US369500A

US369500A - Fence-post

Info

Publication number: US369500A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 1904-09-06

Description

(No Model.)

J. O. BROOKBANK.

FENCE POST. No. 369,500. Patented Sept 6, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JAMES O. BROOKBANK, OF DRIFTW OOD, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE-POST.

.QPRCIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,500, dated September 6, 1887.

Application filed June 12, 1886. Serial No. 204.986,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Janus O. BROOKBANK, of Driftwood, in the county of Cameron and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Metallic Fences, of which the following is a specification.

The aim of my invention is to construct a fence consisting of wires strung upon metallic posts, which shall have greater strength and durability than those now in general use.

Heretoforc fenceposts have been provided with radial blades of equal thickness throughout and beveled in each direction from a point near the lower end, but offering no material resistance to a force tending to carry the post upward, or the blades have been joined about midway of their length by a flat horizontal plate in such manner that a hole must first be dug before the" post can be inserted into the earth a sufficient distance; also, posts constructed entirely of radial blades have been proposed, the bottom of the post being broad and flat and provided with shoulders having fiat under sides and sloping upward to a point; but such posts cannot be driven into the ground.

My invention is designed to overcome the objectionable features of such constructions; and to that end I construct the base of the post of blades tapering in each direction from the middle portions and of decreasing thickness from the upper ends downward, by which means the base of the post may be made to easily penetrate into the ground; but the broad upper tapered portions of the blades will offer great resistance to any upward movement after the post is set, the resistance to the said upward movement of the post being increased by the shoulders at the lower ends of the blades having flat top surfaces, and each tapering downward to a point, so as to afford the, least resistance to the entrance of the post into the ground.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents aperspective view of my improved post with a wire attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross'section of the same on the line :0 Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line y y. Fig. dis a perspective view of one of the wire-fastening devices.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the (No model.)

thus presenting their upper edges in an inclined position to receive the weight and pressure of the overlying earth, whereby the heaving or lifting of the post is prevented. The blades 1) also decrease in thickness from their upper to their lower ends, thus presenting a broad top surface, thereby offering great resistance to any upward thrust, while their lower beveled parts, being comparatively thin and decreasing in thickness as the point is appreached, offer very little resistance to the entrance of the base into the earth, and being thin, as stated, but little surface is presented to any upward thrust that may be bronghtagainst the base; also, it is evident that the blades are made thickest where the greatest strength is needed. At its lower end the base is formed with shoulders or lugs c in the angles between the blades. The upper surfaces of these shoulders are horizontal, or thcrcabout, and are intended to receive the weight of the earth and offer an additional resistance to the lifting of the post, while their lower or outer surfaces are tapered downward to the point of the post, so that they do not prevent the post from being driven into the ground. The base may be secured within the post by means of a transverse pin, cl,'or any other means which will secure a rigid connection of the parts.

It is to be noted as an important feature of my construction that-,while it permits the base to be driven to its place and thus avoids the labor of forming post-holes, the base presents a surface on which the superincumbent earth will act insuch manner as to keep the post down firmly in its place.

In wire fences as ordinarily constructed the wires are left free to play endwise across the posts, the result of which is that the entire strain of the wires is transmitted to the posts at the ends of the fence. By practical experience I have found that the fence may be given greater strength and rigidity by securing the wires rigidly to each and every post, thus distributing the strain and causing the wires to assist in holding the posts in proper position. For the purpose of thus confining the wires to the posts I employ the devices shownin the drawings, consisting of a plate or clip, 0, and a fasteningb'olt, D. The plate 0 is perforated to receive a bolt, and is made of a curved or convex form at its lower end in order that it may embrace the post and be prevented from turning around the bolt. At its upper end the plate is provided with a finger, preferably slightly curved, as shown, and which is adapted to bear against the outer side of the wire or other fencing material and hold the same against the face of the post, the object being to subject the wire to a strong pressure between the post and plate, so that its movement in an endwise direction is prevented.

The fastening-bolt may be secured in the post, asshown in Fig. 2, or it may be extended entirely through the post, perforated at its rear end, and secured by a tapering key, E. The use of the key is recommended, for the reason that the parts may be instantly and quickly tightened by a single blow of a hammer, thus enabling the fenceto be constructed more rapidly and with less labor than when a screw-bolt is used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A base for fence -posts, having radial e'asoo blades tapering in both directions from apoint midway of their length, and provided at its lower end with shoulders situated between the blades and provided with horizontal top surfaces and tapering therefrom downward to a point, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A base for fence-posts, having a series of radial vertical blades tapering in both directions from their middle and decreasing in thickness from their upper end downward, and shoulders at the lower end of the base having horizontal top surfaces and tapering downward to a point, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with a post, of a perforated clip-plate bent to conform to the shape of the post and provided with a projecting finger bent to grasp a fence-wire, and means, substantially as described, for securing said plate to the post.

4. The combination, with the post, of the perforated clip-plate bent to conform to the shape of the post and having a projecting finger bent to adapt it to grasp the wire, and means for securing said plate to the post, consisting of a slotted bolt adapted to extend through the plate and provided with a key to pass into said slot, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I-hereunto set my hand, this 24th day of April, 1886,in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

JAMES O. BROOKBANK.

WVitnesses:

HOWARD SINN, JAMES B. SINN.