Abstract:
A wire holder ( 10 ) to attach wire ( 22 ) to metal posts known as star pickets ( 23 ) which comprise three equi-spaced flanges ( 24 ) at least one of which being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures ( 25 ). The holder ( 10 ) includes a capturing part ( 12 ) and an attaching part ( 19 ) which may be separate or integral. The capturing part ( 12 ) is located about the picket ( 23 ) to capture the wire ( 22 ) and terminates in first and second ends ( 13, 14 ), adapted to be located on opposite sides of the flange ( 24 ) adjacent the aperture ( 25 ); and the attaching part ( 19 ) cooperates with the capturing part ( 12 ) to secure the holder ( 10 ) to the picket ( 23 ). The first and second ends ( 13, 14 ) can be of various configurations, including two looped portions through which a U-shaped attaching part ( 19 ) may pass through, or a single loop at one end with a pin-like member at the other end.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to wire or line holders and in particular but not exclusively to holders for securing wires or other elongated members to posts for fencing purposes.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002]     Fences, particularly in rural areas, are commonly constructed of metal posts known as star pickets which comprise three equi-spaced flanges, at least one of the flanges being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures therein with lengths of wire being attached to the respective pickets. Usually, the wire is under tension being strained between end supporting posts. The wire may comprise barbed wire or plain wire or alternatively electrified wire to form an electrified fence and usually the fence is multi-stranded. The fencing wire is required to be tied off at each post and this is conventionally achieved by passing short lengths of stiff tie wires through the respective apertures in the posts and wrapping opposite ends of the wire around the fencing wire. This is obviously a very time consuming and labour intensive process. Removal of the tie wires is also difficult if replacement of the fencing wire is required or restraining is necessary. Tying off of electrified wire poses particular problems as that wire is required to be insulated from the pickets.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention aims to provide a wire or line holder particularly but not exclusively suited for attaching fencing wire or line to posts or pickets of the type as herein before described which is relatively simple to apply and which will provide an effective and secure attaching means for the wire or line. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.  
         [0004]     According to the present invention, there is provided a holder for attaching a fencing wire, line or the like to a post having a portion having at least one aperture therein, said holder including a capturing part and an attaching part, wherein: 
        said capturing part is adapted to be located about and capture said fencing wire or line and terminates in first and second ends;     said first and second ends are adapted to be located on opposite sides of said post portion adjacent said aperture;     at least one of said ends has an end portion adapted to be aligned with or extend through said aperture in said post portion; and     said attaching part is adapted to co-operate with said capturing part to secure said holder to said post.        
 
         [0009]     Said capturing part may be in the form of a loop and may be further or alternatively adapted to capture an insulating block through which an electrified wire may pass.  
         [0010]     Said attaching part, when co-operating with said capturing part, may be adapted to prevent or restrain movement of said first and second ends away from each other to resist detachment of said holder from said post.  
         [0011]     In one preferred form of the present invention, said attaching part is separate from said capturing part.  
         [0012]     In another preferred form of the present invention, said attaching part is integral with said capturing part.  
         [0013]     In those embodiments wherein said attaching part is separate from said capturing part: 
        each of said first and second ends terminate in a respective substantially looped portion and said attaching part is adapted to pass through each of said looped portion and said aperture;     said first and second ends are either spaced apart at least the width of said post portion so as to be located on said opposite sides of said post portion, or are adapted to be forced apart in use to locate on said opposite sides of said post portion; and     preferably, said attaching part is of U-shaped configuration and is wider than the width of said post portion plus said first and second ends such that the legs of said attaching part span, and retain therebetween, said first and second ends sufficient to resist detachment of said holder from said post.        
 
         [0017]     In those embodiments of the present invention wherein said attaching part and said capturing part are formed integrally: 
        said first end may terminate in a substantially looped portion;     when said first end terminates in a substantially looped portion, said attaching part includes said second end, said second end terminating in a pin-like member which, when said holder is in use, is adapted to pass through said aperture and extend into said looped portion;     preferably, said pin-like member is biased to extend into said looped portion and is of sufficient resilience to resist detachment of said holder from said post;     preferably, said capturing part, near said first end having said looped portion, is provided with a shoulder spaced from said looped portion a distance sufficient to abut, in use, a side edge of said post portion adjacent said aperture therein to support said holder to prevent it from pivoting downwardly about said post aperture under load;     said first end may be adapted to pass through said aperture and is of a configuration such that, when located within said aperture, its withdrawal therefrom is constrained;     preferably, said configuration is such that, when said first end is located within said aperture, said first end is constrained against its detachment axially of said aperture or in a direction at right angles to the axis of said aperture;     said first end may be configured to include a stepped tongue or hook having a first part which, in use, extends through and is located within said aperture, and a second leading part which is located behind said aperture;     said second end may terminate in a pin-like member which, when said holder is in use, is adapted to pass through said aperture;     preferably, said first and second ends are resiliently biased towards each other.     preferably, said holder is further provided with a shoulder spaced from said first end a distance sufficient to abut, in use, a side edge of said post portion adjacent said aperture therein to support said holder to prevent it from pivoting downwardly about said post aperture under load; 
 
 All components of the holder of the present invention can be manufactured from any suitable material(s) known in the art and typically include a stiff resilient wire or strip-like material which may be of metal or plastic or a combination thereof.
       
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0029]     In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates, in perspective view, the components of a first holder according to the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates two holders of  FIG. 1  in an operative engagement with a star picket and holding fencing wires;  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a view showing a star picket in cross section at an aperture therein and the form of engagement of the first holder of  FIG. 1  with the picket;  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates, in perspective view, a second holder according to the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates, in perspective view, an insulating block for use with the holder of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates two holders of  FIG. 4  engaged with a star picket and holding fencing wires;  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a view showing a star picket in cross section at an aperture therein and the form of engagement of the second holder with the picket;  
         [0037]      FIG. 1A  illustrates, in perspective view, a third holder according to the present invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 2A  illustrates, in perspective view, an insulating block for use with the holder of  FIG. 1A ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 3A  illustrates three holders of the form shown in  FIG. 1A  engaged with a star picket and holding fencing wires; and  
         [0040]      FIG. 4A  is a view showing a star picket in cross-section at an aperture therein and the form of engagement of the third holder with the picket.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0041]     Referring to the drawings  FIGS. 1-7  and firstly to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated the components of a holder  10  according to an embodiment of the invention which is in the form of a clip and comprising a first member  11  formed typically of wire and having a looped generally circular main portion  12  which terminates in opposite free ends  13  and  14 . The ends  13  and  14  are turned back on themselves to define opposite return hooks  15  and  16 . The ends  13  and  14  are spaced apart a distance to locate over a flange of a star picket as described further below and the hooks  15  and  16  are substantially laterally aligned. Whilst the ends  13  and  14  are shown to be in the form of hooks  15  and  16 , it will be appreciated that the hooks  15  and  16  may be fully closed to form eyes. In either case, openings  17  and  18  are formed in the ends  13  and  14 . The clip  10  also includes a second member  19  which is again typically formed of wire and of a generally U-shaped configuration including opposite legs  20  joined to and integral with a cross member  21 .  
         [0042]     In use, one of the legs  20  of the member  19  is inserted into the aligned openings  17  and  18  defined by the hooks  15  and  16  until the cross member  21  is located in the hook opening  17  and  18 . The legs  20  are spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between the hooks  15  and  16 .  
         [0043]     The clip  10  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , is primarily designed for attaching a fencing wire  22  to a star picket  23  of conventional form having three angled flanges, one of which  24  has a series of apertures  25  at spaced positions therealong. The clip member  11  is initially placed over the wire  22  which locates within the looped main portion  12 . The ends  13  and  14  are then positioned on opposite sides of the flange  24  at the location of one of the apertures  25  and such that the openings  17  and  18  of the hooks  15  and  16  are substantially aligned with the aperture  25 . The member  19  is then inserted into the openings  17  and  18  and aperture  25  and released to adopt a generally vertical hanging attitude with the legs  20  located on opposite side of the flange  24  and the cross member  21  extending through the hooks  13  and  14  and flange  24 . The looped portion  12  in this position is substantially upright with the axis through the looped portion generally horizontal.  
         [0044]     By the above arrangement, the wire  22  is secured to the star picket  23  as the ends  13  and  14  of the member  11  are prevented from moving apart by the legs  20 . The member  11  can only be detached from the picket  23  by extracting the member  19 . It may be necessary for this purpose to urge the legs  20  apart to effect detachment of the member  19 .  
         [0045]     The clip  10  may be used for securing the plain wire to star pickets  23  or alternatively may be used in the same manner for securing a barbed wire  26  (shown in dotted outline) to pickets  23 . Additionally, the clip  10  may be used for securing an electrically charged wire to pickets  23  for the purposes of constructing an electric fence. For the latter purpose, an insulation block  27  made of plastics or other insulating material is located within the looped portion  12  of the main portion  11  of the clip member  11 . The block  27  has a slot  28  leading into a central aperture  29  in the block  26  into which an electrical fence wire  30  can be passed to be captured. The block  27  has a groove in its periphery for receipt of the looped portion  12 . The clip  10  is then attached to the picket  23  in the same manner as described above with the insulation block  27  insulating the wire  30  from the picket  23 .  
         [0046]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 , there is illustrated a further wire holder in the form of clip  31  according to another embodiment of the invention which is one piece and suitably formed of a relatively stiff resilient wire. The clip  31  includes a main looped portion  32  of generally circular form terminating in a first end  33  defining an eye  34  formed by folding the end  33  back upon itself and a second end  35  defining a pin-like member  36 . The end  33  is stepped outwardly from the main looped portion  32  at shoulder  37  with the distance between the eye  34  and shoulder  37  being approximately the same or a slightly greater distance than the distance between the aperture  25  in a star picket  23  and the outer edge of the flange  24  thereof for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The other end  35  extends from the looped portion  32  generally parallel to the end  33  except at the pin-like member  36  which is turned inwardly substantially at right angles to the end  33  and eye  34 .  
         [0047]     In use, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the ends  33  and  35  may be moved resiliently apart to pass about a fencing wire  22  which will thus locate within the main looped portion  32 . The end  33  is then positioned on one side of the flange  24  and the eye  34  is aligned with the aperture  25  whilst the end  35  is positioned on the other side of the flange  24  with the pin-like member  36  being aligned with the aperture  25  and eye  34 . When released, the resilience of the material of the clip  31  will force the pin-like member  36  through the aperture  25  in the picket flange  24  and eye  34  to thus retain the clip  31  to the star picket  23  and attach the wire  22  thereto. When the clip  31  is held to the star picket  23  as described, the shoulder  37  will abut the edge  38  of the flange  24  which will prevent the clip  31  from swinging downwardly under load. It will also be apparent that when the clip  31  is attached as above, the looped portion  32  is substantially upright to capture the wire  22 .  
         [0048]     For release of the wire  22 , the ends  33  and  35  may be simply forced apart to release the pin-like member  34  from the eye  33  and aperture  25  and then the wire  22 .  
         [0049]     Typically, where the clip  31  is used with a star picket  23  of the type having flange apertures spaced 16 mm from the longitudinal edge of the flange  24 , the distance between the eye  34  and shoulder  37  is also approximately 16 mm and the shoulder  37  is preferably of a width of approximately 5 mm. The looped portion  32  is preferably of a diameter of approximately 26 mm and the pin-like member  36  of approximately 12 mm in length. The eye  34  may be of any form such as rectangular or circular or simply may be in the form of a hook.  
         [0050]     As with the embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  3 , the clip  31  may be used for securing a plain wire or a barbed wire to the picket  23 . The clip  30  may also be used to secure an electrified wire to the picket  23  by means of an insulation block  39  (see  FIG. 5 ), the lafter having an opening  40  and a slot  41  leading into the opening  40  through which the electric wire  33  may be passed. The insulation block  36  is externally grooved to receive the looped portion  32  of the clip  31  which resiliently engages the block  36  and captures the block  32  when the clip  31  is secured to the picket  23  in the same manner as described above.  
         [0051]     The clips  10  and  32  may be used for attaching any form of wire or line to star pickets and for some requirements, clips  10  and  32  may be used for attaching both an electrified and non-electrified wire to the picket. The clips  10  and  32  additionally may be used with other forms of post which have openings and which are configured such as to enable a clip  10  or  32  to be engaged therewith.  
         [0052]     Typically, the clips  10  and  32  are formed of wire, typically a resilient wire. However, the clips may also be formed of other materials such as strip like materials. It is also possible to form the clips  10  and  32  of plastics material or a combination of metal and plastics.  
         [0053]     The clips  10  and  32  may be installed to hold wires or lines to the posts before the wires are strained. Alternatively, the clips  10  and  32  may be installed to hold strained wires to posts. It will also be appreciated that both forms of clip  10  and  32  may be readily attached and detached to posts as required.  
         [0054]     Referring now to the drawings  FIGS. 1A-4A  and firstly to  FIG. 1A , there is illustrated a holder  50  according to an embodiment of the invention, the holder  50  being a clip-like member and being formed in one piece typically of relatively stiff resilient wire and having a looped main portion  51  which terminates in opposite free ends  52  and  53 .  
         [0055]     The first end  52  includes a first portion  54  which extends generally at right angles to one side of the looped main portion  51  and substantially parallel to the axis thereof and a second arm portion  55  which extends from the first portion  54  and in a direction away from the looped main portion  51  but substantially parallel to the plane of the looped main portion  51 . A stepped integrally formed tongue- or hook-like member  56  is provided at the end of the arm portion  55  defined by a portion  57  extending substantially at right angles from the second portion  55  and substantially parallel to the first portion  54  and a fourth lead-in portion  58  which extends substantially at right angles from the third portion  56 . In the embodiment illustrated, the lead-in portion  58  extends substantially parallel to the arm portion  55  but may extend in any direction from the third portion  57  as illustrated for example in dotted outline in  FIG. 1A . The configuration of the tongue or hook-like member  56  is such that when inserted into an aperture, it can only be detached by pivoting it to move the lead-in portion  58  towards a position in alignment with the aperture and it cannot be detached from the aperture by simple movement axially of, or at right angles to, the aperture.  
         [0056]     The other free end  53  of the holder  10  extends in the same direction as the end  52  and includes an arm portion  59  which extends from the looped portion  51  generally in the plane of the portion  51  and substantially parallel to the arm portion  55 . The arm portion  59  terminates in an end portion in the form of an inwardly turned pin-like member  60  which is substantially at right angles to the plane of the looped portion  51  and which extends towards the end  52 .  
         [0057]     The clip-like holder  10  is adapted to be used with a post such as a star picket  61  (see  FIGS. 3A and 4A ) having three radially spaced flanges  62 , one of which is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apertures  63 . The first and second portions  54  and  55  of the end  52  form a shoulder  64  which is spaced from the tongue-like member  56  a distance approximately the same as or slightly greater distance than the distance between an aperture  63  in the flange  61  and the outer edge  65  of the flange  61  thereof for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.  
         [0058]     In use and for attaching a fencing wire  66  to the star picket  61 , the ends  52  and  53  of the holder  50  may be moved resiliently apart to pass about the fencing wire  66  which will thus locate within the main looped portion  51 . The end  52  is then positioned on one side of the flange  62  containing the apertures  63  and angled such that the lead-in portion  58  can pass through the aperture  63  and locate on the opposite side of the flange  62  with the third portion  57  extending through and being located within the aperture  63 . At the same time, the pin-like member  60  of the other end  53  is aligned with the aperture  63  such that when the end  53  is released, the resilience of the material of the holder  50  will force the pin-like member  60  into the aperture  63  in the picket flange  62 . The cooperation between the ends  52  and  53  with the aperture  63  prevents detachment of the holder  50  from the star picket  61  and thus securely attaches the wire  66  to the star picket  61 . When the holder  50  is engaged with the star picket  60  as described, the shoulder  64  will abut the edge  65  of the flange  62  which will prevent the holder  50  from swinging downwardly under load. It will also be apparent that when the holder  50  is attached as above, the looped portion  51  is substantially upright with the axis through the looped portion generally horizontal to capture the wire  66 .  
         [0059]     For release of the wire  66 , the end  53  is forced away from the picket flange  62  to release the pin-like member  60  from the aperture  63  and the holder  50  may then be manipulated so as to enable the tongue-like member  56  to be withdrawn from the aperture  63 . The ends  52  and  53  may then be moved apart to release the wire  66 .  
         [0060]     The holder  50  may be used for securing the plain wire  66  to star pickets  61  or alternatively may be used in the same manner for securing a barbed wire  67  (shown in dotted outline) to pickets  61 . Additionally, the holder  50  may be used for securing an electrically charged wire to pickets  61  for the purposes of constructing an electric fence. For the latter purpose, an insulation block  68  made of plastics or other insulating material (see  FIG. 2A ) is located within the looped portion  51  of the holder  50 . The block  68  has a slot  69  leading into a central aperture  70  in the block  68  into which an electrical fence wire  71  can be passed to be captured. The block  68  has a groove  72  in its periphery for receipt of the looped portion  51 , the looped portion  51  of the holder  50  resiliently engaging the block  68  and capturing the block  68 . The holder  50  is then attached to the picket  61  in the same manner as described above and as shown in  FIG. 3A  with the insulation block  68  insulating the wire  71  from the picket  61 . Typically, where the holder  50  is used with a star picket  61  of the type having flange apertures  63  spaced 16 mm from the longitudinal edge of the flange  61 , the distance between the tongue-like member  56  and shoulder  64  is also approximately 16 mm and the shoulder  64  is preferably of a width of approximately 5 mm. The looped portion  51  is preferably of a diameter of approximately 26 mm. However, of course, it is not necessary that the looped portion  51  be circular. The above dimensions, of course, may be varied.  
         [0061]     The holder  50  may be used for attaching any form of wire or line to star pickets and, in some cases, holders  50  may be used for attaching both an electrified and non-electrified wire to the picket. The holders  50  additionally may be used with other forms of post which have openings and which are configured such as to enable a holder  50  to be engaged therewith.  
         [0062]     Typically, the holders  50  are formed of wire, typically a stiff resilient wire. However, the holders  50  may also be formed of other materials such as strip like materials. It is also possible to form the holders  50  of plastics material or a combination of metal and plastics.  
         [0063]     The holders  50  may be installed to hold wires or lines to the posts before wires are strained. Alternatively, the holders  50  may be installed to hold strained wires to posts.  
         [0064]     Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiments of the invention, all variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the following claims.