Wedge And Support For A Temporary Fence

Abstract

A removable wedge for inserting in the end of a pipe in engaging relationship with a removable conventional "T" fence post secures and aligns the post in the pipe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is in fence hardware and particularly that of supporting structures for temporary fences.

It is common practice in the construction of temporary fence to place pipe supports in the ground or in concrete in which anchorless posts for supporting a fence may be ready inserted and removed. Since the pipe must always be somewhat larger than the post, stability of the post has been a problem. Frequently an unsightly wooden wedge is driven into the top of the pipe between the post and the pipe to attempt to give the post increased stability. This is not very satisfactory because generally this results in a misalignment of the post with respect to the vertical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A resilient readily insertable and removable wedge for clamping, supporting and aligning a conventional "T" fence post in a section of conventional pipe is provided by the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a back view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the cooperation of the preferred embodiment with a "T" post and pipe support;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial perspective view showing the insertion of the preferred embodiment into a pipe containing the lower section of a post;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment having essentially continuous engaging surfaces with the pipe;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of an embodiment having a serrated cylindrical section for contacting the pipe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Of the three major types of fence posts, the channel, the angle, and the "T" , the "T" type posts is the most widely used. Through the many years of usage of fence posts the dimensions have standardized, (except for length, they being generally available in lengths from 5 through 7 feet). The "T" post is commonly referred to as 1 3/8 .times. 1 3/8 studded "T" post. When it is desired to provide a temporary fence such as snow fence, fence partitions at fairs, animal shows, exhibits, and other occasions where the fence is frequently installed and removed, the fence posts (without anchors) are inserted in conventional, standard, 2 -inch pipe placed in the ground, or in some instances the pipe post holders are set in concrete. Since the posts are a loose fit in the pipe they are subject to readily turning from the desired position within the pipe and also assuming a slight but unsightly sidewise or front-and-back tilt. Another disadvantage is that there is no resistance, other than that brought about by the wire, chain, or whatever constitutes the fence, to the removal of the post from the holder. Livestock and un-cooperative people sometimes lift the posts from the holders and collapse the fence. A wooden wedge is sometimes driven in the pipe beside the post to provide stability and offer resistance to the removal of the post, however, this is unsightly, nearly always results in the post tilting, and quite often it is difficult to remove the wooden wedge. This invention provides a wedge structure, shown in preferred form in back, top, front, and bottom views in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, that is easy to install in a pipe containing the lower section of a post; it aligns the post with the pipe; conventionally available pipe and posts are used with the wedge; it may be reused many times; it is quickly and easily installed and removed; it may be left in the pipe after the post is removed and will not interfere with a cover being placed over the end of the pipe during the periods that a fence is not in position; it aids in preventing trash from entering the pipe around the post; it has a lifetime essentially equal to that of the other components of the fence; and it is economical and easy to fabricate.

The use of the wedge may more readily be understood by considering the views of FIGS. 5 and 6 which show the relationship of the wedge to the post and pipe. The view in FIG. 6 shows the wedge partially inserted into the pipe. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the conventional 2-inch pipe 21 is generally placed in the ground so that the top open end of the pipe is essentially flush with, or slightly above, ground level. A conventional length for the pipe 21 is a section of pipe approximately 2 feet long and the post 22 protrudes therefrom 3 to 5 feet. The preferred wedge 23 contacts the inside of the pipe along slightly tapered surfaces 24, 25, and 26. The inside diameter of conventional pipe is held to reasonably close tolerances thus a slight taper from a few thousandths of an inch under the nominal inside diameter of the pipe at the start of the taper (the bottom of the wedge) to a few thousandths of an inch over the nominal inside diameter of the pipe at the top of these surfaces, enables the wedge to start into pipe sections and easily be driven on into pipe by a few hammer blows on the top surface 27, until the underside 28 of the shoulder of the top flange essentially seats on the top edge of the pipe limiting the travel of the wedge into the pipe.

The wedge 23 is driven into the pipe after the post 22 is positioned in the pipe facing in the desired direction. The resiliency of the wedge permits it to deform slightly as it is driven into the pipe and in addition to the wedge bearing on the pipe at surface 24, 25, and 26, it wedges the post against the pipe by the surfaces 29 and 30 bearing uniformly on the back side of the cross rail of the post forcing the post against the inside wall of the pipe along the edge of the post 31 and 32, and generally also at the ends 33 of the studs 34. It has been found desirable to have approximately 3/32-inch clearance between the bottom 35 of the post notch and the end 36 of the rail of the stem of the "T". Slight clearance at the sides of the rail forming the stem of the "T" is also desirable to prevent undue tensile stress occuring across the back of the wedge as it slightly flexes when driven into the pipe. It is to be observed that the wedge is essentially U-shaped and it is the resiliency of the material at the bottom and sides of the "U" that provides for the inward movement of the surfaces 25 and 26 as the wedge is driven into the pipe. The resulting outward force of these surfaces on the pipe combined with the resulting pressure exerted on the pipe by the surface 24 together with the pressure on the cross rail of the post holds the wedge and post in place in the pipe.

In the preferred embodiment the wedge may easily be removed from the pipe by inserting a conventional screwdriver over edge of the pipe at 37 and 38 and prying up on the recessed lip area under the surface of the top flange at 39 and 40. By this recessed lip being inside the inner periphery of the pipe openings 41 and 42 are provided in which a screwdriver bit may readily be inserted. This lifts the wedge up until it may be removed by hand and frees the post for removal.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in top, front, and bottom views in FIG. 7, 8, and 9 respectively. In this embodiment the top flange 50 is circular and essentially the same diameter as the outside diameter of the pipe. The portion of the wedge 51 that extends into the pipe is also circular with a small amount of taper from the bottom of the wedge to the underside of the top flange for ease of insertion. It bears on the post holding it against the pipe similarity to the preferred embodiment, however it essentially contacts the pipe over the essentially cylindrical section surface 51. The tolerance on the diameter of the surface 51 is much more critical with respect to the inside diameter of the pipe than in the preferred embodiment. This can be alleviated to a large degree by corrugating the surface of the wedge that contacts the inside of the pipe. A bottom view of an embodiment of a wedge fabricated in this manner is shown in FIG. 10. In this embodiment, rather than flexing at the back side of the wedge; the ridges of the corrugations deform into the grooves of the corrugation as the wedge is driven into the pipe. In some instances where wide variations in the inside diameter of the pipe occur small corrugations may be placed on the surface 24, 25, and 26 of the preferred embodiment. The corrugations may either be vertical as shown in FIG. 10 or horizontal, i.e., ridges and grooves parallel to the top surface of the wedge. Either direction of corrugation is equally satisfactory in the operation of this embodiment of the wedge.

The preferred material from which to fabricate the wedge is high-corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, such as commercial number 43; however, other metals (such as bronze) and plastics (such as nylon, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, silicone, and butyl rubber) have also been found to be generally satisfactory materials. Generally the wedge is used with conventional standard 2-inch pipe for supporting "T" posts. The nominal inside diameter of standard 2-inch pipe is 2.067 inches. Conventional, heavy wall 2-inch pipe having a nominal inside diameter of 1.933 inches may also be used, as may pipe of other inside diameters when the wedge is fabricated according as previously set forth.

Claims

I claim:

1. The support for a temporary fence comprising:

a. a conventional "T" fence post having an upper end for holding the fence and a supporting lower end;

b. a section of pipe containing the lower end of the post; and

c. a removable deformable wedge having,

1. a tapered surface bearing against the pipe,

2. a surface engaging the back side of the cross rail of the post forcing the post against the inside wall of the pipe,

3. a shoulder contacting the edge of the upper end of the pipe, and

4. a recessed lip inside the inner periphery of the said pipe.

2. A removable wedge for temporarily holding a conventional "T" fence post in a section of conventional pipe, the said wedge comprising:

a. a first surface for contacting the inside of the pipe;

b. a second surface for bearing on the "T" post;

c. a shoulder for limiting the travel of the wedge into the pipe; and

d. a recessed lip inside the inner periphery of the pipe for removing the wedge from the pipe.

3. A removable wedge for temporarily holding a conventional "T" fence post in a section of conventional pipe the said wedge comprising:

a. a plurality of first surfaces for contacting and exerting a force against the insides of the pipe;

b. a plurality of second surfaces for bearing on the "T" post and forcing the post into an engaging relationship with the pipe;

c. a top flange having a shoulder for limiting the travel of the wedge into the pipe and having a recessed lip area within the inner periphery of the pipe; and

d. the said wedge being fabricated from a resilient material.