AU687162B2

AU687162B2 - A method and apparatus for making fencing

Info

Publication number: AU687162B2
Application number: AU16333/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew James Adams
Original assignee: JAMES ADAMS ENTERPRISES
Current assignee: JAMES ADAMS ENTERPRISES
Priority date: 1994-04-19
Filing date: 1995-04-07
Publication date: 1998-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-07
Also published as: AU1633395A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING

FENCING

o o o s s o The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: GH&CO REF: P50327C:CLC:SB -2- The present invention is particularly concerned with fencing for large rural properties, particularly those associated with grazing animal management.

The problem with erecting fencing for large properties such as those concerned with livestock activities, lies chiefly in the cost and effectiveness of the fencing which is erected.

A typical method of fencing a property is to use wooden posts and to connect wire to the posts by some form of metal bracket.

The problem with such an arrangement is that parts of the wire are normally in contact with the wooden posts and consequently tend to degrade much more quickly than the rest of the wire. Eventually the wire can break due 15 to this deterioration.

•e S•Another problem with such a fencing technique is that any stresses that are placed on the wire fencing, for example due to an animal brushing against it, results in increased pressure on the points of contact with the posts, thus leading to premature breakage of the wire.

According to the present invention an anchoring device is provided for an anchoring device for a fence ioeo S5 wire, comprising a loop portion with elongate leg .oo.oi S" portions extending therefrom and a retaining portion S 25 located at the end of one of the leg portions for S•retaining the anchoring device to a post, wherein the loop portion is formed by turning wire through substantially one and a half turns.

Preferably the leg portions are substantially parallel.

The retainer portion may be located at the end of the leg portions.

The retainer portion may be arranged to be bent when the anchoring device is connected to a fence post.

It is preferred that the leg portions be arranged to be inserted in respective of first and second holes in a fence post.

The leg with the retainer portion may be arranged to :50327A/700 3 be fed through one end of the first hole so that the retainer portion protrudes beyond the opposite end. It is preferred that the end of the other leg be arranged to abut with an end wall of the second opening.

The anchoring device may comprise a bendable material.

The anchoring device may be formed from a length of metal wire.

The metal wire may have a plastic external coating.

Preferably the external coating comprises an electrical insulator.

According to a preferred embodiment the loop comprises an annular portion.

The loop may be formed with leg portions extending from diametrically opposed sides thereof.

Preferably the loop comprises a coil of wire.

The fence wire may be arranged to be fed through the loop.

Preferably the wire is not fed through the loop but S 20 the loop is "spiralled" onto "the wire".

The loop may prevent the fence wire from touching the fence post.

The retaining portion may prevent the leg with which m it is associated from being pulled out of the first hole.

S. 25 Preferably the loop comprises wire which has been twisted through 5400.

According to another aspect of the present invention a tool is provided for making an anchoring device comprising a post, a base, and a coil forming device, wherein the coil forming device includes an elongate member which is arranged to be connected with the post, a handle member for pivoting the elongate member with respect to the post and an abutment member pivotable about the post, in use the coil forming device being pivotable about the post to form a coil in a length of wire.

The elongate member may be connected with the post through a coupling member.

4 Preferably the coupling member comprises a collar.

The post may comprise a conduit.

A portion of the elongate member is preferably arranged to be inserted into the conduit.

The elongate member may comprise a cylindrical member.

The abutment member preferably comprises an elongate portion extending in parallel to the elongate member.

Preferably the elongate member and abutment member are arranged to act as fulcrums for bending wire.

Preferably the external surface of the elongate member and abutment member is chosen to suit the shape to which a piece of wire is to be formed.

The abutment member may extend from the handle member.

The abutment member preferably is connected to the elongate member.

Preferably the tool comprises a guide surface for guiding the abutment member therealong.

20 The guide surface may be arcuate.

The abutment member elongate portion desirably is moveable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the abutment member.

The elongate portion may be moveable parallel to the 25 elongate member.

S•Preferably the abutment member comprises a foot which is moveable along the arcuate guide surface.

The guide surface may be part helical in shape.

Preferably the guide surface is shaped to enable the coil forming device to form a coil from a length of wire.

The guide surface member may comprise a ring segment.

Preferably the abutment member comprises a sleeve slideable along a leg member so as to enable the foot to move up and down.

The foot may be attached to the leg member.

Preferably the sleeve may rotate on the leg member. It is preferred that when the foot moves up ail of the 'A/700

I

0 a. a elements of the elongate member move up.

The ring segment may be asymmetrical.

Preferably one end of the guide surface is arranged to be flush with or below a top surface of the base.

The other end of the guide surface preferably lies above the top surface of the base.

Preferably the ring segment at one end abuts flush with an end wall of the base.

The guide surface preferably comprises a flat upper surface.

The guide surface may be arranged around the periphery of the coupling member or post or coil forming device.

Preferably a portion of the guide surface member is connected to the post.

Preferably the handle extends radially from the elongate member.

The elongate member may be slideable axially with respect to the post.

The coil forming device is desirably cylindrical.

The coil forming device may extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

Preferably the tool comprises a side wall surface located on the top surface of the base.

It is preferred that the side wall surface extends along the top surface of the base.

The side wall surface may act as a guide for a length of wire for guiding it to the coil forming device.

Preferably the wire is arranged to be inserted between the elongate member and abutment member.

Preferably the base is provided with a channel on its top surface, the channel being arranged to receive a length of wire therethrough so as to guide it to the coil forming device.

The base may be supported by a support meanr The support means may comprise first and second side RA4\ ry) zV 6 walls.

Preferably the tool comprises an end wall against which wire is arranged to abut.

Preferably the end wall is a predetermined distance away from a wire entry location so as to enable a wire of predetermined length to be formed into an anchoring device.

Preferably the end wall is connected to the base through a framework of the tool.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming an anchoring device for a fence wire, comprising the steps of feeding a length of wire between a post and abutment member, restraining movement of a first portion of the wire, rotating the abutment member relative to the post and bending a second portion of the wire with respect to the post so as to form a coil.

Preferably the first portion of wire is restrained from rotational movement with respect to the post when S 20 the abutment member is rotated relative to the post.

The first portion may be prevented from any movement.

Preferably a part of the first portion may be fed S"between the post and abutment member during rotation of S 25 the abutment member relative to the post.

•The abutment member may be arranged to be rotated through 5400.

Preferably the coil forming device may be removed from the tool.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fence post comprising a plurality of anchoring devices for a fence.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a hammer with a wire cutting portion at a bottom end thereof.

The hammer may have a wire bending portion at its lower end.

According to an alternative embodiment of the

RA//

S, 27A/70O .11 -0 r I 7 present :ention the hammer comprises a wire forming portion a, its bottom end.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of an anchoring device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a rear view of an anchoring device according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows an angled view of an apparatus for forming an anchoring device according to Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a hammer which in one embodiment is for use in assembling the apparatus shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an angled view of an apparatus for forming an anchoring device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 shows a front view of the apparatus shown in Figure As shown in Figure 1, the anchoring device 11 consists of a length of wire which has a middle section which has been bent through 5400 so as to form a coil 12 and two parallel straight sections 13,14 which extend to one side of the loop 12.

The anchoring device is shown installed in a wooden o.

25 fence post 15. The post 15 is provided with two holes 16,17 which are arranged to receive the straight sections 13 and 14 of the anchoring device. The hole 16 extends all the way through the post while the hole 17 extends part way into the post.

The straight section 13 of the anchoring device extends through the hole 16 and out through the other end where it is bent at approximately 750 to form a retainer 18. The end of the straight section 14 abuts the blind end of the hole 17.

In Figure 1 a fence is shown to be constructed by feeding a wire such as barbed wire 19 through the centre of the coil 12 or feeding the coil onto the wire. A series of anchoring devices can be provided for a number ':50327A/700 8

S

*o *4 of posts so as to form a fence.

The advantage of the above arrangement is that the wire 19 is kept away from contact with the wooden post and is free to move about within the loop of the coil 12.

The anchoring device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed using an apparatus as shown in Figure 3.

The apparatus 20 comprises a bracket 21 having a front wall 22 and a top surface 23. The top of this surface 23 is provided with an elongate element 24 extending from an entry end 25 to an exit end 26 of the bracket 21.

The exit end of the bracket 21 is arranged so that its top face is flush with one end of a part helical element 27. This element is in the form of a ring with a top surface which is flat and which rises as it turns and ends up above the top surface of the bracket 21 after having travelled through approximately 2700.

Below the central opening of the element 27 a cylindrical tube 28 is provided with a support member 29 supporting the underside of the element 27 most distant from the bracket 21.

A collar 30 which is also cylindrical is arranged to fit over the pipe 28 and to interconnect it with a cylindrical tube 31. Alternatively the collar 30 abuts pipe 28 and both have the same internal diameter. The top of the tube 31 is provided with a handle 32 which extends at right angles or preferably at 1000 therefrom.

The tube 31, collar 30 and pipe 28 are arranged vertically and coaxially.

Extending vertically downwardly from the handle 32 and parallel to the tube 31 is a cylindrical element 33 with a foot 34 at its lowermost end. The cylindrica.

element 33 has a sleeve member 35 which is slideable axially with respect to an internal rod 36. The rod 36 extends through the handle 32 and ±s secured to it in any suitable fashion.

An anchoring device is formed from a length of wire which is placed alongside the element 24 until it abuts N Ta w O:5o327A7oo -9an end wall 37 connected to the bracket through element 38. The assembled apparatus thus presents a gap 39 between the tube 31 and cylindrical element 33. The wire is fed through this gap 39 until it abuts the end wall 37.

The handle 32 is then rotated clockwise and the wire is bent through its contact with tube 31 and cylindrical element 33. As the handle 32 is rotated the cylindrical element 33 or alternatively the foot 34 rides on the top surface of element 27 and rises upwardly as it moves up the inclined surface of the element 27. When it gets to the end of the element 27 it drops back to the top surface 23 and then back onto the bottom end of the element 27. According to another emibodiment foot 34 when it leaves the end of element 27 continues to travel upwards in the same spiral shape of the element 27 as it is forced to do so by the shape of the wire it has just formed.

By rotating the handle 32 through 5400 a complete loop can be formed in the wire element and the ends of the loop are still maintained as straight sections which are parallel to each other. By adjusting the setting of the apparatus the end wall 37 can be located in a S"position which ensures that the length of one of the legs 25 of the coiled wire is of a predetermined length to suit a post in which it is to be installed. The other leg of the wire has a length which is determined by the length of the element 24. The length of element 24 could be calibrated to show a user where to cut off wire if it were extended out past the base 23.

Once the loop has been formed in the wire the end of the wire near the entry end of the bracket 21 can be cut off to form an anchoring device.

By using the apparatus in this fashion a nunmber of anchoring devices can be formed very quickly.

As shown in Figure 4 a hammer 40 is provided with a mallet end 41 and a wire shaping end 42.

SThe above described anchoring device apparatus and 10 f fencing method provide an easy and economical means of putting up fences on large prcperties. The fencing method is also applicable to electric fences by adequately insulating the anchoring device.

Advantages of the Preferred Embodiment 1. Keeps the fence wire off post No contact with dirt/woc.I/ants nesting in holes and therefore increase wire life.

2. The wire does not have to be "fed through" the loop of the 3ost. The Pigtail is simply coiled onto the wire at the post after the wire is strained tight which provides a time saving.

3. As compared with tying the fence wire to the fence post with tie wire, the pigtail allows the fence 15 wire to move through the loop. This capitalises on its natural elasticity when hit by a beast.

4. By the addition of a polythene or plastic conduit during manufacture, the pigtail becomes an electric insulator.

20 5. Should a post burn off or rot off, the pigtails are easily removed allowing for a new post to be installed and the pigtail re-used.

6. Galvanised corrosion resistance.

7. Should a wire break, ordinarily wire ties have to be loosened at every post before re straining the wire, pigtails do not require this.

8. The "Pigtail" may be self manufactured on farm which represents a cost saving.

According to another embodiment of the present invention the version of the embodiment shown in Figure 3 can be modified to replace the movable collar 30 with a fixed collar 50. The handle 32 instead of being connected directly to the cylindrical tube 31 is connected to a metal plate at a right side end thereof and the other end of the metal plate 51 on the left front side is connected to the top of the cylindrical tube 31.

In this embodiment the cylindrical element 33 and internal rod 36 are replaced by a pin 52 which is ARA, ry)1 r :5027A70 11 inserted through a central area of the plate 51 where it is secured in position by nuts 53 and 54.

S:50327A/700

Claims

1. An anchoring device for a fence wire, comprising a loop portion with elongate leg portions extending therefrom and a retaining portion located at the end of one of the leg portions for retaining the anchoring device to a post, wherein the loop portion is formed by turning wire through substantially one and a half turns.

2. An anchoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leg portions extend from diametrically opposite sides of the loop portion and are substantially parallel.

3. An anchoring device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 a.wherein the leg portions and the loop are substantially co-planar.

4. An anchoring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loop is able to be .9 spiralled onto the fence wire. A tool for making an anchoring device as claimed in claim 1 comprising a post, a base, and a coil forming 20 device, wherein the coil forming device includes an "elongate member which is arranged to be connected with the post, a handle member for pivoting the elongate 9 to mermber with respect to the post and an abutment member Spivotable about the post, in use the coil forming device being pivotable about the post to form a coil in a length of wire.

6. A tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein the elongate member is connected with the post through a coupling member.

7. A tool as claimed in claim 6 wherein the elongate member is connected with the post through a coupling member.

8. A tool as claimed in claim 7 wherein a portion of the elongate member is arranged to be inserted into the conduit.

9. A tool as claimed in claim 8 wherein the abutment member comprises an elongate portion extending RA parallel to the elongate member. 3:50327A/700 I- 115~- 13 A tool as claimed in claim 9 wherein the elongate member and abutment member are arranged to .ct as fulcrums for bending wire.

11. A tool as claimed in claim 10 wherein the external surface of the elongate member and abutment member is chosen to suit the shape to which a piece of wire is to be formed.

12. A tool as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a guide surface for guiding the abutment member therealong.

13. A tool as claimed in claim 12 wherein the guide surface is arcuate.

14. A tool as claimed in claim 13 wherein the abutment member is movable with respect to the 15 longitudinal axis of the elongate member. S: 15. A tool as claimed in claim 14 wherein the elongate member is movable parallel to its longitudinal axis as the abutment member moves along the guide surface. 20 16. A tool as claimed in claim 14 wherein the abutment member comprises a foot which is movable along the arcuate guide surface.

17. A tool as claimed in claim 16 wherein the guide surface is part helical in shape. 25 18. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 16 wherein the abutment member comprises a sleeve slidable along a leg member so as to enable the foot to move up and down.

19. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 18 wherein one end of the guide surface is arranged to be flush with or below a top surface of the base. A tool as claimed in claim 19 wherein the other end of the guide surface lies above the top surface of the base.

21. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 5 to further comprising a side wall surface extending along the top surface of the base, the side wall surface beinr arranged to guide a length of wire to the coil forming S:50327A/700 YI 91 14 device.

22. A tool as claimed in claim 21 further comprising an end wall against which a length of wire is arranged to abut prior to operation of the coil forming device, the end wall being arranged a predetermined distance away from a wire entry location so as to enable a wire of a predetermined length to be formed into an anchoring device.

23. A tool as claimed in any one claims 5 to 22 wherein the coil forming device is structured to form an anchoring device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 from a length of wire.

24. A method of forming an anchoring device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 using a tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, the method S. comprising the steps of providing a length of wire, placing it on the base of the tool between the post and elongate member and operating the coil forming device by rotating the post through 540° so as to form a loop in 20 the wire and cutting the wire. A hammer for use with the tool as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 22 comprising a wire bending portion at a lower end of its handle.

26. An anchoring device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

28. A method for forming an anchoring device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. A hammering device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4. Dated this llth day of November 1997 JAMES ADAMS ENTERPRISES By their Patent Attorney GRIFFITH HACK CO )327A/700 ABSTRACT An anchoring device and tool for making the anchoring device. The anchoring device consisting of a length of wire which is formed into a coil with two parallel legs by using a tool including an elongate member which is arranged to be connected with a post, a handle member for pivoting the elongatge member with respect to the post and an abutment member connected to the handle member and pivotable about the post. e 9 e* a 9 S:50327A/700