Mounting bracket assembly for electrified tape

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6325347
  • Patent Number
    6,325,347
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, June 22, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 4, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A mounting bracket assembly for a conductive electrified tape used for fence enclosures by attachment to a T-cross sectional steel fence post which includes a non-conductive bracket held by clamps on the post and further includes metal loops which secure the tape in a desired orientation.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a mounting bracket assembly for attachment of conductive or electrified tape used for fence enclosures to a T-cross section, steel fence post.




Enclosures for livestock or to protect property may comprise an electrified fence arrangement. The use of electrified wire strands or barbed wire as a fencing material is often discouraged inasmuch as the wire fencing material may injure the animals retained within the enclosure. Also, such wire may be difficult to observe visually. Thus, especially with animals such as horses which are susceptible to such injury caused by a wire or fencing that is not readily seen, a practice has developed to use electrified fence tape. Typically, the tape is made from a plastic material which is non-conductive. Small conductive wires are woven through the tape. The tape may have a width of 1 to 5 inches. The small conductive wires being woven throughout the tape along its length are connected to a current source and may provide an electric shock. A typical tape is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,728,080 and 4,905,969 incorporated herewith by reference.




Such tapes may be supported on various types of fence posts. It is important, however, to make sure that the posts are not electrically connected to the tape or that the posts are made from an insulating material. Otherwise, the electric current is grounded and the fence becomes totally ineffective.




T-cross section steel fence posts are desirable and common in the environment where such conductive fences are likely to be utilized. Such T-shaped cross section fence posts have been used for many decades in combination with wire, including wire fencing and barbed wire. It has also become desirable to use such fence posts for the erection of electric fences utilizing conductive tape fencing material. However, because the steel posts are conductive, proper attachment of the tape and support thereof by a post becomes an important factor in the construction of a fence. It is important, for example, to somehow insulate the conductive tape from the post. Such insulation can occur by coating the post with a non-conductive material, for example. Various other schemes can be utilized. Nonetheless, there has remained a need to provide a method for supporting a conductive tape material on a steel T-cross section fence post efficiently and economically. Such demands inspired the development of the present invention.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Briefly, the present invention comprises a mounting bracket assembly for conductive electrified tape used for the construction of a fence enclosure wherein the tape is attached to and supported by a T-cross section fence post. The bracket assembly includes a bracket made from a non-conductive or insulating material. The bracket is attached to the fence post by means of clamp members. The bracket includes spaced outwardly projecting arms and a connecting rod extending between the arms. The connecting rod supports closed loops through which electrified or conductive tape may be passed for support. In this manner, the non-conductive bracket insulates the conductive tape from the steel post thereby enabling speedy erection of an electrified fence even in the event the closed tape support loops are made from a conductive material.




Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved bracket assembly for attachment of and support of a conductive tape on a steel T-cross section fence post.




A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket assembly which is easy to attach to a steel T-cross section fence post, which provides excellent insulating qualities, and which can be easily removed and replaced as necessary.




Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, yet rugged bracket assembly for attaching conductive tape to a fence post.




These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING





FIG. 1

is an isometric view of the mounting bracket assembly of the invention in combination with a T-cross section fence post and a conductive tape;





FIG. 2

is a front elevation of the bracket assembly of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a top plan view of the bracket assembly of

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 4

is a side elevation of the bracket assembly of FIG.


1


.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to the figures, and in particular

FIG. 1

, there is disclosed a typical T-shaped steel fence post


10


. The steel post


10


includes a flange


12


having opposed wings, sides or edges


14


and


16


. A center reinforcing rib


18


extends the length of the post


10


. Typically, such a post


10


also includes projecting support ribs


20


along the vertical length of the post on the flange


12


on the opposite side from the rib


18


. Such steel fence posts are driven from their top downwardly into soil to provide a support for fencing of various types.




The fencing material which is utilized with the bracket assembly of the present invention comprises an elastomeric tape


22


which typically includes conductive wires


24


through the length thereof. The tape


22


, and more particularly, the wires


24


, are attached to an electric or current source. The tape


22


when assembled to a fence post


10


then acts as an electrified fencing enclosure.




The bracket assembly of the present invention comprises a means for attaching the tape


22


to the fence post


10


and for insulating the tape


22


electrically from the post


10


. The bracket assembly includes a bracket


30


formed from a non-conductive material such as plastic or a ceramic in combination with a first clamp


32


and a second clamp


34


. A rod


36


which may be conductive or non-conductive is supported by the bracket


30


and, in turn, supports a first loop


38


and a second loop


40


. The loops


38


and


40


are in the form of generally rectangular closed loops in combination with the rod


36


. The tape


22


may then be passed through one or both of the loops


38


,


40


and supported by the bracket assembly while being insulated from the post


10


.




The non-conductive bracket


30


includes a vertical support bar


50


with integrally molded support arms including a first support arm


52


and a second support arm


54


projecting laterally therefrom. The arms


52


and


54


are parallel to one another and spaced from one another. The arms


52


and


54


are preferably made from the same materials and are integral with the vertical bar


50


. The rod


36


passes through openings


56


and


58


in the arms


52


and


54


, respectively. Fasteners


60


and


62


retain the rod


36


on the arms


52


and


54


. The loops


38


and


40


are each formed from wire rod, for example, and each include spaced horizontal runs such as runs


70


and


72


of loop


38


with a connecting horizontal run


74


. The runs


70


,


72


and


74


terminate with circular formed ends


76


and


78


by way of example which surround the rod


36


and permit rotation of the loop


38


about the axis defined by the rod


36


to accommodate differing angles of connection of the tape


22


. Both loops


38


and


40


are movable in the manner described.




The bracket


30


is attached to the post


10


by means of the first clamp


32


and second clamp


34


. Each clamp, for example clamp


32


, includes a first clamp arm


80


and a second clamp arm


82


which fit over the flange


12


. A threaded fastener


84


fits through the bar


50


and the clamp


32


to engage against the flange


12


and compress or hold the arms


80


and


82


tightly against the flange


12


. Thus, the threaded fastener


84


associated with first clamp


32


and a threaded fastener


85


associated with the second clamp


34


together tightly attach and hold the bracket


30


on the post


10


.




Adjusting the position of the bracket assembly involves releasing the fasteners


84


and


85


so as to position the clamps


32


and


34


in a desired fashion. In this manner, the bracket assembly may be adjusted vertically on the post


10


. Adjustment of the loops


38


and


40


permits appropriate alignment thereof so as to engage the tape


22


. The bracket assembly of the invention is especially useful at corner posts inasmuch as the loops


38


and


40


facilitate movement or turning of a tape through a corner. Note that the tape


22


may be folded over the loops and engage therewith in the manner of a belt buckle type connection. In all circumstances, however, the tape


22


and more particularly, the conductive wires


24


are maintained, spaced from and insulated electrically from the post


10


.




Various alternative constructions may be utilized. For example, a single clamp may be used to attach the insulating bracket to a post. The size and position of the loops may be varied. The spacing and constructional configuration of the bar


50


and arms


52


and


54


may be altered. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.



Claims
  • 1. A mounting bracket assembly for supporting a conductive electrified tape used for fence enclosures on a T-cross section, metal fence post, said assembly comprising, in combination:a bracket formed from a non-conductive material, said bracket including a vertical support bar, a first horizontal projecting arm from the support bar adjacent one end of the bar, a second horizontal projecting arm from the support bar adjacent the opposite end of the bar, said second arm projecting parallel to the first arm and spaced from the first arm; a rod connecting the first and second projecting arms; a loop supported on the rod, said loop pivotal about the rod, said loop configured to receive and hold conductive tape over the loop; and a clamp mechanism affixed to the vertical support bar of the bracket for attaching the vertical support bar to a T-cross section fence post.
  • 2. The mounting bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the clamp mechanism includes first and second spaced clamping hooks for fitting over the fence post and a fastener attached to the vertical support bar for engaging the fence post and biasing the clamping hooks against the post.
  • 3. The mounting bracket assembly of claim 1 including at least two pivotal loops on the rod for receiving and holding conductive tape.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Number Name Date Kind
1630441 Lotz May 1927
2437344 Behlmann Mar 1948
2893677 Dannenburg Jul 1959
3124330 Robinson Mar 1964
3217833 Smith Nov 1965
3348362 Swager Oct 1967
3533587 Vecchiarelli et al. Oct 1970
3652780 Wilson Mar 1972
3715991 Boyd Feb 1973
4052028 Cordero, Jr. Oct 1977