US1099403A - Fence-post. - Google Patents

Description

D. E. SNOKE.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION rum: JUNE 29, 1912.

Patented June 9, 191% Witnesses Attorneys DAVIDE. SNOKE, OF LUDINGTON, LOUISIANA.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 9, 1914.

Application filed June 29, 1912. Serial No. 706,715.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID E. SNoKn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ludington, in the parish of Oaleasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful FencePost, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fence posts, and aims primarily to provide a fence post molded from plastic material which has combined therewith means for locking the fence wires thereto in a novel manner.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of a fence post of the character indicated which shall be simple, durable, substantial and inexpensive in construction, and which shall be convenient and eificient in use.

With the foregoing general objects outlined, and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter set forth and claimed, itbeing understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. a

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post constructed in accordance with the present invention as in use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the post. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the post.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the post has been designated by the numeral 4, the same being molded of concrete or other plastic material by means of a suitable mold or other apparatus. The lower end of the post 4 is made sufficiently thick so that when it is embedded in the soil, it will withstand the various conditions to which the post is subjected, and the post tapers upwardly from a point which is at the surface of the soil when the post is in position in the soil.

The post 4 is provided at one side with a longitudinal channel 5, which provides a pair of flanges 6 alongthe edges of the corresponding side, the edges of the said flanges being sinuous to provide transverse corrugations. These grooves formed by the corrugations extend to the plane of the bottom of the channel 6, the channel 6 and the corrugations extending throughout the length of the post which is normally above the soil. Along the side of the post opposite the side having the channel (3, the post is provided with a longitudinal channel 7 which increases in depth toward the lower end of the post, the channel 7 being co-extonsive with the channel 6. A metallic locking bar 8 fits in the channel 6 between the ridges of the corrugations and extends throughout the length of the channel 6, bolts or draft members 9 being passed through the looking bar 8 at intervals along its length and through the post 4. The heads of the bolts 9 are arranged in the channel 7, and the bolts bear nuts 10 engaging the outer face of the locking bar 8, so that when the nuts are tightened the locking bar 8 is forced inwardly in the channel 6. The lower extremity of the locking bar 8 is bent outwardly as at 8' and which coacts with the beveled end 6 of the channel 6. By so forming the lower extremities of the locking bar and channel the lower and body portion of the fence will be held against direct compression from the locking bar to allow for the longitudinal or axial movements thereof. Also the lower end of the locking bar presents a ledge against which the blows of a hammer may be directed in order to force the locking bar from the channel. Also mention is made of the fact that the channel bar may be driven longitudinally of the slot without likelihood of the lower extremity contacting with the lower extremity of the channel slot which would fracture the same.

When the present fence post is to be employed, a number of the posts are set or embedded in, the soil in the usual fashion, and the longitudinal strands of the fence wire are passed through the respective pairs of complementing grooves provided by the corrugated flanges 6, the locking bar 8 of each post then being inserted between the flanges 6 and the bolts 9 and then being positioned so as to draw the bar 8 inwardly. The bar 8 being secured to the post will lock the strands of wire against vertical or transverse movement, but will permit the strands of wire to slide longitudinally, thus permitting the proper expansion or contraction of the strands due to the atmospheric changes to which the fence is susceptible. In this manner, the fence wires may be securely locked to the fence post for sliding movement relative thereto, but to be otherwise constrained against movement, and by removing the lockingbars of the various posts, the fence wires may be detachedwhenever desired or necessary.

The grooves of the corrugations extending to the bottom of the channel 5 permit the strands of wire to pass between the post and looking bars without kinking for bending,

this being of advantage for the reason that fence wires are generally plated with zinc and a kinking or bending thereof would tend to crack or chip off the plating, which would result in the rusting or breaking of the wire. The fence post is of a convenient and ehicient design so that it may be conveniently and easily molded of concrete or other plastic material, and when molded, will provide a substantial and durable post. The corrugations provided in the flanges 6 permit the strands of wire to be inserted in the various vertical corrugations, so that the fence post may accommodate various forms of woven wire fences, or fences wherein the longitudinal strands are spaced more or less apart. It is frequently desirable or necessary to readjust the spacing of the fence strands, or to shift one or more of the strands vertically, this being readily accomplished by loosening the looking bar slightly which will enable the strands to be shifted from one groove of the corrugations to another over the rounded ridges. Thus, the rounded ridges of the corrugations provided by the sinuous edges of the flanges are of advantage, the same permitting the strands to be sprung thereover when the locking bar is loosened. The rounded ridges, however, do not permit the strands to gravitate when the locking bar is loosened, but merely permit the strands to be sprung from one groove to another, for purpose of adjusting the strands vertically.

Having thus described the invention, what is "claimed as new is A fence post provided with a longitudinal channel in one side thereof and with the lower extremity of said channel tapering off flush with the surface of the post, a locking bar fitting within the said channel and with the lowerextremity thereof bent outwardly with a radius of curvature equal to the tapering end of said slot, the flanges formed by the said channel being continuous and provided with corrugations, which extend flush with the bottom of said channel, the lower portion of said locking bar resting against the lowered tapered end of said channel and holding the locking bar spaced away from the bottom thereof, allowing for the passage of the strands of a fence through the said transverse corrugations, and means engaging the locking bar and post adapted to hold the same against relative movements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID E. SNOKE. WVitnesses:

M. P. NOLEN, Z. HEARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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