Abstract:
A nominally vertically disposed fence post comprises a wall defining an interior. A plurality of nominally horizontally disposed slots are located at equally spaced intervals along the length of the fence post and extend through the wall into the interior thereof. Selected slots receive fence wires therein. A keeper rod extends through the interior of the fence post between the wall and the fence wires to retain the fence wires in the slots. Electrified fence wires are each received in an insulated insert which is received in one of the slots and are retained therein by an insulated keeper rod.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of prior provisional Application Ser. No. 60/541,882 filed Feb. 4, 2004. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to fence posts, and more particularly to an improved fence post design which is both easier to use and more pleasing in appearance as compared with traditional fence posts.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Over the centuries fence posts have been manufactured from a wide variety of materials including unprocessed sticks and tree limbs, various wooden configurations manufactured by conventional wood processing techniques, metal tubes formed from iron, steel, and other metals, etc. A fence post design that is currently in wide spread use is formed from steel and is T-shaped in horizontal cross section. Protrusions are provided at equally spaced intervals along the length of the fence post to facilitate alignment of fence wires therewith.  
         [0004]     One difficulty that has heretofore been common to all fence post designs comprises the fact that a fastener of some type is necessary in order to secure each fence wire to each fence post. In the case of wooden fence posts, nails or cleats can be used to secure the fence wires to the fence post. In the case of the T-shaped fence post described above, clips are received around the fence wires and the fence post. The opposite ends of the clips are then twisted around one another to secure the fence wires in place.  
         [0005]     As will therefore be understood, the construction of a fence utilizing conventional fence post designs entails considerable expense due to the fact that each fence wire must be manually attached to each fence post. An additional difficulty involves the fact that the necessity of utilizing fasteners to attach fence wires to fence posts often results in a fence construction which is unsightly in appearance.  
         [0006]     The present invention comprises an improved fence post design which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties which have long sense characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, one or more side walls define an interior which may be open, partially enclosed, or fully enclosed. Nominally horizontally disposed slots are formed through the side wall and into the interior of the fence post. The horizontally disposed spots are located at equally spaced intervals along substantially the entire length of the fence post.  
         [0007]     In use, the fence post is driven into the ground in a nominally vertical orientation. Fence wires are positioned in some or all of the horizontally disposed slots comprising the fence post. The fence wires are fully seated in the slots after which a keeper rod is extended through the interior of the fence post between the wall of the fence post and the fence wires thereby retaining the fence wires within the horizontally disposed slots.  
         [0008]     In the case of an electrified fence, wire receiving inserts formed from an electrically insulating material are received in the horizontally disposed slots comprising the fence post. The fence wires are received in the inserts and are retained by keeper rod which is either formed from or covered with an insulating material.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a fence post comprising a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1  in the direction of the arrow;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the invention which is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with electrified fences.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a sixth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a seventh embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating an eighth embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the horizontal slots which are used in the practice of the invention; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the horizontal slots which are used in the practice of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2  thereof, there is shown a fence post  10  comprising a first embodiment of the invention. The fence post  10  comprises a wall  12  defining an interior  14 . The wall  12  of the fence post  10  comprises a unitary construction formed from steel or any other high strength, weather resistance material, however, multiple component walls may also be used in the practice of the invention. The interior  14  defined by the wall  12  may be either open as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or partially closed, or fully closed depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the invention.  
         [0022]     Referring specifically to  FIG. 1 , the lower end of the fence post  10  comprises a beveled point  16 . The beveled point  16  facilitates insertion of the fence post  10  into the ground. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other types and kinds of lower end configurations for the fence post  10  may be utilized in the practice of the invention dependent upon the requirements of particular applications thereof.  
         [0023]     The lower end of the fence post  10  is also provided with a spade  18 . The function of the spade  18  is to prevent removal of the fence post  10  after it is installed in the ground. The spade  18  also functions to prevent rotational movement of the fence post  10  in the vertical plane following installation thereof.  
         [0024]     Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , the wall  12  comprises a v-shaped front section  20  which extends to spaced, parallel side sections  22 . The side sections  22  in turn extend to flanges  24  which extend perpendicularly outwardly from the side sections  22 . The wall  12  has a height H 1  which is configured for optimal resistance to bending in the direction extending parallel to the wall  12 . The configuration of the wall  12  as shown in  FIG. 2  provides an interior  14  which is entirely open. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the flanges  24  can also extend inwardly from the wall sections  22  thereby providing an interior  14  which is partially enclosed. The flanges  24  can also extend inwardly from the wall sections  22  a sufficient distance to engage one another in which case the interior  14  is entirely enclosed.  
         [0025]     The fence post  10  differs from prior fence post designs in that the fence post  10  is provided with a plurality of nominally horizontally disposed slots  30 . As is best shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the slots  30  extends through the wall  12  comprising the fence post  10  and into the interior  14  thereof. As is best shown in  FIG. 1  the slots  30  are located at equally spaced intervals along substantially the entire length thereof. Although the slots  30  are illustrated in the drawings as being equally spaced, the fencepost  10  may also be manufactured with the slots  30  unequally spaced. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, it is not necessary to provide slots  30  in the portion of the fence post  10  that will be underground following installation thereof. However, the slots  30  may be provided at equally spaced intervals along the entire length of the fence post  10  depending upon the particular process that is utilized in the manufacture of the fence post  10 .  
         [0026]     Utilization of the fence post  10  begins with installation of the fence post into the ground. The fence post  10  is installed using any of a variety of well know fence post installation techniques. The fence post  10  is typically installed in a nominally vertical or plumb orientation, however, other orientations of the fence post  10  may be utilized depending upon the requirements of particular applications thereof.  
         [0027]     The following installation of the fence post  10  in the ground, fence wires  32  are installed in one or more of the slots  30 . Each fence wires  32  is fully seated in its corresponding slot  30 . Following the positioning of the fence wires  32  in the slots  30 , a keeper rod  34  is extended through the interior  14  of the fence post  10  between the wall  12  and the fence wires  32 . The keeper rod  32  may be formed from the same material that is utilized in the manufacture of the fence post  10  and/or the fence wires  32 . Alternatively, the keeper rod  34  may be formed from steel or other metals, fiberglass, various plastics and other polymerics, and other materials, provided only that the keeper rod  34  is sufficiently strong and tough to resist breakage during utilization of a fence that is constructed from fence post comprising the present invention and sufficiently resistant to deterioration due to weather.  
         [0028]     In actual practice the keeper rod  34  may be installed by first pushing the uppermost fence wire  32  into its corresponding slot  30  as far as possible, inserting the keeper rod  34  into the upper end of the fence post  10  until it moves past the uppermost fence wire  32  and the uppermost slot  30 , thereafter pushing the next lower fence wire  32  as far as possible into its corresponding slot  30 , moving the keeper rod  34  downwardly until it is past the second fence wire  32  and its corresponding slot  30 , etc. When the keeper rod  34  is fully seated in the fence post  10  thereby retaining all of the fence wires  32  in their respective slots  30 , the upper end of the keeper rod  34  is typically aligned with the upper end of the fence post  10 . However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is also possible to move the upper end of the keeper rod  34  further downwardly relative to the fence post  10  provided only that the upper end of the keeper rod  34  has not moved downwardly sufficiently to disengage the keeper rod  34  from the uppermost fence wire  32 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 3  there is shown a fence post  40  comprising a second embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the fence post  40  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the fence post  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 3  with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the fence post  10 , but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.  
         [0030]     The fence post  40  comprises a triangularly shaped wall  42 . The wall  42  comprises three interconnected panels  42   a ,  42   b  and  42   c.  As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, when the wall  42   c  is utilized the interior  14 ′ of the fence post  40  is completely enclosed. However, the wall  42   c  may be dispensed with entirely in which case the interior  14 ′ of the fence post  40  is open. The wall  42   c  can also comprise inwardly turned flanges in which case the interior  14 ′ Lastly, the wall  42   c  can comprise outwardly turn flanges similar to the flanges  24  of the fence post  10  as shown in  FIG. 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 4  there is shown a fence post  50  comprising a third embodiment of the invention. The fence post  50  includes numerous component parts which are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the fence post  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 4  with the same reference numerals utilized in the description of the fence post  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.  
         [0032]     The fence post  50  differs from the fence post  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in that the fence post  50  comprises a wall  52  which is square or rectangular in configuration. The horizontally disposed slots  30 ′ extend into the wall  52  through one corner  54  thereof thereby extending into the interior  14 ′ of the fence post  50 .  
         [0033]     A fence post  60  comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Many of the component parts of the fence post  60  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the fence post  10  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 5  with the same reference numerals utilized in conjunction with the description of the fence post  10  but are differentiated therefrom by prime (′) designation.  
         [0034]     The fence post  60  differs from the fence post  10  in that the wall  62  thereof is round. Thus, the wall  62  may comprise a length of pipe formed from steel or other metals, fiberglass, polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other polymerics, etc. with the only requirements for the selection of the material to be utilized in the construction of the wall  62  being sufficient strength and weather resistance to meet the requirements of particular applications of the invention. As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the cross section of the wall  62  is not necessarily round, but can be oval, etc.  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates a fence post  70  comprising a fifth embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the fence post  70  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the fence post  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 6  with the same reference numerals utilized in the description of the fence post  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.  
         [0036]     The fence post  70  is particularly adapted for use with fences in which the fence wires  72  are electrified. Rather than being received directly in the horizontally disposed slots  30 ′, the electrified fence wires  72  are received in inserts  74  which are formed from an insulating material. The inserts  74  are in turn received in the slots  30 ′ formed in the wall  12 ′ comprising the fence post  70 . The fence post  70  further differs from the fence post  10  in that the keeper rod  76  is either formed from an insulating material or is coated with an insulating material. Thus, by means of the inserts  72  and the construction of the keeper rod  76 , the electrified fence wires  32 ′ are entirely isolated from the wall  12 ′ of the fence post  70  thereby preventing grounding of the electrified wires  32 ′.  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrates a fence post  80  comprising a sixth embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the fence post  80  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the fence post  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 7  with the same reference numerals utilized in the description of the fence post  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (′) designation.  
         [0038]     The fence post  80  differs from the fence post  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in that the fence post  80  comprises side sections  22 ′ which are not perpendicular, but extend from the v-shaped front section  20 ′ side section  22 ′ construction enables the fence post  80  to be manufactured more easily as compared with the perpendicular side sections  22 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  illustrates a fence post  90  comprising a seventh embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the fence post  90  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the fence post  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 8  with the same reference numerals utilized in the description of the fence post  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (″) designation.  
         [0040]     The fence post  90  differs from the fence post  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in that the fence post  90  comprises shorter side sections  22 ″. As a result of the shorter side sections  22 ″, the wall  12 ″ has a height H 2 . The shorter wall  12 ″ requires less raw material and is therefore less expensive to manufacture than embodiments having the taller wall  12 , having height Hi. Although the shorter wall  12 ″ does not provide the same bending resistance as the taller wall  12 , the strength sacrificed is minimal and does not impact the intended performance or durability of the fence post  90 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 9  illustrates a fence post  100  comprising an eighth embodiment of the invention. Many of the component parts of the fence post  100  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the fence post  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 9  with the same reference numerals utilized in the description of the fence post  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (″) designation.  
         [0042]     The fence post  100  differs from the fence post  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in that the fence post  100  comprises side sections  22 ″ which are not perpendicular, but extend from the v-shaped front section  20 ″ at an angle. Additionally, the side sections  22 ″ are shorter in height than the side sections  22  of fence post  10 . The wall  12 ″ has a height H 2 , requiring less raw material for the manufacture thereof. The shorter wall  12 ″ and the angled side sections  22 ″ present an embodiment which is more easily manufactured and at lesser cost as compared with other embodiments of the invention described herein.  
         [0043]      FIG. 10  illustrates a portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . The fence post  10  is provided with a plurality of nominally horizontally disposed slots  30  having a width W 1 . Slots  30  having width W 1  are sized appropriately for receiving a varying sizes of fence wire.  
         [0044]      FIG. 11  illustrates a portion of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . Many of the component parts of the fence post  110  are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the fence post  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  10  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts are designated in  FIG. 11  with the same reference numerals utilized in the description of the fence post  10  but are differentiated therefrom by means of a prime (″′) designation.  
         [0045]     The fence post  110  differs from the fence post  10  of  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  10  in that the fence post  110  comprises nominally horizontally disposed slots  30 ″′ having a width W 2  which is substantially greater than width W 1 . Slots  30 ″′ having width W 2  accommodate more easily accommodate misalignments of fence wires used in the practical of the invention.  
         [0046]     Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.