NZ280883A - Support for a strainer post comprising a bracket to be secured to a vertical surface - Google Patents

Description

280883 Patents Form No. 5 No: 280883 Dated: 25,h January 1996 Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION SUPPORT FOR A STRAINER POST We, Hamish Thomas MIDDLETON, a New Zealand citizen of Mulligans Road, No. 8 R D, Ashburton, and Jason Michael RYAN a New Zealand citizen of Mulligans Road, No. 8 R D, Ashburton, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 210883 The present invention relates to a support for the horizontal brace of a strainer post assembly.

Each end of a conventional post and wire fence usually is supported by a strainer post assembly which braces and supports the fence line and the strain of the fence wires. A sketch of a typical strainer post assembly is shown in Figure 1 and consists of two spaced parallel vertical posts 2 and 3, both aligned with the fence line, a horizontal brace 4 which is connected between the posts 2 and 3 adjacent the upper ends of these posts, and a diagonal wire brace 5 which is connected between the post 2 and 3, between a point adjacent the upper end of the post 3 and a point adjacent ground level on the post 2.

Usually, the post 2 is of larger cross-section than the post 3, because the post 2 has the ^ o., ^ . /TV ends of the fence wires(6 secured to it and thus takes a substantial proportion of the strain of the wires.

The horizontal brace 4 usually is secured to the posts 2 and 3 by cutting notches in the posts 2 and 3 and inserting the ends of the brace 4 into these notches, securing said ends to the post 2 and 3 by nailing. The notches 7 must be cut reasonably accurately to accommodate the ends of the brace 4, and the brace 4 also must be cut accurately to length. Both of these tasks are surprisingly difficult and time consuming, and indeed the erection of the strainer post assembly i.' regarded by professional fencers as one of the more time consuming parts of erecting a fence line.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved means of support for the horizontal post of a strainer post assembly, thereby reducing the overall time and effort needed to construct the strainer post assembly. 28 0 8 83 The present invention provides a support for the horizontal brace of a strainer post assembly, said support comprising a bracket adapted to receive and support at least part of the underside only, of the external surface of a horizontal strainer member; and means for securing said bracket to a substantially vertical surface.

Preferably, said bracket comprises a plate shaped to correspond to at least part of the exterior surface of the horizontal strainer member. Preferably, the means for securing the bracket to the vertical strainer posts comprises a strip rigidly secured to one of the edges of the bracket and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal strainer member.

By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a support in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a side view of a strainer post assembly using the support of the present invention.

Referring to figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, a support 8 comprises a plate curved to form a part circular bracket 9, which is sized and shaped to accommodate one end of a horizontal strainer member 4. The bracket 9 is shown as part-circular because a majority of horizontal braces are circular in cross-section. However, if a square or rectangular cross-section horizontal brace is used, a square or rectangular shaped bracket 9 can be used in place of the curved shape shown in figure 2. 3 280883 The bracket 9 is provided with two holes 10 adjacent each end thereof. The holes 10 allow nails to be driven into the brace to secure the brace to the bracket.

A securing means 11 in the form of an apertured flat plate is welded to the centre of one long edge of the bracket 9. The plate 11 is shown as substantially vertical in use, but in fact could be secured at any angle to the bracket 9, providing the plane of the plate 11 'ies in a vertical plane. The plate 11 is apertured with apertures 12 which enable the support to be secured to the outer face of a vertical post, by driving nails through the apertures 12 and into the post.

It is envisaged that the use of an apertured plate 11 could be varied to suit particular requirements:- for example, the plate 11 could fitted with bands to pass around the post to secure it to the post, or the plate 11 could be formed as a nail plate which is hammered into the post or could be formed with a hook which hooks over the top of the post, to secure the bracket in place.

The use of the support system is shown in figure 3:- the posts 2 and 3 are erected in the usual way and then a pair of supports 8 is secured one to each of the opposed faces of the posts 2 and 3, by driving nails through the apertures 12 in the plates 11. The distance between the inner surfaces of the plates 11 can then be measured accurately and the horizontal member 4 cut to length. The horizontal member 4 is then dropped into the supporting surfaces provided by the two brackets 9, and is secured to the brackets 9 by driving nails through the apertures 10 in the brackets. The strainer assembly is then completed by adding the diagonal wire brace (not shown) in the usual way.

It will be appreciated that once the fence is in use, the horizontal member 4 is in compression between the posts 2 and 3, and therefore a relatively light-weight securing 280883 member 8 is adequate for the purpose:- in use there is no force tending to pull the bracket away from the post:- bracket simply is required to prevent the horizontal member 4 from dropping downwards or sideways from out between the posts 2 and 3.

The support 4 may be made of any suitable material e.g. galvanised steel.

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 280883

1. A support for the horizontal brace of a strainer post assembly, said support comprising a bracket adapted to receive and support at least part of the underside only, of the external surface of a horizontal strainer member, and means for securing said bracket to a substantially vertical surface.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bracket comprises a plate shaped to correspond to at least part of the exterior surface of the horizontal strainer member.

3. A support as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plate is U-shaped.

4. A support as claimcd in claim 2 wherein said plate is V-shaped.

5. A support as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plate is formed in the shape of a partial square.

6. A support as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plate is formed in the shape of a partial rectangle.

7. A support as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein said means for securing said bracket to a substantially vertical surface comprises a strip rigidly secured to one of the edges of said bracket and adapted to lie substantially 6 2 3 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a horizontal strainer member.

8. A support as claimed in claim 7 wherein said strip is provided with a hook at one end thereof.

9. A support as claimed in claim 7 wherein said strip is a nail plate.

10. A support as claimed in claim 7 wherein said strip is provided with at least one aperture.

11. A strainer post assembly comprising a pair of supports as claimed in any one of the previous claims, two spaced parallel substantially vertical strainer members, and a horizontal strainer member; wherein each said support is secured to a said vertical strainer member and the said horizontal strainer member is secured between said supports.

12. A method of constructing a strainer post assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein: the pair of supports is secured one to each of the opposed faces of said vertical strainer members; the distance between the inner surfaces of the opposing adjacent plates of said pair of supports is accurately measured and said horizontal strainer member is cut to a length corresponding to said distance; 7 0 o n u n said horizontal strainer member is positioned to rest in the supporting surfaces provided by said pair of supports and secured to each said support. ^

13. A support for the horizontal brace of a strainer post assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of constructing a strainer post assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. HAMISH THOMAS M1DDLETON and JASON MICHAEL RYAN. by their authorised agents, P.L. BERRY & ASSOCIATES. per: END OF CLAIMS 8