ZA200907953B

ZA200907953B - Wire tensioning arrangement

Info

Publication number: ZA200907953B
Application number: ZA200907953A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Stephen Kenneth Ingram; Poznan Aleksandar Komadinovic
Original assignee: Poznan Aleksandar Komadinovic; Stephen Kenneth Ingram
Priority date: 2009-11-12
Filing date: 2009-11-12
Publication date: 2010-09-29

Description

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TITLE OF INVENTION: WIRE TENSIONING ARRANGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to a wire tensioning arrangement. More particularly, this invention relates to a wire tensioning arrangement suitable for employment into a wire of an electrified fence. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wire tensioning arrangement suitable for employment into a wire of an electrified fence and capable of providing disconnecting/connecting capabilities, mechanical adjustment, testing, and switching on and off of the respective wire sections.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It has been recognized for many years that electrified fences provide an effective protection measure when installed as a wire fence extending around a perimeter or over an area which is to be protected or covered. A periodical injection of suitable high voltage pulses successfully discourages unsolicited entry to a property, a closed area or the like. Typically, electrified fences are installed as parallel wires to not only cover the entire range around the area to be protected but also to impede unwanted entry.

When the electrified fence is installed with parallel wires it is necessary to ensure that a potential intruder is unable to overcome the protection by cutting the wires or enlarging the spacing of the wires so as to be able to sneak through the electrified fence. While cutting the wire is usually dealt with by providing an alarm system, which detects breaking the circuitry associated to the wire, protection from the latter one can be more difficult to achieve.

The inventor is aware of prior art electrified fence systems which employ a scheme using an earth wire running between adjacent electrified wires, commonly known as live wires. The earth wires are connected to each other by forming a loop which encloses the live wire. When an intruder attempts to enlarge the spacing between adjacent wires this can cause a short between the ground wire and the wire loop defined by the earth wire. The short can then be detected by the alarm system. :

However, this system can be often be circumvented by putting an insulating pipe through the wire loop. Furthermore, these prior art systems are often susceptible to lengthening of the wires due to wearing of wire tensioning systems which can lead to reliability problems when operating the electrified fence over an extended period of time.

Accordingly, maintenance of these prior art electrified fences might be time consuming or costly.

What is ideally required is a wire tensioning arrangement which not only offers an easier installation into an electrified fence, but also one which is more reliable to operate.

Furthermore, a wire tensioning arrangement is required which offers low maintenance.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wire tensioning arrangement, preferably a wire tensioning arrangement for an electrified fence, which overcomes, at least partly, the disadvantages associated with existing wire tensioning arrangement.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a wire tensioning arrangement which is both novel and involves an inventive step.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wire tensioning arrangement which includes a first base member and a second base member, each being capable of receiving a respective end of a first and a second wire, and a biasing member being arranged between the first base member and the second base member, wherein the biasing member is capable of facilitating the ends of the first and the second wire in electrical contact with each other.

The biasing member may be capable of releasing the ends of the first and the second wire from electrical contact with each other upon being subjected to a force on the first and/or the second wire.

The biasing member may be formed as a spring.

The biasing member may be in mechanical contact to the first base member and the second base member.

The first base member may include a first receiving means, the first receiving means is capable of receiving the end of the first wire.

The first wire may be received by the first receiving means such that a first wire stub is formed.

The end of the first wire stub opposing the first receiving means may be attached to a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge being located on the second base member.

The second base member may include a second receiving means, the second receiving means is capable of receiving the end of the second wire.

The second wire may be received by the second receiving means such that a second wire stub is formed.

The conductive bridge may provide an electrical contact between the first wire stub and the second wire stub.

The first wire stub may be releasably engaged into the conductive bridge.

The second wire stub may be releasably engaged into the conductive bridge.

The releasable engagement may be provided by a conductive plate being mounted on the second base member.

The second wire stub may be fixed to the conductive bridge.

The first wire stub may be selected with a length being larger than a length of the biasing member in a non stretched condition.

The first base member may comprise a groove being capable of guiding the first wire stub into the conductive bridge.

The first support member may comprise an electrically non conductive material.

The second support member may comprise an electrically non conductive material.

The electrically non conductive material may be plastic.

The biasing member may be provided as a coil spring.

The first base member may comprise an outer thread capable of engaging with the biasing member

The second base member may comprise an outer thread capable of engaging with the biasing member

The wire tensioning arrangement may further comprise a support member which is adapted to provide tensioning of the first and second wire, the support member being attachable to the first and/or the second wire.

The support member may be formed as two threadably engaging structures so as to achieve an adjustable length of the support member.

The support member may include a mounting means for mounting the wire tensioning arrangement to a support pole of a fence.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrified fence arrangement which includes a plurality of wires and a wire tensioning arrangement comprising a first base member and a second base member, each being capable of receiving a respective end of a first and a second wire, and a biasing member being arranged between the first base member and the second base member, wherein the biasing member is capable of facilitating the ends of the first and the second wire in electrical contact with each other. } }

The first wire may be received by the first base member such that a first wire stub is : formed and the end of the first wire stub opposing the first receiving means is attached to a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge being located on the second base member such that the biasing member is capable of releasing the ends of the first and the second wire from electrical contact with each other upon being subjected to a force on the first and/or the second wire.

The first wire may be received by the first base member such that a first wire stub is formed and the end of the first wire stub opposing the first receiving means is attached to a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge being located on a further second base member being attached to an adjacent wire.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided use of a biasing member in a wire tensioning arrangement comprising a first base member and a second base member, each being capable of receiving a respective end of a first and a second wire, wherein the biasing member is arranged between the first base member and the second base member and the biasing member is capable of facilitating the ends of the first and the second wire in electrical contact with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the following drawing in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a wire tensioning arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention in a perspective view;

Figure 2 schematically shows the wire tensioning arrangement according to the embodiment of Figure 1 in a side view in a first position;

Figure 3 schematically shows the wire tensioning arrangement according to the embodiment of Figure 1 in a side view in a second position;

Figure 4 schematically shows a kit of parts of a wire tensioning arrangement according to a further embodiment of the present invention in a side view;

Figure 5. schematically shows the assembled wire tensioning arrangement according to the embodiment of Figure 4 in a side view;

Figure 6 schematically shows the wire tensioning arrangement according to the embodiment of Figure 4 when attached to a support structure in a perspective view;

Figure 7 schematically shows the wire tensioning arrangement according to the embodiment of Figure 1 in a perspective view;

Figure 8 schematically shows two wire tensioning arrangements according to the embodiment of Figure 1 and of Figure 4 installed on two parallel wires in a perspective view;

Figure 9 schematically shows two wire tensioning arrangements according to the embodiment of Figure 1 and of Figure 4 installed on two parallel wires in a perspective view; and

Figure 10 schematically shows two wire tensioning arrangements according to the ~ embodiment of Figure 1 installed on two parallel wires in a perspective view.

Referring now to the drawings in particular the invention embodied therein comprises a wire tensioning arrangement generally designated with reference numeral 5. In the drawing like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise indicated

Making now reference to Figure 1, a first embodiment of the wire tensioning arrangement 5 is shown. The wire tensioning arrangement 5 includes a first base member 10 and a second base member 12.

The first base member 10 includes a first receiving means 14, which is formed as an eyelet, for example. The first receiving means 14 is capable of receiving the end of the first wire 16. As depicted in Figure 1, the first wire 16 is received by the first receiving means 14 such that a first wire stub 18 is formed. This can be achieved by running the first wire 16 in the eyelet so that the first wire stub 18 and the remaining part of the first wire 16 form a strap which can be secured by a clamp 20 as shown in Figure 1.

Similar, if not identical, to the first base member 10, the second base member 12 includes a second receiving means 22, which is again formed as an eyelet. The second receiving means 22 is capable of receiving the end of the second wire 24 such that a second wire stub 26 is formed. The second wire stub 26 and the remaining part of the second wire 24 form a strap which is secured by a clamp 28.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 are formed as identical or similar pieces and thus offer the same functional features. It should be noted, however, that the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 can also be provided as different pieces offering slightly different or additional functionality, as explained in more detail below.

As shown in Figure 1, the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 are capable of attaching to a biasing member 30 being arranged between the first base member 10 and the second base member 12. For this purpose, the first base member and the second base member 12 include suitable attachment means, as explained in more detail below.

In the embodiment depicted in Figure 1, the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 are oriented such that the first receiving means 14 and the second receiving means 22 are located on opposing ends of the respective first base member 10 and second base member 12. Consequently, the first wire 16 and the second wire 24 can be attached to the respective first base member 10 and second base member 12. Between the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 the biasing member 30 is arranged and is capable of employing a tension so as to retract the first base member 10 with respect to the second base member 12 up to a certain distance.

As shown in Figure 1, the biasing member 30 is formed as a spring. The biasing member 30 is provided as a coil spring, for example. In order to achieve the above described retractile tensioning the biasing member 30 is in mechanical contact to the first base member 10 and the second base member 12. The mechanical contact can be achieved in various ways including gluing, melting or the like, using suitable techniques as known to a person skilled in the art.

It is however also conceivable that the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 include suitable fastening means which allow mechanically attaching the biasing member 30. An example of a mechanical fastening will be described below with respect to Figure 4.

In a specific embodiment, the first support member 10 and the second base member 12 are fabricated from an electrically non conductive material. The biasing member, i.e. the coil spring, is fabricated from a suitable metal or metal alloy, e.g. steel. The electrically non conductive material can be a plastic or a plastic compound, however utilizing other materials including electrically conductive materials with a suitable electrically insulating cover are not excluded. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to provide the first support member 10 and the second base member 12 as a partially conductive and partially non conductive structure.

The wire tensioning arrangement 5 according to this embodiment therefore would insulate the first wire 16 attached to the first base member 10 from the second wire 24 attached to the second base member 12. In order to achieve a configuration suitable for an electrified fence, however, an electrical connection between the first wire 16 attached and the second wire 24 should be provided so as to feed the electrified fence from an energizer. This is achieved making use of the first wire stub 18 and the second wire stub 26.

As depicted in Figure 2, the end of the first wire stub 18 opposing the first receiving means 14 is attached to a conductive bridge 40. The conductive bridge 40 is located on the second base member 12. Furthermore, the end of the second wire stub 26 opposing the second receiving means 22 is attached to a conductive bridge 40 as well. The conductive bridge 40 provides an electrical contact between first wire stub 18 and the second wire stub 26 and thus the first wire 16 and the second wire 24 can be electrified using a suitable energizer as known in the art.

In the embodiment depicted in Figure 2, the first wire stub 18 is releasably engaged into the conductive bridge 40. Furthermore, the second wire stub 26 is fixed to the conductive bridge 40. In other embodiments, it is conceivable that the second wire stub 26 is releasably engaged into the conductive bridge 40. The releasable engagement is provided by a conductive plate 42 being mounted on the second base member 12. For example, the conductive plate 42 is provided as a metal plate being fixed by screws 44 and 46 to the second base member such that a slit 48 is provided between the conductive plate 42 and the second base member 12.

The slit 48 is selected according to the thickness of the first wire 16 and the second wire 24 such that it is wide enough so that the first wire stub 18 of the first wire 16 and the second wire stub 26 of the second wire 24 can be inserted into the slit 48.

In order to simplify inserting the first wire stub 18 of the first wire 16 and the second wire stub 26 of the second wire 24 into the slit 48 of the conductive bridge 40, the respective wire stub can be threaded into the loop provided by clamp 20 and 28, respectively. In order to guide the first wire stub 18 into the slit 48 of the conductive bridge 40, the first base member 10 includes a groove 50 being located close to the receiving means 14 and facing into a direction facing the conductive bridge 40. Furthermore, the second base member 12 includes a similar groove 52.

In summary, the biasing member 30 is capable of facilitating the ends of the first wire 16 and the second wire 24 in electrical contact with each other, as long as no force is applied to the first wire 16 and the second wire 24. This force can be generated by an intruder who is attempting to laterally displace the first wire 16 and the second wire 24 in order to gain unsolicited access.

This is now further explained making reference to Figure 3. In case the intruder is trying to push the first wire 16 and/or the second wire 24 out of its nominal position, the biasing means 30 counteracts so as to contract the distance between the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 due to the spring force. When a certain force on the first wire 16 and the second wire 24 is reached, the biasing means 30 is stretched up to a distance where the first wire stub 18 slips out of the slit 48 of the conductive bridge 40.

Accordingly, the biasing member 30 is capable of releasing the ends of the first wire 16 and the second wire 24 from electrical contact with each other upon being subjected to a force on the first wire 16 and/or the second wire 24. In order to do so, the first wire stub 18 is selected with a length being larger than a length of the biasing member in a non stretched condition. Furthermore, the first wire stub 18 is selected with a length such that the first wire stub 18 slips out of the slit 48 of the conductive bridge 40, when a certain displacement has been achieved due to the force applied.

It should be noted that the biasing member 30 provides a certain tensioning of the wire due to the spring force applied to the first wire 16 and second wire 24, which acts in an axial direction. This force is capable of compensating - at least to some extent - wire sagging on the first wire 16 and/or the second wire 24 which is frequently observed when operating an electrified fence over an extended period of time.

Furthermore, the first wire 16 and/or the second wire 24 may experience small displacements in the course of operation due to impinging windfall or adjacent leaves touching the electrified fence. According to the embodiments of the invention, these small displacements are compensated by the biasing member 30.

Furthermore, it should be noted that in further embodiments the wire tensioning arrangement 5 can also be operated with the second wire stub 26 of the second wire 24 being firmly fixed.into the slit 48 of the conductive bridge 40, e.g. by utilizing screws 44 or 46.

Making now reference to Figures 4 and 5, a kit of parts of a wire tensioning arrangement 5 and the fully assembled wire tensioning arrangement 5 are respectively shown in a side view.

The wire tensioning arrangement 5 includes the first base member 10. The first base member 10 includes the first receiving means 14, which is formed as an eyelet, for example. The first base member 10 includes the groove 50 being located close to the receiving means 14. Furthermore, the wire tensioning arrangement 5 includes the second base member 12. The second base member 12 includes the second receiving means 20 and the groove 52.

As shown in Figure 4, the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 are capable of attaching to the biasing member 30 which is arranged between the first base member 10 and the second base member 12. For this purpose, the first base member and the second base member 12 include mechanical fastening means being formed in the embodiment of Figure 4 as outer threads. :

The biasing member 30 is formed as a spring, more specifically as a coil spring. In order to attach the biasing member 30 to the first base member 10, the spring of the biasing member 30 is screwed on the outer thread 60 of the first base member 10. Similarly, the spring of the biasing member 30 can be screwed on the outer thread 62 of the second base member 12 as well. Accordingly, the first base member 10 comprises the outer thread 60 capable of engaging with the biasing member 30 and the second base member 12 comprises the outer thread 62 capable of engaging with the biasing member 30.

In the embodiment depicted in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the first support member 10 and the second base member 12 are fabricated from an electrically non conductive material.

The biasing member, i.e. the coil spring, is fabricated from a suitable metal or metal alloy, e.g. steel. The electrically non conductive material can be a plastic or a plastic compound, however utilizing other materials including electrically conductive materials with a suitable electrically insulating cover are not excluded. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to provide the first support member 10 and the second base member 12 as a partially conductive and partially non conductive structure.

As depicted in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the conductive bridge 40 is located on the second base member 12 so as to releasably engage the first wire stub 18 into the conductive bridge 40. In addition a further conductive bridge 40’ is located on the first base member 10 as well, as to releasably engage another wire stub. The conductive bridge 40 provides an electrical contact between first wire stub 18 and the second wire stub 26, for example.

The releasable engagement is provided by the conductive plate 42 being mounted on the second base member 12. For example, the conductive plate 42 is provided as a metal plate being fixed by screws 44 and 46 to the second base member such that the slit 48 is provided between the conductive plate 42 and the second base member 12.

Similar, if not identical, to the above, the further conductive bridge 40’ is located on the first base member 10 using two further conductive plates 42’ being mounted on the first base member 10. The two further conductive plate 42’ are provided as a further metal plate being fixed by further screws 44’ and 46’ to first base member 10 such that a further slit 48’ is provided between the two further conductive plates 42’. The further slit 48’ is again selected according to the thickness of the wires.

Furthermore, the wire tensioning arrangement 5 comprises a support member 70 which is adapted to provide tensioning of the first and second wire. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the support member 70 is part of the second base member 12.

The support member 70 is formed as an adjustable link which allows adjusting the distance of the second receiving means 20 on the second base member 12 to a mounting plate, mounting pole or the like. The adjustable link has been described above with respect to the second base member 12. It should be noted, however, that a suitable support member can be attached to the first support member 10 as well.

The support member 70 is formed as two threadably engaging structures 72 and 74 so as to achieve the adjustable length of the support member. The first structure 72 is an outer thread being located between the second receiving means 20 on the second base member 12 and the end facing the biasing means 30. The second structure 74 is for example a nut having an inner thread being capable of engaging into the first structure 72. Furthermore, the support member 70 includes an insulating means 76 for facilitating mounting of the wire tensioning arrangement to a support structure, like a pole of a fence or the like. The insulating means 76 can be formed as a cylindrical radial extending structure protruding from the second base member 12 between the outer thread of the first structure 72 and the end facing the biasing means 30.

Making now reference to Figure 6, mounting of the wire tensioning arrangement 5 to a support structure 80 by using the support member 70 is further exemplified. The support structure 80 can be formed from various components such as a flat plate, a pole or the like. Figure 6 schematically shows the wire tensioning arrangement 5 according to the embodiment of Figure 4 when attached to a support structure in a perspective view. As depicted in Figure 6, the wire tensioning arrangement 5 is mounted by adjusting the position of the screw forming the second structure 74 by engaging into the first structure 72. The complementary side of the support structure 80 is in close contact to the mounting means.

It should be noted that it is within the scope of the invention to use the wire tensioning arrangement 5 only for tensioning of the first wire 16 and the second wire 24, i.e. without providing the intrusion detection feature on the first wire 16 and the second wire 24 as discussed with respect to Figures 1 to 3. A corresponding embodiment is shown in Figure 7, where the first wire stub 18 and the second wire stub 26 are cut close to the clamp 20 and clamp 28, respectively. It should be noted, however, that the conductive bridge 40 and the further conductive bridge 40’ can be used for inserting wire stubs from neighbouring wires, so as to provide the intrusion detection feature, if needed.

In the following embodiments depicted in Figure 8 to 10, various configurations are shown which can be used in an electrified fence arrangement.

Making now first reference to Figure 8, an embodiment of the invention is shown which utilizes two wire tensioning arrangements 5 and 5. The first wire tensioning arrangement 5 depicted on the right hand side of Figure 8 is provided without the support member 70. The second wire tensioning arrangement 5’ depicted on the left hand side of Figure 8 is provided with the support member 70. In the embodiment of

Figure 8, the first wire tensioning arrangement 5 and the second wire tensioning arrangement 5° are each connected to a single wire, which forms the respective part of the first wire 16 and the second wire 24. Accordingly, the first base member 10 and the second base member 12 are permanently bridged.

Making now reference to Figure 9, an embodiment of the invention is shown which utilizes two wire tensioning arrangements 5 and 5. The first wire tensioning arrangement 5 depicted on the right hand side of Figure 9 is provided without the support member 70. The second wire tensioning arrangement 5’ depicted on the left hand side of Figure 9 is provided with the support member 70. In the embodiment of

Figure 9, the first wire tensioning arrangement 5 and the second wire tensioning arrangement 5’ both use the intrusion detection feature. In other words, the respective wire stubs are used to bridge the first base member 10 and the second base member 12, as explained with respect to Figures 1 to 3.

In Figure 10, an embodiment of the invention is shown which utilizes two wire tensioning arrangements 5 and 5. The first wire tensioning arrangement 5 depicted on the right hand side of Figure 10 is provided without the support member 70. The second wire tensioning arrangement 5’ depicted on the left hand side of Figure 10 is provided also without the support member 70. In the embodiment of Figure 10, the first wire tensioning arrangement 5 and the second wire tensioning arrangement 5’ both use the intrusion detection feature. Different to the previous embodiment, the two adjacent wires are cross linked by connecting the respective first wire stubs 18 to the second base member 12 of the neighbouring wire. It should be noted that other cross linking configurations can be achieved as well, for example by using the respective second wire stubs 26 as well.

Although certain embodiments only of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood by any person skilled in the art that other modifications, variations, and possibilities of the invention are conceivable. Such modifications, variations and possibilities are therefore to be considered as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and hence forming part of the invention as herein described and/or exemplified.

This invention having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

a CLAIMS

1. A wire tensioning arrangement which includes a first base member and a second base member, each being capable of receiving a respective end of a first and a second wire, and a biasing member being arranged between the first base member and the second base member, wherein the biasing member is capable of facilitating the ends of the first and the second wire in electrical contact with each other.

2. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is capable of releasing the ends of the first and the second wire from electrical contact with each other upon being subjected to a force on the first and/or the second wire.

3. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the biasing member is formed as a spring being in mechanical contact to the first base member and the second base member.

4. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the biasing member is in mechanical contact to the first base member and the second base member.

5. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first base member includes a first receiving means, the first receiving means is capable of receiving the end of the first wire.

6. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the first wire is received by the first receiving means such that a first wire stub is formed.

7. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the end of the first wire stub opposing the first receiving means is attached to a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge being located on the second base member.

: 009707955

8. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the second base member includes a second receiving means, the second receiving means is capable of receiving the end of the second wire.

9. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the second wire is received by the second receiving means such that a second wire stub is formed.

10. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the conductive bridge provides an electrical contact between the first wire stub and the second wire stub.

11. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the first wire stub is releasably engaged into the conductive bridge.

12. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 10 to 11, wherein the second wire stub is releasably engaged into the conductive bridge.

13. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 11 and 12, wherein the releasable engagement is provided by a conductive plate being mounted on the second base member.

14. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the second wire stub is fixed to the conductive bridge.

15. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 6 to 14, wherein the first wire stub is selected with a length being larger than a length of the biasing member in a pre-stretched condition.

16. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 7 to 15, wherein the first base member comprises a groove being capable of guiding the first wire stub into the conductive bridge.

17. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the first support member comprises an electrically non conductive material.

18. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the second support member comprises an electrically non conductive material.

19. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claims 17 or 18, wherein the electrically non conductive material is plastic.

20. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the biasing member is provided as a coil spring.

21. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the first base member comprises an outer thread capable of engaging with the biasing member

22. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the second base member comprises an outer thread capable of engaging with the biasing member

23. The wire tensioning arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 22, further comprising a support member which is adapted to provide tensioning of the first and second wire, the support member being attachable to the first and/or the second base member.

24. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the support member is formed as a two threadably engaging structures so as to achieve an adjustable length of the support member.

25. The wire tensioning arrangement according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the support member includes a mounting means for mounting the wire tensioning arrangement to a support structure of a fence.

26. An electrified fence arrangement which includes a plurality of wires and a wire tensioning arrangement comprising a first base member and a second base member, each being capable of receiving a respective end of a first and a second wire, and a biasing member being arranged between the first base member and the second base member, wherein the biasing member is capable of facilitating the ends of the first and the second wire in electrical contact with each other.

27. The electrified fence arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the first wire is received by the first base member such that a first wire stub is formed and the end of the first wire stub opposing the first receiving means is attached to a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge being located on the second base member such that the biasing member is capable of releasing the ends of the first and the second wire from electrical contact with each other upon being subjected to a force on the first and/or the second wire.

28. The electrified fence arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the first wire is received by the first base member such that a first wire stub is formed and the end of the first wire stub opposing the first receiving means is attached to a conductive bridge, the conductive bridge being located on a further second base member being attached to an adjacent wire.

29. Use of a biasing member in a wire tensioning arrangement comprising a first base member and a second base member, each being capable of receiving a respective end of a first and a second wire, wherein the biasing member is arranged between the first base member and the second base member and the biasing member is capable of facilitating the ends of the first and the second wire in electrical contact with each other.

30. A new wire tensioning arrangement substantially as described herein.

31. A wire tensioning arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. :

32. A new electrified fence arrangement substantially as described herein.

33. An electrified fence arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED AT PRETORIA THIS 12™ DAY OF NOVEMBER 2009. PEIJPER INC. APPLICANT'S ATTORNEYS