GB2190443A

GB2190443A - A tool for use in securing wire to a support

Info

Publication number: GB2190443A
Application number: GB08611784A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Ferns
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-05-14
Filing date: 1986-05-14
Publication date: 1987-11-18
Also published as: GB8611784D0

Abstract

A tool, for use in securing wire (particularly barbed wire) to a support, comprises a rigid elongate body part 10 having at each end a rigid extension 11, 12 which extends at an angle to the body part. Each extension is formed with a number of open-ended lateral slots 15 of such shape and size as to permit a selected one of the slots to be passed over a stretch of wire. In use, a stretch of wire, which is already secured, for example, to one support 21, is extended horizontally to the next support 22 and is passed across the face thereof. A suitable slot 15 in the tool is then passed over a portion of the wire and leverage is applied against the face of the support. The slot first kinks and grips the wire, and further leverage stretches the wire taut while the wire is affixed to the support, whereafter the tension is released and the tool removed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Tool for Use in Securing Wire to a Support The invention relates to a tool for securing wire, and particularly barbed wire, to a support such as a post of wood or other material.

In constructing wire fences it is usual to arrange the wire in continuous parallel stretches between spaced upright support posts. Where each stretch of wire passes a support post it is secured to it. For example, where the support post is of wood a simple staple may be hammered in over the wire, or where the support post is of concrete or metal some form of special fixing device may be used.

Whatever the form of fixing used, it is usually necessary to apply tension to the wire before fixing it to ensure that the stretch of wire between two posts is taut and does not sag. Often this is done by gripping the wire with a complex stretching machine or with large pliers or a similar gripping tool, or even with the hands, and then pulling it to apply the necessary tension while the staple or other fixing is applied. This may be difficult due, for example, to the various ground conditions which may be encountered. Furthermore, such method may not be sufficient, particularly with heavy or kinked wire, to apply the necessary tension to ensure that the wire is sufficiently taut. The object of the invention is to provide a simple but effective tool for applying tension to the wire, in a fast one-man operation, before it is secured to its support.

According to the invention, therefore, there is provided a tool for use in securing wire to a support, comprising a rigid elongate body part having at one end thereof a rigid extension which extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the body part, the extension being formed with at least one open ended slot spaced from the end of the body part and of such shape and size as to permit the slot to be passed over a stretch of wire.

In use, a stretch of wire, which is already secured to one support post or the like, is extended horizontally to the next support post and is passed across the face of the support post to which it is to be secured. The slot in the extension of the tool is then passed over a portion of the wire at or near the side of the support post furthest from the previous support post, and the part of the tool at the junction between the body part an extension is brought into engagement with the support post. Leverage is then applied to the body part towards the previous support post. The first part of the pivoting movement of the extension serves to twist the slot on the wire so as to kink the wire slightly as it passes through the slot and thus grip the wire.Further pivoting movement of the tool then applies tension to the wire and when sufficient tension is reached this is maintained while the wire is affixed to the support post whereafter the tension is released and the tool removed.

The tool may be used with plain wire or barbed wire due to the fact that it kinks and grips the wire.

Alternatively or additionally, however, the shape and size of the open ended slot in the tool may be such that, when used with barbed wire, it prevents the passage of a barb through the slot by relative movement in the direction of the length of the wire.

In this case, the tool may retain the barbed wire by virtue of the face of the extension engaging one of the barbs.

Preferably the slot extends transversely of the length of the body part and extension. The extension may comprise a solid tang of rigid material, the slot extending inwardly from one side edge of the tang.

Preferably the extension is integral with the body part. For example, the body part and extension may be formed from steel or other metal and may be fabricated, cast, forged or wrought.

The tool may be formed with a plurality of spaced projections from the surface thereof, in the vicinity of the junction between the body part and extension. Such spaced projections may then engage the support when the tool is in use and prevent any tendency for the tool to slip on the support.

The projections are preferably located on both sides of the tool and may be in the form of spaced parallel ridges extending transversely of the length of the tool.

The aforesaid open ended slot may comprise two or more slot portions at an angle to one another.

Thus, since the wire passes at least one angle when entering the slot, any tendency for it to slip out of the slot when the tool is in use is reduced.

Preferably there are provided two or more slots in the extension located at different distances from the junction between the body part and extension. The appropriately positioned slot may then be selected according to the relative position of the wire and support. The slots might also be of different sizes to accommodate sizes of wire.

At least part of the internal surface of the slot, for example the portion adjacent the closed end thereof, may be configured to assist in gripping the wire. For example it may be formed with parallel splines extending transversely of the length of the slot.

The angle between the extension and the longitudinal axis of the body part is preferably in the range of 160 to 400. For example, it may be in the range of 16 to 300, or 250 to 400. There may be provided a similar angled extension at each end of the body part of the tool and, in this case, one angled extension may be inclined within the first mentioned range and the opposite extension inclined within the latter range. The end of the tool most appropriate for the configuration of the support and the relative position of the wire may then be selected.

The free extremity of one or both angled extensions may include a tapered chisel part, which may be used for removing from a support wire which has already been attached to the support.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic drawing showing the tool in use.

Referring to Figure 1,thetool is formed from hard rigid material and may be fabricated, cast, moulded, forged or wrought, depending on the material employed. The tool preferably is formed from metal, such as steel, but the invention includes within its scope a tool made from any other sufficiently strong material, such as, for example, a carbon-reinforced plastics material or other plastics material.

The tool comprises a central elongate body part 10 of rectangular cross section from the opposite ends of which extend extensions 11 and 12 disposed at an acute angle on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 13 of the body part 10. For strength the extensions 11 and 12 are preferably fully integral with the body part, being formed from one piece of metal, although it is also possible for the extensions to be, for example, welded on to the body part.

The extensions are generally similar except that they may be inclined at different angles to the axis of the body part 10. For example the extension 11 may be inclined at an angle between 25 and 40 to the axis whereas the extension 12 may be inclined at a different angle between 16 and 30 to the axis.

In the case where the tool is cast a portion may be omitted from the body part 10, as indicated by the dotted line 14, to save weight.

Each of the extensions 11 and 12 is formed with three open ended slots 15. Each slot comprises a first portion 16 opening into one side edge of the extension, a second portion 17 inclined towards the body part 10 atan angle to the first portion 16, and an inner end portion 18 which may be formed as shown with splines extending through the thickness of the tool.

The slots may be all of the same size, or may be of different widths to accommodate different diameters of wire.

One of the extensions 11 is formed at its extremity with a tapered chisel portion 19.

At the junction between each extension 11 or 12 with the main body part 10, the surface of the tool is provided, on each side thereof, with a number of spaced parallel ridges 20 extending transversely of the length of the tool.

Figure 2 shows a tool according to the invention in use in securing barbed wire to support posts. The tool shown in Figure 2 is generally similar to that shown in Figure 1 except that the extensions 11 and 12 are each inclined to the other side of the main body part of the tool. It may thus be seen that the tool may be made suitable for right-handed or lefthanded use, depending on the way in which the extensions 11 and 12 are inclined.

Referring to Figure 2, two spaced parallel upright support posts are indicated at 21 and 22. One end of a stretch of barbed wire 23 has previously been secured to the support post 21, the wire has been extended between the support posts and lies across one face of the support post 22. It is now necessary to tension the stretch of wire between the support posts before the wire is attached to the post 22, for example by hammering a staple or special fitting into the post and over the wire, and the tool according to the invention is used for this purpose.

An appropriate one of the slots 15 in an appropriate one of the two extensions 11 and 12 (in this case the outermost slot 15 in the extension 11) is passed over the wire 23 as shown and the ridges 20 on the inner side of the angle between the extension 11 and body part 10 are brought into contact with the surface of the post. Leverage is then applied to the tool in the direction indicated by the arrow 24so that the tool pivots about the point where it engages the post. This pivoting movement first twists the extension 11 on the wire 23 so that the splines 18 at the inner end of the slot 15, which splines are engaging the wire, bite into the wire, kink it slightly, and grip it. Further leverage applied to the tool in the direction of arrow 24 then applied tension to the stretch of wire 23 between the two posts.

When the stretch of wire is sufficiently taut, it is secured to the post 22 by hammering a staple over the wire, or by any other suitable form of attachment, and the pressure on the tool is then released and the tool grip is removed from the wire.

The ridges 20, which may be separated by generally V-sectioned flutes, engage the surface of the post and prevent the tool slipping as leverage is applied to it. The ridges will grip on both round and rectangular sectioned posts and will provide a continuous gripping action even as the tool is pivoted around the post. In addition to providing grip of the tool on the post, the additional thickness of metal provided by the ridges also serves to strengthen the tool at the location where it is subjected to the greatest stress.

However, the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement of parallel ridges shown for gripping the post or other wire support, and it will be appreciated that projections of other configurations might also be employed.

The formation of the slots 15 with two relatively angled portions 16 and 17 reduces any tendency for the wire to jump out of the slot when the leverage is applied.

The appropriate end of the tool, and the appropriate slot 15, is selected according to the relative positions of the wire and post, and according to the shape and/or size of the post. For example, for a post of smaller cross-section than that shown in Figure 2, a slot 15 nearer the body part 10 would probably be more appropriate. In some circumstances, it may be more convenient for the slot to be passed upwardly over the wire with the convex side of the angle between the extension and the main body part engaging the post. It is for this reason that the ridges 20 are provided on both sides of the tool.

As described, the slots 15 in the tool are so designed as to grip a plain portion of wire and the tool is therefore suitable for use both with plain wire and with barbed wire. However, it will be appreciated that the slots 15 will be too narrow for the barbs 25 on the wire to pass through upon relative movement longitudinally of the wire and the gripping engagement between the tool and wire may thus be enhanced, with barbed wire, by engagement of the face of the angled extension with a barb. Again, the appropriate end of the tool and the appropriate slot is used so as to engage a barb which is in a suitable position in relation to the post.

Different types of barbed wire may have different spacing of the barbs, and the provision of different angle extensions and differently located slots on the tool allow the tool to cope with a wide variation of barb spacing.

The aforementioned chisel portion 19 on the tool may be used for removing previously stapled wire from a post, the angle between the extensions and the main body part of the tool permitting the apptication of substantial leverage for this purpose.

Claims

CLAiMS

1. A tool, for use in securing wire to a support, comprising a rigid elongate body part having at one end thereof a rigid extension which extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the body part, the extension being formed with at least one open ended slot spaced from the end of the body part and of such shape and size as to permit the slot to be passed over a stretch of wire.

2. A tool according to Claim 1, wherein the shape and size of the open ended slot in the tool are such that, when used with barbed wire, it prevents the passage of a barb through the slot by relative movement in the direction of the length of the wire.

3. A tool according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the slot extends transversely of the length of the body part and extension.

4. A tool according to Claim 3, wherein the extension comprises a solid tang of rigid material, the slot extending inwardly from one side edge of the tang.

5. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the extension is integral with the body part.

6. Atool according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the body part and extension are formed from steel or other metal and are fabricated, cast, forged or wrought.

7. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the tool is formed with a plurality of spaced projections from the surface thereof, in the vicinity of the junction between the body part and extension.

8. A tool according to Claim 7, wherein the projections are located on both sides of the tool.

9. Atool according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the spaced projections are in the form of spaced parallel ridges extending transversely of the length of the tool.

10. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the aforesaid open ended slot comprises two or more slot portions at an angle to one another.

11. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein there are provided two or more slots in the extension located at different distances from the junction between the body part and extension.

12. A tool according to Claim 11, wherein the slots are of different sizes to accommodate different sizes of wire.

13. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein at least part of the internal surface of the slot is configured to assist in gripping the wire.

14. Atool according to Claim 13, wherein the part of the internal surface of the slot adjacent the closed end thereof is configured to assist in gripping the wire.

15. A tool according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein said part of the internal surface of the slot is formed with parallel splines extending transversely of the length of the slot.

16. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the angle between the extension and the longitudinal axis of the body part is in the range of 160 to 40".

17. A tool according to Claim 16, wherein the angle between the extension and the longitudinal axis of the body part is in the range of 160 to 30 , or 25" to 40".

18. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 17, wherein a similar angled extension is provided at each end of the body part of the tool.

19. A tool according to Claim 18, wherein the angle between one extension and the longitudinal axis of the body part is in the range of 16" to 30 and the angle between the opposite extension and the longitudinal axis of the body part is in the range of 25 to 40".

20. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 19, wherein the free extremity of the or each angled extension includes a tapered chisel part.

21. Atool, for use in securing wire to a support, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.