AU2004210575B2

AU2004210575B2 - Improved fence post driver

Info

Publication number: AU2004210575B2
Application number: AU2004210575A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Edward Goddard
Original assignee: Infrabuild Wire Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Infrabuild Wire Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-09-29
Filing date: 2004-09-07
Publication date: 2009-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2024-09-07
Also published as: AU2004210575A1

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: ONESTEEL WIRE PTY LIMITED A.C.N. 590 000 108 Invention Title: IMPROVED FENCE POST DRIVER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2 Improved Fence post Driver Technical Field An improved fence post driver is disclosed. 5 Background Art Fence post drivers are known that include a tubular portion having an open lower end for receiving the fence post therein in use. Handles are welded to the tubular portion to extend laterally therefrom. In use, a fence post (such as a so-called "star" post) is 10 inserted into the open lower end, the handle(s) are grasped, and the driver is thrusted or driven downwardly by hand so that the tubular portion sharply engages against an upper end of the fence post to drive it into the ground. Summary of the Invention 15 The present invention provides a fence post driver comprising: - a tubular portion having an in use open lower end for receiving the fence post therein; - two handles, located on generally opposing sides of the tubular portion, each handle connected to the tubular portion at one or more connection points to project 20 laterally therefrom in use; and - a web or gusset located at one or more of the connection points to connect and extend between the tubular portion and the handle; characterised in that opposing connection points of the opposing handles are offset across the tubular portion from a directly opposing configuration. 25 It has been found that the durability and life of a fence post driver can be considerably improved and extended by providing at least one web or gusset at a connection point between the tubular portion and handle, and early driver failure can be prevented. The offset of the opposing connection points of the opposing handles across the 30 tubular portion (ie. from a directly opposing configuration) enables the handles to be angled towards a user in use for an easier and more optimally ergonomic handling of the fence post driver. The term "tubular portion" is to be interpreted broadly and can include circular, square and rectangular cross-sectional tubing, closed and partially open hollow section of 35 various cross-sectional shapes etc. Whilst the web or gusset need not extend right to the connection point, advantageously in one embodiment the or each web or gusset extends from the connection point, part way along each of the tubular portion and handle.

-3 Typically the tubular portion has a closed upper end whereby the fencepost engages an inside surface of this end in use. Typically the tubular portion, handles and web or gusset are each formed from a weldable metal and typically the or each web or gusset is welded to both the tubular 5 portion and handle, typically right to the connection pint (which is also usually defined by a weld between the tubular portion and handle). In a typical embodiment the fence post driver each handle is attached at respective ends thereof to the tubular portion at two respective connection points. Usually these connection points are spaced apart along the tubular portion and, in this embodiment, 10 each connection point is typically provided with a respective web or gusset to enhance the overall strength of the fence post driver. In one embodiment, in use, the two handles can each have a respective upper connection point located adjacent to the closed upper end of the tubular portion and a lower connection point inset along and spaced from the lower end of the tubular portion. 15 Typically the handles are formed from a tube of smaller diameter or cross-section than the tubular portion, the handles typically being bent to define a C or U shape such that the free ends or each handle can be connected to the tubular portion at respective spaced apart connection points. Whilst an optimal material for forming the tubular portion, handles are webs or 20 gussets is a weldable metal such as steel, conceivably in some lightweight fencing applications the fence post driver can be moulded or cast as a single unit either from metal or plastic as appropriate. Brief Description of the Drawing 25 Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Figure 1 which shows a perspective view of a fence post driver in accordance with the present invention. 30 Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments Referring to Figure 1, a fence post driver is shown in the form of a star post driver 10. The post driver 10 comprises a tubular portion in the form of circular cylinder body 12, typically of steel, having in use a closed upper end 14 that is closed by plate 16 welded therein, and an open lower end 18. 35 Two handles 20, 22 project laterally from the body 12, with each handle being welded to connection regions 24 at opposite ends thereof. Typically each handle is formed from a steel tube having a diameter less than that of body 12. The steel tube for 4 the body and handles may be a stainless type of steel alloy or may be galvanised or simply painted. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the handles 20,22 are mounted to the body 12 in an offset configuration (ie. such that they can generally laterally extend towards a 5 user in use). In this regard, the connection regions 24 adjacent to upper end 14 and the connection regions 24 adjacent to the lower end 18 are offset across the body 12 from a directly opposing configuration. This makes for easier and more ergonomically friendly handling of the driver 10 in use. In accordance with the present invention a web or gusset in the form of 10 reinforcing web plate 26 is located adjacent to at least one of the connection regions, and typically, though not exclusively, all four connection regions as shown have a respective web plate 26 located thereat. In this regard, the web plate 26 is typically welded to each of the handle and body 12 along a respective adjacent length thereof. The web plate need not extend right to the connection region, but optimally for 15 maximum strength does so extend. It has surprisingly been discovered that the provision of one or more web plates 26 substantially enhances the strength of join between handles 20,22 and the body 12, making it particularly resistant to failure from jarring forces transmitted from the body to the handles in use of the device. The inventors have also found that the web 20 plate 26 reinforces the bond between the handles and body and tends to prevent cracking at and around the connection regions 24. Whilst in the embodiment depicted in Figure 1 the web plates are typically formed from the same or a similar metal to the body 12 and handles 20,22, to enable it to be welded adjacent to the connection region 24, the post driver 10 depicted can be 25 moulded or cast as an integral unit (ie. with the webs 26 being integrally formed during such moulding or casting). In addition, whilst a structural metal is usually the optimal material for forming the post driver, in certain applications (eg. with plastic-type fence or barricade posts), the post driver can be moulded from eg. a heavy-duty plastic material. 30 Whilst a circular cylindrical body 12 is depicted, the body can be formed from a number of different cross-sectional tube shapes, or can be formed from fully closed or partially open hollow section, provided that a star post or fence post can be received and accommodated therein in use. Similarly, the handles need not be formed from tubular or hollow section material and can be formed from solid bar or rod as appropriate. 35 Web 26 need not be provided in the form of plate and can be formed from a billet or slab, or from a gusset formed eg. from a short section of tube etc., providing it is located so as to strengthen the joint between the body and handles.

5 The fence post driver can be used with a variety of fence posts including steel posts, star posts, solid posts, timber posts, stakes etc. Whilst the fence post driver has been described with reference to a number of specific embodiments, it should be appreciated that the fence post driver can be 5 embodied in many other forms. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to 10 preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A fence post driver comprising: - a tubular portion having an in use open lower end for receiving the fence 5 post therein; - two handles, located on generally opposing sides of the tubular portion, each handle connected to the tubular portion at one or more connection points to project laterally therefrom in use; and - a web or gusset located at one or more of the connection points to connect 10 and extend between the tubular portion and the handle; characterised in that opposing connection points of the opposing handles are offset across the tubular portion from a directly opposing configuration.

2. A fence post driver as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opposing handles generally project towards a user in use. 15

3. A fence post driver as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the or each web or gusset extends from the connection point part way along each of the tubular portion and handle.

4. A fence post driver as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular portion has a closed upper end, whereby the fence post engages an 20 inside surface of this end in use.

5. A fence post driver as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular portion, handles and web or gusset are each formed from a weldable metal, and the or each web or gusset is welded to both the tubular portion and handle. 25

6. A fence post driver as claimed in claim 5 wherein the or each web or gusset is welded right to the connection point, with the connection point itself being defined by a weld between the tubular portion and handle.

7. A fence post driver as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each handle is attached at respective ends thereof to the tubular portion at two 30 respective connection points spaced apart along the tubular portion, wherein each connection point is provided with a respective web or gusset.

8. A fence post driver as claimed in claim 7 wherein, in use, the two handles each have a respective upper connection point located adjacent to the closed upper end of the tubular portion and a lower connection point inset along and spaced 35 from the lower end of the tubular portion.

9. A fence post driver as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular portion has a cross-section that is one of circular, square or rectangular. -7

10. A fence post driver as claimed in claim 9 wherein the tubular portion is formed of closed or partially open hollow section.

11. A fence post driver as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the handles are formed from a tube of smaller diameter or cross-section than the s tubular portion.

12. A fence post driver as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the handles are bent to define a C or U shape such that the free ends of the or each handle are connected to the tubular portion at respective spaced apart connection points. 10

13. A fence post driver as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tubular portion, handles and web(s) or gusset(s) are formed from steel.

14. A fence post driver substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. 15