Improvements in Earth Plates for Fencing Standards.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1895-Accepted, 20th July, 1835
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Earth Plates for Fencing Standards.
We, JAMES KENNAN and WILLIAMS THOMAS KENNAN of Fishamble Street,
Dublin, Ireland, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to improvements in iron or steel earth plates driven
vertically into the ground, by means of which the standards or posts of iron and
steel fences are afforded lateral support.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively side and end views of the improved earth
plate.
Fig. 3 is a plan of same.
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively side and end views of a modified form of earth
plate constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 6 is an inverted plan of same.
Fig. 7 illustrates the plate with curved and square ends.
We make the earth plate A of iron or steel with a hole H at or about is centre,
of suitable form for the post or standard S to pass through. This plate A is bent
transversely and obliquely downwards close to the hole so as to afford a vertical
bearing surface on each of two opposite sides or edges of the standard.
The ends A A¹ of the plate may be pointed or bevelled as shown in Fig. 1, or
the lower edges may be square or curved as in Fig. 7, or of any shape convenient
for driving into the ground.
To provide additional lateral support for the standard beyond that afforded by
its bearings in the holes H and by the inner vertical faces of the plate A, we in
one form of our invention cut a notch N, Fig. 1 in each of the inner oblique edges
of the plate where they cross the standard, and the two ends A' A' of the plate
are bent inwards from about the top edge or level of the notch as shown in Fig. 2
so that the vertical edges of the notches form bearings or shoulders to give lateral
support to the standard in opposite directions to one another and at right angles to
the faces of the plate A. Instead of cutting out the piece at the notch N, only the
upper or horizontal edge of the notch may be cut and the piece N Fig. 34 bent
back at right angles to complete the notch without making a vertical cut; the bent
piece N2 will then bear against the standard S in the same way as the vertical edge
of the notch before described. When the earth plate is driven down into the
ground the before mentioned inward bend or converging ends A'A' cause the
vertical sides to press closely against the standard S holding the several bearings in
their proper position.
In another form of our invention, instead of cutting notches as before described,
we substitute creases or bent shoulders, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 by making in
the oblique edges of the earth plate where they cross the standard, a vertical
crease or shoulder C to bear against the standard in like manner as already
explained for the upright edges of the notches, and affording similar lateral
support.
By the combination of bearing surfaces and edges or shoulders thus provided by
either form of our invention respectively the earth plate A, while free to move

page_text: vertically on the standard, bears against it both around the hole H and also
laterally in opposite directions at the shoulders formed by the notches N N or
creases C C in the oblique edges of the plate.
To use this invention the standard S is set upright at the required depth in the
ground and the earth plate A with the points A A¹ turned downwards, is passed
over it and then driven into the earth till the upper face H of the earth plate A
is at or below the surface of the ground; it may then be firmly secured to the
standard by a wedge W.
The drawings show the improved earth plate as applied to a flat bar standard,
but the standards or posts used with these earth plates may be of any other
convenient section, square, round, single or double bulb L, T, H, or any other
section usually employed for fence standards, the hole and notches or creases in the
earth plate being shaped to suit the section of standard used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An earth plate for fence standards constructed with two sides bent obliquely
downwards in opposite directions and notched or creased to form bearing shoulders
for the standard, and with the ends beut inwards as and for the purpose herein
described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In earth plates for fencing standards, the application and use of notches N, N,
or creases C, C, in the manner substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The improvements in earth plates for fencing standards substantially as
described.
Dated 12th Tuna 1805
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.