GB2286839A

GB2286839A - A wire support for a fence

Info

Publication number: GB2286839A
Application number: GB9503637A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Croker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-23
Filing date: 1995-02-23
Publication date: 1995-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-23
Also published as: GB9503637D0; GB2286839B

Abstract

A wire support (1) for a fence has a one piece moulded plastics body. A lug (4) on the body is pivotally engageable with a complementary mounting hole (14) in an associated fence post. A slot (5) on the body (3) beneath the lug (4) is releasably engageable with a flange (12) on the face post to secure the lug (4) within the mounting hole (14) on the fence post. A wire holder on the body (3) comprises a slot with overlapping lugs (8, 9) mounted across an entrance to the slot to capture a fence wire. <IMAGE>

Description

A wire support for a fences This invention relates to fencing, and in particular to electric fencing.

As fencing arrangements and particularly electric fencing arrangements are frequently moved to control livestock, there is a need to provide an arrangement which can be readily assembled and disuseniblod using a miflinum of personnel and equipment.

The use of an insulating wire support with a metal fixing nail or screw is well known, however, this presents power loss problems due to arcing between the fence and post particultrly in wet conditions. WO 4/02610 describes the use of an insulating spike or staple to secure the wire support in position. While this overcomes the problem of power losses, it is difficult to remove when it becomes necessary to move the fence.

Accordingly, there is a need for an electric fencing arrangement which will overcome these problems.

According to the Lnvention, there is provided a wire support for a fence wire, the wire support comprising a body having mounting means for releasably mounting the body on a fence post and a wire holder for supporting a wire.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting moans has means for releasably engaging the body with the fence post and locking means for retaining the body in engagement with the fence post. Preferably, the engaging means is pivotally engageable with the fence post. Ideally, the engaging means is a lug on the body and the looking means is an associated fence receiving slot on the body.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the mounting means comprises a lug on the body pivotally engageable with a complementary mounting hole on the fence post and an associated slot on the body releasably engageable with the fence upon pivoting the lug within the mounting hole to secure the lug within the iiounting hole.

Preferably, an arresting stop is provided on the body for engagement with the fence post to further secure the lug within the mounting hole when the -slot is in engagement with the fence post. Preferably, the stop is mounted spaced-ap2rt from one side face of the slot for clamping engagement of the fence post between the stop and said side face.

In another embodiment, the wire holder has a wire receiving slot in the body for receiving- the fence wire.

Ideally, the wire holder incorporates retaining mains for releasably securing the fence wire within the wire receiving slot, thu8 ensuring that the wire remains in position once located.

In one arrangement the retaining means is provided by a pair of spaced-apart overlapping lug. mounted across an entrance ta the wire receiving slot.

Preferably, the wire support is formed in one piece of moulded plastics material.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a fence post assembly having a fence post and at least one of the wire 8UppOttJ. Preferably the fence post has at least one outwardly extending flange with a number of vertically spaced-apart mounting holes each for engaging with a wire support.

Ideally, the fence post is star shaped in cross section having a number of upstanding radial webs.

According to anothst aspect of the invention there is provided a fence post driving tool for hammering fence posts into the ground, the driving tool comprising a body for slidably engaging a top of a fence post, a pair of handles on opposite sides of the body, and a fence striking plate at a top of the body.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thor of, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a- Fig. 1 is a perspective of an insulator according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fence post assembly according to the invention comprising a fence post and the insulator Pig. 3 is a detail perspective view of portion of the insulator showing the mounting of a wire on the insulator; Pig. 4 is an exploded view of a driving tool for hammering in the fence posts; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the engagement of a fence post within the driving tool.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a wire support and insulator for a fence wire according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1.

The insulator 1 is of plastics material and is releasably engageable with an associated fence post 2.

The insulator 1 is of plastics material and has a moulded body 3. Mounted on the body 3 is a laterally projecting cylindrical lug 4. Directly below the lug 4 on the body 3 is a fence engaging slot 5. An arresting stop 6 is provided on a side of the body 3 and is engageable with the fence post 2 to prevent the insulator 1 lifting on the post 2 when fitted. The stop 6 engages a front edge of the fence post 2 to wedge or clamp the body 3 in a wire holding position as shown in Fig. 2.

At an upper end of the body a transverse wire receiving slot 7 is provided. A pair of overlapping lugs 8,9 are mounted across an entrance to the wire receiving slot 7 to retain a wire 10 (Pig. 3) within the slot 7.

The fence poet 2 comprises a number of upstanding radial webs or flanges 12 interconnected at their inner ends 13.

At least one of the flanges 12 has a number of vertically spaced holes 14 for complementary engagement with the lug 4 on the insulator 1. To mount the insulator 1 on the post 2 the lug 4 is engaged with one of the slots 14 and then the body 3 is pivoted downwardly in direction of arrow X (Fig. 2) to engage the slot 5 with the flange 12 of the post 2 to secure the lug 4 within the hole 14.

Once in position, the insulator X is securely held on the post 2 and a wire 10 can be inserted in the slot 7 passing between the lugs 9,9. As the lugs 8,9 overlap the wiro 10 is prevented from jumping out of the slot 7, having to be twisted for disengagement.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides an electric insulator and a fence post assembly comprising a fence post and one or norv of the insulators which are of relatively simple construction. They are thus relatively cheap to produce. A fence can be simply and quickly erected. Advantageously, a wire can be readily easily mounted on a fence post without the use of tools.

It will also be appreciated that the wire support may be used for standard wire fence. as w.ll as electrFfied fences.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 there is illustrated a driving tool 20 for hammering the fence posts 2 into the ground. A driving tool 20 has a box-section tubular body 21 with a pair of handles 22 mounted on opposite sides of the body 21. The body 21 has an open lower end 24. A top end of the body 21 is closed by a cap 25 which retains a striking plate 26 at the top end of the body 21.

Fig. S shows the driving tool 20 in us slidably mounted about a fence post 2. The driver 20 can be slid up and down a top of the fence post 2 to hammer the fence post 2 into the ground. A user can readily sight the post to ensure it is being driven vertically into the ground.

The invention is not rrmited to the embodiments hereinbeiore described, which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A wire support gor a fence wire, the wire support

comprising a body having mounting means for releasably mounting the body on a fence post and a wire holder for supporting a wire.

2. A wire support as claimed in claim L wherein the mounting means comprises a lug on the body pivotally engageable with a complementary mounting hole on the e fence post and.an associated slot on the body releasably engageable with the fence post upon pivoting the lug within the mounting hole to secure the lug within the mounting hole.

3. A wire support as claimed in claim 2 wherein an arresting stop is provided on the body for engagement with tho fence post to further securo the lug within the mounting hole when the slot is in engagement with the fence post.

4. A wire support as claimed in claim 3 wherein the stop is mounted spaced-apart from one side face of the slot for clamping engagement of the fence post between the stop and said side face.

5. A wire support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wire holder has a wire receiving slot in the body for receiving the fence wire.

6. A wire support as claimed in claim 5 wherein the wire holder incorporates retaining means for releasably securing the fence wire within the wire receiving slot.

7. A wire support as claimed in claim 6 wherein the retaining means is provided by a pair of spaced- apart overlapping lugs mounted across an entrance to the wire receiving slot.

8. A wire support as claimed in any preceding claim which is formed of an electrically insulating material.

9. A wire support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference ' to the accospanying drawings.

10. A fence post assombly coruprising a fence post and at least one wire support as claimed in any preceding claim.

11. A fence post assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein the fence post has at least one outwardly extending flange with a number of vertically spaced-apart mounting holes each for engaging with a wire support.

12. A fence post assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the fence post is star shaped in cross section having a number of upstanding radial webs.

13. A fence post assembly comprising a number of the wire supports as claimed in any of claims I to 9 mounted on a number of associated spaced-apart fence posts, fence wire being mounted between the fence posts.

14. A fence poet driving tool for ^omoring fence posts into the ground, the driving tool comprising a body for slidably engaging a top of a fence post, a pair of handles on opposite sides of the body, and a fence striking plate at a top of the body.