Spring Wire Clip

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to improved wire clips, particularly to attach wire to T-posts used in fencing.

Spring wire clips are used to attach fencing wire to fence posts. To construct a typical fence line, the caretaker of a plot of land installs a series of vertical fence posts in a line. Quite commonly this series of fence post is arrayed in a literal line, but, of course, the caretaker and array the “line” of fence posts in any convenient shape to fence off a desired area. Commonly, the caretaker uses T-posts. The caretaker will also string one or more fencing wires, typically in a horizontal direction, along the fence line. The caretaker will commonly attach the horizontal fencing wire each of the posts in the fence line.

In prior art fence lines, the fencing wire was attached to the fence posts using flexible wire. The wire engages the fencing wire is some fashion and is then wrapped around the fence post. In the case of T-posts the fencing wire is typically run above the studs on the front of the post. The fencing wire is attached to the T-post with a flexible wire, which is operated much like a “twist tie.” That is, one end of the flexible wire is twisted around the fencing wire at a point near one side of the T-post. The flexible wire is run behind the spine of the T-Post and the other end of the flexible wire is wrapped around the fencing wire on the other side of the fence post. In fact, any method of wrapping the flexible wire around the fencing wire will work so long as the flexible wire keeps the fencing wire in contact with the T-post. The fencing wire will remain in place above the stud on the face of the T-post. Typically, the wire used in the prior art to secure fencing wire to T-posts is a form of low carbon soft steel. The critical feature being that the attachment wire be bendable.

In a common design, wire is attached to a fence T-post between two nodes with a spring wire clip that wraps around the t-post and hooks into the wire from both sides. The spring wire clips typically engage the wire in the horizontal direction and the t-post in the vertical but not limited by such attachment. The prior art wire clips suffer certain disadvantages. In particular, these prior art clips are made from a soft low carbon steel which have to be installed with a tool by twisting around the wire to make a secure connection. When the clips are installed on a woven wire fence, it is very difficult to twist using the tool due to the smaller openings between the woven wire. The clips are also time consuming to install and have little or no adjustment mechanism after installation. Typically, these prior art clips are a one time use and if they need to be adjusted are cut from the fence and a new clip must be used.

In another prior art clip, relatively stiff, unbending wire can be used in a type of “fence clip.” This clip has bilateral symmetry. The first and second ends of the clip engage the fencing wire on opposite sides of the T-post. The clip is designed to secure fencing wire to a T-post without tools. It is made of a relatively stiff wire of approximately 300K psi shear strength has a diameter 0.1 inch of high carbon steel.

This clip has a preformed shape. One end of the clip has a preformed curl configured to engage fencing wire on one lateral side of the T-post. The middle section of the clip is typically V-shaped which allows the clip to fit around the T-post spine. The other end of the clip has a preformed curl, identical to that on the first end, which is also configured to engage fencing wire. This other end engages the wire on the other lateral side of the T-post. This clip is stiff enough to hold its shape but is not so stiff so that it can be installed, without tools, by bending the clip ends around the opposite sides of the fence pole. While tools are not strictly necessary, the user may find it more comfortable using gloves because of the force involved to bend the clips ends around the fencing wire.

An improved design is described below the clips include an additional functional region which allows the user to install the clip using much less force than that used in prior art clips.

SUMMARY

The current spring wire clip has an improved construction from hardened high carbon spring steel and non-symmetrical geometry that allows the spring wire clip to be installed with no tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. illustrates a rear left view of the spring wire clip securing fencing wire on a T-Post.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear right view of the spring wire clip securing fencing wire on a T-Post.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the installation of the spring clip.

FIGS. 7A-E illustrate various views of the improved spring clip.

FIGS. 8A-C illustrate various views of an improved clip with an alternate shape.

FIGS. 9A-D illustrate alternative structures of the improved clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While any type of stiff wire can be used, a preferred embodiment is 300 Ksi (shear strength) wire having a diameter of 0.99 inch to 0.105 inch.

More generally speaking, the spring wire clip is made from wire having a shear strength in the range of 125 to 600 Ksi, and a diameter from 0.075 to 0.15 inches. In another embodiment, music wire, having a shear strength of 300 to 400 Ksi will also function.

In still another embodiment the spring wire clip can be made from high carbon spring tempered steel alloy having a shear strength in the range from 282K to 312K and a diameter from 0.080 to 0.1 inches. More preferable, a shear strength of about 300 Ksi. Note, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) defines “high carbon steel” as containing from 0.60 to 1.00 % carbon by weight.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two lines of fencing wire secured to a T-post by an embodiment of the improved spring clips 100. Note that in these figures the fencing wire extends laterally out of both sides of the T-post. FIG. 2, a right side view of the T-post, shows the first end of the clip 100. This end has a preformed curl 110 that engages the fencing wire extending laterally from one side of the T-post. Also shown is the clip middle section having a preformed shape 120 allowing the clip to fit around the spine of the T-post. In the embodiment shown, the preformed shape 120 is V-shaped. FIG. 1 also shows the clip second middle section bend 130. This bend 130 is configured to engage the fencing wire extending laterally from the side of the T-post opposite that of the fencing wire engaging the first end curl 110.

Stated differently, the same strand of fencing wire is engaged by the first end clip 110 and the second middle section bend 130. The first end clip 110 engages the fencing wire extending out on one lateral side of the T-post. The second middle section bend 130 engages the fencing wire on the other lateral side of the T-post.

Illustrated in both FIGS. 1 and 2 is the second end which has a preformed curl 140 that engages the T-post spine. FIG. 1 also shows the length of wire 135 between the second middle section bend 130 and the second end curl 140. This length of wire cannot be seen in FIG. 2 because it is hidden behind the T-post spine.

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the improved spring clips is installed. FIG. 3 shows the first end curl 110 engaging the fencing wire extending out one side of the T-post. FIG. 4 shows the clip first middle section 120 being wrapped around the T-post spine until the second middle section bend 130 engages the fencing wire extending out the other side of the T-post. Following the bend 130, the clip passes under the fencing wire, FIG. 4, to the other side, then extends up over the fencing wire and angles back toward the T-post spine, FIG. 5, where the second end curl 140 engages the spine as shown in FIG. 6. A certain length of wire is provided (between the bend and the second end curl) so that the second end curl is properly positioned to engage the T-post spine.

Of course, the specific directions in which the various preformed shapes are oriented are but one preferred embodiment. The directions can all be reversed and the clip will function equally well. Not only will the mirror image clip function, but each specific portion of the clip can be independently reversed without any loss of function.

Also, the length of wire 135 between the second middle section bend and the second end curl will depend on the angle which the middle section heads back to the T-post spine. The more directly this last portion of the clip heads back to the T-post, the shorter the length of wire needed.

The length of wire 135 can be, but need not be, formed in a simple straight line. FIG. 9A shows a length of wire having two separate bends. This is compared to FIG. 9B which shows a clip having a straight length of wire 135. FIGS. 9C and 9D illustrate the two alternatives but from a different angle.

Adding a more complicated geometry to the clip may seem counterproductive. It does, however, make sense when one considers the methods of manufacturing the preformed wire. In a preferred embodiment, the wire disclosed here is bent into shape using a computer numerical control (CNC) wire forming machine. The clips with the geometry illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9D proved to be simpler to manufacture than those having the simpler geometry illustrated in FIGS. 9B and 9C.

In any case, the two different clips illustrated in FIGS. 9A-D function equally well, as would clips having other specific geometries. The only critical feature is the clips being able to wrap around the fencing wire then bend back to engage the T-post spine.

The clips can also be manufactured in different overall sizes. For example, posts used along highways are larger than the standard size posts used in farming. Accordingly, clips used with highway sized posts would be manufactured proportionally larger.

The spring wire clips can be used with many types of fence wire: smooth wire, woven wire, barbed wire and high tensile wire. The clips are suitable for uses such as keeping deer off of highways and keeping livestock within a secure area.

Finally, while carbon spring steel is used as a preferred material any material with the proper tensile strength can function, including various synthetic polymers.