Fencing construction

Abstract

A plastics and metal fencing system includes a cylindrical metal post for engaging into the ground with a square tubular cladding post formed of an extruded plastics material engaged onto the metal post. A fence panel is formed by a top rail, a bottom rail and a plurality of pickets where each of the rails includes a cladding channel of extruded plastics material and a metal reinforcement channel. Each of the rails has the metal channel attached by a metal bracket to the metal post by a screw fastener which passes through the cladding post to engage the metal post such that the rail is rigidly connected to the metal post through the plastics cladding.

1 . A fencing system for assembly into a fence comprising: 
 a metal post for engaging into the ground;    a tubular cladding post formed of an extruded plastics material arranged to be engaged onto the metal post;    a fence panel having a top rail, a bottom rail and a plurality of pickets extending therebetween;    a top bracket for attachment of the top rail to the post and a bottom bracket for attachment of the bottom rail to the post;    wherein the top and bottom brackets each comprise a base member fastened to the metal post by a screw fastener which passes through the cladding post to engage the metal post and a mounting member fastened to the rail such that the rail is rigidly connected to the metal post.    
   
   
       2 . The fencing system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the top and bottom brackets is defined by a U-bracket in which the web forms the base member and the legs form the mounting member with the rail therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . The fencing system according to  claim 1  wherein the rail is connected to the mounting member by a bolt.  
   
   
       4 . The fencing system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the rails includes a metal reinforcement member extending therealong and attached to the bracket and a cladding member of extruded plastics material.  
   
   
       5 . The fencing system according to  claim 4  wherein the metal reinforcement member comprises a metal channel with the pickets extending into a base of the channel.  
   
   
       6 . The fencing system according to  claim 4  wherein the cladding member comprises an extruded channel containing the metal channel.  
   
   
       7 . The fencing system according to  claim 5  wherein the metal channel comprises a tube with one face thereof formed to define a slot of a width to receive the pickets.  
   
   
       8 . The fencing system according to  claim 5  wherein the extruded channel includes a rib along an inside face thereof to engage and locate an edge of the metal channel.  
   
   
       9 . The fencing system according to  claim 5  wherein the extruded channel includes an edge lip turned toward the picket at a position spaced along the picket from the edge of the metal channel.  
   
   
       10 . The fencing system according to  claim 1  wherein the metal post is cylindrical and the cladding post is square with the inside transverse dimension closely matching an outside diameter of the metal post.  
   
   
       11 . A fencing system for assembly into a fence comprising: 
 a metal post for engaging into the ground;    a tubular cladding post formed of an extruded plastics material arranged to be engaged onto the metal post;    a fence panel having a top rail, a bottom rail and a plurality of pickets extending therebetween;    a top bracket for attachment of the top rail to the post and a bottom bracket for attachment of the bottom rail to the post;    wherein each of the rails includes a metal reinforcement member extending therealong and attached to the bracket and a cladding member of extruded plastics material.    
   
   
       12 . The fencing system according to  claim 11  wherein the metal reinforcement member comprises a metal channel with the pickets extending into a base of the channel.  
   
   
       13 . The fencing system according to  claim 11  wherein the cladding member comprises an extruded channel containing the metal channel.  
   
   
       14 . The fencing system according to  claim 12  wherein the metal channel comprises a tube with one face thereof formed to define a slot of a width to receive the pickets.  
   
   
       15 . The fencing system according to  claim 13  wherein the extruded channel includes a rib along an inside face thereof to engage and locate an edge of the metal channel.  
   
   
       16 . The fencing system according to  claim 13  wherein the extruded channel includes an edge lip turned toward the picket at a position spaced along the picket from the edge of the metal channel.  
   
   
       17 . The fencing system according to  claim 11  wherein the metal post is cylindrical and the cladding post is square with the inside transverse dimension closely matching an outside diameter of the metal post.  
   
   
       18 . A fencing system for assembly into a fence comprising: 
 a metal post for engaging into the ground;    a tubular cladding post formed of an extruded plastics material arranged to be engaged onto the metal post;    a fence panel having a top rail, a bottom rail and a plurality of pickets extending therebetween;    a top bracket for attachment of the top rail to the post and a bottom bracket for attachment of the bottom rail to the post;    wherein each of the rails includes a cladding member of extruded plastics material and a metal reinforcement member extending therealong and rigidly attached to the bracket; and    wherein the top and bottom brackets each comprise a base member fastened to the metal post by a screw fastener which passes through the cladding post to engage the metal post and a mounting member rigidly fastened to the metal reinforcement member of the rail such that the rail is rigidly connected to the metal post through the plastics cladding.    
   
   
       19 . The fencing system according to  claim 18  wherein the metal reinforcement member comprises a metal channel with the pickets extending into a base of the channel and the cladding member comprises an extruded channel containing the metal channel.  
   
   
       20 . The fencing system according to  claim 18  wherein the metal post is cylindrical and the cladding post is square with the inside transverse dimension closely matching an outside diameter of the metal post.