Method and wire tie connection for securing fencing fabric to posts

A method and wire tie connection for joining wire fencing fabric and line posts, in which specially configured wire ties gripping the fencing fabric are twisted by rotating a twister implement to form a tight connection.

This invention concerns fencing and more particularly methods and apparatus 
for securing the chain link wire fabric fencing to line posts. 
In some instances fencing is secured with special hardware items, which are 
expensive and time consuming to install. Wire ties have also been employed 
but heretofore a tight connection has been difficult to achieve, 
particularly where a large member of connections must be made. If the 
connection is loose, it will eventually work free. Also, loose connections 
for security fences create points of vulnerability in a fencing 
installation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a method and wire tie connection for 
securing wire fencing fabric to line posts which very tightly secures the 
fencing fabric to the post and which may be made very quickly and 
reliably, and without the use of costly hardware or installation 
equipment. 
A specially shaped wire tie is employed in making the connection, having a 
generally U-shaped tie having an end section connecting two slightly 
angled legs spaced apart sufficiently to straddle a line post and two 
strands of the fencing fabric. Well defined corners are formed at the 
intersection of the end section having a radius lying within a narrow 
range. The inside of the corners capture respective strands of the wire 
fencing fabric, and act to draw the fencing fabric and the wire tie legs 
tightly against the line post as the legs are twisted together. 
The legs are twisted by a rotary tool driven by a portable drill, the tool 
including a disc having diametrically opposite pairs of holes machined 
therein, inclined circumferentially to create leading and trailing biting 
edges to avoid slipping of the wire tie legs and insure a powerful 
twisting action as the tool is rotated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be 
employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in 
accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood 
that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so 
construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and 
variations within the scope of the appended claims. 
Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1 which shows a specially 
shaped wire tie 10 according to the present invention. The wire tie 10 is 
constructed of relatively heavy round metal wire, i.e., 6 gauge diameter 
aluminum, for example, and includes a pair of spaced apart legs 12 
connected at one end by an intermediate section 14. The transition between 
the intermediate section 14 and each leg 12 comprises a discontinuity, 
i.e., well defined corners 16 are provided rather than a continuously 
blended shape. Well defined corners have been found to grip the strands of 
the fabric fencing and establish a powerful drawing action acting on the 
fence as the connection is made, pulling the fabric tightly to the post. 
The corners 16 are shaped with an inside radius on the order of one half 
inch, i.e., within the approximate range from three eighths to five 
eighths of an inch. This radius allows each leg 12 to be lengthened 
slightly by shortening of the intermediate sections 14 as the legs 12 are 
twisted tight, as described below, while still gripping the fencing 
strands as described. 
The intermediate section 14 should be straight for most posts, as shown in 
FIG. 1A, or slightly curved concavely or convexly as shown in FIGS. 1B and 
1C respectively to fit smaller or oversized line posts respectively. 
The intermediate section 14 is sized to be slightly greater than the width 
of the line post 18 as shown in FIG. 2. The wire tie 10 is initially 
placed over a pair of strands 20 of the fence fabric so that the legs 12 
straddle both the strands 20 and the line post 18. 
Each of the legs 12 are formed with a slight bend 22 at a point projecting 
slightly beyond the post 18. 
This bend 22 serves the purpose of allowing easier insertion of the ends 24 
of the legs 12 into a twisting implement 26, when the legs 12 are squeezed 
together as shown in FIG. 3. 
The bends 22 also control the point of twist as the twisting implement is 
rotated as shown in FIG. 4. 
As the twisting of legs 12 is continued, the resistance of the corners 16 
draws the intermediate section 14, and the strands 20 to the post 18, and 
creates tight contact at points A, B and C on the opposite side of the 
post 18. Thus, a very tight connection is achieved. 
Thereafter, continuing twisting causes the legs to twist off, leaving 
several twists as seen in FIG. 6. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 show the details of the twisting implement 26, designed to be 
driven by a portable drill. 
The implement 26 includes a stem portion 28 having a disc portion 30 
affixed at one end. 
The other end of the stem portion 28 is preferably formed with several 
flats 32 to enhance the grip with the chuck of the portable drill. 
The disc portion 30 is formed with two pairs of opposite through holes 34, 
spaced outward on a common radius. The holes 34 are inclined at an angle 
in the circumferential direction, towards the direction of rotation as 
indicated in FIG. 8. 
This produces a biting or gripping edge on both the leading and the 
trailing sides of the holes 34, so that the legs 12 do not simply slip out 
of the holes 34 instead of being firmly twisted as desired. The twisting 
implement 26 should be made from a hard, wear resistant steel alloy so 
that the edge of the holes 34 does not get excessively and too quickly 
worn as the implement is used on the job. 
FIGS. 9 and 10 show the making of a connection of a section of chain link 
wire fencing fabric 36 to a line post 18. 
A portable drill 38 has the twister implement 26 installed in its chuck 40. 
The wire tie 10 is slipped over the line post 18 and a pair of strands 20 
of the fencing fabric 36. The legs 12 are grasped and squeezed together so 
that the legs 12 may be inserted in a pair of the holes 34 in the twister 
implement 26. 
The portable drill 38 preferably has a relatively gradual start, operating 
at 350 r.p.m. for best performance. 
The rotation of the implement 26 thus causes twisting until a tight 
connection is made, and thereafter the end is twisted off to release the 
twisting implement 26. The twisted off ends may then be easily removed. 
A tight connection between the fencing fabric and line post may thus be 
rapidly and efficiently made, facilitating installation of the fence. The 
wire tie is simple and may be fabricated at very low cost. 
An alternate configuration of the wire tie may be employed where twisting 
off of the ends is not necessary, i.e., the projecting tails of the 
twisted ends may be left in place. 
The alternate configuration is shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, 11A for small 
diameter posts, 11B for larger diameters. The wire tie 10A includes spaced 
apart legs 12A which have corner bends 16A connecting an intermediate 
section 14A. A pair of bends are included in each leg 12A, bend 22A as in 
the above embodiment but slightly further out, and also an additional bend 
42 which causes the ends of the legs 12 to be positioned closely adjacent 
each other. 
The wire tie 10C is similar but each leg 12C includes a gradually curving 
section 44 transitioning to bend 22C. 
Thus, when assembled to a post 18, the ends 46A or 46C are positioned 
closely adjacent each other, and of much shorter length than in the 
above-described embodiment. 
The ends 46A are inserted completely into respective blind holes in a 
twister tool 48, so as to set the depth of ends projecting into the tool 
48. Rotation of the tool 48 by a torque limit controlled driver 50 causes 
twisting together of the ends 46 (FIG. 14). The proper torque limit can be 
determined empirically for each wire gauge, twist size, etc. 
In this embodiment, after the twist is completed, the torque limit prevents 
further twisting, and the tips 52 of the twisted ends project as shown in 
FIG. 15. The wire tie 10A (or 10C) is tightly drawn to the post 18 as in 
the above embodiment. 
The twister tool 48 includes a die disc 54 having two diametrically 
opposite pairs of circumferentially inclined holes 56, more closely spaced 
than in the tool used with the first described wire tie embodiment. The 
inclined holes 56 create biting edges on the leading and trailing sides 
thereof as the tool 48 is rotated to firmly grip the inserted ends 46. 
The die disc 54 is held in holder-driver 58 having a recess 60 receiving 
the die disc 54. The die disc has a counter bore 62 into which the holes 
62 enter. The ends 46 are advanced against the bottom 64 of recess 60 such 
that the length to be inserted is conveniently gaged. 
The tool holder driver 58 is rotated by means of a square drive hole 66 
receiving a suitable driver bit. 
This embodiment is usable where the presence of the ends 52 is acceptable.