Fence panel assembly and components therefor

Abstract

An elongate slat for a fence panel module is described, the elongate slat including opposed long sides extending between opposed first and second ends, and one or more recesses or projections for coupling disposed along at lease one of the opposed long sides for coupling with other elongate slats. A fence panel assemble is also described which includes a plurality of elongate slats; a pair of posts, each post having at least one slat-receiving opening on one face; and a quick-release fastener disposed substantially within the post; wherein the plurality of elongate slats extend between the slat receiving openings on the posts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fence assembly comprising:
 at least one pair of partially hollow posts;   at least one pair of rails;   one or more fence panel modules, each module comprising a plurality of slats vertically joined together by a brace member;   each of the posts having a plurality of apertures extending therein, dimensioned to receive an end of each of the plurality of the slats, or an engaging portion of each end of the rails;   wherein each of the engaging portions of the rails is secured within a respective aperture of the post by a rail connector.   
     
     
         2 . A fence assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of slats includes opposed long sides extending between opposed first and second ends; and
 the brace member is formed by each slat further comprising one or more projections that are attached to the opposed long sides, or are integral formations along the long sides, and extend from the opposed long sides for fastening to, coupling with or spacing from, other elongate slats in the fence panel module. 
 
     
     
         3 . A fence assembly of  claim 2  wherein a projection on one panel module is configured to cooperate with another projection on another panel module by use of an intermediate element. 
     
     
         4 . A fence assembly of  claim 3  wherein the intermediate element is a spacer with apertures for receiving two projections, one at each end. 
     
     
         5 . A fence assembly of  claim 4  wherein the spacer includes a rebate or relief at one end to relieve one wall to allow a projection into the end via the rebate in the side wall. 
     
     
         6 . A fence assembly of  claim 4  wherein the spacer includes a central aperture. 
     
     
         7 . A fence assembly of  claim 2  wherein the projection is of non-circular section. 
     
     
         8 . A fence assembly of  claim 6  wherein the central aperture is of non-circular cross section to cooperate with the projection so that the spacer is inhibited from rotating about its central axis. 
     
     
         9 . A fence assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the slats has acoustic attenuation elements integral with or mounted thereto. 
     
     
         10 . A fence assembly of  claim 9  wherein the acoustic attenuation elements are one of more of formations include profiles on a face of the slat and cuts in one or more of the faces of the slats. 
     
     
         11 . A fence assembly of  claim 1  wherein each slat is a single-walled element. 
     
     
         12 . A fence assembly of  claim 1  wherein the slat is a rectangular or square hollow section. 
     
     
         13 . A fence assembly of  claim 2  wherein each of the one or more fence panel modules comprises at least two slats vertically arranged and each including a brace aperture positioned on the opposed long sides, and where the brace member is engaged therein. 
     
     
         14 . A fence assembly of  claim 1  wherein the rail connector comprises a rail engaging portion adapted to frictionally engage a hollow portion of the rail; and a post engaging portion dimensioned to be received by one of the plurality of apertures extending in the post. 
     
     
         15 . A fence assembly of  claim 15  wherein the post engaging portion further comprises an aperture dimensioned to receive a portion of a post connector therein. 
     
     
         16 . A fence assembly of  claim 15  wherein the post connector comprises a head shaped to fit within the hollow post and a shaft extending therefrom arranged to engage the aperture of the post engaging portion of the rail connector thereby securing the rail to the post. 
     
     
         17 . A fence assembly of  claim 16  wherein the post connector further comprises one or more projections extending from the head, arranged to guide the post connector within the hollow post and align the shaft with the aperture of the post engaging portion of the rail connector. 
     
     
         18 . A fence assembly of  claim 1  further including a quick-lock fastener configured to be disposed substantially within the hollow post and being configured to turn less than one full turn about an actuation axis so as to hold the plurality of slats in a fence panel module against the respective plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         19 . A fence post including:
 at least one slat-receiving opening on one face for receiving at least a portion of an elongate slat therein;   
       a quick-lock fastener configured to be disposed substantially within the post and configured to turn less than one full turn about an actuation axis so as to hold a plurality of slats in a fence panel module against a portion of the slat-receiving opening.