Fence post, fence and fencing method

Abstract

A fence post 2 comprises an elongate metallic member 4 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. An elongate insert 12 of plastics material is housed coaxially in the metallic member 4 and held thereby, such that horizontal wires 18 can be attached to the insert. In a fence comprising at least one such fence post 2, and a method of installing the fence, substantially horizontal wires 18 are tensioned against the insert(s) 12, and fasteners 20 secure the wires to the insert(s) whilst allowing the wires 18 to move in the direction in which they extend.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a fence post, a fence comprising the fence post, and methods of constructing the fence post and installing the fence.

[0002] Tensioned wire fencing is used, for example, to contain wild and domesticated animal species. Straining and turning posts take the majority of the tension load of the fence wires. Intermediate posts, to which the fence is attached, are spaced along the line of the fence, typically 3-6 m apart. The intermediate posts hold the tensioned fence upright and take some localised forces when animals press against the fence. The fence wires can move laterally across the intermediate posts so that animal pressure can be absorbed across several intermediate posts.

[0003] The traditional means of attaching the fence to the intermediate wooden posts is with wire staples, whether knocked in by hand with a hammer or fired with a staple gun.

[0004] In view of certain preserving chemicals being banned, wooden posts may fail many years before the wire fencing is at the end of its life.

[0005] Steel intermediate posts have also been used for many decades. Various steel clips have been developed for attaching the wires to the posts. These have proved inconvenient.

[0006] More recently, steel intermediate posts have been designed with integral clips or latches designed to improve the speed of fixing wire fences to the posts. A drawback of such systems is that the clips or latches are located at specific heights, so these posts are specific to particular fence designs rather than universal. There are many different fence designs for different animals which can have the horizontal line wires in different positions. Each of those needs a different fence post with the clips at the correct spacings.

[0007] Plastics posts have also been tested, but often struggle to be robust enough to withstand the forces from the tensioned fence mesh and / or animal pressure without using an electrified fence wire or tape.

[0008] EU Registered Design No. 008026785-0001 shows the "Ox" post from Moore Concrete Products Ltd, of Ballymena, Northern Ireland. This is a concrete post with a plastic insert. The wire mesh (not shown in the RCD) is stapled to the insert. Although the concrete is strong and long lasting, the post is very heavy to manipulate. Also, the post often cannot be simply driven into the ground. Whenever holes (even pilot holes) must be dug, drilled or augured, installation is much more expensive and time consuming than with wooden or steel posts.

[0009] It is an aim of the invention to provide a fence post usable as an intermediate post with different wire mesh patterns, which post is strong, light, durable, recyclable and easily erected.

[0010] One aspect of the invention provides a fence post comprising an elongate metallic member having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and an elongate insert of plastics material housed coaxially in the metallic member and held thereby, such that horizontal wires can be attached to the insert. At least axial motion of the insert may be prevented by frictional engagement with the metallic member.

[0011] The metallic member may have a re-entrant profile for engaging the insert. A re-entrant terminal portion on each side of the cross-sectional profile of the member may be directed inwardly, for example substantially parallel to substantially mutually parallel sides and / or substantially at right angles to a rear wall of the profile.

[0012] The insert may have a cross-section substantially corresponding to the internal cross-section of the metallic member. It may have a flat exposed face for receiving fasteners for the wires and / or for engagement by the re-entrant terminal portions.

[0013] The insert may be shorter than the metallic member and may occupy only a part of the metallic member intended to be an upper part. Keeping a lowermost part of the metallic member free makes it easier to drive the post into the ground.

[0014] A second aspect of the invention also provides a fence comprising at least one fence post as described above, substantially horizontal wires tensioned against the insert(s), and fasteners securing the wires to the insert(s) whilst allowing the wires to move in the direction in which they extend. The fasteners may be staples. The substantially horizontal wires may be wires of a wire mesh. The fence may be a non-electric fence.

[0015] A third aspect of the invention provides a method of constructing a fence post, comprising taking an elongate metallic member having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and inserting an elongate insert of plastics material coaxially into the metallic member to be housed therein and held thereby.

[0016] The insert may be shorter than the metallic member and may be inserted only into a part of the metallic member intended to be an upper part.

[0017] A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method of installing a fence, including providing at least one fence post as described above, erecting the fence post at a desired location, tensioning a wire mesh against the insert(s) and attaching, for example stapling, substantially horizontal wires of the mesh to the insert(s).

[0018] The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a fence post according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section through the fence post of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic fragmentary view of a fence including the fence post of Figures 1 and 2.

[0019] Figures 1 and 2 show a fence post 2 which would usually be an intermediate post. It comprises an elongate rolled steel member 4 of a substantially rectangular U-shaped cross-section. Terminal portions 6 of the member 4 may be directed inwardly, parallel to parallel sides 8 and here at right angles to a rear wall 10 of the member 4.

[0020] An elongate insert 12 has a rectangular cross section substantially corresponding to the internal cross-section of the member 4. The insert may have a length between 50 and 75%, for example about 60%, of the length of the member 4. In a particular example, the insert is of polyethylene, such as a blend of low-density and high-density polyethylene.

[0021] The insert 12 is slid longitudinally into the member 4 from one end thereof, to the position shown, i.e. occupying the part of the member intended to be uppermost. The terminal portions 6 grip the exposed face 14 of the insert and hold it in place. The terminal portions 6 could be supplemented or replaced by other profile shapes that disrupt the flat internal surfaces of the member 4 and increase friction with the insert 12.

[0022] The lower part 16 of the fence post 2 lacks the insert 12. This means the fence post can be driven into the ground by a range of methods, including manually, with a powered vibrating post driver or with a more powerful mechanised post knocker. Using such power tools, the fence post of the invention can penetrate even very hard ground such as solid chalk, which can cause other profiles to buckle. The profile shape of the member 4 engages well with the soil and sub-layer, reducing the tendency of the fence post to come out or sink further into softer ground.

[0023] Once the required posts are erected, a wire mesh is tensioned across the insert 12 of each post 2. For simplicity, Figure 3 shows only the horizontal wires 18 of the mesh. Fasteners, in this example staples 20, are then used to attach the horizontal wires 18 to the exposed face 14. These allow the wire mesh to move horizontally, for example when impacted by an animal. Alternative fasteners can be driven, fired or screwed to the insert 12.

[0024] The insert 12 extends for the full above-ground part of the fence post 2, giving complete flexibility for different spacing patterns of horizontal wires.

[0025] It is believed that the invention has achieved its aims of strength, lightness, longevity, recyclability, and flexibility, and the fence can be installed using tools familiar to those routinely used to install traditional fences.

Claims

1. A fence post comprising an elongate metallic member (4) having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and an elongate insert (12) of plastics material housed coaxially in the metallic member and held thereby, such that horizontal wires (18) can be attached to the insert.

2. A fence post according to claim 1, wherein at least axial motion of the insert (12) is prevented by frictional engagement with the metallic member (4).

3. A fence post according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metallic member (4) has a re-entrant profile for engaging the insert (12).

4. A fence post according to claim 3, wherein a re-entrant terminal portion (6) on each side of the cross-sectional profile of the member (4) is directed inwardly.

5. A fence post according to claim 4, wherein the terminal portions (6) are directed substantially parallel to substantially mutually parallel sides (8) of the profile and / or substantially at right angles to a rear wall (10) of the profile.

6. A fence post according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert (12) has a cross-section substantially corresponding to the internal cross-section of the metallic member (4).

7. A fence post according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert (12) has a flat exposed face (14).

8. A fence post according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert (12) is shorter than the metallic member (4) and occupies only a part of the metallic member (4) intended to be an upper part.

9. A fence comprising at least one fence post (2) according to any preceding claim, substantially horizontal wires (18) tensioned against the insert(s) (12), and fasteners (20) securing the wires to the insert(s) whilst allowing the wires (18) to move in the direction in which they extend.

10. A fence according to claim 9, wherein the fasteners are staples (20).

11. A fence according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the substantially horizontal wires (18) are wires of a wire mesh.

12. A method of constructing a fence post, comprising taking an elongate metallic member (4) having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and inserting an elongate insert (12) of plastics material coaxially into the metallic member to be housed therein and held thereby.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the insert (12) is shorter than the metallic member (4) and is inserted only into a part of the metallic member intended to be an upper part.

14. A method of installing a fence, including providing at least one fence post (2) as described above, erecting the fence post at a desired location, tensioning a wire mesh across the insert(s) (12) and attaching substantially horizontal wires (18) of the mesh to the insert(s).

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein attaching the substantially horizontal wires (18) is by stapling the wires to the insert(s) (12).

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