Insulators for overhead wires

Abstract

To provide an inexpensive electric-fence wire that ensures insulation between a current-carrying wire and a standing tree when attached to the standing tree.SOLUTION: An insulator 1 for stringing a wire which holds, in an insulated state, an electric-fence wire 3 by using a standing tree is formed of: a flexible plate section 40 whose longitudinal direction is a stringing direction of the wire 3; a holding section 41 which is provided on a surface of the plate section 40 on a stringing side of the wire 3, and prevents the held wire 3 from coming off; at least one mounting section 42 which is provided on the plate section 40, and fixes the plate section 40 to a trunk 4 of a standing tree 7 via a band member 6; and connection sections 43 which are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the plate section 40, and connect another plate section 40 in the stringing direction of the wire 3. By allowing the band member 6 to be mounted obliquely on the mounting section 42, the wire 3 can also be strung on an inclined surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to insulators for wire stringing, and particularly to insulators for wire stringing that use trees growing in forests and woods (hereinafter referred to as standing trees) as substitutes for the poles for stringing the conductive wires of an electric fence device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, instead of physical fences such as fences that protect farmland and livestock grazing areas from pests, an electric fence has been used in which conductive wires are strung in multiple stages using poles in farmland and grazing areas, and a pulsed high voltage is applied to these conductive wires. Hereinafter, the conductive wire is simply referred to as a wire. The high voltage generator (power unit) that applies a high voltage to the wire used in the electric fence used 100V commercial power to generate a high voltage in the early days, but in recent years, the power source has shifted to a rechargeable battery.

[0003] In an electric fence device that boosts the battery voltage with a power unit and applies it to the wire, the function of the electric fence is lost when the battery voltage drops, so the battery had to be replaced with a fully charged battery regularly. On the other hand, in recent years, since the battery can be charged with a solar panel, a power unit equipped with a solar panel does not require battery replacement, so users can install the electric fence device regardless of location. For this reason, the installation locations of electric fence devices have spread to mountain forests and the like without power sources. Furthermore, wire stringing has been carried out using standing trees growing in mountain forests and the like as substitutes for poles. Attaching insulators to standing trees growing in such mountain forests and stringing the wires of an electric fence device is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The insulator disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a complex structure because it allows for wire installation even in areas with uneven terrain, and therefore incurs considerable costs even when mass-produced. Consequently, the insulator disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the problem of high costs when used in large quantities.

[0006] In one aspect, the present invention aims to address the above-mentioned problems by enabling the use of standing trees in forests and other areas as supports for electric fence wires, and by providing inexpensive wire insulators. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one embodiment, a wire insulator is provided, comprising: a plate portion formed of a flexible member and having a wire surface through which the wire of an electric fence can be positioned along the wire direction; a holding portion positioned on the wire surface and holding the wire positioned on the wire surface; and a mounting portion positioned on the plate portion through which a strip member can be inserted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The wire insulators for overhead wire installation described herein have the effect of enabling inexpensive installation of electric fence wires while ensuring insulation between the wire carrying the current and the tree when attached to the tree. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] (a) is a perspective view of a wire overhead line insulator disclosed in Patent Document 1, and (b) is a perspective view showing how the wire is secured to the overhead line insulator shown in (a) and how a belt for attaching it to a standing tree is inserted into the housing. [Figure 2] (a) is a perspective view showing the attachment of auxiliary strings to through holes formed in overhead line insulators, and (b) is a perspective view showing overhead line insulators attached to trees with belts and auxiliary strings, and wires stretched across uneven ground. [Figure 3] (a) shows the overhead line insulator of the present invention attached to a standing tree growing on flat land, and is a side view of section A of the area shown in (b), and (b) is a plan view of the area shown in (a), including section A. [Figure 4] (a) is a side view of the overhead wire insulator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a plan view of the overhead wire insulator shown in (a), (c) is a front view of the overhead wire insulator shown in (a), and (d) is a perspective view of the overhead wire insulator shown in (a) from the front. [Figure 5] (a) is a perspective view showing the rear side of the overhead wire insulator of the first embodiment and the cable tie for attaching the overhead wire insulator to a standing tree; (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for fixing the cable tie shown in (a) to the trunk of a standing tree using a fastener on the opposite side of the mounting position of the overhead wire insulator; (c) is an explanatory diagram showing how to use the fastener shown in (b); and (d) is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for fixing the overhead wire insulator to a standing tree using the fastener shown in (b). [Figure 6] (a) is a schematic diagram showing the overhead wire insulator of the first embodiment fixed to a standing tree using cable ties and fasteners, (b) is a front view of an example of a stopper, which is a fastener that can fasten the cable ties shown in (a) on the opposite side of the overhead wire insulator, and (c) is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the overhead wire insulator is deformed when the wire is held by the overhead wire insulator shown in (a) at the bent portion of the wire. [Figure 7] (a) is a side view showing an overhead wire insulator of the second embodiment of the present invention, in which wire attachment parts are also provided at both ends of the base plate; (b) is a front view of the overhead wire insulator shown in (a); (c) is a schematic diagram of the overhead wire insulator of the second embodiment when fixed to a standing tree using cable ties; and (d) is a perspective view of the overhead wire insulator of the second embodiment seen from the rear side. [Figure 8] (a) is a side view of the overhead line insulator when two overhead line insulators of the first embodiment are connected, and (b) is a schematic diagram of when two connected overhead line insulators are fixed to a thick-trunked tree using cable ties and fasteners. [Figure 9]This is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the overhead line insulator shown in Figure 8(a) is deformed when the wire is held by the overhead line insulator at the bent portion of the wire. [Figure 10] (a) is a side view showing two overhead line insulators of the second embodiment of the present invention connected together, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing the overhead line insulators of the second embodiment in the connected state shown in (a) fixed to a tree with a thick trunk using cable ties and fasteners. [Figure 11] This shows an overhead wire insulator according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view of the overhead wire insulator, (b) is a side view of the overhead wire insulator, (c) is a bottom view of the overhead wire insulator, (d) is a front view of the overhead wire insulator, and (e) is a perspective view of the overhead wire insulator. [Figure 12] This shows an overhead wire insulator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view of the overhead wire insulator, (b) is a side view of the overhead wire insulator, (c) is a bottom view of the overhead wire insulator, (d) is a front view of the overhead wire insulator, and (e) is a perspective view of the overhead wire insulator. [Figure 13] This shows a fifth embodiment of the overhead line insulator, where (a) is a plan view of the overhead line insulator, (b) is a side view of the overhead line insulator, (c) is a bottom view of the overhead line insulator, (d) is a front view of the overhead line insulator, and (e) is a perspective view of the overhead line insulator. [Figure 14] This shows a modified example of an overhead line insulator according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view showing the structure of the first modified example, (b) is a plan view showing the structure of the second modified example, and (c) is a view of the second modified example of (b) from the direction of arrow C. [Figure 15] This shows a sixth embodiment of the overhead line insulator, in which the mounting portion is formed by a slit provided in the base plate of the overhead line insulator, and the wire holding portion is the same as that of the fifth embodiment. (a) is a plan view of the overhead line insulator, (b) is a side view of the overhead line insulator showing the procedure for attaching the cable tie to the overhead line insulator, (c) is a bottom view of the overhead line insulator, and (d) is a perspective view showing the sixth embodiment of the overhead line insulator with the cable tie attached to a standing tree. [Figure 16]This is a schematic diagram showing the state when the overhead line insulator of the sixth embodiment of the present invention is used alone and fixed to the trunk of the standing tree using fasteners on the opposite side of where the overhead line insulator is attached to the standing tree. [Figure 17] (a) is a side view of a modified version of the overhead wire insulator of the first embodiment, in which the thickness of the base plate does not change when connected; (b) is a side view of a modified version of the overhead wire insulator of the second embodiment, in which the thickness of the base plate does not change when connected; (c) is a side view of a modified version of the overhead wire insulator of the third embodiment, in which the thickness of the base plate does not change when connected; and (d) is a side view of a further modified version of the overhead wire insulator of the third embodiment, in which the thickness of the base plate does not change when connected, and the mounting structure of the mounting part of the second embodiment is adopted for the mounting part of the third embodiment. [Figure 18] This shows a seventh embodiment of the overhead line insulator, in which the structure of the attachment part of the overhead line insulator to a standing tree has been modified. (a) is a side view of the overhead line insulator, (b) is a bottom view of the overhead line insulator, and (c) is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating the structure of the attachment part of the seventh embodiment. [Figure 19] This describes an example of use demonstrating that the overhead line insulator of the seventh embodiment of the present invention can also be used when trees are growing on an inclined surface. (a) is a side view of three trees growing on a slope where the altitude gradually increases, (b) is a plan view of (a), (c) is a partially enlarged side view showing the state in which the overhead line insulator is attached to the trees, and (d) is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view illustrating the relationship between the wire and the cable tie in the overhead line insulator shown in (c). [Figure 20] This invention describes an example of use demonstrating that the overhead line insulator of the seventh embodiment of the present invention can also be used when trees are growing on an uneven slope. (a) is a side view of three trees growing on a slope that rises and then descends, and (b) is a partial side view illustrating an example of use in which the overhead line insulator of the seventh embodiment is used in a connected state, and the wire is divided at the rising and descending sides. [Figure 21] (a) is a diagram showing a cross-section along the X-X line in the state shown in Figure 20(a), and (b) and (c) are explanatory diagrams showing modified examples of the mounting portion of the overhead line insulator according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22]This shows the insulator for overhead line installation of the eighth embodiment of the present invention, which has a structure in which a mounting portion is formed by a slit provided in the base plate of the insulator for overhead line installation. As the wire holding portion, the holding portion of the fifth embodiment is used. (a) is a side view of the insulator for overhead line installation, (b) is a plan view of the insulator for overhead line installation, (c) is a bottom view of the insulator for overhead line installation, and (d) is a bottom view of a modified embodiment in which the arrangement of the slit provided in the central portion of the base plate is changed. [Figure 23] This is an explanatory diagram of a modified embodiment of the insulator for overhead line installation of the eighth embodiment of the present invention, in which the length of the insertion hole of the binding band provided in the base plate is made larger than the width of the binding band, giving freedom to the mounting angle of the binding band with respect to the base plate.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] The raised portion 13 has two parallel arms 12A on its upper surface that straddle the wire insertion passage 11, serving as a mechanism 12 to prevent the wire 3 from coming off the wire insertion passage 11. There is a gap S between each arm 12A as shown in Figure 1(b), and the wire 3 is bent at the folded portion 3T and inserted into the wire insertion passage 11. A gap M is formed between the tips of the two arms 12A and the upper surface of the raised portion 13, through which the wire 3 passes.

[0014] Circumferential grooves 16 are formed on the upper surface of the raised portion 13 at the base of the two arms 12A, and through holes 15 are formed at the base of the two arms 12A, connecting flush with and penetrating the circumferential grooves 16 on both sides. The circumferential grooves 16 on both sides of the base of the arms 12A are for attaching attachment strings to the insulator 1', and one end of the circumferential groove 16 reaches one opposing wall 13W, but the other end of the circumferential groove 16 terminates spherically without reaching the other opposing wall 13W. 14A is a first attachment hole through which an attachment device (cable tie) 6 for attaching the insulator 1' to a standing tree is inserted, and 17 is a cover that prevents contact between the wire 3 passing through the wire insertion passage 11 and the cable tie 6.

[0015] The mounting structure provided on the upper wall 22U, the lower wall 22B, and the back surface has a first curved recess 26, a first contact portion 26T, a second curved recess 27, and a second contact portion 27T formed at the same position to facilitate the attachment of the insulator 1' to a standing tree. These are formed to match the diameter of the standing tree, and one of the first curved recess 26, the first contact portion 26T, the second curved recess 27, and the second contact portion 27T engages with the trunk of the standing tree.

[0016] The insulator 1' having the structure described above can be attached to the trunk 4 or thick branch 4B of the standing tree 7 using the cable tie 6 shown in Figure 1(a), as shown in Figure 2(b), and then fixed to another location on the standing tree 7 or a location other than the standing tree 7 using the attachment support string 9 shown in Figure 2(a).

[0017] Here, a method for fixing the insulator 1' to a standing tree 7 using a through hole 15 in land with elevation differences will be explained using Figure 2(a). Figure 2(a) is a perspective view showing the state of attaching the mounting support string 9 to the through hole 15 formed in the insulator 1'. As shown in Figure 2(a), one end of the mounting support string 9 is inserted through the through hole 15 along the circumferential groove 16, and then the end is tied with a double knot to fix it to the insulator 1'. The other end of the mounting support string 9 is free and can be fixed to another location on the standing tree 7, or to a location other than the standing tree 7.

[0018] Figure 2(b) illustrates an example in which insulators 1' are attached and secured to the trunks 4 and thick branches 4B of two standing trees 7 growing on land with a difference in elevation using cable ties 6, and then secured to a different location on the trunks 4 and branches 4B than the fixing position of the housing 2 using mounting support strings 9. On the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 in the foreground, the insulator 1' is attached to the vertical part with cable ties 6, and on the standing tree 7 in the background, the insulator 1' is attached to the diagonal thick branch 4B with cable ties 6. Two mounting support strings 9, one end of which is fixed to the insulator 1', have their other ends wrapped around and secured to the trunks 4 and branches 4B of the standing trees 7 above and below the insulator 1'. In this way, by fixing the insulator 1' to the trunks 4 and branches 4B of the standing trees 7 with both cable ties 6 and mounting support strings 9, the insulator 1' becomes less likely to come off the trunks 4 and branches 4B.

[0019] As described above, the insulator 1' disclosed in Patent Document 1 was very effective when using trees growing on uneven terrain as supports to string (install) electric fence wires, but it was expensive. Therefore, the present invention provides an inexpensive electric fence wire insulator that replaces the insulator disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0020] Below, several embodiments of the electric fence wire insulator of the present invention will be described. First, using Figures 3(a) and 3(b), one environment in which the wire insulator of the present invention is used will be explained.

[0021] In one example, the wire insulator 1 of the present invention can be used in a location where the ground G is flat, as shown in Figure 3(a), and where there are multiple trees 7 growing at the installation site, as shown in Figure 3(b). Figure 3(a) shows a side view of only section A of Figure 3(b), and the insulator 1 is attached to the back side of the tree 7 in the middle. Furthermore, in areas where the ground G is flat and the tensioning direction of the wire 3 is straight, the trees 7 are selected so that the wire 3 held by the insulator 1 is zigzag, as shown in Figure 3(b), and each insulator 1 is positioned so that the insulator 1 is always pressed against the tree 7 by the wire 3. A high-voltage pulse for preventing animal intrusion is applied to the wire 3, and the arrangement of the insulator 1 shown in Figure 3(b) can prevent the wire 3 from sagging and coming into contact with the ground or grass growing on the ground, thus preventing leakage. Note that in Figure 3(a), there is only one insulator 1 attached to each tree 7 and only one section of wire 3 is strung; however, the wire 3 may be strung in multiple sections. Also, in Figure 3(b), the length and shape of the insulator 1 are shown in general terms.

[0022] Next, one embodiment of the insulator 1 of the present invention will be described using the first embodiment shown in Figure 4. Figure 4(a) is a side view of the insulator 1A of the first embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a top view of the insulator 1A, (c) is a front view of the insulator 1A, and (d) is a perspective view of the insulator 1A.

[0023] The insulator 1A of the first embodiment includes a strip-shaped insulating base plate 40 whose longitudinal direction is the direction in which the wire 3 is mounted. The base plate 40 is an example of a plate portion and is formed of a flexible member. In one example, the base plate 40 is formed of an insulating resin. The base plate 40 has a mounting surface on which the electric fence wire 3 can be positioned along the downward direction. The mounting surface can also be said to be the surface of the base plate 40 on the wire 3 mounting side. A wire 3 holding portion 41 is arranged on the mounting surface of the base plate 40.

[0024] The holding portion 41 is integrally formed with the base plate 40 and holds the wire 3 so that it does not come off the base plate 40. In other words, the holding portion 41 holds the wire 3 which is arranged on the overhead line surface. The holding portion 41 includes a pair of wall portions 41W of a predetermined height provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 40, a ceiling portion 41C arranged parallel to the base plate 40, and a plurality of extension portions 41WE formed in the extension portions of the wall portions 41W and supporting the ceiling portion 41C.

[0025] The pair of wall sections 41W are arranged facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the overhead wire direction of the base plate 40. The multiple extension sections 41WE extend from the upper ends of each of the pair of wall sections 41W in a direction opposite to the overhead wire plane, so as not to face each other. The ceiling section 41 extends from the tips of the multiple extension sections 41WE in a direction perpendicular to the overhead wire direction. The wall sections 41W, extension sections 41WE, and ceiling section 41C are integrally formed. Furthermore, the extension sections 41WE and ceiling section 41C are positioned so as not to face each other.

[0026] The space S0 enclosed by the base plate 40 and the holding member 41 is the space for receiving the wire 3 of the electric fence device. The extension 41WE rises alternately upward from the upper ends of the wall sections 41W on both sides at predetermined intervals, supporting the ceiling section 41C. The height (gap) S1 from the tip of the wall section 41W to the lower surface of the ceiling section 41C is greater than or equal to the diameter of the wire 3 of the electric fence device. Also, the length of the gap S2 between adjacent ceiling sections 41C is greater than or equal to the diameter of the wire 3 of the electric fence device. The wire 3 held in the space S0 of the insulator 1A is inserted into the space S0 of the insulator 1A through gaps S1 and S2.

[0027] The base plate 40 has at least one mounting portion 42. The mounting portion 42 is a member through which a band member 6 (the mounting device shown in Figure 1(b), also referred to as a cable tie 6) used to fix the insulator 1A to the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 can be inserted. The mounting portion 42 is fixed to the fixing position of the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7. In the first embodiment, the mounting portion 42 is located in the central part of the base plate 40, on the mounting surface which is the side of the base plate 40 opposite the overhead line surface. The mounting portion 42 also has a passage 42H through which the band member 6 can be inserted. The passage 42H is located on the side opposite to the holding portion 41, in the central part of the back surface (mounting surface) of the base plate 40, and through which the cable tie 6 can be inserted (see Figure 5(a)). The mounting portion 42 is integrally formed with the base plate 40. The width of the mounting portion 42 (width of the passage 42H) is not particularly limited and should be matched to the width of the cable tie 6 used. In the following, the side of the base plate 40 that attaches to the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 may be referred to as the back side, and the side with the retaining member 41 that holds the wire 3 may be referred to as the front side. The method of attaching the insulator 1A to the standing tree 7 will be described later.

[0028] The insulator 1A described above can be attached to a standing tree of medium thickness using a cable tie 6. In other words, the insulator 1, which has an insulating and flexible base plate 40 (plate part), a holding part 41 for holding the wire 3, and an attachment part 42 through which the cable tie 6 can be inserted, has a simple structure and can provide inexpensive insulation between the wire 3 and the standing tree 7 while allowing the wire 3 to be strung.

[0029] However, in the case of trees with thick trunks, there is a risk that the wires 3 protruding from both ends of the insulator 1A may touch the tree trunk and cause a short circuit. In such cases, by connecting multiple insulators 1A together, the wires 3 can be attached without touching the tree trunk.

[0030] Insulator 1A is provided with connecting parts 43 at both ends of its rectangular shape, which can be connected to other insulators 1A, in order to connect them to each other. The connecting part 43 consists of a first connecting part 431 located at one end of the base plate 40 in the direction of the overhead wire, and a second connecting part 432 located at the other end of the base plate 40 in the direction of the overhead wire, which can be connected to the first connecting part 431 of an adjacent insulator 1A. Since insulator 1A is provided with a first connecting part 431 and a second connecting part 432, multiple insulators 1A can be connected to each other.

[0031] The first connecting portion 431 and the second connecting portion 432 are arranged such that when connected to adjacent insulators 1A, the overhead line surfaces of the adjacent insulators 1A form the same plane. As a result, when the wire 3 is placed on each overhead line surface of each adjacent insulator 1A, the insulators 1A can receive the pressure from the wire 3 evenly.

[0032] A connecting portion 43 (second connecting portion 432) provided at one end of the insulator 1A has a hole 43H formed therein that penetrates the base plate 40. A connecting portion 43 (first connecting portion 431) provided at the other end of the insulator 1A has a connecting guide plate 43G whose connecting surface is formed lower by the thickness of the base plate 40 in order to make the base plates 40 flush with each other when connected, in other words, so that the overhead line surfaces form the same surface. Furthermore, the first connecting portion 431 has a projection 43P on the front side of the guide plate 43G at a position corresponding to the hole 43H of the insulator 1A when another insulator 1A is connected, which fits into the hole 43H. The hole 43H can also be called a receiving hole 43H that can engage with the projection 43P, since the projection 43P is fitted into it.

[0033] As shown in Figure 5(a), when the insulator 1A is attached to the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7, spacers 44 are provided on the back side of the base plate 40 to prevent the wires 3 pulled out from both ends of the base plate 40 from directly contacting the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7. The spacers 44 are positioned to extend in the opposite direction from the overhead line surface of the base plate 40. In the first embodiment, spacers 44 are provided in two locations near both ends of the base plate 40. The height of the spacer 44 provided on the side without the guide plate 43G (second connection part 432 side) from the base plate 40 should be about the same as the height of the mounting part 42 provided on the base plate 40 from the base plate 40. The height of the spacer 44A provided on the side with the guide plate 43G (first connection part 431 side) from the guide plate 43G should be the height obtained by subtracting the thickness of the guide plate 43G from the height of the mounting part 42 from the base plate 40.

[0034] One end of the cable tie 6 is fastened to the other end of the cable tie 6 at a fastening position opposite to the fixing position on the trunk 4 where the attachment portion 42 is fixed. In detail, the cable tie 6 is inserted from one end of the attachment portion 42 into the passage 42H, and as shown in Figure 6(a), after circling the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 that will serve as the support column, both ends are fixed to the trunk 4 by the fasteners 45 while in close contact with the trunk 4. The fasteners 45 can be, for example, resin fasteners 45, also called stoppers, as shown in Figure 6(b). The fasteners 45 have a ring portion 45R with a hole 45H, and a leg portion 45L with two legs 451 and 452. A slit 45S is formed at the connection point between the two legs 451 and 452 and the ring portion 45R to make the leg portion 45L easier to bend.

[0035] When fixing the base plate 40 (insulator 1A) to the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7, first, insert the cable tie 6 into the mounting part 42 as shown in Figure 5(a). Next, as shown in Figure 6(a), wrap the cable tie 6 around the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7, then, as shown in Figure 5(b), bend both ends of the cable tie 6 at a right angle, and then fold them back into a U-shape. Then, insert the folded portion into the hole 45H of the ring part 45R of the fastener 45. After this, as shown in Figure 5(c), fold and insert each leg 451 and 452 into the folded portion of the cable tie 6 that has passed through the hole 45H of the ring part 45R. Finally, as shown in Figure 5(d), pull both ends of the cable tie 6 in the opposite directions indicated by the arrows, and the cable tie 6 will be in close contact with the trunk 4, so that the base plate 40 can be fixed to the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7.

[0036] The back side of the base plate 40 may be provided with a number of protrusions (preferably four) not shown. Two of the four protrusions are provided on each end of the mounting portion 42. Preferably, the distance between the two protrusions (protrusion pairs) provided on one end of the mounting portion 42 is greater than or equal to the width of the cable tie 6. The same applies to the two protrusions provided on the other end of the mounting portion 42. As a result, when the cable tie 6 is fixed to the trunk 4, the insulator 1A will position the band 6 between the protrusion pairs, thereby restricting the movement of the cable tie 6. Furthermore, it is preferable that the height of each protrusion is greater than the height of the mounting portion 42. As a result, when the insulator 1A (base plate 40) is fixed to the trunk 4, the protrusions will come into contact with the trunk 4, restricting the movement of the cable tie 6 positioned between the protrusion pairs, and ensuring space between the base plate 40 and the trunk 4 to prevent the wire 3 from coming into contact with the trunk 4. The shape of each protrusion can be arbitrary; in one example, it may be formed in a spike-like (conical) shape.

[0037] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(a), if there is only one mounting portion 42 in the center of the back surface (back) of the base plate 40, when the base plate 40 is fixed to the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 using the cable tie 6, both ends of the insulator 1A may separate from the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7, as shown in Figure 6(a). However, since the insulator 1A of the first embodiment is used at the bent portion of the wire 3 as shown in Figure 3(c), the wire 3 held by the insulator 1A bends, as shown in Figure 6(c). In this case, since the base plate 40 is flexible, both ends of the insulator 1A (base plate 40) are deformed by the wire 3 to follow the curve of the trunk 4, and the top surface of the mounting portion 42 on the lower surface of the base plate 40 and the tip surfaces of the spacers 44 and 44A come into contact with the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 due to the deformation of the base plate 40. The insulator 1A prevents the wire 3 from coming into contact with the trunk 4 by ensuring space is created when the tip surfaces of the spacers 44 and 44A come into contact with the trunk 4.

[0038] Figure 7(a) is a side view showing the insulator 1B of the second embodiment of the present invention, (b) is a front view of the insulator 1B, (c) is a schematic diagram of the insulator 1B being fixed to a tree 7 using a cable tie 6, and (d) is a perspective view of the insulator 1B seen from the rear side. The difference between the insulator 1B of the second embodiment and the insulator 1A of the first embodiment is that the mounting portion 42 of the insulator 1B through which the cable tie 6 can be inserted is provided integrally with the base plate 40 not only in the center of the base plate 40 but also at both ends. The mounting portion 42 on the side of the connecting portion 43 with the guide plate 43G can be realized by increasing the thickness of the guide plate 43G and forming a passage 42H.

[0039] In the second embodiment, the insulator 1B is provided with three mounting parts 42 for attaching it to a standing tree 7 by inserting a cable tie 6. As shown in Figure 7(c), when the insulator 1B is attached to the standing tree with the cable tie 6, the base plate 40 deforms along the trunk 4, and the top surfaces of the three mounting parts 42 come into contact with the trunk 4. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the mounting parts 42 provided at both ends of the base plate 40 of the insulator 1B serve both the function of attaching the cable tie 6 and the function of preventing contact between the wire 3 and the trunk 4, thus eliminating the need for the spacers 44 and 44A provided in the insulator 1A of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, each mounting part 42 of the insulator 1B is formed to the same width as the base plate 40, but the width of each mounting part 42 (passage 42H) is not particularly limited and can be matched to the width of the cable tie 6.

[0040] The insulator 1 of the present invention is used at the bent portion of the wire 3. If the diameter of the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 is not very thick, the wire 3 held by the insulator 1 will not come into contact with the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 even if it bends. However, if the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 is thick, using only one insulator 1 may cause the wire 3 coming out of the insulator 1 to come into contact with the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7. Therefore, as described above, the insulator 1 of the present invention can be used by connecting the necessary number of insulators 1 according to the thickness of the trunk 4, thereby preventing the wire 3 coming out of the connected insulators 1 from coming into contact with the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7.

[0041] Using Figures 8(a), 8(b) and 8(9), the case of connecting two insulators 1A of the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. As shown in Figure 8(a), when connecting two insulators 1A, the projection 43P provided on the other end (first connecting portion 431) of the base plate 40 of the other insulator 1A is fitted into the hole 43H provided on one end (second connecting portion 432) of the base plate 40 of the other insulator 1A. In this state, a cable tie 6 is inserted through the mounting portion 42 on the back of the base plate 40 of the two connected insulators 1A, and the cable tie 6 is wrapped around the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 and both ends are fixed with fasteners 45.

[0042] The two connected insulators 1A are curved along the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 by the cable tie 6 at the portion between each mounting portion 42 (inner portion), but the portions beyond each mounting portion 42 of the two connected insulators 1A (outer portion) may move away from the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7, as shown in Figure 8(b). However, in the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the connected insulators 1A are used at the bent portion of the wire 3, so when the wire 3 held by the connected insulators 1A bends, the insulators 1A are deformed by the wire 3 to conform to the curved surface of the trunk 4. As a result, the top surfaces of each mounting portion 42 on the back surface of the base plate 40, as well as the tip surfaces of the spacers 44 and spacers 44A, come into contact with the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 due to the deformation of the base plate 40.

[0043] Using Figures 10(a) and (b), the case of connecting two insulators 1B of the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. As shown in Figure 10(a), the case of connecting two insulators 1B of the second embodiment is the same as the case of connecting two insulators 1A of the first embodiment, and the projection 43P provided on the other end (first connecting portion 431) of the base plate 40 of the other insulator 1B is fitted into the hole 43H provided on one end (second connecting portion 432) of the base plate 40. In this state, the cable ties 6 are inserted through the six mounting portions 42 on the back of the base plate 40 of the two connected insulators 1B, and the cable ties 6 are wrapped around the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 and both ends are fixed with fasteners 45.

[0044] In the second embodiment, the insulator 1B is provided with three attachment points 42 on a single insulator 1B for attaching the insulator 1B to a standing tree 7 by inserting a cable tie 6. As shown in Figure 10(b), when the insulator 1B connected by the cable tie 6 is attached to the standing tree 7, the base plate 40 deforms along the trunk 4, and the top surfaces of the six attachment points 42 of the cable tie 6 come into contact with the trunk 4.

[0045] The insulator 1C of the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained using Figures 11(a) to (e). Figure 11(a) is a plan view of the insulator 1C of the third embodiment, (b) is a side view of the insulator 1C, (c) is a bottom view of the insulator 1C, (d) is a front view of the insulator 1C, and (e) is a perspective view of the insulator 1C. In the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0046] The insulator 1C of the third embodiment also includes a base plate 40 formed of an insulating and flexible material, and the structure of the back side of the base plate 40 is the same as that of the base plate 40 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the structure of the back side of the base plate 40 of the insulator 1C of the third embodiment can also be the same as that of the insulator 1B of the second embodiment, in which attachment parts 42 for the wire 3 through which the cable tie 6 is inserted are also provided at both ends of the base plate 40. In addition, the insulator 1C of the third embodiment, like the first and second embodiments, is provided with connecting parts 43 that allow multiple insulators 1C to be connected when the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 to which it is attached is thick.

[0047] The difference between the insulator 1C of the third embodiment and the insulators 1A and 1B of the first and second embodiments lies in the structure of the wire 3 holding portion. The wire 3 holding portion 41 in the insulators 1A and 1B of the first and second embodiments was provided with a wall portion 41W, an extension portion 41WE, and a ceiling portion 41C, as described in Figures 4(a) to (d) and Figures 7(a) to (d). In contrast, the wire 3 holding portion of the insulator 1C of the third embodiment is formed by providing multiple pairs of opposing protrusions 46P (three in the embodiment shown in Figure 11) on the front side of the base plate 40. The protrusions 46P can also be called holding protrusions 46P because they hold the wire 3.

[0048] Multiple pairs of retaining protrusions 46P are arranged spaced apart in the direction of the overhead wire. Each retaining protrusion 46P comprises a retaining wall 46W that rises vertically from the base plate 40 and is parallel to the direction of the overhead wire 3 held on the base plate 40, and a ceiling plate 46C that extends parallel to the base plate 40 from the top of the retaining wall 46W. Each of the multiple pairs of retaining protrusions 46P (retaining wall 46W and ceiling plate 46C) is arranged to form a slit 46S that extends in a direction inclined from the direction of the overhead wire.

[0049] The slit 46S has a width S3 that allows the wire 3 to pass through between the ends of opposing ceiling panels 46C, and is formed diagonally to the retaining wall 46W. Therefore, when the wire 3 shown by the dashed line in Figure 11 is folded back to form a diagonal portion and inserted into the internal space 46T of the retaining projection 46P and extended, the wire 3 is blocked by the diagonally positioned slit 46S, making it difficult for it to come out of the internal space 46T of the retaining projection 46P. In addition, the direction of each slit 46S is formed to intersect with the direction of adjacent slits 46S. Therefore, when inserting the wire 3 into the slit 46S, the wire 3 can be easily passed through each slit 46S by forming a diagonal portion on the wire 3 before insertion.

[0050] The insulator 1D of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained using Figures 12(a) to (e). Figure 12(a) is a plan view of the insulator 1D of the fourth embodiment, (b) is a side view of the insulator 1D, (c) is a bottom view of the insulator 1D, (d) is a front view of the insulator 1D, and (e) is a perspective view of the insulator 1D. In the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0051] The insulator 1D of the fourth embodiment also includes a base plate 40 formed of an insulating and flexible material, and the structure of the back side of the base plate 40 is the same as that of the base plate 40 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the structure of the back side of the base plate 40 of the insulator 1D of the fourth embodiment can also be the same as that of the insulator 1B of the second embodiment, in which the attachment portion 42 for the wire 3 through which the cable tie 6 is inserted is provided not only in the center of the base plate 40 but also at both ends. Moreover, the insulator 1D of the fourth embodiment, like the first and second embodiments, is provided with a connecting portion 43 that allows multiple insulators 1D to be connected together when the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 to which it is attached is thick.

[0052] The difference between the insulator 1D of the fourth embodiment and the insulators 1A and 1B of the first and second embodiments lies in the structure of the wire 3 holding portion. The wire 3 holding portion 41 in the insulators 1A and 1B of the first and second embodiments was provided with a wall portion 41W, an extension portion 41WE, and a ceiling portion 41C, as described in Figures 4(a) to (d) and Figures 7(a) to (d). In contrast, the wire holding portion 47 in the insulator 1D of the fourth embodiment is provided with multiple (three in the embodiment shown in Figure 12) holding portions 47 on the front side of the base plate 40, and each holding portion 47 is provided with two parallel holding walls 47W that are parallel to the overhead wire direction of the wire 3 held on the base plate 40 and rise vertically from the base plate 40, and a semi-cylindrical portion 47C that connects the tops of the holding walls 47W. The semi-cylindrical portion 47C has an oblique slit 47S with a width S4 through which the wire 3 can pass.

[0053] The adjacent slits 47S are formed so that their inclination directions intersect with respect to the retaining wall 47W. Therefore, when the wire 3 shown by the dashed line in Figure 12 is folded back alternately to create diagonal sections and passed through the slits 47S, and then extended into the internal space 47T of the retaining section 47, the extended wire 3 intersects with the diagonal slits 47S, and is therefore blocked by the semi-cylindrical section 47C, making it difficult for the wire 3 to escape from the internal space 47T of the retaining projection 47. Furthermore, when inserting the wire 3 into the slits 47S, the wire 3 can be easily passed through each slit 47S by forming diagonal sections on the wire 3 before insertion.

[0054] The insulator 1E of the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained using Figures 13(a) to (e). Figure 13(a) is a plan view of the insulator 1E of the fifth embodiment, (b) is a side view of the insulator 1E, (c) is a bottom view of the insulator 1E, (d) is a front view of the insulator 1E, and (e) is a perspective view of the insulator 1E. In the fifth embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0055] The insulator 1E of the fifth embodiment also includes a base plate 40 formed of an insulating and flexible material. Furthermore, the structure of the back side of the base plate 40 is the same as that of the base plate 40 of the first embodiment, except that the outer surface of the spacer 44 is extended to the end of the base plate 40. The structure of the back side of the base plate 40 of the insulator 1E of the fifth embodiment can also be the same as that of the insulator 1B of the second embodiment, in which attachment parts 42 for the wire 3 through which the cable tie 6 is inserted are also provided at both ends of the base plate 40. In addition, the insulator 1E of the fifth embodiment, like the first and second embodiments, is provided with connecting parts 43 that allow multiple insulators 1E to be connected when the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 to which it is attached is thick.

[0056] The difference between the insulator 1E of the fifth embodiment and the insulators 1A and 1B of the first and second embodiments lies in the structure of the wire 3 holding portion. The wire 3 holding portion 41 in the insulators 1A and 1B of the first and second embodiments consisted of a wall portion 41W, an extension portion 41WE, and a ceiling portion 41C, as described in Figures 4(a) to (d) and Figures 7(a) to (d). In contrast, the wire 3 holding portion 48 in the insulator 1E of the fifth embodiment is provided in multiple locations (three in the embodiment shown in Figure 12) on the front side of the base plate 40, and holds the wire 3.

[0057] Each holding section 48 includes a pair of brackets 48B that rise vertically from the base plate 40, parallel to the extension direction of the wire 3 held on the base plate 40 and spaced at a distance greater than or equal to the diameter of the wire 3, and a horizontal bar (rod) 48R that spans between the pair of brackets 48B parallel to the base plate 40 to prevent the wire 3 from detaching from the brackets 48B. In other words, the pair of brackets 48B are arranged spaced apart in the direction of the overhead wire so as to face each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the overhead wire. The horizontal bar 48R is also arranged spaced apart from the overhead wire surface so as to connect each pair of brackets 48B included in the pair of brackets 48B. Three pairs of brackets 48B and horizontal bars 48R are formed in Figure 13.

[0058] In one example, the horizontal bar 48R is inserted into a pair of brackets 48B after the wire 3 has been placed on the overhead line surface. This allows the insulator 1E to hold the wire 3 after it has been placed on the overhead line surface without forming an angled portion on the wire 3. Placing the wire 3 without forming an angled portion is particularly effective when the wire 3 is rigid and difficult to bend. Although the horizontal bar 48R shown in Figures 13(a) to (e) is cylindrical, the cross-sectional shape of the horizontal bar 48R does not have to be circular. Also, although in Figures 13(a) to (e) the horizontal bar 48R is inserted into holes 48H provided in the two brackets 48B, the method of attaching the horizontal bar 48R to the brackets 48B is not particularly limited.

[0059] In the case of the insulator 1E of the fifth embodiment, the diameter of the horizontal bar 48R is not particularly limited, and the distance between the bottom surface of the horizontal bar 48R on the base plate side and the base plate 40 should be greater than or equal to the maximum diameter of the wire 3 used in the electric fence device. That is, when the wire 3 is held by the holding part 48, the wire 3 and the horizontal bar 48R may or may not be in contact. Also, if the distance between the wire 3 and the horizontal bar 48R is large, the insulator 1E may be provided with a projection on the overhead wire surface of the base plate 40 between adjacent holding parts 48 to prevent the wire 3 from moving.

[0060] Two modified examples of the wire 3 holding portion 48 of the fifth embodiment will be described using Figures 14(a) to (c). Note that in Figures 14(a) to (c), the illustration of members other than the holding portion 48 of the fifth embodiment that are installed on the base plate 40 is omitted.

[0061] Figure 14(a) shows a first modified example of the wire 3 holding portion 48 of the fifth embodiment, in which the bracket 48B has only a through hole 48H through which the horizontal bar 48R is inserted, and the horizontal bar 48R is equipped with a bolt 48V inserted through the through hole 48H and a nut 48N screwed onto the bolt 48V. The bolt 48V and nut 48N can be fastened after the wire 3 is placed on the base plate 40. With this configuration of the holding portion 48, the wire 3 can be easily removed from the insulator 1E. Note that the threaded portion 48J formed on the bolt 48V only needs to be present on the portion of the bolt 48V that protrudes from the bracket 48B when the bolt 48V is inserted between the brackets 48B.

[0062] Figures 14(b) and (c) show a second modified example of the wire 3 holding member 48 of the fifth embodiment, in which a horizontal bar 48R fixed to the bracket 48B has a slit 48S formed in it that is oblique when the horizontal bar 48R is viewed from above. In other words, the horizontal bar 48R is a pair of horizontal bars 48R arranged such that each of them forms a slit 48S that extends in a direction inclined from the overhead wire direction. The width S5 of the slit 48S formed in the horizontal bar 48R should be greater than or equal to the diameter of the wire 3 to be held by the wire 3 holding part 48 of the fifth embodiment. With this configuration of the holding part 48, the wire 3 can be placed on the insulator 1E without removing the horizontal bar (rod material) 48R. The angle of the slit 48S with respect to the axis of the horizontal bar 48R is not particularly limited, but it should be an angle that makes it difficult for the wire 3 held by the holding part 48 of the fifth embodiment to come loose. In one example, the direction of adjacent slits 48S is formed to intersect with the direction of adjacent slits 48S.

[0063] In all of the first to fifth embodiments described above, the insulators 1A to E had mounting portions 42 for fixing the insulator 1 to the standing tree 7 on the back side of the base plate 40. However, the mounting portion of the base plate 40 to the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 may be located anywhere on the insulator 1. Therefore, an embodiment in which the mounting portion is provided on the base plate 40 itself will be described as the sixth embodiment.

[0064] Figure 15 shows an insulator 1F according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, and the wire 3 holding portion is an embodiment equipped with the holding portion 48 of the fifth embodiment. In Figure 15, (a) is a plan view of the insulator 1F, (b) is a side view of the insulator 1F with a cable tie attached, (c) is a bottom view of the insulator 1F, and (d) is a perspective view showing the insulator 1F of the sixth embodiment together with the cable tie 6 attached to the standing tree 7. Note that the structure of the holding portion in the insulator 1F is not limited to the fifth embodiment, but may also be the structure of the holding portion in the first, third, and fourth embodiments.

[0065] In the sixth embodiment of the insulator 1F, the mounting portion is formed by two slits 42S provided on both ends of the base plate 40. In other words, the mounting portion is provided by two pairs of end through holes 42S formed near both ends of the base plate 40 in the direction of the overhead wire. As shown in Figure 16(b), the cable tie 6 used to attach the insulator 1F to the tree 7 is inserted from the back into the outer slit 42S on one of the two slits 42S (end through holes 42S) provided on both ends of the base plate 40, folded back and inserted from the front into the adjacent slit 42S, followed along the back of the insulator 1F, and inserted from the back into the inner slit 42S on the other side. Finally, the cable tie 6 protruding from the slit 42S is folded back above the slit 42S and inserted from the front into the adjacent slit 42S, thereby attaching the cable tie 6 to the base plate 40.

[0066] When attaching the insulator 1F of the sixth embodiment to the standing tree 7 by itself, as shown in Figure 16, the lengths of the cable ties 6 protruding from both ends of the insulator 1F should be made equal, the cable ties 6 should be wrapped around the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7, and the ends should be pulled taut and fastened with the fasteners 45. Once the insulator 1F is attached to the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7, the wire 3 should be held in place by the holding part 48. In the insulator 1F of the sixth embodiment described above, the attachment parts, which are pairs of slits 42S (end through holes 42S), are provided on both ends of the base plate 40, but the slits 42S may be provided only in the center of the base plate 40.

[0067] In the insulators 1A to F of the first to sixth embodiments described above, the guide plate 43G of the connecting portion 43 was formed in a recessed position equal to the thickness of the base plate 40 so that when multiple insulators 1 were connected, the surface of the connected base plate 40 would be flush. However, by increasing the thickness of the base plate 40 and, for example, making the thickness of the guide plate 43G of the connecting portion 43 of the base plate 40 half that of the base plate 40, the thickness of the base plate 40 can be made the same when multiple insulators 1 are connected. The structure of this modified embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 17.

[0068] Figure 17(a) is a side view of a modified embodiment of the insulator 1A of the first embodiment, in which the thickness of the base plate 40 does not change when connected. In this modified embodiment of the insulator 1A', the thickness of the base plate 40 of the insulator 1A' is formed to be thicker, and the connecting portion 43 at one end of the insulator 1A', i.e., the first connecting portion 431, is provided with a projection 43P on a guide plate 43G formed by cutting off half of the upper side of the base plate 40, and the connecting portion 43 at the other end of the insulator 1A', i.e., the second connecting portion 432, is formed by cutting off the lower half of the base plate 40 and has a receiving hole 43H into which the projection 43P is fitted. Therefore, as shown by the dashed line, when the projection 43P of another insulator 1A' is fitted into the receiving hole 43H to connect the insulators 1A', the thickness of the guide plates 40 becomes the same. In other words, the first connecting portion 431 and the second connecting portion 432 are arranged such that, when connected to the adjacent insulator 1A', the height from the bottom surface of the first spacer 441 to the overhead line surface is the same as the height from the bottom surface of the second spacer 442 to the overhead line surface. The first spacer 441 is a spacer 44 that, when viewed from above, includes the first connecting portion 431, and the second spacer 442 is a spacer 44 that, when viewed from above, includes the second connecting portion 432.

[0069] Figure 17(b) is a side view of a modified insulator 1B of the second embodiment, in which the thickness of the base plate 40 does not change when connected. In this modified insulator 1B', instead of the spacers 441 and 442, the mounting parts 42 provided in the center and both ends of the base plate 40 abut against the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7. Note that the structure of the base plate 40, the mounting parts 42 and the connecting parts 43 (first connecting part 431 and second connecting part 432) is the same as the modified example of the first embodiment, so their explanation is omitted.

[0070] Figure 17(c) is a side view of a modified insulator 1C of the third embodiment, in which the thickness of the base plate does not change when connected. In this modified insulator 1C', the thickness of the base plate 40 of the insulator 1C' is also made thicker, and the connecting portion 43 (first connecting portion 431) at one end of the insulator 1C' is provided with a projection 43P on a guide plate 43G formed by cutting off the upper half of the base plate 40, and the connecting portion 43 (second connecting portion 432) at the other end is formed by cutting off the lower half of the base plate 40 and has a hole 43H into which the projection 43P is fitted. The structure of the wire 3 holding portion 46 is the same as that described in Figure 11, so its description is omitted.

[0071] Figure 17(d) shows a modified embodiment of the insulator 1C of the third embodiment, in which the mounting portion 42 of the modified embodiment of the insulator 1C' described in Figure 17(c) is provided integrally with the base plate 40 not only in the center of the base plate 40 but also at both ends, similar to the insulator 1B of the second embodiment. The structure of the base plate 40 and the connecting portion 43 (first connecting portion 431 and second connecting portion 432) in the modified embodiment of the insulator 1C'' is the same as that of the modified embodiment of the third embodiment, so its explanation is omitted.

[0072] The insulators 1A to F in the first to sixth embodiments described above were used by attaching them to the trunks 4 of trees 7 growing on flat ground G. However, the insulator 1 of the present invention can be attached to trees 7 growing on uneven ground by changing the shape of the attachment part 42 or the slit 42S, as in the embodiments described below. However, even in the embodiments described below, the cable tie 6 is attached in a direction that intersects the extension direction of the trunk 4 of the tree 7 (in one example, horizontally).

[0073] Figure 18 shows an insulator 1N according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, which has a mounting portion 50 that modifies the structure of the mounting portion 42 of the insulator 1 to the standing tree 7 described above. Figure 18(a) is a side view of the insulator 1N, (b) is a bottom view of the insulator 1N, and (c) is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating the structure of the mounting portion 50 of the seventh embodiment (the wire holding portion is not shown).

[0074] The insulator 1N of the seventh embodiment adopts the structure of the fifth embodiment described in Figure 13 for the front side structure of the insulator 1N and the structure of the spacer 44, and the structure of the connecting portion 43 (first connecting portion 431 and second connecting portion 432) adopts the structure described in Figure 17 in which the thickness of the base plate 40 does not change when the insulators are connected. Therefore, the same reference numerals as in the above embodiments are used for the structure of the front side (holding portion) of the insulator 1N, the structure of the spacer 44, and the structure of the connecting portion 43, and their descriptions are omitted. Note that these structures are not limited to the fifth embodiment, but may also be the structures in the first to fourth embodiments.

[0075] The difference between the mounting portion 50 of the insulator 1N in the seventh embodiment and the previous embodiments is that, as shown in Figures 18(b) and (c), the shape of the inside of the side wall 50W of the mounting portion 50 has been changed to a shape that protrudes inward, and the width of the passage 50T inside the mounting portion 50 has been widened at the entrance and exit sides of the cable tie 6. That is, the passage 50T is formed such that the width of the ends of the passage 50T is wider than the width of the central part of the passage 50T. However, the shortest distance between opposing side walls 50W must be greater than or equal to the distance through which the cable tie 6 can be inserted in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 40. The ceiling plate 50C of the mounting portion 50 is integrally formed with the side wall 50W.

[0076] According to the shape of the mounting portion 50 in the insulator 1N of the seventh embodiment, as shown in Figure 18(b), it is possible to insert the cable tie 6 diagonally with respect to the extending direction of the base plate 40. In the case of the insulator 1N of the seventh embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the side wall 50W is formed in the shape of a baseball home plate, but the cross-sectional shape of the side wall 50W is not particularly limited and may be formed in the shape of an ellipse as shown in Figure 21(b) or an arc as shown in Figure 21(c).

[0077] Figure 19 illustrates an example of use demonstrating that the insulator 1N of the seventh embodiment of the present invention can also be used when the trees 7 are growing on an inclined surface CL. Figure 19(a) is a side view of three trees 7 growing on an inclined surface CL where the height gradually increases, and Figure 19(b) is a plan view of Figure 19(a). Even when the trees 7 are growing on an inclined surface CL, the cable tie 6 is inserted diagonally into the mounting portion 50, as shown in Figure 19(d), and is fastened to the trunk 4 of the trees 7 by wrapping it horizontally around it with a fastener (not shown in Figure 19(c)), as shown in Figure 19(c). In this way, the insulator 1N of the seventh embodiment can also be used when the trees 7 are growing on an inclined surface CL.

[0078] Figure 20 illustrates an example of use showing that the insulator 1N of the seventh embodiment of the present invention can also be used when there are trees 7 growing on a slope UE that rises and then descends. Figure 20(a) is a side view of three trees 7 growing on a slope UE that rises and then descends, with the middle tree 7 in the foreground and the trees 7 on either side of it further away than the middle tree 7, and the wire 3 is strung in a zigzag pattern. On a slope UE that rises and then descends, such as a slope UE, the direction of the strung wire 3 that has risen must be changed and it must be strung down, so the wire 3 needs to be strung in sections by the trees 7. This will be explained using Figures 20(b) and 21(a).

[0079] Figure 20(b) shows an example in which two sets of insulators 1N from the seventh embodiment are used, connected together, to interrupt the wire 3 before it is mounted. The reason for using the insulators 1N in a connected manner is that when the wire 3 is interrupted before it is mounted, there is a high possibility that the wire 3 will come into contact with the trunk 4 if the insulators 1N are used individually. To prevent the wire 3 from coming into contact with the trunk 4, as shown in Figure 21(a), it is necessary to wrap the wire 3 around the trunk 4 of the standing tree 7 via the connected insulators 1N (group of insulators 1N). The wire 3 that has been wrapped around the trunk 4 is connected to the wire 3 before it was wrapped at point B. The interrupted wire 3 is then electrically connected by a jumper wire 31 to ensure that the high-voltage pulse applied to the wire 3 is not interrupted.

[0080] In this connection example, two groups of insulators 1N are connected around the trunk 4, and a cable tie 6 is inserted diagonally through each insulator 1N located opposite the trunk 4. This allows the cable tie 6 to be fixed horizontally to the trunk 4, and the wire 3 to be strung diagonally to the trunk 4. Note that in Figure 21(a), the connected insulators 1N are shown as a single unit, and the number of connected insulators 1N and the boundary lines are not shown. Furthermore, this connection example may be used not only in the standing tree (ground) situation shown in Figure 20(a), but also in the standing tree (ground) situation shown in Figure 3(a) or Figure 19(a).

[0081] Figure 22 shows an insulator 1M according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, in which the mounting portion is a slit 42S formed in the base plate 40 of the insulator 1N, similar to the sixth embodiment, and the holding portion for the wire 3 is the holding portion 48 of the fifth embodiment. However, in the sixth embodiment, the slit 42S for passing the cable tie 6 was provided only near both ends of the base plate 40, but in the eighth embodiment, since the cable tie 6 needs to be passed diagonally through the base plate 40, two sets of slits 42S are also provided in the central part of the base plate 40. In other words, the mounting portion further includes two pairs of central through holes 42S formed in the central part of the base plate 40 so as to extend in a direction inclined from the overhead wire direction.

[0082] Figure 22(a) is a side view of the insulator 1M, (b) is a plan view showing the insulator 1M along with the mounting direction of the cable tie 6, and (c) and (d) are bottom views of the insulator 1M. The insulator 1M of the eighth embodiment adopts the structure of the fifth embodiment described in Figure 13 for the structure of the front side of the insulator 1M and the structure of the spacer 44, and the structure of the connecting part 43 adopts the structure described in Figure 17 in which the thickness of the base plate 40 does not change when the insulator 1M is connected. For this reason, the structure of the front side (holding part) of the insulator 1M, the structure of the spacer 44, and the structure of the connecting part 43 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the above embodiments and their descriptions are omitted. Note that these structures are not limited to the structures shown in the fifth embodiment and Figure 17, but may also be the structures in the first to fourth embodiments.

[0083] In the eighth embodiment, the structure of the slits 42S formed at both ends of the base plate 40 is the same as in the sixth embodiment, so its explanation will be omitted, and only the structure of the two sets of slits 42S (central through holes 42S) formed in the center of the base plate 40 will be described. The slits 42S are holes for attaching the cable ties 6 in an oblique direction to the extension direction of the base plate 40. The slits 42S are located in the center of the insulator 1M and are formed in two sets so that the cable ties 6 can be attached to the base plate 40 in either an upward-right or downward-right direction as shown in Figure 22. However, even if the cable ties 6 are attached to the base plate 40 in either an upward-right or downward-right direction, the direction in which the cable ties 6 are attached to the trunk 4 is horizontal (a direction intersecting the extension direction of the trunk 4).

[0084] In the embodiments shown in Figures 22(b) and (c), when viewed from the front, the slit 42S for attaching the cable tie 6 in an upward-right direction is formed on the inside, and the slit 42S for attaching the cable tie 6 in a downward-right direction is formed on the outside. However, the positions of the slits 42S may be reversed. Also, as shown in Figure 22(d), the slits 42S for attaching the cable tie 6 in an upward-right direction and the slits 42S for attaching the cable tie 6 in a downward-right direction may be formed alternately. Since the central part of the insulator 1M is provided with four slits 42S, the wire holding parts 48 for holding the wire 3 are provided in pairs on each side of the central part of the insulator 1N where there are no slits 42S.

[0085] In the seventh embodiment of insulator 1N, as shown in Figures 18(b) and 21(b) and (c), the maximum mounting angle of the cable tie 6 to the base plate 40 is determined by the shape of the internal passage 50T, which is determined by the cross-sectional shape of the side wall 50W provided in the mounting portion 50, and this angle could be freely determined within a range of 0 degrees (the extension direction of the base plate 40). On the other hand, in the eighth embodiment of insulator 1M, as shown in Figure 22(b), the mounting angle of the cable tie 6 to the base plate 40 is determined by the angle that the slit 42S opened in the base plate 40 makes with the extension direction of the base plate 40.

[0086] Therefore, using Figure 23, we will explain how to change the mounting angle of the cable tie 6 with respect to the base plate 40, that is, how to change the angle of the base plate 40 with respect to the cable tie 6 when the cable tie 6 is attached horizontally to the trunk 4. In order to change the angle of the base plate 40 with respect to the cable tie 6 when the cable tie 6 is attached horizontally to the trunk 4, the length of the slit 42S formed in the center of the base plate 40 should be longer than the width of the cable tie 6. In other words, the two pairs of central through holes 42S (slits 42S) should be such that the cable tie 6, which is narrower than the width of the two pairs of central through holes 42S, is inserted through them. Figure 23 shows a part of the insulator 1M' of a modified embodiment of the eighth embodiment in which the length of the slit 42S formed in the center of the base plate 40 is greater than the width of the cable tie 6. Thus, by forming the length of the slit 42S to be longer than the width of the fastening band 6, the cable tie 6 can move within the two slits 42S, as shown by the dashed, solid, and dotted lines, and the angle of inclination with respect to the base plate 40 can be changed. Furthermore, the longer the length of the slit 42S opened in the base plate 40, the greater the change in the mounting angle of the cable tie 6 with respect to the base plate 40 can be.

[0087] Those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the embodiments and modifications described above may be combined as appropriate within the scope of the invention.

[0088] The following additional information is disclosed regarding the embodiments and modified examples described above. (Note 1) A wire insulator (1) for holding the wire (3) of an electric fence in an insulated state, A flexible plate member (40) whose longitudinal direction is the direction of the overhead wire (3), A retaining member (41) is provided on the overhead wire side of the plate member (40) to hold the wire (3) so that it does not come off the plate member (40), The plate member (40) has at least one mounting member (42) through which a band member (6) for fixing the plate member (40) to the trunk (4) of the standing tree (7) can be inserted, A wire overhead insulator comprising: connecting members (43) provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the plate member (40) for connecting other plate members (40) in the overhead wire direction of the wire (3). (Note 2) The wire overhead line insulator according to Appendix 1, further comprising a spacer (44) provided on the mounting surface side of the plate member (40) to the trunk (4), which separates the mounting surface from the trunk (4) when the insulator (1) is attached to the trunk (4). (Note 3) The retaining member (41) A wall member (41W) is provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the plate member (40) and is integrally formed from the plate member (40) up to a predetermined height, From the upper end surface of the wall member (41W), extensions (41WE) are extended upward alternately and at predetermined intervals, not facing each other, The extension portion (41WE) includes a ceiling member (41C) that extends from its tip to a position parallel to the plate member (40) and overlooking the upper end of the wall member (41W) on the opposite side. An insulator for overhead wires as described in Appendix 1 or 2, wherein there is a gap (S) between adjacent ceiling members (41C) and between the lower surface of the ceiling member (41C) and the upper end surface of the wall member (41WE) that is greater than or equal to the diameter of the wire (3). (Note 4) The band member (6) is fixed to the trunk (4) using a fastener (45) at the position of the trunk (4) opposite to the plate member (42), and is an insulator for overhead wires as described in any of the appendices 1 to 3. (Note 5) The holding member (41) is a plurality of projections (46) integrally formed with the plate member (40), provided on the plate member (40) at predetermined intervals, The projection (46) is provided with a passage (46P) extending in the direction of extension of the wire (3), and a slit (46S) cut out at a predetermined angle from the outside of the passage (46P). The wire (3) is an overhead wire insulator according to Appendix 1 or 2, which is positioned within the passage (46P) through the slit (46S). (Note 6) The holding member (41) comprises brackets (48B) provided on both sides of the plate member (40) in the direction of extension of the wire (3) at positions that sandwich the wire (3), and a horizontal bar (48R) stretched between the brackets (48B) perpendicular to the direction of extension of the wire (3). The retaining member (48), consisting of the bracket (48B) and the horizontal bar (48R), is a wire overhead line insulator as described in Appendix 1 or 2, provided in multiple quantities on the plate member (40). (Note 7) An insulator for overhead wires as described in Appendix 6, wherein a through hole (48H) is provided at an opposing position of the bracket (48B), and the horizontal bar (48R) comprises a bolt (48V) inserted from the outer surface of the through hole (48H) into the through hole (48H) of the bracket (48B) on the opposite side, and a nut (48N) that is screwed onto the bolt (48V) which protrudes from the through hole (48H) after insertion. (Note 8) The horizontal bar (48R), which spans across the bracket (48B) at the opposite position, is provided with a slit (48S) that is oblique to the axial direction of the horizontal bar (48R), and the width of the slit (48S) is such that the wire (3) that is locked to the horizontal bar (48R) can pass through. Insulators for overhead wires as described in Appendix 6. (Note 9) The wire insulator for overhead lines as described in any of the appendices 1 to 8, wherein the connecting member (43) is composed of a projection (43P) and a receiving hole (43H) that fits into the projection (43P), and one projection (43P) and one receiving hole (43H) are provided at each of the two ends. (Note 10) The wire overhead line insulator according to Appendix 9, wherein one of the connecting members (43) is recessed by the thickness of the plate member (40) relative to the other of the connecting member (43), and when a plurality of the insulators (1) are connected using the connecting member (43), the connecting surface of the plate member (40) becomes flat. (Note 11) The wire overhead line insulator described in Appendix 9, wherein one of the connecting members (43) is recessed by half the thickness of the plate member (40) relative to the other of the connecting member (43), and when a plurality of the insulators (1) are connected using the connecting member (43), the thickness of the plate members (40) becomes the same. (Note 12) An insulator for overhead wires as described in any of the appendices 1 to 11, wherein the mounting member (42) is provided on the non-overhead wire side of the plate member (40). (Note 13) The mounting member (42) is also provided as two slits (42S) on both ends of the plate member (40), and the strip member (6) is inserted from the back side of the plate member (40) into the outer slit (42S) on either end of the plate member (40), and thereafter is inserted sequentially into the adjacent slits (42S), as described in Appendix 12, for overhead wire insulators. (Note 14) An insulator for overhead wires according to any of the appendices 1 to 11, wherein the mounting member (42) is provided only once on the non-overhead wire side of the central part of the plate member (40). (Note 15) The wire overhead wire insulator described in Appendix 14, wherein the width of the passage (42H) provided in the mounting member (42) through which the strip member is inserted is wider at the entrance and exit sides of the passage (42H), and the strip member (6) can also be inserted in a direction oblique to the extending direction of the plate member (40). (Note 16) The aforementioned mounting member (42) Two slits (42S) are provided on both ends of the plate member (40), and the strip member (6) is inserted into the outer slit (42S) on either end of the plate member (40) from the back side of the two slits (42S), and thereafter is inserted sequentially into adjacent slits (42S), The central part of the plate member (40) is also provided with two sets of two slits (42S), the two slits (42S) of one set being formed at a predetermined angle inclined with respect to the extension direction of the plate member (40), and the two slits (42S) of the other set being inclined at a 180-degree different angle with respect to the extension direction of the plate member (40), and the strip member (6) is an insulator for overhead wires of any of the wires described in Appendix 1 to 11 that are inserted from the back side of the plate member (40). (Note 17) The length of the two sets of slits (42S) is longer than the width of the strip member (6), and the length of the strip member (6) relative to the extension direction of the plate member (40) is adjustable depending on which part of the slits (42S) the strip member (6) passes through, as described in Appendix 16 for wire overhead line insulators. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 1 Insulator 2 cabinets 3 wires 4. Support stakes (tree trunks) 5 Wire fence 6. Mounting hardware (cable ties) 7. Standing trees (trees) 31 Crossover 40 base plate 41 Holding part 41C Ceiling 41W wall 41WE extension 42, 50 Mounting part 43 Connecting part 43G Guide Plate 43H hole 43P protrusion 44, 44A Spacer 45 Fasteners 46, 47, 48 Maintaining sections

Claims

1. A plate portion formed from a flexible member and having a wire surface on which the wires of an electric fence can be positioned along the wire direction, A holding part arranged on the overhead line surface and holding the wires arranged on the overhead line surface, The plate portion is provided with an attachment portion through which a strip member can be inserted, Insulator for overhead wires equipped with [a specific feature].

2. A first connecting portion is provided at one end of the plate portion in the direction of the overhead wire, A second connecting portion is provided, which is located at the other end of the plate portion in the direction of the overhead wire and is connectable to the first connecting portion of an adjacent overhead wire insulator. The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 1, further comprising the above.

3. The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 2, further comprising a spacer arranged to extend in the opposite direction from the overhead line surface of the plate portion.

4. The aforementioned retaining part is A pair of wall sections arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the overhead wire direction, From the upper ends of each of the pair of wall sections, a plurality of extensions extend in a direction opposite to the overhead line surface so as not to face each other, From the tips of the aforementioned multiple extensions, a ceiling portion extends in a direction perpendicular to the overhead wire direction, An insulator for overhead wires according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising:

5. The aforementioned mounting part is fixed to the trunk of the standing tree at a fixed position. An insulator for overhead wires according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one end of the band member is fastened to the other end of the band member at a fastening position opposite to the fixing position of the trunk to which the mounting portion is fixed.

6. The holding portion comprises a plurality of pairs of protrusions arranged spaced apart in the direction of the overhead wire, An insulator for overhead wires according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the multiple pairs of protrusions is arranged to form a slit extending in a direction inclined from the overhead wire direction.

7. The aforementioned retaining part is Multiple pairs of brackets are arranged at a distance from each other in the direction of the overhead wire so as to face each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the overhead wire, An insulator for overhead wires according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: a rod positioned away from the overhead wire surface so as to connect each of the bracket pairs included in the plurality of brackets.

8. The bracket has a through hole formed therein. The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 7, wherein the rod material comprises a bolt inserted through the through hole and a nut screwed onto the bolt.

9. The wire insulator for overhead wires according to claim 7, wherein the rods are a pair of rods arranged such that each of them forms a slit extending in a direction inclined from the overhead wire direction.

10. The first connecting portion is provided with a projection, The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 3, wherein the second connecting portion has a receiving hole that can engage with the projection.

11. The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 10, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are arranged such that when connected to adjacent overhead line insulators, the overhead line surfaces of the adjacent overhead line insulators form the same plane.

12. The previous spacer is A first spacer is positioned to include the first connecting portion when viewed from above, The device comprises a second spacer, which is arranged to include the second connecting portion when viewed from above, The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 10, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are arranged such that, when connected to adjacent overhead line insulators, the height from the bottom surface of the first spacer to the overhead line surface is the same as the height from the bottom surface of the second spacer to the overhead line surface.

13. The mounting portion is positioned on the mounting surface which is the surface of the plate portion opposite to the overhead line surface, as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

14. The wire insulator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mounting portion comprises two pairs of end through holes formed near both ends of the plate portion in the direction of the overhead wire.

15. The mounting portion has a passage through which the strip member can be inserted and is positioned in the center of the plate portion, as described in claim 13.

16. The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 15, wherein the passage is formed such that the width of the end of the passage is wider than the width of the central part of the passage.

17. The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 14, wherein the mounting portion further comprises two pairs of central through holes formed in the center of the plate portion so as to extend in a direction inclined from the overhead line direction.

18. The wire overhead line insulator according to claim 17, wherein the strip member, which is narrower than the width of the two pairs of central through holes, is inserted through the two pairs of central through holes.

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