AU732437B2

AU732437B2 - Electric fence outrigger

Info

Publication number: AU732437B2
Application number: AU85209/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Forster Weatherly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-23
Filing date: 1998-09-17
Publication date: 2001-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-17
Also published as: AU8520998A

Description

P/00/0oII Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention title: ELECTRIC FENCE OUTRIGGER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 4 8 9 3 17 SEP 98 Electric fence outrigger Field of the invention The invention relates to a an electric fence outrigger. More particularly this invention relates to an electric fence outrigger which can be attached to fencing posts and in particular C-Posts.

Background of the invention Electric fences are used to ensure that animals are retained within the fences and also to ensure that the animals do not push against the fences and eventually push them down.

Electric fences are created by running at least one electric wire along a fence. It is critical that the electric wire does not form an electrical connection with any of the other S fence parts as this would create a short in the circuit and the electric fence would then not function correctly. Nevertheless the electric wire must be retained at a height which S will ensure that animals will touch it if they come too close to the fence.

Accordingly, various means have been devised to attach the electric wires to fences S:whilst ensuring that the electric wire does not form an electrical connection with any of the other fence parts.

S For example, several types of insulators are known and used for attaching to three pointed star metal posts. These insulators are generally attached directly to the metal 20 posts and the electric wire is then attached to the insulator. Shorts in the electric circuits can occur as a result of wetness ie rain or frosts. The wetness may form an electric circuit between the electric wire and the fence parts (despite the intermediate insulator), thereby forming a short in the electric circuit.

Some of these insulators can also be attached to fences by outrigger arms. This assists in preventing shorts in the circuit occurring due to frosts and wetness. For example outrigger arms which can be attached to two other fence wires are known, and outrigger arms which bolt to three pointed star metal posts are known. Another type of outrigger arm has two loops which are placed over a post. In between the two loops is a further loop which protrudes from the fence once the outer two loops have been placed over the post. The wire is threaded through the central loop. Accordingly, the central loop must be coated with insulating material if this device is to be used for electric fencing. These outrigger arms may also be called electric fence outriggers, when used for the purpose of electrical fencing.

At present at least one device is known for attachment of electric fencing to C-Posts.

This device is an eye hook made of insulating material. The eye hook has a screw which is screwed into a poly tube which has been inserted through the holes on either side of the C-Post. This device has a slot in the hook through which the electric wire can be inserted. This device is made of moulded plastic material and will degrade over time.

Any cracking of this material may lead to shorts in the electric circuit which occur through wetness or frosts.

Object of the invention It is an objective of the present invention to provide an electric fence outrigger specifically for use with C-Posts, although use with other posts may be possible. The electric fence outrigger of this invention is designed to position the electric wire a S .sufficient distance from the fence to prevent shorting in the electric circuit. This electric fence outrigger connects to the C-Post or other post in a different manner from those already known.

S Summary of the invention 20 According to one form of the invention an electric fence outrigger for a fence post °ooo having at least one pair of spaced apertures is provided, comprising: a first attachment means to releasably engage an insulator through which an electric wire may pass; (ii) a second attachment means distant from the first attachment means including two arms to releasably engage the fence post, each arm passing through one of the spaced apertures; and (iii) an intermediate means spacing the first attachment means from the second attachment means and including a stop means to inhibit the first attachment means being moved towards the fence post; wherein the two arms are resiliently moveable towards and away from each other and include retaining means to releasably engage the fence post.

Preferably the retaining means are located on the ends of the two arms and are substantially U shaped projections. In this arrangement, the two arms are flexed so their ends may pass through apertures in the fence post. The arms resile and the retaining means are located so the arms cannot be withdrawn from the fence without reflexing the arms to disengage the retaining means.

Preferably the first attachment means is a partial loop into which the insulator may be inserted.

Preferably the first attachment means, the intermediate means and the second attachment means are integrally formed from the same material. Preferably the first S.attachment means and the second attachment means are at either end of the electric fence outrigger.

S.Preferably the arms additionally form the intermediate means and stop means by the arms having divergent and/or convergent portions which in use inhibit the first S" "attachment means approaching the fence post.

Preferably the electric fence outrigger further comprising an insulator specifically adapted to be releasably engaged by the first attachment means. Preferably the insulator is a ceramic cylinder with an axial opening running through the cylinder to receive a threaded electric wire. Further preferably the insulator has a radial depression to receive the first attachment means. The first attachment means may be expanded to fit over the ends of the insulator. The first attachment means then contracts to fit over the centre of the insulator. In this way the insulator will not slide out of the first attachment means.

Preferably the electric fence outrigger is specifically adapted to attach to C-Posts. C- Posts are substantially C shaped galvanised steel posts in which each of the pair of spaced apertures has a transversely aligned auxiliary aperture. Preferably each arm of the electric fence outrigger passes through the respective aperture and auxiliary aperture.

Preferably the electric fence outrigger is made of wire of at least 2.5 mm diameter.

4 In another form of the invention a holder for the electric fence outrigger is provided comprising a cylinder to receive the first attachment means of at least one electric fence outrigger wherein the first attachment means releasably engages the cylinder for storage of the electric fence outrigger. Alternatively the cylinder of the holder may be provided with removable flanges situated at each end thereof so the outriggers may be slipped onto the cylinder without the need to stress the outrigger around the cylinder.

Further the flanges will also prevent the electric fence outriggers from sliding off the cylinder. Preferably each of the flanges include holes specifically adapted to receive a filament there between to form a necklace to permit the holder to be suspended about the neck of an installer of electric fence outriggers.

Description of the drawings The invention will now be further explained and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: *.Figure 1 is a side view of an electric fence outrigger according to the invention in the unstressed state; Figure 2 is perspective view of the electric fence outrigger of figure 1 with an insulator; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the electric fence outrigger of figure 1 with an insulator when attached to a C-Post; Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the electric fence outrigger in the compressed state for insertion; Figure 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the electric fence outrigger in the finally inserted state; Figure 6 is a side view of an electric fence outrigger according to another embodiment the invention in the unstressed state; Figure 7 is perspective view of the electric fence outrigger of figure 6 with an insulator; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the electric fence outrigger of figure 6 with an insulator when attached to a C-Post; Figure 9 is a partial cross sectional view of the electric fence outrigger of figure 6 in the compressed state for insertion; Figure 10 is a partial cross sectional view of the electric fence outrigger of figure 6 in the finally inserted state; Figure 11 is a partial cross sectional view of the electric fence outrigger of figure 6 in which a pair of pliers have been used to further lock the electric fence outrigger in an alternate final inserted state.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of several electric fence outriggers as stored on a holder.

In figure 1 an electric fence outrigger 1 is shown. The first attachment means 2 is a loop at one end of the electric fence outrigger 1 defining a 25mm opening when in the unstressed state. The second attachment means 3 includes two arms 4 and 5 at the other end of the electric fence outrigger 1. The two arms 4 and 5 are made of material which permits the arms 4 and 5 to be resiliently moved towards and away from one another.

They have ends which are substantially U shaped. The two arms 4 and 5 extend divergently at 6, 7, and at 8 and then convergently at 9 until they join to form a loop 2a.

The loop 2a is the first attachment means 2. Parts 6, and 7 form the intermediate means 19. Part 7 is the stop means S Figure 2 shows the electric fence outrigger 1 of figure 1 in an expanded state so the loop 2a may receive an insulator 10. The opening will be about 30mm. The insulator 10 is cylindrical in shape (see Figure 3) and has a hole 11 through the middle of it. The diameter of either end 12 and 13 of the insulator 10 is larger than at the centre 14 of the insulator 10. The insulator 10 is releasably attached to the first attachment means 2 by the loop 2a of the first attachment means 2 being expanded over one of the ends 12 or 13 of the insulator 10 and allowed to contract over the centre 13 of the insulator As clearly shown in figures 3, the electric fence outrigger 1 is attached to a C-Post As indicated by the name the C-Post 15 is C shaped. Adjacent pairs of holes 16 and 17 are formed in either side of the C-Post. Holes 16 and 17 on either side of the C-Post are positioned opposite each other.

As shown in Figure 4, the electric fence outrigger 1 attaches to the C-Post 15 by both arms 4 and 5 being flexed towards each other and pressed through adjacent pairs of holes 16 and 17 in the C-Post 15. As indicated in the Figures 4 and 5, this causes the opening in loop 2a to reduce by 10 mm which in turn holds the insulator 10 firmly in position. Once through the holes, the arms 4 and 5 are allowed to resile which moves them against the outer section of each of the holes of 16 and 17 (see Figure This causes the U shaped ends to be axially offset from the holes 16 which prevents the electric fence outrigger 1 from being easily removed from the C-Post 15 as shown in Figure The two arms 4 and 5 converge towards the insulator 10 and are shown as part 7. As these arms converge it is not possible for the insulator to be moved any substantial distance towards the C-Post. The electric wire 18 passes through the centre 11 of the insulator Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the electric fence outrigger 21. The first attachment means 22 is a loop at one end of the electric fence outrigger 21 defining a 25mm opening when in the unstressed state. The second attachment means 23 includes 15 two arms 24 and 25 at the other end of the electric fence outrigger 21. The two arms 24 and 25 are made of material which permits the arms 24 and 25 to be resiliently moved towards and away from one another. They have ends which are substantially U shaped.

The two arms 24 and 25 extend divergently at 26 and 27 and then convergently at 28 o ••until they join to form a loop 22a. The loop 22a is the first attachment means 22. Parts 26 and 27 form the intermediate means 28. Part 27 is the stop means 29.

Figure 7 shows the electric fence outrigger 21 of figure 6 in an expanded state so the loop 22a may receive an insulator 10. The opening will be about 30mm. The insulator is cylindrical in shape (see Figure 8) and has a hole 11 through the middle of it. The diameter of either end 12, 13 of the insulator 10 is larger than at the centre 14 of the insulator 10. The insulator 10 is releasably attached to the first attachment means 22 by the loop 22a of the first attachment means 22 being expanded over one of the ends 12 or 13 of the insulator 10 and allowed to contract over the centre 13 of the insulator As clearly shown in figures 8, the electric fence outrigger 21 is attached to a C-Post As indicated by the name the C-Post 15 is C shaped. Adjacent pairs of holes 16 and 17 are formed in either side of the C-Post. Holes 16 and 17 on either side of the C-Post are positioned opposite each other.

As shown in Figure 9, the electric fence outrigger 21 attaches to the C-Post 15 by both arms 24 and 25 being flexed towards each other and pressed through adjacent pairs of holes 16 and 17 in the C-Post 15. As indicated in the Figures 10 and 11, this causes the opening in loop 2a to reduce by 10 mm which in turn holds the insulator 10 firmly in position. Once through the holes, the arms 24 and 25 are allowed to resile which moves them against the outer section of the holes 16 and against the inner section of holes 17 (see Figure This causes the U shaped ends to be axially offset from the holes 16 and 17 which prevents the electric fence outrigger 21 from being easily removed from the C- Post 15 as shown in Figure The two arms 24 and 25 converge towards the insulator 10 and are shown as part 29. As these arms converge it is not possible for the insulator to be moved any substantial S distance towards the C-Post. The electric wire 18 passes through the centre 11 of the •4 ,insulator As shown in figure 11 a suitable pair of pliers (not shown) can be used to further lock the electric fence outrigger 21 to the C post. Since the two arms 24 and 25 are made of resilient material which may be deformed to some extent. Pliers can be placed over the two arms 24 and 25 as they converge at part 29. Each of the plier's pincers engages a parallel segment part 29 and uniform pressure applied to compress the two arms 24 and 25 towards each other at part 29. This also causes the inner portion of substantially U shaped ends of each arm to reinforce the engagement with the external surface of the C- Post 15. As a result the electric fence outrigger 21 is more firmly secured to the C-Post In figure 12, a holder 30 is shown for storing several electric fence outriggers 31. The holder comprises a cylinder 32 which has flanged ends 33 and 34 which prevent the electric fence outriggers 31 from sliding off the cylinder 32. The flanged ends 33 and 34 have holes 35 and 36 to receive a string 37. This enables the user (not shown) to wear the holder 30 around their neck during distribution and attachment of the electric fence outriggers 31 to fences (not shown). The electric fence outriggers 31 are releasably attached to the holder 30 by removing one of the flanged ends 33 or 34 and sliding the outriggers 31 along the cylinder 32. That flange is then reinstated to hold the outriggers 31 in place. To remove the outriggers 31, the first attachment means 38 of each otrigger 8 31 is expanded to enable the two ends 39 and 40 of each electric fence outrigger 31 to be removed from the holder The word 'comprising' and other forms of the word comprising used in this description and in the claims does not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions which are obvious to the person skilled in the art and which do not have a material effect upon the invention.

Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

o° o o* *oo* o*

Claims

1. An electric fence outrigger for a fence post having at least one pair of spaced apertures, comprising: a first attachment means to releasably engage an insulator through which an electric wire may pass; (ii) a second attachment means distant from the first attachment means including two arms to releasably engage the fence post, each arm passing through one of the spaced apertures; and (iii) an intermediate means spacing the first attachment means from the second attachment means and including a stop means to inhibit the first attachment means being moved towards the fence post; wherein the two arms are resiliently moveable towards and away from each other and include retaining means to releasably engage the fence post.

2. The electric fence outrigger of claim 1 wherein the retaining means located on 15 the ends of the two arms are substantially U shaped projections.

3. The electric fence outrigger of either claims 1 or 2 wherein the first attachment means is a partial loop into which the insulator may be inserted.

4. The electric fence outrigger of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first attachment means, the intermediate means and the second attachment means are integrally formed from the same material.

The electric fence outrigger of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first attachment means and the second attachment means are at either end of the electric fence outrigger.

6. The electric fence outrigger of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the arms additionally form the intermediate means and the stop means by the arms having divergent and/or convergent portions which in use inhibit the first attachment means approaching the fence post.

7. The electric fence outrigger of any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprising an insulator specifically adapted to be releasably engaged by the first attachment means.

8. The electric fence outrigger of claim 7 wherein the insulator is a ceramic cylinder with an axial opening running through the cylinder to receive a threaded electric wire.

9. The electric fence outrigger of either claims 7 and 8 wherein the insulator has a radial depression to receive the first attachment means.

The electric fence outrigger of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the electric fence outrigger is specifically adapted to attach to C-Posts in which each of the pair of spaced apertures has a transversely aligned auxiliary aperture and each arm passes through the respective aperture and auxiliary aperture.

11. The electric fence outrigger of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the electric fence outrigger is made of wire of at least 2.5 mm diameter. 15

12. A holder for the electric fence outrigger according to any one of claims 1 to 11 comprising a cylinder to receive the first attachment means of at least one electric fence out rigger wherein the first attachment means releasably engages the cylinder for storage of the electric fence outrigger. o

13. The holder of claim 12 wherein the cylinder further comprises removable flanges e 20 situated at each end thereof so the outriggers may be slipped onto the cylinder without the need to stress the outrigger around the cylinder. *oo

*14. The holder of claim 13 wherein the flanges prevent the electric fence outriggers from sliding off the cylinder. The holder of either claims 13 or 14 wherein the flanges include holes specifically adapted to receive a filament there between to form a necklace to permit the holder to be suspended about the neck of an installer of electric fence outriggers. JAMES FORSTER WEATHERLEY 17 September, 1998