US575374A - Fence-post - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) v

W.`L. RECK.

PBNGBPOST. i NoIv 575,374. Patented Jan. 19, 1897.

ilNrrnD Tarts WILLIAM L. BECK, OF GETTYSBURG, OHIO.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,374, dated J' anuary 19, 1897..

Application iledApril 4a 1896.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM L. BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gettysburg, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Fence- Post, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic fenceposts to be used in the construction of wire fencing, and has for its obj ect to secure a firm and positive anchorage for such posts and to prevent their loosening by the action of frost or tension upon the fence-wires; also, to provide a post of the character aforesaid, which can be driven into the ground and at the same time compress the soil, so that considerable force must be brought to bear in the event of it being required to extract the post by pulling thereon. t

Other objects and advantages will appear asthe nature of the invention is unfolded, and to a full understanding thereof reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar and corresponding parts are designated and referred to by the same reference-characters.

Figure l is a front view of a fencepost constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section about on the line X X of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the anchoring-plate.

The post 1,which may be of any length and width, is constructed of a strip of sheet-steel, malleable iron, or other suitable metal of uniform width throughout its length, or practically so, and which is bent midway of its longitudinal edges into a substantially V or angular form to within a short distance of the lower end, which end is given a spiral twist,

This twisted or spiral end portion 2 is Serial No. 586,240. (No model.)

tering openings y are drilled or otherwise formed in the wings of the post at intervals in the length thereof to receive the fencewires, and slots a extend in opposite directions from the openings and lead through the edges of the post to admit of ingress and egress of the fence-wires when securing them to or removing them from the post. The inner end portions of the slots extend about parallel with the post, and their outer ends curve or turn outwardly at an obtuse angle. By having the slots 4 oppositely disposed the fence-wires must be slackened in order to place them in position or remove them from the openings 3. Hence after the wires are in place and subjected to tension they can` not be removed from the openings 3.

The anchoring-plate 5 has a pair of triangular-shaped lips 6, punched or cut therefrom and deected so as to embrace the opposite wings of the post, and these lips have their pointed ends facing and their base portions disposed so as to engage with the edges of the post at diametrically opposite points. This anchoring-plate is slipped endwise upon the post and is limited in its downward movement by engaging with the upper part of the twisted or spiral end. After the post has been properly anchored the plate 5 is driven into the ground until its top edge is about flush therewith and serves to strengthen and prevent lateral displacement of the post. The anchoring-plate, being of sheet-steel or other metal and arranged with its width in a vertical direction, can be readily driven into the ground ,since the resistance to the edge thereof is very slight. Thus it will be seen that both the post and the anchoringplate are embedded in theground without requiring any digging.

In addition to the advantage derived from the use of a crosssectionally angular post in the attachment of the wires thereto, as set forth hereinbefore, an important advantage resides in the fact that said construction provides for the attachment of the anchor-plate with facility,'while the rotary movement of the post is prevented when the anchor-plate is in operative position. The triangular lips 6, which engage the exterior surfaces of the upper cross-sectionally angular portion of the post, prevent the spiral or auger portion of IOO the post from being elevated with relation thereto, and it is obvious that the contact of the plate with the earth is sufficient to prevent the rotation of the plate with the post. Hence the anchor-plate forms an efficient securing device to prevent both rotary movement of the post and vertical movement of the postindependently of the plate. The lips 6 preferably rest upon the upper extremity of the spirally-twisted or auger portion of the post, as shown in Fig. l.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- The combination of a fence-post having a cross-sectionally angular upper portion for the attachment of fence-runners and a spirally-twisted or auger-shaped lower portion for engagement with the soil, the upper extremity of the twisted portion being adapted to be arranged below the surface of the soil, and a vertical anchor-plate having upstruek angularly-disposed lips adapted to engage and bear against the exterior surfaces of the crosssectionallyangular portion of the post below the surface of the soil, and adapted to rest upon the upper extremity of the twisted or auger portion, whereby both rotary and vertical movement of the post without the previous upward removal and disengagement of the anchor-plate are prevented, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM L. HECK.

Vitnesses:

JOHN H. TRUMP, WM. Il. ESHLEMAN.

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