Abstract:
The t-post fence bracket of the present invention provides a simple and effective means of securing a variety of items by use of u-hooks, plates or brackets to a widely used metal t-post without the use of tools. Items such as fence rails, buckets, chains, rope, wire, or solar panels may be attached or hung from the bracket to support it from the ground level. Further, the bracket does not have sharp edges, and hence humans and animals coming into contact with the bracket will not be injured thereby.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     DESCRIPTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a fence bracket and more particularly to a bracket for securing a variety of items on a metal t-post. 
     2. Background Art 
     Steel posts having different shapes are often used in fence building as inexpensive and easily installed posts, particularly for temporary fences or to fence in large areas such as fields for animals. 
     Fences have been designed and constructed wherein horizontal rails are secured to vertical metal fence posts by means of hooks or clasps. For example, Bettis U.S. Pat. No. 57,073 discloses the use of iron hooks which surround a circular metal fence post and which are secured at a desired height on the post by a wedge or key. Overlapping horizontal boards extend through a front portion of the iron hook and are supported thereby. 
     Landreville U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,201 is a bracket for mounting fence rails and other items to common rolled metal post wherein the bracket is designed to fit and slip over the top of the t-post 
     Smrt U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,122 discloses a fence bracket for mounting adjacent fence rails in fixed relation with first and second fingers engaging the flange of the t-post. 
     The first two devices described above have various disadvantages. The metallic clasp of Gleason can be installed while wire is fixed on the post. However, the clasp is only capable of use with one type offence post, i.e. those having a recess on one face thereof This type offence post is not in wide use today and hence the Gleason clasp currently has limited usefulness. The Smrt patent is able to be used while the t-post is supporting other fencing, however its use is specific for holding rails and is shaped for that purpose. 
     There is a need for a t-post fence bracket that can be adjustable to any height and used to hold or secure a variety of materials including buckets, rails, tubs, chains, electronic equipment, solar panels and the like. A bracket that can support a large volume of weight is also needed. The need for a fence bracket as described that can also be used while the post is being used as a post for fencing is useful. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a fence bracket is provided for mounting rails, buckets or tubs for feeding or watering animals, other electronic equipment, electric eye or an item that needs to hang from the fence post such as a chain. The fence bracket is designed and adapted to be used on widely used metal fence posts and can be installed even while the post is supporting other fencing apparatus. The bracket is constructed of rigid material and is shaped relatively rectangular and has three plates that are stamped from one piece of rigid material to allow for the bracket to slip over and hang from the top of the post and attach to the post protrusions. The bracket attaches to a fence post having a substantially flat front face having width, and at least one rearwardly projecting protrusion. 
     More particularly, a first embodiment of the fence bracket of the present invention is particularly adapted for use on T-shaped metal fence posts having a rearward face with a series of protrusions longitudinally spaced along the face. The bracket includes a combination of three plates stamped from one piece of metal or rigid material. For ease of description the bracket is referred to as three plates. The most common means of manufacture is stamping from one piece that is shaped with the ends at an angle. The first plate, the top plate, is stamped to the second plate, a flat back plate, at approximately a 30 degree angle. The flat back plate and a third plate, the bottom plate, are stamped at approximately a 30 degree. A fourth plate may be stamped to the flat back plate. The top plate is formed with a cut out shaped and designed to fit over the top of the t-post. The flat back plate fits flat against the front of the t-post. The bottom plate is designed with a notch at the bottom edge to engage a protrusion of the t-post to limit movement of the bracket on the post. 
     A plastic tie is used to attach the bottom plate to the t-post rather that the nut and bolt, which may be the most common practice. In a second embodiment, the bottom plate can be adapted with a u-hook to the back side of the plate to be placed around the fence post and used to hold the bracket in place and prevent movement rather than the nut and bolt. Two screw holes are also cut into the bottom plate to further secure the bracket with nuts and bolts. The nut and bolt may be fastened through the t-post and holes of the bottom plate to permanently attach the bracket to the t-post. 
     The flat back plate is then utilized to attach a variety and unlimited number of items such as sensors, nozzles, solar panels, rings or u-hooks to hold a chain or rope between two t-posts, sections to hold a gate, support a salt block or any other number of uses. One or more fasteners, such as a screw, nut, bolt, may be driven through the flat back plate to securely fasten an object to them. As previously discussed, a fourth plate may be stamped to the flat back plate to attach or hold items. 
     The design of the bracket will support a large amount of weight in comparison to its size. The bracket when in use, encompasses the support of the upright t-post when supporting the weight of an object. The bracket is removable and portable as it is a lightweight bracket. More than one bracket may be place on one t-post or a series of brackets can be place on a series of t-post to hold a very long item up from the ground such as a rail or hose. The bracket is preferably a unitary member stamped from relatively heavy gauge sheet metal, plastic or other resilient material. 
     The bracket is easily assembled on the post and in the field. In some instances there is no need to remove the existing fencing apparatus which is already supported by the post in order to use the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the bracket of the present invention for use with T-shaped metal fence posts; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket showing the flat back plate with a plastic tie securing the bracket to the post and a fourth plate shown at a ninety degree angle; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of showing the bracket adapted with a unhook for attaching a chain; 
     FIG. 4 is a back view of the bracket showing the cut out in the top plate and the notch in the bottom plate and the flat back plate; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the bracket showing the angle of the top and bottom plates in relation to the middle plate. 
     FIG.  6 . is a front view of the bracket showing the middle plate angled from the flat back plate. 
     FIG.  7 . is a perspective view of another embodiment showing a vertical tube attached to the flat back plate. 
     FIG.  8 . is a perspective view of another embodiment showing pins attached to a horizontal length of rigid material attached to the flat back plate. 
     FIG.  9 . is a perspective view of another embodiment showing a horizontal tube attached to the flat back plate. 
     FIG.  10 . is a view of another bracket to be mounted to the flat back plate. 
     FIG.  11 . is a perspective view of a electric wire clamp attached to the flat back plate. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In FIG. 1, the bracket  10  is shown from the front. The bracket shown is particularly adapted for use with T-shaped fence posts. The flat back plate  12  is attached to the top plate  14  at approximately a 30 degree angle. The cut out  20  is designed to fit over the top of a t-post. The bottom plate  16  is also at approximately a 30 degree angle to the flat back plate  12 . The design of the top plate  14  and bottom plate  16  allows for the flat back plate  12  to rest against the t-post. There is a notch  22  on the bottom plate  16  to catch onto a protrusion of the t-post and hold the bracket  10  in place. A plastic tie  24  (or a nut and bolt not shown) is used to secure the bracket  10  onto the t-post. 
     FIG. 2 shows the bracket  10  from the back view. The t-post is shown with the bracket  10  secured to the front side of the post. The top plate  14  is fitted over the top of the t-post through the cut out  20 . The flat back plate  12  is resting against the length of the t-post. The bottom plate  16  is secured to the t-post by a plastic tie  24 . The optional middle plate  18  is shown at approximately a 90 degree angle from the flat back plate  12 . The middle plate  18  can be used to secure any type of electronic equipment, buckets, tubs, rails or any unlimited number of items. 
     FIG. 3 is showing a front view of the bracket  10  with a u-shaped hook  26  screwed to the flat back plate  12 . This is one way in which the bracket  10  can be utilized. The user can then attach a variety of items to the unshaped hook  26  such as chain or rope. The bracket  10  is able to support a high volume of weight compared to the size of the bracket due to the fact that the bracket  10  is attached to the t-post which is staked into the ground. 
     FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6  shown the bracket when not connected to the t-post. FIG. 4 is a back view of the bracket  10  showing the top plate  14  and bottom plate  16  relative to the flat back plate  12 . The cut out  20  is shown cut out of the top plate  14 . The notch  22  is shown cut out of the bottom plate  16 . FIG. 5 shows a side view of the bracket  10  with the top plate  14  and bottom plate  16  shown at the 30 degree angle from the flat back plate  12 . FIG. 6 shows the front view of the bracket  10  with the top plate  14  and bottom plate  16  relative to the flat back plate  12 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 9 show other embodiments in which tubes mounted vertically or horizontally are used for holding wire, hose, rope or the like. When the t-post are set up in a row having these type of brackets secured thereto, a wire, hose, or rope can be strung through the tubes from the first one to the next one and secure the wire, hose or rope off the ground. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a horizontal length of rigid metal hanging pins to which another bracket or the Eke may be attached. It may be desirable to attach another bracket or a piece of rigid material to the bracket of the subject invention to hold a fence post or bucket off the ground. This embodiment can serve that purpose. 
     FIG. 10 shows the attachment of another bracket by means of pins fitted into slide holes on the second bracket. This second bracket can house a variety of items at a different angle in relation to the t-post, such as a solar panel. 
     FIG. 11 shows the mounting of an electric fence insulator used with t-post electric wire fencing. It is desirable to have an electric wire running from t-post to t-post to contain animals in an enclosure. The electric wire must not come into contact with the metal post. This embodiment, allows the insulator to hold the electric wire without coming into contact with the bracket or t-post.