AU2017202658B2

AU2017202658B2 - A fencepost

Info

Publication number: AU2017202658B2
Application number: AU2017202658A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Danny Bordin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-21
Filing date: 2017-04-21
Publication date: 2022-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-21
Also published as: AU2017202659A1; AU2017202659B2; AU2017202658A1

Abstract

There is provided a fence post of elongate construction thereby defining a head and foot ends and front, back and sides, the foot end for insertion into the ground for vertical orientation in use, and the sides comprising side sections, wherein the fence post comprises a plurality of parallel and height-staggered cross tube sections each adjoining corresponding opposing apertures in the side sections thereby defining sideways passages for passage of a corresponding plurality of height staggered wire strand therethrough. 8 1/3 24 5 6 6 Head end Side, Front/Back Front/Back Side Foot end 3 Figure 1

Description

1/3

24

5

6 6

Head end

Side, Front/Back

Front/Back Side

Foot end

3

Figure 1

A fencepost Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to a fencepost. More particularly, this invention relates to a fencepost comprising side sections and is hollow and furthermore comprises a plurality of parallel and

height staggered cross tube sections each adjoining corresponding opposing apertures and the side

sections thereby defining sideways passages for passage of a corresponding plurality of height staggered wire strands therethrough.

Background of the Invention

[2] Fenceposts are used to support fencing wire strands, including barbed wire strands. Typically,

fenceposts may be spaced approximately every 4 m and picket lines may sometimes run up to hundreds of meters.

[3] Conventional fencepost comprises either concrete or timber fenceposts comprising a plurality

of height staggered sideways fence wire strand passages. For barbed wire fencing having barbs of

about 20 mm in width, such passages may similarly comprise an inner diameter of approximately 20

mm.

[4] However, installation of wire strands through these conventional fenceposts once erected is

problematic given that such passages frictionally engage the wire and/or barbs thereby making it

difficult to tension the wire and increasing installation timeframes, especially for long picket runs.

Furthermore, these passages, especially those of concrete fenceposts, damages the wire and any

barbs thereon, including in scraping off of galvanised protection, thereby reducing the longevity of the

wire strands.

[5] The passages cannot be increased without weakening the integrity of the fenceposts or

alternatively necessitating having thicker, albeit heavier fenceposts to accommodate such widened

passages.

[6] As such, star pickets are alternatively utilised wherein the wire strands can be easily tensioned

in isolation and then tied to the adjacent star picket posts. However, installation is delayed in having

to additionally tie on each wire strand to each star picket. Also, star pickets are not necessarily strong.

[7] Furthermore, these conventional concrete and/or timber fenceposts are difficult to drive into

the ground and therefore star picket posts may be advantageous in certain scenarios.

[8] The present invention seeks to provide a fencepost, which will overcome or substantially

ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[9] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge

in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[10] There is provided herein a steel (or the like) fencepost characterised in that the fencepost

comprises side sections and is hollow and furthermore comprises a plurality of parallel and height

staggered cross tube sections each adjoining corresponding opposing apertures in the side sections thereby defining sideways passages for passage of a corresponding plurality of height staggered fence

wire strands therethrough.

[11] As such, the present fencepost is of lightweight construction as compared to conventional

solid fenceposts and furthermore, the cross tube sections are able to have larger interior diameters

facilitating the pulling of fence wire strands therethrough during tensioning without compromising

the structural integrity of the fencepost as would be the case for conventional post. Also, the tube

sections, by being welded to the opposing side sections further enhance the structural integrity of the present fencepost.

[12] Ideally, the tube sections terminate flush with the side sections thereby providing a hindrance

free entrance for fence wire.

[13] Additionally, in embodiments, the tube sections may comprise widened entrances which

assist in guiding the fence strand and any barbs thereon through the tube section passages which

reduces or eliminates damage of the fence wire, including the scratching off of the protective

galvanising.

[14] Furthermore, in embodiments, the present fencepost has a generally rectangular cross

section and wherein the back of the fencepost is open such that the fencepost takes a generally C

shaped cross-section.

[15] Not only does the open back reduce the material requirements and the associated cost and

the weight of the fencepost, but we surprisingly found that a C-shaped cross-section was easier to

drive into the ground as compared to a closed rectangular cross-section. We suspect that the open C shaped cross-section allows the foot end of the post to flex and bend and manoeuvre around obstacles

such as roots, rocks and the like.

[16] Furthermore, the cross tube sections provide structural rigidity for the construction of the

fencepost thereby allowing for the open back side construction.

[17] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[18] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[19] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fencepost in accordance with an embodiment;

[20] Figure 2 shows a top view of a tube section in figure 3 shows the location of the tube section within the body of the fencepost in accordance with an embodiment; and

[21] Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of the fencepost comprising exemplary dimensions and spacings in accordance with an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[22] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fencepost 1. The fencepost 1 defines head and foot ends 2, 3 and front, back and sides. The foot end 3 is for insertion into the ground for the vertical orientation of the fencepost 1 in use. The sides comprise side sections 6.

[23] Now, the fencepost 1 comprises a plurality of parallel and height staggered cross tube sections each adjoining corresponding opposing apertures and the side sections 6. The height staggered cross tube sections 5 thereby define sideways passages for passage of a corresponding plurality of height staggered fence wire strands therethrough in use.

[24] In embodiments, the fencepost 1 may be manufactured from 2.5 mm thick hot dipped galvanised steel.

[25] Furthermore, the fencepost 1 may comprise a ramming cap 4 fastened to the head end 2 which may be hammered to drive the foot end 3 into the ground. The ramming cap 4 may be approximately 5 mm thick.

[26] Figure 2 shows a top view of the cross tube section 5. In embodiments, each tube section may comprise end sections having an inner diameter of approximately 42 mm and a mid-section having an inner diameter of approximately 29 mm. Furthermore, each tube section may comprise a length of approximately 52 mm.

[27] Figure 3 shows the tube section 5 located within the body of the fencepost 1. As can be seen, the ends of each tube section 5 terminate substantially flush with each side section 6 so as to reduce hindrances when pulling fence wire strands therethrough.

[28] The tube sections 5 may be welded to the body of the fencepost. To reduce manufacture times and cost, each tube section 5 may be spot welded at two opposing sides of each aperture. In embodiments, the spot welding may be performed within the interior of the body of the fencepost 1 which may be accessed, in embodiments, via a front or back opening 11of the fencepost body.

[29] As can be seen from at least figure 2, each tube section 5 may be widened at each end for

fence wire strand guidance therethrough and, in a particular embodiment, the midsection of the tube

section 5 may be substantially cylindrical and the end sections may be substantially frustoconical. In

embodiment, each tube section 5 may be manufactured from an initially entirely cylindrical tube

wherein each end section is dilated by pressing against a cone.

[30] As is shown in figure 3, and as alluded to above, in one embodiment, the back of the fencepost

1 is open. That is, the sides of the fencepost 10 are defined by the side sections 6 and the front is

defined by front section 7. It should be noted that the nomenclature "front" and "back" is for

illustrative orientational convenience only and the opening 11 may be formed either at the front or

back.

[31] Furthermore, the body of the fencepost may be substantially rectangular having side sections

6 of approximately 80 mm and a front section 7 of approximately 50 mm as shown in figure 3.

[32] As such, the body of the fencepost may take a substantially C-shaped cross-section as can be

appreciated from figure 3.

[33] Furthermore, the body of the fencepost 1 may comprise opposing and inwardly projecting

flanges 8 partially closing the opening 11.

[34] Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of the fencepost1 comprising exemplary dimensions and spacing.

[35] As can be seen, the fencepost one comprises a height of approximately 2000 mm and wherein

the lowermost tube section 5 is located approximately 960 mm away from the foot end 3.

[36] Furthermore, the distance between each tube section may decrease towards the foot end 3

such that in the example shown, the first tube section 5 is located approximately 75 mm away from

the head end, and wherein the second tube section 5 is spaced away at approximately 280 mm, the

third tube section 5 is spaced away at approximately 255 mm, the fourth tube section 5 is spaced away

at approximately 235 mm and the fifth tube section 5 is spaced away at approximately 200 mm.

[37] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide

a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that

specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of

specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They

are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were

chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical

applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A fence post with a C-shaped cross-section with apertures on opposite sides, and having tube sections each adjoining corresponding apertures for passage of wire strands.
2. A fence post as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tube section comprises a mid-section and opposing end sections and wherein the mid-section has an inner diameter less than inner diameters of the opposing end sections.
3. A fence post as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mid-section is cylindrical.
4. A fence post as claimed in claim 2, wherein the end sections are frustoconical.
5. A fence post as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mid-section has an inner diameter of greater than 15mm.
6. A fence post as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mid-section has an inner diameter of greater than 20mm.
7. A fence post as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mid-section has an inner diameter of approximately 29mm.
8. A fence post as claimed in claim 8, wherein sides of the C-shaped cross-section terminates at one end with inwardly extending side flanges.
9. A fence post as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ramming cap fastened to a head end of the post.
10. A fence post as claimed in claim 1, wherein the post has a length of substantially 2000mm.
11. A fence post as claimed in claim 1, wherein the C-shaped cross-section is rectangular in cross section.
12. A fence post as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sides of the C-shaped cross-section have a width of approximately 80mm.
13. A fence post as claimed in claim 1, wherein distances between the tube sections decrease towards a foot end of the post.
14. A fence post as claimed in claim 13, wherein the post comprises a first tube section located approximately 75mm from a head end of the post.
15. A fence post as claimed in claim 14, wherein the post comprises a second tube section located approximately 280mm from the first tube section.
16. A fence post as claimed in claim 15, wherein the post comprises a third tube section located approximately 255mm from the second tube section.
17. A fence post as claimed in claim 16, wherein the post comprises a fourth tube section located approximately 235mm from the third tube section.
18. A fence post as claimed in claim 17, wherein the post comprises a fifth tube section located

approximately 200mm from the fourth tube section.