AU2018205194A1 - A Tool for Joining Wire - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The present invention is a wire joining hand tool including a body part that is adapted to join the free ends of fencing wire while the fencing wire is under tension. The body part includes a handle portion and a head portion. The head portion includes a first and second grip assembly that each receive the free end of a first and second wire, and hold the respective free end of the wire, and enable each free end portion of wire to be bent at its respective grip assembly, into a substantially 900 angle. The longitudinal axis of the free end portion of the first and second wire, after each wire has been bent substantially 90', are parallel, with a gap therebetween. The first and second wires overlay one another, when gripped by their respective grip assemblies, so that a substantial square or rectangular shape wire arrangement is formed in the central region of the head portion. Additionally, the hand tool also includes a rod shaped lever part, and each end of the lever part is adapted to engage with a respective side of the rectangular or square shaped arrangement of wire, and the lever part is able to be used as a lever, while the user holds the first part via the handle portion, to perform a sequence of manipulations on the respective wires, which thereby causes the wires to be bent and deformed, and eventually become entangled, with the each other, to form a knot therebetween, thereby causing the ends of the respective wires to be joined together. -I In en

Description

A Tool for Joining Wire

Field of the Invention [0001] This invention relates to wire fencing, and in particular to the tools used to join two wires together.

Background of the Invention [0002] It is a common task when constructing fencing, particularly in rural environments, to need to join the ends of two wires together. One of the issues that needs to be addressed is the performance of the join when the wire is placed under a tensile load. The join must be able to withstand the tensile load without slipping. Further, it is important that the technique used to join the wires does not damage or otherwise weaken the strength of the wire or make the wire susceptible to corrosion due to damage to the surface coating of the wire.

[0003] One common technique of joining to wires is to simply tie them in a knot. This technique has a number of problems. Firstly, it requires a high degree of physical strength, particularly in the hands of the individual tying the knot, in order to bend and manipulate the ends of the wires into a knot. Secondly, the act of tying may cause a localised overstressing of the wire to occur, thereby causing the wire to be either weakened, or made subject to corrosion. Thirdly, it is often difficult to tie a knot that will not slip when the wires are placed under tension.

[0004] Another common technique is to use a device such as a grippie. On large properties, require many hundreds of meters of fencing, the consumption of grippies for each wire join adds up to a significant additional cost for the fence.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wire joining tool that at least ameliorates some of the abovementioned problems.

2018205194 13 Jul 2018

Disclosure of the Invention [0006] Accordingly, the present invention is a wire joining hand tool including a body part. The body part includes a handle portion and a head portion. The head portion includes a first and second grip assembly that each receive the free end of a first and second wire, and hold the respective free end of the wire, and enable each free end portion of wire to be bent at its respective grip assembly, into a substantially 90° angle.

[0007] Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the first wire is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second wire, with a gap therebetween.

[0008] Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the free end portion of the first and second wire, after each wire has been bent substantially 90°, are parallel, with a gap therebetween.

[0009] Preferably, the first and second wires overlay one another, when gripped by their respective grip assemblies, so that a substantial square or rectangular shape wire arrangement is formed in the central region of the head portion.

[0010] Preferably, the hand tool also includes a lever part.

[0011] Preferably, the lever part is rod shaped.

[0012] Preferably, each end of the lever part is adapted to engage with a respective side of the rectangular or square shaped arrangement of wire, and the lever part is able to be used as a lever, while the user holds the first part via the handle portion, to perform a sequence of manipulations on the respective wires, which thereby causes the wires to be bent and deformed , and eventually become entangled, with the each other, to form a knot therebetween, thereby causing the ends of the respective wires to be joined together.

[0013] Preferably, the wire is fencing wire, and the tool is used to join fencing wire during the construction of a fence.

2018205194 13 Jul 2018 [0014] Preferably, the tool is adapted to be used while the respective wires to be joined are under tension.

[0015] Preferably, the body part is adapted to be rested upon the wire tensioning apparatus that is used to assist in ensuring the wire is tensioned to the appropriate tension.

[0016] In another form, the present invention is a method of joining two wires under tension, using a hand tool, where said hand tool includes a body assembly including a head portion and a handle portion, and a lever. The method includes the steps of:

a. attaching a portion of the first wire, near its end, into a first grip assembly located on the head portion, and

b. bending the first wire at the first grip assembly so that the bend is substantially 90°, and

c. attaching a portion of the second wire, near its end, into a second grip assembly, also located on the head portion, and

d. bending the second wire at the second grip assembly so that the bend is substantially 90°, so that the combination of the two bent wires forms a substantially rectangular or square shaped arrangement in the vicinity of the centre of the head portion, and

e. attaching one end of the lever to a wire, and using the lever to locally bend and yield the wire, using sequence of various lever actions, to manipulate the wires into an entanglement, and

f. attaching the opposite end of the lever to a wire and using the lever to locally bend and yield the wire, using a sequence of various lever actions, to further manipulate the wires so that each wire become knotted to the other.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0017] FIG. la, FIG. lb and FIG. lc show a variety of views of the body assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 2c, FIG. 2d and FIG. 2e show a variety of views of a first wire

2018205194 13 Jul 2018 being gripped and bent on the head portion of the body assembly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b, FIG. 3c, FIG. 3d and FIG. 3e show a variety of views of a second wire being gripped and bent on the head portion of the body assembly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b show the lever attached to the wire, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 5a, FIG. 5b, FIG. 5c and FIG. 5d show a variety of views of the lever being used to manipulate the wires and bring them into entanglement, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 6a, FIG. 6b, FIG. 6c, FIG. 6d and FIG. 6e show a variety of views of the lever being used to manipulate the wires and bring them into entanglement, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 7a, FIG. 7b and FIG. 7c show a variety of views of the lever being used to manipulate the wires and bring them into entanglement, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 8a, FIG. 8b, FIG. 8c, FIG. 8d and FIG. 8e show a variety of views of the lever being used to manipulate the wires and bring them into entanglement, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 9a, FIG. 9b, FIG. 9c, FIG. 9d and FIG. 9e show a variety of views of the lever being used to manipulate the wires and bring them into entanglement, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2018205194 13 Jul 2018

Description of the preferred embodiments [0026] Turning firstly to Figure 1, we are shown the body part 1 of the hand tool, having a head portion 3 and a handle portion 5. The head portion 5 includes four projections, numbered 11 through to 17 respectively, with projections 11,13 and 15 combining to form the first wire grip, and projections 15,17 and 11 combining to form the second wire grip. In this illustration, a portion of a chain 19 that is part of the wire tensioning apparatus is included in order to show how the tool is able to interact with it. The hand troll includes a pair of downwardly directed projections 21 that engage with the chain portion 19.

[0027] Turning to Figure 2, we are shown the first wire 23 being attached to the first wire grip. As shown, the wire 23 passes the first projection 11 on the inner face and passes around the outer face of the second projection 13, and thereat, the first wire 23 is bent into a substantially 90° bend and directed past the third projection 15, as indicated by the direction of the arrow.

[0028] Turning to Figure 3, we can see the second wire 25 being attached to the second wire grip. As shown, the wire 25 passes the third projection 15 in its inner face and passes around a hook like structure on the fourth projection 17, and thereat, the second wire 25 is bent into a substantially 90° bend and directed past the first projection 11, as indicated by the direction of the arrow.

[0029] Once the wires are positioned on their respective grips, they combine to form a substantially rectilinear shape 27 in the vicinity of the centre of the head portion 3.

[0030] Turning to Figure 4, we can see the introduction of the lever 29 which is first releasably attached to one side of the rectilinear shape 27 as shown by the arrow. Note that each end of the lever 29 has a different shape of attachment means. The lever also includes trim markings that are used as a guide to the user to enable the user to cut off the correct amount of excess wire from the end, to ensure the tool can manipulate the wire properly and entangle the wires into a knot. The lever 29 is used to perform a sequence of actions, using a combination of ends of the lever 29, and accessing multiple sides of the rectilinear shape 27.

2018205194 13 Jul 2018 [0031] Turning to Figure 5, we can see the next step in the sequence using the lever 29. In this step, the lever is lowered as shown by the arrow. Once the lever 29 is in its lowermost position, the free end 23’ of the first wire 23 is threaded into the groove 31 in the end of the lever 29.

[0032] Turning to Figure 6, we can see the next step in the sequence using lever 29. The lever 29 is rotated over the top of the body part 1 of the tool as indicated by the arrow. The end 23’ of the first wire 23 is retained within the groove 31, so the rotation of the lever cause the wire end 23’ to create a first loop 33 around the second wire 25.

[0033] Figure 7 shows us the next step in the sequence. In this view, it can be seen that the lever 29 is now flipped so that the opposite end of the lever 29 is brought into temporary engagement with the opposite side of the rectilinear shape 27 as indicated by the arrow. Like with the first end of the lever 29, the second end includes a marking 37 that is used by the user as the reference point at which to trim excess wire from the end of the second wire 25. The free end 25’ of the second wire 25 is then retained in second lever groove 39.

[0034] Figure 8 shows us the next step in the sequence. In this view, it can be seen that the lever 29 is then rotated over the top of the body part 1 of the tool as indicated by the arrow. As the lever 29 is rotated, it carries with it the wire end 25’, which causes it to create the second loop 41, thereby knotting the two ends of the wires together.

[0035] The first and second wire grips grip the respective wires with sufficient gripping force to withstand the tensile force applied by standard fence wire tensioning apparatus.

[0036] While the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

[0037] It will be also understood that where the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are used in this specification, unless the context requires

2018205194 13 Jul 2018 otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features.

[0038] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims (11)

1. A wire joining hand tool including a body part, said body part including a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion including a first and second grip assembly that each receive the respective free end of a first and second wire and hold the respective free end of the wire, and enable each free end portion of wire to be bent around its respective grip assembly into a substantially 90° angle.

2. The wire joining tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of the first wire is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second wire, with a gap therebetween.

3. The wire joining tool as defined in claim 2 wherein the longitudinal axis of the free end portion of the first and second wire, after each wire has been bent substantially 90°, are parallel, with a gap therebetween.

4. The wire joining tool as defined in claim 3 wherein the first and second wires overlay one another, when gripped by their respective grip assemblies, so that a substantial square or rectangular shape wire arrangement is formed in the central region of the head portion.

5. The wire joining tool as defined in claim 4 wherein the hand tool also includes a lever part.

6. The wire joining tool as defined in claim 5 wherein the lever part is rod shaped.

7. The wire joining tool as defined in claim 6 wherein each end of the lever part is adapted to engage with a respective side of the rectangular or square shaped arrangement of wire, and the lever part is able to be used as a lever, while the user holds the first part via the handle portion, to perform a sequence of manipulations on the respective wires, which thereby causes the wires to be bent and deformed , and eventually become entangled, with the each other, to form a knot therebetween, thereby causing the ends of the respective wires to be joined together.

8. The hand tool as defined in any previous claim wherein the wire is fencing wire, and the tool

2018205194 13 Jul 2018 is used to join fencing wire during the construction of a fence.

9. The hand tool as defined in claim 8 wherein the tool is adapted to be used while the respective wires to be joined are under tension.

10. The hand tool as defined in claim 9 wherein the body part is adapted to be rested upon the wire tensioning apparatus that is used to assist in ensuring the wire is tensioned to the appropriate tension.

11. A method of joining two wires under tension, using a hand tool, where said hand tool includes a body assembly including a head portion and a handle portion, and a lever, including the steps of:

g. attaching a portion of the first wire, near its end, into a first grip assembly located on the head portion, and

h. bending the first wire at the first grip assembly so that the bend is substantially 90°, and

i. attaching a portion of the second wire, near its end, into a second grip assembly, also located on the head portion, and

j. bending the second wire at the second grip assembly so that the bend is substantially 90°, so that the combination of the two bent wires forms a substantially rectangular or square shaped arrangement in the vicinity of the centre of the head portion, and

k. attaching one end of the lever to a wire, and using the lever to locally bend and yield the wire, using sequence of various lever actions, to manipulate the wires into an entanglement, and

l. attaching the opposite end of the lever to a wire and using the lever to locally bend and yield the wire, using a sequence of various lever actions, to further manipulate the wires so that each wire becomes knotted to the other.

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