Patent Publication Number: US-2022220769-A1

Title: Fence Repair Tool and Method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to provisional application 62,963,935 filed Jan. 21, 2020, the contents and disclosures and drawings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of Invention 
     A wire fence repair tool and method of repair is described. 
     Background 
     Wire fences with single strands of wire (single or multi stranded wire) often break. Since they are also often located in somewhat remote places there is a need for a simple tool and repair method that will allow repair the field with simple and easily transported and easily used tools. The present invention is such a tool and method, comprising a simple lightweight tool and easily applied method to make secure repairs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side picture of an embodiment of a fence repair tool of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front illustrative view of a fence with a broken wire as described in an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front illustrative view of a fence with a broken wire being repaired according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is another illustrative view of fence with a broken wire being repaired according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention, in broad scope, is a tool and method for wire fence repair that is simple, easily carried in the field and easily used. 
     Tool 
     In rural areas (and sometimes in towns and cities) fence repairs are often needed for broken wire caused by animals, falling trees dislocated post and the like. Single strand or twisted strand wire such as “barbed wire” is especially susceptible. These may usually be repaired by stretching the wire to retighten and reattaching the wire strands together either directly or by splicing in an additional short strand of wire. This task requires a means of stretching loose strands of wire and of twisting strands together. The present invention in a simple easily carried in the field and easily used tool for accomplishing the task. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate embodiments of the tool of the invention. In general, the tool is constructed of steel (carbon or stainless) or engineered polymer material that is sufficiently strong. Painted carbon steel, is very suitable. 
     As illustrated in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the tool,  100 , is preferably a circular rod having an optional pointed distal end,  104 , and an optional loop proximal end,  106  and a hole,  102 , in the approximate center of the rod, that is, the one third section of the rod. The rod, ideally, is about 6 to 24 inches in length and preferably about 12 inches. The diameter is about ⅜ to 2 inches and preferably about ½ inch. The preferred rod as shown is circular but may also be any suitable configuration such as square, triangular, or other multi-sided shapes. Also useful, but not required, in the method of the invention is fence wire pliers as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The pliers  200  have handles  201 , jaws  202 , a hammer face  206  and staple wedge  204 . These pliers are especially useful in applying the method a described below. 
     Method 
     The method is generally applicable to wire fences having multiple single strands of barbed or smooth malleable wire that tends to hold its shape when bent. Single strand and mesh strand wire fences may be repaired by the method. While high tensile wire can also be repaired, it is more difficult as it does not easily hold its shape when bent. Typically one or more of the wire strand will become broken leaving loose ends dangling from supporting posts,  301 ,  302 , shown in  FIG. 3 . To repair, it is usually necessary to attach the broken ends to a splicing wire,  316  in  FIG. 4 , and pull the strands together with the splicing wire holding them in place. In some cases where the wire strands are sufficiently long they may be connected directly by the method. Any number of conventional ways can be used accomplish this, but the present tool and method allow repair to be made simply with tools easily carried in the field and that produces an excellent repair. 
     Referring to the  FIG. 3-5  there is illustrated a section of wire fence having a broken wire strand  308 . The fence has posts  301  and  302 , staples  304  that hold the wire to the post, wires  305 ,  308  and  310 .  FIG. 4  shows the beginning of repair of a broken wire strand  308  according to an embodiment of the invention. The end of wire  314  is bent so that the loose or short end (usually 6-10 inches long) of the wire forms a loop with the long main strand end that is about ½ to ¾ inches in width. The bent section is held in the jaws,  202 , of fence repair pliers ( FIG. 2 ) and the short end of the wire wound around the long section of wire to form a small loop. The loop can be larger, but is preferable as described. Larger loops will trend to stretch (by flattening) when pulled. The same procedure is used at  312  to form another loop in the right section of broken wire. A similar loop is also formed in one end of the splicing wire  316  (left end as shown) with the loop made inside the loop in  314  to form an attachment between the two loops. The left end of the splicing wire splicing  316  bent in the same way as described above and fed through the loop  312  is pulled as tight as possible by hand. Of course, the spice may be made from the other end in reverse procedure as described. The short end of the splicing wire is fed through the center hole,  102 , of the tool  100  and the tool rotated to pull the wire through the loop and tighten the splicing wire between the broken strands  312  and  314 . The tool is rotated until the wire is of the desired tightness by inserting a rod or other elongated structure through the loop,  106  in the tool and rotating. The tool rod may also be rotated by inserting the handle of the fencing tool,  201 , in loop  106 . When the wire is tight as desired the malleable wire being bent will stay in place when the tool is removed by rotating it in the opposite direction until the wire may be removed from the hole in the tool. The bent end of the wire will then be formed into a loop as with the other connections at  312  and  314  to form a secure attachment. 
     While the method is described in connection of single strand or “barbed wire” fence, it is also useful in mesh fence by tightening each mesh strand end as described for single strands. 
     This tool and procedure make field repair very easy and convenient since the only tool need are the tool  100  and fencing pliers  200 . These are easily carried on the person of the repairperson. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the appended claims.