GB2185080A - A wire tensioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A wire tensioning device (2) comprising a head (4) for engaging a post (6) to which wire (8) is to be attached and an elongate lever member (10), the head (4) being pivotably connected to the lever member (10), the head (4) and the lever member (10) having surfaces (12,14) which define a reducible area (16) for receiving the wire (8), and the device (2) being such that the lever member (10) can be lent on to trap the wire (8) in the reducible area (16) and to tension the wire (8) about the post (6). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A wire tensioning device This invention relates to a wire tensioning device.

Difficulty often occurs in adequately tensioning wire across posts during the construction of fencing.

Usuallytwo persons are required, oneto pull onthe wire to tension it and the other to staple or otherwise attach the wire to the post. It is not always con venientorenconomical oflabourtoemploytwoper- sons to erect a fence, and it is also not always con venient or effectiveto use pliers or similartoolsto tension the wire.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a wire tensioning device which can be operated easily and effectively by a single person.

Accordingly, this invention provides a wire ten- sioning device comprising a head for engaging a post to which wire is to be attached and an elongate lever member, the head being pivotably connected to the lever member, the head and the lever member having surfaces which define a reducible area for receiving the wire, and the device being such that the lever member can be lent on to trap thewire in the reducible area and to tension the wire about the post.

The device of the invention can be used to tension any appropriate type ofwire. The wire can be of any desired thickness. The wire can be straight as for example in the case of plain wire, barbed wire or elec triowire. Thewire can also be formed into a netting or into a mesh such forexample as sheep orpig mesh. The wire can be made of any desired material including any desired metals and plastics materials, it being appreciated that the invention is concerned with the device itself ratherthan the precise type of material (which is generally known as wire) that is being tensioned.

The device operates simply and speedily on long or short wire runs, and also where existing wire just needs repairing or refixing. Where the wire has a protective coating, for example of zinc, then the wire can be tensioned without damaging the protective coating. The wire can also be tensioned without being kinked. The device can be used where fencing is being erected by a single person, but workmen can operate in pairs if desired. Since the tensioning is effected merely by leaning on the lever member, little fatigue is involved.

Preferably, the reducible area is a channel.

The surfaces on the head and the lever member are preferably cam surfaces. Other types of surfaces may be employed.

If desired, the device may have only one ofthe reducible areas. However, preferablythe device has two of the reducible areas, there being one of the re ducible areas on each side of the device. The device can then easily be reversed in operation and the wire can befed into the upperorthe lower reducible area during use of the device. The ability to feed the wire into the upper or lower reducible area can be very useful when working close to the ground, or when working on hilly undulating ground, or when erecting fencing which continually has to change direction such for example as in woodlands.

The head will usually be connected to the lever member by a pivot bolt. Other types of pivot, for example a pivot pin, may be employed.

The head preferably has a concave surface forfitting around the post.

The concave surface may be serrated for helping the head to grip the post.

The head may be forked at its free end so that it can act as a claw for extracting staples pr nails from the posts. For example, the head may be inserted between the wire and the post to prise out the staples or the nails.

The lever member may be cranked at its end remote from the head to facilitate applying leverage to the lever member in some situations.

Preferably, the lever member is a bar but other constructions may be employed for the lever member.

The device is preferably made of a metal such for example as steel. The device can be made of any appropriate and desired material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a first wire tensioning device; Figure2 is a top plan view of the head part ofthe wiretensioning device shown in Figure 1; Figures 3,4 and 5 illustrate the use of the wire ten- sioning device shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 6is a side view of the head part of a second wire tensioning device; Figure 7is a rearview of the head part shown in Figure 6; Figure8showsthe head-engagjng end of an elongate lever member in the form of a bar; and Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the end shown in Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown a wire tensioning device 2 comprising a head 4forengaging a post 6 to which barbed wire 8 is to be attached.

The device 2 also comprises an elongate lever member in the form of a bar 10.

The head 4 has a cam surface 12 andthe bar 10 has a cam surface 14. The two cam surfaces 12,14 define a reducible area in the form of a channel 16 which can be reduced in size until it is substantially closed.

The head 4 has a similarcam surface 12 on the opposite side of the device 2 to that shown in Figure 1.

The bar 10 also has a similar cam surface l4onthe opposite side of the device 2 to that shown in Figure 1. These two cam surfaces 12, 14 on the opposite side ofthe device 2 define another reducible area in the form of another channel 16, as can be seen from Figure 2.

The head 4 is pivotallyfixed to the bar 10 by a pivot bolt 18. The pivot bolt 18 has a threaded end for receiving a nut 20.

The head 4 is curved as shown and it has a concave inner surface 22. The concave inner surface 22 is pro- vided with serrations 24so that the head 4 can easily grip the post 6.

Afork 26 is provided at the free end of the head 4so that the head 4 can act as a claw to extract staples or nails from the post 6, for example staples or nails that do not correctly go into the post on first being hit.

Acrank 28 is provided at the free end ofthe bar 10 to facilitate in gripping the bar 10, for example with a partofa person's body.

Figures 3,4 and 5 illustrate sequentially how the device 2 is used. Figure 3 shows a man 30 placing the wire 8 in the upper channel 16 and starting to place the head 4around the post 6. Figure4showsthe bar 10 pivoted slightly clockwise to close the channel 16 to cause the wire 8 to be pinched tight between the cam surfaces 12, defining the upperchannel 16.

Figure Sshowsthe man 30 holding the device 2 in the position shown in Figure 4 in which the pinched wire 8 has been tensioned by pivoting the entire device 2 aboutthe post 6 to pull the wire 8 around the post 6 as shown. In Figure 5, the man is ableto worksingle handedly by holding the bar 10 with his side and back, thus leaving both of his hands free for attach- ing the wire 8tothe post 6. Thus the man 30 is ableto hold a staple or nail (notshown) in his left hand and a hammer 32 in his right hand. Once the wire 8 has been secured to the post 6, the wire 8 can be released from the channel 16 and workcan then start atthe next post 6.It will be seen from Figures 3,4 and Sjust howfast and effective the device 2 is, whilst atthe same time being of a simple construction that can be manufactured and sold at a competitive price.

Referring now to Figures 6to 9, similar parts as in Figures 1 and 2 have been given the same reference numerals and their precise construction and operaction will not again be given.

Itwill be seen from Figures 6 and7thatthe head4 is provided with a central flange 34. The flange 34 is provided with an aperture 36forthe pivot bolt18.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the end ofthe bar 10 which engages the head 4 is provided with two prongs38,40andthese prongs 38,40 are provided with apertures42,44for receiving the pivot bolt 18 (not shown). A gap 46 between the prongs 38,40 is for receiving the flange 34 which then pivots between the prongs 38,40 aboutthe pivot bolt 18 in the apertures 36,42,44.

The wire tensioning device shown in Figures 6 to 9 is very robust and it can be made to any desired size.

Itistobeappreciatedthqttheembodimentsofthe invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of ex ample only and that modifications may be effected.

Thus, for example, the shape ofthe head 4, the bar 10 and the cam surfaces 12,14 may be varied. Also, the device 2 can be used to fix any type of wire 8, and the device 2 can be used bya single man 30 or by a pair ofworkmen as may be desired,

Claims (12)

1. Awire tensioning device comprising a head for engaging a post to which wire isto be attached and an elongate lever member,the head being pivotably connected to the lever member, the head and the lever member having $surfaces which define a re ducible area for receiving the wire, and the device being such that the lever member can be lent on to trap the wire in the reducible area and to tension the wire about the post.

2. Awiretensioning device according to claim 1 in which the reducible area is a channel.

3. Awire tensioning device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the surfaces on the head and the levermemberarecam surfaces.

4. Awiretensioning device accordingto any one ofthe preceding claims and having only one of the reducible areas.

5. Awiretensioning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and having two of the reducible areas, there being one of the reducible areas on each side of the device.

6. Awire tensioning device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the head isconnected to the lever member by a pivot bolt.

7. Awiretensioning device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the head has a concave surface for fitting around the post.

8. Awire tensioning device according to claim 7 in which the concave surface is serrated for helping the head to grip the post.

9. Awire tensioning device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the head is forked at its free end so that it can act as a claw for extracting staples or nails from the posts.

10. A wire tensioning device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lever member is cranked at its end remote from the head to facilitate applying leverage to the lever member.

11. A wire tensioning device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the lever member is a bar.

12. A wire tensioning device substantially as herein described with referencetq the accompany- ing drawings.