US2858106A - Guide for flexible lines - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1958 w. G. ANTON. ET AL GUIDE FOR FLEXIBLE LINES Filed Spt. 20, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iarr m Imii JOHN SIMPSON WILL/AM a. ANTON INVENTORY HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G A TTORNEVS Oct. 28, 1958 w. G. ANTON ET AL 2,858,106

GUIDE FOR FLEXIBLE LINES Filed Sept. 20. 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g /9 23 48 3/ JOHN E SIMPSON R2 1 I WILL/AM a. ANTON r?! i 3, INVENTORS 0 Fig /0, HUEBNER, BEEHLER, /5 /7 /5 WORREL & HERZ/G l8 ATTORNEYS United States Patent GUIDE FOR FLEXIBLE LINES William G. Anton and John F. Simpson, Fresno, Calif.

Application September 20, 1954, Serial No. 456,998

6 Claims. (Cl. 254-190) The present invention relates to auxiliary apparatus for use in stringing, stretching or otherwise locating flexible lines between support members therefor which has particular application to such operations conducted over uneven or hilly terrain, or along Zig-Zag or irregular contours, tracks and the like.

In the past, there has been little or no particularly significant improvements made in the age old method of stringing cables, wires, or other lines between support posts. This task is most frequently encountered in stretching plain or barbed Wire between fence posts. This operation is relatively simple when the posts are all in alignment along level ground but has, in the past, been exceedingly difficult and time consuming on hilly terrain or where other than a straight line is followed. Consider, for example, a succession of hills and valleys with fence posts located on the hills and in the valleys. Initially the wire is laid along the ground next to the row of posts. One end is then attached to an endrnost post and the other end is pulled, usually with a block and tackle fence stretcher, to tension the wire. Obviously, this procedure is impracticable since the wire digs into the ground in; the hills, assuming a position too low for proper attachment to the posts on the hill, and rises above the posts in the valleys, frequently to heights beyond the reach of workmen.

Therefore, it has been necessary, prior to the present invention, to string the Wires for only a very few posts at a time to permit proper handling and stretching. This is an undesirable, tedious and time consuming operation and is completely avoided by utilization of the device of this invention. Previously, the major expense of each fence was frequently the labor required successively to stretch short reaches of the wire so as to permit the stretching to be performed in practical increments. Similar problems exist where the fence posts are arranged "along an irregular path or where wire is to be strung around corners.

Although probably more frequently occurringin fencing operations, the principles of this invention apply equally as well to the stringing of telephone, power or other cables, rope or for that matter, any flexible line to be mounted on a succession of support members.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to facilitate the stringing, positioning, stretching or mounting of flexible lines between support members.

Another object is to enable the stretching of flexible lines between a large number of spaced support members regardless of their alignment.

Another object is to enable the stretching of flexible lines between such support members in a single operation rather than between only a few support members at a time.

Another object is to provide a guiding device releasably attachable to a support member for constraining a flexible line. during stretching or. stringing of the line to a position closely adjacent to the desired position of attachment of the line to the member.

Another object is to provide a guiding device, as in the foregoing paragraph, which is adapted for convenient reception and release of a line and which is adapted releasably to confine the line therein upon selected arrangement of the parts thereof.

Another object is to provide a line stringing guide which constrains the line to a position adjacent to a support member during stretching or stringing thereof and which is adapted, to hold the line substantially against the support member to enable attachment thereto.

Another object is to provide a line stringing guide, as set forth in the preceding objects, which is adapted for use on various shapes of support members, such as wooden and metallic posts, poles and on buildings or other structures.

Other objects are to provide a guide for use in the stretching and stringing of flexible lines: such as wire, rope, cable, cord and the like which is simple in form and construction, economical to manufacture, adaptable to a variety of operational environments, adjustable, and highly effective for its intended purposes.

These and other objects will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description.

in the drawing:

Fig. l is an elevational View of a fence illustrating the utility of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary view of a pair of fence posts of Fig. l with the wire broken away and showing an enlargement of the present invention used in connection therewith.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross section through a fence post and showing a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention. i

Fig. 4- is a fragmentary side elevation of a fence post and an end view of the apparatus of this invention.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken on line 77 of Fig. 4-.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the line in a different position of use. p

Fig.9 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 3 showing modified forms of both the post and mounting means for the device of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the post of Fig. 9 also showing an end view of the holder of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a rear detail elevation of the brackets provided in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Referring more particularly to the drawings:

In Figs. 3 and 4, is shown the guide 10 of the present invention attached to a support post 11.

The guide 10 has an eyelet or ring portion 15 preferably of hollow, thin-walled hyperbo-loidal form providing a central bore 16 defining an eyelet axis. The bore is flared outwardly at the ends thereof and is constricted toward the center. This construction has a special advantage, particularly with barbed wire, as will be seen in the description of the operation and use of the invention. The

eyelet has an outer arcuate surface 17 generally conforming to the curvature of the bore. Further, the eyelet provides rims 18 radially related to the eyelet axis and additionally, includes a slot 19 disposed in a plane substantially coincident with a plane containing the eyelet axis.

The eyelet 15 may be cast in the shape shown and de 1y u-shaped strap having longitudinal edges forming rims 18 and end edges spaced to form slot 19 and with the convex surfaces of the strap facing inwardly. Such reference is not intended, however, to limit the manner of producing the device in any way.

A resilient -arcuate clasp 21 conforming in shape to the bore 16 is provided for the eyelet and includes a pair of hooked-ends -22 slidably fitted-to-the rims '18.

One of the ends 22 has an outwardlyextended finger tab 23 forreleasingthe clasp from the eyelet. 'The clasp has a width somewhatgreaterthan the slot 19 and, in use,'is adaptedfor movement into bridging relation over the slot disposedinwardly of the eyelet.

The guide is is also equipped with a plurality of legs 25, preferably two pair of such legs, extended outwardly fromeach rim 18 and in a -direction substantially perpendicularly-relatedto the place'of the slot 19, one pair ;-being in 'opposed relation to the other pair. The legs are thus arranged in substantially a rectangular pattern and are of equallength so that, when placed against-a support surface, they support the eyelet in such a manner that the eyelet axis is parallel to the support a guide 10 is held against the side of the postl'lon which" the wire 65 is eventually to be attached with the legs 25 firmly based against the post, as seen in Fig.3, with the r post in which event the plate 36 abuts the portion of the post adjacent thereto. With'wider posts, the tips of the surface. "Eachpair of legs is connected by a cross bar 7 26 extended therebetween in spaced relation to the rim adjacent thereto.

The legs adjacent to the slot have ramps 30 associated therewith providing front edges 31 inclined outwardly of the slot 19 toward the base of the leg'and forming a smooth juncture 32 with the respective rim 18. Further, each ramp has a back edge33 perpendicular to its respectiveleg and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the slot. structed integrally as a part of the legs, as shown, but can be independent thereof, if desired. They may comprise separate elements welded or otherwise secured to the eyelet" on the rim or on the outer surface 17 in such a position as to accomplish a similar function to the illustrated ramps.

A plate 36 is extended between the rims 18 centrally of the legs 25 and is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the slot 19.

A flexible-belt, band or strap is provided and is fitted through the spaces between the cross bars 26 and theadjacentrims 18a The belt has a buckle or an equivalent fastener indicated generally at 41, thereon whereby the belt maybe wrapped around the post 11 and fastened securely thereto.

In Figs. 9-11 is shown another form of fastener to be usedwith another form of post. A steel T-shaped post 45, of well known form is shown having a support flange 46 and-amounting flange 47. The support flange addition- These ramps'may be conally has a: plurality of longitudinally spaced projecting knobs 48 thereon. A pair of angulated brackets 49 are provided,'each having a guideconnecting portion 50' and a post mounting portion 51. The connecting portions have cars 52 extended therefrom which are adapted to fit into the space between the cross bars 26 and the adjacent rims 18. The mounting'portions are adapted to embrace the mounting flange of the post and provide apertures 53 for receiving a bolt 54. A nut 55 threaded on the bolt holds the mounting'plate securely in place.

Operation The operation and use of this invention is believed to be readilyapparentand is briefly summarized at this point,

A popular use for the device of this invention is that of stringing wire to fence posts. Thus, in Figs. 1 and 2, is shown afence, generally indicated at 60, including a row of fence posts'll, alternately located in valleys 62 and on hills 63. Wires 64 are strung between'the posts. Assuming for amoment that top wire 65 is yet to be strung, the guides 10 are first attached to each of. the posts in the approximate position in which the upper. wire is to be located. 7

Thus, considering first the posts 11 in the valleys 62,

legs are adaptedto dig intothepost in order to holdthe guide firmly in place and to prevent twisting. It is, of

course, preferable that the legs grasp the post and tha't" the" plate abut the post concurrently, This frequently oc- The belt 40 is threaded around the cross-bar 26,

curs. strapped around the post, and fastenedwith buckle 41.

This same procedure is followed with posts 11 on the hills 63 with the exception that slots 19 are directed upwardly, as seen in Fig. 2, at the right.

Next, the clasps 21 are slid away from bridging rela-* tion with the slots 19, or simply removed from the device, exposing each of the slots. The wire 65 is attached to the endmost post 11, not shown, in the row and successively threaded through or placed in the bores 16 of all the guides 10. This includes the entire row of posts to be After" each guide has received the wire, its clasp is slid back, 'o'r reclipped, into bridging relation over the slot thereof," thus preventing accidental slippage of the wire from the strung and not just one small section thereof.

bore.

A pulling force, not shown, is thenapplied to the free end of the wire 65, until suflicient tension has been placed on the wire to achieve a desired tightening action. It should be noted that during tensioning of the wire, it

remains substantially in the same place relative to the post that it assumes subsequent to tensioning when even tually connected to the post. Thus the wire does 'not rise above posts in valleys and dig into the ground adjacent 1 to post on hills.

With tension still applied to wire 65, the clasps 21 are removed from bridged position by sliding movement alongj rims 18 or by completely removing them from the eyelet by pressing back on tab 23. This exposes the slots '19. At each of the posts 11, the wire is successively lifted outof the bores 16 through the slots, moved back into junctures 32, forced up the inclined edges 31 and permitted to drop behind the back edge 33 of the ramps 30. The

wire is then in convenient position for stapling or nailing 52 behind the cross bars 26 and bringing the mountingportions 51 into parallel spaced relation. The mounting portions embrace the mounting flange 47 and the connecting portions abutrearwardly against the support flange of the post. nut 55 draws the brackets together against the post.

When the wire 65 is tensioned and is removed from the eyelet, it is placed into position behind edges 33 adjacent If to the post and is wired or otherwise aflixedto the post 45.

The advantages of the invention are believed readily-" apparent. It offers a speedy, simplified and safe methodfor stringing or stretching a flexible line to a successionof posts or other support members. It has many applica- I tions in that it can be used for installing cables, wires,

ropes and the like. It reduces a long, tedious, expensive task, as conventionally practiced, to a short, simple,'eco-' nomical procedure.

Although the invention has been herein shownl and described in what is conceived to be the most practical: f and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that" depar turesmay be made"therefromwithin the scope'of the Thus the plate 36 positively abuts Bolt 54 extends through apertures 53 and invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An auxiliary device for temporarily supporting lines and the like in approximate positions of desired mounting on support members therefor comprising an elongated tubular member having opposite endwardly disposed rims and a slot longitudinally extended between the rims in a plane radially of the tubular member permitting passage of a line therethrough, pairs of legs rigidly secured to the rims and radially outwardly extended from the tubular member substantially normal to the plane of the slot, and a guiding element extended outwardly from the tubular member adjacent to the slot having a front edge facing in the direction of the slot and a rear edge facing in a direction away from the slot adapted to guide a line removed from the tubular member along the front edge into a position releasably held against the rear edge of the guiding element.

2. An auxiliary device for temporarily supporting fence wires and the like in approximate positions of desired mounting on fence posts therefor comprising an elongated tubular member having a hollow interior, endwardly disposed substantially circular rims, and a slot longitudinally extended between the rims in a plane radially of the tubular member permitting passage of a line in and out of the tubular member, support legs laterally outwardly extended from the rims substantially normal to the plane of the slot, and camming ramps integral with the legs adjacent to the rims having front edges outwardly inclined from their respectively adjacent rims and rear edges substantially perpendicularly related to the inclined edges.

3. A guide for facilitating the stretching of wire between fence posts having longitudinal axes comprising an eyelet having opposite ends and a bore extended between the ends defining an eyelet axis, the ends of the bore being flared from a centrally constricted portion, the eyelet having a slot therein in a plane common to the eyelet axis, legs extended from the eyelet in substantially perpendicular relation to the eyelet axis and angularly displaced from the slot, means for mounting the legs against a post with the eyelet axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post, and camming ramps on the legs having forward edges extended in chordal relation outwardly from the slot and rear edges substantially parallel to the plane of the slot and facing outwardly away from the slot, the ramps being adapted to guide removal of a wire laterally of the eyelet subsequent to removal from the bore through the slot and to retain such wire in lateral juxtaposition to a post on which the eyelet is mounted for connection of such wire to the post.

4. A guide for use in stringing wires, cables, ropes, lines and the like to support members comprising a hollow hyperboloidally-shaped eyelet having an inwardly disposed convex surface, an outer concave surface, circular end edges constituting rims and a central axis concentric to the rims, the eyelet having a slot therein lying in a plane substantially coincident with a plane containing said central axis, a pair of legs mounted in spaced relation on each rim substantially radially extended from the eyelet in a direction angularly displaced from the plane of said slot and with the legs on one rim in opposed relation to the legs on the other rim, cams integral with corresponding legs of each pair of legs providing camming edges outwardly extended in chordal relation from the rims and corresponding back edges extended from said camming edges in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the slot and facing outwardly away from the slot, a cross bar extended between each pair of legs in spaced relation to the rim adjacent thereto, means extended through the spaces between said cross bars and the rims for mounting the guide on a support member, a plate extended between the rims centrally of the opposed pairs of legs, and a resilient arcuate clasp adapted to bridge over the slot having a shape conforming to the convex surface of the eyelet, a pair of hooked ends slidably fitted on the rims, of the eyelet, and an outwardly extended piece adjacent to one of the hooked ends adapted to permit finger engagement therewith to facilitate removal of the clasp from the eyelet.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means includes a flexible band threaded through the spaces between the cross-bars and rims and having a fastener for tightening the strap around the support member.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means includes a pair of brackets each having a connecting portion and a mounting portion perpendicularly related to each other, the connecting portions each .having an ear projecting therefrom individually extended into the space between the respective cross bar and rim, the mounting portions being adapted to embrace the support member and having openings therein, and a fastener extended through the openings to tighten the mounting portion against the support member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 369,447 Greenfield Sept. 6, 1887 370,386 Gholson Sept. 27, 1887 496,081 Wright Apr. 25, 1893 1,664,321 Quist Mar. 27, 1928 1,705,584 Overstall Mar. 19, 1929

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