NZ585527A - Clip for Holding Wire(s) to a Post - Google Patents

Abstract

The clip has end wire engaging portions 21, 22 separated by a central elongate portion. The end portions are biased to the post so as to releasably engage within apertures 12, 13 so that looped fence wire 30 can be retained in each end portion 21, 22.

Description

Patents Form # 5 Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL 585527 #: DATED: 21 May 2010 TITLE: Clip for Holding Wire(s) to a Post We, NEW ZEALAND TUBE MILLS LIMITED Address: 2-14 Port Road, Seaview, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, 5010 Nationality: New Zealand do 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: 401646NZ_PF#05_20110322_ 953_TGR.doc FEECODE- 1050 Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 Clip for Holding Wire(s) to a Post Field of Invention The invention relates to a clip for holding wire or wires to a post.

Background of Invention The attachment and retention of wires to fence post has generally been by using staples nailed to a wooden post. However wooden posts are now being replaced with either metal or plastic posts to which the nailing of staples is not applicable in 10 order to retain wires to such posts.

The metal or plastic posts generally come with predrilled holes through which wires can be inserted or clips can be attached to the posts via the holes such that the clips retain a wire or wires to the post.

There are a varied number of known methods illustrating examples offence wire attachment devices which are intended to secure a section of fence wire to a fence post while allowing it to move in a lateral manner. However, each of these devices contain flaws that limit their effectiveness in their designed function. These methods 20 of attachment is laborious and often results in attachments that are less than secure because they are not specifically designed to be used on the variety offence posts in common use today.

A further problem with the known methods is that the clips can come loose or be 25 dislodged when the fence is under tension or if stock rub up or knock against the post. Another disadvantage is that separate clips or the like need to be situated on the opposite side of the post when the post is an end post and the wire is back on and secures to its self.

It would be desirable to provide a method of securing fence wire to fence posts allowing for the free lateral movement of the fence wire relative to the fence post. This lateral movement allows the fence to compensate for external forces placed on I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 the fence, such as when under tension or when in contact with animals and farm implements. As well it is desirable to have a method of attaching to fence posts which is easy to use, easy attach and remove a wire to and from the post, but while maintaining a secure and effective method of attaching and retention of a wire to a 5 post.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a clip for holding wire or wires to a post that ameliorates some of the disadvantages and limitations of the known art or at least 10 provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of Invention In a first aspect the invention resides in a clip for holding wire or wires to a post, the clip includes two wire engaging portions spaced apart from one another by a central 15 elongate portion, each wire engaging portion has a post engaging part that is adapted to be releasably attached and retained within an aperture in the post so that when a clip is inserted in to an aperture in the post a wire holding region is formed, each wire holding region extends outwardly away from the post and is adapted to retain and hold a wire to the post.

Preferably, the wire engaging portions are U-shaped, wherein the U shape for each wire engaging portion defines: i) a first leg that co-axially extends from the elongate central portion; ii) a second leg that is spaced from and extends in a plane parallel to 25 the elongate central portion; and iii) open mouth that faces and extends towards the corresponding open mouth of the other wire engaging portion.

Preferably, the second leg is the post engaging part of the wire engaging portion 30 and the space between the legs of the U is wire holding region.

Preferably, the wire holding region is fully encircled when the clip is attached to the post.

I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 Preferably, the wire engaging portions are hooks.

Preferably, the post engaging part has an upwardly bent portion and has a free end 5 which extend toward the elongate central portion such that bent portion and free end in combination are adapted to extend into the aperture of the post so as to releasably retain the clip to the post.

Preferably, the greatest extent of the width of the wire engaging portion is greater 10 than the diameter of the aperture of the post.

Preferably, the post engaging part is adapted to bias away from the elongate central portion such that the bias assists in retaining the clip within the aperture of the post.

Preferably, each wire engaging portion has spring clipping action adapted to naturally bias the post engaging part away from the elongate central portion but adapted to allow the post engaging part to be urged toward the elongate central portion when inserting the clip into the aperture of the post.

Preferably, the clip is made from a rod or tubular shape material.

Preferably, the clip is made from metal, metal alloy or plastic materials or the like.

Preferably, the clip is made from galvanised steel.

Preferably, the clip is made from a bendable material.

Preferably, the clip is made from a resilient material.

Preferably, the clip is made from high tensile material, typically high tensile steel Preferably, the clip is made from high tensile wire, typically fencing wire.

I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 In second aspect the invention resides in post assembly; the post assembly including: i) a post having at least one aperture extending there through; and ii) a clip adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in said aperture 5 for holding wire or wires to the post, the clip includes two wire engaging portions spaced apart from one another by a central elongate portion, each wire engaging portion has a post engaging part that is adapted to be releasably attached and retained within a portion of the aperture in the post so that when a clip is inserted in to 10 the aperture in the post a wire holding region is formed, each wire holding region extends outwardly away from the post and is adapted to retain and hold a wire to the post.

Preferably, the post is made from metal, metal alloy, wood or plastic material.

Preferably, the post is made from galvanised steel.

Preferably, the post is hollow with at least one set of aligned apertures such that the clip extends from one aperture to the other whereby the each wire engaging portion 20 is releasably retained within the corresponding aperture so as to hold the clip to the post and define the wire engaging regions that extend outwardly and away from the post.

Any other aspects herein described Brief Description The invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a clip in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 Figure 2 is perspective view of clip attached to a post in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of the clip attached to the post as shown in figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top view of the clip att6ached to post as shown in figure 2 Figure 5 is a front view of the clip attached to a post as shown in figure 2.

Description of Drawings The following description will describe the invention in relation to preferred embodiments of the invention, namely a clip for holding wire or wires to a post. The invention is in no way limited to these preferred embodiments as they are purely to exemplify the invention only and that possible variations and modifications would be 15 readily apparent without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figurel shows the preferred form of the clip 20 and figures 2 to 5 show the clip 20 attached to a post 10 retaining a wire 30 thereto...

The clip 20 is typically made of a single length of metallic rod or other suitable material that is bent or shaped to form the clip as shown in figure 1. Other suitable material could be plastic or metal, metal alloys or the like.

The clip 20 has two wire engaging portions 21, 22 spaced apart from one another by 25 a central elongate portion 23. Each wire engaging portion 21, 22 has post engaging parts 210, 220 that are releasably attached and retained within apertures 12, 13 in the post 10 so that when the clip 20 is inserted in to the apertures 12, 13 in the post 10 a wire holding region 213 is formed in which a portion 32 of the wire 30 is able to be held. Each wire holding region 213 extends outwardly away from the exterior 11 30 ofthepostlO.

The wire engaging portions 21, 22 are generally hook shaped where the free leg of the hook is the post engaging part 210, 220. Each free leg 210, 220 has an I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 upwardly bent portion 211, 221 and has a free end 212, 222 that extend towards the elongate central portion 23 such that bent portion 211, 221 and free end 212, 222 extend into a respective aperture 12, 13 of the post 10 so as to releasably retain the clip 20 to the post 10. Each hook 21, 22 defines a space 213, 223 between the free 5 leg 210, 220 and the central portion 23 where the space 213, 223 forms the wire holding region 213, 223 when the clip 20 is attached to the post 10. The wire holding region 213, 223 is fully encircled (see figure 5) when the clip 20 is attached to the post 10. The greatest extent of the width of the hooks 21, 22 is greater than the diameter of the aperture 12, 13 of the post. The free leg 210, 220 of the hooks 10 are inherently biased away from the central portion 23 so that the bias assists in retaining the clip 10 within the apertures 12, 13 of the post 10. In order to insert the clip into an aperture the free leg is urged against the bias towards the central portion 23 to allow the clip and the free leg to be inserted in to the aperture. The inherent bias retains the free legs 210, 220 within the aperture 12, 13 so as to prevent the 15 clip from being removed from the apertures 12, 13. Typically the clip 20 is made from a high tensile wire which is able to be bent into the shape as shown in the drawings and its is the high tensile attributes that provide the bias to the free legs 210, 220 of the wire engaging portions 21, 22. It is envisaged that the clip 20 could be made from any other suitable material that is rigid, resilient and bendable and 20 has inherent biasing properties. The clip could be made from high tensile galvanised steel and could also be covered in an insulating material for use with electric fences.

The post 10 can be made from metal, metal alloy, wood or plastic material, typically 25 it is made from made from galvanised steel. The post could be solid or it could be hollow. The pr4efered embodiment of the inventions is to use a tubular hollow post 10 having a plurality of set of apertures where each set consists of two coaxially aligned spaced apart aperture 12, 13 in which a clip is able to be inserted into one aperture 12 and extend the other aperture 13 in order to retain and attach the clip 20 30 to the post 10. Once the clip 20 is attached to the post 10 a wire 30 can be held by the post by inserting the wire 30 through the wire holding region 213, 223 of the post engaging portion 21, 22 of the clip 20. For an end post (as shown in figures 2 to 5) a portion 32 of the wire 30 is inserted through wire holding region 213 and wound I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 around the post and inserted through wire holding region 223 and then wound portion 31 of the wire 30.

The present invention is able to attach fence wires to the post and suspend them in 5 the desired spacing and locations on the post. More specifically, the fence clip securely attaches fence wire to the fence post while allowing it to freely move in a lateral manner if required. In respect of end/strainer post the clip arrangement allows for a wire to be held and secured to a fence post in an effective and efficient manner.

The present invention of attaching wire to a fence post by the clip provides a mechanism by which a length of fencing can absorb relatively large external forces, such as those created through contact with large grazing animals, farm implements, and snow banks, without placing undue forces on either the wire or the fence posts 15 which can result in the breaking or distortion of the fence itself.

The present invention results in a method of attaching wire to a fence post in a manner that can be easily accomplished in an inexpensive fashion and which will be durable enough to last for the foreseeable life of the fence.

Variations Throughout the description of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprising" and "comprises", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein defined in the appended 30 claims...

I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 What We Claim is:

Claims (22)

1. Claim 1: A clip for holding wire or wires to a post, the clip includes two wire engaging portions spaced apart from one another by a central elongate portion, each wire engaging portion has a biasing post engaging part that is adapted to bias 5 in order to releasably attach and retain the post engaging part within an aperture in a post, each wire engaing portion forms a wire holding region such that when a clip is inserted in to an aperture in the post the wire holding region extends outwardly away from the post so that the wire holding region is able to retain and hold a wire to a post. 10
2. Claim 2: U-shaped, i) ii) 15 iii) The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wire engaging portions are wherein the U shape for each wire engaging portion defines: a first leg that co-axially extends from the elongate central portion; a second leg that is spaced from and extends in a plane parallel to the elongate central portion; and open mouth that faces and extends towards the corresponding open mouth of the other wire engaging portion.
3. Claim 3: The clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second leg is the post 20 engaging part of the wire engaging portion and the space between the legs of the U is wire holding region.
4. Claim 4: The clip as claimed in claim 3, wherein the wire holding region is fully encircled when the clip is attached to the post. 25
5. Claim 5: The clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wire engaging portions are hooks.
6. Claim 6: The clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 30 post engaging part has an upwardly bent portion and has a free end which extend toward the elongate central portion such that bent portion and free end in I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 -10- combination are adapted to extend into the aperture of the post so as to releasably retain the clip to the post.
7. Claim 7: The clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 5 greatest extent of the width of the wire engaging portion is greater than the diameter of the aperture of the post.
8. Claim 8: The clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the post engaging part is adapted to bias away from the elongate central portion such 10 that the bias assists in retaining the clip within the aperture of the post.
9. Claim 9: The clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each wire engaging portion has a spring clipping action adapted to naturally bias the post engaging part away from the elongate central portion but adapted to allow the post 15 engaging part to be urged toward the elongate central portion when inserting the clip into the aperture of the post.
10. Claim 10: The clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clip is of a rod or tubular shape. 20
11. Claim 11: The clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clip is made from metal, metal alloy or plastic materials.
12. Claim 12: The clip as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clip is made from 25 galvanised steel.
13. Claim 13: The clip as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clip is made from a bendable material. 30
14. Claim 14: The clip as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clip is made from a resilient material. I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 - 11 -
15. Claim 15: The clip as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clip is made from high tensile steel.
16. Claim 16: The clip as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clip is made from high 5 tensile fencing wire.
17. Claim 17: A post assembly for holding wires to a post, the post assembly including: i) a post having at least one clip receiving aperture extending there 10 through; and ii) a clip as claimed in claim 1, the clip is adapted to be inserted and releasably retained in said aperture for holding wire or wires to the post. 15
18. Claim 18: The post assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the post is made from metal, metal alloy, wood or plastic material.
19. Claim 19: The post assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the post is made from galvanised steel. 20
20. Claim 20: The post assembly as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the post is hollow with at least one set of aligned apertures such that the clip extends from one aperture to the other aperture whereby each respective wire engaging portion is releasably retained within the corresponding aperture so as to 25 hold the clip to the post and define the wire engaging regions that extend outwardly and away from the post.
21. Claim 21: A clip for holding wire or wires to a post substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 30 I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc Received by IPONZ 12 April 2011 - 12-
22. Claim 22: A post assembly for holding wires to a post substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. PIPERS Attorneys for the Applicant I:\401600\401646NZ\401646NZ Amended COMPSPEC 20110412 1322 TGR.doc