US538084A - Fence-post - Google Patents

Description

L. C. PRICE.

FENCE POST.

(No Model.)

No. 538,084. PatentedApr. 2s, 1895.

roun zine NITED STATES PATENT risica.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,084, dated April 23, 1895.

Application filed OGlOlJel Il, 1894:. Serial. NO. 524,644. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, LURENTICE O. PRICE, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Greenville, Darke county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with a claim particularly specifying the novelty. This invention relates to. fences, and more especially to the posts used therein; and the object of the same is to eect certain improvements in the construction of metal posts especially useful in building wire fences.

To this end the invention consists in the detailed construction of such posts, as hereinafter more fully described and as illustrated in the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a section of fence, showing two of my im- `proved end posts and one intermediate post in use therein. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of one of the end posts. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail of an intermediate post.

In the said drawings the letter F designates a fence, here shown as consisting of a number of wire stringere, which is supported at one end by an end post E around which the wires are wrapped or to which they are fastened in any suitable manner, at the other end by a similar post E carrying wire stretchers S of any approved pattern or type best adapted to the construction of the post, and intermediately by a number of posts I. Said posts are preferably constructed of scrap-iron galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rusting, and are about six feet in height over all, standing half below and half above the surface of the earth, although these details are not essential. In fact, the Aprecise details of construction of the postsA themselves are unimportant except as to the points enumerated in the claim appended; and I reserve the right to make such changes therein and additions theretoV as are embraced :in-such claim.

Referring now to Fig. 2, each end post E is constructed as follows: l is the upright body piece the upper two-thirds (about four feet) of which stands in the plane of the fence, and three-quarters (about three feet) of this portion stands'above the surface of the earth as shown. At the lower end of this portion is formed a quarter twist 2, below which the base piece 3, which comprises the remaining third (about two feet) of the body piece, extends vertically downward and stands in a plane transverse to the length of thevfence.-

At its lower end the base is given a quarter bend, 4, outward, and a foot 5 is formed which is about one foot in length and extends in a horizontal plane under the ground away from the stretch of fence, as seen in Fig. 1. 6 is the body piece of a brace which is about threeand-a-half feet in length and also stands in the plane of the fence, its upper end being connected to the body piece l by a rivet or bolt 7 and its lower end inclining obliquely away from said piece l inward alongside the fence wires as seen. At a point 8 about two feet distant from and vertically equal to the point 2, this brace-body terminates in a quarter twist 5 and here it is also given a slight bend inward, so that the remaining base portion 9 thereof is vertical and stands in a plane parallel with the body-base 3 and transverse to the plane of the fence. 10 is a quarter bend at the lower end of the brace-base 9, and ll'is the brace-foot extending inward in a horizontal plane for about fifteen inches as shown, and in a direction opposite to that in which the body-foot projects. l2 is a strut about two feet in length, also standing in the plane ofthe fence but below the ground, and its ends are respectively bolted or riveted as at 13 and 14 to the body and brace at pointsjust above their twists 2 and 8. l5 is what I shall callan upright piece, also of strap iron or inetaland also standing in the plane of the fence. This piece is in length only about twothirds that of the body, and extends from the upper end thereof down to the twist 2,being located slightly remote from and parallel with the body-piece l, on and against the opposite IOO minus the feet and upright, and slightly narrower between its two base piecesf 2l is a body, here shown as a plaiu piece of strap iron about six feet in length and standing edge-on or in a plane transverse to that of the fence, with its lower half embedded in the ground. 22 is the body portion of the brace which stands oblique and is about two-and-ahalf feet in length, extending at its upper end alongside the body 2l and in a plane parallel therewith, and being secured thereto as at 23; while 24 is a quarter twist and bend, causing the brace-base 25 to s tand vertical and in a plane at right angles to that of the body at its lower end for about two feet of its length upward; and 2G is the strut connected with the body at 27 and with the brace at 28, standing on edge in the plane of the body 21 and the body portion of the brace 22, below the surface of the earth, and joining with the brace just above its bend and twist 24.

However, I lay no claim to the intermediate posts and they may be of any approved construction without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Although wire stretchers of any approved pattern or type that will answer, may be used in conjunction with my improved post, or, in fact, the stretchers might be omitted altogether, I have shown one end post E as provided with stretchersS of the spool type. But a single spool is illustrated in Fig. 2, and it comprises the cylinder 3l having end flanges 32 of aproper distance apart to stand between the body l and the upright 15. The spool is fast on a shaft 33 journaled in these members of the post and extending through one of them sufficiently to receive power to turn it in its bearings. I have shown the extremity of the shaft as squared as at 34, and 35 is a wrench which may be removably applied to the squared portion for turning the shaft and spool. I have also shown a ratchet 3G fast on the shaft outside the post, and a pawl' 37 vdetachably engaging this ratchet so as to prevent a retrograde movement after the spool has been turned in the proper direction to give the desired tension to the fence Stringer. At its other end, this stringeris fastened to the opposite end post E by any suitable means, as by wrapping itaround such post ol otherwlse.

The intermediate posts I may be provided with angular slots 4l, staples 42, eyes 43, or even holes 44, through any of which the striugers may pass; though I prefer the slots, since they permit the ready removal or insertion of the wire (even if barbed) without difficulty and without the necessity for remov ing the fastener or securing a free end of the wire to pass through it.

In use, it will be observed that each end post E is buried in the ground for about half its vertical height so that the strut and all twists and bends are below the surface and completely out of sight. There is all of botli faces of this strut and about a foot in thevertical height of both the body and the brace.

which standsin the plane of the fence, so that the post and the fence are prevented from being tipped over sidewise, even by the weight of a gate G shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and which can be readily hinged to the post E since no part thereof extends beyond its vertical outer edge to interfere. Then there is all of about two feet of the base-pieces of both the body and the brace which stands at right angles to the plane of the fence to prevent the post being pulled over endwise in either direction; and, lastly, there are the two feet 5 and ll deeply buried in the ground in a horizontal plane to further prevent endwise movements of the postor its being pulled bodily or partly upward out of position by any means whatever.

Although the brace is at the inside of the body of the post alongside the fence, only its upper extremity is above the ground and visible, yet its entire length is serviceable as a brace without in the least interfering with the swinging of the gate.

As for the intermediate posts, they need very little bracing longitudinally of the fence, since there is comparatively no strain in that direction as the wires usually slip easily through the fasteners; but these posts, if constructed as above described, are each braced against transverse movements of the fence as shown. The side faces of the body 21 do prevent longitudinal tipping of the post, as well as the faces of the strut 26; but the faces of the brace-base 25 are at right angles to all such faces and hence prevent lateral tipping of the post and fence.

The twists 2 and S form important details, since they present many oblique faces to the tightly rammed ground, and prevent the up ward movements of the members in which they occur. All parts Where the strut-ends are connected lie in such planes that the bolts, rivets, or even solder may take the best hold, and the twists and bends are lower down.

Having thus described my improved posts, I do not claim broadly a post comprising a body, a brace, and a strut connected and arranged about as shown; but

Vhat I do claim is the specific construe tion of parts embodying the relative location of the members with their twists and bends, about as follows:

A fence post composed of strap iron and consisting of a body whose upper portion stands in one plane and its lower portion in a plane at right angles thereto, an oblique brace extending at its upper end alongside the bodyin the same plane with its lower end in the opposite plane parallel with the basepiece of the body, a strut extending also alongside the body and alongside the brace and secured to these members, and an upright stand- IOO IIO

ing parallel with and alongside the upper scribed my signature on this the 15th day of portion of the body against the other faces of September, A. D. 1894. the ends of the brace and strut and secured thereto by the same fastening means which LURENTIOE C' PRICE' 5 secure the latter members to the body, sub- Witnesses:

stantially as described. lVOLNEY MILLER, In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- A. C. BRANDON.

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