Information
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Patent Grant
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6394228
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Patent Number
6,394,228
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Date Filed
Friday, July 28, 200024 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, May 28, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 182 90
- 182 91
- 182 92
- 182 119
- 182 123
- 182 189
- 182 43
- 182 190
- 256 32
- 256 35
- 256 47
- 256 48
- 256 52
- 256 54
- 248 29751
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International Classifications
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Abstract
An accessory for a T-post, having a longitudinal axis, comprises: a first bar having a central portion and a longitudinal axis; a second bar having a central portion and a longitudinal axis; and a connecting mechanism for fixedly but removably connecting the first and second bars together in a secure and fixed relationship to the T-post. The central portions of the first and second bars are adapted to be received around the T-post such that the longitudinal axes of the bars are substantially parallel to one another but substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the T-post.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a fence post accessory which is useful as a step (sometimes called a “stile”) for climbing over a fence when secured to a fence post.
Individuals, such as farmers, ranchers, inspectors, hunters, surveyors, and game rangers, frequently find it necessary to climb over a fence, most commonly of the type comprising multiple T-posts and barbed wire. Climbing over such a fence, or attempting to crawl under or through the fence, can result in torn clothing, personal injury, and/or damage to the fence.
Permanently installed fence stiles, for use in safely climbing over a fence, can be costly and have the obvious disadvantage of not being portable for use at other locations. Portable fence stiles have been developed with some success. However, prior portable fence stiles have either been undesirably bulky or not useable on all T-posts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an accessory for a fence post which is useable as a stile on virtually any T-post, and which is compact and lightweight for optimum portability.
The above object is realized by an accessory for a fence post having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a first bar having a central portion and a longitudinal axis; a second bar having a central portion and a longitudinal axis; a connecting means for fixedly but removably connecting the first and second bars together in a secure and fixed relationship to the fence post such that the longitudinal axes of the bars are substantially parallel to one another but substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fence post, a portion of the fence post being received between the respective central portions of the first and second bars.
According to a preferred embodiment hereafter described, the central portions of the first and second bars are bent so as to define an elongated opening in which a portion of a T-post can be received. The T-post can be of the new light gauge design or the older but still widely used heavier gauge design. Bolts and nuts can be used to connect the first and second bars together in a secure and fixed relationship to either of these types of T-posts. The first and second bars can be less than one foot long and made of aluminum. A fence post accessory of such construction is compact and lightweight so as to be highly portable, yet is still sufficiently large and sturdy to function as an effective fence stile.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 2
are side and top views of a first bar in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 3 and 4
are side and top views of a second bar in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5
is an end view of the second bar as viewed along line
5
—
5
in FIG.
4
.
FIG. 6
is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the two bars connected together as a fence post accessory in a secure and fixed relationship to a fence post, which is shown in transverse cross section.
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of the fence post accessory of
FIG. 6
, for use as a fence stile, as secured to a fence post of a barbed wire fence.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIG. 1
, bar
10
includes a central portion
12
and a pair of elongated side portions
14
and
16
extending from and integral with opposite sides of central portion
12
. side portions
14
and
16
have respective holes
18
and
20
therethrough. Bar
10
has a longitudinal axis
22
and opposing, longitudinally extending edges
24
and
26
. As shown, edge
24
is serrated along side portions
14
and
16
so as to have a sawtooth texture.
FIG. 2
shows central portion
12
as being bent so as to form the desired illustrated shape. Side portions
14
and
16
are substantially straight. Preferably, side portion
16
extends along a line which defines an angle α with respect to a line parallel to side portion
14
. Angle α is preferably about 2-5°.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, bar
28
includes a central portion
30
and a pair of elongated side portions
32
and
34
extending from and integral with opposite sides of central portion
30
. Side portions
32
and
34
have respective holes
36
and
38
therethrough. Bar
28
has a longitudinal axis
40
and opposing, longitudinally extending edges
42
and
44
. As shown, edge
42
is serrated along side portions
32
and
34
so as to have a sawtooth texture.
FIG. 4
shows central portion
30
as being bent so as to form the desired illustrated shape. Side portions
32
and
34
are substantially straight.
FIG. 5
shows central portion
30
as having a notch
46
along edge
44
. AS should be apparent from
FIGS. 3 and 4
, notch
46
lies in a plane approximately perpendicular to longitudinal axis
40
.
Referring to
FIG. 6
, this cross-sectional view illustrates bars
10
and
28
as fixedly but removably connected together in a secure and fixed relationship to fence post
48
such that the longitudinal axes of the bars are substantially parallel to one another. Fence post
48
is a T-post, having a transverse cross-sectional shape of a “T”. As shown, a portion of fence post
48
is received between respective central portions
12
and
30
of bars
10
and
28
. Central portions
12
and
30
have respective inner surfaces which define an opening
50
therebetween. Opening
50
is elongated so as to extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of bars
10
and
28
between opposing ends of such opening as defined by the inner surfaces of central portions
12
and
30
. One leg of fence post
48
extends across opening
50
, and the other leg is clamped between side portions
14
and
32
of the bars.
The preferred means for connecting bars
10
and
28
together as shown comprises: a bolt
52
for being received through aligned holes
18
and
36
; a nut
54
, preferably affixed to side portion
14
, for threadedly receiving bolt
52
therethrough; a bolt
56
for being received through aligned holes
20
and
38
; and a nut
58
, preferably affixed to side portion
16
, for threadedly receiving bolt
56
therethrough. Bolt
52
preferably has associated therewith a standard washer
60
abutting the outer surface of side portion
32
and a locking washer
62
abutting the inner surface of such side portion. Locking washer
62
functions to retain bolt
52
in the position shown relative to side portion
32
whenever bolt
52
is turned appropriately to partially or completely back it out of its threaded engagement with nut
54
. Similarly, bolt
56
has associated therewith a standard washer
64
abutting the outer surface of side portion
34
and a locking washer
66
abutting the inner surface of such side portion.
Bolts
52
and
56
are preferably eyebolts, as shown. The looped heads of such eyebolts can be easily grasped by a user in tightening or loosening their threaded engagement with corresponding nuts. A user could also insert a screwdriver or other elongated object through the looped head of an eyebolt to tighten or loosen as desired. Nuts
54
and
58
are most preferably PEM self-clinching nuts. PEM is a registered trademark of Penn Engineering and Manufacturing Corp. This type of nut has a clinching ring which can be securely pressed into the corresponding hole in either side portion
14
or
16
.
Finally with regard to
FIG. 6
, it should be noted that bolt
56
is preferably tightened sufficiently with respect to nut
58
so that side portion
16
is approximately parallel to side portion
14
. AS previously mentioned with reference to
FIG. 2
, side portion
16
defines a small angle with respect to side portion
14
when bar
10
is in its relaxed state. Accordingly, as bars
10
and
28
are connected together in
FIG. 6
, there is a tension on both sides of the bars to assist in preventing rotation of bolts
52
and
56
with respect to nuts
54
and
58
, respectively, to thereby effectively lock the bolts in their desired positions relative to the corresponding nuts. Transversely extending holes
68
and
70
adjacent to the threaded ends of bolts
52
and
56
can receive cotter pins (not shown) therethrough to further ensure against the possibility of such bolts backing out from their desired positions with respect to corresponding nuts
54
and
58
. cotter pins would be used in this manner primarily when bars
10
and
28
are secured to fence post
48
for an extended period of time.
Referring to
FIG. 7
, this perspective view shows bars
10
and
28
connected together and secured to fence post
48
of a barbed wire fence such that their longitudinal axes are substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis
72
of the fence post. Only a portion of fence post
48
is shown. A barbed wire
74
is shown conventionally secured to fence post
48
immediately adjacent to one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced knobs
76
, which are integral with one leg of the fence post. A knob
76
as adjacent to a wire functions as a wire stop. Notch
46
fits over another knob
76
(which is indicated by broken lines in
FIG. 6
) so as to prevent the connected bars
10
and
28
from sliding vertically down fence post
48
when downward pressure is applied to the bars. Notch
46
is a particularly preferred feature since it enhances the horizontal stability of bars
10
and
28
when engaged over a knob
76
. An individual can climb over the fence by placing one foot upon side portions of bars
10
and
28
on one side of the fence, and swinging the other foot over the top wire (not shown) and onto those side portions on the other side of the fence. The upper edges of bars
10
and
28
, as serrated along the side portions thereof, enhances traction when an individual steps upon such edges. The looped heads of bolts
52
and
56
are also shown in
FIG. 7
, but the associated nuts are not visible this FIGURE.
Bars
10
and
28
can be easily and quickly removed from fence post
48
by, for example, loosening bolt
56
only partially, removing bolt
52
completely from threaded engagement with its corresponding nut while pivoting side portion
14
horizontally away from side portion
32
, pivoting side portion
14
upwardly to remove central portion
12
out of engagement with fence post
48
, lifting bar
28
upwardly to disengage notch
46
from knob
76
, and then moving bar
28
horizontally away from fence post
48
to remove central portion
30
out of engagement with fence post
48
. Bars
10
and
28
can be secured onto fence post
48
(or another fence post at another location) by loosening bolt
56
only partially, removing bolt
52
completely from threaded engagement with its corresponding nut (assuming it is so threadedly engaged) while pivoting side portion
14
horizontally away from side portion
32
, pivoting side portion
14
upwardly, moving bar
28
horizontally so as to engage central portion
30
with fence post
48
above a knob
76
, lowering bar
28
so that notch
46
engages knob
76
, pivoting side portion
14
downwardly so that central portion
12
engages fence post
48
, threadedly engaging bolt
52
with its corresponding nut and tightening bolt
52
and also bolt
56
so as to fixedly secure bars
10
and
28
to fence post in preparation for climbing over the fence. Of course, the above described procedures could be performed equally well by loosening bolt
52
partially and removing bolt
56
completely from threaded engagement with its corresponding nut, in which case side portion
16
would be pivoted in a manner similar to that previously described with respect to side portion
14
.
Bars
10
and
28
are preferably comprised of aluminum, which is desirably light in weight but sufficiently strong to support an individual. The bent shapes of central portions
12
and
30
can be achieved by bending straight bars using suitable machinery and templates. Alternatively, bars
10
and
28
could be cast using suitable molds. Bolts
52
and
56
, and associated nuts
54
and
58
, are preferably comprised of steel. The washers could also be made of steel.
Some preferred dimensions for bars
10
and
28
are provided for the sake of illustration, but should not be construed to limit the invention in any manner: length of bars
10
and
28
—about 11.5 inches; length of central portions
12
and
30
—about 1.7 inches; width of bars
10
and
28
—about 1.5 inches; width of notch
46
—about {fraction (13/32)} inch; depth of notch
46
—about {fraction (7/32)} inch. The dimensions of the bars are sufficiently large for effective use as a fence stile, but provide the compactness for highly desirable portability.
Thus, there is provided by the present invention a fence post accessory useable as fence stile, which is not only very portable for ease of carrying from one location to another, but which can also be secured to virtually any fence post of the T-post design by virtue of the novel combination of the separate bars and suitable means for removably connecting them together in a fixed relationship to the fence post. In such regard, the preferred dimensions given above for the notch will fit the knobs of any T-post.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, although it is preferred that the central portion of one bar has a notch along an edge thereof for fitting over the knob of a fence post, insofar as such feature enhances the horizontal stability of the bars as secured to the fence post, the aforementioned edge without a notch would engage the upper surface of the knob to effectively prevent the connected bars from sliding vertically down the fence post. In addition, although the fence post accessory is described above for use as a fence stile, such accessory as secured to a fence post could be applied to any other useful purpose. By way of example, sheets of plywood or other material could be connected to the accessory with additional suitable hardware in the construction of temporary building structures, in which case the fence post and associated accessory would function as a support mechanism. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Claims
- 1. A combination of a T-post and a stile, the combination comprising:first and second bars a stile including of which each bar has a longitudinal axis, a central portion, and a pair of elongated and substantially straight side portions extending from and integral with opposite sides of the central portion, wherein the central portion of each bar is bent such that its side portions are transversely offset from one another so as to lie in separate planes; and a connecting means for fixedly but removably connecting the first and second bars together in a secure and fixed relationship to the T-post; wherein the central portions of the first and second bars are adapted to be received around the T-post such that the longitudinal axes of the bars are substantially parallel to one another but substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the T-post.
- 2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the central portions of the first and second bars have respective inner surfaces which, when such bars are connected together, define a cavity being shaped to securely receive the T-post and also being open at the opposing edges along the central portions.
- 3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein said cavity is elongated so as to extend substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the first and second bars between opposing ends of such cavity as defined by the inner surfaces of the central portions.
- 4. The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein each of the first and second bars has opposing, longitudinally extending edges, and wherein the central portion of one bar has a notch along one edge thereof.
- 5. The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein the notch lies in a plane approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said one bar.
- 6. The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein the other edge of said one bar is serrated along the side portions thereof, and wherein one edge of the other bar is also serrated along the side portions thereof.
- 7. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein each side portion of each bar has a hole therethrough.
- 8. The combination as recited in claim 7 wherein said connecting means comprises: a first bolt for being received through aligned holes of side portions of the first and second bars on one side of the central portions; a first nut for threadedly receiving the first bolt therethrough; a second bolt for being received through aligned holes of side portions of the first and second bars on the other side of the central portions; and a second nut for threadedly receiving the second bolt therethrough.
- 9. The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein the first and second bolts are eyebolts.
- 10. The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein the first and second bars are comprised of aluminum, and the first and second bolts and associated first and second nuts are comprised of steel.
US Referenced Citations (27)