Abstract:
A tensioning device attachable to a fence post to tension or adjust fencing material such as barbed wire spanning between fence posts. The tensioning device includes guides to support the fencing material, a curved member to grasp the fencing material between the guides, a base member, and a tensioning member that cooperates with the curved member to pull the fencing material into a channel formed between the guides. One use of the tensioning device is to tension fencing material that has become slack or has sagged after installation. The tensioning device can be installed on a fence post and operated with conventional tools. In one embodiment, the tensioning device includes a rear channel to allow the device to be slid and positioned over the studs of a conventional “tee” fence post. In another embodiment, the tensioning device includes a flat back surface to accommodate other types of fence posts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Fences, stretching sometimes miles and miles, are often constructed around ranch or farm properties or along roadsides. The fencing material, such as barbed or non-barbed wire, spans from one fence post to another. The fencing wire is subjected to the environment (e.g., wind, ice, snow, heat, etc.), to lateral forces provided by persons or animals, and/or to structural creep and strain. Any or all of these conditions tend to create slack or sag in the fencing material. One type of system currently available for tightening or tensioning the fence material includes a metal disk, plate, or rod device coupled to the fencing material approximately mid-span. A special tool, sometimes referred to as a crank tool, couples to the metal disk, plate, clip, or rod device. The tool turned or cranked causing the fencing material to wrap around the device and thus tighten the fence. One type of fence tightening system is a wire tightening clip and crank tool provided by JAKE&#39;S WIRE TIGHENTERS™. In these types of systems, the device, but not the tool, is typically left coupled to the fencing material and operates as a concentrated load on the fencing material. Over time, this load added to the span-weight of the fencing material causes additional or further sagging of the fence. 
         [0002]    Other systems include a pair of clamps or jaws connected by a chain. This system is attached to the fencing material somewhere between the fence posts. One jaw attaches to a first portion of the fencing material and a second jaw attaches to a second portion of the fencing material. A special ratcheting tool is connected to one of the jaws and is used to ratchet the chain, thus pulling the first portion toward the second portion and tightening the fence material. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A device for tensioning or tightening fence material, such as a barbed wire, on a fence section includes a fence attachment body, a fence material grasping member, and a tensioning element. In one embodiment, the fence attachment body is strapped to the fence post and includes a rear channel that allows the fence attachment body to sit on the flat surface of a conventional “tee” fence post (i.e., t-post) over top of the studs on the t-post. Additionally or alternatively, the fence attachment body is attachable to a surface of a wood, plastic, composite, or other type of fence post by mechanical techniques, for example being nailed, screwed, wire tied, strapped, etc. to the fence post. The fence material grasping member hooks over the fencing material. A tensioning element, coupled to the fence material grasping member, is rotated to urge the fence material down into a channel formed in the fence attachment body. 
         [0004]    In one aspect of the invention, a device attachable to a fence post to tension fencing material spanning between fence posts, the device includes guide members spaced apart from one another to form a channel therebetween, the guide members having upper guide surfaces and fence attachment openings, the guide surfaces configured to support portions of the fencing material, the fence attachment openings sized to receive a fastening device for coupling the guide members to the fence post; a base member positioned below the guide members, the base member having an opening extending therethrough; and a fence material grasping member having an elongated body with a curved portion, at least a portion of the elongated body positioned in the channel between the guide members, the curved portion configured to engage a portion of the fence material that spans between the guide members, wherein the elongated body is moveable through the opening in the base member to pull the portion of the fence material that spans between the guide members toward the base member using the curved portion and thus tighten a larger span of the fencing material. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the invention, a method of tensioning fencing material that spans between fence posts, the method includes attaching a tensioning device to a fence post, the tensioning device comprising guide members and a base member, the guide members spaced apart from one another to form a channel, the guide members having guide surfaces over which a first portion of the fencing material is supported, the base member positioned below and in structural cooperation with the guide members; engaging a curved portion of a fence material grasping member with a portion of the fencing material that spans between the guide members; and moving an elongated portion of the fence material grasping member through an opening in the base member to urge the portion of the fencing material that spans between the guide member toward the base member. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings. Various embodiments are briefly described with reference to the following drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a portion of a fence having a tensioning device to grasp and tension an amount of fencing material, according to one illustrated embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the tensioning device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a portion of a fence having a tensioning device that includes a fence material grasping member cooperating with a base member, according to another illustrated embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a tensioning device having a fence attachment body that cooperates with a threaded, curved member to adjust or tension an amount of fencing material, according to yet another illustrated embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front, plan view of the fence attachment body of the tensioning device of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the fence attachment body of  FIG. 4  taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures and methods associated with fencing and/or installing a fence may not be shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments of the invention. 
         [0014]    Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising,” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense meaning “including, but not limited to.” 
         [0015]    The following description generally relates to a tensioning device mounted to a fence post that is used to tension or adjust an amount of fencing material such as wire (barbed or non-barbed), cord, cable, tape, string, rope, line, chain, or any other similar material that may used to span between fence posts to create a fence section. By way of example and in accordance with one embodiment, the tensioning device is used to tension a barbed-wire fence section on a ranch during and/or after installation of the fence section. After installation for example, tensioning of the fencing material may become necessary for a variety of reasons. The fencing material may become slack or and/or sag due to the weight of the span length of the fencing material, or the fencing material may become strained and/or elongated due to wind, snow, or other environmental forces, and/or the fencing material may become stretched because of physical contact by a person or animal. The tensioning device can be temporarily or permanently attached to one of the fence posts and operated with a conventional tool such as a hand-held wrench or ratchet. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a portion of a fence  100  comprising a tensioning device  102  mounted to a fence post  104  with fence post fastening means  105 . The tensioning device  102  engages a portion of fencing material  106 , according to one illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the fence post  104  comprises a standard wooden fence post  104  with a front surface  108  and a back surface  110 . In another embodiment, the fence post  104  is a metal, studded fence post commonly referred to as a “t-post,” which is further described with respect to  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the fence post  104  may be another type or style of fence post, for example having a different cross-sectional shape such as round, oval, square, or I-beam. Thus, the back surface  110  of the tensioning device  102  may be contoured, notched, recessed, or otherwise configured to be coupled to fence post  104  and even possibly be moved along the front surface  108  of the fence post  104 . The fence post  104  may be made of wood, plastic, composite, and/or some other material. 
         [0017]    The fencing material  106  extends from one fence post  104  to the next (not shown). In one embodiment, the fencing material  106  comprises wrapped metal strands  112  with barbs  114  spaced apart and located on the strands  112  (i.e., barbed wire). The fencing material  106  is not limited to barbed wire, but may be any type of material capable of spanning a distance between two or more fence posts  104  while functioning as a fence. By way of example, some functions of the fence may be to enclose small farm animals; maintain horses in a horse pasture; provide a roadside blockade to keep deer, elk, or other wild animals off of the road; etc. In other embodiments, the fencing material  106  may be wound, metal strands or cabling, with or without a sheath or coating, electrified fencing wire, rope, tape, and/or some other type of tension-able material  104 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows the tensioning device  102  having guide members  116 , a base member  118 , a fence material grasping member  120 , a tensioning member  122 , and an optional backing member  124 , according to one illustrated embodiment. The guide members  116  include guide surfaces  126  to receive and support the fencing material  106 . The guide members  116  are spaced apart to form a channel  128 . Each guide member  116  includes at least one opening  130  to allow the guide member  116  to be coupled to the fence post  104 . 
         [0019]    The guide members  116  include retaining flanges  132  that cooperate with the fence material grasping member  120  during tensioning of the fencing material  106  to maintain and/or constrain the fencing material  106  between the retaining flanges  132  and the fence material grasping member  120 . In one embodiment, which may occur before the fence material grasping member  120  has engaged the fence material  106 , a front surface  134  of the backing member  124  cooperates with the retaining flanges  132  to maintain the fencing material  106  on the guide surfaces  126  of the guide members  116 . 
         [0020]    The guide surfaces  126  support portions of the fencing material  106 . In one embodiment, the guide surfaces  126  are configured with a hard surface to permit the barbs  114  of a barbed-wire fencing material  106  to pass over the guide surfaces  126  with minimal resistance and/or gouging. 
         [0021]    The base member  118  includes an upper surface  138  and an opening  140 . In one embodiment, the upper surface  138  of the base member  118  is in contact with the guide members  116  to react the force produced by torquing the tensioning member  122  onto the fence material grasping member  120 . The base member  118  can be seated against, bonded to, integrally formed with, or otherwise mechanically connected to the guide members. The size, shape, thickness and/or other dimensions of the base member  118  may vary depending on the style of fence post  104  and/or the configuration of the guide members  116 . The opening  140  extends through the base member  118  and is sized to allow at least a portion of the fence material grasping member  120  to pass through base member  118  with a clearance fit, according to one embodiment. 
         [0022]    The fence material grasping member  120  includes a first end region  142  and a second end region  144  separated by an intermediate region  146 , according to one illustrated embodiment. In one embodiment, the fence material grasping member  120  is a hook-shaped member where the first end region  142  is sufficiently curved to form a hook  148 . In addition, the second end region  144  includes a number of machine screw threads to engage the tensioning member  122 , which is illustrated as a nut in the present embodiment. 
         [0023]    The optional backing member  124  is a plate located between the fence post  104  and the guide members  116 . The backing member  124  may operate as an electrically insulated plate when electrified fencing material  106  is used, a bearing plate when the fence post  104  of made of a relatively soft material such as wood, and/or as a structural reinforcement for the fence post  104 . In one example, the backing member  124  is used when mounting the tensioning device  102  to a wooden fence post  104 . In a preferred embodiment, however, the backing member  124 , which may comprise rear flanges extending from the guide members  116  (not shown), is not needed to maintain the fencing material  106  on the guide surfaces  126 . Instead, the hook  148  of the fence material grasping member  120  pulls the fencing material  106  at an angle toward the retaining flanges  132 , which allows the fencing material  106  to be retained between the fence material grasping member  120  and the retaining flanges  132 , such as during slack or sag conditions. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a portion of a fence  200  comprising a tensioning device  202  mounted to a fence post  204 , according to one illustrated embodiment. The tensioning device  202  is engaged with a portion of fencing material  206 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fence post  204  is a t-post, which is the type of post commonly used for ranch, farm, and roadside fencing. The fence post  204  includes a front surface  208 , a back surface  210 , protrusions, knobs, or studs  212 , and an outstanding flange  214 . The dimensions of the t-post  204  and spacing of the studs  212  may vary depending on the requirements of the fence. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the tensioning device  202  is attached to the fence post  204  with ties, straps, and/or wraps  207 , which may be made from metal, fabric, composite, plastic, or some other type of material. In another embodiment, the tensioning device  202  is attached to the fence post  204  with screws, bolts, rivets, tape, adhesive or bonding agent, and/or some other mechanical fastening means. Various mechanical techniques and/or methods may be used to attach the tensioning device  202  to the fence post  204  depending on factors such as the type of fence post, the type and/or amount of fencing material to be tensioned, etc. 
         [0026]    As further shown in  FIG. 3 , guide blocks  220  are integrally formed with a base member  222  and a backing member  224 . A grasping member  226  includes hook region  228  and an engagement region  230  includes a plurality of expansion/contraction elements  232  arranged to allow the engagement region  230  to be urged (e.g., pushed or pulled) through an opening  234  in the base member  222 . The expansion/contraction elements  232  are configured to be in a contracted state when moved in a first direction  236  and placed in contact with the walls of the base member  222  forming the opening  234 . Otherwise, the elements  232  are in an expanded state which substantially prevents the grasping member  226  from being moved opposite to the first direction  236 . In one embodiment, the grasping member  226  operates as a push-in rivet device. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 4-6  show a tensioning device  300  having a fence attachment body  302 , a grasping device  304 , and a tensioning element  306 , according to one illustrated embodiment. For purposes of clarity, an amount of fencing material  308  is shown as being supported by the fence attachment body  302  even though a fence post is not shown. 
         [0028]    The fence attachment body  302  includes guide surfaces  310 , retaining flanges  312 , a base portion  314 , a front channel  316 , a structural web  318 , and fence attachment openings  320 . The base portion  314  includes an opening  322  that is substantially aligned with the channel  316 . 
         [0029]    As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the structural web  318  of the tensioning device  300  includes a rear channel  324  and an optional opening  326 . The rear channel  324  is sized to permit the fence attachment body  302  to be placed in sliding contact with a t-post type of fence post, which in turn permits the attachment body  302  to be slid or moved up and down the t-post without interference from the t-post studs. In one embodiment, the optional opening  326  permits the fence attachment body  302  to be positioned or oriented with respect to a desired stud on the t-post, for example the third stud from the top of the t-post. 
         [0030]    The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above U.S. patents, patent applications and publications referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects can be modified, if necessary, to employ devices, features, and concepts of the various patents, applications, and publications to provide yet further embodiments. 
         [0031]    These and other changes can be made in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all types of fencing materials and other similar components, to include but not limited to all types of fence posts and fencing material that span between fence posts, and that operate in accordance with the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined entirely by the following claims.