US3456067A - Fence wire mounting device - Google Patents

Description

July 15, 1969 R. M. WILSON 3,456,067

FENCE WIRE MOUNTING DEVlCE Filed June 20, 1967 A2 ri? A J L; /5 J INVENT OR 54 ROBERT M. WILSON J TIG.6

BY OP QWM ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 174-161 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention resides in a fence wire mounting assembly which provides for its mounting on a metal fence post with the securing provisions being taken care of by a rigid metallic member and a metal securing screw and with insulating portion of the assembly being handled by an insulator member of plastic non-conductive material which is positioned together with the rigid metallic memher and the securing screw so as not to place stress on the insulator member. The insulator member also includes two hook members which have positioning flanges for holding an electric fence wire away from the back plate of the insulator member to avoid full length contact by the insulator member; and the invention includes the method of stringing the electric fence wire by specifically calling for the positioning and adjusting of the fence wire mounting assembly from the side of the fence post opposite the electric fence wire.

The present invention relates broadly to a new and useful fence wire mounting system, and in its more specific phases to a new and improved electric fence wire mounting assembly and including the method of stringing and positioning the mounted fence wiring.

The stringing and mounting of fence wire and particularly electric fence Wire is a Well-known and practiced art. The suppliers of fence wire are continually pursuing improvements and advancements in their art which are readily received and appreciated by the consumers and users because of the high expense of stringing fence wire as it reiates to both material and labor costs. One of the important factors in the art of wire fence stringing and mounting is that there is considerable changing of ranch and farm boundaries, also new owners take over land and have different uses for the property than the prior owners. Many times adjacent properties are purchased by owners and added to their existing ranches or farms contiguous with the property. At other times new wire fencing is required because of the change of use by the owner for various fields, pastures, fencing of various types of animals, et cetera. At other times there may be a need for changing the location of the fence wire to meet the needs of changing use of pastures going from larger animals to smaller animals and vice versa to prevent passage of the animals. Thus, new methods and new equipment to save labor costs of installing, maintenance, re-positioning, and adjusting of fences, and particularly electric wire fences, are very important in the fence wire industry and to their customers.

One of the concerns of the present electric fence wire users is to have reliable insulated mounting means to secure the fence wire at the fence posts to prevent grounding or shorting out of the electrical circuitry. One of the disadvantages of the present systems is the fact that most i e-positioning, adjusting and mounting means for the fence post insulators must be loosened or tightened from the fence wire side of the fence post. This method of adjusting the fence wire creates hazards to the adjuster or re-positioner while Working with an electric wire fence carrying current.

Plastic has been found to be a desirable insulator in the electric wire fence field, and some manufacturers have tried to provide all-plastic securing assemblies. This has been found to be undesirable because plastic when compressed or when pressure is applied to it has the characteristic of being subjected to cold flow. The rate of change for plastic due to cold flow varies with temperature. When the temperature is warmer the cold flow rate increases. This characteristic has caused the all-plastic securing assemblies to loosen up upon continual use which permits the wire fence to slide down the fence post. Another important consideration by the electric wire fencing industry has been to provide a plastic insulator having area contact and a form for positioning the electric wire fencing so that it will not trap water with the insulator and make contact with the metal fence posts causing grounding out or shorting out of the electrical current.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel fence wire mounting assembly having a rigid metallic securing means and a plastic insulator fence wire positioner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rigid securing device which positions a plastic insulator member for locating the fence wire in a reference position on a fence post without putting damaging stresses on the plastic insulator member.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a fence wire mounting assembly having a securing means which can be easily lowered or elevated from opposite the fence wire side of the fence post and does not require the adjuster to reach across the wire when the electrical current is on.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fence wire mounting assembly having an electric wire insulating means which can be easily lowered or elevated on its fence post from opposite the fence wire side of the fence post and does not require the adjuster to reach across the live electric fence wire for adjustment when the electrical current is on, and provides an insulator shield protecting the adjusters fingers from the live electric fence wire.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method of stringing electric fence wire and providing for the adjustment and positioning of the electric fence wire while the electric current is flowing.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the fence wire mounting assembly hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings, and following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an assembled wire fence having electric fence wire and metal fence posts utilizing a fence wire mounting assembly disclosing the principles of the present invention as hereinafter fully disclosed.

FIGURE 2 is a top partial sectional view of the fence wire mounting assembly operating on the electric fence wire taken along line IIII of FIGURE 1 and showing the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the metal fence post and the fence wire mounting assembly illustrating the positioning of the electric fence wire with reference to the fence post taken along line IIIIII of FIGURE 1 and showing the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view showing the internal structure of the fence wire mounting assembly as it is mounted on the metal fence post taken along line IVIV of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a front plan view showing the plastic insulator member and its positioning action on the electric fence wire.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the electric fence wires plastic insulator member independent of any other parts of the fence wire mounting assembly as illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5 showing its positioning action on the electrical fence wire.

In viewing FIGURE 1 there is illustrated an electric fence assembly generally referred to as 10 which consists of metal fence posts 11 and electric fence wires 12. The metal fence posts 11 are positioned in the ground 14 in a usual manner which is well known to those skilled in-the art. Fence wire mounting assemblies 15 act as locating means and are mounted to the metal fence posts 11, their structures which are the subject of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below.

Referring generally to the FIGURES 2 through 6, there is illustrated a fence wire mounting assembly 15 positioned on a series of metal fence posts 11. The fence wire mounting assemblies 15 position the electric fence wires 12 with respect to the metal fence posts 11. The fence wire mounting assembly 15 has a securing member 17 and a positioning member 16 which includes a yoke member 18 and an electric insulator member 19, as shown generally in FIGURE 2, and the individual features of the fence wire mounting assembly 15 will be explained in more detail below.

The securing member 17 has a major body portion which is shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 and generally referred to as shaft 21. The shaft 21 has a turn arm 22 which is located at one of its ends and a threaded tip 23 at its other end. The end of threaded tip 23 is a blunt end 24 which acts on the metal fence post 11 to secure the fence wire mounting assembly 15 in place, as will be explained in more detail below. I

The yoke member 18 has an upper plate 26 and a lower plate 27 which are connected together by a back plate 28, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. The back plate 28 as viewed in FIGURE 4 is provided with a threaded hole 29 substantially at its mid-portion. The threaded hole 29 is aligned with the metal fence post 11 and receives threaded end 23 of securing member 17 to act on the post 11 as illustrated. The upper plate 26, as shown in FIGURE 2, has an elongated oversize hole generally referred to as opening 31. The opening 31 is provided with gripping tips 32 which bite into the metal fence post 11 and act with the securing member 17 to lock the fence wire mounting assembly 15 in position on the post 11. A positioning tip 33 of upper plate 26 is a rolledover end portion which is positioned away from threaded hole 29 and acts on the electric insulator member 19, as will be explained in more detail below. Lower plate 27 is similar to upper plate 26 and is provided with an opening 35 which has gripping tips 36 and a positioning tip 37. These members of lower plate 27 function in a like manner and similar to their respective counterparts of upper plate 26.

The electric insulator member 19 has a flange member 41 and a ring member 42 which are inherent together, as seen in FIGURE 6 for example. The ring member 42 of electric insulator member 19 has a ring section 43, a locating hole 44, and a positioning hole 45. The positioning hole 45 of the electric insulator members 19 receives the threaded tip 23 of the securing member 17. The threaded tip 23 positions hole 44 of the electric insulator member 19 in relation to openings 31 and 35 of the yoke member 18. Positioning grooves 47 and 48, as shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, are provided on the ring section 42 immediately adjacent flange member 41 to act with and receive the positioning tips 33 and 37, re-

spectively, of yoke member 18. Flange member 41 has a shield member or back plate generally referred to as 52 and hook members 53 and 54. The hook member 53 acts downwardly and hook member 54 acts upwardly on electric fence wire 12, as seen in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5. The hook member 53 has a retaining end member 56 and a positioning flange 57 which act together to form a receiving slot 58 for acting on the electric fence wire 12. The hook member 54 has a retaining end member 61 and a positioning flange 62 which act together to form a receiving slot 63 for acting on the electric fence wire 12. The receiving slots 58 and 63 act on the fence wire 12 in such a manner so as to give substantially 360 circling control of the fence wire 12 as it passes through the fence wire mounting assembly 15. As viewed in FIGURE 6, hook members 53 and 54 are spaced apart at least the diameter of the fence wire 12. It is obvious that more distance between these members would be such that the fence wire 12 could pass between them and be lowered into receiving slot 63 and raised into receiving slot 58 while the wire is being strung. However, the distance should be relatively close so as not to permit the fence wire 12 to slip away from the insulator member 19 of the fence wire mounting assembly 15.

When assembling the fence wire mounting assembly 15, the electric insulator member 19 is positioned in yoke member 18 between the upper plate 26 and the lower plate 27 with the yoke members 18 positioning tips 33 and 37 acting on positioning grooves 47 and 48, respectively, of the electric insulator member 19. Then the electric insulator member 19 and the yoke member 18 are slipped over the top of a metal fence post 11 so that the fence post 11 will pass through opening 35, hole 44 and opening 31 of the fence wire mounting assembly 15. The threaded tip 23 of securing member 17 is engaged with and passes through threaded hole 29 and then passes through positioning hole 45 so that its blunt end 24 can contact the metal fence post 11. The back plate 52 is then positioned in its proper place across the ends of upper and lower plates 26 and 27 of yoke member 18. The positioning tips 33 and 37 act on the electric insulator member 19 as explained above to position the back plate 52 a predetermined distance from the metal fence post 11. The threaded tip 23 of securing member 17 is continued to be turned by the turn arm 22 into holes 29 and 45 until the blunt end 24 is in securing contact with the metal fence post 11 by pulling the gripping tips 32 and 36 into contact with metal fence post 11. This will secure the fence wire mounting assembly 15 at a desired height on fence post 11 and a desired radial position on fence post 11, either of which can be easily adjusted to final position if necessary.

In the desired embodiment, yoke member 18 is made of a rigid material, such as metal, so that as the turn arm 22 is turned toward the metal fence post 11, the gripping tips 32 and 36 will be pulled into contact with it, securing the fence Wire 12 from trapping moisture with the back and radial positions. Because of the action of the positioning tips 33 and 37 on positioning grooves 47 and 48, respectively, and the rigidity of the yoke member 18, no additional pressure is applied to the material used for the electric insulator member 19 because the securing pressure is between the blunt end 24 and the gripping tips 32 and 36.

As illustrated by FIGURE 2 in phantom, an adjustcrs thumb 65 and his index finger 66 are illustrated holding the fence wire mounting assembly 15 and they are axially shielded by the back plate 52 from contacting the electric fence wire 12. Also viewed in FIGURES 2, 3 and 6, it can be seen that the electric fence wire 12 is receiving area contact with the electric insulator member 19, but due to the positioning flanges 57 and 62 the fence wire 12 will be held out away from back plate 52 preventing the fence wire 12 from trapping moisture with the back plate 52 and adding additional distance between the adjusters thumb 65 and his index finger 66. This action of the positioning flanges 57 and 62 prevents the possible shorting out of the electrical current through the yoke member 18. This feature of the fence wire mounting assembly 15 has been shown through testing to be very desirable, particularly in conditions of rainy and snowy weather. After the fence wire mounting assembly 15 has been secured on metal posts 11 and for some reason it is desired that the electric fence wire 12 be elevated or lowered, the adjuster will make these changes from the side of the metal fence post 11 of fence assembly opposite the electric fence wire 12. He can grip the fence wire mounting assembly 15 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and then turn the turn arm 22 of securing member 17 to remove the blunt end 24 from contact with metal fence post 11 which will release the gripping tips 32 and 36 from post 11, permitting the fence wire mounting assembly 15 to be moved to a new axial or radial position. Then the turn arm 22 will be re-tightened causing the blunt end 24 to act on the metal fence post 11, moving the gripping tips 32 and 36 back into contact with the fence post 11 again securing the fence wire mounting assembly 15 in position.

The fence wire mounting assembly 15, as illustrated in the drawings and discussed herein, is of great assistance in expediting the stringing of the fence wire assembly 10. This is particularly true when the fence assembly 10 is a new installation. The method of stringing and installing the fence assembly 10 permits fence post 11 to be placed in the ground at spaced intervals and along a property line as desired by the user, and the fence wire mounting assemblies 15 can be applied at their first rough position. Then the electric fence wire 12 can be placed through the fence wire mounting assemblies 15, having construction features as explained above, by putting the electric fence wire 12 between the hook members 53 and 54 and then lowering the electric fence wire 12 into the receiving slot 58 and raising the electric fence wire 12 into position with receiving slot 63-. After the electric fence wire 12 is completely installed, on the metal fence posts 11, the electric current can be immediately turned on with any final adjustment or re-positioning still being made from the opposite side of the wire as explained above with the electric current passing through the electric fence wire 12. Thus, in brief review, the metal fence posts 11 can be put in, the fence wire mounting assemblies 15 attached on the metal fence posts 11 at a rough estimated position, the electric fence wire 12 strung, the electric current turned on, and then final adjustment or re-positioning can be made by the adjuster from the opposite side of the metal fence posts 11 of the live Wire side. This method permits the electric fence wire 12 to be applied immediately to the metal fence posts 11 and turned on even before final adjustments of the electric fence wire 12 have been completed.

Another method of stringing and installing the fence assembly 10 would be to position the fence post 11 as described above and then lay the fence wire on the ground adjacent the fence posts and the installer could then use the fence wire mounting assemblies 15 to raise the fence wire by positioning the fence wire between the hook members 53 and 54 and twist the whole assembly so that the fence wire would be gripped in the receiving slots 58 and 63 and then raise the fence wire up and placing the fence wire mounting assemblies 15 over the top of fence post 11 and lower the fence wire to its desired initial position. The remaining features of the assembly would be similar to those explained above.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A fence wire mounting assembly anchorable on a fence post in the form of a rod comprising, in combination:

(a) a locating means,

(b) said locating means having a threaded securing means and a positioning member of one piece U- shape, having upper and lower plate arms which are perforated in alinement to receive said post, and with the base of said positioning member threaded to operatively receive said threaded securing means,

(c) an insulator member engageable by said positioning member of one piece U-shape,

(d) said insulator member having a shield member with a first and second side,

(e) first and second hook members spaced sidewise of each other to permit receiving said wire, and extending from said first side of the shield member,

(f) said first hook member directed upward and said second hook member directed downward, and

(g) said threaded securing member acting on said fence wire mounting assembly from the said second side of the shield member for adjustable position anchoring same on said post by direct engagement therewith.

2. A fence wire mounting assembly comprising, in

combination:

(a) a locating means,

(b) said locating means having a securing means and a positioning member,

(c) an insulator member as part of said positioning member,

(d) said insulator member having a shield member with a first and second side,

(e) first and second hook members extending from said first side of the shield member,

(f) said first hook member directed upward and said second hook member directed downward,

(g) said securing member acting on said fence wire mounting assembly from the said second side of the shield member, and

(h) a ring member inherent with said second side of the shield member,

(i) said ring member having at least one positioning groove adjacent said shield member,

(j) a yoke member as part of said positioning member,

(k) said yoke member having an upper and a lower plate with substantially concentric openings,

(1) a back plate at a first end of said yoke member connecting said upper and lower plates,

(m) at least one positioning tip at a second end of said yoke member, and

(n) said positioning tip acting in said positioning groove of said ring member.

3. A fence wire mounting assembly as defined in claim 2, having:

(a) a shaft as part of said securing member,

(b) a turn arm on one end of said shaft,

(c) a threaded end on the other end of said shaft,

(d) said back plate having a threaded hole, and

(e) said threaded end being received by said first threaded hole.

4. A fence wire mounting assembly as defined in claim 3, having:

(a) said first hook member having a positioning flange connected to and extending a predetermined distance from said first side of the shield member, and

(b) said second hook member having a positioning flange connected to and extending a predetermined distance from said first side of the shield member.

5. A fence wire mounting assembly as defined in claim 4, having:

(a) gripping tips positioned in the openings on said upper and lower plates, and

(b) said gripping tips generally extending from the second to first end of said yoke member.

6. A fence wire mounting assembly as defined in :claim 5, having:

(a) a fence post,

(b) said fence post extending through said ring member,

(c) said ring member having a positioning hole to receive said threaded end, and

(d) said threaded end acting on said fence post to move said gripping tips into securing contact with said fence post.

7. A fence wire mounting assembly as defined in claim 5, having:

(a) said ring member having a positioning hole, and

(b) said threaded end of said shaft being received by said positioning hole.

8. A fence wire mounting assembly comprising, .in

combination:

(a) a locating means,

(b) said locating means having a securing means and a positioning member,

(c) an insulator member as part of said positioning member,

((1) said insulator member having a shield member with a first and second side,

(e) first and second hook members extending from said first side of the shield member,

(f) said first hook member directed upward and said second hook member directed downward,

(g) said securing member acting on said fence wire mounting assembly from the said second side of the shield member, and

(h) a ring member inherent to said second side of the shield member and formed to be positioned around a fence post,

(i) said ring member having a positioning hole diagonally opposite from said shield member on said ring member,

(j) said ring member having an upper and a lower positioning groove adjacent said shield member, (k) a yoke member having an upper and a lower plate with substantially concentric openings and formed to be positioned around a fence post,

(1) a back plate at the back end of said yoke member connecting said upper and lower plates,

(In) said back plate having a threaded hole,

(11) a positioning tip on each of said upper and lower plates at the front end of said yoke member,

(0) said positioning tips acting in said positioning grooves to position said ring member and said yoke member,

(p) said securing member having a shaft with a turn arm and a threaded end,

(q) said first and second hook members formed to act on a wire member, and

(r) said first and second hook members spaced apart at least the diameter of said wire member.

9. A fence wire mounting assembly as defined in claim 8, having:

(a) a fence post,

(b) gripping tips positioned in the openings of said upper and lower plates,

(c) said gripping tips generally extending from the front end to the back end of said upper and lower plate openings and formed to act on the fence post received by said openings,

(d) said threaded end of the shaft acting through said positioning hole and said threaded hole to substantially position said ring member concentric with said openings, and

(e) said threaded end of the shaft having a substantially blunt end to act on said fence post received by said opening and to move said gripping tips into securing contact with the said fence post.

10. A fence Wire mounting assembly as defined in claim 9, having:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1946 Johnson. 5/1960 Kaczmarek.

FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1955 France.

8/ 1956 Great Britain. 8/1957 Great Britain. 2/ 1940 Switzerland.

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,456,067 Dated July 15 1969 Inventor(s) Robert M. Wilson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

q Column 1, line 49, after "property" insert -purchased-. Column 3, line 68, for "members" read --meuiber--. Column 4, line 57, for "12 from trapping moisture with the back" read -mounting assembly 15 in its desired axial--.

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MMFlemhmIr MILLIM E, samnm, 8-

fiomlsioner of Petunia

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