Arrangement and method for connecting fence sections

Abstract

A fence includes an upright post and one or more rails radiating from the post. An arrangement for connecting the post to the rail or rails includes a carrier that can be mounted on the post and one or more holders for the rail or rails. Each holder is attached to the carrier by a hinge that allows the respective holder to pivot or rotate relative to the carrier in two different planes. An accessory bracket for flexible rails and a gate hinge may also be connected to the carrier.

1 . An arrangement for connecting sections of a barrier to one another comprising:
 a first support to be held by a first component of the barrier;   a second support to hold a second component of the barrier; and   means for connecting said first support and said second support to one another such that said first support and said second support are relatively rotatable in two different planes.   
   
   
       2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said first support is provided with a passage for the first component of the barrier, said first support further being provided with a window in said passage, said connecting means including a joining member having a guiding section receivable in said passage with clearance so that said guiding section is movable back-and-forth within the window in said passage to thereby allow relative rotation of said first support and said second support in one of said planes. 
   
   
       3 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein said joining member includes a joining section designed to project through said window when said guiding section is in said passage, said joining section having a joining element for pivotally connecting said joining section to said second support such that said first support and said second support are relatively rotatable in the other of said planes. 
   
   
       4 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein said first support is provided with a curved first surface portion and said guiding section is provided with a second surface portion having substantially the same curvature as said first surface portion. 
   
   
       5 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said second support is provided with a passage for the second component of the barrier, said second support further being provided with a gap, and said connecting means including a joining member having a joining section receivable in said gap, said second support and said joining section being provided with respective joining elements for pivotally connecting said joining section to said second support such that said first support and said second support are relatively rotatable in one of said planes. 
   
   
       6 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein said second support comprises a pair of substantially parallel walls in said passage defining said gap. 
   
   
       7 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said second support has an end designed to face said first support, said end being convex. 
   
   
       8 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said connecting means comprises a joining member having a curved section receivable by said first support for rotation relative to said first support in one of said planes, said joining member further having another section that projects from said curved section and is receivable by said second support such that said second support is rotatable relative to said another section in the other of said planes. 
   
   
       9 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein said joining member is provided with a connecting element for fixing said joining member to a surface. 
   
   
       10 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a swivel carrier for a gate member, said carrier being rotatably engaged with the first component of the barrier under said first support; and   a collar attached to said first component of the barrier for slidably supporting the carrier;   wherein the carrier comprises a third support to hold said gate member,   and said first and third supports are substantially aligned.   
   
   
       11 . A barrier comprising:
 an elongated first component;   an elongated second component transverse to said first component; and   means for holding said second component on said first component so that said second component is carried by said first component, said holding means including a first support fixed to said first component, a second support fixed to said second component and means connecting said first support and said second support to one another such that said first support and said second support are relatively rotatable in two different planes.   
   
   
       12 . The barrier of  claim 11 , wherein said first support is provided with a passage that receives said first component, said first support further being provided with a window in said passage, said connecting means including a joining member having a guiding section that is received in said passage with clearance so that said guiding section is movable back-and-forth within the window in said passage to thereby allow relative rotation of said first support and said second support in one of said planes. 
   
   
       13 . The barrier of  claim 12 , wherein said joining member includes a joining section that projects through said window, said joining section being pivotally connected to said second support such that said first support and said second support are relatively rotatable in the other of said planes. 
   
   
       14 . The barrier of  claim 12 , wherein said first support is provided with a curved first surface portion and said guiding section is provided with a second surface portion having substantially the same curvature as said first surface portion, said second surface portion confronting said first surface portion. 
   
   
       15 . The barrier of  claim 11 , wherein said second support is provided with a passage that receives said second component, said second support further being provided with a gap, and said connecting means including a joining member having a joining section that extends into said gap, said joining section being pivotally connected to said second support such that said first support and said second support are relatively rotatable in one of said planes. 
   
   
       16 . The barrier of  claim 15 , wherein said second support comprises a pair of substantially parallel walls in said passage defining said gap. 
   
   
       17 . The barrier of  claim 11 , wherein said second support has an end that faces said first support, said end being convex. 
   
   
       18 . The barrier of  claim 11 , wherein said connecting means comprises a joining member having a curved section that is received by said first support for rotation relative to said first support in one of said planes, said joining member further having another section that projects from said curved section and is received by said second support such that said second support is rotatable relative to said another section in the other of said planes. 
   
   
       19 . The barrier of  claim 18 , wherein said joining member is provided with a connecting element for fixing said joining member to a surface. 
   
   
       20 . The barrier of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an elongated third component transverse to said first component; and   a bracket for holding said third component, said bracket comprising two substantially equal parts with open slots for receiving said third component, such that the third component is enclosed by said slots when the parts are mated to form the bracket.   
   
   
       21 . A method of connecting sections of a barrier to one another comprising the steps of:
 providing holding means having a first support and a second support;   fixing said first support to a first component of said barrier;   rotating said first support and said second support relative to one another in two different planes; and   fixing said second support to a second component of said barrier.