processes distinguished by ordinal phrases such as “first” and “second” do not necessarily define an order or ranking of any sort. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a known fence-support apparatus; Figure 2 shows the manual positioning of the apparatus shown in Figure Figure 3 shows a fence-support apparatus embodying an aspect of the present invention; Figure 4 shows the second side of the apparatus identified in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows the first end of the apparatus identified in Figure 3: Figure 6 shows a visibility-enhancing element; Figure 7 shows the positioning of the apparatus identified in Figure 3; Figure 8 shows further manual positioning of the apparatus identified in Figure 3; Figure 9 shows the insertion of a first tubular leg; and Figure 10 shows the insertion of a second tubular leg. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 A known fence-support apparatus is shown in Figure 1 that is configured to receive tubular legs of adjacent fence panels. The apparatus has a top 101 a bottom 102, a first side 103, a second side 104, a first end 105 and a second end 106. The first end 105 includes a gripping channel 107, with a similar gripping channel being provided at the second end 106. These gripping channels facilitate the positioning of the apparatus for supporting fence panels. In use, tubular legs of fence panels are received within holes, such as a first central hole 111 that forms a pair of holes with the second central hole 112. The first end 105 includes a first slot 121 for receiving a first visibilityenhancing element, with a second slot being provided at the second end 106 for receiving a similar second visibility-enhancing element. However, the inclusion of the gripping channels, including the first gripping channel 107, reduces the available surface area provided at the ends for the reception of the visibility-enhancing elements. Figure 2 Manual positioning of the known apparatus identified in Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2. A first hand is inserted in the first gripping channel 107, as indicated by arrow 201 and a second hand is inserted in the second gripping channel, as indicated by arrow 202. It is then possible to pick up the apparatus and locate it into an appropriate position to facilitate the insertion offence legs. However, as can be appreciated from Figure 2, the significant displacement of an operative’s arms, as indicated by arrow 211, places unnecessary stress upon the arms of the operative, which in turn may limit the total number of movements that may occur during a working shift. Figure 3 A fence-support apparatus embodying an aspect of the present invention is shown in Figure 3. The apparatus has a top 301, a bottom 302, a first side 303, a second side 304, a first end 305 and a second end 306. Defined in the top 301, there is a first manual support orifice 311, along with a second manual support orifice 312. First finger indentations 313 are provided around the first manual support orifice 311 and similar second finger indentations 314 are provided around the second manual support orifice 312. These allow the apparatus to be supported, as described with reference to Figure 6, with the top 301 forward facing. In addition, to facilitate the gripping of the apparatus in alternative positions, a first gripping channel 321 is included in the first side 303. This first gripping channel 321 is substantially aligned with the first manual support orifice 311. In addition, the first side also includes a second gripping channel 322 that is substantially aligned with the second manual support orifice 312. Similar gripping channels are provided on the second side 304, as described with reference to Figure 4. Furthermore, each of the gripping channels includes additional finger indentations 323. The top 301 of the apparatus also includes a central pair of holes comprising a first central hole 331 and a second central hole 332 that are provided for receiving tubular legs of adjacent fence panels. In addition, a second pair of leg-receiving holes are longitudinally displaced from the central holes (331, 332) in a first direction, consisting of a third leg-receiving hole 323 and a fourth leg-receiving hole 324. In addition, there is provided a third pair of leg-receiving holes longitudinally displaced from the central holes (331, 332) in the opposite direction, consisting of a fifth leg-receiving hole 325 and a sixth leg-receiving hole 326. In this embodiment, the first manual support orifice 311 is positioned between the central pair of leg-receiving holes (331, 332) and the second pair of leg-receiving holes (323, 324). The second manual support orifice 312 is positioned between the central pair of leg-receiving holes (331, 332) and the third pair of leg receiving holes (325, 326). Figure 4 The second side 304 of the apparatus is shown in Figure 4. This includes a third gripping channel 403 substantially aligned with the first manual support orifice 311 and a fourth gripping channel 404 substantially aligned with the second manual support orifice 312. These gripping channels (403, 404) also include additional finger indentations 323. Figure 5 The first end 305 is shown in Figure 5. The first end 305 includes a first slot 501 for receiving a first visibility-enhancing element. Similarly, the second end 306 includes a similar second slot for receiving a second visibilityenhancing element. In this embodiment, a bottom edge 502 of the first end 305, along with the bottom edge of the second end, do not include a gripping channel (of the type described with reference to Figure 1) such that the bottom edges, including edge 502, are substantially in line with the bottom edges of the sides. This configuration provides a larger surface area for presenting a visibility enhancing element, thereby enhancing overall visibility. Furthermore, the absence of a gripping channel at the ends discourages an operative from holding the apparatus in the manner described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 6 A first visibility-enhancing element 601 is shown in Figure 6. The visibility-enhancing element is received within the first slot 501 in the first end 305. In this embodiment, the top surface 301 includes a protrusion 602 that is received within a cut-out 603 in the visibility-enhancing element 601. In this embodiment, the visibility-enhancing element 601 also includes securing teeth 604 that are received into and are secured by securing cavities 605 within the slot 501. In an embodiment, each removable visibility-enhancing element, such as the first visibility-enhancing element 601, extends over more than forty percent (40%) of the surface area of its respective end and preferably covers more than fifty per-cent (50%) of a respective end. In an embodiment, the visibility enhancing elements, including the first visibility enhancing element 601, are fluorescent. In an embodiment, the main body of the apparatus is moulded from a recycled thermo-plastic material. Figure 7 As shown in Figure 7, the apparatus described with reference to Figure 1 to Figure 6 facilitates a method of positioning the apparatus for supporting a first fence panel and an adjacent second fence panel. To implement this method, an operative inserts a first hand into the first manual support orifice 311 and inserts their second hand into the second manual support orifice 312. Holding and supporting the apparatus is facilitated by the provision of the first finger indentations 313 and the second finger indentations in the top surface 301 of the apparatus. It is then possible to lift, locate and deposit the apparatus at a required location. It should be noted that the displacement of the arms, indicated by arrow 701 in Figure 7, is significantly less than the displacement shown in Figure 2 and indicated by arrow 211. This places less stress on the arms of the operative, thereby facilitating more instances of the apparatus being located during an operating interval. Other configurations are possible with similar effect, allowing, for example, the apparatus to be transported with the bottom surface facing forward. These options are facilitated by the provision of the first gripping channel that is substantially aligned with the first manual support orifice and a second gripping channel that is substantially aligned with the second manual support orifice. In addition, the second side includes the third gripping channel substantially aligned with the first manual support orifice and the fourth gripping channel substantially aligned with the second manual support orifice. Each of these gripping channels includes additional finger indentations. Figure 8 The manual positioning of the apparatus, for supporting a first fence panel and an adjacent second fence panel, is shown in Figure 8. Although many orientations are possible and any pair of the available holes may be deployed, a preferred configuration involves using the central holes 331 and 332. Furthermore, a preferred orientation involves locating the apparatus such that its main axis 801 is perpendicular to the direction of the erected fence panels. Figure 9 As shown in Figure 9, a tubular leg 901 extending from a first fence panel 911 is shown being located in a leg-receiving hole; in this example, the second hole 332. Figure 10 A tubular leg 1001 of a second fence panel 1012 is then located within the first hole 331 of the central pair, as illustrated in Figure 10. As is known in 5 the art, it is then possible to connect the second fence panel 1012 to the first fence panel 911 by an appropriate securing member. Thereafter, additional fence panels may be added to create the required configuration by making use of additional fences and fence-supports.

Claims

1. A fence-support apparatus for receiving respective tubular legs of adjacent fence panels, comprising a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end, wherein:said top includes:a first manual support orifice;a second manual support orifice;first finger indentations around said first manual support orifice; and second finger indentations around said second manual support orifice;said first side includes:a first gripping channel substantially aligned with said first manual support orifice; anda second gripping channel substantially aligned with said second manual support orifice;said second side includes:a third gripping channel substantially aligned with said first manual support orifice; anda fourth gripping channel substantially aligned with said second manual support orifice; andeach said gripping channel includes additional finger indentations.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top further includes:a central pair of holes for receiving said tubular legs;a second pair of leg-receiving holes longitudinally displaced from said central holes in a first direction; anda third pair of leg-receiving holes longitudinally displaced from said central holes in a second direction, wherein said second direction is opposite to said first direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:the first manual support orifice is between said central pair of leg-receiving holes and said second pair of leg-receiving holes; andthe second manual support orifice is between said central pair of leg-receiving holes and said third pair of leg-receiving holes.

4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein:said first end includes a first slot for receiving a first visibility-enhancing element; andsaid second end includes a second slot for receiving a second visibilityenhancing element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a bottom edge of said first end and a bottom edge of said second end do not include a gripping channel, such that said bottom edges of the ends are substantially in line with bottom edges of said sides.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each said removable elements extend over more than fifty percent (50%) of the surface area of a respective end.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 4 to 6, wherein said removable elements are fluorescent.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, moulded from a recycled thermo-plastic material.

9. A method of positioning an apparatus for supporting a first fence panel and an adjacent second fence panel, comprising the steps of:inserting a first hand into a first manual support orifice;inserting a second hand into a second manual support orifice, wherein the holding of the apparatus is facilitated by the provision of first fingerindentations in a top surface of the apparatus around the first handling orifice and second finger indentations around the second handling orifice; andlifting, locating and depositing the apparatus at a required location, wherein:a first side of the apparatus includes a first gripping channel substantially aligned with said first manual support orifice and a second gripping channel substantially aligned with said second manual support orifice;a second side includes a third gripping channel substantially aligned with said first manual support orifice and a fourth gripping channel substantially aligned with said second manual support orifice; andeach said gripping channel includes additional finger indentations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said top further includes a central pair of holes for receiving said tubular legs; a second pair of leg-receptive holes longitudinally displaced from said central holes in a first direction; and a third pair of leg-receptive holes longitudinally displaced from said central holes in a second direction, wherein said second direction is opposite to said first direction, and further comprising the step of:locating a tubular leg of a first fence panel in a selected one of said holes.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising the step of locating a tubular leg of a second fence panel in the available hole adjacent to said previously selected hole for the first fence panel.

12. The method of any of claims 9 to 11, wherein:the first manual support orifice is between said central pair of holes and said second pair of holes; andthe second manual support orifice is between said central pair of holes and said third pair of holes.

13. The method of any of claims 9 to 12, comprising the steps of: receiving a first visibility-enhancing element within a first slot in a first end of the apparatus; andreceiving a second visibility-enhancing element within a second slot in 5 a second end of said apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a bottom edge of said first end and a bottom edge of said second end do not include a gripping channel, such that said bottom edges of the ends are substantially in line with bottom edges 1 o of sides of the apparatus.

15. The method of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein each said removable element extends over more than fifty percent (50%) of the surface area of a respective end.1516. The method of any of claims 13 to 15, wherein said removable elements are fluorescent.

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