US3246880A - Wire clip for u-post - Google Patents

Description

W 3 w 2 a w m T 10 .1 04 F U: E WW 0 6 5mm [1 w w 2 mu. m mar v xm\\fi 4 4 6 1/? L 6 I 1 w h M Z 11 1 I m m MP A N H h INVENTOR WAYNE B. WEED,

ATTORN EYS.

United States Patent 3,246,830 WIRE CLIP FOR U-POST Wayne B. Weed, Independence, Mo., assignor to Armco Steel Corporation, Middletown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 246,825 1 Claim. (Cl. 256-57) This invention relates to the erection of fence structures, and more particularly to a wire clip adapted to secure the fence wire to a U-shaped post.

In a co-pending application in the name of Wayne Weed, Serial No. 249,819, filedJanuary 7, 1963, now Patent No. 3,169,750 there is taught the construction for a fence clip which can be utilized with virtually any steel fence post. As noted in that application, there are a number of rather general problems, and of course, it is an object of this application to overcome them. In the first place, it is an object of this invention to provide a wire clip which will not become entangled with other clips when stored in bulk. And secondly, it is a very important object of this invention to provide a wire clip which while constructed of relatively stiff wire, may be easily deformed into a permanent clamping position.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a wire clip of the character described, and which will accomplish the above noted objects, but which may be manufactured with a substantial saving in material.

These various objects are accomplished by the unique configuration of the present wire clip. In the accompanying drawings, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the clip of this invention and its usage. The several views of the drawing may be described as follows:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the wire clip of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the clip of this invention engaged through a U-shaped fence post;

FIGURE 3 is a top view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the wire clip temporarily placed over a fence wire;

FIGURE 4 is a top view also similar to FIG. 2, but showing the clip of this invention as deformed to its permanent clamping position; and

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the wire clip of the invention in position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, this invention is particularly adapted for use with a U-shaped post such as indicated at 10. A post of this type is provided with a pair of outwardly extending front flanges 11 and 12, and a U-shaped channel 13 having a plurality of spaced apart holes 14. It will also be noted that the front flanges 11 and 12 may be provided with a plurality of spaced apart lugs (not shown) to assist in holding the fence wire, but by utilizing the construction of this invention, such lugs are not necessary.

Turning now to FIG. 1, the wire clip of this invention is shown in perspective. It is apparent that this clip may be formed from a short length of relatively stiff wire by any conventional and ordinary machine operation. At one end, the wire clip is provided with a hook 15, adapted to be passed through a hole 14 in the U-shaped fence post, and engaged over a fence wire 21 strung across the front flanges 11 and 12. Adjacent the hook 15 is a straight shank portion 16- and an offset portion 16a, of a length sufficient to reach from the fence wire 21 to the hole 14 in the back of the U-post and back to the wire 21. It will be apparent that the length of the straight shank portion and offset portion is less than the distance of coplanar clamp elements 18 and 19, joined by a loop 20. The clamp member 17 is disposed at substantially right angles to both the plane defined by the hook 15 and the shank 16, and to the straight shank 16 itself.

FIGS. 2 through 4 show the step-by-step procedure for employing the wire clip of this invention. The U- post 10 is located in an appropriate position and a fence wire 21 is placed across the front flanges 11 and 12. The hook 15 of the wire clip is then inserted through one of the holes 14 in the post channel to engage the wire. Then, by grasping the clamp member 17, either with the hand or with a pair of pliers, the shank 16 is bent around the side of the post 10, and the clamp member 17 is placed over the fence wire 21. In this position, it will be seen that the loop 20 of the U-shaped clamp member is a short distance below the fence wire 21. To permanently clamp the wire clip in position, a suitable tool may be inserted through the U-shaped clamp member from the front, and using the wire 21 as a fulcrum, the clamp member 17 may be bent under and back of the fence wire to the position shown in FIG. 4.

As seen in FIGURES 1, 3, and 4, the straight shank portion 16 has an offset portion 16a which lies at a substantial angle from the straight shank itself. This construction provides resiliency to the wire clip of this in vention, both to insure tight engagement between the fence wire and the U-post, and to permit its use with wires of varying sizes.

The fence post clip of the co-pending application referred to earlier, (along with most other conventional clips), extends all the way around the fence post. It will therefore be apparent that the clip of this invention, in that it extends through the center of the fence post, will require somewhat less material.

Furthermore, by virtue of the configuration of the clamp member 17, there is no sharp projection when the wire clip is permanently fastened in place. As noted before, the clamp elements 18 and 19 are co-planar. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the element 19 will be shorter than the element 18 by at least the thickness of the fence wire 21. Therefore, when the wire clip is clamped into position, the element 19 will be tucked behind the fence wire 21 and out of the way.

Modification may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. While it has been described in terms of a single exemplary embodiment, no limitations are intended except insofar as set forth in the following claim.

What is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A wire clip adapted to secure a fence wire to a U- shaped fence post having a pair of front wire supporting flanges and a rearwardly extending channel provided with a plurality of holes, said clip being formed from a single piece of wire and including .a hook on one end thereof; a clamp member on the other end thereof, said clamp member comprising a pair of co-planar elements joined by a loop, one of said elements being shorter than the other by at least the thickness of said fence wire, said co-planar elements of said clamp member each being substantially perpendicular to said straight shank portion; a straight shank portion in the same plane as said hook; a relatively shorter offset portion angularly related and secured to said straight shank portion; said straight shank portion and offset portion together joining said hook and said clamp member and being of a length less than the distance around said post from one of said flanges to the opposite flange and of a length suflicient to be deformed about a portion of said channel, whereby said clamp member is engageable over said fence wire adjacent the edge of one of said flanges and said hook is engageable over said fence wire intermediate said flanges,

2 2-2 4 and whereby the angular relationship of said straight 1,971,047 8/1934 Moritz 25657 shank and said offset portion imparts resilience to said 2,227,553 1/1941 Paque 256-57 X clip for the maintenance of tight engagement between said 2,662,740 12/ 1953 White 256-48 We and send 5 FOREIGN PATENTS References by the Examiner Great Britain.

UNITED STATES PATENTS D 735,121 8/1903 Lombard 256 57 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Przmary Examine-r. 977,189 11/ 1910 Henning 256-57 CHARLES W. ROBINSON, HARRISON R. MOSELEY, 1,450,298 4/1923 Mason 25657 X 10 Examiners.

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