Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
I, ERNST AUGUST PETERS, of 1-2, Bahn Strasse, Schöneberg-by-Berlin, in the
German Empire, Merchart, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
Heretofore wooden posts, or cast iron pillars, bars, and the like, have been used
for fencing, but the former are defective in that they are not durable and are liable
to split when being driven in, whilst pillars made of cast iron crack very easily.
Moreover, wooden posts, and iron pillars, cannot be directly driven in when of
comparatively large diameter, without holes being made for their reception.
Now the object of my invention is to obviate these defects, and to this end my
improved fence post is formed of a rectangular steel plate or strip so bent or folded
over as to slightly taper, and that the upper edges overlap each other whilst the
lower ones are split, thus leaving a space or slit of a triangular form between
them.
As the juxtaposed edges of the tube, thus formed, are not rigidly connected, and
also in consequence of the material employed, the tube obtains considerable
elasticity in the direction of its diameter.
In applying this improved fence post, the broad part of the tube is placed upon
the ground, and its upper end is then enclosed by a tight fitting cap. It is then
driven into the ground by means of a hammer, or other suitable appliance, the
lower edge readily penetrating the ground like a knife edge, or a chisel. During the
driving in operation, the lower opening of the tube spreads or expands a little (as
the earth penetrating into its interior, forces the tube apart), and thus becomes so
firmly fixed in the ground that it is practically impossible to remove it except by
digging it up.
Wnes, chains, or the like, may be fixed to these posts, by providing therein
holes or slots for their reception.
I, ERNST AUGUST PETERS, of 1/2 Bahnstrasse, Schöneberg-by-Berlin, in the
German Empire, Merchant, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
Heretofore, solid wooden and cast iron pillars, bars, and the like, have been used
for fencing, but have the defect that they do not last long, and easily split or

page_text: crack when driven into the ground. Moreover, the use of the same is even more
limited, as they require holes and foundations, which add to the expense of
their use.
The steel tube posts of the present invention serve as fencing posts, but they
may also be used as simple posts for other purposes, for example, for hitching
horses, cattle, and the like, on market places, grazing grounds, etc.
These improved posts essentially consist of a sheet of steel rolled or bent on
itself so as to be of taper shape. They have openings, or hooks, which serve
respectively for the passage or fastening of the fencing wire, or chains, connecting
the posts.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a post of this kind, in which the longitudinal
edges overlap each other at the upper part t, but are separated by a narrow space
or gap at the lower part s. As there is no rigid connection between the edges
adjoining each other, the elasticity of the posts is very great.
The driving into the ground is effected by the aid of a cap having a core K and
a rim K*, which is placed upon the top of the post, as shown in vertical section in
Fig. 2. When this cap is in position its central part or core cuters the top of the
post so that said post may be freely driven into the ground by a hammer, or other
suitable appliance. The lower edge of the post readily penetrates the ground, and
the top end, being held together by the cap, is prevented from becoming bent by
the blows of the hammer, or other appliance, and the edges cannot alter their
relative position towards each other. On driving the lower taper end of the post
into the ground, the earth will fill up this end, thereby exerting a pressure against
the thin walls thereof and cause it to spread apart. By this tendency, and by
the spreading of the lower free eud, the post will be held in the ground so firmly
that it cannot be removed, even with great force. As the post is made of sheet
steel, bending or splitting thereof is prevented.
When used for fences, the posts are provided with holes, or hooks, situated
opposite each other, either for wires to be passed through, or for chains to be
hooked in, as shown in Fig. 3. The top end may be decorated with a cap, or
crown, or in any other suitable manner, as in Fig. 4.
When the post is used singly, for example in a market place, it may be provided
with a cap H having a number of rings, or other devices, attached to it and
serving for hitching thereto the halter of an animal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A post consisting of a taper steel tube made in such a manner that its upper
edges overlap each other, whilst its lower edges have a narrow space or gap
between them, said post being provided with holes, or hooks, for the reception of
wires or chains, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The means for driving-in my improved posts, comprising a cap provided with
a core K adapted to fit into the top of the post and with a rim K* cnclosing the
upper edge thereof, substantially as described.
3. In a fence post, as herein described, a cap H provided with rings or the like,
as and for the purposes described.
4. My improved fence post constructed substantially as herein before described
and as shown in the drawings.
Dated this 2nd den of Tune 1806
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5ª Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.