ELECTRIC FENCE CLAMP

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/743,616, filed Jan. 9, 2025, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002]The disclosure relates generally to the field of electric fences. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a bracket for securing an insulated rod and connected electrical wires to a fencepost.

SUMMARY

[0003]The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some aspects of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented elsewhere herein.

[0004]According to an embodiment, an electric fence clamp assembly has a first clamp and a second clamp. The first clamp is configured to be secured around a post and includes a first bracket having a proximal end having a first bore therethrough, a distal end, and a raised central portion. The first clamp also includes a second bracket securable to the first bracket such that the post is at least partially enclosed between the first bracket and the second bracket. The second bracket is substantially L-shaped, and has a first portion having a pair of slots, with each slot being configured to receive a mechanical fastener therethrough, and a second portion having a second bore. The second portion is substantially perpendicular to the first portion. The electric fence clamp assembly also includes a second clamp configured to secure at least one elongate member thereto, with the second clamp comprising a third bracket comprising a third bore configured to receive a mechanical fastener therethrough. The third bracket is securable to the second bracket.

[0005]According to another embodiment, an electric fence clamp assembly for connecting an insulating rod to a post includes a first clamp configured to be secured around said post. The first clamp includes a first bracket having a proximal end having a first bore therethrough, a distal end comprising a fork, and a raised central portion. The electric fence clamp assembly further includes a second bracket securable to the first bracket such that the post is at least partially enclosed between the first bracket and the second bracket. The second bracket is substantially L-shaped, and has a first portion having a pair of slots, with each slot being configured to receive a mechanical fastener therethrough. A first slot of the pair of slots is substantially axially aligned with the first bore, and a second slot of the pair of slots is substantially axially aligned with the fork. The second clamp also includes a second portion having a second bore, with the second portion being substantially perpendicular to the first portion. The electric fence clamp assembly further includes a second clamp configured to secure an insulated rod having at least one electric wire connected thereto. The second clamp has a third bracket including a third slot configured to receive a mechanical fastener therethrough, and the third bracket is securable to the second bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures.

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric fence clamp assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first bracket of a fence post clamp forming part of the electric fence clamp assembly of FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a side view of the first bracket shown in FIG. 2.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a top view of the first bracket shown in FIG. 2.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a front view of the first bracket shown in FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second bracket of the fence post clamp forming part of the electric fence clamp assembly of FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a side view of the second bracket shown in FIG. 6.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a top view of the second bracket shown in FIG. 6.

[0015]FIG. 9 is a front view of the second bracket shown in FIG. 6.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third bracket of a wire clamp forming part of the electric fence clamp assembly of FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 11 is a front view of the third bracket shown in FIG. 10.

[0018]FIG. 12 is a side view of the third bracket shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019]Fences are well known in the art for marking boundaries and providing a barrier between one area of land and another. Fences may be simple structures consisting of posts and panels or rails spanning between each post or may include additional features to prevent people or animals from crossing the barrier formed by the fence. One of these features is an electrical wire which can provide a deterring shock to the fence structure that is activated, often when a person or animal comes into contact with the fence structure. A common type of fence post is a T-post, which has a T-shaped cross-section and is often formed from metal. While this shape may be simple and inexpensive, it may be difficult for a user to attach additional hardware to the post, including electric wires and/or insulators.

[0020]For some applications, it is desirable to provide more than one strand of electric wire. For example, electric wiring may run parallel to traditional or conventional fencing such as barbed wire, boards, or pipe rails. Even with the single strand of electric wire in place, animals are known to crawl under or leap over the fence. Therefore, it can be desirable to present more than one strand of electrified wire. Multiple wires oriented horizontally respective the post can prevent an animal from getting close enough to the fence itself to crawl under it or jump over it. By orienting multiple electric wires vertically, but spaced away from the conventional fencing, the electrified fence lines work with animals of different sizes.

[0021]Moreover, by connecting multiple lines of electric fencing to an insulated rod and then using the inventive clamp to connect the insulated rod to a post, multi-strand electric fencing can be quickly installed, removed or moved from location to location without the need to fasten individual strands of wire to each post. The present disclosure relates to a bracket or clamp assembly for attaching an insulated rod to a fence post in a plurality of orientations. At least one strand of energized electric wire is removably fastened to the insulated rod. In the embodiment shown and described herein, the electric fence clamp assembly is configured for attachment to a T-post, although one of skill in the art will appreciate that other fence posts may be utilized. For example, Y-posts, wooden posts, pipe, and vinyl posts may be used. Importantly, because the inventive clamp connects an insulated rod carrying multiple strands of electric fence wire to a post, substantial time and expense is saved in comparison to connecting each strand individually to a post. The bracket facilitates multiple electric wire orientations and quick and easy installation and removal of electric fencing.

[0022]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of an electric fence clamp assembly 100 which is suitable for securing an insulated rod and one or more connected electric wires to a fence post. In the embodiment shown, the clamp assembly 100 is suitable for securing one or more electric wires to a T-post, although again one of skill in the art will understand that the clamp assembly 100 may be compatible with a variety of common fence post types. The clamp assembly 100 includes a first clamp 102 for securing the assembly 100 to a T-post and a second clamp 104 for securing one or more elongate members, such as electrical wires and/or insulators, to the assembly 100. The first clamp 102 includes a first bracket 106 and a second bracket 108, which may be coupled together around a fence post by mechanical fasteners such as bolts 110. The second clamp 104, shown in FIG. 1 in a closed state, includes a third bracket 112 which is secured to the second bracket 108 by a mechanical fastener such as bolt 114 and an accompanying nut. The brackets 106, 108, and 112 may be formed from any common weather-resistant metal or alloy, such as galvanized steel.

[0023]FIGS. 2-5 show the first bracket 106 in greater detail. The first bracket 106 has a proximal end 116 and a distal end 118 with a raised central portion 120 therebetween. In some embodiments, the first bracket 106 has a generally rectangular planform shape, although in other embodiments such as that illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 the planform shape of the first bracket 106 may be more complex. For example, the proximal end 116 may have a curved or radiused edge 122, and the distal end may include a fork 124. The proximal end 116 includes a first bore 126 extending through the bracket 106 which is configured to receive a mechanical fastener or bolt 110. The first bore 126 may be substantially rectangular or square as shown, although in other embodiments the bore 126 may be generally circular or resemble an elongated slot.

[0024]The distal end 118 of the first bracket 106 may include a fork 124, with projections or tabs 128 extending outward from the central portion 120 and a slot 130 formed between the tabs 128. The tabs 128 may extend outward (horizontally with reference to FIG. 2) and include raised projections 132 which extend substantially perpendicular (i.e., vertically with reference to FIG. 2) to the distal end 118 of the bracket 106. The slot 130 is formed such that a bolt 110 or similar mechanical fastener may be inserted and used to secure the first bracket 106 to the second bracket 108 around a T-post. The raised central portion 120 of the first bracket 106 may include a projection 134 which spans a width of the first bracket 106 and resembles a notch or guide which may be sized to surround a portion of a T-post. In the illustrated embodiment, the projection resembles an approximately 90-degree bend, although one of skill in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments the projection may have a bend which is less than or greater than 90 degrees without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0025]In some embodiments not illustrated herein, the first bracket 106 may omit fork 124 and instead have a second bore which is substantially identical to the first bore 126, with the second bore being disposed at approximately the same location as the slot formed in fork 124 as seen in the illustrated embodiment. In embodiments utilizing a second bore, the first bracket 106 may be substantially symmetrical about a plane which extends vertically (with respect to the orientation shown in FIG. 2) and along a centerline of the raised central portion 120.

[0026]Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, the second bracket 108 forms part of the first clamp 102 and is substantially L-shaped. It is understood that other bracket configurations may be used for application to different post. In the preferred embodiment, the second bracket has a first substantially planar portion 136 and a second substantially planar portion 138 which is generally perpendicular to the first planar portion 136 and has a length that is less than the length of the first planar portion. The first planar portion 136 is generally rectangular, although may, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, include a radiused edge or corner. The first planar portion 136 includes a pair of slots 140 and 142, each slot being configured to receive a bolt 110 or similar mechanical fastener which may serve to couple the second bracket 108 to the first bracket 106. The slots 140 and 142 may be substantially collinear and are spaced such that the first slot 140 may be in axial alignment with the first bore 126 disposed on the first bracket, and the second slot 142 may be in axial alignment with the slot 130 disposed on the distal end 118 of the first bracket 106 when the first clamp 102 is in use.

[0027]The second substantially planar portion 138 of the second bracket 108 includes a central bore 144. The central bore 144, similar to the first bore 126 on the first bracket 106, is shown in the illustrated embodiment to be rectangular or substantially square. However, one of skill in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments the bore 144 may be generally circular or resemble an elongated slot without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The second planar portion 138 also includes a pair of projections or tabs 146 which extend outward from the central bore, beyond a maximum width of the first planar portion 136. The tabs 146 may be substantially rectangular in shape, and are sized such that the third bracket 112 may be affixed to the second bracket 108 by a bolt 114 or similar mechanical fastener that is inserted through the central bore 144. Other bracket configurations having the first portion and second portion in non-coplanar orientation may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0028]The second clamp 104 is formed by the second substantially planar portion 138 of the second bracket 108 and a third bracket 112 shown in FIGS. 10-12. The third bracket 112 generally resembles a C-shape and includes a central bore or slot 148 and a plurality of projections or tabs 150 extending around a perimeter thereof. The slot 148 is configured to receive a bolt 114 or mechanical fastener which secures the third bracket 112 to the second bracket 108 with one or more electrical wires and/or one or more insulators therebetween. Securing the wire(s) and/or insulator(s) between the clamp allows a user to attach a variety of insulators to the fence post and extend the insulator(s) from the post as much as desired. For ease of manufacturing, it may be desirable for bolt 114 and bolt 110 to be identical. In the illustrated embodiment, the third bracket 112 has four tabs 150, each tab 150 extending substantially perpendicularly from a generally rectangular main body 152 of the third bracket 112. There are two tabs 150 on each opposing side of the main body 152 and on each side of the main body 152 the tabs 150 are spaced apart such that a gap 154 is formed which is sized to receive a tab 146 disposed on the second bracket 108. The main body 152 is sufficiently wide such that the gap 156 between tabs 150 on opposing sides of the main body 152 is also sized to receive a tab 146 disposed on the second bracket 108, allowing for the third bracket 112 to be clamped to the second bracket 108 in multiple different orientations. For example, in some embodiments the third bracket 112 may be clamped to the second bracket 108 in the orientation shown in FIG. 1, while in other embodiments not depicted the third bracket 112 may be clamped to the second bracket 108 in a substantially perpendicular orientation to that seen in FIG. 1. This may be desirable, for example, for securing one or more elongate members in a substantially vertical or horizontal alignment, respectively.

[0029]Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0030]It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.