AU704590B2 - Post mounted outrigger - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT POST MOUNTED OUTRIGGER This invention statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: This invention relates to so-called offsets or outriggers which are used to support and space from the fence posts the "hot" wire or wire5 of an electric fence. The invention is par' cularly but not exclusively directed to offs< .:uitable for use with metal fence posts of the kind ':.own under the registered trade mark "star" and referred to herein as Sstar pickets.

10 The invention is defined in the claims. Several embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 15 Fig. 1 shows in side elevation the components of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows the components of Fig.l in plan view together with a star picket; Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the outrigger shown 20 in Figs.l and 2; Fig. 4 shows in plan view the outrigger of Figs.1-3 attached to a star picket; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line in Fig.4; Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the assembly shown in Fig.4; Fig. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 10 illustrates in side elevation a further embodiment of the invsntion; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 12 illustrates the clamp employed in the Fig. embodiment; Fig. 13 illustrates the outrigger employed in the Fig. 11 embodiment; Fig. 14 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 15 illustrates the outrigger used in the Fig. 14 embodiment.

The outrigger of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-6 consists of a wire portion 20 bent from galvanised steel wire, and a clamp 21 also of galvanised steel and provided with a bolt 22 and m.t "23.

The wire portion 20 is bent intc a helical formati.)n :25 at its distal end to receive a sleeve 24 of insulating material such as hard drawn nitrile rubber which is preferably stabilised against ultra violet radiation, forming the so-called "pigtail" for insulating support of the hot wire.

The proximal end of the wire portion 20 is bent firstly in the horizontal plane to form portions and 26 which pass around a one of the oblique flanges 27 of a star picket 28, to the web 29 of which the outrigger is to be fixed.

The proximal end portion is further bent in the Irnaa--~L -3vertical plane to form a U-shaped n linting portion comprising parallel legs 30 and 31 and a bight 32.

The outside width of the mounting portion is somewhat less than the width of the web 29, and just less than the inside distance between the flanges 33 of the clamp 21, while the separation of the legs 30 and 31 is sufficient to allow the passage of the bolt 22.

The bolt 22 in turn is chosen to suit the diameter of the holes 34 provided in the web of the star picket.

The bolt 22 is frictionally engaged with the clamp 21, for example by driving the squared root portion of the bolt shank into a circular hole in the clamp. In this way only a spanner is required for fixing tne assembly to the post.

The clamp 21 is dimensioned such that the distance between its lower edge 35 and the bolt 22 corresponds to the length of the leg As will be understood from the preceding description and the drawings, the outrigger is assembled and mounted by passing the bolt 22 between the legs 30 and 31 and seating the legs within the flanges 33 of the '25 clamp 21, then passing the bolt through a chosen hole in the web 32, and finally engaging and tightening the nut 23.

The outrigger will then be firmly captive on the post, its upward vertical movement being prevented by the engagement of the portion 26 with the clamp 21, downward vertical movement being prevented by the engagement of the bight portion with the bolt, and rotation parallel to the plane of the web being prevented by the engagement of the clamp 21 with the flange 27.

mm In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, a double-sided outrigger is provided by extending the wire portion outwardly from the leg 31.

Fig. 8 illustrates a single-sided outrigger suitable for use on the side of the fence on which lie the webs of the star pickets, while Fig. 9 shows the application of the invention to a vertically extending offset.

An alternative approach to the manner in which the clamp and outrigger may be inter-engaged is showr in Figs 10 to Here the outrigger is provided with a single leg 31 and the side flanges of the clamp 21 are notched at 36, the outrigger passing through the notch 36 adjacent the inner edge of the star post web 29.

As in the embodiments already described, the leg 31 will engage the adjacent flange 33 of the clamp to preven, relative rotation of the outrigger in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10, but in this embodiment both this and opposite rotation will also be prevented by engagement of the outrigger with a side of the notch.

It will be understood that the clamp shown in Figs. 10-12 need only be provided with one such notch 36, but as a matter of convenience clamps are preferably made with notches in each of the flanges 33, so that they can be used with double-ended outriggers as shown in Figs. 14 and This double-?nded version is without any leg formation within the mounting portion. Rotation of the outrigger arm about its own axis is prevented by the engagement of the region near the end of the oblique portion with the adjacent post flange 27.

~pLIIIII~Li_ The arrangement shown in Figs. 10 to 15 has the advantage of reducing the number and complexity of the bends in the outrigger. These embodiments recognise that it is not essential that the main length of the outrigger be coplanar with the post axis. Thus the portion 25 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7 may be eliminated with a consequent cost saving in manufacture.

16) The saving in bend- is dramatically shown in the case of the double-ended outrigger illustrated in Fig. which requires only two bends, which furthermore are coplanar, to form the oblique portion 26.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 14 incorporates a variation in the approach which may be taken to the engagement of the clamp with the post.

In this embodiment the outer flange 33' of the clamp is extended so that it overlies the outer edge of the 2[ post web, In this way the requirement for the clamp to be located close to the inner edge of the web 29 is obviated, as rotation of the clamp relative to the post will be prevented by the engagement of the flange 33' with the outer edge of the web.

Naturally the form of the outrigger may be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

3( The manner of support of the hot wire is also of no concern. Other known arrangements, such as the use of porcelain or plastic type insulators, can be substituted for the helical insulator described herein.

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Claims (4)

1. An electrified fence outrigger for mounting on a fence post, the outrigger including a mounting portion for attachment to the post and an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located, clamping means including a fastener adapted for connection with, the post and a clamping body adapted to be pressed against said mounting portion, said clamping body including a flange extending towards the post, said flange including a notch adapted to receive part of said mounting portion.

2. An outrigger according to claim 1 in which the clamping body includes two such flanges, each including such a notch. S'

3. An outrigger according to claim 2 in which said flanges are parallel and on opposite edges of the clamping body. 20

4. An outrigger substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 10 to 15 of the accompnaying drawings. Dated this 6th day of April 1998. JEFFREY DOUGLAS KING By his Patent Attorneys HALFORD CO. -II Il~y~- sraa~ ABSTRACT An electrified fence outrigger 20, for mounting on a fence post 28, has a mounting portion for attachment to the post and an arm extending from the post to a distal end which locates a hot wire. The outrigger further includes clamping means including a fastener 22 for connection to the post and a clamping body 21 attached to the fastener, the clamping body including a flange 33 extending towards the post, the flange having a notch 36 adapted to receive part of the mounting portion ooo: osm ~YP -I -r IPA1