Patent Publication Number: US-2021172196-A1

Title: A fitting

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a fitting, preferred variants of which are useful for fencing applications. Methods of making and using the fitting are also disclosed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An existing staple for securing a fencing wire to a fencing post is shown in  FIG. 1A . The staple may be driven into the post using a hammer. This can be fiddly and difficult. Specialised power tools are available but they are, however, specific to staple application and increase the fence installation costs. 
     Staples are also prone to being pulled out from the post. For example, an animal applying pressure to the fencing wire will dislodge the staple from the post. As a result, the fence secured using these staples may require constant repair work, which represents an ongoing cost. 
     Other existing clips include a weldmesh clip (shown in  FIG. 1B ) and a saddle (shown in  FIG. 1C ). These other existing clips have their own disadvantages. A wire secured using with a weldmesh clip is at risk of corrosion because the clip tightly encloses the wire and traps moisture. Saddles, on the other hand, require two screws. This increases installation costs and increases the risk of the post splitting. 
     It is not admitted that any of the information in this patent specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably expected to ascertain or understand it, regard it as relevant or combine it in any way before the priority date. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention seeks to provide a fitting that is cheap to manufacture, easy to install, reusable, and/or is less likely to corrode. The invention additionally or alternatively seeks to provide the public with a useful choice. 
     One aspect of the invention provides a fitting, for securing a horizontal elongate member to a support structure, the fitting at least substantially consisting of filamentary material and being shaped to define
         closed bottom portions;   a front portion having sides that are mutually connected by one of the closed bottom portions;   a back portion having sides that are mutually connected by another one of the closed bottom portions; and   closed top portions;
 
the closed top portions comprising
   a closed top portion connecting a side of the front portion to a side of the back portion; and   another closed top portion connecting another side of the front portion to another side of the back portion, and
 
the front portion being spaced from the back portion to define a receiving space for receiving the elongate member, and
 
the front portion and the back portion being in register with each other to be skewered by a fastener engaging the support structure such that
   the elongate member is trapped between the front portion, the back portion, the closed top portions and the fastener;   a body of the fastener is trapped between the sides, the closed bottom portions and the elongate member; and   the fitting is trapped between the support structure and a head of the fastener.       

     The filamentary material is preferably metallic although other materials capable of bending and retaining the bent shape are possible. Most preferably the filamentary material is wire. 
     The wire may have a diameter similar to a diameter of the elongate member. For example, the diameter of the wire may be between about 1 mm to about 5 mm inclusive. The diameter of the wire is preferably about 2.5 mm. The wire of 2.5 mm diameter is suitable for fencing applications. 
     The fitting is preferably formed from a material that is similar to a material of the elongate member. The wire of the fitting may be galvanized wire. The wire for forming the fitting has a minimum breaking strain of about 3 kN to about 8 kN. The wire preferably has a minimum breaking strain of about 5.4 kN. 
     Preferably the fitting is dimensioned to stably hang from the elongate member such that the front portion and back portion are aligned to horizontally receive the fastener. 
     The filamentary material of the fitting may have two free-ends. 
     The elongate member may be a fencing wire, and the support structure may be a fencing post. The fastener may be a screw. 
     Preferred variants of the fitting are suited to fencing. The fitting may also be used for landscaping, construction, building, civil engineering, or any other application where an elongate member is to be secured to a supporting structure. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides the fitting and the fastener. The fitting is preferably shaped to hang from the elongate member whilst cradling the fastener, skewering the front portion and the back portion, to orient the fastener horizontally ready to engage the support structure. 
     The fastener may be a self-tapping screw and/or self-drilling screw. The type of fastener and dimensions of the fastener may be selected based on the support structure to which the elongate member and fitting are to be secured. For example, where the support structure is a treated pine post, the fastener may be a 12 gauge 55 mm self-drilling wood screw. Where the support structure is a steel pipe, the fastener may be a self-drilling metal screw and/or about 25 mm long. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides a system comprising the fitting; the fastener; and the elongate member. 
     The fitting is preferably formed of a material that is similar, and most preferably is substantially identical, to a material of the elongate member to reduce a risk of corrosion. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of a securing an elongate member to a support structure, comprising 
     locating the elongate member within the receiving space of the fitting;
 
skewering the front portion and back portion with a fastener to trap the elongate member; and
 
engaging the fastener with the support structure.
 
     The method may comprise, prior to the engaging, allowing the fitting to hang from the elongate member whilst cradling the fastener to orient the fastener horizontally ready for the engaging. 
     The front portion may deform towards the back portion as a head of the fastener presses against the front portion while engaging the fastener in the support structure. Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of making the fitting, comprising 
     forming a loop of the filamentary material; and
 
folding the loop.
 
     The loop is preferably longer than it is wide. The folding may be about a widthwise axis. Most preferably the loop is at least twice as long as it is wide. The loop may have curved ends. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of a staple; 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a weld mesh clip; 
         FIG. 1C  is a plan view of a saddle; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a fitting; 
         FIG. 2B  is a front view of the fitting; 
         FIG. 2C  is a side view of the fitting; 
         FIG. 2D  is a rear view of the fitting; 
         FIG. 2E  is another side view of the fitting; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the fitting installed in one orientation; 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the fitting installed in another orientation. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the fitting in one orientation and cradling the screw; 
         FIG. 4B  is another perspective view of the fitting in the one orientation and cradling the screw; and 
         FIG. 5A to 5B  are perspective views of the fitting in other orientations cradling a screw. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The following examples are intended to illustrate to enable reproduction and comparison. They are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A to 2E , a fitting (or clip)  100  formed from wire is provided for securing a fencing wire to a fencing post. The wire for forming the fitting  100  is a high tensile galvanized wire and has a diameter of about 2.5 mm. Waratah Tyeasy 2.5 mm is one option. Liberty Onesteel Heavy Galvinised Hard 2.5 mm is preferred. The fitting  100  has other applications besides fencing. Variants of the fitting  100  might be used to secure elongate members to support structures in contexts such as in landscaping, civil engineering or building and construction; e.g. a heavier variant of the fitting  100  might be formed of filament in the form of bar stock, e.g. Ø20 mm bar, and be useful for holding heavy cable on a rock face. 
     The material of the wire used to form the fitting  100  is similar to that which forms the elongate member and/or for the fastener. Using the similar material reduces the risk of corrosion. The wire for forming the fitting  100  has two free-end portions  102 ,  104 . The free-ends portions  102 ,  104  substantially overlap each other in the fitting  100 . 
     The fitting  100  and the invention more generally are described and claimed herein utilising a geometric reference frame consistent with  FIGS. 2B to 3A, 4A and 4B , although as illustrated in  FIGS. 3B and 5A to 6B  the same fitting may be advantageously utilised in other orientations. By way of example, a fitting for (as in ‘suitable for’) mounting a horizontal wire may be turned sideways to mount a vertical wire. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2C , the wire is shaped to form two spaced-apart arm portions  110  and  130  to define a first-receiving space  106  between the arm portions  110  and  130 . The arm portion  110  is a front portion. The arm portion  130  is a back portion. The first-receiving space  106  is dimensioned to receive the elongate member (e.g. so the fitting can fit onto the fencing wire). 
     The first-receiving space  106  has a U-shaped profile comprising an opening. The opening has an opening width configured to admit the elongate member or (when used in the orientation of  FIG. 5A ), the shaft of the fastener while excluding the flanged head of the fastener. The opening width may be up to about 2.0 cm wide inclusive. Preferably it is about 1.0 cm wide. 
     Each of the arm portions  110  and  130  is U-shaped. The openings of the two arm portions  110  and  130  are generally aligned with each other in the fore-aft direction to define a second-receiving space  108  for a fastener  300  to pass through to skewer the portions  110  and  130 . The second-receiving space  108  is wide enough to admit the shaft of the fastener but narrow enough to exclude the flanged head of the fastener. The width may be up to about 2.0 cm inclusive. Preferably it is about 1.0 cm. 
     The fitting  100  allows for easy draining and drying of the clip (for example, subsequent to rainfall). This further reduces corrosion risk of the fitting  100 . 
     The arrangement provided by the first-receiving space  106  and the second-receiving space  108  is such that a first member (one of the fencing wire or fastener) that is received in the first-receiving space  106  is generally transverse to a second member (the other one of the fencing wire or fastener that is received in the second-receiving space  108 ). For example, a fastener located in the second-receiving space  108  has a longitudinal axis that is generally transverse (or substantially perpendicular) to the fencing direction of a fencing wire located in the first-receiving space  106 . 
     The fitting  100  is versatile. To secure a fencing wire to a post, the fitting can be used in any direction without reducing its efficacy. For example, the fitting can be rotated over and around and placed on the fencing wire in any one of four orientations. In addition, the fitting  100  can be used to hold the fencing wire above or below the fastener. In view of the shape of the fitting  100 , the fitting  100  can be used to secure the fencing wire to the fencing post in one of the following two arrangements:
     1. the fencing wire is located in the first-receiving space  106  between the arm portions  110  and  130  with a fastener being passable through the two arm portions  110  and  130  in the second-receiving space  108 ; or   2. the fencing wire is located in the second-receiving space  108  between the arm portions  110  and  130  with a fastener being passable through the two arm portions  110  and  130  in the first-receiving space  106 .   

     In the first arrangement, the first-receiving space  106  is a wire-receiving space and the second-receiving space  108  is a fastener-receiving space. In the second arrangement, the second-receiving space  108  is a wire-receiving space and the first-receiving space  106  is a fastener-receiving space. 
     The fitting  100  will now be described in relation to its use in the first arrangement. 
     Taking the first arrangement, the fitting  100  has two closed bottom portions  122 ,  124  that are spaced apart from each other. Each closed bottom portion  122 ,  124  is curved. In particular, each closed bottom portion  122 ,  124  is substantially semi-circular. The two bottom portions  122 ,  124  are registered to each other. When the fitting  100  hangs on a wire, the registration between the two bottom portions  122 ,  124  allows a fastener to hang on the closed bottom portions substantially horizontally such that the fastener points into (in a direction substantially perpendicular to) an upright face of the post. 
     A first arm portion  110  of the fitting  100  is a front portion having two sides  162 ,  164  that are connected to each other by a first bottom portion  122 . An outwardly-facing face of the first arm portion  110  is substantially planar. The sides  162 ,  164  of the front portion are parallel to each other. The first arm portion  110  with the sides  162 ,  164  and the closed bottom portion  122  has a substantially U-shaped profile. 
     A second arm portion  130  of the fitting  100  is a back portion having two sides  182 ,  184  that are connected to each other by a second bottom portion  124 . An outwardly-facing face of the second arm portion  130  is substantially planar. The sides  182 ,  184  of the back portion are parallel to each other. The second arm portion  130  with the sides  182 ,  184  and the closed bottom portion  124  has a substantially U-shaped profile. The U-shaped profile of the second arm portion  130  is generally similar to the U-shaped profile of the first arm portion  110 . 
     The fitting  100  has two closed top portions  142 ,  144 . Similar to the bottom portions  122 ,  124 , each top portion  142 ,  144  is curved. In particular, each top portion  142 ,  144  is substantially semi-circular. One top portion  142  is formed by free-end portions  102 ,  104  of the wire used to form the fitting  100 . At this top portion  142 , the free-end portions  102 ,  104  of the wire overlap each other. The other top portion  144  is a continuous portion of the wire. The two top portions  142 ,  144  are registered to each other. 
     One top portion  142  connects one side  162  of the front portion to one side  182  of the back portion. An outwardly-facing face formed by the top portion  142  and the sides  162 ,  182  is substantially planar. One side  162  of the front portion is parallel to the one side  182  of the back portion. The top portion  142 , and the two sides  162 ,  182  form a planar surface with a substantially U-shaped profile. 
     The other top portion  144  connects another side  164  of the front portion to another side  184  of the back portion. An outwardly-facing face formed by the top portion  144  and the sides  164 ,  184  is substantially planar. The other side  164  of the front portion is parallel to the other side  184  of the back portion. The top portion  144 , and the two sides  164 ,  184  form a planar surface with a substantially U-shaped profile. The U-shaped profile of the top portion  144  and two sides is generally similar to the U-shaped profile of the other top portion  142  and two sides. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 2B to 2E , the fitting  100  when viewed from the top ( FIG. 2B ), sides ( FIGS. 2C, 2E ), and bottom ( FIG. 2D ) have a substantially similar U-shaped profile. 
     Where the fencing wire is located in the first-receiving space  106  and the fastener is passable through the second-receiving space  108 , the elongate fencing wire is trapped between the first arm portion  110 , the second arm portion  130 , the top portions  142 ,  144  and the fastener. In addition, the fastener is trapped between the sides  162 ,  164 ,  182 ,  184 , the bottom portions  122 ,  124 , and the fencing wire. 
     The elongate member in the fitting  100  is partially surrounded by the two top portions  142 ,  144  and their respective connected sides. In addition, the fastener through the fitting  100  is partially surrounded by the two bottom portions  122 ,  124  and their respective connected sides. Thereby the elongate member and fastener are each trapped within the fitting at two distinct locations along the length of each of the elongate member and fastener. By having the fitting  100  pass over each of the elongate member and the fastener twice, the fitting  100  prevents displacement of the elongate member and fastener from the fitting. For example, in use, if the free end portions  102 ,  104  are somehow pulled straight (which causes the closed top portion  142  formed by these free end portions to become open), the other closed top portion  144  will still prevent the fencing wire (or fastener) to escape the fitting  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A , the fitting  100  is arranged to stably hang on the fencing wire  200  that is received in the first-receiving space  106  of the fitting  100 . In particular, the fitting  100  is arranged to hang on the fencing wire  200  about the closed top portions  142 ,  144  of the fitting  100 . When located on the fencing wire  200 , the front portion of the fitting  100  substantially balances the back portion of the fitting  100  such that the back portion is substantially flush against the upright face of a post  400 . In addition, when the fitting is located on the fencing wire  200 , the front portion and back portion are substantially registered with each other such that a clear line-of-sight is provided through the second-receiving space  108  to the upright face of the post  400  for readily receiving the fastener  300  for securing the fitting  100  to the post  400 . Once the fitting  100  is located on the fencing wire  200  therefore, the fastener  300  can readily skewer the fitting  100  and be fastened into the post  400  without any prior alignment of the fitting by the user. When the fastener  300  skewers the fitting  100 , the fitting  100  maintains the fastener in a substantially horizontal position pointing into the post  400  (i.e. in a direction substantially perpendicular to an upright face of the post  400 ). 
     The fastener  300  is a self-tapping screw, particularly a TEK® screw having a threaded length of about 55 mm, and is thus well adapted to wooden support structures. The fastener has a flanged head that contacts the sides of the front portion and the bottom portion that connects those sides when the fastener is fastened into the post  400 . When the fitting  100  is skewered by the fastener  300  and engages the post  400 , the fitting  100  is trapped between the fencing wire  200 , a body of the fastener  300 , and the head of the fastener  300 . The fastener  300  can be fastened into the post using a multipurpose power tool that many builders would already own. In addition, when the fencing is to be removed and adjusted, the fastener  300  can be removed from the post to the allow the fitting  100  as well as the fastener  300  to be reused. 
     Of course, other screws, and indeed other fasteners more generally, are possible. By way of example, blind rivets may be convenient when utilising the fitting to secure wire to sheet material such as sheet metal. Indeed, whilst the fitting  100  is configured to cooperate with a screw, in some contexts it might be conveniently utilised without any such fastener. By way of example the fitting could be fitted over a tubular boss, the end of which is flared (through a staking operation) to define a head end by which the fitting is retained. 
     Whilst the fastener  300  has a flanged head wider than the arm portion  110  to act directly thereon, other implementations of the disclosed system may entail a washer, a plate or other load-transfer arrangement to assist with the entrapment of the fitting between the head of the fastener and the support structure. 
     When the fastener  300  skewers the front and back portions of the fitting  100  hanging on the wire  200 , the fastener  300  stably hangs substantially horizontally from the fitting  100 . The fastener  300  has a centre-of-gravity that, when the fastener  300  skewers the fitting  100  hanging on the wire  200  and the head is in abutment with the fitting, is located within the receiving space  106 , e.g. near a middle of the space. The fastener  300  is about 55 mm long. Longer fasteners may be useful for repairs to old fences. 
     The fastener  300  is provided below the fencing wire  200  through the second-receiving space  108  to engage the post  400 . In this arrangement, an uppermost limit of vertical movement allowed by the fitting  100  for the fencing wire  200  is limited by the closed top portions  142 ,  144 , while a lowermost limit allowed by the fitting  100  for the fencing wire  200  is limited by the fastener  300 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , the fitting  100  can be flipped vertically (turned upside down) relative to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 3A . In this arrangement, the fitting  100  receives the fencing wire  200  in the first-receiving space  106  and receives the fastener  300  through the second-receiving space  108 . In this arrangement, the fastener  300  is provided above the fencing wire  200 . In this arrangement, an uppermost limit of vertical movement allowed by the fitting  100  for the fencing wire  200  is limited by the fastener  300 , while a lowermost limit allowed by the fitting  100  for the fencing wire  200  is limited by the closed top portions  142 ,  144 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , the front portion of the fitting  300  is deformed towards the back portion of the fitting  100 . In particular, the front portion is deformable towards the back portion upon fastening of the fastener  300  through the second-receiving area  108  into the post  400 . Upon the fastener  300  skewering the fitting  100  through the second-receiving space and being fastened into the post  400 , the flanged head of the fastener  300  will contact the bottom portion and sides of the front portion of the fitting. Further fastening of the fastener  300  into the post  400  causes the flanged head of the fastener to push against the bottom portion and the side portions causing the front portion to deform towards the back portion of the fitting  100 . Deforming the fitting may be useful in applications where it is necessary for the elongate member to be gripped firmly to prevent longitudinal movement, such as the installation of insulating tube over the fencing wire for the construction of an electric fence. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show the arrangement of  FIG. 3A  of the fitting  100  with the fencing wire  200  and the fastener  300  without the post. As mentioned previously, the fitting  100  is versatile and can be used in a number of different ways as shown in  FIGS. 3B, 5A and 5B and 6A and 6B . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 4A and 4B, 5A and 5B, and 6A and 6B , when the fitting  100  is located on the fencing wire  200 , the fitting  100  stably hangs on the fencing wire without needing to be supported by a human operator. In addition, from these figures, when the fastener  300  is skewered through the fitting  100 , the fastener  300  stably hangs in the fitting  100  without needing to be supported by the human operator. In particular, when the fastener  300  is located in the fitting  100 , a centre-of-gravity of the fastener  300  is located in between the front portion and back portion of the fitting  100  such that the fastener  300  stably hangs in in the fitting. These features make it easy for the human operator to secure the fencing wire  200  to the post using the fitting  100 . 
     To secure a fencing wire  200  to a post using the fitting  100  of the present invention:
     1. the human operator hangs the fitting  100  over the fencing wire  200  which stably hangs on the fencing wire;   2. the human operator skewers the fastener  300  through the fitting  100 , which will stably hang on the fitting  100 ; and   3. the human operator will fasten the fastener  300  into the post (for example using a multipurpose power tool) thereby securing the fencing wire  200  to the post.   

       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show another arrangement of the fitting with the fencing wire  200  and the fastener  300 . In this arrangement, the second-receiving space  108  of the fitting  100  is used to receive the fencing wire  200  and the first receiving space  106  is used to receive the fastener  300 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show yet an arrangement of the fitting  100  with the fencing wire  200  and the fastener  300 . In this arrangement, the fitting  100  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is horizontally flipped (by 180°). Similar to the previous arrangement, the second-receiving space of the fitting  100  is used to receive the fencing wire  200  and the first receiving space is used to receive the fastener  300 . 
     To form the fitting  100 , high-tensile galvanised wire is shaped to form a loop. The loop has a long shape with a first rounded end and a second rounded end opposite the first end. The free end portions of the wire are arranged to substantially overlap each other, preferably along one of the long sides of the loop. An interior space defined by the loop defines the second-receiving area. 
     The first rounded end is folded towards the second rounded end of the loop about a central axis of the loop. In folding the loop, a separation distance is maintained between the first rounded end and the second rounded end of the loop. The separation distance is up to about 2.0 cm inclusive, preferably about 1.0 cm. The separation distance between the first end and the second end defines the first receiving area  106 . 
     The invention is not limited to the described examples. Rather the invention is defined by the claims.