Fence batten having penetrated angular slots for wire retention

A fence batten is formed from an elongated post having an outer surface surrounding a longitudinal axis. An angled slot is formed through the outer surface of the post. The angled slot defines an upper slot surface and a lower slot surface. The upper slot surface lies in a plane defining an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. A first hole penetrates the outer surface and the upper slot surface, and a second hole concentrically aligned with the first hole penetrates the lower slot surface, so that barbed wire may be pulled into the angled slot and anchored therein by a pin passing through the first and second holes. A system for forming the aforesaid fence batten is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to wire fences, and more specifically to a fence post or batten having specialized structure for retaining wire.

Description of Related Art

Wire fences, such as barbed wire fences, date back to 1867, to U.S. Pat. No. 66,182 granted to Lucien B. Smith, and notably, to an improvement in the barb design described in U.S. Pat. No. 157,124 granted to Joseph Glidden in 1874. Since that time, many improvements have been made in structural designs and in manufacturing methods for fence posts and for various styles of wire that are stretched between the posts to form a fence.

One style of wire fence that is commonly used to define range limits for open range livestock is known as the “multi-wire, multi-batten” or “post and batten” fence. This type of fence typically consists of a series of posts horizontally spaced about 12 to 15 feet apart, three to five battens equally spaced between each adjacent pair of posts, and about five to ten wire strands each vertically spaced apart and strung transversely across the posts and battens. The posts are sunk into the ground to provide anchoring points along the length of the fence. The battens (also known as “staves” or “dancers” or “droppers”) rest on the ground, and provide wire attachment points to maintain desired spacing between the wires and preserve the overall integrity of the fence. The posts and battens are formed from wood, metal, or plastic. Wooden posts and battens are most commonly used to fence vast, rural or remote areas such as those bordering open range or national forests. Because battens are not designed to be driven below ground, they are particularly useful in terrain that is rocky or marshy or riddled with tree roots or other subterranean obstructions.

When constructing a post and batten fence, one of the most time-consuming tasks involves attaching each wire to each and every post and batten that the wire intersects. Methods and hardware for accomplishing this task range from simple to complex. Toward the simpler end of the spectrum, a staple may be driven into a wooden post or batten to secure the wire at each intersection. More complex solutions involve fastening the wire around notches or catches specially formed in the post or batten, or forming specialized hardware such as hooks or brackets that lock the wire to the post or batten.

While these solutions may be structurally effective, there remains a need to further simplify the wire attachment process, particularly when constructing fences that run for many miles into remote areas, to allow the job to be completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an elegant design for a fence batten characterized by a post having penetrated angular slots for wire retention that allow for faster and more efficient construction of wire fences. In one embodiment of the invention, a fence batten is formed from an elongated post having an outer surface surrounding a longitudinal axis. One or more angled slots are formed along the length of the post through the outer surface of the post. Each angled slot defines an upper slot surface and a lower slot surface. For each angled slot, the upper slot surface lies in a plane defining an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. At each angled slot, a first hole penetrates the outer surface and the upper slot surface, and a second hole concentrically aligned with the first hole penetrates the lower slot surface, so that wire such as barbed wire may be pulled into the angled slot and anchored therein by a pin passing through the first and second holes.

In an embodiment of a related invention, a system for forming the aforesaid fence batten is also disclosed. The system includes a plurality of saw blades maintained in a spaced-apart relationship, wherein each of the saw blades is coupled to a common means for linear translation of the saw blades. Each saw blade is tilted at a same angle with respect to horizontal. The system is thus configured so that the saw blades, when translated by the common means into the post lying horizontally in a linear path of the saw blades and approximately equidistant from each of the saw blades, will cut a plurality of angled slots through an outer surface of the post. The angled slots cut in this manner are spaced apart according to the spaced-apart relationship of the saw blades. Each angled slot cut in this manner defines an upper slot surface and a lower slot surface, wherein for each angled slot the upper slot surface lies in a plane defining the same angle with respect to a horizontal axis of the post.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following disclosure presents exemplary embodiments for a fence batten according to the invention. Generally, the invention is characterized by its formation as an elongated post having spaced apart, penetrated angular slots for wire retention that allow for faster and more efficient construction of wire fences. While the following disclosure presents an exemplary embodiment of the invention in the form of a fence batten that is designed to rest on the ground, the principles of the invention apply equally to a post designed to be sunk into ground, or otherwise secured to the ground or to another base or structure.

FIG. 1shows a frontal view of one embodiment of a fence batten10formed according to the invention. The image is a grayscale photograph of a prototype manufactured by the present inventor. The fence batten10may be formed from an elongated post, made from any suitable rigid material such as wood, metal, or certain plastics. The fence batten10shown here is generally cylindrical, and formed from a section of softwood round timber, having a length between about four feet and about six feet, and a diameter between about 2.25 in. and about 2.75 in. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the diameter or cross-sectional area of the fence batten10may be between about 4 square inches and about 6 square inches. Longer or shorter lengths for the batten, and greater or lesser diameters or widths are also possible within the scope of the invention. Geometric configurations other that cylindrical are also possible, as battens and posts according to the invention may be made to have circular, triangular, oval, or other cross-sectional shapes.

Fence batten10may be further characterized as defining an imaginary longitudinal axis12that runs vertically through the center of the post, as shown inFIG. 1. An outer surface14surrounds the volume of the fence batten10about its perimeter, and therefore also surrounds the longitudinal axis12. One or more angled slots16, for accommodating fence wire, such as barbed wire under tension, are formed through the outer surface14at intervals along the length of the fence batten10.

FIG. 2shows a magnified frontal view of an angled slot16formed in fence batten10. The angled slot16defines an upper slot surface18and a lower slot surface20(see alsoFIG. 5). The upper slot surface18lies substantially within a plane22that defines an acute angle A with respect to longitudinal axis12. The lower slot surface20also lies substantially within a plane24and defines a similar angle A with respect to the longitudinal axis12. A first hole26penetrates the outer surface14and the upper slot surface18.

FIG. 3shows another magnified frontal view of fence batten10, to illustrate the concept of adjacent angled slots16. Each angled slot16defines an upper slot surface18and a lower slot surface20. In one embodiment, the distance between any two adjacent angled slots16is approximately 10 inches.

FIG. 4shows a close-up side view of an angled slot16formed in the fence batten10. This view illustrates the acute angle defined by the lower slot surface20with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fence batten10.

FIGS. 5 and 6present a preferred configuration for penetrating an angular slot16of a fence batten30according to another embodiment of the invention.FIG. 5shows a side view of the fence batten30andFIG. 6shows a frontal view thereof. These figures illustrate how the angular slot16may be penetrated by one or more holes—a first hole26or a second hole28, or both. According to the invention, penetration of an angular slot16by a first hole26or by a second hole28means that the hole26or28is formed through a surface defined by the angular slot16. For example, first hole26penetrates the angular slot16because first hole26is formed through the upper slot surface18and thereby provides a passage into the void defined by the angular slot. Similarly, second hole28penetrates the angular slot16because second hole28is formed through the lower slot surface20, thereby providing a passage into the same void. First hole26may also penetrate the outer surface14, as shown. In one embodiment, one or both of holes26,28are formed along an axis that is oriented substantially normal to the upper slot surface18or to the lower slot surface20. In other embodiments, an axis of one or both of the holes26,28may form an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to one or both of the upper and lower slot surfaces18,20. In another embodiment, the first hole26and the second hole28are substantially concentrically aligned along an axis of penetration that is substantially normal to the upper slot surface18or to the lower slot surface20, as shown. In another embodiment, first hole26is the only hole provided for penetrating a particular angled slot16. In another embodiment, second hole28is the only hole provided for penetrating a particular angled slot16.

According to the invention, an angular slot16may also be configured with an inner surface32that extends between the upper slot surface18and the lower slot surface20. The inner surface32forms an inner wall at the interior-most extent of the slot. In one embodiment, the inner surface32is located so that at least one point on the inner surface32intersects the longitudinal axis12. For example, the fence batten30may be configured so that a point coincident with the geometric center of inner surface32also lies on the longitudinal axis12. The inner surface32may be planar or curved or jagged, and may extend substantially perpendicularly from the upper slot surface18to the lower slot surface20, or define an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to surface18or20.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method and system for manufacturing a fence batten having any of the various configurations described above. One such system for manufacturing a fence batten from a post includes a plurality of saw blades maintained in a spaced-apart relationship. The saw blades may be powered by conventional sawing apparatus known in the art but integrated within the present system. In one embodiment each of the saw blades is coupled to a common means for linear translation of the saw blades, while each saw blade is tilted at a same angle with respect to horizontal. The tilt angle of the saw blades corresponds to the desired angle to be defined, by an angled slot16, with respect to a longitudinal axis12of the finished fence batten. The system may be further configured so that the saw blades, when translated by the common means into the post lying in a linear path of the saw blades and approximately equidistant from each of the saw blades, will cut a plurality of angled slots16through an outer surface14of the post, so that the angled slots so formed will be spaced apart according to the spaced-apart relationship of the saw blades. After the cut, each angled slot16will define an upper slot surface18and a lower slot surface20, wherein for each angled slot16the upper slot surface18lies in a plane defining the same angle with respect to a longitudinal axis12of the post.

A system according to the invention may further comprise a means for drilling a hole through the outer surface14of the post to at least one upper slot surface, so that the hole will be concentrically aligned along an axis of penetration that is substantially normal to the at least one upper slot surface. The drilling means may comprise conventional drilling apparatus known in the art but integrated within the present system. In one embodiment, the drilling means may comprise a drill bit configured for being repositioned to drill the hole to an upper slot surface of any one of the angled slots. In another embodiment, the drilling means may comprise a plurality of drill bits, each configured to drill a hole through the outer surface of the post to an upper slot surface of one of the angled slots.

In operation, when building a wire fence such as a post and batten fence, posts or fence battens manufactured according to the principles of the present invention may be used advantageously as follows: After the post or batten is secured to or placed at its desired location along the fence line, with one or more strands of fence wire (such as barbed wire) made available for attachment to the post or batten, a worker may grasp a single strand of the wire and pull or push the wire into a desired angled slot16, to the rear of the slot so that the wire rests between the inner surface32and the opening of hole26or28. With the wire maintained at that position, the worker may then insert a pin (or dowel, nail, length of surplus wire, or the like) through the first hole16and into the second hole28. The wire is thereby attached.

The pin should be selected so that its length exceeds the height of the angled slot16, i.e., the distance from the lower slot surface20to the upper slot surface18. In an embodiment of the invention in which, with the post or batten standing erect in an installed position, the upper slot surface18slants upward from the outer surface14to the inner surface32, the pin inserted through the first and second holes26,28will remain in place under force of gravity and prevent the fence wire from sliding out of the angled slot16, thus retaining the wire within the slot. While it is preferred to configure the post or batten with first and second holes26and28, the same retention effect may be achieved with only a single penetrating hole. For example, where only the first hole26is formed, a pin or nail may be pushed through the hole with sufficient force to imbed the end of the pin in the lower slot surface. Where only the second hole28is formed, the hole may be located within the slot16and nearer to the outer surface14so that a pin or nail may be inserted through the opening of slot16and into the hole, to guard against the fence wire sliding out.

The relatively simple procedure described in the foregoing paragraphs underscores an advantage of the invention. The invention allows for reliable attachment of fence wire to posts and battens without the use of specialized tools or hardware—in fact, the attachment can be done entirely by hand. A further advantage of the invention is that it enables wire fences to be constructed with greater speed and efficiency than what can be achieved with prior designs. Another advantage of the invention is that it simplifies the manufacturing process for posts and battens, which need only minor modifications, i.e., cutting the angled slots and drilling the penetration holes.