AU2018204740A1 - Insulated fence wire spacer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an fence wire spacer for maintaining the spacing between wires of a fence, the fence wire spacer having at least one end or portion being adapted to be secured to a lateral fence wire when installed to prevent rotation of the fence wire spacer and at least one insulated wire holder to hold a laterally extending fence wire; the fence wire spacer holding apart at least two adjacent wires of different polarity by means of a non conducting section at or between ends of the fence wire spacer. Figure to be published: 1 :)PPAI Innf C) C c~) C) Cor ~ )c~)cr

Description

[001] The present invention relates to fence wire spacers, and in particular those used for electric or electrified fences as used in fencing to provide a barrier to animals or animal pests such as feral pigs or kangaroos.

Background of the invention [002] Fence wire spacers are generally located between sturdy and rigid fence posts which are bearing the structural weight of the fence and fence wires. The role of a fence wire spacer is to keep the wires at appropriate spacings between such fence posts.

[003] Prior fence wire spacers have issues relating to their ineffectiveness and inefficiency in deployment and installation onto fence wires, and there has been a market need to provide improved fence wire spacers.

[004] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary indication appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.

Summary of the invention [005] The present invention provides an fence wire spacer for maintaining the spacing between wires of a fence, the fence wire spacer having at least one end or portion being adapted to be secured to a lateral fence wire when installed to prevent rotation of the fence wire spacer and at least one insulated wire holder to hold a laterally extending fence wire; the fence wire spacer holding apart at least two adjacent wires of different polarity by means of a non-conducting section at or between ends of the fence wire spacer.

[006] The fence wire spacer can include a portion made of flexible spring steel wire.

[007] The fence wire spacer can be made in the shape of a C or Z and can be coated with an insulating material or encapsulated within an insulating material along its whole length, which will act as the at least one insulated wire holder.

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 [008] The fence wire spacer can be made in the shape of a C or Z and can be coated with an insulating material or encapsulated within an insulating material at one end thereof which will act as the at least one insulated wire holder. This fence wire spacer can be such that at one or more spaced locations on the spring steel wire, a shape discontinuity on the wire, onto which is moulded one or more respective discrete insulated wire holder or holders.

[009] Alternatively, the fence wire spacer of paragraphs [005] and [006] can be such that opposed ends of the fence wire spacer are made of spring steel wire, but an insulated break between the ends is present. The insulated break between the ends can be within, or encapsulated within, an insulated wire holder which holds at least one fence wire. The insulated break and can be located at any position on the spacer as required by a fence arrangement.

[010] The insulated wire holder can hold 1 or 2 or 3 or more fence wires.

Optionally, at one or more spaced locations on the wire, a shape discontinuity is present on the wire, onto which is moulded one or more respective discrete insulated wire holder or holders.

[011] In a further alternative, the fence wire spacer of paragraphs [005] and [006] can be such that one end of the fence wire spacer is made of spring steel wire with an insulated terminus being the at least one insulated wire holder. The insulated terminus is encapsulates the spring steel wire.

[012] The insulated terminus can hold 1 or 2 or 3 or more fence wires.

Optionally, the wire includes a shape discontinuity at its end which joins to the insulated terminus, onto which shape discontinuity is moulded the insulated terminus.

Preferably the moulding of insulation material to the wire occurs at a shape discontinuity formed on the wire. The shape discontinuity can be made or formed by one or more of the following: one or more grooves formed in the wire; one or more flattened areas of the wire; one or more pinches in the wire; one or more recesses formed in the wire; one or more blind apertures formed in the wire; one or more through apertures formed in the wire. This assists to stop rotation or movement of the insulation material on the spring steel wire. Brief description of the drawings [013] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment will follow, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which:

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 [014] Figure 1 illustrates a front view of an electrified fence with three fence wire spacers installed which separates six wires;

[015] Figure 2 illustrates an insulated break formed in the fence wire spacer;

[016] Figure 3 illustrates a front view of a lower end, or an upper end, of the fence wire spacer; with an insulated break of figure 2, or without.

[017] Figure 4 illustrates a front view, when in use, of an insulated wire holder for use with the fence wire spacer of previous figures;

[018] Figure 5 illustrates the spacing between wire ends, as encapsulated and moulded around when insulated wire holder is moulded onto the wire ends;

[019] Figure 6 illustrates a side view of the insulated wire holder of Figure 4:

[020] Figure 7 illustrates a fence wire spacer as illustrated in Figure 1, with the fence wires removed;

[021] Figure 8 is a series of 3 figures showing how the insulated wire holder of

Figures 4 and 6 functions to hold a wire;

[022] Figure 9 illustrates the spacing between wire ends, as encapsulated and moulded around the insulated wire holder of Figure 10, is moulded onto the wire ends;

[023] Figure 10 illustrates an insulated wire holder, which will keep separate two lateral fence wires;

[024] Figure 11 illustrates the spacing or location of a wire end, top or bottom, as encapsulated and moulded around the insulated wire holder of Figure 12, is moulded onto the wire end;

[025] Figure 12 illustrates an insulated wire holder for use at the top or bottom of a fence wire spacer, which will keep separate the upper or lower two lateral fence wires;

[026] Figure 13 illustrates the spacing between wire ends, as encapsulated and moulded around the insulated wire holder of Figure 14, is moulded onto the wire ends;

[027] Figure 14 illustrates an insulated wire holder, which will keep separate three lateral fence wires;

[028] Figure 15 illustrates an upper or lower end of a fence wire spacer where the wire is a single piece, that is, no insulated breaks within the insulated wire holders;

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 and the upper or lower end of the fence wire spacer is coated or encapsulated within an insulated material or tube;

[029] Figure 16 illustrates a side view of an insulated wire holder as it first engages a fence wire, showing how the profile of the insulated wire holder assists with the alignment and locating of the fence wire into the holder socket before locking into place.

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments [030] Illustrated in Figure 1 are three wire fence wire spacers 10, each able to hold six fence wires in a spaced apart arrangement, attached at three locations along an electrified fence, such as might be used for cattle, sheep, goats, or to keep out pests like kangaroos or boars. Generally such electrified fences have at least one wire which is an earth or negative fence wire while the other wires will ordinarily be positive in polarity. Generally the top wire is positive and the lowest wire is negative, and normally if there are any in-between wires these may alternate between positive and negative. Typically the bottom wire is an earth or negative wire. However, any number of wires may be used starting from 2 (being only one positive and one negative wire) upwards to 7 or more, and the earth wire may be located at any position in the spacing of wires from the ground up or the top down. Additionally multiple earth wires and multiple positive wires may be present. The number of wires, and their polarity is usually a function of the animals that the fence is meant to interact with, and the fence environment (eg the presence of generally dry or moist earth) and other environmental conditions. Accordingly it will be readily understood that the insulated break as described herein, can be located at any position on the spacer 10 as required by a fence arrangement.

[031] It will be noted that the fence wire spacer 10 in Figure 1 is generally formed as “C” shape (while a C-shape is illustrated, a Z shape could be used as an alternative), with upper and lower L shaped sections- each L shaped section having a horizontal and a vertical portion, and a straight intermediate section or sections, depending upon where the earth wire is located. The horizontal of the upper and lower sections allows the fence wire spacer to be attached to a laterally extending fence wire, by coiling around that fence wire. As the fence wire spacer 10 has its elongated and bent sections preferably made from galvanised spring wire, of the order of 3mm to 4mm in diameter, the horizontal ends of the fence wire spacer can be twisted by a screw

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 driver or such like, around the generally horizontal or laterally extending upper and lower fence wires.

[032] The fence wire spacers 10 are over-moulded insulators, which can be plastic or polymeric, or glass reinforced polymer such as Nylon. Most preferred is Nylon PA6 with glass fibre filling to about 30%.

[033] A fence wire spacer 10 is illustrated in Figures 1 to 16, for maintaining the spacing between wires 101 to 106 of a fence 100, the fence wire spacer 10 having at least one end or portion, in this case, both ends 11 and 12, being adapted to be secured to a lateral fence wire 101 and 106, when installed to prevent rotation of the fence wire spacer 10 and at least one insulated wire holder (11,11.1, 12, 12.1, 30, 30’) to hold a laterally extending fence wire (106 101 105); the fence wire spacer 10 holding apart at least two adjacent wires of different polarity (wire 101 might be negative, while wire 102 may be positive) by means of a non-conducting section at or between ends 11 or 12 of the fence wire spacer.

[034] The fence wire spacer 10 includes portion 11.1 and 12.1 being made of spring steel wire, such as a galvanized spring steel wire of the order of 3 to 4mm in diameter.

[035] The fence wire spacer 10 is made in the shape of an elongated C and in the case of an embodiment like that of Figure 15 is coated with an insulating material 20 or encapsulated within an insulating material tube 20 along its whole length (not illustrated), which will act as the at least one insulated fence wire holder described previously.

[036] Alternatively, the fence wire spacer 10 is made in the shape of an elongated C and in the case of the embodiment of Figure 15, is coated with an insulating material 20 or encapsulated within an insulating material tube 20 along one end 11 or 12 only. This fence wire spacer 10, can be similar to that of Figure 1, in that at one or more spaced locations on the spring steel wire, a shape discontinuity can be formed on the spring steel wire of the spacer 10, onto which is over-moulded one or more respective discrete insulated wire holder or holders 30 or 30’.

[037] The insulated holder 30 and 30’ differ from each other in that the holder 30 is over-moulded over the intact integral continuous spring wire section, while the holder 30’ is over moulded over two spaced apart and deformed or shaped ends of the spring wire, as will be discussed in more detail below with respect to Figures 2 to 5.

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 [038] A further embodiment to that previously described, is for the fence wire spacer 10 to be constructed so that opposed ends 11 and 12 of the fence wire spacer are made of spring steel wire (the end 11 can extend from the upper end in an unbroken or continuous manner all the way to the insulated holder 30’), but an insulated break 30’.1, in the form of insulated holder 30’, is present between the ends 11 and 12. The insulated break 30’.1 in the case of Figure 2, is in the form of insulated holder 30’ which is located between the ends 11 and 12, and is encapsulated within the insulated wire holder 30’ which holds at least one fence wire, which in the case of Figure 1, may be a positive wire 102, while the insulated end 12 holds the negative wire 101 by the horizontal leg 12.1.

[039] Each insulated wire holder 30 or 30’ as seen in Figures 1 to 8 and 15 and

16, holds a single fence wire. However, as can be seen in Figures 9 to 12 two fence wires can be held spaced apart, or in the case of Figures 13 and 14, thee fence wires can be held spaced apart. It will be understood that a suitably shaped insulated wire holder can hold more than three wires if needed. From Figures 9 and 10 and 13 and 14, it will be noted that the ends of the spring steel wires preferably terminate relatively close together, of the order of 5mm to 10mm, so that the spring steel wire give strength and body to the insulated holder 30’, 30’”. Similarly, and for the same reasons, in Figure 11 and 12, the spring steel wire extends through a large proportion of the insulated holder 30”.

[040] Whether the fence wire spacer 10 is constructed so that its ends 11.1 or

12.1 are formed as illustrated in Figure 1, or Figure 15 or Figure 7, there can be provided, at one or more spaced locations on the spring wire, a shape discontinuity onto which is moulded one or more respective discrete insulated wire holder or holders 30, whereby the spring wire passes through in a continuous manner.

[041] In another embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the fence wire spacer 10 can be such that one end 11 of the fence wire spacer 10 is made of spring steel wire with an insulated terminus 30” being the at least one insulated wire holder. The insulated terminus 30” encapsulates the spring steel wire end 11, which has been shaped in Figure 11 by being deformed to have scallops 30”.2 or grooves 30”.2 on two sides. This discontinuity in cross section, or variation of shape of the cross section, of the spring steel wire ensures that relative rotation between the spring steel wire and the over-moulded insulation material will not occur when it is being deployed.

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 [042] The insulated terminus 30” of Figures 11 and 12 holds 2 fence wires, but the terminus 30” can just as be designed to hold a single wire or more than 2 wires (in a similar fashion to that of Figure 14.

[043] The change in shape of the cross section, or the discontinuity in the cross section, of the spring steel wire, can be made or formed by one or more of the following: one or more grooves formed in the wire; one or more flattened areas formed in the wire; one or more pinches formed in the wire; one or more recesses formed in the wire; one or more blind apertures formed in the wire; one or more through apertures formed in the wire.

[044] As best illustrated in Figure 2, the insulated holder 30’ encapsulates the insulated break 30’.1, and the spring steel wire ends which have grooves or scallops 30’.2 in them. The break 30’.1, and the subsequent filling of this break with insulative over-moulded material, ensures that there is no electrical connection between the two ends of spring steel wire.

[045] Figures 4 and 6 show more a detailed view of the features of the fence wire holder portion 35 of the holders 30, 30’ and 30”. The holders 35 have a generally horizontal support or base 35.20, which has an upwardly directed support surface 35.21 which interacts with an offset hook portion 35.10 and its rearwardy directed surface 35.11 and downwardly directed surface 35.12, to capture and hold a wire such as wires 101 to 106.

[046] When viewed from the side the holder portion 35 has a gap or space

35.30, which is between the support 35.20 and the offset hook portion 35.10 so that the wire 101 to 106 can be positioned there between as indicated in the left side image of figure 8. By rotating the fence wire spacer 10 and thus holder portion 35 through 90 degrees, the support 35.20 will position itself under the wire 101 106, as in the middle image of Figure e8, and simultaneously it will be captured and confined by rearward surface 35.11 and under surface 35.12 and by upward surface 35.21 and frontward surface 35.22 of the holder portion 35. By locking the fence wire holder 10 to the upper fence wire 106 and/or lower fence wires 101, by the portions 11.1 and 12.1, the holder 10 will be locked to the fence wires and keeping the negative isolated from its nearest positive wire or wires.

[047] Illustrated in Figure 16, is a side on view, with one of the fence wires 101 to 106 running into the page. Figure 16 shows how the curved profile of the lower end of

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 the holders 30, 30’, 30”, 30”’ helps to direct the fence wire 101 to 106 into the gap or space 35.30. The small radius at the lower extremity of the holders 30, 30’, 30”, 30’” and curved front surface shape, allow the fence wire 101 to 106, to slip into the insulator gap 35.30 relatively easily. While the holders 30’, 30” and 30’” of figures 10, 12 and 14 have a generally parallel section between the holder portions 35, as the spring steel wire extends through, the lead in to the gap 35.30 can be scalloped or similarly curved to provide the same advantage to each holder portion 35.

[048] The construction of the fence wire spacer 10 is such that it enables all the holders 30, 30’, 30”, 30’” which are present, to be readily assembled to all fence wires present at one time, in one action, that is, the actions illustrated in Figures 8 and 16 occur simultaneously for each holder present. Further, the bottom radius and curved profile of the inside face of the holders 30, 30’, 30”, 30’” assists in not interfering with the fence wires 101 to 106 sliding and moving into the insulated claws or beaks of the holders 30, 30’, 30”, 30’”. In respect of this, reference is made to Figure 16 and Figure 8, where, although only one holder 30 is illustrated in each figure, it will be understood that the same process will occur for multiple holders.

[049] The holders 30, 30’, 30”, 30’” are constructed such that the distance between where the fence wires 101 to 106 are captured in the holder, as illustrated in Figure 8, to either end of the holder where the wire portion 11 or 12 becomes exposed, is of the order of 40mm to 50mm. This should be satisfactory for most environmental conditions, but may varied according to the environmental factors that may exist, where such a fence wire spacer 10 having that holder may need to be used. The spacing of 40 to 50mm is to ensure that spark, in relatively humid environments, wont jump from the captured fence wire to spacer wire 11 or 12.

[050] If stronger insulating polymers are used or developed to make the holders

30, 30’, 30” or 30’”, then the space between the ends of the spring steel wires could be increased from those illustrated in Figures 9, 11 and 13.

[051] Where ever it is used, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its “open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limited to its “closed” sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of”. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words “comprise”, “comprised” and “comprises” where they appear.

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 [052] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

[053] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (15)

1. A fence wire spacer for maintaining the spacing between wires of a fence, said fence wire spacer having at least one end or portion being adapted to be secured to a lateral fence wire when installed to prevent rotation of said fence wire spacer and at least one insulated wire holder to hold a laterally extending fence wire; said fence wire spacer holding apart at least two adjacent wires, which can be of different polarity, by means of a non-conducting section at or between ends of said fence wire spacer.

2. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fence wire spacer includes a portion made of spring steel.

3. A fence wire spacer as claimed n claim 1 and 2, wherein the fence wire spacer is made in the shape of a C or Zand is coated with an insulating material or encapsulated within an insulating material tube along its whole length, which will act as said at least one insulated wire holder.

4. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fence wire spacer is made in the shape of a C or Zand is coated with an insulating material or encapsulated within an insulating material tube at one end thereof which will act as said at least one insulated wire holder.

5. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 4, wherein at one or more spaced locations on said fence wire spacer, there is located a cross sectional shape changes or cross sectional discontinuity, onto which is moulded one or more respective or discrete insulated wire holder or holders.

6. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein opposed ends of said fence wire spacer are made of spring steel, with an insulated break between said ends being present.

7. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said insulated break between said ends is within, or encapsulated within, an insulated wire holder which holds at least one fence wire.

8. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said insulated wire holder holds 1 or 2 or 3 or more fence wires.

9. A fence wire spacer as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein at one or more spaced locations on said fence wire spacer, a cross sectional shape change or

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2018204740 29 Jun 2018 cross sectional discontinuity is present on said fence wire spacer, onto which is moulded one or more respective or discrete insulated wire holder or holders.

10. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one end of said fence wire spacer is made of spring steel with an insulated terminus being said at least one insulated wire holder.

11. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 10, wherein said insulated terminus encapsulates said spring steel.

12. A fence wire spacer as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein said insulated terminus holds 1 or 2 or 3 or more fence wires.

13. A fence wire spacer as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said wire includes a cross sectional shape change or cross sectional discontinuity at its end which joins to said insulated terminus, onto which a cross sectional shape change or cross sectional discontinuity is moulded said insulated terminus.

14. A fence wire spacer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein moulding of insulated material to said fence wire spacer occurs at a cross sectional shape change or cross sectional discontinuity formed on said fence wire spacer.

15. A fence wire spacer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said a cross sectional shape change or cross sectional discontinuity is made or formed by one or more of the following: one or more grooves formed in said wire; one or more flattened areas of said wire; one or more pinches in said wire; one or more recesses formed in said wire; one or more blind apertures formed in said wire; one or more through apertures formed in said wire.