Abstract:
A system for bracing corner posts utilized in stretched tension fences includes two triangular gussetted braces, each fixable to a corner post and a brace post. The braces each include engagement portions which engage ends of a rigid cross member which extends between the two posts thereby preventing racking of the posts. This bracing system does not utilize truss wires or diagonal brace members in areas where an animal is likely to entangle its legs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a fence. More particularly, the invention relates to a bracing system for corner fence posts and end posts for fences under tension. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many examples of fence corner post bracing systems are known in the art. Examples of these bracing systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 170,024; 282,039; 436,279; 444,753; 451,461; 540,161; 615,855; 725,770; 865,858; 966,969; 2,445,545; 3,014,701; 4,349,181; 4,679,772; 4,682,761; 4,893,787; 5,192,055; and 5,738,342, incorporated herein by reference. 
     Corner fence posts on stretched fences are often subjected to substantial constant pull or tension. Corner fence posts utilized in high tensile fences will often be subjected to tension forces of greater than 3,500 pounds or more. If the post is not properly braced, such forces will pull the fence post out of the ground or towards the direction of the tension, causing the tension to be lost and the fence to sag or be racked. 
     A common arrangement for bracing corner fence posts involves utilizing a corner post and a second brace post which are spaced apart. The spaced apart fence post may be braced in a number of ways. In one arrangement, a rigid brace member extends between the two posts, perpendicular to the posts and parallel to the ground, and then a diagonal truss wire is installed to keep the assembly from racking. In another arrangement, a diagonal brace member is incorporated. The diagonal brace member extends diagonally between the top of one of the posts and the bottom of the other post. The diagonal brace member must be a rigid member such as a piece of wood or steel Different combinations of the basic systems are possible. For instance, a corner post arrangement may include three posts, or two posts having two diagonal braces. 
     A problem with many currently used bracing systems, especially diagonal brace systems and diagonal truss wires, is that animals such as horses may entangle their legs between the brace and the fence, causing injury to the animal. Furthermore, bracing systems employing only horizontal cross-members are often not sufficient to resist high pull forces or tensions. What is needed in the art is a bracing system that employs a horizontal brace member located at a sufficient distance above the ground so that the animals&#39; legs will not become entangled with the brace, and yet is also capable of withstanding high pull forces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide a bracing system for corner fence posts. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a bracing system for corner posts utilized in high tensile fences which can withstand high pull forces so that the corner posts remain plumb. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a bracing system which can be utilized with posts driven into the ground, avoiding the need for extensive underground bracing of the fence posts. It is another feature of the present invention to provide a corner fence post bracing system lacking pinch points, truss wires and truss rods so that animals&#39; legs will not become entangled. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a corner post bracing system includes a corner post having a vertical axis, a brace end, and a corner post bolt hole. The bracing system further includes a brace post having a vertical axis, a brace end, and a brace post bolt hole. The brace post is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the corner post. 
     The bracing system further includes a pair of substantially identical gussetted braces, namely, the corner post brace and the brace post brace. Each brace includes a triangular frame. The triangular frame includes a vertical frame member with an upper end and a lower end. The vertical frame member may be either flat and rectangular or cylindrical. The lower end of the vertical frame member has therethrough a lower mounting bolt hole for fixing the brace to the corner post. The upper end of the vertical frame member has therethrough an upper mounting bolt hole for fixing the brace to the brace post. The triangular frame also preferably includes a cylindrical upper frame member extending outwardly and horizontally from the vertical frame member upper end. The upper frame member having an inner end and an outer end. The triangular frame also includes a diagonal frame member extending from the upper frame member outer end to the vertical frame member lower end. Preferably, a triangular gusset plate is fixed within the triangular frame and extends between the vertical frame member, upper frame member, and diagonal frame member, thereby supporting the brace. The braces are preferably fixable to the respective posts by means of separate bolt and nut combinations, the bolts respectively extending through the mounting bolt holes and the post bolt holes and securable by the nuts. Preferably, a brace collar surrounds the upper frame member outer end and a brace extension extending from the upper frame member. 
     The bracing system further preferably includes an elongated cylindrical cross-member extending between the corner post and the brace post. The cross-member has a corner end and a brace end, the corner post brace extension being insertable into the corner end and the brace post brace extension being insertable into the brace end so that the corner end engages the corner post collar and the brace end engages the brace post brace collar, thereby bracing the corner post against the brace post when a force is exerted in the direction of the brace post or away from the corner post. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the vertical frame member includes at least a pair of mounting holes located therethrough such that a U-bolt or similar assembly extends through the mounting holes in order to secure the gussetted brace to the corner post or brace post. 
    
    
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fence post bracing system embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gussetted brace embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative fence post bracing system embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative gussetted brace embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another alternative fence post bracing system embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is still another perspective view of an alternative gussetted brace embodying the present invention. 
    
    
     Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a fence post bracing system  100 . The fence post bracing system  100  comprises a corner post  104  having a vertical axis, a ground end  112  and a brace end  116 . The system  100  further comprises a brace post  120  spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the corner post  104 . The brace post  120  also has a vertical axis, a ground end  128  and a brace end  132 . The corner posts and brace posts described herein may be made of wood, metal or any other suitable material. The corner posts and brace posts described herein may be cylindrical or circular posts, square or rectangular or flat posts, or of any other configuration according to the present invention. The corner post  104  and brace post  120  are fixed in the ground. Preferably, the posts  104  and  120  are driven into the ground by means known in art. However, the posts  104  and  120  may also be inserted into holes dug in the ground and filled with compacted dirt or concrete. Preferably, the posts  104  and  120  extend from about 36″ to 54″ into the ground and are from about 8′ to 12′ apart. Each post  104  and  120  also has therethrough a respective mounting hole or bolt hole  136  and  140 , the purpose of which will be described below. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracing system  100  also includes a pair of gussetted braces, namely, a corner post brace  144  and a brace post brace  146 . The gussetted braces  144  an  146  are substantially similar in detail, so only one will be described. Preferably, the braces are made of a metal, most preferably a steel alloy, but other materials such as an aluminum alloy or other materials known to those skilled in the art may be suitable for use according to the present invention. The brace  144  includes a triangular frame  152  preferably including a rectangular vertical frame member  156 , a cylindrical upper frame member  160 , and a diagonal, preferably circular, frame member  164 . The rectangular vertical frame member  156  includes an upper end  168  and a lower end  172 . The upper end  168  and lower end  172  have therethrough respective mounting bolt holes  180  and  176  SO that the braces  144  and  146  may be fixed to the posts  104  and  120 , respectively. Although not shown, when the fence post bracing system is to be used on uneven ground, shims may be placed between the braces  144  and  146  and posts  104  and  120  as needed so as to enable the braces  144  and  146  to be parallel with the ground while the posts  104  and  120  remain plumb. The cylindrical upper frame member  160  has a substantially horizontal axis and extends outwardly and horizontally from the vertical frame member upper end  168 . The upper frame member  160  has an inner end  188  and an outer end  192 . A cylindrical brace collar (not shown) concentric with the upper frame member axis may surround the outer end  192  and a cylindrical brace extension  196  which extends from the outer end  192 . The purposes of the brace collar and brace extension  196  will be explained below. The diagonal frame member  164  extends from the upper frame member outer end  192  to the vertical frame member lower end  172 . Preferably, the vertical frame member  156 , upper frame member  160  and diagonal frame member  164  are joined by welding. 
     The brace  144  further includes a triangular gusset plate  200 . The gusset plate  200  is fixed within the triangular frame  152  and extends between the vertical frame member  156 , upper frame member  160  and diagonal frame member  164 . The gusset plate  200  provides support to the frame members  156 ,  160  and  164  to prevent the frame from collapsing when put under strain. Preferably, the gusset plate  200  is joined to the frame members  156 ,  160  and  164  by welding. 
     The corner post brace  144  is fixed to the corner post  104  by a fastening device combination or a bolt  204  and a nut  208 . The bolt  204  extends through the lower mounting bolt hole  176  of the brace  144  and through the corner post bolt hole  136  and is secured by the nut  208 . The brace post brace  146  is fixed to the brace post  120  by a fastening device combination or a bolt  212  and a nut  216 . The bolt  212  extends through the upper mounting bolt hole  180  of the brace  146  and through the brace post bolt hole  140  and is secured by the nut  216 . 
     The bracing system  100  also includes a rigid cross member  220 . Preferably, the cross member  220  is a cylindrical member, such as a length of pipe, having therethrough a hole  224 . The cross member  220  has a corner end  228  and a brace end  232 . The corner post brace extension  196  is insertable into the hole  224  at the corner end  228  and the brace post brace extension  196  is insertable into the hole  224  at the brace post end  232  so that the cross member  220  extends between and is substantially normal to the corner post  104  and brace post  120 . When a pull force or tension is applied to the corner post  104  in the direction of the brace post  120 , since the corner post end  228  of the cross member  220  contacts the corner post brace  144  and the brace post end  232  of the cross member  220  contacts the brace post brace  146 , the cross member  220  is firmly held in place. In this manner, the corner post  104  is braced against the brace post  120  or against the applied force or tension. In other words, the gussetted braces  144  and  146  prevent racking of the posts. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a fence post bracing system  300  which is an alternative embodiment of the invention. Except as described below, the fence post bracing system  300  is substantially identical to the fence post bracing system  100 , and common elements have been labelled with the same reference numbers. The fence post bracing system  300  includes a pair of substantially identical gussetted braces  304  and  308 . The corner post gussetted braces  304  and  308  include respective cylindrical vertical frame members  312  having therethrough bores  316  for receiving a corner post  320  or brace post  324 , respectively. The gussetted braces  304  and  308  may be fixed to the posts  320  and  324 , respectively, either by a nut and a bolt combination as shown and as described above, or they may be supported on the posts  320  and  324  by a brace band (not shown) encircling the posts  320  and  324  approximately 3 to 4 feet above the ground, or any equivalent fastening system. Although posts  320  and  324  are shown as cylindrical or circular posts and the frame members  312  are shown as cylindrical frame members so as to be properly received by posts  320  and  324 , the posts  320  and  324  may be configured differently such as, for example, square posts, and the vertical frame members  312  may be configured in an appropriate manner so as to be properly positionable around posts  320  and  324 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a fence post bracing system  400  which is yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. Except as described below, the fence post bracing system  400  is substantially identical to the fence post bracing system  100 , and common elements have been labelled with the same reference numbers. The fence post bracing system  400  includes a pair of substantially identical gussetted braces  404  and  408 . The gussetted braces  404  and  408  include respective rectangular vertical frame members  412  which include upper ends  416  and lower ends  420 . The upper ends  416  and lower ends  420  have therethrough pairs of respective apertures  428  and  424 . Preferably, U-bolts  432  are inserted through apertures  428  and  424  in each frame member  412  and held in place by nuts  436  as shown in order to attach the frame members  412  and, thereby, gussetted braces  404  and  408 , to posts  440  and  444 . The U-bolts may be replaced with other customized bolts in accordance with the shape of the mating posts or with other equivalent fastening devices. A pull force or tension can be applied in either direction with respect to posts  440  and  444 . Although not shown, similar to the embodiment shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, shims may be used to make the braces parallel with the ground and the posts plumb when the fence bracing system is used on uneven ground. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following example and claims. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     The ability of the corner fence post brace system described herein to withstand high pull forces was tested. Fence posts were driven 54″ into the ground and spaced 10′ apart. A chain hooked to a block and tackle was placed approximately 2′ off the ground around the corner post, pressure was applied in the direction of the brace post. The pressure was slowly increased using a 15,000 pound winch. The corner fence post brace system was able to withstand pull forces of approximately 8,000 pounds as measured on a standard strain gauge before the cross member buckled into an “S” shape (becoming shorter) and the posts tilted. 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention in the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings in skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention as such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.