NZ517509A

NZ517509A - A fencing tool for use with a rod like fencing element

Info

Publication number: NZ517509A
Application number: NZ51750902A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Walter Thomas Joseph Skinner
Original assignee: Walter Thomas Joseph Skinner
Priority date: 2002-03-01
Filing date: 2002-03-01
Publication date: 2004-08-27

Abstract

A fencing tool (10) is disclosed which can be used to assist in the insertion or removal of a rod type fencing standard into the ground. The tool (10) includes an elongated element member (11), a lever (16) mounted at one end of the elongated member (11) and movable about a pivot (17), a location element (14) on the elongated member (11) and disposed relative to the lever (16) such that a rod like fencing element can be located between the lever and the location element (14) whereby the lever (16) can be moved about the pivot to wedgingly lock the rod like fencing element between the lever (16) and the location element (14).

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 51750 No: 517509 Date: 1 March 2002 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A FENCING TOOL I, WALTER THOMAS JOSEPH SKINNER a New Zealand citizen of R D 5, Rongotea Road, Kairanga, Palmerston North, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement -1- 2 TITLE OF THE INVENTION A FENCING TOOL BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION " ■>'<" IV.Z 2 ri «■ -» « This invention relates to a fencing tool. A well known temporary fencing technique used by farmers involves the use of fibreglass rods. These rods are inserted into the ground and can be used to support one or more electric fence conductors. Typically, a clip is engaged on the fibreglass rod and is used to engage the conductor with the fibreglass rod. If the fence is to be used for the confinement of small animals such as sheep, then typically each rod will carry a plurality of clips so that the fence is formed by a plurality of electric fence conductors. Problems can arise not only when inserting fibreglass rods into the ground but also at the time of removal. For example, significant physical strength may be required especially when ground conditions are such as to make insertion difficult. This can equally apply when the rod is being removed as ground conditions may dictate Spec408 20/2/03 3 that considerable effort is needed to pull the rod from the ground. Another significant problem is damage to the fibreglass rod. This can occur when forces other than in the longitudinal axis of the rod are applied during insertion or removal of the rod. Such forces can result in bending of the rod. This bending together with the pushing or pulling force being applied to the rod can result in the rod splitting or delaminating. Not only does this cause damage to the rod (ultimately the rod not being useable) but physical injury to the person handling the rod if a splinter pierces the user's skin. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is therefore a need for a tool which can be used to assist in the insertion of a rod type fencing standard into the ground. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a tool. There is also a need for a tool which is useful in the insertion and/or removal of fibreglass rods from the ground, the tool minimising the possibility of damage to the rod during such activities. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a tool. Spec4 08 20/2/03 4 Broadly, the present invention provides a fencing tool for -use with a rod-like fencing element, the tool including an elongate member, a lever mounted at or toward one end of the elongate member and moveable about a pivot, a location element on the elongate member and disposed relative to the lever such that a said rod-like fencing element can be located between the lever and location element whereby the lever can be moved about the pivot to wedgingly lock the rod-like fencing element between the lever and the location element. In a preferred form of the invention a handle is.provided at one end of the elongate member. The handle is generally transverse to the length of the elongate member. Preferably the force transferring element is a lever pivotally mounted at or toward the end of the elongate member opposite to that having the handle. Preferably the lever includes a shaped portion spaced from but opposite the location element, whereby a rod-like fencing element can be located between the shaped portion and the location element. Spec408 20/2/03 M JUL M RECEIVED 5 According to a preferred form of the invention the shaped portion includes a grooved profile. The location element can present a curved surface opposite to the curved profile. Preferably there is a further location element located in the length of the elongate member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fencing tool, Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the fencing tool, and Figure 3 is a general view of an alternative construction of fencing tool, and Figure 4 is similar to Figure 1 but showing a further embodiment. Spec408 20/2/03 6 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The fencing tool 10 includes an elongate member 11 which is preferably formed at one end with a handle 12. According to one embodiment of the invention the elongate member 11 and handle 12 can be formed from a single length of solid or tubular metal with one end thereof bent at right-angles or an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the member 11, to form the handle 12. It will however be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the elongate member and handle combination can be formed in a number of different ways. As can be seen from the dotted detail in Figure 1, the fencing element (which generally will be in the form of a fibreglass rod) is, in use, located against and substantially parallel to the elongate member 11. A support or location element 13 is formed in the length of the elongate member 11. This location element 13 can, in the illustrated form of the invention, be a short length of metal of curved cross-section, which is welded to the elongate member 11. In an alternative arrangement/ (see Figure 4) it can be a hook shaped projection in the nature of a hooked finger. Spec408 20/2/03 7 Similarly, a location element 14 of somewhat longer length is formed at or adjacent to the end of the elongate member 11 opposite to that which has the handle 12. This location element 14 (shown partially cut-away in Figures 1 and 3) thus locates with the fencing element R adjacent the end thereof which is to be inserted into the ground when the tool is being used to install the fencing element R in the ground. Some means of retaining the fencing element R with the tool 10 so as to prevent movement of the fencing element R relative to the tool 10 when say the fencing element is being inserted into the ground is required. In the preferred form of the invention the means of retaining the fencing element R against movement relative to the tool 10 forms part of the force transferring member. Thus, as shown in the drawings a flange 15 projects from the elongate member 11. A lever 16 is pivotally connected to the flange 15 by a pivot 17. This pivot 17 can conveniently be provided by a threaded stud mounted to the flange 15 and inserted through an opening in the lever 16. A nut 17a (preferably a nyloc nut) is threaded onto the end of threaded stud which projects through the lever 16 so as to pivotally retain the lever 16 with the flange 15. Spec408 20/2/03 8 The inboard end 18 of the lever 16 is of a curved profile 19. This inboard end 18 is also provided with a curved groove 20 which follows, at least in part, the profile 19. The flange 15 also carries a stop element 21 (see Figure 1) against which the lever 16 can engage when it has been moved upwardly about pivot axis 17. In the alternative arrangement of Figure 4, the stop element is repositioned and engages with the lever 16 and both the uppermost and the lowermost extent of its travel. With the lever 16 in its "release" or uppermost position e.g. against the stop 21, a fencing element R can be engaged with the tool 10. As shown in the drawings and as previously described, the fencing element R is located substantially parallel to the elongate member 11 and is located at two points by the location elements 13 and 14. The end of the fencing element R to be inserted into the ground projects beyond the lower end of the tool 10 i.e. the end opposite to that having the handle 12. Under the influence of its own weight and the pivot 17 being offset to the longitudinal central axis of the lever 16, the lever 16 naturally tends to take a position Spec408 20/2/03 9 as shown in Figure 1 where the profiled end 18 effectively clamps the fencing element R between the grooved profile 20 and the location element 14. This effectively holds the fencing element R in at least partial engagement with the tool 10, but generally the person using the tool would also place his or her hand around the fencing element R and the elongate member 11 adjacent say the handle 12. By grasping the handle 12 in the other hand and then placing his or her foot on the lever 16, a vertically downward force can be applied to the fencing element R so as to force the projecting end into the ground. Accordingly, a good proportion of the weight of the user can be applied to the lever 16 to force the end of the rod into the ground, thereby reducing the amount of physical effort required to carry out this task. Also, because the manner in which the fencing element R is located with the tool 10, the force being applied to the fencing element R is largely in line with the central longitudinal axis of the rod i.e. no bending of the rod occurs. Furthermore, the interengagement of the lever 16 with the fencing element R creates a clamping affect with the location element 14 such that force being applied to the fencing element to insert it into the ground, also Spec408 20/2/03 10 sets up a clamping force to prevent longitudinal movement of the fencing element R relative to the tool 10. Upon the fencing element R be satisfactorily inserted into the ground the lever 16 is released and the tool removed. If the fencing element located in the ground is to be removed then the tool 10 is inverted i.e. that the end having lever 16 is uppermost relative to the ground. The user can then grasp the lever 16 in his or her hand and by applying an upward force cause the lever 16 to clamp the fencing element R with the tool 10. An upper lifting force can then be applied to the lever 16 which transfers to the fencing element R so as to lift the fencing element out of the ground. In doing so the force due to the engagement of the location element 13 with the fencing element R is largely in line with the central axis of the fencing element R. Also, the lifting action causes the profiled end 18 of the lever 16 to clamp the rod R with the location element 14 so as to prevent any relative longitudinal movement between the tool and fencing element R. In the preferred form of the invention the profiles of the location elements 13 and 14 and the groove 20 are Spec408 20/2/03 11 such that the tool can accommodate different sized rods such as the commonly used 10 and 13mm rods. Furthermore, the profiling 19 and groove 20 of the lever 16 are such as to minimise any damage to the rod or rod surface. Figure 3 simply illustrates a variation of the construction for location element 14. Element 14 may be cast from a suitable material (plastic or metal) with provision for the other elements required to be attached, i.e. threaded stud 17 and an aperture 22 to receive a road 11 (in preference to a tube). The alternative embodiment of Figure 3 functions in the same way, but will require less complicated manufacture (avoids the need to form and weld location element 14). Figure 4 shows a further embodiment. The handle 12 is located so as to make an acute angle with the length of the elongate member 11. Also the location element 14 is flat and so is the engagement surface 20a, though a slight or shallow groove can be formed in this surface if desired. Also the stop 21 is repositioned so that it engages with the lever 16 at both its extremes of movement about pivot 17. Spec408 20/2/03 12 The tool according to the present invention, thus provides a means whereby a fencing element such as in the form of a fibreglass rod, can more easily be inserted into or pulled from the ground. Such action is achieved with minimal ending of the fencing element which, in the case of fibreglass rods, will minimise any possibility of damage to the rod during installation into or removal from the ground. Spec408 20/2/03 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 13

1. A fencing tool for use with a rod-like fencing element, the tool including an elongate member, a lever mounted at or toward one end of the elongate member and moveable about a pivot, a location element on the elongate member and disposed relative to the lever such that a said rod-like fencing element can be located between the lever and location element whereby the lever can be moved about the pivot to wedgingly lock the rod-like fencing element between the lever and the location element.

2. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongate member has a handle at a second end thereof.

3. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the handle is a transverse extension of the elongate member.

4. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein one end of the elongate member is bent into a position which "is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member. INIfcLLECTUAl PROPERTY spec408 OFFICE OF IM./J 20/2/03 1 h JUL 2004 Dcr>ci\(cn 14

5. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein the angle between the transverse portion and the longitudinal axis is acute.

6. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lever is mounted at to a mount which projects from the elongate member.

7. A fencing tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the lever includes a shaped portion spaced from but opposite the location element, whereby a rod-like fencing element can be located between the shaped portion and the location element.

8. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein the shaped portion includes a grooved profile.

9. A fencing tool as claimed in 7 or 8 wherein the pivot axis of the pivot mounting is offset from a central longitudinal axis of the lever.

10. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9 wherein there is further included a stop carried by the mount and engageable by the lever to limit the direction of movement of the lever in one direction of movement, Spec408 20/2/03 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.2. - 9 JUL 2004 received 15

11. A fencing tool as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the location element has an engagement surface which is substantially at mutual right angles to the mount and longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

12. A fencing tool as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the location element has an engagement surface.

13. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 12 wherein the engagement surface has a curved profile.

14. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 13 wherein the axis of curvature of the curved engagement surface is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

15. A fencing tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including a second location element located on the elongate member and positioned in the length of the elongate member.

16. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 15 wherein the second location element is a finger projecting laterally from the length of the elongate member. Spec408 20/2/03 16

17. A fencing tool as claimed in claim 15 wherein the second location element is a transversely curved flange projecting laterally from the length.

18. A fencing tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. WALTER THOMAS JOSEPH SKINNER By his Attorney DON HOPKINS & ASSOCIATES Per ■ (&L_ INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. - 9 jul 2004 received end of claims Spec408 20/2/03 </div>