AN IMPROVED FENCING ELEMENT

Abstract

This invention relates to a fencing element which includes at least one wire support for a wire, wherein the fencing element includes an elongate body, characterised in that the at least one wire support includes at least one groove and at least one protruding member, wherein a line is defined along the length of the at least one groove, and at least a portion of the protruding member intersects the line. The invention has particular application to the mounting and supporting of fencing wire on the fencing element.

Claims

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42. A fencing element which includes at least one wire support for a wire, wherein the fencing element includes a body having an elongate dimension and a front face, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side, wherein at least one wire support includes at least one groove on the front face and orientated substantially perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the body, and at least one protruding member, characterized in that wherein a line is defined along the length of at least one groove, and at least a portion of the protruding member intersects the line, wherein the body includes an opening into which the protruding member is inserted, and wherein the protruding member is a threaded fastener.

43. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the fencing element is a batten.

44. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the fencing element is a fence post.

45. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the fencing element is an insulator for a batten or a fence post.

46. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the fencing element includes multiple wire supports.

47. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the groove extends between the first lateral side of the body and the second lateral side of the body.

48. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the threaded fastener includes a head.

49. A fencing element according to claim 48, wherein the portion of the threaded fastener that intersects the line is the head.

50. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein at least one wire support includes a single threaded fastener that is located substantially centrally between a first and a second groove orientated substantially perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the body.

51. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein at least one wire support includes a single groove that is positioned proximate the top of the body relative to a single threaded fastener.

52. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the threaded fastener is a threaded screw.

53. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the threaded fastener is a bolt.

54. A fencing element according to claim 53, wherein the threaded fastener is a bolt, wherein the bolt has a shaft with two arms defining a recess therebetween.

55. A fencing element according to claim 42, wherein the opening includes an insert for the threaded fastener.

56. A fencing element according to claim 45, wherein the body includes apertures for fasteners to secure the element to a post or batten.

57. A fencing element according to claim 56, wherein the fastener is a split bolt, wherein the split bolt includes a shaft with two arms defining a recess therebetween, wherein the post or batten is positioned in the recess.

58. A method for supporting a fence wire using a fencing element according to claim 42.

59. A fencing insulator which includes a support for a wire, wherein the fencing insulator includes a body, characterized in that the body of the fencing insulator includes at least one grip configured to secure the fencing insulator to a fencing element.

60. A fencing insulator according to claim 59 wherein the body has a length and includes a front and back side defining the depth of the body and a first and second lateral side defining the width of the body.

61. A method of manufacturing a fencing unit, wherein the fencing unit includes: a fencing insulator, and a fencing element, characterized by the step of fixing the fencing element to the fencing insulator by injection moulding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0170] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0171] FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary insulator element;

[0172] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary insulator element;

[0173] FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary insulator element;

[0174] FIG. 4 is side view of the length of an exemplary insulator element;

[0175] FIG. 5 is a top view of an exemplary insulator element;

[0176] FIG. 6 is a top view of an exemplary insulator element;

[0177] FIG. 7 is a top view of an exemplary insulator element;

[0178] FIG. 8 is a top view of an exemplary insulator element;

[0179] FIG. 9 is a side view of the threaded screw;

[0180] FIG. 10 is a side view of an exemplary fencing element;

[0181] FIG. 11 is a front view of an exemplary fencing element;

[0182] FIG. 12 is a side view of an exemplary fencing element;

[0183] FIG. 13 is a side view of an exemplary split bolt; and

[0184] FIG. 14 is a top view of an exemplary fencing element when used as a fencing insulator together with the split bolt of FIG. 13.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0185] A fencing insulator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated by (100) in FIG. 1.

[0186] The fencing insulator (100) is a unitary structure. It includes a wire support of three protuberances (102) aligned substantially across the front (indicated generally by the arrow 104) of the insulator body. These protuberances are configured to engage with a wire (not shown) of a fence (not shown).

[0187] Two grips (106) are positioned on the back (indicated generally by the arrow 108), proximate the first and second lateral sides (indicated generally by the arrows 110 and 112 respectively) of the fencing insulator (100).

[0188] Each grip (106) is a recess that is configured to be substantially complementary to the end of a limb of a ‘Y’ post batten (not shown). The opening (114) is the narrowest part of the recess (106), which allows the recess (106) to retain the end of a limb of a batten to secure the fencing insulator (100) to the batten. In use, each recess will envelop the entirety an end of a ‘Y’ post batten limb (not shown).

[0189] The fencing insulator (100) includes a depression (116) that extends between the top and bottom (not shown) of the fencing insulator. The depression is substantially in the center of the first and second lateral sides (110 and 112).

[0190] The depression has a first open mouth (118) at the top of the fencing insulator (100) and a second open mouth (not shown) at the bottom of the fencing insulator.

[0191] The depression also has an elongate opening (120) on the back (110) of the fencing insulator (100).

[0192] The first lateral side (122) and second lateral side (124) define the width of the depression (116). These are sloped, with the widest point being the elongate opening (120) and the narrowest point being the end (126). This makes it easier for the first and second lateral sides of the depression (122 and 124) to be moved away from each other when the first and second lateral sides of the body (110 and 112) are pushed closer together.

[0193] The depth of the depression is defined by the elongate opening (120) and the end of the depression (126).

[0194] The depression has a depth of over one third of the depth of the fencing insulator (100). This allows the first and second lateral sides of the body (110 and 112) to be pushed closer together, which assists the gripping function of the insulator.

[0195] The back of the body (108) includes two sloped portions (128). These are angled such that the back of the body is complementary to the configuration of a ‘Y’ post batten (not shown).

[0196] FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the fencing insulator, indicated generally by the arrow 200. In this embodiment the grips (106) are positioned along the sloped portions (128). They are configured to be complementary to the inside of the end of a ‘Y’ batten limb (not shown) so that in use the recess will only receive inside part as opposed to enveloping the full end of the batten limb.

[0197] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a third exemplary embodiment of the invention (indicated generally by the arrow 300). In this embodiment the fencing insulator includes grips (106) to secure the insulator to a batten (not shown). It includes a wire support of two grooves (not shown) on either side of the front of the insulator body and a substantially central protruding member (indicated generally by arrow 302). The protruding member (302) acts to retain the wire in the grooves (not shown), which define a line or axis (line A-A) which runs substantially perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the insulator (300).

[0198] In this embodiment, the protruding member is a screw (302).

[0199] The screw has a head (304). The head (304) has a flat side (306) that in use is closest to the body of the fencing insulator (300).

[0200] The screw also has an end (308) that in use will be proximate the batten or fence post (not shown). The end may abut the fence to secure the insulator (300) to the batten. In this embodiment, the end (308) is pointed which may allow the end to slightly compress into or penetrate the batten which may secure the insulator (300) more tightly to the batten.

[0201] FIG. 4 shows a view of the length of the fencing element according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention (indicated generally by the arrow 400). The fencing element of this embodiment has an elongated length for use as either a batten or a fence post. The fencing element includes multiple wire supports that each include a screw (302) and a groove (indicated generally by 402) to secure multiple fence wires (not shown).

[0202] FIG. 5 is a top view of a further exemplary embodiment of the fencing element (indicated generally by arrow 500). In this embodiment the fencing insulator is a Y batten with an elongate length. The wire (501) is retained in the grooves (not shown) with the flat side (306) of the head (304) preventing it from falling out.

[0203] FIG. 6 is a view of the top of an exemplary embodiment of the fencing element (indicated generally by arrow 600). In this embodiment the fencing element is two sides of a Y batten with an elongate length. As the fencing element is only two sides of the Y batten this may be save on materials for producing the fencing insulator and therefore reduce costs.

[0204] FIGS. 7 and 8 show further exemplary embodiments of the fencing element which include a single grip (indicated generally by arrow 106) that is fully enclosed.

[0205] FIG. 9 is a side view of the threaded screw which is used as the protruding member in exemplary embodiments of this invention.

[0206] FIG. 10 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the fencing element (indicated generally by arrow 1000). In this embodiment the fencing element includes multiple wire supports that each include a screw (1002) and a groove (1004) which is positioned proximate the bottom of the screw.

[0207] FIG. 11 shows a front view of a further exemplary embodiment of the fencing element (indicated generally by arrow 1100). In this embodiment the fencing element includes multiple wire supports that each include a split bolt (1102). Each split bolt includes two arms (1104A and 1104B) that split from the length of the bolt. The split bolt also includes a nut that helps secure the bolt (1106) against the fencing element.

[0208] FIG. 12 shows a side view of a further exemplary embodiment of the fencing element that includes the split bolt wire support system (indicated generally by arrow 1200). The wire (1202) is threaded between the two arms (1204A and 1204B) and a nut (1206) threaded onto the top of the bolt (1208) to secure the wire (1202) within the arms (1204A and 1204B).

[0209] FIG. 13 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the split bolt (1300). It can more clearly be seen that the shaft (1302) is split into two arms (1304 and 1306) defining a recess (1308) there between. The split bolt can be articulated with a tool (not shown) using the head (1310), positioned midway down the shaft.

[0210] FIG. 14 shows a top view of a fencing element when used as a fencing insulator (1400), together with the split bolt (1300) of FIG. 13. The fencing insulator, moulded as a one-piece component, of this embodiment includes a wire support (indicated generally by arrows 1402, 1404, and 1408). Extending from the front face (1406) of the insulator (1400) is a screw (1408) which with grooves (not visible) on either side (1402 and 1404) of the insulator constrain a fencing wire (1410).

[0211] The split bolt (1300) secures the insulator (1400) to a post (1412) which is inserted into the recess (1308) that is defined by the two arms (1304 and 1306). The post is then secured between the head (1310) and a nut (1414) threaded onto the arms (1304, 1306) of the split bolt (1300).

[0212] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof of the appended claims.