The present invention relates to a fitting, preferred variants of which are useful for fencing applications. Methods of making and using the fitting are also disclosed.
An existing staple for securing a fencing wire to a fencing post is shown in
Staples are also prone to being pulled out from the post. For example, an animal applying pressure to the fencing wire will dislodge the staple from the post. As a result, the fence secured using these staples may require constant repair work, which represents an ongoing cost.
Other existing clips include a weldmesh clip (shown in
It is not admitted that any of the information in this patent specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably expected to ascertain or understand it, regard it as relevant or combine it in any way before the priority date.
The present invention seeks to provide a fitting that is cheap to manufacture, easy to install, reusable, and/or is less likely to corrode. The invention additionally or alternatively seeks to provide the public with a useful choice.
One aspect of the invention provides a fitting, for securing a horizontal elongate member to a support structure, the fitting at least substantially consisting of filamentary material and being shaped to define
The filamentary material is preferably metallic although other materials capable of bending and retaining the bent shape are possible. Most preferably the filamentary material is wire.
The wire may have a diameter similar to a diameter of the elongate member. For example, the diameter of the wire may be between about 1 mm to about 5 mm inclusive. The diameter of the wire is preferably about 2.5 mm. The wire of 2.5 mm diameter is suitable for fencing applications.
The fitting is preferably formed from a material that is similar to a material of the elongate member. The wire of the fitting may be galvanized wire. The wire for forming the fitting has a minimum breaking strain of about 3 kN to about 8 kN. The wire preferably has a minimum breaking strain of about 5.4 kN.
Preferably the fitting is dimensioned to stably hang from the elongate member such that the front portion and back portion are aligned to horizontally receive the fastener.
The filamentary material of the fitting may have two free-ends.
The elongate member may be a fencing wire, and the support structure may be a fencing post. The fastener may be a screw.
Preferred variants of the fitting are suited to fencing. The fitting may also be used for landscaping, construction, building, civil engineering, or any other application where an elongate member is to be secured to a supporting structure.
Another aspect of the invention provides the fitting and the fastener. The fitting is preferably shaped to hang from the elongate member whilst cradling the fastener, skewering the front portion and the back portion, to orient the fastener horizontally ready to engage the support structure.
The fastener may be a self-tapping screw and/or self-drilling screw. The type of fastener and dimensions of the fastener may be selected based on the support structure to which the elongate member and fitting are to be secured. For example, where the support structure is a treated pine post, the fastener may be a 12 gauge 55 mm self-drilling wood screw. Where the support structure is a steel pipe, the fastener may be a self-drilling metal screw and/or about 25 mm long.
Another aspect of the invention provides a system comprising the fitting; the fastener; and the elongate member.
The fitting is preferably formed of a material that is similar, and most preferably is substantially identical, to a material of the elongate member to reduce a risk of corrosion.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of a securing an elongate member to a support structure, comprising
locating the elongate member within the receiving space of the fitting;
skewering the front portion and back portion with a fastener to trap the elongate member; and
engaging the fastener with the support structure.
The method may comprise, prior to the engaging, allowing the fitting to hang from the elongate member whilst cradling the fastener to orient the fastener horizontally ready for the engaging.
The front portion may deform towards the back portion as a head of the fastener presses against the front portion while engaging the fastener in the support structure. Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of making the fitting, comprising
forming a loop of the filamentary material; and
folding the loop.
The loop is preferably longer than it is wide. The folding may be about a widthwise axis. Most preferably the loop is at least twice as long as it is wide. The loop may have curved ends.
The following examples are intended to illustrate to enable reproduction and comparison. They are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any way.
Referring to
The material of the wire used to form the fitting 100 is similar to that which forms the elongate member and/or for the fastener. Using the similar material reduces the risk of corrosion. The wire for forming the fitting 100 has two free-end portions 102, 104. The free-ends portions 102, 104 substantially overlap each other in the fitting 100.
The fitting 100 and the invention more generally are described and claimed herein utilising a geometric reference frame consistent with
As best shown in
The first-receiving space 106 has a U-shaped profile comprising an opening. The opening has an opening width configured to admit the elongate member or (when used in the orientation of
Each of the arm portions 110 and 130 is U-shaped. The openings of the two arm portions 110 and 130 are generally aligned with each other in the fore-aft direction to define a second-receiving space 108 for a fastener 300 to pass through to skewer the portions 110 and 130. The second-receiving space 108 is wide enough to admit the shaft of the fastener but narrow enough to exclude the flanged head of the fastener. The width may be up to about 2.0 cm inclusive. Preferably it is about 1.0 cm.
The fitting 100 allows for easy draining and drying of the clip (for example, subsequent to rainfall). This further reduces corrosion risk of the fitting 100.
The arrangement provided by the first-receiving space 106 and the second-receiving space 108 is such that a first member (one of the fencing wire or fastener) that is received in the first-receiving space 106 is generally transverse to a second member (the other one of the fencing wire or fastener that is received in the second-receiving space 108). For example, a fastener located in the second-receiving space 108 has a longitudinal axis that is generally transverse (or substantially perpendicular) to the fencing direction of a fencing wire located in the first-receiving space 106.
The fitting 100 is versatile. To secure a fencing wire to a post, the fitting can be used in any direction without reducing its efficacy. For example, the fitting can be rotated over and around and placed on the fencing wire in any one of four orientations. In addition, the fitting 100 can be used to hold the fencing wire above or below the fastener. In view of the shape of the fitting 100, the fitting 100 can be used to secure the fencing wire to the fencing post in one of the following two arrangements:
In the first arrangement, the first-receiving space 106 is a wire-receiving space and the second-receiving space 108 is a fastener-receiving space. In the second arrangement, the second-receiving space 108 is a wire-receiving space and the first-receiving space 106 is a fastener-receiving space.
The fitting 100 will now be described in relation to its use in the first arrangement.
Taking the first arrangement, the fitting 100 has two closed bottom portions 122, 124 that are spaced apart from each other. Each closed bottom portion 122, 124 is curved. In particular, each closed bottom portion 122, 124 is substantially semi-circular. The two bottom portions 122, 124 are registered to each other. When the fitting 100 hangs on a wire, the registration between the two bottom portions 122, 124 allows a fastener to hang on the closed bottom portions substantially horizontally such that the fastener points into (in a direction substantially perpendicular to) an upright face of the post.
A first arm portion 110 of the fitting 100 is a front portion having two sides 162, 164 that are connected to each other by a first bottom portion 122. An outwardly-facing face of the first arm portion 110 is substantially planar. The sides 162, 164 of the front portion are parallel to each other. The first arm portion 110 with the sides 162, 164 and the closed bottom portion 122 has a substantially U-shaped profile.
A second arm portion 130 of the fitting 100 is a back portion having two sides 182, 184 that are connected to each other by a second bottom portion 124. An outwardly-facing face of the second arm portion 130 is substantially planar. The sides 182, 184 of the back portion are parallel to each other. The second arm portion 130 with the sides 182, 184 and the closed bottom portion 124 has a substantially U-shaped profile. The U-shaped profile of the second arm portion 130 is generally similar to the U-shaped profile of the first arm portion 110.
The fitting 100 has two closed top portions 142, 144. Similar to the bottom portions 122, 124, each top portion 142, 144 is curved. In particular, each top portion 142, 144 is substantially semi-circular. One top portion 142 is formed by free-end portions 102, 104 of the wire used to form the fitting 100. At this top portion 142, the free-end portions 102, 104 of the wire overlap each other. The other top portion 144 is a continuous portion of the wire. The two top portions 142, 144 are registered to each other.
One top portion 142 connects one side 162 of the front portion to one side 182 of the back portion. An outwardly-facing face formed by the top portion 142 and the sides 162, 182 is substantially planar. One side 162 of the front portion is parallel to the one side 182 of the back portion. The top portion 142, and the two sides 162, 182 form a planar surface with a substantially U-shaped profile.
The other top portion 144 connects another side 164 of the front portion to another side 184 of the back portion. An outwardly-facing face formed by the top portion 144 and the sides 164, 184 is substantially planar. The other side 164 of the front portion is parallel to the other side 184 of the back portion. The top portion 144, and the two sides 164, 184 form a planar surface with a substantially U-shaped profile. The U-shaped profile of the top portion 144 and two sides is generally similar to the U-shaped profile of the other top portion 142 and two sides.
As can be seen from
Where the fencing wire is located in the first-receiving space 106 and the fastener is passable through the second-receiving space 108, the elongate fencing wire is trapped between the first arm portion 110, the second arm portion 130, the top portions 142, 144 and the fastener. In addition, the fastener is trapped between the sides 162, 164, 182, 184, the bottom portions 122, 124, and the fencing wire.
The elongate member in the fitting 100 is partially surrounded by the two top portions 142, 144 and their respective connected sides. In addition, the fastener through the fitting 100 is partially surrounded by the two bottom portions 122, 124 and their respective connected sides. Thereby the elongate member and fastener are each trapped within the fitting at two distinct locations along the length of each of the elongate member and fastener. By having the fitting 100 pass over each of the elongate member and the fastener twice, the fitting 100 prevents displacement of the elongate member and fastener from the fitting. For example, in use, if the free end portions 102, 104 are somehow pulled straight (which causes the closed top portion 142 formed by these free end portions to become open), the other closed top portion 144 will still prevent the fencing wire (or fastener) to escape the fitting 100.
Referring to
The fastener 300 is a self-tapping screw, particularly a TEK® screw having a threaded length of about 55 mm, and is thus well adapted to wooden support structures. The fastener has a flanged head that contacts the sides of the front portion and the bottom portion that connects those sides when the fastener is fastened into the post 400. When the fitting 100 is skewered by the fastener 300 and engages the post 400, the fitting 100 is trapped between the fencing wire 200, a body of the fastener 300, and the head of the fastener 300. The fastener 300 can be fastened into the post using a multipurpose power tool that many builders would already own. In addition, when the fencing is to be removed and adjusted, the fastener 300 can be removed from the post to the allow the fitting 100 as well as the fastener 300 to be reused.
Of course, other screws, and indeed other fasteners more generally, are possible. By way of example, blind rivets may be convenient when utilising the fitting to secure wire to sheet material such as sheet metal. Indeed, whilst the fitting 100 is configured to cooperate with a screw, in some contexts it might be conveniently utilised without any such fastener. By way of example the fitting could be fitted over a tubular boss, the end of which is flared (through a staking operation) to define a head end by which the fitting is retained.
Whilst the fastener 300 has a flanged head wider than the arm portion 110 to act directly thereon, other implementations of the disclosed system may entail a washer, a plate or other load-transfer arrangement to assist with the entrapment of the fitting between the head of the fastener and the support structure.
When the fastener 300 skewers the front and back portions of the fitting 100 hanging on the wire 200, the fastener 300 stably hangs substantially horizontally from the fitting 100. The fastener 300 has a centre-of-gravity that, when the fastener 300 skewers the fitting 100 hanging on the wire 200 and the head is in abutment with the fitting, is located within the receiving space 106, e.g. near a middle of the space. The fastener 300 is about 55 mm long. Longer fasteners may be useful for repairs to old fences.
The fastener 300 is provided below the fencing wire 200 through the second-receiving space 108 to engage the post 400. In this arrangement, an uppermost limit of vertical movement allowed by the fitting 100 for the fencing wire 200 is limited by the closed top portions 142, 144, while a lowermost limit allowed by the fitting 100 for the fencing wire 200 is limited by the fastener 300.
Referring to
As shown in
As can be seen in
To secure a fencing wire 200 to a post using the fitting 100 of the present invention:
To form the fitting 100, high-tensile galvanised wire is shaped to form a loop. The loop has a long shape with a first rounded end and a second rounded end opposite the first end. The free end portions of the wire are arranged to substantially overlap each other, preferably along one of the long sides of the loop. An interior space defined by the loop defines the second-receiving area.
The first rounded end is folded towards the second rounded end of the loop about a central axis of the loop. In folding the loop, a separation distance is maintained between the first rounded end and the second rounded end of the loop. The separation distance is up to about 2.0 cm inclusive, preferably about 1.0 cm. The separation distance between the first end and the second end defines the first receiving area 106.
The invention is not limited to the described examples. Rather the invention is defined by the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017904462 | Nov 2017 | AU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/AU2018/051166 | 10/30/2018 | WO | 00 |