AU2020100618A4 - Fence outrigger - Google Patents

Abstract

- 14 The present invention relates to a fence outrigger for offsetting a fence wire, where the fence outrigger is a removably coupleable two piece configuration. Where a first piece can be screwed into the post by a common tool.

Description

FENCE OUTRIGGER

The present invention relates to a fence outrigger. More particularly but not exclusively it relates to fence outrigger for offsetting a fence wire, where the fence outrigger is a removably coupleable two piece configuration.

BACKGROUND

Fencing is typically used to ensure that animals are retained within their boundaries. Sometimes a fence is required with one or more wires are extended a distance offset from the fencing line that comprises the fence posts. Such a fence is called an outrigger fence, as it is projects from the fence line. Outrigger fences may be used for a variety of purposes, such as to ensure that animals do not push against a fence.

If the outrigger fence is to be electric, it is important that the retained wire (or tape, or other form of retaining member) is electrically insulated from the outrigger or the fence. If it was not insulated it would create a short in the circuit and the electrical fence would then not function correctly. Some fence outriggers require a specialised tool that couple around the body of an insulator or retaining member (that retains the wire). This tool may be used to screw in the outrigger into a fence post on the fence line. It may be difficult to screw in the outrigger so that the insulator or retaining feature is at the correct orientation to receive a wire. Some fence outriggers tend to be flimsy, and not easily replaced.

The object of the invention is to present an invention to provide an electric fence or general fence outrigger for the use with wooden rails/posts that is strong and stable enough to resist pushing via animals, that is easily aligned with the wire and is safe and easy to install.

In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

For the purposes of this specification, the term plastic shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products, and generally consisting of a hydrocarbon-based polymer.

- 2 2020100618 23 Apr 2020

For the purposes of this specification, the term wire shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range retaining means for animals, such as wire tapes, tapes, polywire, rope, string etc.

For the purposes of this specification, the term insulator shall be construed to mean a general term for any wire retaining means and does not necessarily need to act as an insulator. The insulator may also be called a wire attachment means.

For the purpose of this specification, where method steps are described in sequence, the sequence does not necessarily mean that the steps are to be chronologically ordered in that sequence, unless there is no other logical manner of interpreting the sequence.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fence outrigger which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENTS OF INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a kit to provide an outrigger from a strainer, rail, post, or batten (post) of a fence to support an electrifiable wire, cable or tape, the kit comprising or including a first member with both a proximal and distal region, the proximal region having a screw form or a threaded form and the distal region having a form allowing it to be rotated by a suitable tool engagement, and a second member with both a proximal region and a distal region, , wherein the distal region of the first member and the proximal region of the second member can be retainably interengaged; and wherein the distal region of the second member has provision to support such a said electrifiable wire, cable or tape.

In one embodiment, at least the second member distal region being of an electrically insulating material.

In one embodiment, the distal region form of the first member is of a kind to be rotated or rotated and driven by a tool not dedicated to the kit.

In one embodiment, the not dedicated tool is one capable of engaging in a male feature into female feature manner, or a female feature about male feature manner and rotating the engaging feature of the first member.

In one embodiment, the male and female feature are a hexagonal head and a hexagonal socket, or an Allen key head and an Allen key socket.

- 3 2020100618 23 Apr 2020

In one embodiment, the first member and/or second member is/are elongate.

In one embodiment, the first member is electrically conductive.

In one embodiment, the whole of the second member is not electrically conductive.

In one embodiment, the retainable interengagement is a plugged interengagement.

In one embodiment, the plugged interengagement will include a shoulder abutment to resist disengagement.

In one embodiment, the interengagement is a barb coupling.

In one embodiment, the interengagement is a snap fit.

In one embodiment, the interengagement is decouplable and/or removable.

In one embodiment, interengagement is permanent.

In one embodiment, the second member is configured to be non-destructively and/or easily removed from the first member.

In one embodiment, the support provision of the distal region of the second member is a variable geometry clip feature.

In one embodiment, the support provision of the distal region of the second member is capture feature able to receive and capture the wire, cable or tape laterally of its length.

In one embodiment, the first member can retainably interengage with more than one second member.

In one embodiment, the first member supports the second member.

In one embodiment, the first member supports more than one second member.

In one embodiment, the first member is a metal elongate rod.

In one embodiment, the second member is a plastics insulator.

In one embodiment, the second member has a diameter greater than 5mm.

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In one embodiment, the second member has a diameter greater than 8mm, or a diameter greater than 10mm.

In one embodiment, the second member has a length greater than 50mm, 70mm, 100mm, 120mm, 10mm, or 200mm.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to consist in an elongate metal member having a screw threaded or helically threaded end and having a nondedicated tool rotatable other end able to receive a male or female end of a wire, cable or tape support thereby to be the first member of a kit as described above.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to consist in an electrically insulating form able to laterally receive and capture a wire, cable or tape and also having a female or male feature to co-act with the male or female end of an elongate metal member thereby to be a second member of a kit as described above.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a wire, cable or tape outstanding support assembly from a strainer, post or batten (post) of a fence, the assembly comprising or including a first component screwed into the post by use of a tool drive, and a second component engaged to the first component after it has been screwed into the post; wherein the second component has received, or can receive, the wire, cable or tape laterally of its longitudinal axis and support it insulated from the post and away from the post.

In one embodiment the tool drive is a nondedicated prior art type tool drive.

In one embodiment the nondedicated prior art drive is a male feature into female feature type, or a female feature about male feature type (e.g. a hexagonal socket, a hexagonal head, an alien key head, an alien key socket,..).

In another aspect the present invention may be said to consist in a method of providing an assembly as described above comprising the steps of

a) machine or manually driving with a rotatable tool engaging with its distal region, the first component its screw proximal region into the post, and

b) either (1) engaging the second component with distal region of the first component and then engaging the wire, cable or tape with the second component, or (2) engaging the wire, cable or tape with the second component and then engaging the second component with the distal region of the first component.

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Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used herein the term and/or means and or or, or both.

As used herein (s) following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term comprising as used in this specification [and claims] means consisting at least in part of. When interpreting statements in this specification [and claims] which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as comprise and comprised are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1: shows a top left perspective view of an assembly exploded with a wire.

Figure 2: shows a top left perspective view of an outrigger.

Figure 3A: shows a right side cross-sectional view of an outrigger and insulator.

Figure 3B: shows an alternative of Figure 3A.

Figure 3C: shows an alternative of Figure 3A.

Figure 4A: shows a right side view of an alternative assembly.

Figure 4B: shows an end view of Figure 4A.

Figure 5A: shows a top right perspective view of a portion of an outrigger and an insulator.

Figure 5B: shows a right side cross-sectional view of Figure 5A.

Figure 6A: shows a left perspective view of an end of an outrigger.

Figure 6B: shows an alternative of Figure 6A.

Figure 6C: shows an alternative of Figure 6A.

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Figure 7A: shows an end view of an alternative insulator. Figure 7B: shows a side cross-sectional view of Figure 7A. Figure 7C: shows a left side view of an outrigger.

Figure 7D: shows a side view of two assemblies in use retaining a wire between two posts.

Figure 8: shows a right side perspective view of a prior art outrigger.

Figure 9: shows a left side perspective view of a prior art adapter tool for use with a drill, to engage with the wire retention feature of the prior art outrigger of figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the above drawings, in which similar features are generally indicated by similar numerals, an outrigger kit and/or assembly according to a first aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 1.

In one embodiment now described, there is provided a kit (as supplied) or assembly (in use) 1 comprising of an outrigger 20 and an insulator 30. As previously mentioned, where the term insulator is used, it may not necessarily need to be electrically insulative, or have to insulate a wire from a post or fence, it may merely be a retaining means for retaining a wire to an outrigger/fence. Likewise, where the term wire is used, it may be any general retaining member such as cable, tape, polywire, other elongate flexible means used in fencing, etc. The assembly 1 is generally formed of an elongate outrigger 20 that is configured to offset an insulator 30 from a strainer, post, or batten (post 2). The outrigger is configured to be screwed into a wooden member, such as a rail or post 2, however other posts composed of, for example plastics material, might be used too. The outrigger 20 is typically screwed into a post 2 until it has a) a firm grip in the post 2, and optionally b) the desired offset distance for the insulator 30. Once the outrigger 20 is screwed into the post 2, the insulator 30 can then be retainably interengaged to the outrigger 20. A wire 3 may then be retained to the insulator 30. Alternately, the wire 3 is retained to the insulator 30, and then subsequently the insulator 30 is engaged to the outrigger 20.

The outrigger 20 has two regions, a proximal region 24 proximal with the post 2, and a distal region 25 distal the post 2. There are three main engagement features on the outrigger 20. A post engagement feature 21 configured to engage the outrigger to the post. A tool engagement feature 22 configured to allow a tool such as a rotational tool, like a screw driver, Allen key, Allen socket, hex key, torx key, spanner etc, to engage with the outrigger 20. And lastly, an insulator engagement feature 27 configured

- 7 2020100618 23 Apr 2020 to allow the outrigger 20 to engage with an insulator, and in particular the complementary outrigger engagement feature 31.

A typical post engagement feature 21 is a screw thread. The screw thread is configured to drive and pull the outrigger 20 into the post 2 as the outrigger 20 is rotated about its rotational axis 26 as shown in Figure 2. Screw thread 21 variations are well known and common in the art of wood screws.

To couple the outrigger 20 to the post 2, the outrigger 20 is rotated about its rotational axis 26 (shown in Figure 2). The rotational axis is preferably along the elongate axis of a shank 23 of the outrigger 20. The outrigger 20 is rotated with a rotational tool (not shown) that engages with the tool engagement feature 22. The tool engagement feature may be a number of different designs and configurations. For example, in Figure 2 the tool engagement feature 22 is a female hex or Allen key socket 22. Figures 6A, 6B & 6C show other types of tool engagement features 22.

Figure 6A for example shows a general male square shape that is configured to be driven or coupled with a female square driver to rotate the outrigger 20 about its rotational axis 26.

Figure 6B shows a male hex or Allen key extending from the distal region 25 of the outrigger 20. This is configured to engage with a rotational tool that has a complementary female socket.

Figure 6C shows an outrigger 20 with its distal region 25 comprising a slotted or Phillips type female slot 22 configured to engage with a complementary and like male rotational driving tool.

In one embodiment, the tool engagement feature 22 is configured to also, at least partially, act as the outrigger engagement feature 31. For example, the tool engagement feature 22 of figure 6B can act to engage and co-act with the outrigger engagement feature 31.

A skilled person in the art will realise there are many ways to rotationally drive and elongate shank about its rotational axis 26 to screw the outrigger 20 into a post 2. The rotational tool may be hand or power driven. For example, it may be a screwdriver, or it may be a cordless or corded drill with the appropriate tool. Figure 6A shows an embodiment where a spanner or similar may be used to screw in the outrigger 20 into the post 2.

In all of these embodiments, it is preferred the at the tool engagement feature 22 is not offset from the shank 23. I.e it is not a T-Handle, or a lever extending outwards

- 8 2020100618 23 Apr 2020 from the rotational axis. These offset/levers are potentially dangerous, as when they spin, they have the potential catch objects, such as a user, user's hands or hair, clothing, rotational tool, wire etc. It is preferred that the tool and tool engagement feature are slimline, and along the rotational axis. Preferably, the tool engagement feature 22 is symmetric about the rotational axis 23. More preferably, the tool engagement feature 22 does not extend outward of the cross sectional periphery (i.e. diameter when circular) of the shank 23.

Having the outrigger 20 separate / removable from the insulator 30 provides a few benefits of prior art systems.

For example, in prior art systems, the insulator is rigidly or permanently fixed to the shank, see figure 8. As such, a rotational tool, shown in figure 9, needs to engage with the insulator, and not solely the shank. As such, as the insulator is spun about a rotational axis of the shank, the parts of the insulator that are offset from the rotational axis spin about and may cause harm to a user. For example, a spinning insulator may grab clothing, hair, nearby wire, or the hands of a user. As such, it is preferred that the shank 20 is a slim line configuration that has no or minimal offset parts from the rotational axis that could grab an object. The outrigger 20 is much safer than the prior art.

Other features that makes a separate outrigger 20 better than the prior art is that the outrigger 20 may be driven by an appropriately designed rotational tool that has a preferably metal to metal contact between the tool and the outrigger 20 so that a larger diameter outrigger may be driven into a wooden post, due to being able to provide a large torque input.

In the prior art, often the insulator itself is driven by the rotational tool which may not have a decent fixture to the outrigger, i.e an over-moulding. As such if a large diameter shank is used, a larger torque is required, and as such the insulator may rip off the shank.

In one embodiment, the outrigger 20 is a preferably one piece solid metal shaft or shank 23 with features at its proximal 24 and distal 25 regions. The entire outrigger 20 is preferably composed of a single piece of metal, that is less likely to bend, warp or tear away. As such, an outrigger 20 can be designed so it can be offset an insulator 30 further from a post 2. Furthermore, it is more able to withstand any undue forces or external forces such as animals pushing against it without bending, breaking etc.

Another important feature of this invention is that the outrigger 20 can be driven into a post 2 the desired amount. For example, the outrigger 20 can have its post

- 9 2020100618 23 Apr 2020 engagement feature 21 screwed into the post 2 a small amount, thus leaving less or more of the shank 23 exposed from the post, and therefore the insulator 30 will be more offset from the post 2. Alternatively, more of the post engagement feature 21 may be screwed into the post 2, and therefore less shank 23 is exposed from the post 2 and therefore the insulator 30 is closer or less offset to the post 2. This allows adjustability of offset distance of the insulator 30 from the post 2. The minimal amount of offset from the post will preferably be the length of the insulator 30, from its proximal region near the post to the wire engagement feature 32 (i.e the outrigger is screw almost entirely into the post). Freedom of rotation of the shank is not always possible with the prior art system, as the shank needs to be rotated the correct amount so that the insulator is installed in the correct orientation - i.e. it is not upside down where the wire can fall out, or at 90 degrees where the wire will be twisted.

Once the outrigger 20 has been engaged to a post 2, then the insulator 30 can then be interengaged to the outrigger 20. Preferably this is done via engaging an outrigger engagement feature 31 to the insulator engagement feature 27. This combination of features are complementary and provide a preferably removably engageable coupling.

Preferably a variety of insulators can be removed and appended onto the end of the distal region 25 of an outrigger 20. For example an insulator that engages with wire (like Figure 1) or tape (like Figure 5). If an insulator 30 is damaged, it can be removed and a new insulator 30 be appended onto the existing outrigger 20.

The style or configuration of insulator used isn't critical to the invention. The insulator only needs to be achieve the interengagement functionality, or at least be engageable to the outrigger. In some embodiments, the insulator, once engaged to the outrigger, is not easily, or non-destructively, able to be removed.

There may be many types of insulator utilized, such as swivelling insulators (not shown) that are able to swivel/rotate with respect to the outrigger rotational axis so that are able to deflect somewhat when impacted by cattle or the like, so they are less likely to break. Other insulator styles may carry one or multiple wires, tapes or multiple tapes, etc.

Preferably the insulator 30 is composed of a plastics material. However other materials may be used. For example, metal (why no insulation is required), ceramics, rubber, wood etc. A material may be used if it has the correct strength, ability to have the engagement features built in, and insulative characteristics required.

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Having the two-piece design of the assembly 1 allows for the outrigger 20 to be screwed in safely, and then the insulator 30 engaged subsequently. The insulator 30 may be engaged to a wire 3 first, and then once the wire 3 is engaged to the preferably wire engagement feature 32 (support provision), then subsequently the insulator 30 may then be engaged to the outrigger 20. Alternatively, the insulator 30 may be engaged to the outrigger 20, and then the wire 3 attached to the insulator 30 via the wire engagement feature 32.

Preferably, the insulator engagement feature 27 and outrigger engagement feature 31 (which is complementary) are able to engage with each other to allow the insulator 30 to be in any orientation regardless of the orientation or rotation of the outrigger 20. For example, the insulator 30 may be able to rotate about the rotational axis 26 on the outrigger 20. For example, the engagement feature 27/31 may be a barblike engagement feature as shown in Figures 5A & 5B. This barb-type system allows the insulator 30 to be orientated in any direction, i.e positionally omni-directional on one plane, relative to the rotation axis, regardless of the rotation of the outrigger 20. However, Figures 6 show an insulator engagement feature 27 that comprises a hole that can be used with a pin-type system as shown in Figure 3 purely for example thereof. This system requires the insulator 30 to be a particular orientation so a complementary pin and can line up with the hole in the outrigger. This embodiment is less preferred and the barb system is more preferred as the insulator 30 can be aligned with any orientation with respect to the shank 23 of the outrigger 20. Another rotationally acceptable embodiment is Figure 3A where the insulator engagement feature 27 is a thread 33 and the outrigger engagement feature 31 is a like-thread. Thus the insulator can be threaded on until it is at the correct orientation. A skilled person in the art will realise they are many ways to attach the insulator 30 to the outrigger, so that there is rotational freedom, but not linear (along the rotational axis) freedom.

Another embodiment where both the shank 23 can adjust the offset of the insulator 30 from the post 2 is shown in Figure 4A. In this embodiment there is further adjustment in that the insulator 30 can also be adjusted in distance along the shank 23. In this embodiment shown, the insulator 30 comprises a complementary thread to engage with the insulator engagement feature 27/thread 28 so that the insulator 30 is not only engaged by the thread but also can be moved along the rotational axis 26 of the shank 23. This allows the insulator 30 to be offset the correct distance from the post 2. In this embodiment, numerous insulator 30 configurations can be used, but one embodiment is shown where a substantially annular insulator is used which has a groove to receive a wire 3 therein. The annular insulator 30 has holes at its periphery to receive a pin therethrough to capture the wire 3 within the groove. There may be multiple holes about the periphery of the insulator so that it does not matter what orientation the

- 11 2020100618 23 Apr 2020 insulator 30 ends up on, there will be an appropriate hole and pin configured to retain the wire 3.

In one embodiment, the embodiment of Figure 4a is configured to retain more than one wire, and preferably two wires. For example, two wires in the same groove, one at the top on the periphery, and one at the bottom of the periphery.

In one embodiment, the outrigger 20 is configured to receive more than one insulator 30. For example, the outrigger 20 of Figure 4 can receive at least two insulator threaded onto the distal region. This allows the assembly to retain more wires, as well as retaining wires offset from each other, in a direction away from the post.

The insulator engagement feature 27/tool engagement feature 22 may be small or larger than the diameter of the shank 23. In this embodiment the tool engagement feature 22 also acts as the insulator engagement feature 27. This embodiment allows the insulator 30 to be aligned in six different ways with respect to the shank 23. There may be a hole 27/29 through each of the facets of the Allen key protrusion 22 so that the insulator 30 can be engaged appropriately at each facet of rotation.

Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention. Figure 7D shows two assemblies, one coupled to respective posts 2 and retaining a wire 3 therebetween. The outrigger 20 as shown in Figure 7C is as previously described, with an insulator engagement feature 27 being a thread. An insulator 30 is shown in Figures 7A & 7B, where the outrigger engagement feature 31 is a complementary thread for the insulator engagement feature 27. The insulator 30 fairly comprises the wire engagement feature 32, which in this embodiment may be a one-way type wire retention system. This oneway system may be a barbed or gripped or other like surface, so that once a wire 3 is pushed through the wire engagement feature 32 hole it cannot be pulled through the other way. As such, the wire 3 may be tensioned as it is pulled through the hole 32 between two like insulators 30. Figure 7D is shown where the wire 3 is parallel the rotational axis 26, however in other embodiments the wire 3 and wire engagement feature 32 may be orthogonal to the rotational axis 26 so that the wire is offset from the post 2.

In one embodiment, the outrigger 20 with the insulator 30 of the embodiment of Figure 7, may also comprise a secondary insulator 30. The secondary insulator 30 retain another wire. Such example of a secondary insulator 30 may be the insulator 30 of Figure 4. In such an embodiment, the insulator 30 of Figure 4 may carry a wire orthogonal to the wire carried by the insulator 30 embodiment of Figure 7.

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As a person skilled in the art will realise, there may be multiple embodiments of the insulator 30 as shown in Figures 7 along a fence line and a wire can be pulled through all of the wire engagement features 32 and tensioned at each end instead of being a one-way system through the wire engagement feature 32.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A kit to provide an outrigger from a strainer, rail, post, or batten (post) of a fence to support an electrifiable wire, cable or tape, the kit comprising or including a first member with both a proximal and distal region, the proximal region having a screw form or a threaded form and the distal region having a form allowing it to be rotated by a suitable tool engagement, and a second member with both a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the distal region of the first member and the proximal region of the second member can be retainably interengaged; and wherein the distal region of the second member has provision to support such a said electrifiable wire, cable or tape.

2. An elongate metal member having a screw threaded or helically threaded end and having a nondedicated tool rotatable other end able to receive a male or female end of a wire, cable or tape support thereby to be the first member of a kit of claim 1.

3. An electrically insulating form able to laterally receive and capture a wire, cable or tape and also having a female or male feature to co-act with the male or female end of an elongate metal member of claim 2 thereby to be a second member of claim 1.

4. A wire, cable or tape outstanding support assembly from a strainer, post or batten (post) of a fence, the assembly comprising or including a first component screwed into the post by use of a tool drive, and a second component engaged to the first component after it has been screwed into the post; wherein the second component has received, or can receive, the wire, cable or tape laterally of its longitudinal axis and support it insulated from the post and away from the post.

5. A method of providing an assembly of claim 1 or 4 comprising the steps of

a) machine or manually driving with a rotatable tool engaging with its distal region, the first component its screw proximal region into the post, and

b) either (1) engaging the second component with distal region of the first component and then engaging the wire, cable or tape with the second component, or (2) engaging the wire, cable or tape with the second component and then engaging the second component with the distal region of the first component.