Abstract:
A wire loading magazine for a twist attachment device includes a magazine assembly adapted to carry a supply of attachment wire segments and a wire loading assembly carried by the magazine assembly and adapted to individually and sequentially load the attachment wire segments from the magazine assembly into the twist attachment device.

Description:
FIELD 
     The disclosure generally relates to wire fences such as barbed-wire fences which include runs of wire that are attached to fence posts inserted in the ground. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a wire loading magazine which loads attachment wire segments into a twist attachment device that is suitable for attaching barbed wire to a fence post by wrapping an attachment wire segment around the barbed wire on opposite sides of the fence post with the fence post interposed between the attachment wire segment and the barbed wire. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Barbed wire fences are widely used to define boundaries on land areas for the purpose of keeping livestock or other animals inside the fenced-in areas and keeping predatory animals or unauthorized personnel out of the areas. Typically, a barbed wire fence includes multiple vertically-spaced horizontal runs of barbed wire which are supported at spaced intervals by vertical fence posts extending from the ground. Conventionally, each of the barbed wire segments is attached to each fence post typically using clips which engage the barbed wire and the fence post. Because these clips must be individually inserted in place on the fence posts, construction of a barbed wire fence is a time-consuming and labor-intensive undertaking. 
     A twist attachment device which attaches runs of wire to fence posts by wrapping an attachment wire segment around the wire on opposite sides of the fence post is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,570. A wire loading magazine which loads attachment wire segments into a twist attachment device that is suitable for attaching barbed wire to a fence post is needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure is generally directed to a wire loading magazine for a twist attachment device. An illustrative embodiment of the wire loading magazine includes a magazine assembly adapted to carry a supply of attachment wire segments and a wire loading assembly carried by the magazine assembly and adapted to individually and sequentially load the attachment wire segments from the magazine assembly into the twist attachment device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a twist attachment device with an illustrative embodiment of the wire loading magazine on the device and deployed in a closed or stowed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the twist attachment device with the wire loading magazine deployed in an open or functional position; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the wire loading magazine detached from the twist attachment device (not illustrated); 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the wire loading magazine; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the wire loading magazine; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a wire loading clip component of an illustrative embodiment of the wire loading magazine; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the wire loading clip; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the wire loading clip; 
         FIG. 9  is an end view of the wire loading clip; 
         FIG. 10  is an end view of the wire loading clip, with a supply of wire segments (illustrated in phantom) contained in the clip; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  11 - 11  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  12 - 12  in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of a magazine assembly portion of the wire loading magazine, with a wire loading assembly of the magazine deployed in a cocked position preparatory to inserting a wire segment (illustrated in phantom) into a twist attachment device (not illustrated); and 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the magazine assembly portion of the wire loading magazine, with the wire loading assembly deployed in a wire insertion position in insertion of the wire segment (illustrated in phantom) into the twist attachment device (not illustrated). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the wire loading magazine for twist attachment device, hereinafter magazine, is generally indicated by reference numeral  100 . The magazine  100  is adapted to interface with a twist attachment device  1  which is operable to attach barbed wire (not illustrated) to a fence post (not illustrated) by wrapping an attachment wire segment (not illustrated) around the barbed wire on opposite sides of the fence post with the fence post interposed between the attachment wire segment and the barbed wire. Examples of twist attachment devices  1  which are suitable for implementation of the magazine  100  are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,570, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Generally, the twist attachment device  1  may include a frame (not illustrated) having a pair of spaced-apart, generally V-shaped frame plate notches  2   a  and a frame space  2   b  extending between the frame plate notches  2   a . A device housing  38  may be supported by the frame. A pair of twist gears  9   a  and  9   b , respectively, may be mounted for rotation on the frame inside the device housing  38  at the respective frame plate notches  2   a . Each twist gear  9   a  and  9   b  may include a generally V-shaped wire notch  12  and a wire opening  13   a  and  13   b  which extends transversely through the corresponding twist gear  9   a ,  9   b , generally adjacent to the apex of the wire notch  12  and offset with respect to the geometric center of the twist gear  9   a ,  9   b . Upon rotation of the twist gears  9   a  and  9   b  on the frame, the wire notch  12  of each twist gear  9   a ,  9   b  periodically and regularly coincides in position and aligns with the corresponding like-shaped frame plate notch  2   a.    
     A motor  44  having a battery or other power supply (not illustrated) may be provided on the interior or the exterior, as illustrated, of the device housing  38 . The motor  44  may drivingly engage the twist gears  9   a ,  9   b  through a gear assembly (not illustrated) for rotation inside the device housing  38  such as in the manner which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,570. A handle  41  may also be provided on the device housing  38 . A finger-actuated trigger  42  may be provided on the handle  41  and electrically connected to the motor  44  and the battery or other power supply (not illustrated) to operate the motor  44  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     In some embodiments of the twist attachment device  1 , a wire segment guide conduit  20  may extend through the wire opening  13   a  of the twist gear  9   a  and terminate at the wire opening  13   b  of the twist gear  9   b . An annular transfer gear magnet  16  may be provided in the wire opening  13   b  of the twist gear  9   b . The purpose of the wire segment guide conduit  20  and the transfer gear magnet  16  will be hereinafter described. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 3-14  of the drawings, the magazine  100  may include a magazine mount bracket  101 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the magazine mount bracket  101  may include a mount bracket body  102 . The mount bracket body  102  of the magazine mount bracket  101  may be adapted for attachment to the device housing  38  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the twist attachment device  1  according to any suitable attachment technique which is known by those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the mount bracket body  102  may include a mount bracket flange  103 . At least one flange fastener opening  104  may extend through the mount bracket flange  103 . Accordingly, the mount bracket flange  103  may be attached to the device housing  38  of the twist attachment device  1  by extending flange fasteners (not illustrated) through the respective flange fastener openings  104  and threading the flange fasteners into respective registering fastener openings (not illustrated) in the device housing  38 . Alternative attachment techniques and methods known by those skilled in the art may be used to attach the mount bracket body  102  of the magazine  100  to the device housing  38  of the twist attachment device  1 . For example and without limitation, in some embodiments the mount bracket body  102  may be fabricated in one piece with the device housing  38  using to molding or casting techniques known by those skilled in the art. 
     A magazine assembly  110  may be supported by the magazine mount bracket  101 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the magazine assembly  110  may include a generally elongated clip trough  112 . The clip trough  112  may include a clip trough bottom  113 , a pair of spaced-apart clip trough side walls  114  extending from the clip trough bottom  113  and a pair of clip trough end walls  115  at the respective opposite ends of the clip trough bottom  113  and the clip trough side walls  114 . A generally elongated clip trough interior  117  may be defined by and between the clip trough bottom  113 , the clip trough side walls  114  and the clip trough end walls  115 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, a generally U-shaped clip notch  116  may be provided in each clip trough side wall  114  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. As illustrated in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a generally elongated stanchion slot  119  (illustrated in cross-section) may extend through and along at least a portion of one of the clip trough side walls  114  generally at the clip trough bottom  113  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, a wire segment guide  118 , the purpose of which will be hereinafter described, may extend from a clip trough end wall  115  of the clip trough  112 . The wire segment guide  118  communicates with the clip trough interior  117 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, a wire segment stabilizing magnet  126  may be provided in the wire segment guide  118  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     The clip trough  112  of the magazine assembly  110  may be attached to the mount bracket body  102  of the magazine mount bracket  101  using any suitable attachment technique which is known by those skilled in the art. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, a hinge pin receptacle  120  having a receptacle opening  121  may be provided on a clip trough end wall  115  of the clip trough  112  generally adjacent to the wire segment guide  118 . A pair of spaced-apart hinge pin openings  105  may be provided in the mount bracket body  102  of the magazine mount bracket  101 . Accordingly, the hinge pin receptacle  120  of the clip trough  112  may be inserted between the hinge pin openings  105  in the magazine mount bracket  101 . A hinge pin  122  may be extended through the hinge pin openings  105  in the magazine mount bracket  101  and through the registering receptacle opening  121  in the hinge pin receptacle  120  to pivotally attach the clip trough  112  to the magazine mount bracket  101 . Therefore, the magazine assembly  110  may be capable of selectively pivoting with respect to the device housing  38  of the twist attachment device  1  between the stowed or storage position illustrated in  FIG. 1  and the extended, functional position illustrated in  FIG. 2  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. In alternative illustrative embodiments, the clip trough  112  may be attached to the magazine mount bracket  101  using fasteners (not illustrated) or other attachment technique or may be fixed or fabricated in one piece with the magazine mount bracket  101 . 
     A wire loading clip  146  may be inserted into the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112 . The wire loading clip  146  may include a clip bottom portion  148 , a pair of spaced-apart clip trough side walls  147  extending from the clip bottom portion  148  and a pair of clip end walls  151  at opposite ends of the clip bottom portion  148  and the clip side walls  147 . A generally elongated clip interior  150  ( FIG. 10 ) may be defined by and between the clip bottom portion  148 , the clip side walls  147  and the clip end walls  151 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the clip interior  150  is sized and configured to contain a supply of attachment wire segments  158  (illustrated in phantom). As further illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a generally elongated wire segment dispensing slot  149  may be provided in the clip bottom portion  148  of the wire loading clip  146  and disposed in communication with the clip interior  150 . Therefore, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the attachment wire segments  158  individually and sequentially fall from the clip interior  150  through the wire segment dispensing slot  149  and onto the clip trough bottom  113  in the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112 . The interior wall surfaces  147   a  of the clip bottom portion  148  in the lower portion of the clip interior  150  may have a generally tapered or funnel-shaped cross-section. The wire loading clip  146  may include a clip cover  154  which in some embodiments may be detachably provided on the clip side walls  147  and the clip end walls  151  for selective removal there from. In other embodiments, the clip cover  154  may be pivotally attached to one of the clip side walls  147 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the wire loading clip  146  may be removably inserted in the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, a clip notch  116  may be provided in each clip trough end wall  115  of the clip trough  112 . A clip tab  152  may be provided on the exterior surface of each clip end wall  151 . Therefore, the wire loading clip  146  may be secured in the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112  by inserting the clip tabs  152  on the wire loading clip  146  into the clip notches  116  provided in the respective clip end walls  151 . In other embodiments, the wire loading clip  146  may be secured or seated in the clip trough interior  117  using alternative techniques known by those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the wire loading clip  146  may be fixedly mounted in the clip trough interior  117  and/or fabricated in one piece with the clip trough  112 . 
     The magazine assembly  110  may be fitted with a wire loading assembly  138  which facilitates loading or dispensing of attachment wire segments  158  ( FIG. 10 ) from the wire loading clip  146  into the twist attachment device  1  typically in a manner which will be hereinafter described. In some embodiments, the wire loading assembly  138  may include at least one generally elongated guide rod  134  and an assembly return spring  135  on the guide rod  134 . In some embodiments, the wire loading assembly  138  may include a pair of generally elongated, parallel guide rods  134 , as illustrated. The guide rods  134  may extend in generally parallel, adjacent relationship to the clip trough  112  of the magazine assembly  110 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 11 , a first end (not numbered) of each guide rod  134  may be inserted in a corresponding rod mount collar  123 . The rod mount collars  123  may be provided on the magazine mount bracket  101 , the clip trough  112  or on any other suitable structural element. In some embodiments, the first ends of the respective guide rods  134  may be inserted into a pair of adjacent rod mount collars  123 , respectively, on the hinge pin receptacle  120  of the clip trough  112 . An assembly knob  139  may be slidably mounted along the guide rods  134 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 12 , in some embodiments, a pair of rod openings  140  may extend through the assembly knob  139 . The guide rods  134  may extend through the respective rod openings  140  to slidably mount the assembly knob  139  on the guide rods  134 . 
     A wire loading assembly mount bracket  128  may be mounted on the clip trough  112 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the wire loading assembly mount bracket  128  may have at least one rod opening  131 . The second ends (not numbered) of the respective guide rods  134  may be inserted into the respective rod openings  131  ( FIG. 4 ) in the wire loading assembly mount bracket  128 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, the wire loading assembly mount bracket  128  may be attached to the clip trough  112  by extending fasteners  130  through a pair of respective fastener openings  129  in the wire loading assembly mount bracket  128  and threading the fasteners  130  into a registering pair of respective fastener bosses  124  provided on the clip trough  112 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a stanchion  141  may extend outwardly from the bottom portion of the assembly knob  139 . A wire engaging member  142  may extend forwardly from the stanchion  141  in generally perpendicular relationship thereto. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the stanchion  141  may extend through the elongated stanchion slot  119  (which extends through and along the clip side wall  114 ) into the lower portion of the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112 . The wire engaging member  142  may be disposed in the clip trough interior  117  beneath the wire segment dispensing slot  149  in the clip bottom portion  148  of the wire loading clip  146 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the assembly return springs  135  on the respective guide rods  134  normally engage and maintain the assembly knob  139  in a return position against or adjacent to the wire loading assembly mount bracket  128 . The assembly knob  139  can be manually grasped and slid along the guide rods  134  away from the wire loading assembly mount bracket  128  in the direction indicated by the arrow  136  ( FIG. 13 ) against the bias imparted by the assembly return springs  135 . This action facilitates linear travel of the wire engaging member  142  in the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112  also in the direction indicated by the arrow  136  in  FIG. 13 . Thus, the wire engaging member  142  pushes the attachment wire segment  158  (which was previously dispensed from the wire loading clip  146  through the wire segment dispensing slot  149 ,  FIG. 11 ) from the clip trough interior  117  through the wire segment guide  118 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . Upon subsequent release of the assembly knob  139 , the assembly return springs  135  bias and return the assembly knob  139  back to the original return position ( FIG. 13 ) against or adjacent to the wire loading assembly mount bracket  128  in the direction of the arrow  137  in  FIG. 14 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  11 - 14  of the drawings, in exemplary application of the magazine  100 , the magazine mount bracket  101  is attached to the device housing  38  of the twist attachment device  1  in adjacent proximity to the twist gear  9   a  of the twist attachment device  1 . Accordingly, the magazine assembly  110  may be capable of pivoting with respect to the magazine mount bracket  101  between the folded, stowed or storage position illustrated in  FIG. 1  and the extended or functional position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . When the magazine assembly  110  is deployed in the extended position of  FIG. 2 , the wire segment guide  118  of the clip trough  112  aligns or registers with the wire segment guide conduit  20  of the twist attachment device  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a supply of attachment wire segments  158  (illustrated in phantom) is placed in the clip interior  150  of the wire loading clip  146 . In some embodiments, the clip cover  154  may be detached from the wire loading clip  146  to facilitate placement of the attachment wire segments  158  in the clip interior  150 . Accordingly, the attachment wire segments  158  fall into the tapered or funnel-shaped bottom portion of the clip interior  150 . One of the attachment wire segments  158  falls from the clip interior  150  through the wire segment dispensing slot  149  and into a pre-loaded position on the clip trough bottom  113  in the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112 . The wire segment stabilizing magnet  126  ( FIG. 3 ) stabilizes the position of the attachment wire segment  158  in the clip trough interior  117  such that the attachment wire segment  158  remains aligned with the wire segment guide  118 . 
     The twist attachment device  1  may be operated to attach a run of barbed wire (not illustrated) to fence posts (not illustrated) using the attachment wire segments  158  in the manner which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,570. Accordingly, the frame space  2   b  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the twist attachment device  1  receives the fence post to which the barbed wire is to be attached. The wire notches  12  of the respective twist gears  9   a ,  9   b  may be rotated into registration with the respective frame plate notches  2   a  by operation of the device motor  44  (typically via the trigger  42 ), after which the frame plate notches  2   a  and the wire notches  12  of the respective twist gears  9   a ,  9   b  receive the barbed wire which is to be attached to the fence post. 
     The attachment wire segment  158  is loaded from the pre-loaded position in the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112  in the magazine  100  and pushed into place through the wire opening  13   a  of the twist gear  9   a  and the aligned wire opening  13   b  of the twist gear  9   b  as follows. The assembly knob  139  of the wire loading assembly  138  is manually slid on the guide rods  134  in the direction of the arrow  136  ( FIG. 13 ) against the bias imparted by the assembly return springs  135 . This action causes the wire engaging member  142  of the wire loading assembly  138  to engage and push the attachment wire segment  158  (illustrated in phantom in  FIGS. 13 and 14 ) from the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112  through the wire segment guide  118  and the wire segment guide conduit  20  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), respectively. Therefore, the wire segment guide conduit  20  guides the attachment wire segment  158  into place through the wire opening  13   a  of the twist gear  9   a  and the registering wire opening  13   b  of the twist gear  9   b  of the twist attachment device  1 . The transfer gear magnet  16  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in the wire opening  13   b  of the twist gear  9   b  may assist placement of the attachment wire segment  158  by magnetically drawing or pulling the attachment wire segment  158  through the wire segment guide conduit  20  and into place in the wire openings  13   a ,  13   b . As the attachment wire segment  158  is loaded from the pre-loaded position in the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112  into position through the wire openings  13   a ,  13   b  of the twist gears  9   a ,  9   b , another attachment wire segment  158  falls from the clip trough interior  117  through the wire segment dispensing slot  149  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) into the pre-loaded position in the bottom of the clip trough interior  117 . The assembly knob  139  is released and the assembly return springs  135  return the assembly knob  139  to the position illustrated in  FIG. 13  as indicated by the arrow  137  in  FIG. 14 . 
     The motor  44  of the twist attachment device  1  is then operated (typically by manual depression of the trigger  42 ) to rotate the twist gears  9   a  and  9   b . As the device motor  44  rotates the twist gears  9   a  and  9   b , the twist gears  9   a  and  9   b  wrap the attachment wire segment  158  around the run of barbed wire on respective sides of the fence post. Therefore, the attachment wire segment  158  secures the barbed wire to the fence post. Operation of the motor  44  is then terminated and the twist attachment device  1  is removed and repositioned at the next fence post in line for like attachment of the barbed wire to that fence post. Accordingly, the subsequent attachment wire segment  158  may be loaded from the pre-loaded position in the clip trough interior  117  of the clip trough  112  into place through the wire openings  13   a  and  13   b  of the twist gears  9   a  and  9   b , respectively, for attachment of the barbed wire to the fence post by operation of the device motor  44 . The method continues in like manner until the run of barbed wire is attached to each fence post which will support the fence. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.