AU2021101059A4

AU2021101059A4 - A Fence Post

Info

Publication number: AU2021101059A4
Application number: AU2021101059A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Vic Patterson
Original assignee: Steel And Rural Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Steel And Rural Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-23
Filing date: 2021-02-26
Publication date: 2021-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-26

Abstract

A fence post includes an elongate tubular body. The elongate tubular body includes at least two generally planar side walls that converge rearwardly to define a rearwardly facing vertex. A front wall interconnects front edges of the side walls. The front wall has at least one retention opening and a lug that extends from a periphery of the opening so that a length of wire can extend across the front wall and behind the lug to retain the length of wire in position with respect to the tubular body. 1/3 34 36 38 34 10 28 26 32 1 12 22 18 14 20 24 20 1 316 32 28 40 41 Figure 1

Description

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Figure 1

A FENCE POST FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a fence post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various forms of fence post are available that include devices or mechanisms for securing fence wire to the fence post.

One of these is supplied by New Zealand Tube Mills Limited. It comprises a cylindrical tubular post that is used for supporting grape vines. This vine post is used as part of a trellis for supporting the vines. The post has a series of openings along its length. A lug extends from a periphery of the opening. A length of wire extends across the front wall and behind the lug to retain the length of wire in position with respect to the tubular body.

Such an arrangement provides ease of fabrication and connection of wire or cable to the posts. However, such fence posts can be subject to bending, at least partially as a result of weakening due to the openings. Bending can occur as a result of livestock walking into or bumping the fence or the fence posts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fence post that comprises: an elongate tubular body including: at least two generally planar side walls that converge rearwardly to define a rearwardly facing vertex; and a front wall that interconnects front edges of the side walls, the front wall having at least one retention opening and a lug that extends from a periphery of the opening so that a length of wire can extend across the front wall and behind the lug to retain the length of wire in position with respect to the tubular body.

The tubular body may be of a malleable material so that the lug can be bent inwardly subsequent to the wire being located behind the lug.

The front wall may have an intermediate portion with an outwardly convex profile along its length, the intermediate portion being interposed between end portions that interconnect the intermediate portion and the respective front edges of the side walls.

Each end portion may have an outwardly convex profile with inwardly curved portions at respective junctions of the intermediate portion and the end portions.

The opening and the lug may be provided by one of an inverted U-shaped slot and a U-shaped slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view, from above, of one embodiment of a fence post, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a front view of the fence post.

Figure 3 shows a plan, sectioned view of the fence post, in a nonoperative condition.

Figure 4 shows a plan, sectioned view of the fence post in an operative condition engaged with a length of wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 shows a fence post, in accordance with the invention.

The fence post 10 includes an elongate tubular body 12. The body 12 has two generally planar side walls 14 that converge rearwardly to define a rearwardly facing vertex 16. The body 12 has a front wall 18 that interconnects front edges of the side walls 14. Thus, the body 12 has a generally triangular profile, when viewed in plan. The side walls 14 can have substantially the same width. Thus, the profile can define an isosceles triangle. More particularly, the profile can define an equilateral triangle. Thus, an included angle of the vertex 60 can be approximately 60. However, other angles might also be suitable. For example, the included angle of the vertex 60 can vary by up to approximately 25%.

In one example, a width of each side wall 14 is approximately 50 mm, with a variance of approximately 15 mm. In one embodiment, the width of each side wall is 48 mm. Thus, in the case of the vertex 60 being approximately 60°, a spacing of the front edges of the side walls 14 is also approximately 50 mm, with a variance of approximately 15 mm. It follows that, in the referenced embodiment, the spacing is 48 mm.

The body 12 is of a malleable material, such as a metal. The metal can be various forms, such as steel and aluminium. It is a requirement of the material that it be capable of being bent by been struck by a hammer or the like. In one example, the metal is steel which is pre-galvanised or hot dip galvanised.

The post can have a length of between approximately 1.5 m and 3.0 m, depending on requirements.

The side and front walls 14, 18 can have a thickness of between approximately 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, depending on the size of the post and the working requirements. Other thicknesses may also be suitable depending on the application.

The front wall 18 has a number of retention openings 20. The retention openings 20 are equally spaced along at least a portion of the front wall 18. A lug 22 extends upwardly from a periphery 24 of each retention opening 20. Each retention opening and its associated lug 22 can be provided by an inverted U-shaped slot 25. It will be appreciated that the slot 22 could be conventionally U-shaped. Given the nature of the material of the body 12, the lug 22 can be driven at least partially inwardly with a suitable tool, such as a hammer.

The front wall 18 has an intermediate portion 26 that is interposed between end portions 28 that interconnect the intermediate portion 26 and the respective edges of the side walls 14.

The intermediate portion 26 has an outwardly convex profile, in plan. The convex profile can be arcuate. The radius of the convex profile can be 30 mm, with a variance of approximately 25%. The intermediate portion 26 can project approximately 15 mm, with a variance of approximately 5 mm, with respect to the front edges of the side walls 14. The outward curvature of the intermediate portion 26 facilitates hooking of a length of wire or cable over the lug 22, as described below. In one embodiment, an outer radius of the intermediate portion is 15 mm.

Each end portion 28 has an outwardly convex profile. Laterally outer edges of each end portion 28 and respective, associated edges of the side walls 14 are continuous. Junctions or transitions between laterally outer edges of the intermediate portion 26 and respective end portions 28 are defined by respective, inwardly curved portions (figure 3) of the front wall 18.

A width of the intermediate portion 26, between inflexion lines P (figure 4) along the portions 30 is between 30 mm and 35 mm, for example 32.5 mm. Internal radii R at each vertex 16 are between 3 mm and 5 mm, for example 4 mm. The sides of each opening 20 are outwardly spaced, at D, from outer surfaces of the end portions 28, by between 3 mm and 5 mm, for example 4 mm.

The retention openings 20 are positioned along the intermediate portion 26 on a central, longitudinally extending line. The openings 20 can be evenly spaced, or otherwise spaced to suit requirements.

Dimensions of each retention opening 20 vary according to the dimensions of the post 10, which, in turn, has dimensions that vary in accordance with the desired application. For example, with the dimensions of the side and front walls 14, 18, as described above, each retention opening 20 has an overall width of approximately 22 mm, with a variance of approximately 10 mm.

Each lug 22 has a height of approximately 20 mm, with a variance of approximately 5 mm, and a width of approximately 5 mm, with a variance of approximately 2 mm. Openings 32 on respective sides of the lug 22 have a width of approximately 8 mm, with a variance of approximately 4 mm. Each lug 22 is spaced approximately 5 mm, with a variance of approximately 3 mm, from an upper edge of the retention opening 20.

The post 10 includes two spaced top slots 34 that extend longitudinally and open at an upper edge 36 of the body 12. Thus, the slots 34 define a tongue 38 interposed between the slots 34. The slots 34 and the tongue 38 have similar dimensions to the openings 32 and the lug 22, respectively.

A laterally extending drain and anti-sink slot 40 extends through the body 12. The slot is positioned a predetermined distance from a lower edge 41 of the body 12. In use, an elongate component can be received through the body 12, via the slot 40, to inhibit the post 10 from sinking to a level at which the surface of the ground extends upwardly past the slot 40. The slot 40 also facilitates the egress of water that might enter the post 10. The slot 40 has a width of approximately 5 mm, with a variance of approximately 2 mm. A length of the slot is 20 mm, with a variance of approximately mm.

In use, a length of wire 42 is threaded through the retention opening 20 with the wire 42 located between the lug 22 and a remainder of the front wall 18 as shown in figure

4. A suitable tool, such as a hammer, is then used to drive the lug 22 inwardly to bear against the wire. Thus, the wire can be clamped or crimped into position with respect to the post 10 by the lug 22 and the remainder of the front wall 18. A similar process is used to secure a length of wire to the post 10 at the top slots 34, by driving the tongue 38 inwardly.

In fences using previously available cylindrical posts to which a wire or cable is secured, the posts can be susceptible to bending as a result of pressure being applied to the wires or cables, for example, as a result of livestock pushing against the wires or the posts. With the post 10, the vertex 16 and the end portions 28 enhance a structural integrity of the post 10. In particular, the cross-sectional shape of the post 10 inhibits bending of the post 10 to a significantly larger degree than would a cylindrical cross-sectional shape of a post having the same wall thickness. A combination of the outwardly curved intermediate portion 26, the vertex 16 and the end portions 28 provide a structure with enhanced integrity, when compared to a cylindrical post, and allow for hooking of the wire or cable with a similar level of convenience that would be available with the cylindrical post.

The post 10 can have a unitary, one-piece structure. For example, the post 10 can be the result of an extrusion process, following by a cutting, shaping, or milling process.

It is envisaged that other forms of wire or cable connecting arrangements could be used with posts having a similar transverse cross-section. Thus, the invention is to be regarded as extending to a post as described above, with the retention opening and associated lug replaced with some other form of connector or connecting arrangement so as to fasten the wire or cable to the post. For example, the front wall could carry an external clip, lug, tongue, or some other similar arrangement to fasten the wire or cable to the front wall.

It is to be appreciated that the dimensions of the retention opening 20 can be adjusted to suit a required strength of the post 10. With smaller retention openings, a structural integrity of the post 10 is enhanced. Furthermore, the variances provided above in respect of the various dimensions can be used to accommodate the post 10 of different lengths depending on customer requirements.

Throughout the specification, including the claims, reference to a "fence" is reference to any form of structure that requires a length of wire, cable, or the like to span two or more posts. For example, the word "fence" may refer to a trellis structure for growing plants, a balustrade, various barriers, or other similar structures.

The appended claims are to be considered as incorporated into the above description.

Throughout this specification, reference to any advantages, promises, objects or the like should not be regarded as cumulative, composite and/or collective and should be regarded as preferable or desirable rather than stated as a warranty.

Throughout this specification, unless otherwise indicated, "comprise," "comprises," and "comprising," (and variants thereof) or related terms such as "includes" (and variants thereof)," are used inclusively rather than exclusively, so that a stated integer or group of integers may include one or more other non-stated integers or groups of integers.

When any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. Recitation of ranges of values herein are intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value and each separate subrange defined by such separate values is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

Words indicating direction or orientation, such as "front", "rear", "back", etc, are used for convenience. The inventor(s) envisages that various embodiments can be used in a non-operative configuration, such as when presented for sale. Thus, such words are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

The term "and/or", e.g., "A and/or B" shall be understood to mean either "A and B" or "A or B" and shall be taken to provide explicit support for both meanings or for either meaning.

Features which are described in the context of separate aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used together and/or be interchangeable. Similarly, features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A fence post that comprises: an elongate tubular body including: at least two generally planar side walls that converge rearwardly to define a rearwardly facing vertex; and a front wall that interconnects front edges of the side walls, the front wall having at least one retention opening and a lug that extends from a periphery of the opening so that a length of wire can extend across the front wall and behind the lug to retain the length of wire in position with respect to the tubular body.

2. The fence post as claimed in claim 1, in which the tubular body is of a malleable material so that the lug can be bent inwardly subsequent to the wire being located behind the lug.

3. The fence post as claimed in claim 1, in which the front wall has an intermediate portion with an outwardly convex profile along its length, the intermediate portion being interposed between end portions that interconnect the intermediate portion and the respective front edges of the side walls.

4. The fence post as claimed in claim 3, in which each end portion has an outwardly convex profile with inwardly curved portions at respective junctions of the intermediate portion and the end portions.

5. The fence post as claimed in claim 1, in which the opening and the lug are provided by one of an inverted U-shaped slot and a U-shaped slot.