U.S. patent application number 10/105024 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-07 for fence post assembly, portable fencing system and method.
Invention is credited to Easley, James B., Langlie, Ronald H., Wilson, Timothy N..
Application Number | 20020162994 10/105024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24699033 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020162994 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Langlie, Ronald H. ; et
al. |
November 7, 2002 |
Fence post assembly, portable fencing system and method
Abstract
A fence post assembly, as well as a fencing system and related
method utilizing the fence post assembly, for forming a temporary
enclosure, such as a horse corral for restraining horses. The fence
post assembly is provided with an extensible and retractable fence
strand, such as polytape or wire, as well as a ground anchor at one
end of the post to enable the post to be anchored into the ground.
The extendable and retractable fence strand is selectively
positionable along the length of the post between the first and
second opposite ends thereof. In addition, the fence strand can be
electrically conductive to permit the enclosure to be electrified.
Provision is made to maintain electrical continuity between fence
strands.
Inventors: |
Langlie, Ronald H.;
(Ellendale, MN) ; Easley, James B.; (Mound,
MN) ; Wilson, Timothy N.; (Ellendale, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Family ID: |
24699033 |
Appl. No.: |
10/105024 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10105024 |
Mar 22, 2002 |
|
|
|
09672550 |
Sep 28, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
256/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 3/00 20130101; A01K
3/005 20130101; E04H 12/2223 20130101; E04H 12/2269 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
256/45 |
International
Class: |
E04H 017/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A fence post assembly, comprising: a post having first and
second opposite ends; a ground anchor connected to the post
adjacent the first end for anchoring the post; and a fence strand
assembly connected to the post, said fence strand assembly includes
an extendable and retractable fence strand, and said extendable and
retractable fence strand is selectively positionable along the
length of the post between the first and second opposite ends
thereof.
2. The fence post assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
extendable and retractable fence strand is at least partially
disposed within a housing, and said housing is selectively
positionable along the length of the post between the first and
second opposite ends thereof.
3. The fence post assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
extendable and retractable fence strand is connected to a spindle,
and further including a spool connected to the spindle for rotating
the spindle.
4. The fence post assembly according to claim 3, further including
a crank handle connected to the spool.
5. The fence post assembly according to claim 2, wherein said
housing includes a clamp assembly connected thereto, said clamp
assembly is in releasable clamping engagement with the post.
6. The fence post assembly according to claim 2, wherein said
extendable and retractable fence strand includes an end disposed
outside of said housing, and means for connecting the end of the
fence strand to an object.
7. The fence post assembly according to claim 6, wherein said means
for connecting comprises a gate handle attached to the end of the
fence strand.
8. The fence post assembly according to claim 2, wherein said
housing includes a lock lever associated therewith, said lock lever
is selectively engageable with said extendable and retractable
fence strand to control extension and retraction of the fence
strand from the housing.
9. The fence post assembly according to claim 8, wherein the lock
lever is pivotable relative to the housing between a first locking
position and a second unlocked position.
10. The fence post assembly according to claim 9, wherein the lock
lever includes a scalloped depression.
11. The fence post assembly according to claim 2, wherein the fence
strand is electrically conductive.
12. The fence post assembly according to claim 11, further
including a wire connected to the housing, the wire includes a
first end in the form of a loop and a second end positioned on an
opposite side of the housing from the first end.
13. The fence post assembly according to claim 11, further
including a power source that provides electrical energy to the
fence strand, and a controller that controls the electrical energy
provided to the fence strand.
14. A portable fencing system for forming an enclosure, comprising:
at least one fence post assembly, the at least one fence post
assembly including: a post having first and second opposite ends; a
ground anchor connected to the post adjacent the first end for
anchoring the post; and a fence strand assembly connected to the
post, said fence strand assembly includes an extendable and
retractable fence strand, and said extendable and retractable fence
strand is selectively positionable along the length of the post
between the first and second opposite ends thereof.
15. The portable fencing system according to claim 14, including a
plurality of said fence post assemblies.
16. The portable fencing system according to claim 15, wherein the
extendable and retractable fence strand of one of said fence post
assemblies has a length that is sufficient to connect to an
adjacent one of said fence post assemblies.
17. The portable fencing system according to claim 14, wherein said
extendable and retractable fence strand is at least partially
disposed within a housing, and said housing is selectively
positionable along the length of the post between the first and
second opposite ends thereof.
18. The portable fencing system according to claim 17, wherein said
housing includes a clamp assembly connected thereto, said clamp
assembly is in selective clamping engagement with the post.
19. The portable fencing system according to claim 17, wherein the
fence strand is electrically conductive.
20. The fence post assembly according to claim 19, further
including a wire connected to the housing, the wire includes a
first end in the form of a loop and a second end positioned on an
opposite side of the housing from the first end.
21. The fence post assembly according to claim 19, further
including a power source that provides electrical energy to the
fence strand, and a controller that controls the electrical energy
provided to the fence strand.
22. A method of forming an enclosure, including the steps of:
providing a first fence post assembly having a post with first and
second opposite ends, a ground anchor connected to the post
adjacent the first end for anchoring the post and a fence strand
assembly connected to the post, said fence strand assembly
including an extendable and retractable fence strand, and said
extendable and retractable fence strand being selectively
positionable along the length of the post between the first and
second opposite ends thereof; anchoring the post to the ground;
extending the fence strand a sufficient amount to at least
partially form an enclosure; and positioning the fence strand along
the length of the post to achieve the desired fence strand
height.
23. The method according to claim 22, further including: providing
at least one additional fence post assembly; and using the at least
one additional fence post assembly and said first fence post
assembly to form the enclosure.
24. The method according to claim 23, further including: connecting
said first fence post assembly to said additional fence post
assembly.
25. The method according to claim 23, wherein said additional fence
post assembly is identical to said first fence post assembly.
26. A fence strand assembly for a fence post, comprising: a
housing, the housing including a clamp assembly configured for
releasable engagement with the fence post whereby the housing can
be connected to and selectively positioned along the fence post;
and fence strand material at least partially disposed within the
housing, said fence strand material is extendable and retractable
relative to said housing.
27. The fence strand assembly according to claim 26, wherein the
housing further includes a mechanism connected to the fence strand
material for extending or retracting the fence strand material.
28. The fence strand assembly according to claim 26, wherein said
housing further includes a lock lever, said lock lever is
selectively engageable with said fence strand material to control
extension and retraction of the fence strand material from the
housing.
29. The fence strand assembly according to claim 26, wherein the
fence strand is electrically conductive.
30. The fence strand assembly according to claim 29, further
including a wire connected to the housing, the wire includes a
first end in the form of a loop and a second end positioned on an
opposite side of the housing from the first end.
31. A fencing kit, comprising: a plurality of fence post
assemblies, each fence post assembly including: a fence post; a
ground anchor for anchoring the post; and a fence strand assembly,
said fence strand assembly includes an extendable and retractable
fence strand, and means for selectively positioning the fence
strand along the length of the post.
32. The fencing kit according to claim 31, wherein said fence
strand is electrically conductive.
33. A fence post assembly, comprising: a post having first and
second opposite ends; a ground anchor connected to the post
adjacent the first end for anchoring the post; and a fence strand
assembly connected to the post, said fence strand assembly includes
an extendable and retractable fence strand, and the fence strand is
electrically conductive; and means for providing electrical current
to the electrically conductive fence strand.
34. The fence post assembly according to claim 33, wherein said
fence strand comprises bi-polar tape.
35. The fence post assembly according to claim 34, wherein said
bi-polar tape includes an end, and a gate handle connected to the
end of the bi-polar tape, the gate handle including means for
maintaining electrical continuity between the bi-polar tape and an
object to which the gate handle is attached.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 09/672,550, filed on Sep. 28, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a fence post assembly for
use in a portable fencing system and related method. The fence post
assembly of the invention is particularly suited for use in forming
a variety of animal enclosures, such as a portable horse corral and
the like. However, the fence post assembly, fencing system and
method also have utility in forming other types of enclosures or in
defining other bounded areas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Often times it is necessary to define a temporary enclosure
or bounded area in a location that does not have an existing
enclosure(s) or in which one or more additional enclosures are
necessary. One example of a situation in which such a need arises
is when one or more horses are brought to a location not having
existing enclosures or where the existing enclosures are inadequate
and must be supplemented by temporary enclosures. Rodeos, horse
shows, and temporary training and/or grazing sites are examples of
locations at which a temporary enclosure(s) may be necessary.
[0004] Previously, when a temporary enclosure was needed, such as
for one or more horses, metallic fencing sections were generally
hauled to the appropriate site and assembled to form an enclosure
or horse corral. Typically, the fencing sections are heavy and
difficult to assemble into a complete enclosure, as well as being
hard to transport due to their weight and size. In addition, an
enclosure made from metallic fencing can often be considered
excessive when it is realized that an enclosure made from simpler
components can adequately perform the intended function.
[0005] Therefore a need exists for an improved fencing system for
use in forming a temporary enclosure or bounded area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The general purpose of the present invention is to provide
an improved fence post assembly, as well as a fencing system and
related method utilizing the improved fence post assembly, for
forming a temporary enclosure, such as a horse corral for
restraining horses. The fence post assembly is provided with an
extensible and retractable fence strand, such as polytape or wire,
as well as a ground anchor at one end of the fence post to enable
the fence post to be anchored into the ground.
[0007] According to one aspect of the invention as defined in the
claims, a fence post assembly is provided that comprises a fence
post having first and second opposite ends, a ground anchor
connected to the fence post adjacent the first end for anchoring
the fence post, and a fence strand assembly connected to the fence
post. The fence strand assembly includes an extendable and
retractable fence strand, and the extendable and retractable fence
strand is selectively positionable along the length of the fence
post between the first and second opposite ends thereof.
[0008] According to another aspect of the invention as defined in
the claims, a portable fencing system for forming an enclosure is
provided that comprises at least one fence post assembly, with the
at least one fence post assembly including: a fence post having
first and second opposite ends, a ground anchor connected to the
fence post adjacent the first end for anchoring the post; and a
fence strand assembly connected to the post. The fence strand
assembly includes an extendable and retractable fence strand, and
the extendable and retractable fence strand is selectively
positionable along the length of the fence post between the first
and second opposite ends thereof.
[0009] In yet another aspect of the invention as defined in the
claims, a method of forming an enclosure comprises providing a
first fence post assembly having a fence post with first and second
opposite ends, a ground anchor connected to the fence post adjacent
the first end for anchoring the post and a fence strand assembly
connected to the post. The fence strand assembly includes an
extendable and retractable fence strand, and the extendable and
retractable fence strand is selectively positionable along the
length of the post between the first and second opposite ends
thereof. The method further includes anchoring the fence post to
the ground, extending the fence strand a sufficient amount to at
least partially form an enclosure; and positioning the fence strand
along the length of the fence post to achieve the desired fence
strand height.
[0010] In still another aspect of the invention, as defined in the
claims, a fence strand assembly for a fence post is provided. The
fence strand assembly includes a housing that includes a clamp
assembly configured for releasable engagement with the fence post
whereby the housing can be connected to and selectively positioned
along the fence post. In addition, a fence strand material is at
least partially disposed within the housing, with the fence strand
material being extendable and retractable relative to the
housing.
[0011] Another aspect of the invention, as defined in the claims,
provides a fencing kit that comprises a plurality of fence post
assemblies. Each fence post assembly includes a fence post, a
ground anchor for anchoring the post, and a fence strand assembly.
The fence strand assembly includes an extendable and retractable
fence strand, and means for selectively positioning the fence
strand along the length of the post.
[0012] These and various other advantages and features of novelty
which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity
in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However,
for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and
objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the
drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying
description, in which there is described a preferred embodiment of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent
like parts throughout the several views:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a fence post assembly in accordance with
the principles of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the fence
post assembly.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the fence strand
assembly used on the fence post assembly.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the fence strand
assembly.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates the spindle used in the fence strand
assembly.
[0019] FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective views of the lock lever
associated with the fence strand assembly.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hook disposed at the end
of the extensible/retractable fence strand.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the handle that is connected
to the extensible/retractable fence strand.
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a plurality of the fence post assemblies
forming an enclosure.
[0023] FIGS. 10A-C illustrate perspective, top and bottom views of
the ground anchor.
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a fence strand assembly for use in an
electric fence system.
[0025] FIG. 11A illustrates the bottom of the fence strand assembly
in FIG. 11.
[0026] FIG. 12 illustrates a gate handle that is used to connect a
bi-polar tape to an adjacent fence strand assembly.
[0027] FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate the two primary parts of the
gate handle of FIG. 12.
[0028] FIG. 14 schematically illustrates the power supply and
control used in the electric fence system.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of a ground anchor according to the invention.
[0030] FIG. 16 is cross sectional view taken through the center of
the ground anchor of FIG. 15.
[0031] FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate how the ground anchor
cooperates with the post.
[0032] FIG. 18 illustrates a fence controller that is partially
inserted within a post.
[0033] FIG. 19 illustrates a back side of the controller.
[0034] FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the components of
the controller.
[0035] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a cover that cooperates
with the bottom of the housing to close the bottom of the
housing.
[0036] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of a lock lever.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] With reference to FIG. 1, a fence post assembly 10 in
accordance with the principles of the present invention is
illustrated. The fence post assembly 10 generally includes a fence
post 12, a fence strand assembly 14 connected to the post 12 and
adjustable along the length thereof, and a ground anchor 16 at one
end of the post 12 to enable the post 12 to be anchored into the
ground.
[0038] It is to be realized that although FIG. 1 illustrates the
fence post assembly 10 as having a single fence strand assembly 14,
multiple fence strand assemblies 14 can be connected to the post 12
to permit a multi-strand fence. In addition, multiple fence post
assemblies 10 can be stacked together to provide a multi-strand
fence. For instance, a second post 12 of a second fence post
assembly 10 could be designed for securement to the end of a first
post 12, such as by using removable fasteners such as screws,
whereby the second post 12 is stacked on the first post 12 to
increase the height of the resulting enclosure. The second fence
post assembly 10 can include one or more fence strand assemblies
14, that cooperate with the one or more fence strand assemblies on
the first post in defining the enclosure.
[0039] With continued reference to FIG. 1, as well as to FIG. 2,
the post 12 has a generally elongated, hollow, rectangular shape
with a first end 18 and a second end 20. The post 12 is made from
suitable material, such as metal, plastic or fiberglass. The post
12 can have a cross-sectional shape other than rectangular, such as
triangular or round, if desired. Further, it is also contemplated
that, in certain embodiments, the post 12 could be made solid
rather than hollow.
[0040] Connected adjacent to the first end 18 of the post 12 is the
ground anchor 16. The ground anchor 16 is preferably made of metal,
although plastic could be used as well. As best shown in FIGS. 2
and 10A, the ground anchor 16 includes a sleeve 22 that fits over
the post 12 adjacent the first end 18. A pin, bolt, rivet or other
suitable fastener (not shown) preferably extends through holes 24
provided in the sleeve 22 and through the post 12 in order to
secure the ground anchor 16 to the post 12. Extending from the
bottom of the sleeve 22 is a shaft 26 with an auger 28 disposed at
the bottom end of the shaft 26. The auger 28 permits the post 12 to
be screwed into the ground, thereby anchoring the fence post 10
into the ground. The ground anchor 16 could also be designed to fit
within the end 18 of the post 12, rather than over the end 18 of
the post 12. In one implementation, a shaft 26 having a length of
about 8 to about 12 inches has been found to be effective. Other
shaft lengths could be used if desired.
[0041] The details of an exemplary design of the ground anchor 16
are illustrated in FIGS. 10A-C. Between the bottom of the sleeve 22
and the shaft 26 is a plate 21. The plate 21 is designed to engage
the ground when the anchor 16 is screwed into the ground, thereby
providing stability to the post 12. As is evident from FIG. 10A,
the plate 21 is preferably a square with sides having dimension
d.sub.2 so that the plate extends beyond the sides of the sleeve 22
a certain distance d.sub.1 to provide the stabilizing effect. In
one implementation, it has been found that a plate 21 having a
dimension d.sub.2 equaling about 3 inches, and a distance d,
equaling about 0.5 inches, provides adequate stability. However, it
is to be realized that other plate dimensions could be used as
well.
[0042] To permit drainage of any moisture that may enter the post
12 or the sleeve 22, at least one, and preferably two or more, weep
holes 23 are provided in the plate 21 as best seen in FIG. 10B. In
addition, the auger 28 is designed to facilitate insertion into the
ground. If the auger is too wide, it is difficult to screw the
anchor into the ground. Therefore, the dimensions of the auger 28
are selected to facilitate insertion into the ground. By way of
example, the auger 28 can have the following dimensions:
[0043] d.sub.3--about 2.5 inches
[0044] d.sub.4--about 0.5 inches
[0045] d.sub.5--about 0.5 inches
[0046] d.sub.6--about 0.25 inches
[0047] R--about 1.0 inch
[0048] about 0.666 threads per inch.
[0049] It is to be realized that the auger 28 can have other
dimensions as well, without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
[0050] An alternate embodiment of a ground anchor 210 for anchoring
the post 12 into the ground is illustrated in FIGS. 15-17. The
anchor 210 is designed to releasably self-lock with the post 12 and
permit manual disconnection of the anchor from the post. In this
embodiment, the end of the post 12 that interacts with the anchor
210 must be hollow. The anchor 210 is preferably formed entirely
from plastic, such as polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS) or other engineering grade plastics.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 15-16, the anchor 210 comprises a central
body 212 that is generally hollow and has a shape that generally
matches the shape of the post 12 so that the central body 212 fits
within the end of the post in close fitting relation therewith. The
close fit between the body 212 and the interior of the post 12
secures the anchor and the post and prevents excessive relative
movement therebetween. In the illustrated embodiment, the central
body 212 is generally rectangular in shape so as to match the
generally rectangular shape of the hollow end of the post 12.
However, the central body 212 could have other shapes, such as
circular or triangular, corresponding to the shape of the post that
is used.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a cylindrical sleeve 214
through the center of the body 212 defines a passage 216. The
passage 216 permits a spike or other similar supplemental anchoring
member (not shown) to extend through the center of the anchor 210
and into the ground to supplement the anchoring action of the
anchor 210. A plurality of ribs 218 (only one rib 218 is visible in
FIG. 16) extend between the exterior surface of the sleeve 214 and
the interior surface of the body 212 to reinforce the sleeve
214.
[0053] Surrounding the exterior of the body 212 adjacent the base
end thereof is a skirt 220. The skirt 220 includes a first flange
portion 222 that extends outwardly from the body 212, an upwardly
extending portion 224, a second flange portion 226 that extends
outwardly from the end of the portion 224, and a downwardly
extending portion 228. A groove 230 is defined between the exterior
of the body 212, the flange portion 222 and the portion 224, which
is angled slightly away from the exterior of the body 212. In use,
the groove 230 receives the end of the post 12 therein, as is
illustrated in FIG. 17B.
[0054] To releasably secure the post to the anchor 210, the anchor
210 is provided with a pair of integral locking members 232a, 232b.
The locking members 232a, 232b are identical to each other, so the
construction and operation of only the member 232a will be
described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, it is seen that
the exterior of the body 212 is formed with a channel 234 that
receives the locking member 232a. In the illustrated embodiment,
the channel 234 extends approximately the entire height of the
portion of the body 212 that projects above the flange portion 226,
with the sleeve 214 defining the rear of the channel 234 along the
upper end, and with the portion of the channel 234 below the sleeve
214 opening into the interior of the body 210 via a passage
236.
[0055] The locking member 232a comprises a locking arm 238 that
extends parallel to the channel 234, with the exterior surface of
the arm 238 preferably being generally even or flush with the
exterior surface of the body 212. The arm 238 is connected adjacent
one end thereof to the sleeve 214 by a connector 240, whereby the
arm 238 is cantilevered so as to permit the opposite end of the arm
238 to resiliently flex. The opposite end of the arm 238 is
circular in shape and has an enlarged thickness compared to the
remainder of the arm 238 (see FIG. 16) so as to form a lock button
242. The lock button 242 is sized to interact with an aperture 244
formed in the post 12 adjacent the bottom end thereof, whereby, in
use, the button 242 fits into the aperture 244 when the post 12 and
anchor 210 are engaged to lock the post to the anchor. The button
242 is generally tapered in thickness, with the thickness
increasing from its juncture with the remainder of the arm 238 to
the bottom end of the button 242. The tapering of the button 242
helps the post slide over the arm 232a as the post and anchor are
being connected.
[0056] The anchor 210 further includes a plurality of integral
ground engaging spikes 250 which, in use, are intended to be driven
into the ground for anchoring the post. In the preferred
embodiment, the anchor 210 includes four integral spikes 250. It is
to be realized, however, that a larger or smaller number of spikes
could be used. The spikes 250 extend from the bottom of the central
body 212 at each corner thereof. Each spike 250 is formed from a
plurality, preferably four, circumferentially even spaced ribs 252.
The ribs 252 are tapered such that the spikes 250 taper from
adjacent the body 212 to their distal ends. The tapering of the
spikes 250 facilitates insertion of the spikes 250 into the ground,
with the ribs 252 providing adequate securement once the spikes are
driven into the ground. Further, as described above, a spike or
other member, if desired, can be inserted through the passage 216
to supplement the spikes 250.
[0057] The locking members 232a, 232b are designed to releasably
connect the post 12 to the anchor 210. With reference to FIGS. 17A
and 17B, to connect the post and anchor, the end of the post is
slid over the body 212 of the anchor, and into the groove 230 until
the end of the post 12 engages the flange portion 222. During this
time, the tapered buttons 242 are pushed inward by the post. When
the apertures 244 become aligned with the buttons 242, the
resilient return force of the arms 238 force the buttons 242
outward through the apertures 244, thereby locking the post and the
anchor together. To release the post and anchor, the buttons 242
must be pushed inward to disengage from the apertures 244, at which
point the post 12 and anchor 210 can be pulled apart.
[0058] One embodiment of the fence strand assembly 14, best seen in
FIG. 2, includes a housing 30 that is slidably connected to the
post 12 to permit adjustment of the housing 30 along the length of
the post 12. The housing 30 is preferably formed from injection
molded plastic, such as polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS) or other engineering grade plastics. However, in
certain constructions such as a non-electric fence strand version,
the housing or portions thereof could be formed from a metal
material if desired.
[0059] Disposed within the housing 30 in a cup-shaped depression 32
thereof (best seen in FIG. 4) is a roll of fence strand material
34. The fence strand material 34 is illustrated in the figures as
being a tape, such as polytape. However, it is to be recognized
that other fence strand members, such as wire, rope and other
slender fence strand members, could be used as well. In addition,
as will be described in more detail later in the description, the
fence strand material 34 can be electrified to provide an electric
fence system.
[0060] One end of the fence strand material 34 extends through a
slot 36 formed in the side of the housing 30, while the opposite
end of the fence strand material 34 is secured to a spindle 38. The
spindle 38, best seen in FIG. 5, includes a plurality of slots 40
therein through which the end of the fence strand material 34
extends such that rotation of the spindle in the appropriate
direction causes the fence strand material 34 to be wound onto the
spindle. The bottom end of the spindle 38 forms a pivot 42 which
fits through a hole provided in the bottom of the cup-shaped
depression 32 (see FIG. 4), with the spindle secured in place by a
locking clip 44 engaging with a slot 46 in the pivot 42.
[0061] As shown in FIGS. 2-3, a spool 48 is rotatably received at
the top of the housing 30 and closes off the cup-shaped depression
32 so that the roll of fence strand material 34 is enclosed within
the housing. The spool 48 and housing 30 prevent ingress of water,
dirt and other contaminants to the roll of fence strand material 34
thereby increasing the reliability and operational life of the
fence strand assembly 14. The spool 48 includes a hole therein that
receives a correspondingly shaped head 50 on the spindle 38. As
illustrated in the figures, the hole and head 50 are rectangular in
shape, although it is to be realized that other shapes, such as
triangular, pentagonal or the like, could be used.
[0062] The housing 30 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as having an open
bottom. However, the housing preferably cooperates with a housing
cover 300, illustrated in FIG. 21, that closes the bottom of the
housing 30. The housing cover 300 has a shape that is complementary
to the shape of the open bottom of the housing 30, and is secured
to the housing using screws that extend through bosses 302 on the
cover 300 and into threaded boss 304 (shown in FIG. 4) formed on
the housing 30. The cover 300 preferably includes a plurality of
weep holes 306 to allow drainage of the interior of the housing
30.
[0063] As best seen in FIG. 3, a crank handle 52 is disposed on,
formed on, or otherwise connected to the top surface of the spool
48. The crank handle 52 is sized and shaped so as to permit manual
or mechanical rotation of the spool 48. Rotation of the spool 48
causes rotation of the spindle 38, due to the fit of the head 50
into the spool hole. Thus, the spool 48 can be rotated via the
crank handle 52, thereby rotating the spindle 38, to either pay-out
(i.e. extend) the fence strand material 34 or wind-up (i.e.
retract) the fence strand material 34.
[0064] With reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 6a and 6b, a locking mechanism
is preferably provided in order to lock the fence strand material
34 and prevent further retraction/extension of the fence strand
material 34. The lock mechanism includes a lock lever 54 that is
pivotally secured on the housing 30 adjacent the slot 36 to control
ingress/egress of the fence strand material 34 through the slot 36.
The lock lever 54 includes a pair of pivot pins 56 that snap fit
into suitably provided holes in the housing 30. A clamp bar 58
formed on the lock lever 54 forcibly clamps the fence strand
material 34 against a wire finger 60 (see FIG. 4) and against the
housing 30, when the lock lever 54 is in the position shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4, and prevents further ingress/egress of the fence
strand material 34 through the slot 36. A scalloped depression 62
is formed on the lock lever 54 to permit a persons finger(s) to get
behind the lever to facilitate pivoting of the lever to an unlock
position where the lever 54 projects from the outline of the
housing 30.
[0065] An alternate embodiment of a lock lever 54' is illustrated
in FIG. 22. The lock lever 54', which is preferably used with the
construction illustrated in FIG. 11, includes a series of
projections 59 on the clamp bar 58' enhance the clamping action of
the lock lever 54'.
[0066] The wire finger 60 discussed above forms one end of a wire
64 that extends beneath the cup-shaped depression 32 as best seen
in FIG. 4. The opposite end of the wire 64 extends through a slot
66 in the housing 30 and forms a loop 68. The loop 68 permits
connection of fence strand material 34 to the housing 30. As shown
in FIG. 4, the housing 30, such as on the bottom of the cup-shaped
depression 32, includes a plurality of wire supports 320 that holds
and secure the wire 64. In addition, the housing cover 300 in FIG.
21 includes a plurality of wire supports 322 for holding and
securing the wire 64 when the cover is mounted on the bottom of the
housing 30.
[0067] With reference now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, a strand connector
70 is connected to the end of the fence strand material 34. The
strand connector 70 is preferably formed from a metal, such as
stainless steel, or from a suitable plastic material. The connector
70 includes a buckle end 72 provided with a series of slots 74
through which the end of the fence strand material 34 is woven like
a buckle so that the end of the fence strand material and the
connector 70 are securely fastened. The opposite end of the
connector 70 is formed into a hook 76 which is intended to engage
the loop 68 on the wire 64 to connect the end of the fence strand
material 34 to an adjacent housing 30. The construction of the
connector 70 is particularly suited for use with a tape, such as
polytape, as the fence strand material. If the fence strand
material 34 is slender, such as wire or rope, an alternate
connector that is more suited for connection to a slender fence
strand member, but which also is able to connect to the housing,
could be used.
[0068] In certain electric fencing systems, the connector 70 would
preferably be formed from metal so that electrical current is
transferred from the fence strand material of one housing, through
the connector 70 which connects to the loop 68 and into the wire 64
of an adjacent housing which carries the current across the
adjacent housing to the finger 60 which in turn is in electrical
contact with the fence strand material of the adjacent housing as a
result of the clamping action provided by the lock lever 54. In
this manner, electrical continuity can be maintained. When the
fence is not electrified, the connector 70 can be either metal or
plastic, and connects to the housing in the manner described or in
any other suitable manner.
[0069] An optional gate handle 78, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8,
can be provided to facilitate handling of the end of the fence
strand material 34. When used, the gate handle 78 is preferably
formed of extruded polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other suitable
plastic, and includes a channel 80 formed therethrough. The fence
strand material 34 slides through the channel 80 and the buckle end
72 of the connector 70 wedges tightly into the channel 80. Thus,
when used, the gate handle 78 provides a convenient handle by which
a user can grasp and hold the end of the fence strand material
34.
[0070] As mentioned, the fence strand assembly 14 is adjustable
along the length of the post 12. To accomplish the adjustment, the
housing 30 is provided with a clamp assembly 82 that defines a
shape, corresponding to the shape of the post 12, to permit
clamping engagement of the housing 30 with the post 12, as shown in
FIGS. 14. The clamp assembly 82 includes a bolt 84, a washer 86 and
a knob 88 that cooperate in a manner known in the art to tighten
and loosen the clamp assembly 82. Through appropriate rotation of
the knob 88, the clamp assembly 82 is loosened and the fence strand
assembly 14 can be adjusted along the length of the post 12 to the
desired height. Rotation of the knob 88 in the opposite direction
tightens the clamp assembly 82 and locks the fence strand assembly
14 in position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cap 90 fits into and
closes off the second end 20 of the post 12. The cap could also fit
over, rather than within, the second end of the post.
[0071] Although a clamp assembly 82 has been described herein as
permitting adjustment of the housing 30, other means permitting
adjustment of the housing 30 could be utilized as well. For
instance, an indexing system including a plurality of indexing
holes along the length of the post 12 and an indexing pin inserted
through a portion of the housing 30 and into a selected one of the
indexing holes could be used.
[0072] As described previously, the fence post assembly 10 can be
used to form an electric fence or enclosure. In an electric fence
version, the fence strand material 34 must be constructed so as to
permit conduction of electricity. When the fence strand material 34
is a tape, as illustrated in the figures, the type of tape used can
be a bi-polar tape. Bi-polar tapes, which are generally known in
the art, include a hot wire(s) and a ground wire extending along
the length thereof. The fence strand tape, for either non-electric
or electric uses, also preferably includes a reflective strand r
extending through the center of the tape, as shown in FIG. 12, to
indicate the presence of the tape at night when light reflects off
of the reflective strand.
[0073] A conducting wire, rather than tape, can be used as the
fence strand material 34 if desired. A suitable type of wire is
polywire. The use of wire permits a longer length of fence strand
material 34 to be used on the spool 48, as compared to using tape.
By way of example, for the same size spool, it has been found that
the length of the wire that can be used can be up to about four
time greater than the length of the tape.
[0074] As discussed above, in an electric fence version, electrical
continuity is required between a fence strand that connects to the
housing 30 and the fence strand that exits the housing 30. As
discussed for FIGS. 1-8, the wire 64 is one means that can be used
to transfer electricity between fence strands. In this regard, the
wire 64, which is made of metal or other conducting material,
provides the necessary electrical path through the housing 30 which
in this version is made from a non-conducting material such as
plastic.
[0075] FIGS. 11-13 illustrate a construction that is designed for
use when the fence strand material 34 is a bi-polar tape. Because
bi-polar tape has ground and hot wires, the wire 64' is constructed
differently than the wire 64, in that the loop 68' of the wire 64'
is provided with a plastic or other non-conducting piece 69 that
divides the loop 68' into separate wires 68a, 68b. One wire, for
example bottom wire 68a, is designed to electrically connect to the
hot wire(s) in the bi-polar tape, and runs under the cup shaped
depression as shown in FIG. 11A. The other wire, for example top
wire 68b, is designed to electrically connect to the ground wire(s)
in the bi-polar tape, and runs through the housing, as shown in
dashed lines in FIG. 11, without interfering with the rotation of
the roll of bi-polar tape disposed in the housing. Likewise, the
finger 60' is also provided with a non-conducting piece 61 that
divides the finger 60' into separate wires 60a, 60b. The wire 60a
is connected to the wire 68a via the portion that runs under the
cup shaped depression, and the wire 60b is connected to the wire
68b as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 11. Therefore, the wires
60a, 68a form a first electrical path through the housing while the
wires 60b, 68b form a second electrical path. The non-conducting
pieces 61, 69 separate the first and second electrical paths from
each other.
[0076] As further illustrated in FIG. 11, the lock lever 54' shown
in FIG. 22 having the projections 59 is used. When the lock lever
54' is pivoted to the clamping position, the projections 59 press
the bi-polar tape against the wires 60a, 60b. The projections 59
provide an improved electrical connection between the hot and
ground wires in the tape exiting the housing and the wires 60a,
60b.
[0077] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, screws 330, 332 are
threaded into bosses disposed adjacent to the wires 68a, 68b, with
the heads of the screws contacting the wires. Wire leads 334, 336
contact the screws 330, 332, respectively, and lead to a circuit
board 338 located in the housing. In this manner, electricity can
be supplied to the wire 64' and to the tape. Moreover, as shown in
FIGS. 11 and 12, the housing preferably includes a window 339 on
the top surface thereof. A signal element, such as a light emitting
diode or other illumination device, is disposed underneath the
window 339 and is connected to the circuit board 338 so as to
illuminate when electricity is provided to the wire 64'. The window
339 thus provides a readily visible indicator that the fence post
assembly is powered, and that the fence strand material is
electrified.
[0078] FIGS. 12, 13A and 13B illustrate a gate handle 110 that is
used to connect the bi-polar tape to the housing 30 while
maintaining electrical continuity across the housing. The gate
handle 110 replaces the connector 70 and gate handle 78 arrangement
described in FIGS. 1-8. A first clamping plate 112, shown in FIG.
13A, of the gate handle 110 cooperates with a second clamping plate
114, shown in FIG. 13B, to clamp the bi-polar tape 34 therebetween
whereby the gate handle 110 is securely attached to the end of the
tape 34, as well as providing for an electrical connection between
the hot and ground wires of the bi-polar tape 34 and the hook 68'
on the housing. Each clamping plate 112, 114 is formed from a
non-conducting plastic material. The tape 34 is shown
diagrammatically in FIG. 12.
[0079] With reference to FIG. 13A, the first clamping plate 112
includes a first end 116 adjacent which there is provided a
plurality of ribs 118. Projecting from the interior surface of the
plate 112 are a plurality of stepped ribs 120. The ribs 120
generally increase in height as they extend from the first end 116
toward a second, connecting end 122 of the plate 112, with each rib
including a series of relatively sharp, pointed tips 124. The plate
112 further includes a trough 132 in which a pair of channels 130a,
130b are formed. A pair of projecting ribs 134a, 134b, each of
which has a relatively sharp tip, extends from the interior surface
of the plate 112 adjacent the channels 130a, 130b. In addition, an
internally threaded boss 136 projects from the interior surface of
the plate 112 between the trough 132 and the connecting end 122 and
between the ribs 134a, 134b, while an internally threaded boss 137
projects from the interior surface of the plate adjacent the first
end 116.
[0080] With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13A, the trough 132 forms a
channel 138 that opens toward the exterior surface of the plate
112. When the tape 34 is clamped between the plates 112, 114,
portions of the tape adjacent the channels 130a, 130b are disposed
within the channel 138 so that the tape portions are accessible
from outside the gate handle 110. It is the portions of the tape
disposed within the channel 138 that are to contact the wires 68a,
68b when the gate handle 110 is connected to the housing. As shown
in FIG. 12, the tape 34 preferably includes a hot wire h and a
ground wire g that will be located within the channel 138 as
discussed above, so that the hot wire h is able to contact the wire
68b, while the ground wire g is able to contact the wire 68a.
[0081] With reference to FIG. 13B, the interior surface of the
clamping plate 114 that in use faces the interior surface of the
clamping plate 112 is visible. A series of projections 140 project
from the interior surface of the plate 114 adjacent a first end 142
thereof. The projections 140 are sized and shaped to fit between
corresponding pairs of the ribs 118 on the plate 112 when the two
plates 112, 114 are brought together, thereby helping to firmly
clamp the tape 34 between the plates 112, 114.
[0082] In addition, a boss 144 having a through hole 146, and a
boss 145 having a through hole 147, project from the interior
surface of the plate 114 at locations that correspond to the
locations of the bosses 136, 137 on the plate 112 when the two
plates 112, 114 are secured together. The bosses 136, 144 and 137,
145 cooperate with each other to form a means whereby the two
plates 112, 114 are securely fastened together in a releasable
manner. Preferably, threaded screws (not illustrated) are used to
secure the two plates, with the screws extending through the
through holes 146, 147 of the bosses 144, 145 and into threaded
engagement with the bosses 136, 137. The screws are preferably
inserted through the exterior side of the plate 114, and the bosses
144, 145 are preferably countersunk on the exterior sides thereof
so that the heads of the screws are recessed into the gate handle
110.
[0083] Further ribs 148 project from the interior surface of the
plate 114, with the ribs 148 positioned to cooperate with the ribs
120 on the plate 112 in a manner to be discussed below. Each rib
148 also includes a relatively sharp, pointed tip 152. The
positioning, size and spacing of the ribs 148 are such that when
the plates 112, 114 are secured together, each pair of ribs 148 are
located between a corresponding pair of ribs 120. As a result, the
tape 34 is firmly clamped between the plates 112, 114, with the
pointed tips 124, 152 engaging with the tape 34 and helping to
prevent the tape 34 from being pulled from the gate handle 110.
[0084] The plate 114 further includes a flange 154 adjacent an end
thereof opposite the end 142. The flange 154 cooperates with and is
positioned closely adjacent to a wall 156 on the plate 112 when the
plates 112, 114 are connected together in order to substantially
close off the interior of the gate handle 110 from the exterior
thereof.
[0085] Returning to FIG. 13A, it is seen that the plate 112
includes a lip 158 at the connecting end 122. In use, the interior
surface of the lip 158 rests on one surface of the housing 30, as
shown in FIG. 12, while the surface formed by the flange 154 and
wall 156 rest on another surface.
[0086] After the tape 34 is placed between the two plates 112, 114
and the plates are fastened together, the gate handle 110 is
connected to the housing 30 in the following manner. As illustrated
in FIG. 12, the connecting end 122 is inserted through the loop
68'. The gate handle 110 is then rotated so that the connecting end
122 engages with the corner of the housing 30. In particular, the
interior surface of the lip 158 rests on one corner surface, while
the surface formed by the flange 154 and wall 156 rest on another
corner surface, thereby achieving a secure connection of the gate
handle to the housing.
[0087] Further, rotation of the gate handle 110 disposes the loop
68' and the wires 68a, 68b thereof within the channel 138 of the
trough 132, where the wires 68a, 68b contact the ground and hot
wires of the tape disposed within the channel 138. Thus, electrical
continuity is maintained between the tape that connects to the
housing, and the tape that exits the housing. Disconnection is
achieved by rotating the gate handle 110 to an extent that permits
the connection end 122 to be removed from the loop 68'.
[0088] With reference to FIG. 14, in the electric fence version,
electricity can be provided by the use of one or more solar panels
150, either mounted on the fence post assembly 10 or provided as a
stand alone structure. Alternatively, one or more batteries 160
provided on or in the fence post assembly 10 can be used to provide
electrical power. Preferably, the batteries are used in combination
with the solar panels, with the solar panels being used to recharge
the batteries. A fence controller 170 is provided for controlling
operation of the fence post assembly 10. The controller 170 can be
mounted in a variety of locations, for example within the fence
post 12 or on the exterior thereof, or it can be provided as a
stand-alone unit.
[0089] FIGS. 18-20 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the fence
controller 170. In this embodiment, the controller 170 is designed
to be inserted as a single integral unit into the upper end of the
post 12 which must be made hollow to accommodate the controller
170. The controller 170 includes a chassis 172 that has a battery
accommodation section 174 and a circuit board section 176, as best
seen in FIG. 20. The chassis 172, which is formed from a molded
plastic such as polycarbonate, ABS or other engineering grade
plastics, has a shape that is similar to the shape of the hollow
end of the post 12 to allow the chassis 172 to be inserted into the
post as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. In the preferred embodiment, the
chassis 172 is generally triangular in shape which allows the
chassis to be inserted into the post 12.
[0090] The battery section 174 of the chassis 172 is constructed to
receive a plurality of batteries 160 for use in powering the
controller 170 and/or in providing electricity to the fence
strands, as shown in FIG. 20. In the preferred embodiment, four "D"
sized batteries 160 are used. However, it is to be realized that a
larger or smaller number of batteries, as well as other battery
types, could be used, depending upon the power requirements.
[0091] Mounted within the circuit board section 176 is a circuit
board 178 that contains circuitry for operating the controller 170
and the electric version of the fence post assembly 10. The
circuitry on the circuit board is designed to distribute
electricity to the electric fence strand member, such as the tape
34 of FIG. 12, to electrify the fence strand member. In addition,
the circuitry includes a light 180, such as a light emitting diode
(LED), which flashes when the controller is on to indicate that the
controller 170 is functioning. A pair of indicator lights 182, 184,
one of which is preferably green and the other is preferably red,
are also provided in order to provide an indication of the state of
the batteries 160. When the batteries 160 have sufficient charge,
the green light is illuminated indicating that the battery level is
sufficient; on the other hand, when the battery charge is not
sufficient, the red light is illuminated to indicate that the
batteries need to be recharged or replaced. A switch 186, such as a
toggle switch, turns the controller 170 on and off.
[0092] In use, when the fence strand members are to be electrified,
the switch 186 is turned to the "on" position. Once the controller
is on, the LED 180 flashes thereby indicating to the user that the
controller is operating. In addition, one of the lights 182, 184
will also be illuminated to indicate the condition of the batteries
160.
[0093] If desired, the circuitry on the circuit board 178 could
also be designed to permit remote operation of the controller. In
this case, the circuitry would include equipment, such as a
receiver and a transmitter, that could receive remote control
commands and transmit information concerning the operation to a
remote location.
[0094] Referring to FIGS. 18-20, a cap 188 disposed at the upper
end of the chassis 172 replaces the cap 90 for closing the end of
the post 12. The cap 188 is provided with a cut-out 190 on one side
through which the LED 180 is visible and the switch 186 is
accessible. In addition, the indicator lights 182, 184 extend
through suitable holes in the opposite side of the cap 188 so that
the lights 182, 184 are visible, as best seen in FIG. 19.
[0095] FIG. 9 illustrates four fence post assemblies 10A-D in
accordance with the invention that are arranged to form an
enclosure 100. An exemplary assembly procedure to form the
enclosure 100 is as follows: the four fence post assemblies 10A-D
are located at the corners of the enclosure that is to be formed.
The anchors, e.g. anchors 16 or 210, are then inserted into the
ground, and the posts 12 are then attached to the anchors. The
fence strand material 34 is then unwound from the roll of fence
post assembly 10A by pulling on the end of the fence strand
material and/or by rotating the spool 48 in the appropriate
direction. The end of the fence strand material 34 is then
connected to the housing on the fence post assembly 10B. A similar
procedure is repeated for fence post assemblies 10B-D, with the
fence strand material of fence post assembly 10B connecting to
fence post assembly 10C, the fence strand material of fence post
assembly 10C connecting to fence post assembly 10D, and the fence
strand material of fence post assembly 10D connecting to fence post
assembly 10A. The housings are adjusted up or down along the posts
as needed to provide the desired fence strand height. Although an
exemplary procedure for forming the enclosure 100 has been
described, other assembly procedures could be used as well.
[0096] It should be realized that when the enclosure shown in FIG.
9 is to be electrified, the electrical continuity between the fence
strand material of one fence post assembly and the fence strand
material of another fence post assembly is maintained in the manner
described above.
[0097] Instead of using four fence post assemblies 10A-D, a larger
or smaller number of fence post assemblies could be used to form
the enclosure. For instance, if sufficient quantity of fence strand
material 34 is available on the roll, the enclosure could be formed
by running the material 34 from the housing of one fence post
assembly 10, around man-made objects such as fence posts that do
not have fence strand material rolls and housings as described
herein, or around natural objects such as trees, and back to the
original fence post assembly where it would connect to the housing.
This type of enclosure using a fence post assembly with a single
housing is particularly useful when the fence strand material that
is used is wire, as the length of wire that can be used on a spool
is much greater than the length of tape that can be used on the
spool.
[0098] In addition, one or more of the fence post assemblies could
be used in combination with existing structure(s) to form the
enclosure. For instance, one or more fence post assemblies 10 could
be used in combination with a side wall of a building or vehicle
structure to form the enclosure. Moreover, the end of the fence
strand material 34 could be connected to the structure, rather than
to an adjacent fence post assembly.
[0099] Each fence post assembly can be provided individually or as
part of a kit along with one or more additional fence post
assemblies. Moreover, the components of the fence post assembly 10,
including the fence strand assembly 14, the fence post 12 and the
ground anchor 16, can be provided as separate elements, thereby
permitting replacement of one of the components in the event that a
component should break, fail or otherwise need replacement.
[0100] To provide added stability to the fence post assembly 10, a
guy wire 200 can extend from a portion of the fence post assembly
10 with the opposite end of the guy wire 200 anchored to the
ground. As an example, as shown in FIG. 1, the guy wire 200 can
connect to the clamp assembly 82.
[0101] It is to be understood that while certain embodiments of the
present invention have been illustrated and described, the
invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangements of
parts described and shown. Rather, the invention is defined by the
following claims.
* * * * *