US1543390A - Fencepost - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1925.

R. V. FUNK FENCEPOST Filed Oct. 20, 1922 all/Oma- Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT V. FUNK, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, IBY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO INLAND STEEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FENCEPOST.

Application filed October 20, 1922. Serial No. 595,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonner V. Furnr. a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago Heights, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fenceposts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention concerns fence posts, more especially those of metallic form adapted to be driven or forced downwardly into the ground and when firmly anchored in place to support the fence proper usually one composed of a plurality of wires.

In accordance with the principles of this invention the metal posts, desirably but'not necessarily of T-shape in cross-section, are rolled during their production in such a manner as to provide on one face thereof spaced lugs or ears integral or unitary with the post for the purpose of supporting and preventing sagging or displacement of the longitudinal wires of the fence. one or more of such lugs or projections at the lower portion of the post also assisting in holding in place a brace or anchor plate riveted thereto, whereby such plate is held in position by the united or joint holding function of the lug or lugs and the one or more rivets.

Thus the ears or lugs on the posts do 30 double duty in aiding in fastening the holding plate in position and in supporting the fence wires after the post has been anchored in the earth.

To enable those skilled in this art to have a full and complete understanding of the invention and the various structural and functional advantages accruing therefrom, in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification I have illustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention, like reference characters referring to the same parts throughout the several views.

In this drawing:

Figure l is a broken face view of the i1nproved post showing a portion of it embedded in the round and showing the manner of attachlng one of the fence wires thereto;

Figure 2 is a side view of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3. of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a enlar ed horizontal crosssection on line 4-4 of igure 1.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen that the metal post 11 is of substantially T-shape in horizontal cross-section and is sharpened at its lower end by be velling olf parts of the head of the T at 12-12 on opposite sides of its stem whereby to facilitate the driving or sinking of the post into the ground, the stem however being uncut to assist in maintaining the post in proper position and alignment with the companion ones of the row particularly during the starting or initiation of the driving or sinklng operation.

On itsfront face such post has a plurality or series of vertically-spaced lugs or ears 13 on the tops of which the horizontal or longitudinal fence wires 14 rest being held thereon against dislodgment by fastening or securing wires 15 which extend around the fence wire and part way around the post.

Only one such fence -wire has been shown with its associated securing wire but of course a plurality of each of these is used with each of the posts.

Near its lower end the post is equipped with a brace or anchor plate 16 preferably but not necessarily of semi-circular shape with its curved edge disposed downwardly and its top straight edge arranged horizontally whereby to render more easy the entrance of such plate into the earth under the action of the force or blows applied to the top of the post.

.Obviously, during such forcible sinking of the post into the ground a great strain is imposed on such plate tending to dislodge and displace it.

Unless it is very firmly secured to the post it will become unfastened and be rendered useless especially when the post is forced into some kinds of ground which resists its introduction and descent in substantial manner.

If the plate is merely riveted to the flanges of the post, in some cases the rivets are sheared off thus rendering the plate unserviceable and worthless.

Accordingly, in this improved and novel post the plate holding and securing action of the rivets is supplemented by one or more of such lugs or cars of the post.

To this end, the plate is riveted at 17 17 against the head of the T or against the face of the post by a pair of rivets extended through registering holes in the plate and in the opposite flan es of the post unitedly formingthe head 0 the T.

This plate or fiat stay member is also substantially centrally aperturedv to receive one of the lugs 13 which by coaction with the margin of the hole of the plate accommo dating it reinforces the holding and fastenin action of the rivets.

Jue to the fact that such lug or projection is integral with the post there is little daner of its being sheared off during the post driving operatlon. I

Thus the presence of such unitary ears on the post afford firm and reliable means for preserving the fence wires in place and for aiding in holding the anchor plate in position especially during the post driving performance. I

The invention is not limited and restricted to the precise and exact details of construction shown and described but is susceptible of a variety of embodiments varying more or less in mechanical structure but all incorporating the fundamental principles of coninto the'ground, comprising in combination,- ,a metal the ground, sald lugs being designed to co- 1 operate with the fence wires to sup ort' the latter, and means in addition to the ugs for rivetingthe plate to the post.

2. A metal fence post adapted to be driven into the ground, comprising in combination, a metal post T-shape in cross-section having its stem full width its entire length and its flanges oppositely beveled to facilitatethe entrance of the post into the ground, said post having lugs integral therewith outstanding therefrom and spaced apart lengthwise the post, and a substantially semicircular anchor-plate riveted to a face of said post with its curved edge downward, said plate having a substantially central aperture receiving one of said lugs to assist in holding the plate in position on the post during the sinking of the latter into the ground, one or more of said lugs being designed to cooperate with the fence wire or wires to support the latter.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ROBERT v. FUNK. m

one of said lugs

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