AU706658B2 - Wire joiner - Google Patents

Description

3 the sets of helically formed wires is wound around both wires to be joined. This can be difficult and time consuming particularly when high tensile wire is involved.

These problems are overcome by the present invention which is an appliance for joining non-stranded wires as used for fences, trellises and some other purposes.

It consists of a single wire of elastic material such as high tensile steel with two portions formed into a longitudinally extending helix for tight engagement around a 10 wire and an elongated central portion.

To facilitate installation by hand the end portions may be formed so that their angle relative to the axis is substantially less than that of the helically formed portions. In one version of the invention the central 15 portion may be formed so as to straddle the ends of both wires to be joined when they are laid in a substantially 0 parallel and adjacent configuration to prevent the ends unwinding. The helically formed portions may be provided Oaba with a gritted coating to enhance the frictional grip.

The invention is particularly useful as a simple, hand applied and low cost means for joining non-stranded wires of small diameter but high tensile strength.

The invention together with advantages and applications may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in the several figures of which like reference numbers identify like elements.

Figure 1 is a side view of a presently preferred 4 embodiment of the present invention wherein there are two helically formed portions separated by an elongated centre portion.

Figure 2 is a side view of the wire joiner in Figure 1 as applied to join the ends of two wires.

Figure 3 illustrates the wire joiner in Figure 1 as applied to join the end of a wire back on to the body of the same wire in the form of a loop for the purpose of terminating the wire at a pole or similar object.

10 Figure 4 illustrates part of a tensioning tool used to coil up portion of the wire to increase its tension.

Figure 5 illustrates the wire joiner in Figure 1 applied to the wire after the tensioning tool in Figure 4 has been used and subsequently removed.

Referring now to Figure 1, the wire joiner 10 there illustrated comprises a single wire with two helically formed portions 11 and 12 and an elongated central portion 13. The length and diameter of the helically formed portions 11 and 12 are determined by the required holding strength and these portions may be provided with a gritted coating to enhance the frictional grip. The length and shape of the elongated central portion 13 may be varied depending on the required purposes of the appliance, some of which are further discussed.

To facilitate installation by hand it is an advantage for the end portions 14 and 15 of the wire joiner 10 to be formed such that their angle relative to 5 the axis is substantially less than that of the helically formed portions 11 and 12. Helically formed appliances as described by Peterson and others are normally comprised of a number of small wires laid up together to enable these to be sufficiently flexible to be applied by hand. It has been found that if a helically formed appliance of existing design is made from a single wire of sufficient strength to take the full tension in the wire then it is normally necessary to use a tool for applying the last turns. In the present invention the two end portions 14 and 15 act as handles which greatly increase the leverage available to install the last turns of the helically formed portions 11 and 12.

The wire joiner may be made of any suitable elastic material of sufficiently high tensile strength. The presently preferred material for many applications is galvanised spring steel but other materials with sufficient strength, elasticity and durability may be suitable.

In Figure 2 the wire joiner 10 is used to join two wires 16 and 17. In a presently preferred embodiment for this application the central portion 13 is formed to straddle both wires 16 and 17 when laid in a substantially parallel and adjacent configuration.

To join two wires 16 and 17 one of the helically formed portions 11 is wrapped on to one of the wires 16 starting near the end 18. The end 19 of the second wire 17 is then placed alongside the end 18 of the first wire 16 6 such that the central portion 13 of the appliance straddles both wires. The helically formed portion 12 is then wrapped around the second wire 17.

In use the helically formed portions 11 and 12 tightly grip the wires 16 and 17 such that the tension in one wire is transferred to the other wire. With the configuration of the central portion 13 as described each end 18 or 19 of the wires is locked between the central portion 13 and the other wire. This prevents the ends of 10 the wires unwinding and thereby possibly slipping out of the wire joiner With this arrangement the wire joiner can enable the full tensile strength of the joined wires to be achieved, whereas with the helically formed splices as described by 15 Peterson and others it is necessary to apply helically formed wires virtually around the full circumference of the .wires to be joined. The effectiveness of the wire joiner of this invention is dependent on the stiffness of the wires to be joined and is suitable for non-stranded wires as normally used for fences and trellises.

A second application is forming a loop in the wire at an object such as a post as illustrated in Figure 3.

In this application one end 12 of the wire joiner 10 in Figure 1 is applied to that part of the wire 16 which is wrapped around the post 20. The other end 11 is then applied to the wire within the span to form a loop 21 as shown.

7 Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a further application in which the wire joiner is used in conjunction with a tensioning tool to increase the tension in the wire.

Figure 4 illustrates part of a tensioning tool which has a spindle 31 with a slot 32. In use this is placed at a suitable location along the wire to be tensioned so that the wire 16 enters the slot 32. The spindle 31 is then rotated causing the wire 16 to form a coil 33 around the spindle 31 thereby increasing the tension of the wire.

10 As shown in Figure 5 a wire joiner 10 is then 4 applied to the wire 16 so as to straddle the coiled portion 33. Both helically formed portions 11 and 12 are 4o then wound around the wire. The tensioning tool 30 is then removed leaving only the wire joiner 10 on the wire.

15 While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is apparent that various changes and modifications may be made that will still fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

For example the relative proportions may be varied for particular applications while still retaining the benefits and features of this invention. In addition to the normal uniform circular form of the helix it may be desirable for the purposes of improved grip, increased diameter range of the wires, or other reasons, for the internal bore of the helix to be non-circular or to have varying dimensions along its length.

8 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. An appliance for joining non-stranded wires consisting of a single wire of elastic material with two portions formed into a longitudinally extending helix and an elongated central portion.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein a portion at each end is formed such that its angle relative to the axis of the appliance is substantially less than that for the helically formed portions.

10 3. The appliance of claims 1 or 2 wherein the central portion is formed to straddle both wires to be joined when they are laid in a substantially parallel and adjacent configuration.

4. The appliance of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein hletlicallI ormed portions 15 at least part of the .*wn has a gritted coating.

The appliance of any one of claims 1 to 4 as applied to join two wires such that their ends are in a substantially parallel and adjacent configuration.

6. The appliance of any one of claims 1 to 4 as applied to join the end of a wire back on to the body of the same wire in the form of a loop.

7. The appliance of any one of claims 1 to 4 as applied to a wire which has had portion of its length formed into a coil for the purpose of increasing its tension such as to join the wire on one side of the coil to that on the other side.

8. An appliance for joining wires substantially as

Claims (1)

1. 9- herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15 GEOFFREY THOMAS GLASSON ,30 Au6/cd5-r lA76 a a. a ABSTRACT An appliance (10) for joining small diameter non-stranded wires is disclosed. This comprises a single wire of elastic material such as high tensile steel with two portions (11,12) formed into a longitudinally extending helix for tight engagement around a wire and an elongated central portion To facilitate installation by hand the end portions (14,15) may be formed so that their angle relative to the axis is substantially less than that of the helically formed portions (11,12). The central portion (13) *may be formed so as to straddle the ends (18,19) of both wires to be joined when they are laid in a substantially parallel and adjacent configuration to prevent the ends of the wires unwinding.