This invention relates to electrical insulators for electric fence wires and which are commonly mounted on vertical metal fence posts, for example, of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,049,905, 4,077,611, 4,845,317 and 6,353,187, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. As disclosed in these patents, the insulator is commonly molded of an insulating plastics material and is adapted to be attached to a conventional T-type metal fence post at a selected vertical height or elevation according to the desired position of the electric fence wire. It is also common to mount two or more of the insulators on each fence post when it is desired to have vertically spaced electric fence wires.
In any such insulator, it is desirable for the insulator to mount quickly and positively on the fence post so that the insulator cannot be pulled off or slide or shift vertically on the post after it has been installed. It has also been found desirable to avoid relying on the flexibility of the molded plastics material in the portion of the insulator which mounts on or grips the metal fence post. If the spring property of the plastics material relaxes, the insulator may pop off or slide down the post, thereby allowing electric fence wire to sag and/or short out by contacting the fence post. It is also sometimes desirable to space the electric fence wire from the post to avoid grounding of the wire and to facilitate mowing of weeds directly under the wire so as to prevent an electrical short by the weeds.
The present invention is directed to an improved electric fence wire insulator which provides all of the desirable advantages mentioned above and which may be easily and quickly mounted and positioned on a metal fence post and then positively locked to the fence post at a selected vertical position or elevation. The insulator of the invention also has high strength and durability, is convenient to use and economical in production.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an electric fence wire insulator includes a body of molded plastic material, and the body has a mounting portion defining the vertically extending opening having generally a T-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The opening includes a vertical channel and slidably receives a conventional metal fence post having a similar configuration and longitudinally or vertically spaced lugs or projections. The body also includes a projecting electric fence wire support portion which is integrally molded with the mounting portion and has vertically spaced flanges or ears for receiving an electric fence wire therebetween. A horizontal hole is formed in the mounting portion adjacent the channel, and a lock pin extends or projects into the hole between adjacent projections on the fence post to lock the insulator at a desired elevation on the fence post. The ears of the wire support portion have vertically aligned holes for also receiving another lock pin which positively secures the electric fence wire to the insulator.
In a modification, both of the lock pins are integrally connected to the body of the insulator by flexible and twistable link elements so that the lock pins always remain with the insulator body and are simultaneously molded with the body for economical production. In another modification, the wire support portion of the insulator is integrally connected to the mounting portion by an elongated horizontal arm portion molded of the same plastics material. The arm portion provides for spacing the electrical fence wire at a predetermined horizontal distance from the supporting metal post.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
The molded body of the insulator 15 also includes an electric fence wire support portion 36 (
Referring to
After the mounting portion 18 of the insulator 15 is installed on a vertical metal fence post 25 by sliding the mounting portion 18 downwardly on the post, and the insulator 15 is positioned at the desired location or elevation on the post. The lock pin 44 is then inserted laterally or horizontally into the opening 42 until the inner end portion of the lock pin 44 extends inwardly between two adjacent studs or projections 32 and engages the fence post 25. The insulator 15 is thereby locked to the fence post and prevented from sliding or shifting vertically or downwardly on the fence post. After a horizontal electric fence wire (not shown) is inserted into the slot or gap 43 between the ears 38 of the wire support portion 36, the lock pin 46 is pressed downwardly into the holes 39 within the ears 38, thereby positively locking the electric fence wire to the insulator 15.
After the insulator 15′ is slid downwardly on an installed vertical fence post 25 to the desired elevation, the lock pin 44′ is inserted into the aligned holes 72 and between a pair of adjacent projections 32 of the fence post 25, as shown in
From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent that an electric fence wire insulator constructed in accordance with the invention provides desirable features and advantages. As one advantage, the mounting portion 18 or 18′ closely surrounds the metal fence post 25 and provides a high strength and rigid connection while permitting the insulator to be slid or shifted vertically on the fence post to the desired elevation for the fence wire. After the desired elevation is selected, the lock pin 44 or 44′ is inserted and positively secures the insulator to the fence post at the selected elevation. When it is desired to change the elevation of the insulator 15 or 15′ on a fence post or remove the insulator from the post, the lock pin 44 or 44′ is simply retracted or removed, and the insulator may be moved vertically on the fence post. Similarly, after the electric fence wire is inserted between the ears 38 or 38′, the wire is positively locked to the insulator by inserting the lock pin 46 or 46′ into the aligned holes 39 or 39′ of the wire support portion 36 or 36′. The insulator 15 or 15′ may also be conveniently molded, and the integrally connected lock pins assure that the lock pins remain with the insulator at all times during handling, storage, shipping and use.
While the forms of insulator herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2537719 | Tuepker | Jan 1951 | A |
2896011 | Huseby | Jul 1959 | A |
3733429 | Berg et al. | May 1973 | A |
3820758 | Berg, Jr. et al. | Jun 1974 | A |
4049905 | Maranell | Sep 1977 | A |
4077611 | Wilson | Mar 1978 | A |
4623756 | Wilson, Jr. | Nov 1986 | A |
4845317 | Wilson, Jr. | Jul 1989 | A |
5085409 | Teixeira | Feb 1992 | A |
6353187 | Wilson, Jr. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6824122 | Spyrakis | Nov 2004 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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218771 | Sep 1987 | GB |