Improvement in Fence Posts.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 12th May, 1900
Improvement in Fence Posts.
I, JOHN A. RIGGS, of Sheridan, Oklahoma Territory, United States of America,
Farmer, Stock Raiser, and Justice of the Peace, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a fence-post adapted to support either
wire runners or wooden rails at varying distances apart and of an indestructable
and fire-proof construction, wherein the parts are simple and effective for the pur-
poses desired, strong and durable, and easily and cheaply manufactured.
The
The invention comprises an outer cast or other suitable metallic casing which is
tubular in form, and from the ground line upwardly is constructed with a slot,
extending entirely through the length of the upper portion of the post.
lower portion of the post is tubular and supplied with a suitable wood or other fill-
ing which extends upwardly through the upper portion of the post, and is exposed,
in a manner which will be presently specified, through the slot. The said filling
may be inserted from the top and is made to conform in contour to the shape of
the inner portion of the casing and, after being inserted, a screw-cap is applied
to the top of the post. The wood or other filling is adapted to be surrounded by
sheet metal, such as tin, zinc, galvanized iron, copper or other analogous material,
and the upper covered portion of the filling is exposed through the slot in the
upper portion of the post. This sheathing or covering of the wood, together with
the outer metallic casing, provides a fireproof structure, and the said sheathing
also prevents the decaying influence of moisture and renders the post more
durable. The sheathing or covering of the filling is to be thin enough to permit
the ready penetration of a nail therethrough or of the points of a staple, and by
the construction specified, it will be observed that either wire runners, boards or
rails may be applied to the post, at varying elevations, to suit different sizes of
stock, and especially permitting a close arrangement of the runners or boards at
the bottom of the post adjacent to the ground line, to prevent the egress or ingress
of animals from or into an inclosure. The distance the filling will extend may be
varied as desired, and the mode of securing the same in position may also be
modified. The lower portions of the casing might be filled with other materials
or a composition of materials, or, if desired, the filling might be coated with a
preservative paint or other substance.
The contour of the post will be such that after it is set in position it will not
turn or loosen, and changes in the minor details, proportions and dimensions
might be made and substituted for those described without in the least departing
from the nature or the spirit of my invention, or sacrificing any of the advan-
tages thereof.

page_text: I, JOHN A. RIGGS, of Sheridan, Oklahoma Territory, United States of America,
Farmer, Stock Raiser, and Justice of the Peace, do hereby declare the nature of
this 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 fence-posts; and it consists essentially of a fence-post
of such contour that it will be non-rotatable and will hold itself fast after being
set, and having a cast or other metal outer casing with a wooden filling forming
a nailing piece covered by any specified protecting material that can be pene-
trated by a nail or staple.
The invention further consists in the details of construction and arrangement of
the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.
The object of the invention is to provide a fence post adapted to support either
wire runners or wooden rails at varying distances apart and of a non-rotatable and
fire-proof construction, wherein the parts are simple and effective for the purposes
desired, strong and durable, and easily and cheaply manufactured.
In the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence post embodying the invention. Fig. 2
is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the upper por-
tion of the post.
Referring to the drawings. wherein similar numerals of reference are employed
to indicate corresponding parts in the several views; the numeral 1 designates
an outer cast or other suitable metallic casing which is tubular in form and from
the ground line upwardly is constructed with a slot 2, extending entirely through
the length of the upper portion of the post. The lower portion 3 of the post is
tubular and supplied with a suitable wood or other filling 4, which extends
upwardly through the upper portion of the post. The said filling may be inserted
from the top and is made to conform in contour to the shape of the inner por-
tion of the casing 1, and after being inserted a screw-cap is applied to the top
of the post. The wood or other filling 4 is adapted to be partially covered by sheet
metal such as tin, zinc, galvanized iron, copper or other analogous material-as
at 6, and the upper portion of the filling, so covered, is exposed through the
slot 2 in the upper portion of the post. This sheathing or covering of the wood,
together with the outer metallic casing, provides a fire-proof structure, and the
said sheathing also prevents the decaying influences of the moisture and renders
the post more durable. The sheathing or covering of the filling is to be thin
enough to permit the ready penetration of a nail therethrough or of the points of
a staple, and by the construction specified it will be observed that either wire
runners, boards or rails may be applied to the post and at varying elevations to
suit different sizes of stock and especially permitting a close arrangement of the
runners or boards at the bottom of the post adjacent to the ground line to prevent
the egress or ingress of animals from or into an enclosure.
The post may be so elongated as to serve for carrying telegraph or telephone
wires the slot being modified in form and length to suit the requisite attachments.
The distance the filling or the slot will extend may be varied as desired, and the
mode of securing the filling in position may also be modified. The lower portion
of the casing might be made of square, triangular or other section and might
be filled with other materials or a composition of materials, or, if desired, the
filling might be coated with a preservative paint or other substance.
The contour of the post will be such that after it is set in position it will not

page_text: turn or loosen, and changes in the minor details, proportions and dimensions
might be made and substituted for those shewn and described without in the
least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the
advantages thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
In a post, the combination of an outer metallic, hollow casing, having a slot in
the upper portion thereof, and a wooden filling mounted in said casing, the said
filling being provided with a sheet-metal covering on such portion of its surface
as would otherwise be exposed through the said slot, substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of April 1900.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.