Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A FITTING
FIELD
The present invention relates to a fitting, preferred variants of which are
useful for
fencing applications. Methods of making and using the fitting are also
disclosed.
BACKGROUND
An existing staple for securing a fencing wire to a fencing post is shown in
Figure 1A.
The staple may be driven into the post using a hammer. This can be fiddly and
difficult. Specialised power tools are available but they are, however,
specific to
staple application and increase the fence installation costs.
Staples are also prone to being pulled out from the post. For example, an
animal
applying pressure to the fencing wire will dislodge the staple from the post.
As a
result, the fence secured using these staples may require constant repair
work, which
represents an ongoing cost.
Other existing clips include a weldmesh clip (shown in Figure 1B) and a saddle
(shown in Figure 1C). These other existing clips have their own disadvantages.
A
wire secured using with a weldmesh clip is at risk of corrosion because the
clip tightly
encloses the wire and traps moisture. Saddles, on the other hand, require two
screws. This increases installation costs and increases the risk of the post
splitting.
It is not admitted that any of the information in this patent specification is
common
general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably
expected
to ascertain or understand it, regard it as relevant or combine it in any way
before the
priority date.
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SUMMARY
The present invention seeks to provide a fitting that is cheap to manufacture,
easy to
install, reusable, and/or is less likely to corrode. The invention
additionally or
alternatively seeks to provide the public with a useful choice.
One aspect of the invention provides a fitting, for securing a horizontal
elongate
member to a support structure, the fitting at least substantially consisting
of
filamentary material and being shaped to define
closed bottom portions;
a front portion having sides that are mutually connected by one of the closed
bottom portions;
a back portion having sides that are mutually connected by another one of the
closed bottom portions; and
closed top portions;
the closed top portions comprising
a closed top portion connecting a side of the front portion to a side of the
back
portion; and
another closed top portion connecting another side of the front portion to
another side of the back portion, and
the front portion being spaced from the back portion to define a receiving
space for
receiving the elongate member, and
the front portion and the back portion being in register with each other to be
skewered by a fastener engaging the support structure such that
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the elongate member is trapped between the front portion, the back portion,
the
closed top portions and the fastener;
a body of the fastener is trapped between the sides, the closed bottom
portions
and the elongate member; and
the fitting is trapped between the support structure and a head of the
fastener.
The filamentary material is preferably metallic although other materials
capable of
bending and retaining the bent shape are possible. Most preferably the
filamentary
material is wire.
The wire may have a diameter similar to a diameter of the elongate member. For
example, the diameter of the wire may be between about lmm to about 5mm
inclusive. The diameter of the wire is preferably about 2.5mm. The wire of
2.5mm
diameter is suitable for fencing applications.
The fitting is preferably formed from a material that is similar to a material
of the
elongate member. The wire of the fitting may be galvanized wire. The wire for
forming
the fitting has a minimum breaking strain of about 3kN to about 8kN. The wire
preferably has a minimum breaking strain of about 5.4kN.
Preferably the fitting is dimensioned to stably hang from the elongate member
such
that the front portion and back portion are aligned to horizontally receive
the fastener.
The filamentary material of the fitting may have two free-ends.
The elongate member may be a fencing wire, and the support structure may be a
fencing post. The fastener may be a screw.
Preferred variants of the fitting are suited to fencing. The fitting may also
be used for
landscaping, construction, building, civil engineering, or any other
application where
an elongate member is to be secured to a supporting structure.
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Another aspect of the invention provides the fitting and the fastener. The
fitting is
preferably shaped to hang from the elongate member whilst cradling the
fastener,
skewering the front portion and the back portion, to orient the fastener
horizontally
ready to engage the support structure.
The fastener may be a self-tapping screw and/or self-drilling screw. The type
of
fastener and dimensions of the fastener may be selected based on the support
structure to which the elongate member and fitting are to be secured. For
example,
where the support structure is a treated pine post, the fastener may be a 12
gauge
55mm self-drilling wood screw. Where the support structure is a steel pipe,
the
fastener may be a self-drilling metal screw and/or about 25mm long.
Another aspect of the invention provides a system comprising the fitting; the
fastener;
and the elongate member.
The fitting is preferably formed of a material that is similar, and most
preferably is
substantially identical, to a material of the elongate member to reduce a risk
of
corrosion.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of a securing an elongate
member to a support structure, comprising
locating the elongate member within the receiving space of the fitting;
skewering the front portion and back portion with a fastener to trap the
elongate
member; and
engaging the fastener with the support structure.
The method may comprise, prior to the engaging, allowing the fitting to hang
from the
elongate member whilst cradling the fastener to orient the fastener
horizontally ready
for the engaging.
The front portion may deform towards the back portion as a head of the
fastener
presses against the front portion while engaging the fastener in the support
structure.
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Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of making the fitting,
comprising
forming a loop of the filamentary material; and
folding the loop.
The loop is preferably longer than it is wide. The folding may be about a
widthwise
5 axis. Most preferably the loop is at least twice as long as it is wide.
The loop may
have curved ends.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1A is a side view of a staple;
Figure 1B is a perspective view of a weld mesh clip;
Figure 1C is a plan view of a saddle;
Figure 2A is a perspective view of a fitting;
Figure 2B is a front view of the fitting;
Figure 2C is a side view of the fitting;
Figure 2D is a rear view of the fitting;
Figure 2E is another side view of the fitting;
Figure 3A is a perspective view of the fitting installed in one orientation;
Figure 3B is a perspective view of the fitting installed in another
orientation.
Figure 4A is a perspective view of the fitting in one orientation and cradling
the screw;
Figure 4B is another perspective view of the fitting in the one orientation
and cradling
the screw; and
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Figure 5A to 5B are perspective views of the fitting in other orientations
cradling a
screw.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The following examples are intended to illustrate to enable reproduction and
comparison. They are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any
way.
Referring to Figures 2A to 2E, a fitting (or clip) 100 formed from wire is
provided for
securing a fencing wire to a fencing post. The wire for forming the fitting
100 is a high
tensile galvanized wire and has a diameter of about 2.5mm. Waratah Tyeasy
2.5mm
is one option. Liberty Onesteel Heavy Galvinised Hard 2.5mm is preferred. The
fitting
100 has other applications besides fencing. Variants of the fitting 100 might
be used
to secure elongate members to support structures in contexts such as in
landscaping,
civil engineering or building and construction; e.g. a heavier variant of the
fitting 100
might be formed of filament in the form of bar stock, e.g. 020mm bar, and be
useful
for holding heavy cable on a rock face.
The material of the wire used to form the fitting 100 is similar to that which
forms the
elongate member and/or for the fastener. Using the similar material reduces
the risk
of corrosion. The wire for forming the fitting 100 has two free-end portions
102, 104.
The free-ends portions 102, 104 substantially overlap each other in the
fitting 100.
The fitting 100 and the invention more generally are described and claimed
herein
utilising a geometric reference frame consistent with Figures 2B to 3A, 4A and
4B,
although as illustrated in Figures 3B and 5A to 6B the same fitting may be
advantageously utilised in other orientations. By way of example, a fitting
for (as in
'suitable for') mounting a horizontal wire may be turned sideways to mount a
vertical
wire.
As best shown in Figure 2C, the wire is shaped to form two spaced-apart arm
portions 110 and 130 to define a first-receiving space 106 between the arm
portions
110 and 130. The arm portion 110 is a front portion. The arm portion 130 is a
back
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portion. The first-receiving space 106 is dimensioned to receive the elongate
member
(e.g. so the fitting can fit onto the fencing wire).
The first-receiving space 106 has a U-shaped profile comprising an opening.
The
opening has an opening width configured to admit the elongate member or (when
used in the orientation of Figure 5A), the shaft of the fastener while
excluding the
flanged head of the fastener. The opening width may be up to about 2.0cm wide
inclusive. Preferably it is about 1.0cm wide.
Each of the arm portions 110 and 130 is U-shaped. The openings of the two arm
portions 110 and 130 are generally aligned with each other in the fore-aft
direction to
define a second-receiving space 108 for a fastener 300 to pass through to
skewer
the portions 110 and 130. The second-receiving space 108 is wide enough to
admit
the shaft of the fastener but narrow enough to exclude the flanged head of the
fastener. The width may be up to about 2.0cm inclusive. Preferably it is about
1.0cm.
The fitting 100 allows for easy draining and drying of the clip (for example,
subsequent to rainfall). This further reduces corrosion risk of the fitting
100.
The arrangement provided by the first-receiving space 106 and the second-
receiving
space 108 is such that a first member (one of the fencing wire or fastener)
that is
received in the first-receiving space 106 is generally transverse to a second
member
(the other one of the fencing wire or fastener that is received in the second-
receiving
space 108). For example, a fastener located in the second-receiving space 108
has a
longitudinal axis that is generally transverse (or substantially
perpendicular) to the
fencing direction of a fencing wire located in the first-receiving space 106.
The fitting 100 is versatile. To secure a fencing wire to a post, the fitting
can be used
in any direction without reducing its efficacy. For example, the fitting can
be rotated
over and around and placed on the fencing wire in any one of four
orientations. In
addition, the fitting 100 can be used to hold the fencing wire above or below
the
fastener. In view of the shape of the fitting 100, the fitting 100 can be used
to secure
the fencing wire to the fencing post in one of the following two arrangements:
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1. the fencing wire is located in the first-receiving space 106 between the
arm
portions 110 and 130 with a fastener being passable through the two arm
portions 110 and 130 in the second-receiving space 108; or
2. the fencing wire is located in the second-receiving space 108 between
the arm
portions 110 and 130 with a fastener being passable through the two arm
portions 110 and 130 in the first-receiving space 106.
In the first arrangement, the first-receiving space 106 is a wire-receiving
space and
the second-receiving space 108 is a fastener-receiving space. In the second
arrangement, the second-receiving space 108 is a wire-receiving space and the
first-
receiving space 106 is a fastener-receiving space.
The fitting 100 will now be described in relation to its use in the first
arrangement.
Taking the first arrangement, the fitting 100 has two closed bottom portions
122, 124
that are spaced apart from each other. Each closed bottom portion 122, 124 is
curved. In particular, each closed bottom portion 122, 124 is substantially
semi-
circular. The two bottom portions 122, 124 are registered to each other. When
the
fitting 100 hangs on a wire, the registration between the two bottom portions
122, 124
allows a fastener to hang on the closed bottom portions substantially
horizontally
such that the fastener points into (in a direction substantially perpendicular
to) an
upright face of the post.
A first arm portion 110 of the fitting 100 is a front portion having two sides
162, 164
that are connected to each other by a first bottom portion 122. An outwardly-
facing
face of the first arm portion 110 is substantially planar. The sides 162, 164
of the front
portion are parallel to each other. The first arm portion 110 with the sides
162, 164
and the closed bottom portion 122 has a substantially U-shaped profile.
A second arm portion 130 of the fitting 100 is a back portion having two sides
182,
184 that are connected to each other by a second bottom portion 124. An
outwardly-
facing face of the second arm portion 130 is substantially planar. The sides
182, 184
of the back portion are parallel to each other. The second arm portion 130
with the
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sides 182, 184 and the closed bottom portion 124 has a substantially U-shaped
profile. The U-shaped profile of the second arm portion 130 is generally
similar to the
U-shaped profile of the first arm portion 110.
The fitting 100 has two closed top portions 142, 144. Similar to the bottom
portions
122, 124, each top portion 142, 144 is curved. In particular, each top portion
142, 144
is substantially semi-circular. One top portion 142 is formed by free-end
portions 102,
104 of the wire used to form the fitting 100. At this top portion 142, the
free-end
portions 102, 104 of the wire overlap each other. The other top portion 144 is
a
continuous portion of the wire. The two top portions 142, 144 are registered
to each
other.
One top portion 142 connects one side 162 of the front portion to one side 182
of the
back portion. An outwardly-facing face formed by the top portion 142 and the
sides
162, 182 is substantially planar. One side 162 of the front portion is
parallel to the
one side 182 of the back portion. The top portion 142, and the two sides 162,
182
form a planar surface with a substantially U-shaped profile.
The other top portion 144 connects another side 164 of the front portion to
another
side 184 of the back portion. An outwardly-facing face formed by the top
portion 144
and the sides 164, 184 is substantially planar. The other side 164 of the
front portion
is parallel to the other side 184 of the back portion. The top portion 144,
and the two
sides 164, 184 form a planar surface with a substantially U-shaped profile.
The U-
shaped profile of the top portion 144 and two sides is generally similar to
the U-
shaped profile of the other top portion 142 and two sides.
As can be seen from Figures 2B to 2E, the fitting 100 when viewed from the top
(Figure 2B), sides (Figures 2C, 2E), and bottom (Figure 2D) have a
substantially
similar U-shaped profile.
Where the fencing wire is located in the first-receiving space 106 and the
fastener is
passable through the second-receiving space 108, the elongate fencing wire is
trapped between the first arm portion 110, the second arm portion 130, the top
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portions 142, 144 and the fastener. In addition, the fastener is trapped
between the
sides 162, 164, 182, 184, the bottom portions 122, 124, and the fencing wire.
The elongate member in the fitting 100 is partially surrounded by the two top
portions
142, 144 and their respective connected sides. In addition, the fastener
through the
5 fitting 100 is partially surrounded by the two bottom portions 122, 124
and their
respective connected sides. Thereby the elongate member and fastener are each
trapped within the fitting at two distinct locations along the length of each
of the
elongate member and fastener. By having the fitting 100 pass over each of the
elongate member and the fastener twice, the fitting 100 prevents displacement
of the
10 elongate member and fastener from the fitting. For example, in use, if
the free end
portions 102, 104 are somehow pulled straight (which causes the closed top
portion
142 formed by these free end portions to become open), the other closed top
portion
144 will still prevent the fencing wire (or fastener) to escape the fitting
100.
Referring to Figure 3A, the fitting 100 is arranged to stably hang on the
fencing wire
200 that is received in the first-receiving space 106 of the fitting 100. In
particular, the
fitting 100 is arranged to hang on the fencing wire 200 about the closed top
portions
142, 144 of the fitting 100. When located on the fencing wire 200, the front
portion of
the fitting 100 substantially balances the back portion of the fitting 100
such that the
back portion is substantially flush against the upright face of a post 400. In
addition,
when the fitting is located on the fencing wire 200, the front portion and
back portion
are substantially registered with each other such that a clear line-of-sight
is provided
through the second-receiving space 108 to the upright face of the post 400 for
readily
receiving the fastener 300 for securing the fitting 100 to the post 400. Once
the fitting
100 is located on the fencing wire 200 therefore, the fastener 300 can readily
skewer
the fitting 100 and be fastened into the post 400 without any prior alignment
of the
fitting by the user. When the fastener 300 skewers the fitting 100, the
fitting 100
maintains the fastener in a substantially horizontal position pointing into
the post 400
(i.e. in a direction substantially perpendicular to an upright face of the
post 400).
The fastener 300 is a self-tapping screw, particularly a TEK screw having a
threaded length of about 55mm, and is thus well adapted to wooden support
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structures. The fastener has a flanged head that contacts the sides of the
front
portion and the bottom portion that connects those sides when the fastener is
fastened into the post 400. When the fitting 100 is skewered by the fastener
300 and
engages the post 400, the fitting 100 is trapped between the fencing wire 200,
a body
of the fastener 300, and the head of the fastener 300. The fastener 300 can be
fastened into the post using a multipurpose power tool that many builders
would
already own. In addition, when the fencing is to be removed and adjusted, the
fastener 300 can be removed from the post to the allow the fitting 100 as well
as the
fastener 300 to be reused.
Of course, other screws, and indeed other fasteners more generally, are
possible. By
way of example, blind rivets may be convenient when utilising the fitting to
secure
wire to sheet material such as sheet metal. Indeed, whilst the fitting 100 is
configured
to cooperate with a screw, in some contexts it might be conveniently utilised
without
any such fastener. By way of example the fitting could be fitted over a
tubular boss,
the end of which is flared (through a staking operation) to define a head end
by which
the fitting is retained.
Whilst the fastener 300 has a flanged head wider than the arm portion 110 to
act
directly thereon, other implementations of the disclosed system may entail a
washer,
a plate or other load-transfer arrangement to assist with the entrapment of
the fitting
between the head of the fastener and the support structure.
When the fastener 300 skewers the front and back portions of the fitting 100
hanging
on the wire 200, the fastener 300 stably hangs substantially horizontally from
the
fitting 100. The fastener 300 has a centre-of-gravity that, when the fastener
300
skewers the fitting 100 hanging on the wire 200 and the head is in abutment
with the
fitting, is located within the receiving space 106, e.g. near a middle of the
space. The
fastener 300 is about 55mm long. Longer fasteners may be useful for repairs to
old
fences.
The fastener 300 is provided below the fencing wire 200 through the second-
receiving space 108 to engage the post 400. In this arrangement, an uppermost
limit
of vertical movement allowed by the fitting 100 for the fencing wire 200 is
limited by
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the closed top portions 142, 144, while a lowermost limit allowed by the
fitting 100 for
the fencing wire 200 is limited by the fastener 300.
Referring to Figure 3B, the fitting 100 can be flipped vertically (turned
upside down)
relative to the arrangement shown in Figure 3A. In this arrangement, the
fitting 100
receives the fencing wire 200 in the first-receiving space 106 and receives
the
fastener 300 through the second-receiving space 108. In this arrangement, the
fastener 300 is provided above the fencing wire 200. In this arrangement, an
uppermost limit of vertical movement allowed by the fitting 100 for the
fencing wire
200 is limited by the fastener 300, while a lowermost limit allowed by the
fitting 100
.. for the fencing wire 200 is limited by the closed top portions 142, 144.
As shown in Figure 3B, the front portion of the fitting 300 is deformed
towards the
back portion of the fitting 100. In particular, the front portion is
deformable towards
the back portion upon fastening of the fastener 300 through the second-
receiving
area 108 into the post 400. Upon the fastener 300 skewering the fitting 100
through
the second-receiving space and being fastened into the post 400, the flanged
head of
the fastener 300 will contact the bottom portion and sides of the front
portion of the
fitting. Further fastening of the fastener 300 into the post 400 causes the
flanged
head of the fastener to push against the bottom portion and the side portions
causing
the front portion to deform towards the back portion of the fitting 100.
Deforming the
fitting may be useful in applications where it is necessary for the elongate
member to
be gripped firmly to prevent longitudinal movement, such as the installation
of
insulating tube over the fencing wire for the construction of an electric
fence.
Figures 4A and 4B show the arrangement of Figure 3A of the fitting 100 with
the
fencing wire 200 and the fastener 300 without the post. As mentioned
previously, the
fitting 100 is versatile and can be used in a number of different ways as
shown in
Figures 3B, 5A and 5B and 6A and 6B.
As can be seen in Figures 4A and 4B, 5A and 5B, and 6A and 6B, when the
fitting
100 is located on the fencing wire 200, the fitting 100 stably hangs on the
fencing
wire without needing to be supported by a human operator. In addition, from
these
figures, when the fastener 300 is skewered through the fitting 100, the
fastener 300
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stably hangs in the fitting 100 without needing to be supported by the human
operator. In particular, when the fastener 300 is located in the fitting 100,
a centre-of-
gravity of the fastener 300 is located in between the front portion and back
portion of
the fitting 100 such that the fastener 300 stably hangs in in the fitting.
These features
make it easy for the human operator to secure the fencing wire 200 to the post
using
the fitting 100.
To secure a fencing wire 200 to a post using the fitting 100 of the present
invention:
1. the human operator hangs the fitting 100 over the fencing wire 200
which stably
hangs on the fencing wire;
2. the human operator skewers the fastener 300 through the fitting 100,
which will
stably hang on the fitting 100; and
3. the human operator will fasten the fastener 300 into the post (for
example using
a multipurpose power tool) thereby securing the fencing wire 200 to the post.
Figures 5A and 5B show another arrangement of the fitting with the fencing
wire 200
and the fastener 300. In this arrangement, the second-receiving space 108 of
the
fitting 100 is used to receive the fencing wire 200 and the first receiving
space 106 is
used to receive the fastener 300.
Figures 6A and 6B show yet an arrangement of the fitting 100 with the fencing
wire
200 and the fastener 300. In this arrangement, the fitting 100 of Figures 5A
and 5B is
horizontally flipped (by 180 ). Similar to the previous arrangement, the
second-
receiving space of the fitting 100 is used to receive the fencing wire 200 and
the first
receiving space is used to receive the fastener 300.
To form the fitting 100, high-tensile galvanised wire is shaped to form a
loop. The
loop has a long shape with a first rounded end and a second rounded end
opposite
the first end. The free end portions of the wire are arranged to substantially
overlap
each other, preferably along one of the long sides of the loop. An interior
space
defined by the loop defines the second-receiving area.
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The first rounded end is folded towards the second rounded end of the loop
about a
central axis of the loop. In folding the loop, a separation distance is
maintained
between the first rounded end and the second rounded end of the loop. The
separation distance is up to about 2.0cm inclusive, preferably about 1.0cm.
The
separation distance between the first end and the second end defines the first
receiving area 106.
The invention is not limited to the described examples. Rather the invention
is
defined by the claims.
