US3568980A

US3568980A - Attachment means and insulator for electrified fences

Info

Publication number: US3568980A
Application number: US823857A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert S Hulburt; Efrem M Ostrowsky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-12
Filing date: 1969-05-12
Publication date: 1971-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-09

Abstract

Reusable flexible, insulating members have a pair of oppositely extending arms deflectable into a configuration encircling an adjoining fence wire and characterized by locking means for forming a closed loop to restrain electrically conductive fence wire against displacement. A body portion of each member is characterized by standoff projections spacing the flexible, insulating members outwardly of the fence post. Also, the body portion may include a plurality of post attachment means configured to facilitate attachment to fenceposts of a variety of configurations, for example T-posts and rods.

Description

United States Patent Robert S. Hulburt Chicago;

Efrem M. Ostrowsky, Highland Park, Ill. 823,857

May 12, 1969 Mar. 9, 1971 Said Ostrowsky assignor to said Hulburt lnventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ATTACHMENT MEANS AND INSULATOR FOR ELECTRIFIED FENCES 19 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 256/10, 174/163, 174/175, 248/74, 248/221, 248/229, 248/231 Int. Cl A0lk 3/00, l-lOlb 17/ 1 6 Field of Search 174/45,

158,158.2,161,161.2, 163,163.2,168,174,175; 248/70, 71, 72,74, 74 (P.B.), 216, 221, 226, 226.5, 228, 229, 230, 231, (Insulator Mount Digest); 24/129 (B), 73 (T), (inquired); 256/10, 54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,945,932 2/1934 Caley ..248/74(P.B.)UX 2,537,719 1/1951 Tuepker 174/163(.2)X 2,896,011 7/1959 l-luseby l74/174X 3,090,826 5/1963 Cochran 174/175X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,086,297 8/1954 France 248/74(P.B.)

754,239 8/1956 Great Britain l74/158(.2)

Primary Examiner- Laramie E. Askin Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: Reusable flexible, insulating members have a pair of oppositely extending arms deflectable into a configuration encircling an adjoining fence wire and characterized by locking means for forming a closed loop to restrain electrically conductive fence wire against displacement. A body portion of each member is characterized by standoff projections spacing the flexible, insulating members outwardly of the fence post. Also, the body portion may include a plurality of post attachment means configured to facilitate attachment to fenceposts of a variety of configurations, for example T-posts and rods.

.PATVENTEDHAR elem 3568.980

SHEET 2 BF 2 L ecu M darken/awry I ft fi agaf fmmvuys 1 ATTACHMENT MEANS AND INSULATOR FOR ELECTRIFIEI) FENCES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a support device for fence wire, and more particularly to a reusable, insulating member for supporting electrically conductive fence wire on a fencepost.

2. Description of the Prior Art Fenceposts may have a variety of configurations including, for example, metal T-posts, small diameter metal rods, and wooden posts. Insulating means, described in the prior art, for supporting fence wire on fenceposts usually include a ceramiclike member for receiving the wire. Insulating means of that type have notincluded integrally formed attachment means enabling rapid securement of the insulator to the fence posts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Electrified fences are oftentimes utilized for temporary fence enclosures, and thus, the present invention provides reusable insulating means capable of being quickly attached to, and detached from, a fencepost'of any one of the common configurations and also enabling the conductive fence wire to be rapidly strung and assembled in the insulating means.

An insulating member, constructed in accordance with the present invention generally includes a flexible, sheet-form member having an attachment or body portion clasped onto a fencepost and a wire supporting'portion carried by the attachment portion, receiving an adjoining fence wire and insulating the wire from the fenceposts.

The attachment portion is characterized by a pair of sheetform, flexible and oppositely extending arms sized and arranged to be shaped into a loop embracing a standard T-post or a standard fence rod. To permit rapid attachment and detachment of the insulating device, the attachment portion includes releasable locking means retaining the attachment arms in an embracing loop around the fenceposts. For example, the locking means may include a keyhole slot or opening formed in one of the attachment arms and a key head or tab provided on an opposite one of the pair of arms movable into a locked position in the slot to form a closed loop. The insulating device may be easily removed from the fenceposts by twisting the tab portion to an unlocked position and withdrawing the same from the keyhole slot.

Offset projections or flanges are carried on the attachment or body portion and space the wire supporting portion or members from the post, thereby to increase the insulating capabilities of the device. Also, the attachment portion has gripping flanges formed thereon and arranged to snugly engage either a fence rod or a standard T-post whenever the arms are locked in an embraced condition around a fencepost of either configuration. Thus, the insulating device of the present invention is adaptable for use with different fenceposts of the type customarily utilized for constructing temporary fences.

To increase the gripping capabilities of the insulating device of the present invention, the offset projections may include depressions or notches sized complementally to a standard fence rod and a resilient sleeve may be fitted over a fence post of the rod type. With that arrangement, the attachment portion grips the resilient sleeve and squeezes the sleeve into firm frictional engagementwith the rod.

Also, to enhance the gripping capabilities of the insulating device, whenever the device is utilized with a T-post, the offset projections may include a pair of vertically spaced flanges spaced apart a distance to be loosely received between an adjacent pair of projections normally provided on a face of a standard T-post, thereby to prevent vertical movement of the insulating device relative to the T-post. Furthermore, the gripping flanges form edge portions shaped complementally to the T-post and arranged to clamp the post between confronting ones of the edges.

If desired, the sheet-form arms may be directly fastened to a wooden fencepost by nails, staples or other suitable fastening means. I

The wire supporting portion is formed selectively by a second pair of sheet-form, oppositely extending arms each comprising a flexible, insulating material and disposed in different quadrants than the attachment arms. The flexible support arms are deflectable into a closed loop encircling the adjoining wire, thereby to insulate the wire from the fenceposts. To facilitate stringing the fence wire, the support arms include complementary locking means retaining the arms in a closed loop around the wire and being selectively releasable to permit removal of the wire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating an insulating device, embodying the features of the present invention as applied to a device used with a rod-type fencepost:

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the insulating device shown in FIG. I and illustrating how attachment of the device toa rodlike fencepost ,is effected;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the device shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the assembled configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the insulating device shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, inclusive;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the insulating device illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, inclusive, and illustrating the assembled insulating device attached to a T-section fencepost;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view illustrating the insulating device of the present invention attached to a T-section fencepost;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the insulating device of the present invention shown in association with a T-section post; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view illustrating the insulating device of the present invention fastened to a wooden fencepost.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, a device of the present invention for insulating and supporting an electrically conductive fence wire 11 on a fencepost 12 comprises a substantially sheet-form member or blank 10 sized and configured to form a body portion having attachment means engageable with the fenceposts and wire supporting means for encircling and restraining the fence wire. To enable substantially universal application, the member or blank 10 is characterized by a construction permitting attachable engagement with a variety of different fencepost configurations, for examplemetal fence rod having a %-Il'lch diameter, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, inclusive; metal posts being T-shaped in cross section as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, inclusive; or a wooden fencepost, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The device 10 may be molded, or otherwise formed, from polypropylene, polyethylene, or other suitable material having electrically insulating properties, and being flexible over a relatively wide temperature range to permit use of the device in all types of climates.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the insulating device 10, as utilized with the rodlike fencepost 12, has a body portion 18 having oppositely extending,

flexible arms

13 and 14 forming post attachment means and a second.

crowsectional areas disposed near the central juncture or bodyportion l8 define flexible articulation sections or hinge portions 21 for the

arms

13 and 14.

It is also contemplated by the present invention to provide the

post attachment arms

13 and 14 with integrally formed locking means retaining the attachment arms in a closed loop embracing the fencepost 12 to permit rapid attachment of the device to the fencepost l2 and being releasable to facilitate removing and reusing the device 10. The locking means desirably include a keyhole aperture 22 formed through the attachment arm 14 and a key tab or head 23 formed on an outer end portion of the opposite attachment arm 13. The key tab or head 23 has a substantially triangular configuration and is formed outwardly of a neck or tapered portion 24 converging outwardly of the attachment arm 13 and toward the triangularkey; A base edge of the triangular key 23 is disposed at an outen'nost end of the tapered neck'portion 24 and forms a pair of locking lands as at 27 extending laterally outwardly in both directions of the tapered neck portion.

The keyhole aperture or slot 22 has a substantially T-shaped configuration providing a longitudinally elongated receiving slot 28 and a laterally extending retaining slot or portion 29 formed at one end of the receiving slot. The receiving slot 28 is sized to receive the triangular head portion 26 which is twisted parallel with, and inserted through, the slot, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Also, the retaining slot 29 is sized to receive the smallest cross-sectional portion of the tapered neck 24, disposed near the base edge of the triangular key 23, with the locking lands 27 engaging peripheral areas around the retaining slot, as illustrated, in FIGS. 3 and 4, thereby to lock the

attachment arms

13 and 14 in a loop embracing thefence rod 12.

Gripping flanges as at 31 are formed integrally with each

attachment arm

13 and 14 and arranged to cooperate with the offset or standoff projections or flanges 19 to form a cage surrounding and clamping the fencepost 12 whenever the attachment arms are deflected and lockedinto a loop embracing the fencepost 12. The gripping flanges 31 are disposed intermediate the hinge portions 21 and the locking means, either the key tab 23 or the keyhole aperture 22. Each gripping flange 31 has an arcuate corner portion as at 32 characterized by knurls as at 33 and disposed to engage the fence rod 12. To provide a larger contact surface on the offset or standoff projections l9, arcuate notches as at 34. are formed along an outer edge of the standoff projections, sized to partially extend around a periphery of the fencepost 12 and characterized by knurls as at 35.

If desired it is contemplated by they present invention, to

telescope a resilient sleeve 36 over an upper end portion of the rod-type fencepost 12 and to engage the attachment means around an outer periphery of the resilient sleeve. The resilient sleeve 36 has a central throughbore 37 sized to snugly engage the fence rod 12. With a standard fence rod having a %-IHCI'I outer diameter, the resilient sleeve 36 may be formed of a short length of rubberlike tubing having a is-inch internal diameter.

With the resilient sleeve 36 telescopically fitted over the fencerod 12, the knurled corners 32 of the gripping flanges 31 and the knurled notches 34 of thestandoff projections 19 dig into the resilient sleeve 36 and clamp the sleeve into a tight frictional engagement with the fence rod 12, thereby to firmly clasp the fence rod 12 and prevent axial displacement of the insulating device 10 relative to the rod.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the

support arms

16 and 17 are deflectable outwardly of the fence rod or post 12 and into a closed loop encircling the adjoining fence wire 11. In a manner similar to that described hereinabove for the

attachment arms

13 and 14, the

support arms

16 and 17 have complementary locking means retaining the support arms in a closed loop encircling the wire 11.

The locking means for the

support arms

16 and 17 include a keyhole aperture 41 disposed through the support arm 17 and a triangular key tab 42 formed .on a free end of the support arm 16. The support arm 16 has a tapered neck portion 43 converging toward the triangularly shaped head or tab portion and forming locking lands 44 disposed along a base edge of the key tab and extending outwardly of the neck portion. The keyhole aperture 41 has a longitudinally elongated receiving slot 46 sized to permit insertion of the tab 42 therethrough and a retaining slot 47 is formed laterally across one end portion of the receiving slot 46 and sized to receive the tapered neck portion 43 whereupon the key tab 42 is twisted into a locking I position with the neck portion 43 disposed within the retaining slot 47, so that the locking lands 44 engage peripheral areas around the retaining portion of the keyhole aperture or slot.

The wire may be released from its supported position within the closed loop formed by the

support arms

16 and 17 by twisting the key tab 42 to a position aligned with the receiving slot 41 and withdrawing the tab from the keyhole slot.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, inclusive, it is also contemplated by the present invention to utilize the device 10 on a T-shaped or T-section fencepost 12a. The standard T- shaped fencepost or T-post has a central, longitudinal rib 51 and a pair of oppositely extending wing portions as at 52 projecting laterally outwardly in both directions and disposed along an edge of the rib. The wing portions 52 are joined to the central rib 51 by substantially smooth, arcuate sections as at 53. A-plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart projections as at 54 extend outwardly of a face surface formed by the pair of

wing portions

52, 52 and are substantially aligned with and project oppositely from, the central rib 51. Ridges or a flashline as at 56 extend between adjacent ones of the pro jections 54.

In order to grip the T-post, the grippingflanges 31 and the standoff flanges or projections 19 are configured and arranged to grippingly embrace the T-post 12a. Thus, the offset or standoff projections 19 have outer edge portions as at 58 flanking the knurled notch 34 and engaging the wing portions 52 of the T-posts 12a with the notch 34 providing clearance for the ridges or flashline 56. Also, outermost ones of the standoff projections 19 are spaced apart a distance to be fittingly received between adjacent ones of the projections 54, thereby to provide a locking arrangement between the standoff pro jections 19 and the fencepost projections 54 for preventing vertical or longitudinal movement of the insulating device 10 relative to the fencepost 120.

To further assist in securely clamping the T-post 12a, each gripping flange 31 has a first clamping edge as at 59 extending obliquely of the

attachment arms

13 and 14 and disposed to clamp the wing portions 52 between the gripping flanges 31 and the standoff projections 19 wheneverthe attachment arms are locked in embracing engagement with the T-post 12a. Also, each gripping flange 31 is characterized by a second clamping edge as at 61 disposed substantially perpendicular to the first clamping edges 59. With the

attachment arms

13 and 14 locked around the T-post 120, the clamping edges 61 formed on the gripping flanges 31 carried by one of the

attachment arms

13 or 14 are parallel with the clamping edges 61 carried on the other attachment arm, and the parallel pairs of confronting edges 61 firmly engage opposite side surfaces of the central rib 61, thereby to frictionally clamp the rib between the gripping flanges carried on the attachment arms. Additionally, the arcuate corners 32-of the gripping flanges 31 are sized to be complementary to, and engaged with, the arctiate sections 53 joining the wings 52 to the central rib 51 of the T-post 12a.

The insulating device 10a shown in FIG. 7 is similar in many respects to the insulating device 10, and like elements are identified with like reference numerals to which the suffix a has been added.

The insulating device a has wire supporting arms 16a and 17a and post attachment arms 13a and 14a deflectable into a loop'embracing the T-post 12a and having locking means including a key tab 23a and a keyhole slot 22a for receiving the key tab. The attachment arms 13a and 14a are sheet formed members composed of flexible material and deflectable into a loop embracing the T-post 12a.

A juncture or body portion 18a overlies a face surface of the wing portions 52a of the T-post. A pair of standoff projections or flanges 19a, 19a are integrally formed on the juncture portion 18a and are characterized by a notch 34a formed along an outer edge and a pair of lands 58a, 58a flanking the notch 34a: When the attachment arms 13a and 14a are locked in a closed loop around the T-post 12a, the lands 58a of the standoff projections 19a engage the face surface of the wing portions 52a with the ridges or flash 56a received within the notch 34a, thereby to space the wire supporting arms 16a and 17a outwardly of the post 124 for increasing the insulating capabilities of the device 10a.

The pair of standoff flanges 19a, 19a are spaced apart a distance to be loosely received between adjacent ones of the projections 54a formed on the T-post 12a, thereby to prevent longitudinal displacement of the insulating device 10a along the T-post 12a. I

it is contemplated by the present invention that an insulating device may be directly fastened to a wooden fence post 12b as illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein is shown an insulating device 10b may have a configuration identical to either the insulating device 10 or 10a, as described hereinabove, and like elements are identified with like reference numerals to which a small letter b has been added. In this embodiment of the present invention, the attachment arms 13b and 14b are directly fastened onto the wooden fencepost 12b by means-of fasteners as at 64, such as nails, staples or other suitable fastening means.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim:

l. A support device for fence wire' comprising an attachment portion comprising:

flexible gripping means deflectable into a configuration frictionally grasping a fencepost, said gripping means havingoutstanding portions configured for grasping both T- shaped posts and small diameter rods;

flexible means on said attachment portion comprising electrically insulating material and being deflectable into a configuration to encircle an adjoining fence wire; and

said flexible means comprising locking means to form a closed loop for restraining the fence wire against displacement. 2. A support device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said outstanding portions including projections extending outwardly of said attachment portion for engaging the fence post to space said flexible means outwardly of the fence post.

3. A support device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said outstanding portions including flanges formed on said attachment portion for frictionally clasping the fence post whenever said attachment portion is clasped onto the fencepost.

4; A support device for fence wire comprising: an attachment portion havingmeans for clasping a fence post and comprising:

flexible gripping means-deflectable into a locked configuration encircling and frictionally grasping the fence post;

lockingmeans formed on said attachment portion for retaining said gripping means in the deflected configuration;

flexible means on said attachment portion, composed of electrically insulating material and including a pair of oppositely extending arm portions deflectable into a loop encircling an adjoining fence wire; and locking means formed on said flexible means for retaining said pair of arm portions in a closed loop and including one of said pair of arm portions having a keyhole opening formed therethrough and another of said arm portions having a key tab formed thereon and insertable into said keyhole opening in a manner to lock free ends of said pair of arm portions for forming a closed loop encircling the fence wire. v I

5. A support device forfence wire comprising:

an attachment portion for clasping a fencepost and including a pair of oppositely extending arm portions composed of flexible material and deflectable into frictionally clasping engagement with the fencepost;

locking means formed on said attachment portion for retaining said arm portions in clasping engagement with the fence post; and

flexible means on said attachment portion, composed of electrically insulating material and deflectable into a configuration to encircle an adjoining fence wire and including locking means to lock said flexible means in a closed loop for restraining the fence wire against displacement.

6. A support device for fence wire comprising:

an attachment portion'for clasping a fencepost and including a pair of oppositely extending arm portions composed of flexiblematerial and deflectable into frictionally clasping engagement with the fencepost;

locking means on said attachment portion for locking free ends of said pair of arm portions to form a closed loop embracing the fencepost; and

7. A support device for fence wire comprising:

an attachment portion for clasping a fencepost and including: a pair of oppositely extending arm portions composed of flexible material and deflectableinto frictionally clasping engagement with the fencepost;

flexible means on said attachment portion, composed of electrically insulating material and deflectable into a configuration to encircle an adjoining fence wire and including locking means to lock said flexible means in a closed loop for restraining the fence wire against displacement;

and

standoff projections extending from said attachment portion for engaging the fence to space said flexible, wire supporting means outwardly of the fencepost.

8. A support device as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by each'said flexible, attachment arm portion having gripping flanges formed thereon and extending therefrom for frictionally clasping the fencepost whenever said arms are locked in a loop embracing the fencepost.

9. In combination:

a fencepost;

a fence wire extending laterally adjacent said fencepost; and

a device supporting the wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post andincluding;

post attachmentmeans clasping said post, and including flexible means deflected into a locked configuration frictionally clasping said post,

locking means on said attachment means retaining said flexible means in the locked configuration, and

wire supporting means connected to said attachment means, composed of flexible, electrically insulating material and deflected into a locked configuration encircling and restraining said fence wire.

it). In combination:

a fencepost;

a fence wire'extending laterally adjacent said fencepost;

a device supporting the wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post and including: I post attachment means clasping said post, and including a pair of oppositely extending, flexible, sheet-form arms embracing said post and having complementary locking means formed on opposite ones of said pair of arms and locked to fixedly attach said support device to said post, and wire supporting means connected means, composed of flexible, electrically insulating material and deflected into a locked configuration encircling and restraining said fence wire. 11. In combination:

i i "a fencepost comprising a small diameter rod;

said attachment means into frictional, clamping engagement with said rod.

13. In combination: a fencepost having a T-shaped configuration in transverse cross section,

a fence wire extending laterally adjacent said fencepost; and a device supporting the wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post and including:

post attachment means clasping said post, said attachment means embracing said T-shaped post and having flanges forming a cage shaped complementarily to, and clampingly engaged around said T-shaped post, and a wire supporting means connected to said attachment means, composed of flexible, electrically insulating material and deflected intoa locked configuration encircling and restraining said fencewire. 14. A fence comprising: a fencepost; l a fence wire extending laterally adjacent said post; and a device supporting said wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post and including: attachment means having a pair of oppositely extending, sheet-fonn, flexible arms deflected around said post,

. said attachment arms having locking means including one r of saidpair of attachment arms having a keyhole opening formed therethrough and an opposite one of said pair of attachment arms having a key tab formed on a free end, defining locking lands; and inserted through said keyhole opening with said locking lands engaging peripheral surfaces surrounding said opening to lock to said attachment therethrough, and air opposite one of said wire support ing arms having a key tab .formed on 'a free end, defining locking lands, and inserted through said keyhole opening with said locking lands engaging peripheral surfaces surrounding saidopening in said opposite wire supporting arm to lock said arms in a closed loop embracing and restraining said wire;

15. The fence of claim 14, further characterized by standoff projections formed on said central juncture portion, extending toward and engaging said fencepost to space said pair of wire supporting arms outwardly of said post; and gripping flanges formed on each of said pair of attachment arms, extending toward and engaging said post, and cooperating with said standoff projections to form a cage surrou nding and frictionally clasping said post to retain said supporting device on said post. 16. A fence as defined in claim 15 is further characterized by:

said fencepost having a rod-shaped configuration in transverse cross section;

a resilient, hollow sleeve telescoped over said post and hav- 17. A fence as defined in claim 16, further characterized by:

said standoff projections having knurls formed thereon and digging into said sleeve; and

said arcuate corner edges having knurls formed thereon and digging into said sleeve. 18. A fence as defined in claim 15 and further characterized by:

said post having a T-shaped configuration in transverse cross section and defining a central rib, a pair of oppositely extending wing portions disposed along a longitudinal edge of said rib and forming a face surface opposite of said rib, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections extending from said face surface; said standoff projections engaging said face surface and including at least a pair of projections spaced apart a distance to be loosely received between a pair of adjacent ones of said longitudinally spaced, fencepost projections; and said gripping flanges having first planar edge portions formed obliquely of said attachment arms and engaging said wing portions on a side surface opposite said standoff projections, and frictionally clamping said wing portions between said standoff projections and said gripping flanges, and having second planar edge portions extending at right angles to said first edge portions and engaging opposite side surfaces of said central rib to frictionally clamp said rib between gripping flanges of opposite ones of said pair of-attachment arms. 19. A sheet-form blank formable into an insulator and attachment means for supporting a wire on a post, composed of 3 flexible, electrically insulating material, having a first pair of oppositely extending arm portions adapted to be deflectable around the post and formed with complementary locking means formed to be engageable for retaining said pair of attachment arms in a deflected condition embracing the post;

Claims

1. A support device for fence wire comprising an attachment portion comprising: flexible gripping means deflectable into a configuration frictionally grasping a fencepost, said gripping means having outstanding portions configured for grasping both T-shaped posts and small diameter rods; flexible means on said attachment portion comprising electrically insulating material and being deflectable into a configuration to encircle an adjoining fence wire; and said flexible means comprising locking means to form a closed loop for restraining the fence wire against displacement.

2. A support device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said outstanding portions including projections extending outwardly of said attachment portion for engaging the fence post to space said flexible means outwardly of the fence post.

3. A support device as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said outstanding portions including flanges formed on said attachment portion for frictionally clasping the fence post whenever said attachment portion is clasped onto the fence post.

4. A support device for fence wire comprising: an attachment portion having means for clasping a fence post and comprising: flexible gripping means deflectable into a locked configuration encircling and frictionally grasping the fence post; locking means formed on said attachment portion for retaining said gripping means in the deflected configuration; flexible means on said attachment portion, composed of electrically insulating material and including a pair of oppositely extending arm portions deflectable into a loop encircling an adjoining fence wire; and locking means formed on said flexible means for retaining said pair of arm portions in a closed loop and including one of said pair of arm portions having a keyhole opening formed therethrough and another of said arm portions having a key tab formed thereon and insertable into said keyhole opening in a manner to lock free ends of said pair of arm portions for forming a closed loop encircling the fence wire.

5. A support device for fence wire comprising: an attachment portion for clasping a fencepost and including a pair of oppositely extending arm portions composed of flexible material and deflectable into frictionally clasping engagement with the fencepost; locking means formed on said attachment portion for retaining said arm portions in clasping engagement with the fence post; and flexible means on said attachment portion, composed of electrically insulating material and deflectable into a configuration to encircle an adjoining fence wire and including locking means to lock said flexible means in a closed loop for restraining the fence wire against displacement.

6. A support device for fence wire comprising: an attachment portion for clasping a fencepost and including a pair of oppositely extending arm portions composed of flexible material and deflectable into frictionally clasping engagement with the fencepost; locking means on said attachment portion for locking free ends of said pair of arm portions to form a closed loop embracing the fencepost; and flexible means on said attachment portion, composed of electrically insulating material and deflectable into a configuration to encircle an adjoining fence wire and including locking means to lock said flexIble means in a closed loop for restraining the fence wire against displacement.

7. A support device for fence wire comprising: an attachment portion for clasping a fencepost and including: a pair of oppositely extending arm portions composed of flexible material and deflectable into frictionally clasping engagement with the fencepost; flexible means on said attachment portion, composed of electrically insulating material and deflectable into a configuration to encircle an adjoining fence wire and including locking means to lock said flexible means in a closed loop for restraining the fence wire against displacement; and standoff projections extending from said attachment portion for engaging the fence to space said flexible, wire supporting means outwardly of the fencepost.

8. A support device as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by each said flexible, attachment arm portion having gripping flanges formed thereon and extending therefrom for frictionally clasping the fencepost whenever said arms are locked in a loop embracing the fencepost.

9. In combination: a fencepost; a fence wire extending laterally adjacent said fencepost; and a device supporting the wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post and including; post attachment means clasping said post, and including flexible means deflected into a locked configuration frictionally clasping said post, locking means on said attachment means retaining said flexible means in the locked configuration, and wire supporting means connected to said attachment means, composed of flexible, electrically insulating material and deflected into a locked configuration encircling and restraining said fence wire.

10. In combination: a fencepost; a fence wire extending laterally adjacent said fencepost; a device supporting the wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post and including: post attachment means clasping said post, and including a pair of oppositely extending, flexible, sheet-form arms embracing said post and having complementary locking means formed on opposite ones of said pair of arms and locked to fixedly attach said support device to said post, and wire supporting means connected to said attachment means, composed of flexible, electrically insulating material and deflected into a locked configuration encircling and restraining said fence wire.

11. In combination: a fencepost comprising a small diameter rod; a fence wire extending laterally adjacent said fencepost; and a device supporting the wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post and including: post attachment means clasping said post, said attachment means embracing said rod and having flanges forming a cage shaped complementarily to, and clampingly engaged around said rod, and wire supporting means connected to said attachment means, composed of flexible, electrically insulating material and deflected into a locked configuration encircling and restraining said fence wire.

12. The combination of claim 11 and further characterized by a resilient sleeve telescoped over said rod and squeezed by said attachment means into frictional, clamping engagement with said rod.

13. In combination: a fencepost having a T-shaped configuration in transverse cross section, a fence wire extending laterally adjacent said fencepost; and a device supporting the wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post and including: post attachment means clasping said post, said attachment means embracing said T-shaped post and having flanges forming a cage shaped complementarily to, and clampingly engaged around said T-shaped post, and wire supporting means connected to said attachment means, composed of flexible, electrically insulating material and deflected into a locked configuration encircling and restraining said fence wire.

14. A fence comprising: a fencepost; A fence wire extending laterally adjacent said post; and a device supporting said wire in electrically nonconductive relation on said post and including: attachment means having a pair of oppositely extending, sheet-form, flexible arms deflected around said post, said attachment arms having locking means including one of said pair of attachment arms having a keyhole opening formed therethrough and an opposite one of said pair of attachment arms having a key tab formed on a free end, defining locking lands, and inserted through said keyhole opening with said locking lands engaging peripheral surfaces surrounding said opening to lock said arms in a loop embracing said post, wire supporting means composed of flexible, electrically insulating material and including a pair of oppositely extending, sheet-form arms projecting laterally in both directions of, and disposed at substantially right angles to, said attachment arms, defining a central juncture portion common to both said pairs of arms, and deflected outwardly of said post into a closed loop encircling said wire, said pair of wire supporting arms having complementary locking means including one of said pair of wire supporting arms having a keyhole opening formed therethrough, and an opposite one of said wire supporting arms having a key tab formed on a free end, defining locking lands, and inserted through said keyhole opening with said locking lands engaging peripheral surfaces surrounding said opening in said opposite wire supporting arm to lock said arms in a closed loop embracing and restraining said wire.

15. The fence of claim 14, further characterized by standoff projections formed on said central juncture portion, extending toward and engaging said fencepost to space said pair of wire supporting arms outwardly of said post; and gripping flanges formed on each of said pair of attachment arms, extending toward and engaging said post, and cooperating with said standoff projections to form a cage surrounding and frictionally clasping said post to retain said supporting device on said post.

16. A fence as defined in claim 15 is further characterized by: said fencepost having a rod-shaped configuration in transverse cross section; a resilient, hollow sleeve telescoped over said post and having a throughbore fittingly engaged on said post; said standoff projections having an arcuate notch formed therein sized complementary to, and receiving, said resilient sleeve; and said gripping flanges having arcuate corner edge portions engaging said sleeve and urging said sleeve into tight frictional engagement on said post.

17. A fence as defined in claim 16, further characterized by: said standoff projections having knurls formed thereon and digging into said sleeve; and said arcuate corner edges having knurls formed thereon and digging into said sleeve.

18. A fence as defined in claim 15 and further characterized by: said post having a T-shaped configuration in transverse cross section and defining a central rib, a pair of oppositely extending wing portions disposed along a longitudinal edge of said rib and forming a face surface opposite of said rib, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced projections extending from said face surface; said standoff projections engaging said face surface and including at least a pair of projections spaced apart a distance to be loosely received between a pair of adjacent ones of said longitudinally spaced, fencepost projections; and said gripping flanges having first planar edge portions formed obliquely of said attachment arms and engaging said wing portions on a side surface opposite said standoff projections, and frictionally clamping said wing portions between said standoff projections and said gripping flanges, and having second planar edge portions extending at right angles to said first edge portions and engaging opposite side surfaces of said central rib to frictionally clamp said rib between gripping flaNges of opposite ones of said pair of attachment arms.

19. A sheet-form blank formable into an insulator and attachment means for supporting a wire on a post, composed of flexible, electrically insulating material, having a first pair of oppositely extending arm portions adapted to be deflectable around the post and formed with complementary locking means formed to be engageable for retaining said pair of attachment arms in a deflected condition embracing the post; and having a pair of flexible, oppositely extending, wire supporting arms extending into different quadrants from those occupied by said attachment arms, being flexibly displaceable into a loop encircling the wire and including complementary locking means formed to be cooperable for retaining said pair of wire supporting arms in a deflected, closed loop encircling the wire.