Abstract:
An apparatus and method of use thereof for attaching barbed wire to metal fence posts, using conventional tie wire members. A handled rod with a distal recess receives terminal ends of conventional tie wires, with the rod apparatus, engaged with the tie wire member, manipulating the tie wire to encircle a barbed wire segment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to methods for attaching barbed wire to fence posts.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Assembling or repairing barbed wire fences is a tedious and time-consuming process. Barbed wire is typically attached to metal fence post using a metal apparatus known as a tie-wire. These tie-wires are placed around the fence post and barbed wire. The ends of the tie-wire are then manually twisted around the barbed wire on either side of the fence post to secure the barbed wire to the fence post. Pliers are typically used in this operation.  
         [0005]     Using pliers to manipulate tie wires relative to barbed wire is cumbersome, and the user typically encounters several problems in the course of installing barbed wire in this manner. Pliers often slip off the tie-wire, causing possible injury, either as the motion propels the user&#39;s arm into a barb of the barbed wire, or as the pliers physically hit the user. Also, the user must remove the pliers from the tie-wire for various reasons, such as the pliers being too long and hitting the barbed wire already in place, or the placement of the fence post making it difficult for the user to reach the tie-wire. When the user places the pliers back on the tie-wire, in a different position, the user must take care to avoid barbed wire already in place. Further still, using pliers to attached barbed wire usually involves switching hands, thus making it difficult to maintain constant pressure and avoiding slippage (with possible injury, as already mentioned).  
         [0006]     The protective gloves which are virtually required for carrying out the conventional barbed wire installation process even further complicates the process. The gloves are typically thick and bulky in order to protect the user from potential harm. The protective characteristics of the glove hamper the ability of the user to manipulate the pliers efficiently. The gloves also make it difficult to grasp and maintain hold of the pliers, which still further increases the likelihood that the pliers will slip off the tie-wire, causing possible injuries as previously described.  
         [0007]     The problems above, while seeming insignificant when taken one tie wire installation at a time, become quite significant when multiplied by the number of installations in a typical barbed wire fence project.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for attaching barbed wire to fence posts.  
         [0009]     In satisfaction of these and related objectives, Applicant&#39;s present invention provides an apparatus and method of use thereof that substantially simplifies and accelerates the attachment of barbed wire to fence posts, while still using conventional and readily available tie wires. This, in turn, increases the amount of fence that may be constructed or repaired in a single day, as well as prevents injuries associated with present methods involving the use of pliers and similar tools. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  shows the screwdriver-like apparatus  
         [0011]      FIGS. 2-7  show the step-by-step process of attaching the tie-wire to the fence post using the apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]     Referring to  FIG. 1  the tie-wire attachment apparatus  5  comprises handle  10  and receiving end  15 . The preferred embodiment of handle  10  is a substantially cylindrical segment comprising a light material such as plastic or wood (although other materials may be substituted, with durability and manufacturing costs being the primary considerations).  
         [0013]     Handle  10  allows a user to easily grasp and maintain hold of the apparatus  5 . Handle  10  is attached to a receiver rod  15  at handle front end  8 . Receiver rod  15  is a solid cylindrical structure that attaches to handle  10  at handle end  17 , and includes a receiving tip  20  at its front end  22 . The preferred embodiment of receiver rod  15  consists of a solid metal cylinder that is greater in diameter than a conventional tie-wire  30 . Metal is preferred because of the added strength and durability it provides.  
         [0014]     Receiving tip  20  includes a cylindrical recess  24  coaxially centered with the long axis of receiver rod  15 , and is located at front receiving end  22 . Recess  24  is slightly greater in diameter than that of a conventional tie-wire  30 , thereby allowing an end of tie wire  30  to be received within recess  24 .  
         [0015]     Recess  24  is formed with a depth that allows it to receive a length of tie-wire  30  sufficient to provide effective engagement between apparatus  5  and tie wire  30 , for the required manipulations of tie wire  30  (to be described hereafter), yet short enough to allow for the terminal end of the tie-wire  30  to be tightly wrapped around barbed wire  50 .  
         [0016]      FIGS. 2 through 6  show a progression of the attachment of tie-wire  30  to barbed wire  50  using tie-wire attachment apparatus  5 .  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , tie-wire  30  is placed around fence post  55  with tie-wire first terminal segment  35  and second terminal segment  40  placed in front of barbed wire  50 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , recess  24  of receiving tip  20  is placed onto first terminal segment  35 , by inserting first terminal segment  35  into receiving tip  20  to the point where the first terminal segment  35  can be inserted no further.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 3-5  tie-wire attachment apparatus  5  is manipulated in such a manner as to encircle barbed wire  50  until substantially the entire tie-wire terminal segment  35  is wrapped completely around barbed wire  50 . During the manipulation, receiving tip  20  should continually be engaged with tie wire  30  to the greatest extent possible, after which tie-wire attachment apparatus  5  is removed from first terminus segment  35 .  
         [0020]     Receiving tip  20  is next engaged with the second terminal segment  40  of tie wire  30 , by inserting second terminal segment  40  into recess  24  to the point where the second terminal segment  40  can be inserted no further. Tie-wire attachment apparatus  5  is manipulated in such a manner as to encircle barbed wire  50  until the entire tie-wire second terminal segment  40  is wrapped substantially completely around barbed wire  50 , after which tie-wire attachment apparatus  5  is removed from second terminal segment  40 .  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , after the above operations, tie-wire  30  is completely engaged with barbed wire  50 , holding barbed wire  50  tightly in place relative to fence post  55 .  
         [0022]     Experience teaches that the above apparatus and method provide for considerably faster fence erection times and far fewer opportunities for injury to workers.  
         [0023]     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.