Abstract:
The invention relates to a floating fence post that may be used with either electrified or non-electrified fence wire. The floating fence post consists of a hollow tube section (post), a floating means detachably attachable to the hollow tube section and movable vertically thereon, a weighting means located inside the hollow tube section, a cap on the lower end of the hollow tube section, and a detachable cap on the upper end of the hollow tube section with a means for holding fence wire thereon.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to fence posts. More particularly, the present invention relates to floating electric (or hot-wire) fence posts. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    An electric fence is a barrier that uses electric shocks to deter animals and/or people from crossing a boundary. Although electric fences are frequently used to enhance security of sensitive areas, most electric fences in use today are for agricultural purposes and/or other forms of animal control purposes. 
         [0005]    Electric fences are designed to create an electrical circuit when touched by a person or animal. A component called a power energizer converts power into a brief electric pulse. One terminal of the power energizer releases an electrical pulse along a connected bare wire about once per second. Another terminal is connected to a metal rod implanted in the earth, called a ground or earth rod. A person or animal touching the wire and the earth simultaneously will complete an electrical circuit and will conduct the pulse, causing a painful electric shock. The effects of the electrical shock depend upon the voltage, the electrical current used, and the degree of contact between the animal and the fence or ground; the shock can range from barely noticeable to uncomfortable, painful, or even lethal. 
         [0006]    Smooth steel wire is the material most often used for electric fence, ranging from a fine thin wire used as a single line to thicker, high-tensile wire. Less often, woven wire or barbed wire fences can be electrified, though such practices create a more hazardous fence, particularly if a person or animal becomes caught by the fencing material. Synthetic webbing and rope-like fencing materials woven with fine conducting wires (usually of stainless steel) have come onto the market in the last several decades, and are particularly useful for areas requiring additional visibility or as temporary fencing. 
         [0007]    The electrified fence itself must be kept insulated from the earth and from any materials that will conduct electricity, burn, or short out the fence. Thus, fencing must avoid vegetation, and cannot be attached directly to wood or to metal posts. Typically, wood or metal posts are driven into the ground, plastic or porcelain insulators are attached to the posts, and fencing material is attached to the insulators. Other techniques include using fence posts made of non-conducting synthetic materials. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a fence post that may be used with electric (or hot-wire) fence that floats on water. An object of the invention is to provide a fence post that may be used with either regular fence wire or electric fence wire. Another object of the invention is to provide a fence post that may be used in a body of water. Another object of the invention is to provide a fence post that floats on a body of water. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded isometric view of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the instant invention. 
         [0013]    Referring to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded isometric view of one embodiment of the invention. A hollow tubular support member  200  having an upper end, a lower end, an inner surface and an outer surface, a lower cap  300  that attaches to the lower end of the hollow tubular support member, a weight  400  shaped to fit within the hollow tubular support member, a detachably attachable float  500  shaped to fit snugly around the outer surface of the hollow tubular support member and movable vertically thereon, an adapter  600  with notches  601  that attaches to the upper end of the hollow tubular support member, an upper cap  700  that attaches to the adapter, and a wire  800  fitting within the adapter notches and held into place by the upper cap. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the invention. The hollow tubular support member  200  includes an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper end, and a lower end. The hollow tubular support member may be made of plastic or any other appropriate material capable of achieving the desired form and performing the desired function. In the preferred embodiment, the hollow tubular support member is composed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (hereinafter ABS). The hollow tubular support member may have a length of between 12 inches and 80 inches, and an inner diameter of between 0.25 inches and 3.00 inches. The lower cap  300  may be made of plastic or any other appropriate material capable of achieving the desired form and performing the desired function. In the preferred embodiment, the lower cap is a slip cap composed of ABS. The lower cap is attached to the lower end of the hollow tubular support member. In the preferred embodiment, the lower cap is slipped onto and attached or fused to the lower end of the hollow tubular support member by the use of an adhesive or any other appropriate means. In an alternate embodiment, not shown, the lower cap may be attached to the hollow tubular support member by interlocking threads located on the inner surface of the lower cap with corresponding threads located on the lower end of the hollow tubular support member. The weight  400  may be formed of any appropriate material capable of achieving the desired form and performing the desired function, such as sand, small rocks, shot, metal rods, etc. In the preferred embodiment, the weight is cylindrically shaped rod that is slid into the inner cavity of the hollow tubular support member. When held or maintained in an upright position, the weight slides to the lower end of the hollow tubular support member. The float  500  is tubular in shape and includes an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper end, and a lower end. The float is formed to fit snugly around the outer surface of the hollow tubular support member, detachably attachable thereto, and movable vertically thereon. The float may be formed of large cell foam, expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, or any other appropriate material capable of achieving the desired form and performing the desired function with an inner diameter that allows the float to be slid onto and maintained on the outer surface of the hollow tubular support member. In the preferred embodiment, the float is a common pool noodle/water noodle. The adapter  600  is a common slip and threaded adapter and may be made of plastic or any other appropriate material capable of achieving the desired form and performing the desired function. In the preferred embodiment, the adapter is composed of ABS. The adapter is attached to the upper end of the hollow tubular support member. In the preferred embodiment, the adapter is slipped onto and attached or fused to the upper end of the hollow tubular support member by the use of an adhesive or any other appropriate means. In an alternate embodiment, not shown, the adapter may be attached to the hollow tubular support member by interlocking threads located on the inner surface of the adapter with corresponding threads located on the upper end of the hollow tubular support member. The adapter  600  contains notches  601  that bisect the threaded portion of the adapter. The notches  601  are of sufficient size to allow fence wire to be maintained therein. The upper cap  700  may be made of plastic or any other appropriate material capable of achieving the desired form and performing the desired function. In the preferred embodiment, the upper cap is a threaded cap composed of ABS. The upper cap is detachably attachable to the adapter by interlocking threads located on the inner surface of the upper cap with corresponding threads located on the outside of the adapter. In an alternate embodiment, not shown, the lower cap may be attached directly to the hollow tubular support member by interlocking threads located on the inner surface of the lower cap with corresponding threads located on the upper end of the hollow tubular support member; in this alternate embodiment, the notches would be located in the threaded portion of the hollow tubular support member itself, and no adapter would be used. The wire  800  fits within the notches in the notched adapter (or hollow tubular support member) and is held into place by the upper cap. 
         [0015]    While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that modifications may be made in the details of the invention&#39;s construction and the arrangement of its components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for the purposes of exemplification.