EP1541018A1 - Fence posts - Google Patents

Abstract

The stake (1) has a pointed portion (2) inserted into ground, and a main portion (3) with a connection unit to integrate stakes to form a stake bundle. The connection unit has male and female units (81, 82), such the male unit is assembled with a female unit (82`) and the female unit is assembled with a male unit (81`) of a stake (1`). The connection unit has crossing holes (71, 72) associated on connection rods of the stakes.

Description

The present invention relates to a fence post electric. More particularly the invention relates to a stake allowing to quickly mount a temporary fence.

When the user wants to mount a fence quickly, it is known to use stakes stuck in the ground to maintain a conductor wire covered by an electric current.

In the case of temporary fences, which are easy to install and to move, it is known to use either cylindrical stakes made of iron or fiberglass with plastic insulators, or shape pegs more complex having a main portion of molded plastic carrying devices for supporting the lead wire.

In general, the user circulating around the plot to fence uses stakes from a fagot composed of a plurality of stakes. Either the stakes of the fagot are simply maintained together by links when they have just been purchased, the pegs are in bulk when used. It is difficult to manipulate the fagot or extract a single stake of the fagot without the whole bundle do not go out.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a picket of fence capable of being joined to or de-dictated from a group of pickets to form a bundle with a certain rigidity.

The invention relates to a stake for electric fence having a tip portion, of metal or plastic, for be stuck in the ground and a main portion, said main portion, one or more connecting means for to secure a plurality of such fence stakes to form a fagot easily transportable, characterized in that said portion is made of plastic material, and in that said means of at least partially integrally molded with said portion main.

In one embodiment, the connecting means comprise means of pairing to assemble the stake with another such peg, the pairing means being constituted by a male element and a female element, the male element being intended to be assembled to a female element of the other such pole, the female element being intended to be assembled to a male element of the other such stake.

Preferably, an element from said male element and said element is connected to the vicinity of a first end of the main portion located on the side of the tip portion, the other element being connected to the vicinity of a second end of the portion main located opposite the first end of the portion main.

Preferably, the pairing means comprise a spacing element arranged radially with respect to the direction axial axis of the stake, a first end of the spacer being connected to the main portion, a second end of the element spacing, opposite its first end, carrying one of said male member and said female member, the spacer member to space the stake of the other such stake with which it is assembled.

Preferably again, the spacer element is located at near a first end of the main portion adjacent to the tip portion, and the spacer member has a face bearing generally perpendicular to the axial direction of the stake, to facilitate the operation of registering the earth stake.

In another embodiment, the connecting means comprise means of assembly for securing between they a plurality, greater than two, such stakes.

Preferably, the assembly means consist of at least one connecting rod and at least one through hole located along of the main portion to pass said connecting rod.

Preferably, the main portion has two holes through, a first through hole being located at a first end of the main portion located near the portion of tip and a second through hole being located at a second end of the main portion opposite the first end.

Preferably still, one of the through holes is a hole circular, and the other of the through holes is an oblong hole whose long axis is oriented in the axial direction of the stake.

In yet another embodiment, the means of assembly are constituted by at least one recess assembly - lug arranged radially with respect to the axial direction, the lug being intended to cooperate with a corresponding recess of a second another such peg, said recess being adapted to cooperate with a spur corresponding of a third other such stake.

Preferably, the main portion comprises two sets recess - ergot, a first set being located at a first end of the main portion located near the tip portion and a second set being located at a second end of the main portion opposite the first end.

Preferably the lug and the recess of the same set are arranged radially in opposite directions.

More preferably, the recess of said at least one set recess-lug is a through recess.

The stake may comprise means for supporting the driver located along the main portion. In yet another mode of realization, the means of support play the role of of assembly capable of receiving a connecting rod solidarizing a plurality of stakes.

• la figure 1 est une vue à plat de côté d'un piquet selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue agrandie de la zone II de la figure 1 représentant partiellement deux piquets de clôture reliés par des moyens d'appariement ;
• les figures 3A, 3B et 3C représentent schématiquement différentes manières d'assembler par paire des piquets selon l'invention ; et,
• la figure 4 est une section au niveau des moyens d'assemblage selon un autre mode de réalisation des moyens de liaison du piquet selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely for illustrative purposes and not limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings. On the drawing :

• Figure 1 is a side view of a post according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the area II of Figure 1 partially showing two fence stakes connected by matching means;
• FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C schematically represent different ways of assembling pairs of stakes according to the invention; and,
• Figure 4 is a section at the assembly means according to another embodiment of the connecting means of the stake according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the embodiment currently preferred stake of the invention will be described in detail. The fence post 1 defines an axial direction indicated by the axis A. The fence post 1 has a tip portion 2 intended to be stuck in the ground, for example metallic, and a main portion 3, for example molded plastic, in a known manner.

The main portion 3 has a first end 31 located in the vicinity of the tip portion 2, and a second end 32, free, located opposite the first end 31. The junction 23 between the metallic tip portion 2 and the first end 31 of the main portion 3 is made by means of a cylindrical recess 24 of axis A provided in the main portion 3. The corresponding end of the tip portion is force-fitted into the cylindrical recess 24.

The cross section of the main portion 3 (Figure 4) is I-shaped and has a first flank 33 and a second flank 35 connected to one another by a rib 34. One of the flanks, here the first flank 33, comprises means for supporting the driver 5 and 6 to keep the lead in a B direction perpendicular to the axis A.

The fence post 1 is equipped with connecting means the function is to allow the assembly of a plurality of stakes of fence 1 to form an easily transportable bundle without unglued. The bundle is a rigid group of fence posts.

The connecting means comprise means pairing to form a group consisting of a pair of stakes. The pairing means consist of elements arranged on the along peg 1 so that they cooperate with elements corresponding placed along another stake 1 '(shown in phantom dotted in Figure 1).

In the preferred embodiment, the means of pairing are constituted by a male element 81, for example a small diameter cylinder with axis parallel to the B axis and a female element 82. The female element 82 is for example located on the main portion 3, near the second end 32 thereof. The male element 81 is for example located at the end of a spacer 83 also part of the matching means. The form of the female element 82 is complementary to that of the male element 81. The female element 82 is a hollow cylinder portion of axis parallel to axis B and has a crescent section, so as to receive a male element 82 'of another peg 1' and to allow the passage of the spacing element 83 'corresponding.

The spacer 83 is disposed in the vicinity of the first end 31 of the main portion 3 and extends perpendicular to the axial direction A of stake 1. One end free of the spacer element 83 carries the male element 81. Advantageously, the spacer element 83 is flattened in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction A so as to present a face support 85 flat on the side of the main portion 3. The bearing face 85 allows the user to fuse the ground fence 1 with help the foot by pressing on the bearing face 85. Optionally, the bearing face 85 may be provided with anti-slip streaks 86 (Figure 2). In addition, in order to reinforce the spacer 83, a rib 84 can be provided between the face of the spacer element 83 opposite the bearing face 85 and the junction between the main portion 3 and the tip portion 2.

The linking of two fence stakes through the means pairing will now be described. In Figure 1, a second fence post 1 'is shown in dotted lines. The first and second fence stakes 1 and 1 'are placed head to tail so that the element male 81 of the first stake 1 facing the female element 82 'of the second peg 1 ', and that the male element 81' of the second peg 1 'is opposite the female element 82 of the first stake 1. The elements males and females are then nested with each other either by latching, or by sliding parallel to the axis B, elements males in the female elements.

FIG. 3A shows a pair of pegs constituted by two stakes 1 and 1 ', according to the presently preferred embodiment, associated head spade.

Alternatively, the two stakes could be associated with to form a pair of T-shaped stakes (Figure 3B). In this variant, the respective second flanks of each of the pegs are in opposite. Matching elements are therefore planned externally on the second flank 35 of the post 1.

The two pegs being strictly identical (formed at from a single mold), the elements intended to cooperate must be placed in front of each other. So the two stakes of the pair of stakes are oriented in the same direction, the stakes are slightly offset relative to each other along the axis A.

Figure 3C represents yet another variant of the making a pair of stakes. Stakes are associated head to tail but turned to the outside. The means of pairing are therefore provided externally on the second side 35 of the stakes 1 and 1 '. It is note that in the pairings of FIGS. 3B and 3C, the stakes may possibly not be provided with the spacing element 83.

In the presently preferred embodiment the means connection of the post 1 are constituted by assembly means to form a group consisting of a plurality of stakes, the plurality having at least three stakes. It should be noted that the picket according to the invention may comprise assembly means without include means of matching with the function of to associate two stakes.

Referring to FIG. 1, the assembly means have a plurality of through holes disposed along the main portion 3. The through holes pass right through rib 34, along the axis B. More particularly, the main portion 3 has a first through hole 71 in the vicinity of its first end 31 and has a second through hole 72 in the vicinity of its second end 32. Advantageously, the first through hole 71 is circular while the second through hole 72 is oblong shape, the long axis of this oblong hole being oriented along the axis A. The through holes 71 and 72 are intended to cooperate with a rod linkage as will now be described.

Advantageously, the assembly means make it possible to form a group consisting of several pairs of stakes made as has been described above. The pairs of pegs are superimposed to each other, possibly alternately: the peg, for example right, each pair of stakes is once pointed up, once down. In the latter case, the through holes equipping the main portions of the pegs of the superposed pairs coincide according to four axes. An attached connecting rod can thus be inserted into through a succession of through holes to hold by friction the corresponding stakes. The fact that up to four stems can be used ensures rigidity to the bundle thus formed. Moreover, the fact through hole on two along the axis of the connecting rod be a hole oblong reduces friction and allows the user to separate easily one of the pairs of stakes of the bundle.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. the assembly means consist of at least one assembly spigot-recess, coming as a variant of the set-insert-hole crossing. Preferably, the peg comprises two such sets ergot-recess placed respectively at each end of the portion main 3 to allow safe assembly.

The stake 1 has a lug 91 placed on one side of the rib 34 and extending radially so as to protrude beyond the first and second flanks 33 and 35 of the peg 1. Like the peg 1 ' represented in dashed lines, the peg 1 also comprises a recess 92, or non-through hole, located on the face of rib 34 opposite to the face bearing the lug 91.

To secure the peg 1 with a second peg 1 ' identical, the lug 91 of the post 1 is placed opposite the recess corresponding 92 'of the post 1' and is forcibly engaged in the recess 92. The lug and recess of the same assembly being placed on sides opposed to the rib 34, the recess 92 of the post 1 is intended for receive the lug of a third stake.

If the stakes come from a single mold, and for the purpose of do not weaken the central rib 34, the recess 92 is not necessarily positioned at the same height along the peg as the lug 91. As a result, two stakes secured by these assembly means will be slightly offset from each other, for example by a step predefined down. For a third stake, associated with both previous, is not shifted from the predefined step down, it is possible to provide that a recess-ergot assembly will comprise for example two adjacent recesses (or two adjacent pins) spaced two times said predefined step and a lug (a recess). So the third stake of the fagot will be at the level of the first stake of the fagot.

Alternatively, the recess may be a through hole in which the lug is snapped.

In yet another variant, the support means of the conductor 5 or 6 can serve as assembly means. A rod reported fitting perfectly to the means of the driver support 5 or 6 makes it possible to form a group constituted by a plurality of stakes. Alternatively, the shape of the conductor support means 5, 6 is studied to link one stake to another.

Thus, the post according to the invention is easily associated with other stakes to form a rigid bundle, easy to store and move.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular realization, it is quite obvious that it is not at all limited and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

Electric fence post (1, 1 ') having a tip portion (2) for staking in the earth and a main portion (3) having, along said main portion, one or more connecting means (71, 72 , 81, 82, 83, 91, 92) for securing a plurality of such fence stakes to form an easily transportable bundle, characterized in that said main portion (3) is made of plastic, and in that said means linkages (71, 72, 81, 82, 83, 91, 92) are at least partially integrally molded with said main portion. Post according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting means comprise matching means for assembling said stake (1) with another such peg (1 '), said pairing means being constituted by a male element (81). ) and a female element (82), said male element (81) being intended to be assembled to a female element (82 ') of said other such post, said female element (82) being intended to be assembled to a male element (81) ) of said other such stake. Post according to claim 2, characterized in that one of said male element (81) and said female element (82) is connected in the vicinity of a first end (31) of the main portion (3) on the the tip portion (2), the other member being connected in the vicinity of a second end (32) of the main portion (3) located opposite the first end (31) of the main portion (3) . Post according to claim 2, characterized in that the pairing means comprise a spacer element (83) arranged radially with respect to the axial direction (A) of the stake (1), a first end of the element of spacing being connected to the main portion (3), a second end of the spacer, opposite said first end thereof, carrying one of said male member (81) and said female member (82), said spacing member for spacing said peg (1) from said other peg (1 ') with which it is assembled. Post according to claim 4, characterized in that said spacer element (83) is situated in the vicinity of a first end (31) of the main portion (3) adjacent to the tip portion (2), and in that that said spacer comprises an element bearing face (85) generally perpendicular to the axial direction (a) of the post, to facilitate the operation of the file earth rod. Post according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting means comprise connecting means for securing to each other a plurality, greater than two, of such stakes. Stake according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting means are constituted by at least one connecting rod and at least one through hole (71, 72) located along said main portion (3) for passing said rod link. Post according to claim 7, characterized in that said main portion comprises two through holes, a first through hole (71) being located at a first end (31) of said main portion (3) located near said tip portion (2). and a second through hole (72) being located at a second end (32) of said main portion (3) opposite said first end (31). A stake according to claim 8, characterized in that one of said through holes (71) is a circular hole, and in that the other of said through holes (72) is an oblong hole whose major axis is oriented in the direction axial (A) of the stake. Post according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting means are constituted by at least one recess assembly (91) - lug (92) arranged radially relative to the axial direction, said lug being intended to cooperate with a corresponding recess d a second other such peg (1 '), said recess being intended to cooperate with a corresponding lug of a third other such peg. Post according to claim 10, characterized in that said main portion comprises two sets recess - lug, a first assembly being located at a first end (31) of said main portion (3) located near said tip portion (2) and a second assembly being located at a second end (32) of said main portion (3) opposite said first end (31). Post according to claim 10, characterized in that said lug (91) and said recess are arranged radially in opposite directions. Post according to claim 10, characterized in that said recess of said at least one recess-pin assembly is a through recess. Post according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises support means (5, 6) of the conductor located along said main portion (3), said support means acting as connecting means adapted to receive a connecting rod solidarisant a plurality of such stakes.

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