Abstract:
A mounting bracket assembly for a conductive electrified tape used for fence enclosures by attachment to a T-cross sectional steel fence post which includes a non-conductive bracket held by clamps on the post and further includes metal loops which secure the tape in a desired orientation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a mounting bracket assembly for attachment of conductive or electrified tape used for fence enclosures to a T-cross section, steel fence post. 
     Enclosures for livestock or to protect property may comprise an electrified fence arrangement. The use of electrified wire strands or barbed wire as a fencing material is often discouraged inasmuch as the wire fencing material may injure the animals retained within the enclosure. Also, such wire may be difficult to observe visually. Thus, especially with animals such as horses which are susceptible to such injury caused by a wire or fencing that is not readily seen, a practice has developed to use electrified fence tape. Typically, the tape is made from a plastic material which is non-conductive. Small conductive wires are woven through the tape. The tape may have a width of 1 to 5 inches. The small conductive wires being woven throughout the tape along its length are connected to a current source and may provide an electric shock. A typical tape is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,728,080 and 4,905,969 incorporated herewith by reference. 
     Such tapes may be supported on various types of fence posts. It is important, however, to make sure that the posts are not electrically connected to the tape or that the posts are made from an insulating material. Otherwise, the electric current is grounded and the fence becomes totally ineffective. 
     T-cross section steel fence posts are desirable and common in the environment where such conductive fences are likely to be utilized. Such T-shaped cross section fence posts have been used for many decades in combination with wire, including wire fencing and barbed wire. It has also become desirable to use such fence posts for the erection of electric fences utilizing conductive tape fencing material. However, because the steel posts are conductive, proper attachment of the tape and support thereof by a post becomes an important factor in the construction of a fence. It is important, for example, to somehow insulate the conductive tape from the post. Such insulation can occur by coating the post with a non-conductive material, for example. Various other schemes can be utilized. Nonetheless, there has remained a need to provide a method for supporting a conductive tape material on a steel T-cross section fence post efficiently and economically. Such demands inspired the development of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention comprises a mounting bracket assembly for conductive electrified tape used for the construction of a fence enclosure wherein the tape is attached to and supported by a T-cross section fence post. The bracket assembly includes a bracket made from a non-conductive or insulating material. The bracket is attached to the fence post by means of clamp members. The bracket includes spaced outwardly projecting arms and a connecting rod extending between the arms. The connecting rod supports closed loops through which electrified or conductive tape may be passed for support. In this manner, the non-conductive bracket insulates the conductive tape from the steel post thereby enabling speedy erection of an electrified fence even in the event the closed tape support loops are made from a conductive material. 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved bracket assembly for attachment of and support of a conductive tape on a steel T-cross section fence post. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket assembly which is easy to attach to a steel T-cross section fence post, which provides excellent insulating qualities, and which can be easily removed and replaced as necessary. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, yet rugged bracket assembly for attaching conductive tape to a fence post. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the mounting bracket assembly of the invention in combination with a T-cross section fence post and a conductive tape; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the bracket assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bracket assembly of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the bracket assembly of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the figures, and in particular FIG. 1, there is disclosed a typical T-shaped steel fence post  10 . The steel post  10  includes a flange  12  having opposed wings, sides or edges  14  and  16 . A center reinforcing rib  18  extends the length of the post  10 . Typically, such a post  10  also includes projecting support ribs  20  along the vertical length of the post on the flange  12  on the opposite side from the rib  18 . Such steel fence posts are driven from their top downwardly into soil to provide a support for fencing of various types. 
     The fencing material which is utilized with the bracket assembly of the present invention comprises an elastomeric tape  22  which typically includes conductive wires  24  through the length thereof. The tape  22 , and more particularly, the wires  24 , are attached to an electric or current source. The tape  22  when assembled to a fence post  10  then acts as an electrified fencing enclosure. 
     The bracket assembly of the present invention comprises a means for attaching the tape  22  to the fence post  10  and for insulating the tape  22  electrically from the post  10 . The bracket assembly includes a bracket  30  formed from a non-conductive material such as plastic or a ceramic in combination with a first clamp  32  and a second clamp  34 . A rod  36  which may be conductive or non-conductive is supported by the bracket  30  and, in turn, supports a first loop  38  and a second loop  40 . The loops  38  and  40  are in the form of generally rectangular closed loops in combination with the rod  36 . The tape  22  may then be passed through one or both of the loops  38 ,  40  and supported by the bracket assembly while being insulated from the post  10 . 
     The non-conductive bracket  30  includes a vertical support bar  50  with integrally molded support arms including a first support arm  52  and a second support arm  54  projecting laterally therefrom. The arms  52  and  54  are parallel to one another and spaced from one another. The arms  52  and  54  are preferably made from the same materials and are integral with the vertical bar  50 . The rod  36  passes through openings  56  and  58  in the arms  52  and  54 , respectively. Fasteners  60  and  62  retain the rod  36  on the arms  52  and  54 . The loops  38  and  40  are each formed from wire rod, for example, and each include spaced horizontal runs such as runs  70  and  72  of loop  38  with a connecting horizontal run  74 . The runs  70 ,  72  and  74  terminate with circular formed ends  76  and  78  by way of example which surround the rod  36  and permit rotation of the loop  38  about the axis defined by the rod  36  to accommodate differing angles of connection of the tape  22 . Both loops  38  and  40  are movable in the manner described. 
     The bracket  30  is attached to the post  10  by means of the first clamp  32  and second clamp  34 . Each clamp, for example clamp  32 , includes a first clamp arm  80  and a second clamp arm  82  which fit over the flange  12 . A threaded fastener  84  fits through the bar  50  and the clamp  32  to engage against the flange  12  and compress or hold the arms  80  and  82  tightly against the flange  12 . Thus, the threaded fastener  84  associated with first clamp  32  and a threaded fastener  85  associated with the second clamp  34  together tightly attach and hold the bracket  30  on the post  10 . 
     Adjusting the position of the bracket assembly involves releasing the fasteners  84  and  85  so as to position the clamps  32  and  34  in a desired fashion. In this manner, the bracket assembly may be adjusted vertically on the post  10 . Adjustment of the loops  38  and  40  permits appropriate alignment thereof so as to engage the tape  22 . The bracket assembly of the invention is especially useful at corner posts inasmuch as the loops  38  and  40  facilitate movement or turning of a tape through a corner. Note that the tape  22  may be folded over the loops and engage therewith in the manner of a belt buckle type connection. In all circumstances, however, the tape  22  and more particularly, the conductive wires  24  are maintained, spaced from and insulated electrically from the post  10 . 
     Various alternative constructions may be utilized. For example, a single clamp may be used to attach the insulating bracket to a post. The size and position of the loops may be varied. The spacing and constructional configuration of the bar  50  and arms  52  and  54  may be altered. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.