Fence clip having a first fastner

Abstract

Fence assembly 100 comprising a barrier element 102, a support 128, and a clip 136 comprising a first fastener 148 and being securable to the barrier element or support, and a second fastener 154 whic

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fence clip having a first fastener. Embodiments relate to a fence assembly comprising the clip. In particular, but not exclusively, the fence assembly is a security fence assembly. In particular, but not exclusively, the security fence assembly is a crash fence assembly. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Examples offences are palisade fences and mesh fences, among others. Security fences are widely used to protect an area, building or otherwise. Security fences provide a greater level of security than regular fences. Security fences are generally tall enough to prevent scaling of the security fence. Security fences may be formed from metals such as steel, which are impact resistant and cutting resistant. Some security fences are crash fences designed to withstand vehicle impacts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a fence assembly comprising: a barrier element; a support; and a clip comprising a first fastener, wherein the clip is securable to the barrier element or to the support; and a second fastener configured to engage with the first fastener to secure the barrier element to the support. An advantage is improved manufacturability of a fence assembly. Instead of welding the first fastener, such as a threaded nut, to a substrate, the first fastener can be clipped in place which is quicker and more convenient. Optionally, the fence assembly is a security fence assembly having an interior side and an exterior side, the clip being securable to the interior side of the security fence assembly. An advantage is that the clip is on the secure side of the fence. Optionally, the clip is securable to the barrier element. For example, the barrier element may comprise a fence pale and the clip may be securable to the interior side of the fence pale. Optionally, the fence assembly is a palisade fence assembly and the barrier element is a fence pale. Optionally, the fence pale comprises a front member, a rear member behind the front member, and an internal space between the front and rear members. Optionally, the clip is securable to the rear member of the fence pale. Optionally, when the clip is secured to the rear member of the fence pale, the first fastener of the clip is located in the internal space between the front and rear members of the fence pale. Alternatively, the fence assembly may be a different type of fence assembly, and the barrier element may comprise a panel or wire mesh. Optionally, the clip is a push-fit clip. Optionally, the push-fit clip is securable to the rear member of the fence pale. Optionally, the push-fit clip is insertable over an edge of the rear member of the fence pale to secure the push-fit clip to the rear member. Optionally, the push-fit clip is a spring clip. Optionally, the spring clip comprises a first leg and a second leg interconnected by a flexible hinge. Optionally, the spring clip is in the form of a spring plate, wherein the spring plate comprises the first leg, the second leg, and the flexible hinge. Optionally, the spring plate is folded to define the first leg, second leg, and flexible hinge. Optionally, the first fastener is in the form of a threaded socket. Optionally, the clip comprises a tubular sleeve comprising the threaded socket. The tubular sleeve advantageously allows for a long thread length. Optionally, if the clip is a spring clip, the tubular sleeve may be supported by the second leg of the spring clip. Optionally, the tubular sleeve extends transverse to the second leg. Optionally, the tubular sleeve extends mostly perpendicular or perpendicular to the second leg. Optionally, the second leg of the spring clip supports the first fastener, and the first leg of the spring clip comprises a first opening defining a through hole through which a threaded shank can extend. For example, this may allow a threaded shank of the second fastener to reach the first fastener. Optionally, in an example when the clip is secured to the rear member of the fence pale, the rear member may comprise a second opening between the first and second legs of the spring clip, and aligned with the first opening and first fastener. For example, the first and second openings may define a through hole through which the threaded shank can extend. Optionally, the clip is a self-locking clip. Optionally, the clip comprises a locking means to fix the clip in an engaged position. Optionally, the locking means comprises a snap-fit protrusion. Optionally, the snap-fit protrusion is configured to engage with the barrier element. Optionally, if the barrier element is a fence pale, the snap-fit protrusion may be configured to engage with the rear member of the fence pale. Optionally, the snap-fit protrusion may extend into an inner space between the first and second legs of the clip. Optionally, the rear member of the fence pale comprises a second opening as defined above, and the snap-fit protrusion may be configured to engage with the second opening of the rear member of the fence pale. Optionally, the clip is insertable over an edge of the barrier element or support so that the edge is between legs of the clip. Optionally, the rear member of the fence pale comprises the edge. Optionally, the edge is an upwards-facing edge, in-use. Optionally, the edge is a plate edge. Optionally, the clip comprises a splayed leading edge towards its tip, providing a lead-in surface for engaging the clip with the edge. Optionally, in examples where the barrier element comprises a fence pale, the front member of the fence pale may comprise a plate. Optionally, the front member is curved or flat in cross-section. Optionally, the rear member of the fence pale comprises a plate. Optionally, the rear member is flat in cross-section, at least where the clip is securable. In one embodiment, the fence pale comprises a plurality of the rear members secured to the front member, vertically spaced along the front member, wherein each rear member comprises a downwards-facing lower edge and an upwards- facing upper edge, and wherein the fence assembly comprises a plurality of the clips, secured to the upwards-facing upper edges of the rear members. Alternatively, or additionally, the rear member of the fence pale comprises a plurality of apertures, wherein the apertures are vertically spaced along the rear member, wherein at least one of the apertures is bounded by an upwards-facing lower edge and a downwards-facing upper edge, and wherein the fence assembly comprises a plurality of the clips, each secured to the upwards-facing lower edges of a respective one of the apertures along the rear member. Optionally, the first fastener is a threaded first fastener. Optionally, the second fastener is a threaded second fastener. Optionally, the threaded first fastener is a threaded socket. Optionally, the threaded second fastener is a threaded plug. Optionally, the first fastener or second fastener is an anti-tamper fastener. Optionally, the anti-tamper fastener is a torque limiting fastener. Optionally, the torque limiting fastener comprises a shear head. Optionally, the torque limiting fastener comprises an anti-tamper portion, and a breakable portion having a tool-receiving portion. Optionally, the tool-receiving portion of the torque limiting fastener comprises a tool plug or a tool socket. Optionally, the anti-tamper portion of the torque limiting fastener has a tool-resistant shape, resistant to being engaged by a fastener-loosening tool. Examples of fastener-loosening tools include spanners, screwdrivers, or socket wrenches. Optionally, the anti-tamper portion has a rounded outer surface to prevent a spanner or socket from being engaged with the perimeter. For example, the rounded outer surface of the anti-tamper portion of the shear head 5 may be frustroconical and / or dome-shaped. The term ‘cone bolt’ may be used to describe the anti-tamper portion. Optionally, the support to which the barrier element(s) is secured is a cross beam. Optionally, the cross beam extends horizontally or mostly horizontally, along a fence line. Optionally, the cross beam comprises an upright web, wherein the barrier element is configured to be secured to the upright web of the cross beam. Optionally, the upright web of the cross beam is configured to be layered with the rear member of the fence pale. Optionally, a portion of the clip is layered between the upright web of the cross beam and the barrier element, in use. Optionally, if the clip is a spring clip, the ‘portion’ of the clip refers to the first leg of the spring clip. Optionally, the upright web of the cross beam comprises an aperture to allow the connection between the second fastener and the first fastener, one of which extends through the aperture to reach the other. Optionally, the aperture comprises a through hole. Optionally, in use the shear head as defined above is seated against the upright web. Optionally, cross beam comprises a transverse flange connected to the upright web. Optionally, the transverse flange and upright web define an L-profile. An advantage is that the flange increases strength and also increases security because the shear heads as defined above are harder to reach. Optionally, if the clip and rear member comprise first and second openings as defined above, the aperture in the upright web of the cross beam may be aligned with the first and second openings, to allow the threaded shank to extend through the aperture and first and second openings. Optionally, the fence assembly comprises a plurality of the barrier elements and a plurality of the clips, wherein the plurality of barrier elements are mounted to the support via the plurality of clips. Optionally, the fence assembly comprises a plurality of the supports, wherein the supports are vertically spaced relative to each other, and wherein each barrier element is mounted to the plurality of supports by a respective one of the plurality of clips. Optionally, the fence assembly comprises ground engaging posts, and wherein the or each support is supported by the ground engaging posts. Optionally, the ground engaging posts are configured to be secured to foundations. Optionally, the ground engaging posts are configured to be embedded in cementitious foundations or are securable to fasteners which are embedded in cementitious foundations. An advantage is that the fence assembly is crash-resistant, due to this feature and other structural features described herein. Optionally, the support is in the form of a beam connectable to a pair of the ground engaging posts via a plug-socket system configured to support the beam. Optionally, the plug-socket system for connecting the beam to the ground engaging posts is configured to permit sloping of the beam relative to the pair of ground engaging posts, to follow sloping ground. Optionally, the plug-socket system is defined by a notch in a member of the beam, and a corresponding formation in the corresponding ground engaging post, engageable with the notch. Optionally, openings are provided in the pair of ground engaging posts, wherein the beam is structurally interconnected through the openings with beams of adjacent spans of the fence, such that a load path between the adjacent spans extends through the ground engaging posts to distribute an impact load received at one ground engaging post between a plurality of the ground engaging posts. Optionally, the fence assembly comprises a first energy absorbing member engageable against one of the pair of ground engaging posts if the beam moves from a rest position. Optionally, the crash fence assembly comprises a second energy absorbing member engageable against the other of the pair of ground engaging posts if the beam moves from a rest position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exterior side of a fence assembly; FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C illustrate an exploded view, a perspective view, and an end view of a first example fence assembly; FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C illustrate an exploded view, a perspective view, and an end view of a second example fence assembly; FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an example clip; FIG. 5 illustrates a detail view of a connection between a cross beam and a ground engaging post; and FIG. 6 illustrates another detail view of the connection between the cross beam and the ground engaging post. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1-6 illustrate examples of a fence assembly 100. The fence assembly 100 comprises a plurality of ground engaging posts 162, of which two are shown. The space between each pair of ground engaging posts 162 defines a span of the fence assembly 100. The fence assembly 100 may comprise a plurality of spans. The gap between the ground engaging posts 162 is covered by a plurality of barrier elements 102 defining a barrier 101, preventing unauthorised entry to a site. In the illustrated example, the barrier elements 102 are elongate pales 102A, spaced from each other at a generally constant (regular) spacings. In other examples, the barrier elements 102 may comprise a wire mesh panel, or the barrier 101 may comprise or consist of a sheet panel. Each ground engaging post 162 comprises a plate (flange) defining a foot 170, and a metal column 164 (e.g., steel) upstanding from the foot 170 and welded to the foot 170. The foot 170 is bolted to a foundation (not shown) of cementitious material, such as a concrete pad or pile. Alternatively, or additionally, the column 164 may be embedded in the foundation. The column 164 of each ground engaging post 162 is optionally eccentrically welded onto the foot 170, such that all of the fixing points are located on the site side (interior side) of the fence assembly 100. This makes at least some of the foot bolts hard to reach from the outside. Furthermore, a diagonal bracing member 114 is shown in FIG. 1, welded to an interior side (site side / rear side) of the column 164 and to the foot 170. If provided, the diagonal bracing member 114 strengthens the connection 9 between the column 164 and the foot 170, to minimise deformation or tearing in an impact. The fence assembly 100 further comprises horizontally-extending, vertically spaced supports 128 including a lower cross beam 128A, an intermediate-height cross beam 128B, and an upper cross beam 128C, each supported by the ground engaging posts 162. The number of cross beams 128 may vary. Each barrier element 102 of FIG. 1 is mounted to each of the cross beams 128A, 128B, 128C. Each cross beam 128 supports a plurality of the barrier elements 102. Although the ground engaging posts 162 are connected to the ground, each barrier element 102 is optionally suspended by the cross beams 128 slightly above ground level, with a minimal gap above ground level. In other words, the illustrated barrier elements 102 are suspended rather than being directly connected to the ground. Therefore, the cross beams 128 bear the weight loads of the barrier elements 102 and transfer the weight loads to the ground engaging posts 162. FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the manner of mounting a first type of barrier element 102A to the cross beams 128. FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a variant with different barrier elements 102B. FIGS. 2A-2C are described first. The illustrated barrier element 102A is a fence pale comprising a front member 104 and a plurality of rear members 112A, each in the form of a plate. The front member 104 of the fence pale 102A may be a front plate which is profiled as a ‘D-section’ profile, or a ‘W-section’ profile or ‘angle profile’. These are terms of the art defining the cross-section shape of the front member 104. Either way, the front member 104 has a generally convex shape. 10 One of the several rear members 112A is shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. Each rear member 112A may be a rear flat plate welded to the left and right rear edges 108, 110 of the front member 104. The illustrated rear member 112A has a short height and is tab-like. The rear members 112A are vertically spaced from each other and are each located at the elevation of a corresponding one of the cross beams 128. The cross beam 128 may comprise an L-section profile with a vertical lower web 130 connected to a right-angled horizontal upper flange 134, wherein a front edge of the flange 134 is connected to a top edge of the lower web 130. The specific profile may vary with implementation. For example, the cross beam 128 could comprise a web 130 but no flange 134, or could comprise additional webs and / or flanges, or could be circular in section. The web 130 of the cross beam 128 comprises a plurality of spaced apertures 132 along its span, each for a corresponding one of the barrier elements 102A. Each aperture 132 can comprise a through-hole such as a bolt hole. A first fastener 148 is provided in the form of a threaded socket. A second fastener 154 is provided in the form of a bolt comprising a threaded shank (plug). The first and second fasteners 148, 154 define a plug-and-socket connector. In other examples (not shown), the plug-socket connection is reversed such that the first fastener 148 may comprise the threaded shank and the second fastener 154 may comprise the threaded socket. The threaded socket 148 is secured inside the internal space 122 of the fence pale 102A, between the rear member 112A and front member 104 of the fence pale 102A. Since this small internal space 122 is difficult to access for an installer, the threaded socket 148 is part of a spring clip 136 which is clipped on to an upwards-facing upper edge 118A of one of the rear members 112A of the fence pale 102A. This aligns the threaded socket 148 with an opening 116 (through hole / bolt hole) in the rear member 112A. To make the connection, the spring clip 136 is pre-inserted over an edge 118A of the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A, so that the threaded socket 148 is aligned with the opening 116 in the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A. The fence pale 102A is then placed against the web 130 of the cross beam 128, so that the opening 116 in the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A is aligned with one of the apertures 132 in the web 130 of the cross beam 128. The bolt 154 is inserted through the aligned aperture 132 and opening 116 and fastened to the threaded socket by threaded engagement. This process is repeated for each cross beam 128, so that the fence pale 102A is attached to multiple cross beams 128 at different vertical heights. An example spring clip 136 is shown in detail in FIG. 4 (side view). The spring clip 136 comprises a metal spring plate bent into first leg 138, a second leg 144, and a flexible hinge 152 connecting the first and second legs 138, 144. The first leg 138, second leg 144, and flexible hinge 152 collectively define a U-shaped push-fit clip 136 that can be pushed over the upwards-facing upper edge 118A of the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A. Additionally, or alternatively, it may be possible to fit the spring clip 136 to the downwards-facing lower edge 120A (FIG. 2A) of the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A. An internally threaded tubular sleeve 146 is integrally formed with the second leg 144 of the spring clip 136, and extends generally perpendicular to the second leg 144. The tubular sleeve 146 comprises the threaded socket 148. When the spring clip 136 is fitted, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first leg 138 of the spring clip 136 is biased by the flexible hinge 152 against the rear surface of the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A. The second leg 144 of the spring clip 136 is inside the space 122 of the fence pale 102A and is biased by the flexible hinge 152 against the front surface of the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A. In this position, the threaded socket 148 is aligned with the opening 116 in the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A, so that the bolt 154 can reach the threaded socket 148. To prevent the first leg 138 of the spring clip 136 from obstructing the opening 116 in the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A, the first leg 138 comprises an opening 140 in the form of a through hole, which is aligned with the threaded tubular sleeve 146 to provide space for the bolt 154 to pass through the opening 140 of the first leg 138 to reach the threaded socket 148. In other embodiments, the first leg 138 could be sufficiently shorter than the second leg 144 so that an opening 140 through the first leg 138 is not required. FIG. 4 also shows that the spring clip 136 may comprise a snap-fit protrusion 142 to self-lock the spring clip 136 when the spring clip 136 is aligned with the corresponding opening 116 in the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A. The illustrated snap-fit protrusion 142 is in the form of a protruding lip shaped and sized to snap into a suitable ledge or undercut, such as the edge of the opening 116 in the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A. In other implementations, a different type of push-fit clip and / or self-locking clip may be provided, other than a spring clip 136. It may comprise any one or more of the features of the illustrated spring clip 136. FIG. 4 also shows that fitting of the spring clip 136 may be made easier by a splayed leading edge 150 of the second leg 144 (and / or first leg 138), providing a lead-in surface of the leg for engaging the clip 136 with the edge of the rear 13 member 112A of the fence pale 102A. Therefore, the bent / splayed leading edge 150 ensures that the edge of the rear member 112A will separate the legs as the spring clip 136 is pushed onto the edge, without the user first needing to manually separate the legs. When fitted, FIGS. 2A-2C and 4 show that the first leg 138 of the spring clip 136 is layered between the rear member 112A of the fence pale 102A and the web 130 of the cross beam 128, whereas the second leg 144 of the spring clip 136 is inside the interior space 122 of the fence pale 102A. FIGS. 2A-2C also show that the bolt 154 may comprise a shear head 156. A shear head 156 is a form of torque limiting fastener in which part of the head snaps off when an operating torque is reached. The remaining part of the head is tamper-resistant. The illustrated shear head 156 comprises an anti-tamper portion 158 and a breakable portion 160. The breakable portion 160 comprises a tool-receiving portion, in this case a hexagonal head. The anti-tamper portion 158 comprises a dome, disc, frustoconical shape, or any other appropriate portion lacking any features for connection of a tool. The breakable portion 160 comprises a thinner neck connecting it to the anti-tamper portion 158, wherein the strength of the neck defines the torque at which the breakable portion 160 snaps off the anti-tamper portion 158. In other implementations, the plug and socket functions are reversed so that the spring clip 136 comprises a threaded shank (plug), and therefore the fastener which is secured to the web 130 of the cross beam 128 may be a threaded nut. FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate a variant design of a fence pale 102B. In this example, the fence pale 102B comprises a closed section shape along a substantial part of its length. Optionally, as shown, the fence pale 102B may be a box section comprising the front member 104, rear member 112B, and side members 124 connecting the front and rear members 104, 112B into a box section shape. In order to provide an exposed edge for the spring clip 136 to connect to, the rear member 112B comprises a plurality of vertically spaced apertures 117 in the form of through holes. Each vertically spaced aperture 117 is vertically aligned with the elevation of the corresponding cross beam 128. The perimeter of the aperture 117 comprises an upwards-facing lower edge 118B and a downwards-facing upper edge 120B, as well as left and right edges. The spring clip 136 can be secured to the upwards-facing lower edge 118B as shown, or perhaps the downwards-facing upper edge 120B in other implementations. To allow for easy fitment of the spring clip 136 to the relevant edge, the height of the aperture 117 may be at least as tall as a height of the spring clip 136. This allows the spring clip 136 to be placed at the entrance of the aperture 117 and pushed down (or up) onto the relevant edge 118B of the rear member 112B of the fence pale 102B. Turning now to FIGS. 5-6, various impact-resisting features are shown. The fence assembly 100 may be impact resistant against a vehicle crashing into the fence assembly 100, for example. The cross beams 128 are structurally interconnected / interlinked with other similar cross beams 128 of other spans of the fence assembly 100, to define a continuous cross beam 128 of multi-span length. Therefore, when one span or ground engaging post 162 is impacted by a vehicle or similar object, the loads 15 are distributed over many ground engaging posts 162, not just the impacted post 162 and the posts 162 directly adjacent to it. For example, a cross beam 128 may extend through a pair of aligned openings 168 in the respective ground engaging post 162, from one side of the ground engaging post 162 to the other side. In FIG. 5, the ground engaging post 162 is set to transparent, revealing the portion of the cross beam 128 which is inside the ground engaging post 162. As shown, the cross beam 128 may comprise a tie beam 129 securing the flanges 134 of adjacent spans together, wherein the tie beam 129 extends through both openings 168 in the ground engaging post 162. FIG. 5 visually demonstrates that a cross beam 128 may optionally be engaged with a ground engaging post 162 to prevent or limit horizontal sliding of the cross beam 128 relative to the ground engaging post 162. A portion of the cross beam 128 comprises a notch 133 (socket) which engages with a corresponding formation 166 (plug) in the ground engaging post 162. Specifically, in FIG. 5, the web 130 of the cross beam 128 has a notch 133 proximal to its end. The end of the web 130 fits into one of the openings 168 of the ground engaging post 162, and is dropped down so that the notch 133 engages with the bottom edge (formation 166) of the opening 168 of the ground engaging post 162. Since the ground engaging post 162 is hollow and formed for example from plates, the opening 168 has a bottom edge 166 which is thinner than the length of the notch 133, so that the notch 133 can be seated on the edge 166 of the opening 168. Meanwhile, the tie beam 129 (or flange 134) of the cross beam 128 extends all the way through the pair of openings 168 of the ground engaging post 162, to the other side where it is spliced with another cross beam 128 of an adjacent span of the fence assembly 100. The illustrated notch 133 has some horizontal free play relative to the bottom edge of the opening 168 of the ground engaging post 162. This allows the cross beam 128 to be tilted up or down relative to the ground engaging post 162, to follow sloped ground, while still being engaged to the ground engaging post 162 via the notch 133. FIGS. 5-6 illustrate a further feature for controlling the rate of energy transfer from the cross beams 128 to the ground engaging posts 162 during an impact. These are energy absorbing members 135. A first energy absorbing member 135 is secured to the cross beam 128 proximally to the first ground engaging post 162, and engages / impacts against the first ground engaging post 162 if the first cross beam 128 moves from a rest position, e.g., horizontally. A second energy absorbing member (not shown) is secured to the cross beam 128 proximally to the second ground engaging post 162, and engages / impacts against the second ground engaging post 162 if the cross beam 128 moves from a rest position, e.g., horizontally. The combination of the two energy absorbing members 135 resists motion of a cross beam 128 in either left or right directions. The illustrated energy absorbing members 135 are in the form of parabolic blocks of rubber, the tips facing the sides of the ground engaging posts 162. They are configured as shock absorbers. Each energy absorbing member 135 is mounted to a section of a cross beam 128. Although not shown, each ground engaging post 162 has two energy absorbing members 135 facing it, one to each side. The pair of energy absorbing members 135 are positioned with their tips facing towards each other, the ground engaging post 162 being positioned therebetween. The illustrated energy absorbing member 135 is mounted to a limb of an L-shaped bracket secured to the flange 134 of the cross beam 128. 17 If the interconnected cross beams 128 move from a rest position through the ground engaging post 162 in either direction, one of the pair of opposing energy absorbing members 135 will strike the ground engaging post 162. The use of a resilient material such as rubber will dissipate energy. The use of a reducing / tapering cross-section shape, such as a parabolic shape, reduces peak stress by extending the duration over which the force is applied. It would be appreciated that different materials similar to rubber, and / or different crosssection shapes, can be used without affecting the function of the energy absorbing members 135. For example a nylon donut could be mounted to a continuous wire rope acting as the cross-panel member. In a further implementation, a spring may be used as the energy absorbing member 135. Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described. Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable 18 feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A fence assembly comprising:a barrier element;a support; anda clip comprising a first fastener, wherein the clip is securable to the barrier element or to the support; anda second fastener configured to engage with the first fastener to secure the barrier element to the support.

2. The fence assembly of claim 1, wherein the fence assembly is a palisade fence assembly and the barrier element is a fence pale, wherein the fence pale comprises a front member, a rear member behind the front member, and an internal space between the front and rear members, wherein the clip is securable to the rear member of the fence pale.

3. The fence assembly of claim 2, wherein when the clip is secured to the rear member of the fence pale, the first fastener of the clip is located in the internal space between the front and rear members of the fence pale.

4. The fence assembly of claim 2 or 3, wherein the clip is a push-fit clip, wherein the push-fit clip is insertable over an edge of the rear member of the fence pale to secure the push-fit clip to the rear member.

5. The fence assembly of claim 4, wherein the push-fit clip is a spring clip, wherein the spring clip comprises a first leg and a second leg interconnected by a flexible hinge.

6. The fence assembly of claim 5, wherein the first leg of the spring clip comprises a first opening defining a through hole through which a threaded shank can extend.

7. The fence assembly of claim 6, wherein the clip is securable to the rear member of the fence pale, wherein the rear member comprises a second opening between the first and second legs of the spring clip, and aligned with the first opening and first fastener.

8. The fence assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first fastener is in the form of a threaded socket, and wherein the second fastener is a threaded plug.

9. The fence assembly of claim 8, wherein the clip comprises a tubular sleeve comprising the threaded socket.

10. The fence assembly of claim 9 as dependent through claim 5, wherein the tubular sleeve is supported by the second leg of the spring clip, wherein the tubular sleeve extends transverse to the second leg.

11. The fence assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the clip is a selflocking clip.

12. The fence assembly of claim 11, wherein the clip comprises a locking means to fix the clip in an engaged position, optionally wherein the locking means comprises a snap-fit protrusion.

13. The fence assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the fence pale comprises a plurality of the rear members secured to the front member, vertically spaced along the front member, wherein each rear member comprises a downwards-facing lower edge and an upwards-facing upper edge, and wherein the fence assembly comprises a plurality of the clips, secured to the upwards-facing upper edges of the rear members.

14. The fence assembly of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the rear member of the fence pale comprises a plurality of apertures, wherein the apertures are vertically spaced along the rear member, wherein at least one of the apertures is bounded by an upwards-facing lower edge and a downwards-facing upper edge, and wherein the fence assembly comprises a plurality of the clips, each secured to the upwards-facing lower edges of respective ones of the apertures along the rear member.

15. The fence assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the first fastener or second fastener is an anti-tamper fastener, optionally wherein the anti-tamper fastener is a torque limiting fastener.

16. The fence assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the support to which the barrier element is secured is a cross beam.

17. The fence assembly of claim 16, wherein the cross beam comprises an upright web, wherein the barrier element is configured to be secured to the upright web of the cross beam, and wherein the upright web of the cross beam is configured to be layered with the rear member of the fence pale.

18. The fence assembly of claim 17, wherein a portion of the clip is layered between the upright web of the cross beam and the barrier element, in use.

19. The fence assembly of claim 17 or 18, wherein the cross beam comprises a transverse flange connected to the upright web, wherein the transverse flange and upright web define an L-profile.

20. The fence assembly any preceding claim, wherein the upright web of the cross beam comprises an aperture to allow the connection between the second fastener and the first fastener, one of which extends through the aperture to reach the other.

21. The fence assembly of any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of the supports, wherein the supports are vertically spaced relative to each other, and wherein each barrier element is mounted to the plurality of supports by a respective one of the plurality of clips.

22. The fence assembly of any preceding claim, comprising ground engaging posts, and wherein the or each support is supported by the ground engaging posts.

23. The fence assembly of claim 22, wherein the support is in the form of a beam connectable to a pair of the ground engaging posts via a plug-socket system configured to support the beam.

24. The fence assembly of claim 23, wherein the plug-socket system is defined by a notch in a member of the beam, and a corresponding formation in the corresponding ground engaging post, engageable with the notch.

25. The fence assembly of claim 23 or 24, comprising a first energy absorbing member engageable against one of the pair of ground engaging posts if the beam moves from a rest position.T +44(0)30 0300 2000A

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