AU2016102078A4 - Improvements in clips for use in trellising fruit and vines - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Various clips (10, 10a,) for attachment to a Y post (100) for use in trellising fruit and vines are disclosed. The clips have a body portion (12, 12a) and a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart legs (14, 16) extending away from the body portion. Each leg defines an aperture (14a, 16a) for attaching the clip to the Y post using a pin (30). A head portion (13) for receiving trellis wires defines an entrance to a retaining portion (18) for receiving and retaining trellis wires. The entrance to the retaining portion is smoothly rounded and contoured without flat surfaces. In some embodiments an angle of about 1200 is defined between the head portion and the legs. 'I U pn / 0 P K / / A-. A! ~ 'A / V ~ / ~ 3* U-~" C) .c~--\ -~ \At Sc Nk -t '.. '~ ,/ 1 Ic>) ( It K. 3o i~. IC. ~c/4~ -'tO ~ 5C) / / C' 1/~ KI @0 'CC) '(4- ' $-."'\ j I" Ii -. ~'\ - \> h4'- A"' tic1 . 2-4 lb

Description

2016102078 05 Dec 2016 ι "Improvements in clips for use in trellising fruit and vines"

Technical Field [0001] This invention relates to improvements in clips for use in trellising fruit and vines.

Background [0002] There are a number of different systems used for trellising fruit and vines. The basic components consist of posts supporting guide or trellis wires. These trellis/guide wires are attached to posts by a wide range of attachment means. In some cases, the posts themselves have integral systems for receiving and containing the wire.

[0003] The wine industry has generally used clips, nails and staples to attach the horizontal trellis wires to posts. These posts have typically been treated pine timber. Where clips are used, the most common way of attaching the clips has been to screw or nail the clip to the post. A general feature of trellis systems in viticulture or horticulture is that the positions of the trellis wires are changed over time as the crops grow and mature.

[0004] Timber posts used in viticulture are generally treated CCA pine posts. These are now recognised as having negative environmental impacts, and are very difficult to dispose of after use.

[0005] Steel posts are becoming more popular as they are stronger and can withstand the increased pressures placed on posts by mechanical harvesting and pruning compared with older practices of handpicking. There are a number of steel posts specifically designed for viticulture which have slots or tabs for receiving trellis wires. There is also a system which uses tubular steel posts and plastic clips which lock into holes in the posts. 2016102078 05 Dec 2016 2 [0006] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Summary [0007] In a first broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a clip for attachment to a Y post comprising a body portion, a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart legs extending from the body portion and each leg defining an aperture for attaching the clip to a Y post using a pin or the like, a head portion for receiving trellis wires of the like, the head portion defining an entrance to a retaining portion for receiving and retaining the wire of the like, wherein the entrance to the retaining portion is smoothly rounded and contoured without flat surfaces.

[0008] Advantageously, the invention utilises standard Y steel posts also used in general farm fencing which makes the system of trellising both strong and inexpensive as it uses a standard post, and does not require a specially designed post, as in the prior art systems described above.

[0009] In one embodiment each clip may define a pair of generally C-shaped retaining portions, each defining an overhang for inhibiting accidental dislodgement of the trellis wires.

[0010] Alternatively, the clip may define a single retaining portion in the form of an elongate slot and associated tongue which inhibits removal of the trellis wire.

[0011] Typically the exterior of the retaining portion is smooth and continuously curved. 2016102078 05 Dec 2016 3 [0012] In one embodiment the body portion defines an angle of about 120° between the head portion and the legs.

[0013] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Brief Description of Drawings [0014] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure la shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a clip;

Figure lb shows a plan view of the clip of Figure la attached to a Y post;

Figure lc shows a side view of the clip of Figure la attached to a Y post;

Figure 2c shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a clip;

Figure 2b shows a plan view of the clip of Figure 2a attached to a Y post;

Figure 2c shows a side view of the clip of Figure 2a attached to a Y post in a first orientation;

Figure 2d shows a side view of the clip of Figure 2a attached to a Y post in a second orientation;

Figures 3a shows a plan view of a variant of the clips shown in Figures 1 and 2 holding two parallel wires; 2016102078 05 Dec 2016 4

Figure 3b illustrates the use of non-variant clips in the same application;

Figure 4a shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a clip;

Figure 4b shows a plan view of two clips of the type shown Figure 4a attached to a Y post;

Figure 4c shows a front view of two clips of the type shown Figure 4a attached to a Y post;

Figure 4d shows a side view of the clip of Figure 4a attached to a Y post;

Figure 5a shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a clip;

Figure 5b shows a plan view of the two clips of the type shown Figure 5a attached to a Y post;

Figure 5c shows a front view of two clips of the type shown Figure 5a attached to a Y post; and

Figure 5d shows a side view of the clip of Figure 5a attached to a Y post; and Figure 6 and Figure 7 show examples of steel post sections.

Description of Embodiments [0015] Referring to the drawings, Figures la to lc show a first embodiment of a clip 10. As is best seen in Figure la, the clip comprises a body portion 12 from which a head portion 13 and two parallel spaced apart legs 14, 16 extend in an opposite direction to the head portion. The legs define co-axial apertures 14a, 16a at their distal ends for use in attaching the clips to a Y post 100. 2016102078 05 Dec 2016 5 [0016] The head portion 13 of the clip defines a pair of retaining portions in the form of C-shaped openings 18 for receiving trellis wires which include an overhang 20 for preventing accidental dislodgement of the trellis wires. It can be seen from Figure lc that the shape of the interior C-shaped opening is continuously and smoothly curved from the body portion 12 to the overhang 20, with no flat portions or the like that a wire could get caught or trapped on.

[0017] The clip is attached to a Y post 100 using a pin 30 which push fits into the apertures 14a and 16a and a co-axial aperture in the Y post, and has two legs 32, 34 which are compressed as the pin 30 is inserted in the post and which expand outwards when inserted, to lock the clip to the post 100.

[0018] With reference to Figure lc, trellis wires 110 may be attached to the top or bottom part of the clip, e.g. to suit the ground contours.

[0019] Figures 2a to 2d show a second embodiment of clip. As is best seen in Figure 2a, the clip comprises a body portion 52 from which a head portion 53 and two parallel spaced apart legs 54, 56 extend in an opposite direction to the head portion. The legs define co-axial apertures 54a, 56a at their distal ends for use in attaching the clips to a Y post, in the same manner as the first embodiment 10.

[0020] The head portion 53 of the clip defines a retaining portion in the form of a single slot 118 for receiving a trellis wire 110. The shape of the exterior of the clip 50 is generally smooth and continuously curved so that trellis wires 100 cannot get caught on the clip. The entry to the slot is also generally smooth and continuously curved to allow the trellis wires to be easily pushed into the slot 118. A generally arrow shaped pointed tongue extends into the slot, and once the trellis wires is past the tongue, the tongue inhibits removal of the wire.

[0021] The clip may be placed with the entrance to the slot facing upwards as shown in figure 2d or downwards as shown in Figure 2c depending on the ground contours of the location. 2016102078 05 Dec 2016 6 [0022] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a variant of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the body portion defines an angle a of 120° between the head portion and the legs. This allows the retaining part of the clip to be aligned with the wires as illustrated in Figure 3a. In contrast, Figure 3b shows the effect if the legs and head portion are parallel and, as can be seen, the wires pass through the head at an angle and would not be as securely held, as is necessary, during harvesting, for example.

[0023] Figures 4a to 4d show a variant 10a of the clip shown in Figure 1 referred to above. In particular, the body portion 12 defines an angle a of 120° between the head portion 13 and the legs 14 and 16. The other parts of the clip are substantially identical to the clip 10.

[0024] Figures 5a to 5d show a variant 50a of the clip shown in Figure 1 referred to above. In particular the body portion 52 defines an angle a of 120° between the head portion 53 and the legs 54 and 56. The other parts of the clip are substantially identical to the clip 50. As shown in Figure 5c, the geometry of the clip means that when two clips are attached to a Y post, one clip opening faces up and one clip opening faces down.

[0025] All the clips shown above will typically be made of plastics material and being insulating will be electrically insulated from the Y post and could be used for electric fencing.

[0026] The clips are designed to accept a range of different strands of material including metal wires, plastics, wire rope or strands, twine etc...

[0027] Although designed for use with Y-posts, the clips could be attached to T posts or L-shaped metal posts or over the edge of various types of steel post sections commonly used in vineyards, two of which are shown in Figures 6 and 7. 2016102078 05 Dec 2016 7 [0028] The clips could be made of coloured plastics or of metal, although metal clips would not be suitable for use with electric fencing.

[0029] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A clip for attachment to a Y post or the like for use in trellising fruit and vines, comprising a body portion, a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart legs extending from the body portion, each leg defining an aperture for attaching the clip to a Y post using a pin or the like, a head portion for receiving trellis wires or the like extending away from the body portion, the head portion defining an entrance to a retaining portion for receiving and retaining the wire of the like, wherein the entrance to the retaining portion is smoothly rounded and contoured without flat surfaces.
2. 2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 defining a pair of retaining portions, which are generally C-shaped, each including an overhang for inhibiting accidental dislodgement of the trellis wires.
3. 3. A clip as claimed as claimed in claim 1 wherein the single retaining comprises an elongate slot and associated tongue which inhibits removal of the trellis wire.
4. 4. A clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an angle of about 120° is defined between the head portion and the legs.
5. 5. A clip for attachment to a Y post or the like for use in trellising fruit and vines, comprising a body portion, a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart legs extending away from the body portion, each leg defining an aperture for attaching the clip to a Y post using a pin or the like, a head portion for receiving trellis wires or the like extending away from the body portion, the head portion defining an entrance to a retaining portion for receiving and retaining the wire or the like, wherein an angle of about 120° is defined between the head portion and the legs.