Patent Publication Number: US-2002003195-A1

Title: Electric wire insulator and fastener

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to fasteners, and in particular, to fasteners suitable for the use with an insulator in supporting electrically charged wires in a position where the wire is insulated from the ground and from the fence posts or panels supporting the wire.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] A variety of apparatus&#39; are known in the prior art which are directed toward fasteners. The prior art has disclosed rigid mounting devices attached to line posts for holding an electrified wire to form an electric fence. However, such devices have not been usable where the fence posts ends are not accessible.  
       [0003] In the equine and farming industry it is desirable to keep cattle or mares and stallions separated. Portable or permanent stock panels are used to build corrals that divide the animals. These stock panels are typically made of tubing of either 18 gauge or 20 gauge with the tubing welded together to form a panel that is five feet high and between eight to twelve feet long. Additionally, many gates are made of these panels. These panels can be held to an adjoining panel by drop pins to form a corral. These panels are expensive. In order to resist the efforts of the cattle or stallions that will try to come over the top of a panel, bump into a panel or otherwise ruin a panel, it is desirable to install hot wiring along the top rung of the panel.  
       [0004] It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that there was no way to affix hot wires to this tubing without using screws or drilling into the tubing or making a bracket with sheet metal which is a time consuming process.  
       [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,923 to Langlie refers to insulators intended for attachment to round metal posts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,477 to Wilson describes mounting means without reference to the particular different applications available. U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,383 to Wilson shows principally holes through which a nail is inserted into a post. U.S. Pat. No. 3,297,820 to Kew shows a screw into a wooden post. U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,137 to Thompson shows nails and snaps or clip forms; in particular in that the structure at  50  forms a clip with a jaw which is pushed over or around a pipe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,274 to Johnson refers to supporting and connecting means without reference to tie wrap or clip. U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,349 to Munch shows an improved tie wrap. U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,024 to Roberts et al is representative of a fastening means pertinent to this invention.  
       [0006] The patents referred to herein are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] In general it is an object of this invention to provide a fastener which can be installed without access to an end of an article. An additional object of the invention is to provide a fastener that is simple, easy and rapid to install. Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener that can be mass produced at a relatively low cost, thereby encouraging its widespread use by farmers and ranchers. This Continuation-in-Part application additionally reveals an alternative embodiment for affixing electrical wire at the terminal of an insulating post or member.  
       [0008] Still another object of the invention is to provide a fastener that will not only securely hold in place various types of electric fence conductors, but which can be attached to any variety of fence posts and panels commonly encountered on farms, ranches and ranges. In this regard, the fastener of the present invention lends itself readily to incorporation with wooden fence posts, round metal posts, and also to T-shaped metal posts. More specifically, an aim of the invention is to provide a fastener having means incorporated therein for mounting on a fence post or a panel where there is no free end.  
       [0009] It is a further object to provide a fastener having mounting means for an electrical wire which securely maintains and supports the wire in the proper position. The present invention discloses a fastener with a member extending from the fastener. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a tie wrap having a plastic fastener member formed there within. An additional embodiment employs the same or a similar fastener disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,024 as the means of affixing the insulating structure to a post and or panel. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fastener showing the strap, and member with fixture. Further shown are the fastening means and rigid curved section.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fastener showing the strap, inside rigid curved section, and member.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fastener according to the present invention, show in operation with respect to the panel.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the fastener showing the means of fastening the invention to a post or a panel and showing the structure for affixing an electric wire.  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the fastener of FIG. 4.  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is a section from FIG. 4 showing one insulating projection  196  and wire holder  198 .  
     [0017]FIG. 7 is a front elevation of an alternative embodiment of the fastener showing an alternative embodiment of the structure for affixing an electric wire.  
     [0018]FIGS. 8 through 10 depict combinations of extensions and interconnecting teeth as fastening means to secure the strap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
     [0019] The preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments of the fastener apparatus herein disclosed is depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3 and FIGS. 4 through 10. FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 illustrate the fastener apparatus  10  which may comprise an elongated strap  20  composed of a first end  30  and a second end  40 ; having a fastening means, affixed to said strap  20 , for connecting said first end  30  to said second end  40 ; a member  70 , projecting outwardly from said strap  20 , having a primary end  75  and a secondary end  76 ; the member primary end  75  affixed by means on said strap  20  intermediate said strap first  30  and second ends  40 . The elongated strap and the member may be composed of a rigid or flexible material. In the preferred embodiment the elongated strap is composed of a flexible material and the member is composed of a rigid material. The fastener or member may be formed by injection molding plastic. The member may be formed integral with said strap or affixed thereto by adhesive, threads, or various other means.  
     [0020] The apparatus  10  may further comprise a fixture  90  located at the member secondary end  76 . It is preferred that the fixture  90  is composed of plastic. The fixture  90  may be composed of other suitable materials that having electric insulating properties. If injection molded, the fixture may be formed there within the member.  
     [0021] This fixture  90  may comprise a securing means  92 , gripping means or any other means seen as useful by those in the art. The securing means used to hold a wire, cable, line or electric tape may comprise projections which could include hooks, clasps, clips, pegs, pins, bolts or any other means that would provide securing and support to a wire, cable, line or electric tape. It will be appreciated by those in the art the various securing means for holding a wire.  
     [0022] The fixture  90  may have a securing means  92 . In the preferred embodiment this securing means  92  would provide support for an electrified wire. In the preferred embodiment the securing means  92  consists of two projections  96  that provide friction to support a wire. The wire is placed between the two projections  96 .  
     [0023] In the preferred embodiment a portion of the strap  20  comprises a curved rigid section  25 ; the member primary end  75  projects outwardly from the curved rigid section  25  and is affixed by means on the curved rigid section  25 .  
     [0024] The fastener  10  could be tightened and adjusted to fit snug around an article whereby the first end  30  and second ends  40  of the strap  20  would overlap. The fastening means of the fastener  10  could be composed of a wide variety of known fasteners including but not limited to hook and loop elements, i.e. VELCRO, a buckle, a tie wrap, hooks and any other securing means. A buckle is a fastening for two loose ends attached to one and holding the other by a catch, latch, or clamp. Buckles are commonly used on belts and shoes.  
     [0025] A VELCRO type fastener may provide hooking elements capable of interlocking with loop elements. A first hook fastener may be affixed to said strap first end; and a first loop fastener may be affixed to said strap second end whereby said hook fastener is removably attached to said loop fastener. It will be understood that the interlocking pile elements may be reversed, i.e., the loop elements on the strap first end and the hook elements on the strap second end.  
     [0026] In the preferred embodiment of the fastener  10 , the strap is a tie wrap. The fastener  10  is preferably composed of a head  62  having an elongated strap  20  of flexible material integrally formed therewith, a passage  64  through the head  62  for longitudinally receiving the strap  20 ; the passage  64  having an entrance end  66  and an exit end  68 . The strap preferably has a plurality of longitudinally-spaced teeth  43  thereon, and terminating at a free end  45 ; and the strap  20  has a front side  22  and a back side  23 . Preferably the fastener includes a member  70  having a primary end  75  and a secondary end  76 ; the primary end  75  projecting outwardly from the front side  22  between the free end  45  and the head  62 .  
     [0027] In another embodiment, the invention discloses a panel  100  with fastener apparatus  10 . The panel  100  may be composed of a horizontal article  110  having two ends  115 ,  116  and at least two vertical articles  130 ,  131 ; the two vertical rods  130 ,  131  maybe affixed by means to the horizontal rod ends  115 ,  116 ; an elongated strap  20  having a first end  30  and a second end  40 ; fastening means is affixed to said strap  20 , for connecting said first end  30  to said second end  40 , to thereby form an enclosure around the one horizontal article  110 . One member  70 , may project outwardly from said strap  20 , said member  70  having a primary  75  and a secondary end  76 ; said member primary end  75  affixed by means on said strap  20  intermediate said strap first  30  and second ends  40 .  
     [0028] The strap  20  may encircle the one horizontal rod  110 . The article may be a variety of shapes including but not limited to circular, square, rectangular, I shaped, T shaped, irregular shaped or any other shape which has a periphery or perimeter. Additionally the article may be hollow whereby it made prove useful for the member to project inwardly toward the article. Examples of the article include but are not limited to fence posts, metal pipes, tubing, and any other object whereby placing a fastener may be desired. The fastener  10  can be installed on any of these articles. The preferred embodiment may be used on 1½ to 3 inch diameters.  
     [0029] The fastener  10  may have a fixture  90  at the secondary end  76 . The fixture  90  may have a securing means  92 . The securing means  92  may be used for support of electrical wires or hot tapes. In the preferred embodiment there are additional straps along the horizontal article  110  with a spacing of five to six feet between fasteners  10 . A wire  140  is secured with the securing means at one fastener  10  and is extended from one fastener  10  to the next fastener  10 . The fastener  10  will be securely attached to the panel  100  such that it would resist efforts of a horse or cattle that bumps into it.  
     [0030] The invention further discloses a method of applying the fastener around an article, comprising the steps of placing the fastener near the article, the article having a periphery, the at least one member outwardly from said article; and securing said strap first and second ends  30 , 40  around said periphery thereby securing the fastener in place. The fastener is installed without any tools or secondary fastening devices.  
     [0031] In another embodiment of the method of applying the fastener around an article, said member is projecting outwardly from said article. Alternatively, there may arise an instance, where said member is applied where the member would project inwardly toward said article.  
     [0032]FIG. 4 through FIG. 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the apparatus  10  and fixture  90 . Depicted in FIG. 4 through  7  is a fastener apparatus  210  and connecting fixture  290  providing the structure of FIGS. 1 through 3, regarding the affixing of a structure to a pole and the affixing of a wire, including an electrical wire, to the apparatus. FIGS. 4 through 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment showing the same or a similar affixing means, as a fastener apparatus  210 , for affixing the invention to a post, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,024. The fastener apparatus  210 , seen in FIG. 4, which may comprise a strap  220  having a first strap end  245  which consists of an upper extension  230  and a lower extension  232  while a second strap end  262  has an upper extension  240  and a lower extension  242 . Strap end  262  has two sets of large teeth a 263 , one row on each side of extension  240 . The space between extensions  230  and  232  is dimensioned to receive extension  240  of strap end  262 . The lower side of extension  230  and the upper side of extension  232 , on first strap end  245 , also have large teeth  263 . When the strap ends  245  and  262  are brought together, extensions  230  and  232  of first strap end  245  receive extension  240  of strap end  262 , and respective extensions  240  and  242  of strap end  262  correspondingly receive extension  232  as will be appreciated by viewing FIG. 4. Those of ordinary skill in the mechanical arts will appreciate that the large teeth  263  of extensions  240 ,  230  and  232  may be serrated or formed in a rachet formation such that the large teeth  263  of extension  240  are slidably received over the large teeth  262  of extensions  230  and  232  but where the large teeth  263  are angled so as to lock or securely engage the large teeth  263  of the opposing extensions thereby allowing the strap  210  to be securely engaged around a horizontal article  110  or pipe or a vertical articles  130 ,  131  or rod as depicted in FIG. 3. It will also be noted that the ratchet type of interconnection may be accomplished by providing a single set of teeth at each of the first and the second ends formed such that the teeth of the first end will interconnect with the teeth of the second end, e.g., a single set of teeth  263  at the lower side of extension  230  and a single set of teeth  263  at the upper side of extension  240 . The receiving of extension  240  by extensions  230  and  232  will allow the interconnection of teeth so situated. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that alternative teeth arrangements include a single set of teeth  263  at the upper side of extension  232  and a single set of teeth  263  at the lower side of extension  240 ; alternatively, a single set of teeth may be positioned at the upper side of extension  242  with a single set of teeth at the lower side of extension  232 . It will also be appreciated that a single extension  240  or  242  at the end  262  may be ratchet or teeth interconnected with a single extension  230  or  232  at end  245 . It will also be appreciated that a single extension  240  or  242  at the end  262  may be ratchet or teeth interconnected with and between extensions  230  or  232  at end  245  and alternatively that a single extension  230  or  232  at the end  245  may be ratchet or teeth interconnected with and between extensions  240  and  242  at end  262 . The choice of materials, including plastics and Nylon, may dictate, by the stiffness or rigidity or semi-rigidity characteristics of the materials, the number of extensions at each of the strap ends  245  and  262  required to provide a secure interconnection. Alternative arrangements of extensions and teeth at the strap ends  245  and  262  are depicted in FIGS. 8 through 10.  
     [0033] Also depicted in FIGS. 4 through 7 are alternative forms of a connecting fixture  290 , for receiving and securing an electrical wire, located at a member secondary end  276 . Again, the structure of this alternative embodiment is parallel to that of the preferred embodiment. Both the preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3, and alternative embodiments, depicted in FIG. 4 through  10 , provide fastener  10  and fastener apparatus  210  comprised of an elongated strap  20  or strap  220 . The strap  20  has a first and second end  30 ,  40  or first strap end and second strap end  245 ,  262 . Fastening means is provided at the first and second ends  30 ,  40  and first strap end and second strap end  245 ,  262  permitting the securing or joining of the said ends  30 ,  40  or first strap and second strap ends  245 ,  262  to secure the apparatus to a post. Extending from the elongated strap  20  or strap  220  is a member  70  or connecting member  270 . The member  70  or connecting member  270  projects from the affixing means, i.e., the elongated strap  20  or strap  220 , as a structure which removes or distances the eventually connected electrical wire  300  from the vicinity of the generally metal panel  100 . The panel  100  is generally comprised of generally at least a horizontal article  110  having two ends  115 ,  116  and at least two vertical articles  130 ,  131  where the vertical and horizontal articles are generally pipes, rods, poles or posts of metal construction.  
     [0034] The preferred and alternative embodiments provide at the member  70  and connecting member  270 , at the position distal to the elongated strap  20  or strap  220 , a securing means for securing an electrical wire  300 . The member  70  or connecting member  270  or the securing means for securing an electrical wire  300  will have electrical insulating properties. Thus the preferred and alternative embodiments provide a structure which attaches to a pole, post or panel  100  providing a means of installing electrical fencing to panels commonly used.  
     [0035] The alternative embodiment provides a connecting member  270 , projecting outwardly from said strap  220 , having a primary end  275  and a secondary end  276 ; the connecting member primary end  275  affixed by means on said strap  220  intermediate said strap first  245  and second ends  262 . The elongated strap  20  and strap  220  are generally composed of a flexible or semi-flexible material including plastics and Nylon. The member  70  and connecting member  270  may be composed of a rigid or flexible material having rigidity sufficient to retain the electric wire  300  out of contact with the generally metal panel  100 . In the preferred and alternative embodiments the elongated strap or strap is composed of a flexible material and the member or connecting member is composed of a rigid material. The fastener  10  and or fastener apparatus  210  may be formed by plastic molding techniques including injection molding. The member  70  and or connecting member  270  may be formed integral with said elongated strap  20  or strap  220  or affixed thereto by adhesive, threads, rivets and other means which will be appreciated by those of ordinary skills in the art.  
     [0036] The connecting fixture  290  and each embodiment herein will be composed of a plastic. However, it will be recognized that the one of the components of the fastener  10  or fastener apparatus  210  will be an electrical insulator. Thus requisite insulating properties will be found in the strap, member and or fixture components. The connecting fixture  290  may be composed of materials having electrically insulating qualities. However, the serrated, rachet or large teeth  263  structures preferred, in this embodiment, for strap ends  245  and  262  will generally be composed of Nylon or such other material which will have sufficient strength or hardness so as to resist erosion as the teeth  263  of extensions  230 ,  232 ,  240  and  242  are engaged and disengaged.  
     [0037] The alternative connecting fixture  290 , in the alternative embodiment, depicted in FIG. 4 and  7 , is the structure of at least two projections or arms  296  extending from the connecting member secondary end  276  and forming a V shape or jaw shape to guide and receive an electrical wire  300 . The arms  296  terminate, distal from the connecting member secondary end  276 , in arm ends  299 . The arms  296 , proximal the connecting member secondary end  276 , in combination with the connecting member secondary end  276 , forms a space which will receive a wire and which is denominated a wire space  292  sufficient to receive an electrical wire  300 . The at least two arms  296  form, intermediate the connecting member secondary end  276  and the arm ends  299 , a V shaped entrance denominated an entrance point  297 . The opening of the “V” is at the arm ends  299 . The tip or point or apex of the V forms the entrance point  297 , where the “V” tip or apex would join. The arms  296 , at the entrance point  297 , are not joined. The arms  296 , at the entrance point  297 , will allow, by a spring function of the material forming the arms  296 , a separation of the arms  296  sufficient to allow passage of an electrical wire  300  at the entrance point  297 . The material forming the projections or arms  296  has a spring function which will allow the respective arms  296  to move apart, upon forcing an electrical wire against the arms  296  at the point where the respective arms  296  are proximal to each other, the entrance point  297 , to form the respective legs of the “V”. The structure depicted in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 additionally shows a restraint or catch  298 , also having a spring function, which will be depressed upon insertion of an electrical wire  300  with the catch  298  returning to its resting position following insertion of an electrical wire  300  into the wire space  292 . The restraint or catch  298  in its resting position blocks the entrance point  297  preventing removal of the electrical wire  300  from the wire space  292 . The catch  298  projects from at least one arm  296  into the wire space and will generally be formed intergal with the formation of the fastener apparatus  210 . It will be appreciated that the connecting fixture  290  may be formed such that the opening of the “V” at the arm ends  299  may have a variety of orientations including orthognal, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to the connecting member or at other orientations, as illustrated in FIG. 7.  
     [0038] It will be appreciated by those in the art that there is a desire to attach fasteners to fence posts and pipes where there is no access to an end. Articles that the fastener may be attached to are metal pipes, fences posts, poles, or any other article where there is no access to the ends.  
     [0039] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.