FENCE POST

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The subject invention is related to fence posts that are heavy duty, economical, and designed for long-term usage with low maintenance of the fence posts. Such type of fence posts are most commonly employed for use on, for example, farms and the like.

Additionally, such fence posts are utilized in combination with rails or railing systems to provide a fencing system. Furthermore, such fence posts may be used in combination with electrical wiring to provide security measures along with a fencing system. Yet further, such fence posts may be pre-formed with mechanisms to allow for integration of both railing and electrical wiring systems.

The invention is generally directed to fence posts for use in fencing systems. The invention is further generally directed to fence posts that are capable of being easily coupled to railing systems and electrical wiring. Still further, this invention is generally directed to fence posts that are easily installed by incorporating mechanism to enhance insertion of the fence posts and various fence post designs into various surfaces.

This invention is further generally directed to fence posts that incorporate preserving compositions to be positioned therein. Such preserving compositions prevent (1) deterioration of the fence posts, (2) infestation by termites/insects, and (3) fungal infestations. Thus, by incorporating such preserving compositions, the overall life span of the fence posts is increased.

PRIOR ART

Fence posts for use with fencing systems are well-known in the art. However, most conventional fence posts do not adequately provide for coupling with electrical wiring. Additionally, most conventional fence posts do not provide for insulation of electrical wiring, thus allowing users to touch the fence post without being shocked, while providing security to a fencing system.

Furthermore, conventional fence posts do not provide for mechanisms to enhance or ease insertion of a fence post into various types of ground surfaces and soils.

Still further, conventional fence posts do not provide for accommodating preserving compositions to increase the life span of the fence post by preventing deterioration, infestation by termites/insects, and fungal infestation.

As an example, a conventional 5′×4′ (cross section) post has 20 square inches of area to drive. Such Conventional post requires a large driving force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fence post that is heavy duty, economical, easy to install in terms of speed and driving force, and designed for long-term and low-maintenance usage.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a fence post that is formed with the capability of being coupled with electrical wiring for enhancing security measures of a fencing system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fence post that is easily installable by incorporating a driving member to enhance insertion of the fence post into various ground surfaces and various types of soils.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fence post designed for long-term use by including preserving compositions therein for preventing deterioration, infestation by termites/insects and fungal infestations of the fence post.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a fence post that requires a lesser driving force than Conventional posts.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fence post having varying configurations for enhanced structural strength.

These and other objects are attained by the fence post of the present invention. The fence post generally comprises a first post member having a substantially rectangular cross-section and including at least one through rail opening formed in the first post member. There is at least one through wire opening formed through the first post member. The through wire opening has an insulating member positioned therein. There is at least one cavity formed in the first post member for receiving a preserving composition therein. Furthermore, there is a driving member fixed to a bottom surface of the first post member and covers at least a portion of the bottom surface. The driving member includes at least one projection having a predetermined contour projecting from a bottom surface of the driving member for breaking obstacles as the first post member is driven through a ground surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fence post with railing and electrical wiring;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fence post without railing and electrical wiring;

FIG. 5 is a top down sectional view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top down sectional view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top down sectional view of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the fence post without railing and electrical wiring; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fence post as shown in FIG. 8 with railing and electrical wiring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, there is shown a fence post 2 that is inserted or driven through a ground surface 26 for use with rails 32 and electrical wiring 34. The fence post 2 may be fabricated from well-known materials such as wood boards, finger pointed wood scraps, recycled composites, and ceramic materials, as will be discussed in further detail. Additionally, the fence post 2 may be fabricated with any number of through rail openings 10 and through wire openings 12, based on production needs and desires.

As detailed, the fence post 2 is adapted to be coupled or used with rails 32 and electrical wiring 34 to form a fence system as shown in FIG. 3. One example of possible uses of the fence post 2 is, for example, as part of a fence system on a farm. Such fence systems are conventionally known to be used to keep certain animals within a confined area and keep other animals outside of such a confined area. Additionally, such fence systems utilizing fence posts 2 are used to provide security to parcels of land.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown the fence post 2. In a preferred embodiment, the fence post 2 is formed of a first post member 4 which has a substantially rectangular cross-section. However, depending on construction and design parameters, the first post member 4 may be any geometric shape while maintaining the ability to ease speed of installation while decreasing the required driving force to drive the first post member 4 through a ground surface 26. The first post member 4 is formed preferably including thermoplastic resins or thermoset materials. The first post member 4 can be one pure or integrally formed post including the thermoplastic or thermoset materials. Examples of thermoset materials used in molding the first post member 4 include sawdust, wood flour, bamboo, kenaf grass, light weight ceramics, and scrap rubber. Additional thermoset resins include polyurea, phenolics, melamine, slues and other urea resins. Thermosets and thermoset materials are known for exhibiting exceptional mechanical, thermal, electrical, and physical properties. Mechanical properties include tear strength, ultimate tensile strength, while thermal properties include maximum use temperature, thermal conductivity, and coefficient of thermal expansion. Again, such properties of thermoset materials are well-known in the art and thus, their use within the molding/fabrication process of the first post member 4 leads to the excellent characteristics of the overall fence post 2, as detailed above.

As shown in FIGS. 4-9, the first post member 4 includes at least one through rail opening 10 formed therethrough. As shown in FIG. 3, the through rail opening 10 is formed through the first post member 4 to hold rail members 32. The number of through rail openings 10 formed in the first post member 4 may vary based on production needs and desires.

As shown in FIGS. 4-9, the first post member 4 includes at least one through wire opening 12 formed therethrough. The through wire opening 12 has an insulating member 14 positioned therein. In this manner, the through wire opening 12 accommodates electrical wiring 34, as shown in FIG. 3, with the insulating member 14 used to insulate the first post member 4 and the overall fence post 2 from electrical charges. Additionally, electrical wiring may be provided with a fence system without affecting the fence post 2 and in particular, the first post member 4. Furthermore, the first post member 4 accommodates the electrical wiring 34 without causing damage thereto.

The insulating member 14, as seen in FIGS. 5-7, positioned in the through wire opening 12 of the first post member 4 may be made of any well-known insulating material. Preferably, the insulating member 14 is formed of rubber or rubber materials and positioned within the through wire opening 12 of first post member 4. The insulating member 14 may extend and cover an entire inner surface area of the through wire opening 12. Alternatively, the insulating member 14 may extend and cover selective portions of the through wire opening 12.

The first post member 4 further includes at least one cavity 16 formed therein for receiving a preserving composition. The cavity 16 may be formed on any part of the first post member 4. In the preferred embodiment, the cavity 16 is formed on a bottom surface 30 of the first post member 4, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As will be discussed in following paragraphs, the cavity 16 formed on the bottom surface 30 of the first post member 4 is enclosed when the driving member 20 is attached thereto.

The preserving composition 18 is a non-toxic wood preserver that prevents rotting, infestation by termites or insects, and rotting by fungus. The preserving composition may be a time-released pellet or any such composition as long as the preserving composition can be inserted into the cavity 16 of the first post member 4. The preserving composition will include materials such as sodium borate, silica gel, and manganese ore.

Alternatively, the preserving composition 18 may be impregnated during manufacturing throughout the first post member 4 also incorporating a time-release nature. Additionally, the preserving composition 18 may be a powder dispersed throughout the first post member 4, a liquid, or any other form as long as such prevents rotting, infestation by insects, and rotting by fungus.

The fence post 2 further comprises a driving member 20 fixed to the bottom surface 30 of the first post member 4, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The driving member 20 includes at least one projection 22 having a predetermined contour projecting from a bottom surface of the driving member 20. The projection 22 and the driving member 20 enhance breaking of obstacles in the path of the fence post 2 and in particular the first post member 4 when the first post member 4 is driven through a ground surface 26.

The driving member 20 may be formed of any well-known durable material which will not deteriorate or become damaged upon impingement in a ground surface 26. Preferably, the driving member 20 is formed of steel. In this manner, the driving member 20 breaks up small rocks and roots of trees, as detailed, when the fence post 2 is driven through a ground surface 26. Additionally, the driving member 20 functions to protect the bottom surface 30 of the first post member 4 and the overall fence post 2. Thus, the driving member 20 functions to prevent well-known problems from occurring to the bottom surface 30 of the first post member 4, such as, deterioration due to the external environment, damage by obstacles in a path of the fence post 2, etc. Furthermore, the driving member 20 covers the cavity 16 formed on the bottom surface 30 of the first post member 4, which holds the preserving composition therein. Thus, if the preserving composition is, for example, a time-released pellet, no external factors will detrimentally affect it since the preserving composition is effectively sealed from the external environment by being positioned/sandwiched between the driving member 20 and bottom surface 30 of first post member 4.

The fence post 2, in the preferred embodiment, further includes a second post member 6 fixedly coupled to a back surface of the first post member, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. In an alternative embodiment, the second post member 6 may be integrally formed with the first post member 4 to form the overall fence post 2. With the second post member 6 fixedly coupled to a back surface of the first post member 4, the driving member 20 is extended to cover the bottom surface of not only the first post member 4, but also the second post member 6, as seen in FIG. 1. In this manner, the driving member 20 protects an entire bottom surface of the fence post 2 (including the first post member 4 and second post member 6).

Similar to the first post member 4, the second post member 6 has a substantially rectangular cross-section. However, depending on design parameters, the second post member 6 may be of different geometric shapes. Additionally, the second post member 6 is formed preferably including thermoplastic resins or thermoset materials. Similar to the materials used in the first post member 4, examples of thermoset materials used in molding the second post member 6 include sawdust, wood flour, bamboo, kenaf grass, light weight ceramics, and scrap rubber. Additional thermoset resins include polyurea phenolics, melamine, glues, and other urea resins. As detailed above, the excellent properties of thermoset materials are well-known in the art and thus, their use within the molding/fabrication of the second post member 6 leads to the excellent characteristics of the overall fence post 2, as detailed above.

Also as detailed above, the first post member 4 includes at least one cavity 16 formed therein for receiving a preserving composition 18. In the preferred embodiment, the cavity 16 is formed on a bottom surface 30 of the first post member 4. However, when a second post member 6 is fixed to the back surface of the first post member 4, another cavity 16 may be formed on the overall bottom surface of the first post and second post members, as seen in FIG. 2. Thus, the cavity 16 formed on bottom surfaces of the first post member 4 and the second post member 6 will receive the preserving composition 18. Since adding a second post member 6 increases the surface area of the bottom surface of the fence post 2, adding additional cavities 16 to the bottom surface of the second post member only enhances the ability of the fence post 2 to incorporate preserving compositions 18 to prevent degradation, infestation by termites/insects, or degradation by fungus.

As the fence post 2 includes both the first post member 4 and the second post member 6, and the driving member 20 is extended to cover bottom surfaces thereof, the driving member will include additional projections 22 having predetermined contours projecting from the bottom surface thereof. Thus, the driving member 20 will enhance breaking of obstacles in the path of the entire fence post 2 (including the first post member 4 and the second post member 6) when the fence post 2 is driven through a ground surface 26.

Similar to the driving member 20 covering the cavity 16 of the first post member 4, when cavities are formed in the bottom surface of the second post member 6, the driving member 20 will cover and protect the preserving composition 18 therein as detailed above.

In a preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 9, the first post member 4 includes a pair of opposing side surfaces 28 that have concave contours. FIG. 8 shows the first member 4 driven into a ground surface, without railing and electrical wiring. FIG. 9 shows the same first post member 4 as in FIG. 8, but including railing and electrical wiring. Such concave contours as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, enhances the ability to drive the overall fence post 2 into a ground surface 26. However, the side surfaces may also be substantially planar 28a as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Further referring to the driving member 20 as seen in FIG. 1, the projection 22 includes a predetermined contour as detailed above. In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined contour includes a plurality of arcuately formed tines 24 which enhances the breaking of obstacles when the first post member 4 is driven into the ground surface 26. The arcuately formed tines 24 of the projection 22 are formed preferably of the same material as the driving member 20 (the preferred embodiment, steel) and may be integrally formed with the driving member 20. Furthermore, the plurality of arcuately formed tines 24 include sharpened edges for enhancing and helping driving of the first post member 4 into the ground surface 26.

The fence post 2, in yet another preferred embodiment, further includes a third post member 8 fixedly coupled to a front surface of the first post member 4, as seen in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. In an alternative embodiment, the third post member 8 may be integrally formed with the first post member 4 to form the overall fence post 2. With the third post member 8 fixedly coupled to a back surface of the first post member 4, the driving member 20 is extended to cover the bottom surface of not only the first post member 4, the second post member 6, but also the third post member 8, as seen in FIG. 2. In this manner, the driving member 20 protects an entire bottom surface of the fence post 2 (including the first, second and third post members).

Similar to the first post member 4 and the second post member 6, the third post member 8 has a substantially rectangular cross-section. Additionally, the third post member 8 is formed preferably including thermoplastic resins or thermoset materials. Similar to the materials used in the first post member 4 and the second post member 6, examples of thermoset materials used in molding the third post member 8 include sawdust, wood flour, bamboo, kenaf grass, light weight ceramics, and scrap rubber. Additional thermoset resins include polyurea, phenolics, melamine, glues, and other urea resins. As detailed above, the excellent properties of thermoset materials are well-known in the art and thus, their use within the molding/fabrication of the third post member 8 leads to the excellent characteristics of the overall fence post 2, as detailed above.

Also as detailed above, the first post member 4 and second post member 6 preferably include at least one cavity 16 formed therein for receiving a preserving composition 18. In the preferred embodiment, the cavity 16 is formed on a bottom surface 30 of the first and second post member 4, 6. However, when a third post member 8 is fixed to the front surface of the post member 4, another cavity 16 may be formed on the overall bottom surface of the first, second and third post members, as seen in FIG. 2. Thus, the cavity 16 formed on the bottom surfaces of the first, second and third post members 4, 6 and 8 will receive the preserving compositions 18 therein. Since adding a third post member 8 increases the surface area of the bottom surface of the fence post 2, adding additional cavities 16 to the bottom surface of the second post member only enhances the ability of the fence post 2 to incorporate preserving compositions 18 to prevent degradation, infestation by termites/insects, or by degradation by fungus.

As the fence post 2 includes the first post member 4 and the second post member 6 and third post member 8, the driving member 20 is extended to cover bottom surfaces thereof; thus, the driving member will include additional projections 22 having predetermined contours projecting from the bottom surface thereof. Thus, the driving member 20 will enhance breaking of obstacles in the path of the entire fence post 2 (including the first post member 4, second post member 6 and third post member 8) when the fence post 2 is driven through a ground surface 26.

Similar to the driving member 20 covering the cavity 16 of the first and second post members 4, 6, when cavities are formed in the bottom surface of the third post member 8, the driving member 20 will cover and protect preserving compositions 18 therein, as detailed above for the first post member 4 and second post member 6.

Although this invention has been described in connection with specific forms and embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various modifications other than those discussed above may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended Claims.