Structure for providing a physical or visual barrier

Abstract

A structure (1) for providing a physical or visual barrier comprises at least one post (2) mounted to a supporting surface and to which is secured at least one slat (8) by at least one wedge (10). The post (2) has a beam 31 (16) extending upwards from a footing. The beam (16) comprises at least one longitudinally extending plate which at least partially encloses a hollow (18). The beam has at least one plate that extends between opposite left and right sides (33, 34). The beam has at least one plate that extends between opposite front and rear sides (31, 32). The beam (16) is cut through by at least one slot (28) extending rearwards from the front side (31) part of the way towards the rear side (32). The slot (28) is configured to receive a portion of a slat (8) when inserted into the slot (28) in an insertion direction from the front side (31) of the beam (16). The slat (8) then extends laterally away from at least one of the sides (33, 34). Each slot (28) has a width that provides a sufficient clearance gap (29) with the slat (8) whereby a tip (40) of the wedge (10) may be driven into the gap (29) from one side of the beam (16) to secure the slat (8) to the beam (16).

1 . A structure for providing a physical or visual barrier, comprising:
 at least one post for mounting to a supporting surface, a lower end of said post comprising a footing for securing the post to the supporting surface and the post further comprising an elongate beam, the beam extending in a longitudinal direction upwardly from the footing on which said beam is supported;   at least one wedge;   at least one slat, the or each slat being affixed to said beam and extending in a lateral direction, the lateral being transverse to the longitudinal direction;   wherein   said beam comprises at least one plate, the or each plate extending in the longitudinal direction and having opposite first and second faces, at least one of said faces defining a hollow that extends longitudinally along the beam;   at least one plate has an aperture therein extending between said opposite first and second faces of said plate, said aperture presenting an opening on a front side of the beam, and said aperture providing a slot that extends from the front side of the beam part way towards an opposite rear side of the beam to present a slot configured to receive through the opening and into said hollow a portion of said slat when said slat is inserted into the slot in an insertion direction from the front side of the beam;   said aperture is open towards opposite right and left sides of the beam whereby said inserted slat extends away from the slot in opposite first and second lateral directions, said lateral directions being substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction; and   said slot has a width in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction that provides a sufficient clearance gap with said inserted slat whereby a tip of said wedge may, in use, be driven into the clearance gap in one of said lateral directions to secure said slat to the or each plate whereby said slat is affixed to said beam.   
     
     
         2 . The structure according to  claim 1 , in which said beam has a substantially square or rectangular envelope in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         3 . The structure according to  claim 2 , in which the beam is an I-beam, the I-beam having a first plate, a second plate and a third plate, the first and second plates are, respectively, opposite first and second flanges of the I-beam and the third plate is a web of the I-beam that extends between said flanges, wherein there are two hollows, said hollows extending longitudinally along the beam on opposite sides of the web and between said flanges. 
     
     
         4 . The structure according to  claim 3 , in which: the first face of the first plate provides the front side of the beam and the first face of the second plate provides the rear side of the beam; and the first plate the third plate each have said aperture therein, a first one of said apertures in the first plate extending fully across the first plate between the opposite right and left sides of the beam to provide said opening and a second one of said apertures in the third plate extending from the first aperture towards the second plate to provide said slot. 
     
     
         5 . The structure according to  claim 3 , in which:
 each of the first and second plates has a pair of opposite side edges, said side edges extending between the first and second faces of the respective plate;   a first one of said side edges of the first and second plates provides the front side of the beam, and a second one of said side edges of the first and second plates provides the rear side of the beam; and   the first plate and the second plate each have said aperture therein, a first one of said apertures in the first plate extending to the first side edge of the first plate and a second one of said apertures in the second plate extending to the first side edge of the second plate and said first and second apertures being aligned with each other in the lateral direction between the opposite right and left sides of the beam to provide said opening, and each of said apertures extending from the respective side edge towards the third plate to provide said slot.   
     
     
         6 . The structure according to  claim 2 , in which the beam is a U-beam, the U-beam having a first plate, a second plate and a third plate, the first and second plates are, respectively, opposite first and second flanges of the U-beam and the third plate is a web of the U-beam that extends between said flanges along one longitudinally extending edge thereof, wherein there is one hollow, said hollow extending longitudinally along the beam on one side of the web and between said flanges. 
     
     
         7 . The structure according to  claim 6 , in which:
 each of the first and second plates has one side edge, each of said side edges extending between the first and second faces of the respective plate;   the side edges of the first and second plates provide the front side of the beam, and a first face of the third plate provides the rear side of the beam; and   the first plate the second plate each have said aperture therein, a first one of said apertures in the first plate extending to the side edge of the first plate and a second one of said apertures in the second plate extending to the side edge of the second plate and said first and second apertures being aligned with each other in the lateral direction between the opposite right and left sides of the beam to provide said opening, and each of said apertures extending from the respective side edge towards the third plate to provide said slot.   
     
     
         8 . The structure according to  claim 2 , in which:
 the beam is a box-beam, the box-beam having a first plate, a second plate, a third plate and a fourth plate;   the first and fourth plates are opposite one another with a first face of the first and fourth plates providing, respectively the front and rear sides of the beam;   the second and third plates are opposite one another with a first face of the second and third plates providing, respectively the opposite right and left sides of the beam;   the second faces of each of said plates extends longitudinally along the beam to provide one hollow inside the box-beam.   
     
     
         9 . The structure according to  claim 8 , in which the first plate, the second plate and the third plate each have said aperture therein, a first one of said apertures in the first plate extending fully across the first plate between the opposite right and left sides of the beam to provide said opening and a second one and a third one of said apertures in, respectively, the second and third plates extending from the first aperture towards the fourth plate to provide said slot. 
     
     
         10 . The structure according to  claim 1 , in which the beam is a tube, the tube having a single substantially cylindrical plate; the first face of said plate provides the front, rear, right and left sides of the beam, and the second face of said plate extends longitudinally along the beam to provide one hollow inside the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The structure according to  claim 10 , in which said plate has said aperture therein, the aperture extending across said plate between the opposite right and left sides of the beam to provide said opening and said slot. 
     
     
         12 . The structure according to  claim 1 , in which there are at least two wedges, and a first one of said wedges is driven into said clearance gap from the left side of the beam and a second one of said wedges is driven into said clearance gap from the right side of the beam. 
     
     
         13 . The structure according to  claim 1 , in which said slot extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, whereby said secured slat has opposite faces oriented substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         14 . The structure according to  claim 1 , in which said slot is tilted downwardly towards the opening on the front side of the beam, whereby a front edge of said secured slat is sloped downwardly relative to a rear edge of said secured slat when the beam is oriented substantially vertically. 
     
     
         15 . The structure according to  claim 1 , in which the slot does not fully intersect said hollow, whereby a rear edge of the secured slat is separated from said at least one face defining said hollow. 
     
     
         16 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the slot has a slat receiving portion that extends in the insertion direction from the front side of the beam towards the rear side of the beam, said slat receiving portion has an extent in the insertion direction less than a width of said slat when fully received in the slot, whereby a free edge of said slat extends forwards from the front side of said beam. 
     
     
         17 . The structure according to  claim 1 , in which the slot has an upper side and a lower side when the beam is oriented with the longitudinal direction being substantially vertical, and said wedge is seated in said clearance gap between a lower side of the slat and the lower side of said slot. 
     
     
         18 . The structure according to in  claim 17 , in which the upper side of the slot is provided with at least one tooth oriented towards the lower side of the slot, said tooth being engaged with the slat when said wedge is driven into the clearance gap. 
     
     
         19 . The structure according to  claim 18 , in which the lower side of the slot is provided with at least one recess, said recess being sized to receive and guide said wedge as said wedge is driven into said clearance gap. 
     
     
         20 . The structure according to  claim 1 , in which said wedge has a taper leading to the tip of said wedge, the taper being provided by opposite first and second sides of said wedge, the first side of said wedge having a substantially straight edge that is engaged with the slat when said wedge is driven into said clearance gap. 
     
     
         21 . The structure according to  claim 20 , in which said straight edge has a ridge extending along its length, the ridge being engaged with the slat when said wedge is driven into said clearance gap. 
     
     
         22 . The structure according to  claim 20 , in which the second side of said wedge has an edge with a series of concave scallops, one side of the slot being seated within one scallop when said wedge is driven into said clearance gap. 
     
     
         23 . The structure according to  claim 20 , in which said wedge has opposite third and fourth sides, the third and fourth sides extending between the opposite first and second sides of said wedge, and said wedge further comprises a base portion at a thick end of the taper, the base portion being provided with a bore therethrough between the third and fourth sides of the wedge, the bore providing a gripping feature to facilitate withdrawal of the tip of the wedge from said clearance gap. 
     
     
         24 . A barrier installation comprising a structure, the structure comprising at least one post, a lower end of said post comprising a footing and an elongate beam, the beam extending in a longitudinal direction upwardly from the footing on which said beam is supported;
 at least one wedge;   at least one slat, the or each slat being affixed to said beam and extending in a lateral direction, the lateral being transverse to the longitudinal direction;   wherein   said beam comprises at least one plate, the or each plate extending in the longitudinal direction and having opposite first and second faces, at least one of said faces defining a hollow that extends longitudinally along the beam;   at least one plate has an aperture therein extending between said opposite first and second faces of said plate, said aperture presenting an opening on a front side of the beam, and said aperture providing a slot that extends from the front side of the beam part way towards an opposite rear side of the beam to present a slot configured to receive through the opening and into said hollow a portion of said slat when said slat is inserted into the slot in an insertion direction from the front side of the beam;   said aperture is open towards opposite right and left sides of the beam whereby said inserted slat extends away from the slot in opposite first and second lateral directions, said lateral directions being substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction; and   said slot has a width in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction that provides a sufficient clearance gap with said inserted slat whereby a tip of said wedge may, in use, be driven into the clearance gap in one of said lateral directions to secure said slat to the or each plate whereby said slat is affixed to said beam, and wherein the barrier installation further comprises a supporting surface, the structure being mounted to the supporting surface by the footing, said slat extending away from at least one of the right and left sides of the beam in the lateral direction to provide said physical or visual barrier.   
     
     
         25 . A method of assembling a structure for providing a physical or visual barrier, the structure comprising at least one post, a lower end of said post comprising a footing and an elongate beam, the beam extending in a longitudinal direction upwardly from the footing on which said beam is supported;
 at least one wedge;   at least one slat, the or each slat being affixed to said beam and extending in a lateral direction, the lateral being transverse to the longitudinal direction;   wherein   said beam comprises at least one plate, the or each plate extending in the longitudinal direction and having opposite first and second faces, at least one of said faces defining a hollow that extends longitudinally along the beam;   at least one plate has an aperture therein extending between said opposite first and second faces of said plate, said aperture presenting an opening on a front side of the beam, and said aperture providing a slot that extends from the front side of the beam part way towards an opposite rear side of the beam to present a slot configured to receive through the opening and into said hollow a portion of said slat when said slat is inserted into the slot in an insertion direction from the front side of the beam;   said aperture is open towards opposite right and left sides of the beam whereby said inserted slat extends away from the slot in opposite first and second lateral directions, said lateral directions being substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction; and   said slot has a width in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction that provides a sufficient clearance gap with said inserted slat whereby a tip of said wedge may, in use, be driven into the clearance gap in one of said lateral directions to secure said slat to the or each plate whereby said slat is affixed to said beam, wherein the method comprises inserting part of said slat into said slot in the insertion direction, inserting the tip of at least one wedge into the clearance gap between said inserted slat and one side of the slot, and driving the wedge into the clearance gap in one of said lateral directions such that the wedge presses the slat into engagement with one side of the slot, the slat being releasable from said slot by removal of the wedge from the clearance gap.