NZ280519A - Electric fence outrigger; an arm extends from a fence post and a mounting portion and clamp attaches the arm to the post - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand No. International No. 280519 PCT/ TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 22.11.1995 Complete Specification Filed: 22.11.1995 Classification:(6) A01K3/00 Publication date: 24 November 1997 Journal No.: 1422 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Outrigger Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: JEFFREY DOUGLAS KING, an Australian citizen of 254 Malabar Road, Maroubra, New South Wales, 2035, Australia 280519 Patents Form No. 5 P20744/ES NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION OUTRIGGER I, JEFFREY DOUGLAS KING, an Australian citizen of 254 Malabar Road, Maroubra, New South Wales, 2035, Australia, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may granted to us, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 280 5 19 OUTRIGGER This invention relates to so-called offsets or outriggers which are used to support and space from the fence posts the "hot" wire or wires of an electric fence. The invention is particularly but not exclusively directed to offsets suitable for use with metal fence posts of the kind known under the registered trade mark "star" and referred to herein as star pickets. Such pickets consist of a web with a free edge and an edge from which a pair of angularly disposed flanges extend.

In one aspect the invention broadly resides in an electrified fence outrigger for mounting on a fence post, the outrigger including an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located and a mounting portion for attachment to the post, said mounting portion including first and second legs orientated so as to be substantially parallel to the axis of the post, the outrigger further including clamping means comprising a fastener adapted to pass between said legs and a clamping body attached to said fastener and embracing said legs.

In another aspect the invention resides in an electrified fence outrigger for mounting on a fence post, the outrigger including a mounting portion for attachment to the post and an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located, clamping means including a fastener adapted for connection with the post and a clamping body adapted to be pressed against said mounting portion, said mounting portion including a first leg orientated so as to be substantially parallel to the axis of the post, a first abutting portion extendinp__frp.ro._aaid first leg and adapted to engage said fastener to ' ' '*•••'- i " ! ; £ 1397 280 5 1 9 prevent movement of said mounting portion in a first direction parallel to the axis of the post, and a second abutting portion engagable with said clamping body to prevent movement of said mounting portion in a direction opposite to said first direction.

In another aspect the invention resides in an electrified fenca outrigger for mounting on a fence post, the outrigger including a mounting portion for attachment to the post and an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located, clamping means including a fastener adapted for connection with the post and a clamping body adapted to be pressed against said mounting portion, said mounting portion including a first leg orientated so as to be substantially parallel to the axis of the post, a first abutting portion extending from said first leg and adapted to engage said fastener to prevent movement of said mounting portion in a first direction parallel to the axis of the post, and a second abutting portion engagable with said clamping body to prevent movement of said mounting portion in a direction opposite to said first direction.

In another aspect the invention resides in an electrified fence outrigger for mounting on a fence post including an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located, a mounting portion for attachment to the post, a fastening means for mounting the outrigger on the post including a clamping body and a fastener adapted to attach the clamping body to the post, wherein the clamping body and the mounting portion having inter-engagement means to prevent substantial relative rotation between them in a plane parallel to the post and the arm, the clamping body being dimensioned to engage the post to prevent substantial 28 0 5 1 9 relative rotation between the clamping body and the post in such a plane.

Several embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows in side elevation the components of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows the components of Fig.l in plan view together with a star picket; Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the outrigger shown in Figs.1 and 2; Fig. 4 shows in plan view the outrigger of Figs.1-3 attached to a star picket; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 in Fig.4; Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the assembly shown in Fig.4; Fig. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; The outrigger of the embodiment illustrated in Figs.1-6 consists of a wire portion 20 bent from galvanised steel wire, and a clamp 21 also of galvanised steel and provided with a bolt 22 and nut 23.

The wire portion 20 is bent into a helical formation at its distal end to receive a sleeve 24 of insulating material such as hard drawn nitrile rubber which is preferably stabilised against ultra violet radiation, forming the so-called "pigtail" for insulating. .Suppqrtr-iC[= i I 1 1997 280 5 1 9 of the hot wire.

The proximal end of the wire portion 20 is bent firstly in the horizontal plane to form portions 25 and 26 which pass around a one of the oblique flanges 27 of a star picket 28, to the web 29 of which the outrigger is to be fixed.

The proximal end portion is further bent in the vertical plane to foinn- a U-shaped mounting portion comprising parallel legs 30 and 31 and a bight 32. The outside width of the mounting portion is somewhat less than the width of the web 29, and just less than the inside distance between the flanges 33 of the clamp 21, while the separation of the legs 30 and 31 is sufficient to allow the passage of the bolt 22. The bolt 22 in turn is chosen to suit the diameter of the holes 34 provided in the web of the star picket.

The bolt 22 is frictionally engaged with the clamp 21, for example by driving the squared root portion of the bolt shank into a circular hole in the clamp. In this way only a spanner is required for fixing the assembly to the post.

The clamp 21 is dimensioned such that the distance between its lower edge 35 and the bolt 22 corresponds to the length of the leg 30.

As will be understood from the preceding description and the drawings, the outrigger is assembled and mounted by passing the bolt 22 between the legs 30 and 31 and seating the legs within the flanges 33 of the clamp 21, then passing the bolt through a chosen hole in the web 29, and finally engaging and tightening the nut 2 3. 280 5 19 The outrigger will then be firmly captive on the post, its upward vertical movement being prevented by the engagement of the portion 26 with the clamp 21, downward vertical movement being prevented by the engagement of the bight portion with the bolt, and rotation parallel to the plane of the web being prevented by the engagement of the clamp 21 with the flange 27.

In the embodiment shown in Fig.7, a double-sided outrigger is provided by extending the wire portion outwardly from the leg 31.

Fig. 8 illustrates a single-sided outrigger suitable for use on the side of the fence on which lie the webs of the star pickets, while Fig. 9 shows the application of the invention to a vertically extending offset.

Naturally the form of the outrigger may be modified in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example, it is not essential that the main length of the outrigger be coplanar with the post axis. Thus the portion 25 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7 may be eliminated with a consequent cost saving in manufacture.

The manner of support of the hot wire is also of no concern. Other known arrangements, such as the use of porcelain insulators, can be substituted for the helical insulator described herein.

Claims (16)

-6- 28 0 5 1 9 I CLAIM:

1. An electrified fence outrigger for mounting on a fence post, the outrigger including an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located and a mounting portion for attachment to the post, said mounting portion including first and second legs orientated so as to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the post, the outrigger further including clamping means comprising a fastener adapted to pass between said legs and a clamping body attached to said fastener and embracing said legs.

2. An outrigger according to claim 1 wherein said clamping body is pressed against said mounting portion by the engagement of said fastener with said post.

3. An outrigger according to claim 2 wherein said mounting portion further includes an angled portion extending from one of said legs out of the plane defined by said legs such that movement of said mounting portion relative to said clamping means in one direction in the plane defined by said legs is obstructed by engagement of said angled portion with said clamping member.

4. An outrigger according to claim 3 wherein said legs are joined by a bight portion, said fastener being located between said bight portion and said angled portion.

5. An outrigger according to any preceding claim, wherein said clamping member comprises a web engaged with said fastener and a pair of flanges embracing said legs.

6. An outrigger according to claim 5 wherein said 28 0 5 1 9 -7- fastener is a bolt fixed to said web at its head.

7. An electrified fence outrigger for mounting on a fence post, the outrigger including a mounting portion for attachment to the post and an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located, clamping means including a fastener adapted for connection with the post and a clamping body adapted to be pressed against said mounting portion, said mounting portion including a first leg orientated so as to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the post, a first abutting portion extending from said first leg and adapted to engage said fastener to prevent movement of said mounting portion in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the post, and a second abutting portion engagable with said clamping body to prevent movement 3aid mounting portion in a direction opposite to said first direction.

8. An outrigger according to claim 7 wherein said mounting portion includes a second leg extending from said first abutting portion to said second abutting portion.

9. An outrigger according to claim 8 wherein said legs are substantially coplanar and said second abutting portion comprises an angled portion of said mounting portion extending from said second leg out of the plane containing said legs.

10. An electrified fence outrigger for mounting on a fence post of the kind having a web having a free edge and an edge from which a pair of angularly disposed flanges extend, the outrigger including an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located and a mounting portion for attachment to said web, the outrigger further -8- 28 0 5 1 9 including clamping means comprising a fastener adapted to engage said web and a clamping body attached to said fastener, said clamping body being dimensioned to engage one of said flanges to prevent rotation of said arm about said fastener.

11. An outrigger according to claim 10 wherein said clamping body includes a pair of substantially parallel flanges extending towards said web, and said mounting portion includes a pair of substantially parallel legs dimensioned to fit between said flanges.

12. An outrigger according to claim 10 wherein said fastener includes a bolt attached to said clamping body and adapted to be passed between said legs and. through an aperture in said web.

13. An electrified fence outrigger for mounting on a fence post including an arm extending from the post to a distal end at which a hot wire is to be located, a mounting portion for attachment to the post, a fastening means for mounting the outrigger on the post including a clamping body and a fastener adapted to attach the clamping body to the post, wherein the clamping body and the mounting portion having inter-engagement means to prevent substantial relative rotation between them in a plane parallel to the post and the arm, the clamping body being dimensioned to engage the post to prevent substantial relative rotation between the clamping body and the post in such a plane.

14. An electrified fence outrigger according to Claim 13 for use with a fence post of the kind having a web with a free edge and an edge from which a pair of angularly disposed flanges extend, in which such ."P relative rotation between the clamping body and the 280 5 1 9 -9- post is prevented by the engagement of the clamping body with a flange of the post.

15. An electrified fence outrigger according to claim 13 or claim 14 in which said inter-engagement means comprises a U-shaped formation provided by said clamping body embracing said mounting portion upon attachment of the clamping body to the post.

16. An outrigger substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. ' 1Q97