AU2007200002B2

AU2007200002B2 - Wire fencing

Info

Publication number: AU2007200002B2
Application number: AU2007200002A
Authority: AU
Inventors: D. L. Ferguson; W. J. A. Ferguson; K. L. Forge
Original assignee: LOCKPOST HOLDINGS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: LOCKPOST HOLDINGS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-10-24
Filing date: 2007-01-02
Publication date: 2008-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-02
Also published as: AU2007200002A1

Description

I 01-10-'08 13:32 FROM-Davies Collison Cave +61392542770 T-658 P007/019 F-671 Australian Patents Act 1990 Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title "Wire fencing" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- P/00/Oll Q:\OPER\SEW\200\SeptlnmbrU0279154 Iode e sn fmther rscpose.da i lo100 COMS ID No: ARCS-208164 Received by IP Australia: Time 13:36 Date 2008-10-01 Q 0KRSEWDv& A Sp-MISINGl wwe r1-Sp- dmbo(-m~l yzoo6 -1- WIRE FENCING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to wire fencing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Assembling or repairing wire fences is a tedious and time-consuming process. Barbed wire or wire mesh is typically attached to fence posts using tie-wires that are manually twisted around the wire on either side of the fence posts, while smooth wire is generally threaded through holes provided in the fence posts.

A need therefore exists for improved methods of attaching wire fencing to fence posts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a self-locking wire fencing system including a vertically extending post having an inverted L-shaped slot to receive a horizontally extending wire and a bracket having an L-shaped slot, the bracket being alternately horizontally and vertically downwardly slidable over the wire and along the post so that the inverted L-shaped slot and the L-shaped slot are alternately vertically arranged in overlapping relationship around the wire to thereby horizontally and vertically lock the wire in position, wherein the post and the bracket are horizontally self-locked to one another by the wire.

The post can have a plurality of vertically spaced inverted L-shaped slots to receive a corresponding plurality of horizontally extending wires, and the bracket can have a corresponding plurality of vertically spaced L-shaped slots.

V U RWA5EVWDrfl Spec" 12837W WC fa g pr doe-24;WI200 -2- The slotted portions of the post and the bracket can have complementary cross-section shapes. For example, the post can have a T-shaped or Y-shaped cross-section, and the bracket can have a square U-shaped cross-section.

The post and the bracket can be formed from metal or plastics.

The wire can be selected from barbed wire, wire mesh, smooth wire, and combinations thereof.

The present invention also provides a system for transversely locking an elongate element between two members one of which has an inverted L-shaped slot to transversely receive the element and the other has an L-shaped slot, wherein the members can be relatively arranged to overlap one another so that the inverted L-shaped slot and the L-shaped slot are alternately arranged to lockably surround the element which in turn locks the two members to one another.

The elongate element can be selected from a wire, a rod, and a rope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a fencing post and fencing wires of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a bracket of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a side view of the bracket in position on the fencing post and fencing wires; and Figure 4 is a cross-section through Figure 3.

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DESCRIPTION

The illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a T-sectioned metal post 2. Inverted L-shaped slots 4 are formed in the free edge of one flange 6 of the post 2. The inverted Lshaped slots 4 have generally horizontal portions 4a with openings to receive horizontally extending wires 8 of wire mesh, and generally downwardly extending vertical portions 4b to thereafter retain the wires 8.

A square U-sectioned bracket 10 has L-shaped slots 12 formed in the free edges of two flanges 14, 16. The L-shaped slots 12 have generally horizontal portions 12a with openings, and generally upwardly extending vertical portions 12b.

The flanges 14, 16 of the bracket 10 horizontally slide to overlap opposite sides of the flange 6 of the post 2 so that the wires 8 are received through the openings of the horizontal portions 12a of the L-shaped slots 12 of the bracket 10. The flanges 14, 16 of the bracket 10 then slide downwardly vertically along the flange 6 of the post 2 so that the inverted L-shaped slots 4 of the post 2 and the L-shaped slots 12 of the bracket 10 are alternately vertically arranged in overlapping relationship. In this position, the wires 8 are positively locked in position horizontally by the overlapping vertical portions 4a, 12a of the inverted L-shaped slots 4 of the post 2 and the L-shaped slots 12 of the bracket 10. In addition, the wires 8 are positively locked in position vertically by the overlapping horizontal portions 4b, 12b of the inverted L-shaped slots 4 of the post 2 and the L-shaped slots 12 of the bracket 10. Finally, the post 2 and the bracket 10 are positively, horizontally self-locked to one another by the wires 8. To prevent the post 2 and bracket 10 unlocking from one another due to relative vertical movement, the flanges 14, 16 of the bracket 10 and the flange 6 of the post 2 can be vertically locked to one another by a locking or keeper pin (not shown) removably inserted in aligned throughholes (not shown) formed in the flanges 6, 14, 16.

The post 2, the bracket 10 and the wires 8 can be easily unlocked by reversing the locking sequence.

0 rPE SpcuaI~ kIAI Wwe fc,,6rcmg doc.24IlV2W6 -4- The embodiment has been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention disclosed. For example, the post and bracket can be formed from metal or plastics. The post and bracket can be used as a wire fence dropper or stay, as well as a conventional wire fence post or standard. The post can have any conventional cross-section shape, for example, a Y-shape, an H-shape, an I-shape, a Cshape, a U-shape, a V-shape, a circular shape, a triangular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, etc. The bracket can have any conventional shape that is complementarily horizontally and vertically slidable over the slotted portion of the post.

The wires can be barbed wire, electrified wire, smooth wire, wire mesh, and combinations thereof.

Although the illustrated embodiment relates to wire fencing, it will be appreciated that the invention can be alternatively implemented as a generic system for transversely locking an elongate element between two members. The elongate element can be selected from a wire, a rod, a rope, and combinations thereof. One of the members can have an inverted Lshaped slot to transversely receive the element and the other can have an L-shaped slot.

The members can be relatively arranged to overlap one another so that the inverted Lshaped slot and the L-shaped slot are alternately arranged to lockably surround the element which in turn locks the two members to one another. The invention therefore also provides a generic system for transversely locking an elongate element between two members.

Such a system has diverse potential applications, for example, in locking rods to bracing members, locking ropes to frames, etc.

Claims

01-10-'028 13:33 FROM-Davies Collisan Cave *61392542770 T-658 P008/019 F-671 Th flRSEW2O~SSO!mbJUQflI4 a~i1dpagw Iat sp~domi~k;0 00 o 0 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THEP INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: o1. A self-locking wire fencing system including a vertically extending post having an inverted L-shaped slot to receive a horizontally extending wire and a bracket having an L- shaped slot, the bracket being alternately horizontally and vertically downwardly slidable o over the wire and along the post so that the inverted L-shapcd slot and the L-shaped slot o are alternately vertically arranged in overlapping -relationship around the wire to thereby horizontally and vertically lock ft wire in position, wherein the post and the bracket are o horizontally self-looked to one another by the wire.
2, A self-locking wire fencing system according to claim 1, wherein the post has a plurality of vertically spaced inverted L-shaped slots to receive a corresponding plurality of horizontally extending wires, and the bracket has a corresponding plurality of vertically spaced L-shaped slots.
3. A self-locking wire fencing system according to claim 1. or 2, wherein the slotted portions of the post and the bracket have complementary cross-section shapes.
4. A self-locking wire fencing system according to claim 3, wherein the post has a T- shaped or Y-shaped cross-section, and the bracket has a square U-shaped cross-section.
A self-locking wire fencing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the post and the bracket are formed f-rm metal or plastics.
6. A self-locking wire fencing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the wire is selected from barbed wire, wire mesh, smooth wire, and combinations thereof.
7. A kit of parts including at least one post according to any one of claims I to 5, and at least one bracket according to any one of claims 1 to
8. A kit of parts according to claim 7, including at least two brackets according to COMS ID No: ARCS-208164 Received by IP Australia: Time 13:36 Date 2008-10-01 01-10-'08 13:33 FROM-Davies Collison Cave +61392542770 T-658 P009/019 F-671 l" '1c0*6 \$plSmbU g6t iI 0 pa c l la s in o-V/ll Ofl&D 00 o-6- c, 0 claim 1 for each post according to claim 1. O 0
9. A kit of parts according to claim 7 or 8, further including wire according to claim 6. Ci 5
10. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Saccompanying drawings. 0 0 Cl COMS ID No: ARCS-208164 Received by IP Australia: Time 13:36 Date 2008-10-01