Abstract:
The invention is a component assembly for fabricating corner and stretch fence posts for fencing, including vertical posts and bolt-on horizontal components having end channel pieces to secure the horizontal components to the vertical posts using threaded studs and lock nuts.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/229,742 filed on Sep. 5, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention is a component assembly for fabricating corner and stretch fence posts for fencing, including vertical posts, and bolt-on horizontal components having end channel pieces to secure the horizontal components to the vertical posts using threaded studs and lock nuts. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     The following United States patents are identified, disclosed and incorporated herein. Several devices are disclosed relating to fencing assemblies. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,496,016 and 4,101,226 to Parisien, a bolt together fencing system is disclosed having a formed bracket engaging right angle sets of slots is disclosed, the nuts and bolts forcing the brackets tightly within the channels. A welded leg attaching a corner post is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,787 to Watson. A corner post assembly featuring auger post bracing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,235 to Kilmer. Flat-sided galvanized steel posts and channel parts for flat fencing panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,408 to Parker which employs multiple nuts and bolts and brackets for attaching the multiple components. The Van Winkle patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,342, discloses interlocking posts and braces for forming corner posts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the current invention is to provide a fence post assembly for corner or stretch posts which is provided in a longitudinal and easily transferable bundle having vertical posts with pre-welded threaded studs and horizontal members having pre-welded channel plates on each end of the horizontal members attaching to the threaded studs of the vertical components for quick and secure assembly of the vertical posts and horizontal members into corner or stretch posts by a single user with minimal tools or technical skill. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following drawings are informal drawings submitted with this provisional patent application. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the vertical posts. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the horizontal members. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the channel brace. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention  10  is a component assembly device for the erection of a fence corner post and stretch post comprising a first vertical post  20 , one or more second vertical posts  40 , and two or more horizontal members  60  having channel segments  70 , the horizontal members  60  attaching to the first vertical post  20  and second vertical posts  40  by lock nuts  80 . 
     The first vertical post  20  is a rigid cylindrical pipe having an upper end  22  and a lower end  24 . Between the lower end  24  and the upper end  22 , at least two first sets of a pair of threaded studs  26  in vertical alignment are affixed to the first vertical post  20 . At least two second sets of a pair of threaded studs  28  in vertical alignment are also affixed to the first vertical post  20  ninety degrees around the first vertical post  20  from the first sets of pairs of threaded studs  26 . 
     The second vertical post  40  is a rigid cylindrical pipe having an upper end  42  and a lower end  44 . Between the lower end  44  and the upper end  42 , at least two sets of a pair of threaded studs  46  in vertical alignment are affixed to the second vertical post  40 . For function as a corner post, a combination of one first vertical post  20  and two second vertical posts  40  are utilized, and for a stretch post, two second vertical posts  40  are utilized. 
     The horizontal members  60  includes a rigid cylindrical pipe  62  having a first end  64  and a second end  66 . To each first end  64  and second end  66  of the rigid cylindrical pipe  62 , a channel segment  70  is attached at a point of attachment  72 , such channel segment  70  having a front smooth surface  74  and a rear channel surface  76 , the point of attachment  72  being found on the smooth front surface  74 . A pair of vertically aligned holes  78  traverse from the front smooth surface  74  to the rear channel surface  76 . This pair of vertically aligned holes  78  are spaced apart an equal distance as every pair of threaded studs  26 ,  28 ,  46  on the first vertical post  20  and second vertical posts  40 . It is preferred that the placement of the pairs of vertically aligned holes  78  in the channel segment  70  are oriented to place one hole above the point of attachment  72  and one hole below the point of attachment  72 . 
     In a corner post embodiment, the horizontal members  60  are attached to the first vertical post  20  by engaging the pair of vertically aligned holes  78  with the two first sets of the pair of vertically aligned threaded studs  26 , attaching the rear channel surface  76  of the channel segment  70  on the first end  64  of the horizontal member  60  to the first vertical post  20  using lock nuts  80  engaging each threaded stud  26 . One second vertical post  40  is then attached to the second end  66  of the horizontal members  60  already attached to the first vertical post  20 , aligning the two pair of vertical threaded studs  46  on the second vertical post  40  with the vertically aligned holes  78  in the channel segment  70  on the second end  66  of the horizontal member  60 , tightening the rear channel surface  76  of the channel segment  70  against the second vertical post  40  using more lock nuts  80 . More horizontal members  60  are then attached to the two second sets of the pair of threaded studs  28  located ninety degrees around the first vertical post  20  in the same manner as the previous attachment of the horizontal members  60 , and an additional second vertical post  40  is attached to the additional horizontal members  60  with the corner post assembly forming a right angle. The lower end  24  of the first vertical post  20  and the lower ends  44  of the second vertical posts  40  are then securely anchored to the ground. Once securely anchored, fencing wire  100  may be stretched from the invention  10 . 
     In a stretch post embodiment, two horizontal members  60  are attached between two second vertical posts  40 , again attaching the rear channel surface  76  of the channel segment  70  of the horizontal members  60  against each second vertical post  40  using lock nuts  80 . The lower end  44  of each second vertical post  40  is then securely anchored in the ground. When using this invention  10  in the stretch post embodiment, proper wire stretching procedure is recommended so that when the fencing wire  100  is stretched on the stretch post embodiment, the lower end  44  of each second vertical post  40  is not lifted from the ground, tipping the corner post embodiment towards the direction the wire is being stretched. 
     Although the embodiments of the invention have been described and shown above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as herein described.