AU2013101069A4 - A stackable fence post - Google Patents

Abstract

A stackable fence post having a substantially H-shaped cross section wherein a plurality of posts can be stacked together by fitting a narrow splayed section of one post in a wide splayed section of an adjacent post. A fence erected from the posts. - 9- £2 CN4 C?) r CA, (NJ (NJ -~ 7' 1 7 A, 7- / A I / C) (N r

Description

A STACKABLE FENCE POST FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the erection of fences and associated equipment in particular but not 5 exclusively to a fence post that can be used with a fencing machine towed behind a vehicle adapted to fence vast areas of pastoral holdings typical of the Australian outback and rural landscape. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 Erecting fences to protect large pastoral land holdings against vermin such as kangaroos and wild dogs or their evolutionary cousins such as the Australian Dingo is known. Fencing is a labour intensive and time consuming activity and requires considerable manpower and resources where long distances in the Australian bush or outback are to be covered. In the usual case, this involves a fencing team with specialised equipment inclusive of motorised post-hole 15 diggers, utility vehicles or pickup trucks to transport the fencing team, supplies and food for long periods spent in the bush. To solve this resource and labour intensive problem, there have been developed, innovative vehicle towed trailer based fencing machines which are adapted to erect fence posts in rapid succession over long distances. In most cases, fence posts are supplied for such machines in bundles of stacked posts. There is often a problem of the individual posts 20 wedging or becoming stuck together after being stored or transported in bundle form in a compressed and confined state. This can result in failure of releasing and dispensing individual posts to an automatic post feeding magazine of a fencing machine resulting in downtime and/or damage to the machine. Fencing machines also often thread fence wire through wire - 1 holes in a bundle of fence posts in a single operation. This requires the posts to be stacked closely and their holes aligned accurately. It is of extreme importance that the design of the post facilitate the accurate alignment of the wire holes of posts when bundled in a stack. Furthermore, non-barbed wire, low tension electric fences are beginning to find favour with 5 graziers of large pastoral holdings to constrain livestock as well as keep out feral animals such as the wild dogs and kangaroos. Aluminium fence posts are also being promoted over their steel and wooden counterparts as a consequence of their light weight and weather resistance. In the case of an electric fence application, an insulating grommet has to be used with the electric wire holes of the aluminium posts. Due to the possibility of grass fires, the grommets must also be of 10 a fire resistant material such as ceramic or glass. This requires a fence post design which allows for space between the blades or webs of adjacent posts when stacked avoiding damaging or displacing the grommets. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel and innovative stackable fence post in particular, but not exclusively for use with vehicle towed trailer based fencing machines which 15 alleviates or ameliorates the problems of the prior art. STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect therefore the invention resides in a stackable fence post including in combination: an elongate planar blade or web portion; 20 flanges on opposite longitudinal edges of the web; the opposed flanges angled with respect to the web to define a post of a substantially H-shaped cross section with a pair of narrow splayed feet on one side, and -2a pair of wide splayed feet on the other side of the web, such that a plurality of posts can be stacked together by fitting the narrow splayed feet of one post between the wide splayed feet of an adjacent post and maintaining a space between the blades or webs of the posts. 5 Preferably, the opposed flanges have a longitudinal projecting outer ridge comprising a stop or rest for the wide splayed feet of stacked adjacent posts to prevent the posts from wedging and sticking together and to maintain a uniform space between the posts. 10 Preferably, the fence posts are aluminium extrusions with wire holes spaced along their lengths. Preferably, the fence posts have insulated grommets lining the wire holes. Preferably, the wire holes are identically positioned on each post wherein holes of stacked posts 15 are also accurately aligned as a consequence of the H-shaped cross section wherein fencing wire can be threaded in a single operation through a plurality of posts when stacked in a bundle. Suitably, the grommets lining the wire holes are of a fire resistant material. 20 Preferably, the grommets are ceramic or glass. Suitably, the fence posts have a tapered or sharpened end to facilitate driving the posts into the ground. -3- In another aspect the invention resides in a fence erected using a plurality of fence posts as hereinbefore described. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order for the invention to be better understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein; Figure 1 shows an elevation view of a preferred fence post of the invention. Figure 2 shows cross section of the post of Figure 1. 10 Figure 3 shows posts in stacked configuration according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a cross section of the stacked posts of Figure 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figure 1 and Figure 2 there is shown an elevation view and cross section of a 15 preferred post 10 of the invention. In this embodiment fence post 10 includes an elongate planar blade or web 12. The fence posts are aluminium extrusions with wire holes 14, 16, 18 spaced along their lengths. Flanges 20, 22 on opposite longitudinal edges of the web 12 are angled with respect to the web to define a substantially H-shaped cross section as shown in Figure 2. The flanges produce a 20 pair of narrow splayed feet 20a, 22a on one side of the web or blade, and a pair of wide splayed feet 20b, 22b on the other side of the web, such that a plurality of posts 10, 24, 26 can be stacked together by fitting the narrow splayed feet 20a, 22a of one post 10 between the wide -4splayed feet 24a, 24b of an adjacent post 24 and maintaining a space between the webs 12 and 28 or blades of the posts 10 and 24 as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4. Figures 3 and 4 also show the opposed flanges have a longitudinal projecting outer ridge 30, 32 5 comprising a stop or rest for the wide splayed feet 24a, 24b of stacked adjacent posts to prevent the posts 10,24 from wedging and sticking together and to maintain a uniform space between the posts. Although not shown in this view, the fence posts have wire holes spaced along their lengths 10 with insulated grommets lining the wire holes. As previously discussed, suitably, the grommets lining the wire holes are of a fire resistant material such as ceramic or glass. The fence posts also preferably have a tapered or sharpened end to facilitate driving the posts into the ground. As previously discussed, the design of the H-shaped cross section of the posts promotes accurate alignment of the wire holes wherein wire can be threaded in a single operation through a 15 plurality of posts stacked in a bundle. VARIATIONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be 20 apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. -5- In the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the terms 5 "comprising" and "containing" such as "comprise", "comprises", "contain" and "contains". - 6-

Claims (10)

1. A stackable fence post including in combination: an elongate planar blade or web portion; flanges on opposite longitudinal edges of the web; 5 the opposed flanges angled with respect to the web to define a post of a substantially H-shaped cross section with a pair of narrow splayed feet on one side, and a pair of wide splayed feet on the other side of the web, such that a plurality of posts can be stacked together by fitting the narrow splayed feet of one post 10 between the wide splayed feet of an adjacent post and maintaining a space between the webs of the posts.

2. The fence post according to Claim 1 wherein the opposed flanges have a longitudinal projecting outer ridge comprising a stop or rest for the wide splayed feet of an adjacent post. 15

3. The fence post according to Claim 1 wherein the post is an aluminium extrusion.

4. The fence post according to Claim 1 wherein the post has wire holes spaced along its length.

5. The fence post according to Claim 1 wherein the wire holes are identically positioned on 20 each post wherein holes of stacked posts are accurately aligned due to the substantially H shaped cross section such that fencing wire can be threaded in a single operation through a plurality of posts when stacked in a bundle. -7-

6. The fence post according to Claim 1 wherein there are insulated grommets lining the wire holes.

7. The fence post according to Claim 6 wherein the grommets are of a fire resistant material. 5

8. The fence post according to Claim 6 wherein the grommets are ceramic or glass.

9. The fence post according to any one of the above claims having a tapered or sharpened end to facilitate driving the post into the ground. 10

10. A fence erected using a plurality of fence posts according to any one of the above claims. 15 - 8-