AU2016101563A4 - Fence Post with Cleats - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a strainer post comprising an elongate, e.g. tubular body. The body comprises a ground engaging end for location in the ground, and a projection that projects from the body proximate to the ground engaging end for receipt in the 5 ground in use. A recess is defined between the projection and the body. 8064660_6 (GHMatters) P103864.AU co C CCo - - co co (9 CDoC co (N co (o o 0D - (N (4

Description

2016101563 05 Sep 2016

Strainer Post

Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a strainer post that may be used with a strainer assembly. 5 Such an assembly provides for fence wire tensioning and transmits strain from a fence to the ground.

Background Art

Strainer posts form part of strainer assemblies, which provide for fence wire tensioning and transfer tension in wires in a fence to the ground. The strainer 10 assemblies are often positioned at the end of a fence to perform these functions. A strainer assembly may, for example, be in the form of a strainer post and a diagonal support that extends between the strainer post and the ground. An alternative arrangement is a H-box arrangement that comprises two spaced strainer posts, a horizontal bar extending between the posts, and a wire extending 15 diagonally between the posts.

Because a strainer post receives and transmits load from the fence it is important for the strainer post to be securely installed in the ground.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general 2 0 knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary

Disclosed is a strainer post that may be used with a strainer assembly. The post comprises an elongate body. The body may be tubular. The body comprises a ground engaging end for location in the ground. The body further comprises a 2 5 projection that projects from the body proximate the ground engaging end for 1

6064660.6 (GHMatters) P103664.AU 2016101563 05 Sep 2016 receipt in the ground in use. A recess is defined between the projection and the body.

The projection may help to retain the post in the ground when received therein.

For example, the projection may increase the effective cross-sectional area of the 5 post so as to increase its retention in the ground. The recess may also fill with soil, cement, etc. which may increase retention of the post in the ground.

In one embodiment, the recess may take the form of a passage extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body. The passage may taper inwardly towards the ground engaging end of the post. In this way, the passage may act as 10 a funnel for material (e g. soil, cement, etc) located therein. If an attempt is made to remove the post from the ground, material in the passage may compress in the passage and behave as if it is a further solid portion of the post (i.e. increasing the cross-sectional area of the post in the ground).

In one embodiment an outer surface of the projection may be tapered inwardly 15 toward the ground engaging end of the post. In other words, the outer surface may be sloped so as to facilitate receipt of the projection (and therefore the end of the post) in the ground, such as when the post is being driven into the ground.

In one embodiment the recess may be open at opposite ends. A cross-sectional area of an in-use upper end of the opposite ends may be greater than a cross-2 0 sectional area of an in-use lower end of the opposite ends. Once the post is retained in the ground (i.e. once it has been driven into the ground), and when thereafter e.g. tamping the ground at the post, material that surrounds the post (e.g. soil, cement, etc) can be compressed into the recess, as it is forced into the larger in-use upper end. 2 5 Also disclosed is a projection for use with the body as described above. The projection comprises first and second ends for mounting the projection to the body of the strainer post. The projection is formed between its first and second ends so as to define a recess between the projection and the post when mounted thereto. 2

8064660_6 (GHMatters) P103864.AU 2016101563 05 Sep 2016

The projection also comprises an outer surface of the projection that is optionally tapered inwardly so as to facilitate receipt of the projection in the ground in use.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to 5 the accompanying drawings in which

Figures 1A and IB are perspective views of a strainer post comprising two projections.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to accompanying 10 drawings which form a part of the detailed description. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, depicted in the drawings and defined in the claims, are not intended to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilised and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented. It will be readily understood that the aspects of 15 the present disclosure, as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are contemplated in this disclosure.

Referring to Figures 1A and IB, a portion of the strainer post 100 is shown 2 0 comprising two projections 102. The strainer post 100 may comprise just one or more than two projections (e.g. three or four projections, etc which may be evenly and discretely spaced around the post).

The strainer post 100 comprises an elongate round tubular body 104 (i.e. the post is a pipe strainer post). The post 100 has a ground engaging end 106 for location 25 in the ground in use, and a portion (not shown) that extends above-ground in use, such as to be incorporated as part of a strainer assembly. 3

8064660_6 (GHMatters) P103864.AU 2016101563 05 Sep 2016

The two projections 102 are secured, by way of welding 108, to the body 104 of the post 100 and proximate to the ground engaging end 106 of the post. The projections 102 are secured at opposite sides of the body 104 of the post 100 and project outwardly so as to be generally symmetrical about a central longitudinal 5 axis of the body 104 of the post 100. As will be described below, the projections 102 provide improved resistance to removal of the post 100 from the ground.

They may also resist twisting or rotation of the post 100 when installed in the ground because of their projecting nature. The projections 102 can also help to guide the insertion of the post 100 into the ground, such as by a manual or 10 automated fence post driver, again helping to resist twisting or rotation during such insertion.

For brevity, only one projection 102 will be described, but it should be understood that each of the projections 102 are typically identical. The projection 102 is formed of a metal plate in the shape of an isosceles trapezium that is bent along its 15 axis of symmetry. In other words, the projection 102 generally comprises an upper edge 110, a smaller lower edge 112 that is parallel to the upper edge 110, and two angled side edges 114 extending between the upper 110 and lower 112 edges. The side edges 114 are each welded 108 to the body 104 of the post 100 to secure the projection 102 thereto. 2 0 The bent nature of the projection 102, and its securement to the body 104 of the post 102 at its side edges 114, are such that a recess or passage 116 is formed between the projection 102 and the body 104 of the post 100. The passage 116 has a generally triangular cross-section and is defined between an inner surface of the projection 102 and an outer surface of the post 100 (i.e. that is between the 2 5 side edges 114 of the projection 102). Because the upper edge 110 of the projection 102 is longer than the lower edge 112 of the projection 102, the passage 116 is tapered inwardly from an end 118 that is distal from the ground engaging end 106 of the post 100 (typically the in-use upper end) to an end 120 that is proximal to the ground engaging end 106 of the post 100 (typically the in- 3 0 use lower end). 4

8064660_6 (GHMatters) P103864.AU 2016101563 05 Sep 2016

The projection 102 essentially increases the maximum cross-sectional area of the portion of the post 100 that is buried in the ground. This increased surface area results in higher resistance to removal of the post 100 from the ground, such as by the ground material frictionally interfacing with the surfaces of the projection 102. 5 In this regard, the cross-sectional area is increased by the surface area of the upper edges 110 of the projection 102. It is also increased by material (e.g. concrete, soil, dirt, etc.) contained in the passage 116 defined between the projection 102 and the body 104 of the post 100. Any upward movement of the post 100 causes material in the passage 116 to be funnelled towards the bottom of the passage 116 10 and compressed (due to the tapered nature of the passage 116). In this way, the material in the passage 116 generally acts as a solid mass/anchor and provides further resistance to removal of the post 100 from the ground.

Although in the illustrated embodiment the passage 116 is tapered, a similar effect may be gained by a passage having e.g. stepped or curved walls. It may also not 15 be necessary that the passage be open at its top and/or bottom ends. It may be that the passage is closed at the top and/or bottom end and this provides the increase in cross-sectional/surface area required to increase resistance to removal of the post. Or, it may be that the passage only extends part-way into the projection.

In addition to defining a tapered passage 116, an outer surface 122 of the 2 0 projection 102 is sloped inwardly toward the ground engaging end 106 of the post 100. Again, in the illustrated embodiment, this is a result of the bent trapezium shape of the projection 102, and the projection 102 being oriented such that smaller edge of the trapezium forms a lower edge 112 of the projection 102 in use. This slope of the outer surface 122 makes it easier for the projection 102 and thus 2 5 the post 100 to be inserted (e.g. driven) into the ground.

Variations and modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the disclosure. 5

8064660_6 (GHMatters) P103864.AU 2016101563 05 Sep 2016

For example, the shape of the projections may differ from that illustrated. Each projection may have a curved (rather than bent) shape so as to define a passage having a generally semi-circular cross-section. Rather than being formed of bent or curved plate, the projection may be formed using other methods that may result 5 in various other shapes. For example, the passage may have a cross-sectional shape that is different to that of the outer surface of the projection.

The post may have more or less projections attached thereto than the two projections depicted in the figures. The projections may not be secured to the post so as to directly oppose one another, and/or may not be positioned the same 10 distance from the end of the post as one another. However, it may be preferable to have the projections evenly spaced about the circumference of the post to assist with ensuring that the post is vertical when driven into the ground.

The strainer post itself may not be a round hollow post. It may, for example, be a square, triangular, hexagonal, etc. hollow or solid post. 15 The projections may also be secured to the post using methods other than welding. For example, the projections may be formed integrally with the post, may be secured by way of one or more fasteners, by way of slots in the post for receipt of corresponding tabs, etc.

The projections may also be adapted for being secured to a timber post. For 2 0 example, each projection may have lateral tabs projecting therefrom (e g. from the opposing side edges), with each tab having a screw-hole for a timber fastener.

Such tabs could also enable e g. riveting of a projection to a metal post.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the 2 5 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 preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the strainer post and projection. 6

8064660_6 (GHMatters) P103864.AU

Claims (5)

1. Claims

   1. A strainer post comprising: an elongate, optionally tubular body comprising a ground engaging end for location in the ground; and a projection that projects from the body proximate the ground engaging end for receipt in the ground in use, a recess being defined between the projection and the body.
2. 2. A strainer post according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the recess is a passage extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, the passage tapering inwardly towards the ground engaging end of the post.
3. 3. A strainer post according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an outer surface of the projection is tapered inwardly toward the ground engaging end of the post.
4. 4. A strainer post according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the recess is open at opposite ends, wherein a cross-sectional area of an in-use upper end of the opposite ends is greater than a cross-sectional area of an in-use lower end of the opposite ends.
5. 5. A projection for use with the body according to any one of the preceding claims, the projection comprising: first and second ends for mounting the projection to the body of the strainer post; and the projection being formed between its first and second ends so as to define a recess between the projection and the post when mounted thereto; an outer surface of the projection optionally being tapered inwardly so as to facilitate receipt of the projection in the ground in use.