AU2017202659B2

AU2017202659B2 - A fencing picket

Info

Publication number: AU2017202659B2
Application number: AU2017202659A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Danny Bordin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-21
Filing date: 2017-04-21
Publication date: 2022-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-21
Also published as: AU2017202658B2; AU2017202658A1; AU2017202659A1

Abstract

A fencing picket comprising a planar section, wherein the planar section comprises a plurality of height staggered fence wire engagements and wherein each fence wire engagement comprises a bending portion forming an adjoining aperture and wherein the bending portion is able to be bent sideways into an open configuration so as to allow access to the adjoining aperture for the insertion of a fence wire strand laterally thereinto and bent in-line with the planar section into a closed configuration so as to close the adjoining aperture and retain the fence wire strand therein. 6 1/3 2 E 3 E -. 1k 5mm 4 E 6 8mm 7 E N 10mm Figure 1

Description

1/3

2 E 3 E

-. 1k 5mm

4

E

6 8mm 7 E N 10mm

Figure 1

A fencing picket Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to fencing pickets. More particularly, this invention relates to a fencing picket characterised in that the fencing picket comprises a planar section comprising a plurality of integral and height staggered fence wire engagements and wherein each fence wire engagement comprises a bending portion able to selectively close in adjoining aperture for retaining fence wire therein.

Background of the Invention

[2] Pickets, such as star pickets, are utilised to support fence wire. During installation, the pickets are erected and fencing wire is tensioned along a picket line.

[3] For securement, each picket comprises an aperture to which each respective fence wire strand may be secured by way of wire tie, spring clip or the like.

[4] However, conventional wire tie securements are time-consuming to tie off.

[5] As such, certain picket fences may be preloaded with spring clips into which wire strands may quickly be clipped.

[6] However, preloading picket fences with spring clips complicates the manufacture process and increases cost wherein, presently, preloaded pickets having spring clips may be twice as expensive as conventional pickets.

[7] Furthermore, conventional wire ties and spring clips sometimes break necessitating periodic repair.

[8] The present invention seeks to provide a fencing picket, 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 fencing picket characterised in that the fencing picket comprises a planar section comprising a plurality of integral and height-staggered fence wire engagements.

[11] Each fence wire engagement comprises a bending portion able to selectively enclose an adjoining aperture for retaining fence wire therein.

[12] The manufacture of the present fencing picket is simplified and that the fence wire engagements can be press-cut into the planar section as opposed to necessitating manual or mechanised attachment of prior art spring clips or the like.

[13] Furthermore, the present fence wire engagements are more robust as compared to prior art

wire ties and spring clips and better able at holding fencing wire, thereby reducing or eliminating

requisite repair work.

[14] During manufacture, each fence wire engagement may be bent sideways in an open

configuration such that, during installation the wire may be easily inserted past the bending portion

whereafter the bending portion may be bent in-line with the planar section with a pair of pliers,

specialised tool or the like so as to retain fence wire.

[15] Furthermore, in embodiments, the bending portion is orientated upwardly thereby defining

an upwardly orientated notch able to hold fencing wire therein prior closure. As such, fencing wire

may be run along a picket line within the notches formed by the open bending portions wherein, once

satisfied with the tensioning of the wire strands each picket may be revisited to close each fence wire

engagement with a pair of pliers or the like.

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

Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] 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:

[18] Figure 1 shows a side perspective view of a fencing picket illustrating a fence wire engagement

therein in accordance with an embodiment;

[19] Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the fencing picket showing the fence wire engagement

in an open configuration in accordance with an embodiment;

[20] Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the fencing picket in accordance with an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[21] Figure 1 shows a side perspective view of a fence picket 1.

[22] The fence picket 1 comprises a planar section 2 and, in embodiments, the picket 1 takes the

form of a conventional star picket and comprising a pair of opposing planar sections 3 extending from

a central juncture as is illustrated in figure 3.

[23] The fencing picket 1 is characterised in comprising a plurality of height staggered fence wire

engagements 9.

[24] As is substantially shown in figure 1, each fence wire engagement 9 comprises a bending

portion 4 and an adjoining aperture 7.

[25] The bending portion 4 is able to be bent sideways so as to allow access to the adjoining

aperture 7 for the insertion of a fence wire strand laterally thereinto. Once inserted, the bending portion 4 may be bent in-line with the planar section 2 so as to close off the adjoining aperture 7 to retain the fence wire strand therein.

[26] As is shown in figure 1, the bending portion may comprise a head and a stem 6. The relatively

narrow stem 6 may assist with the bending of the bending portion 4 and the head 5 assists in closing

off the aperture 7 in line with the planar section 2.

[27] During manufacture, the fence wire engagement 9 may be made from a press-cut

manufacture process. Such a press-cut manufacturing process may also additionally pre-bend the

bending portion 4 into an open configuration ready for use. The width of the cut is ideally less than

that of the diameter of the wire strands intended for installation and, in embodiments, comprises a

tolerance of less than 1 mm, such as approximately.5 mm.

[28] During installation, each bending portion 4 may be initially bent sideways in an open

configuration which may be subsequently closed by the installer during installation.

[29] In embodiment shown in figure 1, the bending portion 4 is orientated upwardly so as to form

a notch when in the open configuration. As such, wire strands may rest within the notch during the

initial provisioning and tensioning process wherein, once the appropriate tensioning has been

achieved, the bending portion 4 may be bent in line with the planar section 2 to close off the aperture

7.

[30] In the embodiment shown in figure 1, the fence wire engagement 9 may be formed by a cut

8 which extends initially into the planar section 2 laterally by 5 mm and then transitions downwardly

at approximately 45 until then further transitioning to a vertical defining a rear end of the aperture 7

thereunder. The cut 8 may continue around the aperture 7 upwardly so as to define an aperture having

a width of approximately 10 mm and a height of approximately 17 mm. The upward reversal of the

cut may be spaced 8 mm in from the leading edge of the planar section 2. Furthermore, the vertical rear edge of the head 5 may be approximately 8 mm in length. As is also shown, the entire height of

the fence wire engagement 9 may be approximately 35 mm.

[31] In alternative embodiments, a conventional star picket already comprising apertures therein

may be utilised wherein the cut 8 is formed to transect the aperture from top to bottom, including, in

embodiments, extending beyond beneath the existing aperture. As such, when the bending portion 4

is bent in-line, the aperture arrangement comprising the wire strand therein is substantially no

different from a conventional star picket arrangement.

[32] Figure 2 shows a front elevation view of the picket 1 showing the bending portion 4 having

been bent sideways into an open configuration. As is shown in this embodiment, the tip of the bending

portion 4 may be deflected by approximately 10 mm from the planar section 2 and an open

configuration.

[33] Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the picket 1 wherein, as can be seen, the planar section 2

may comprise a width of approximately 30 mm and the picket 1 comprising a total width of

approximately 41 mm.

[34] 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 fencing picket comprising a planar section, wherein the planar section comprises a plurality of height staggered fence wire engagements and wherein each fence wire engagement comprises a bending portion forming an adjoining aperture and wherein the bending portion is able to be bent sideways into an open configuration so as to allow access to the adjoining aperture for the insertion of a fence wire strand laterally thereinto and bent in-line with the planar section into a closed configuration so as to close the adjoining aperture and retain the fence wire strand therein and wherein an inner edge of the bending portion defines an overhang of the aperture with respect to a longitudinal axis of the picket.
2. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bending portion extends upwardly so as to define an upwardly orientated notch in the open configuration.
3. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fence wire engagement is formed by way of a press cut manufacture process.
4. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the press cut manufacture process forms a cut defining at least the bending portion.
5. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cut has a width less than that of the diameter of a wire strand to be installed within the aperture.
6. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cut has a width of less than .5 mm.
7. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cut initially extends laterally in from a leading edge of the planar section and subsequently transitions downwardly at an angle to meet the aperture.
8. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture comprises a width of approximately 10 mm.
9. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture comprises a height of approximately 17 mm.
10. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fence wire engagement comprises a height of approximately 35 mm.
11. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bending portion 2 defines a head and a stem.
12. A fencing picket as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stem is relatively narrower as compared to the head.