NZ527395A - A plastic clip and post assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for holding wire to a metal or fibre reinforced post are disclosed. A plastic clip 17 with wire locating means 19 is held against the side of a metal or fibre reinforced plastic post. Either a ballistic nail or ballistic screw is fired through the plastic clip and into the post to locate the clip in position.

Description

527395 Patent Form No. 5 No. 527395 Date: 5 August 2003 Patents Act 1953 Complete Specification Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. -5 AUG 2004 RECEIVED A PLASTIC CLIP AND POST ASSEMBLY We, D N BROWN LIMITED, of Kennington, No 1 R D, Invercargill, New Zealand, a New Zealand Company hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 2052 - Final complete.doc 1 A Plastic Clip and Post Assembly Field of the Invention The invention relates to a plastic clip and a post which when assembled together provide a means for attaching a wire or cable to the post.

Background to the Invention At present in the winegrowing and farming industries a number of means are used to attach wires to fence posts and batons. For example plastic fittings have frequently been used to attach a wire to wooden or metal fence posts. The plastic fitting can act as an insulator so that the fence wire can be electrified. Normally such plastic fittings require a nail or other fitting to fix the plastic insulator to the post. This means that a fencing contractor requires more time to fix each insulator to a post.

At present the most common type of metal or steel post used in fencing is a Y shaped, in section, post known as a Waratah. A variety of plastic insulated clips are available for use with such posts and these clips are either fixed around the Waratah or in association with a hole in one of the legs of the Y shaped post.

More commonly used in vineyard situations are other fixing means which are used to attach a plurality of wires, forming a framework for the vine, to wooden posts or a frame. If the fixing means are staples it is a time-consuming and therefore costly exercise to fix a large number of staples to support the number of wires required for a vineyard. 2052 - Final complete.doc 2 An object of the invention is therefore to provide an alternative means of fixing of wires to a post that overcomes the above identified disadvantages while offering users an alternative choice.

Statements of Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a plastic clip adapted at one end to include a wire engaging means and at its other end to be either snap fitted into a hole punched in a post or to be fixed by a ballistic nail or screw direct to a post to thereby hold a wire relative to the post.

The wire engaging means can be a shaped slot in said one end of the clip, the slot including an open end or mouth and a retaining section.

The slot can be J shaped in side elevation with the upper end of the J acting as the open end or mouth and the bottom of the J acting as the retaining section.

The other end of the clip can be arrow head shaped in side elevation with one or two of the barbs of the arrow head being flexible to allow the clip to engage with the punched hole with the barbs acting to lock the clip relative to the punched hole.

The other end of the clip can be adapted to be fixed by a ballistic nail or screw direct to the post by providing a locating recess against which a point of the ballistic nail or screw rests before it is fired through said other end of the clip and into the post to locate the clip in juxtaposition with the post. 2052 - Final complete.doc 3 According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of locating a plastic clip relative to a post which when assembled together provide a means for attaching a wire or cable to the post, the method including the steps of: holding a plastic clip in juxtaposition with the side of a post; and firing a ballistic fixing means through the plastic clip and into the post to thereby locate the plastic clip relative to the post.

The post can be manufactured from a metal material or a fibre reinforced plastics material.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a post square, round, rectangular or other shape in cross-section provided with either at least one punched hole in a wall thereof, the hole being adapted in use to hold a plastic clip therein or a side wall of the post is such that a nail can be fired therethrough to locate a plastic clip in juxtaposition to the post, the plastic clip being used to locate a wire held by a wire engaging means at one end of the clip relative to the post.

The holes punched in the post can be round, square or rectangular in elevation.

The metal post can be painted and/or coated a distinctive colour such as green, brown, grey or shades thereof.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a plastic clip and post assembly including a plastic clip adapted at one end to hold a wire and at its other end to be snap fitted into a hole punched in a post or of sufficient strength and rigidity so a ballistic nail or screw fired therethrough holds the clip to the post so that a wire held by the clip is held relative to the post. 2052 - Final complete.doc 4 Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptions which are given by way of example only.

Description of the Drawings Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows part of an example of steel post, partly sectioned, showing a pair of clips according to the first aspect of the invention fitted thereto; Figure 2 shows a perspective view from the side of an example of steel post with clips holding a number of wires relative to the post; Figure 3 shows a perspective view from the side of an example of steel post showing a pair of punched holes therein; Figure 4 shows a section through an alternative construction of steel post; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a length of the steel post shown in Figure 4 with an alternative construction of plastic clip in juxtaposition therewith;; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the alternative clip shown in Figure 5; and Figure 7 shows a vertical section through the plastic clip shown in Figures 5 and 6 with a ballistic nail spaced therefrom ready to be fired through the plastic clip into a post.

Description of the Examples In Figure 1 is shown in side elevation a plastic clip 1 adapted at one end 2 to include a wire engaging means 3. The wire engaging means 3 can be a shaped slot 4 in said one end 2 of the clip 1. The means 3 can have the shaped slot 4 with an open end or mouth 5 facing upward or as shown the lower clip V can be positioned 2052 - Final complete.doc inverted relative to the upper clip 1 shown in Figure 1. The other end of the slot 4 can be formed as a retaining section 6. The width of the slot 2 on the open or mouth end can be less than the width of the slot in the retaining section 6.

The arrangement is such that a wire, rope or the like can be held relative to a metal post 8 when engaged in the retaining section 7.

The wire engaging means 3 can be J shaped in side elevation with the upper end of the J acting as the open end or mouth 5 and the bottom of the J acting as the retaining section 7.

The other end 9 of the clip can be arrow shaped in side elevation with one or two of the barbs 10 forming the arrow head being flexible to allow the clip to engage with a punched hole 11 with at least one of the barbs 10 acting to lock the clip relative to the punched hole. The region 12 of the clip 1 can be bevelled as shown in Figure 1 so that the profile of the bevel is similar to that of the surface of the post to ensure the clip locates firmly relative to the post to avoid unnecessary movement between the clip and the post.

The periphery 13 of the end 2 can be ribbed to provide added strength to the clip 1. The clip itself can be manufactured in an injection moulding machine from a selected impact resistant plastics material which is rigid, hard wearing and protected against degradation under ultra-violet light.

In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3 the post 8 is rectangular and it is to be appreciated that the post 8 can be square, round, rectangular or other shape in cross-section. The post is provided with at least one punched hole 11 in a wall 2052 - Final complete.doc 6 thereof, the hole being adapted in use to hold a plastic clip therein to hold a wire held by a wire engaging means at one end of the clip relative to the post.

The holes 11 punched in the post can be round, square or rectangular in elevation to suit the shape of the other end of the clip 1. The post itself can be constructed from any metal or metal alloy which is treated against the weather by a protective coating such as zinc plating or a resin or paint coating (not shown).

The plastic clip 1 and metal post 8 can be assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The assembly is such that a wire can be firmly attached to the post while being insulated therefrom.

In the example shown in Figures 4 and 5 an alternative post 14 is shown. The post 14 is generally rectangular in cross section with radiused corners 15 and a channel 16 down each side. The width of the channels 16 in the post is generally the same as the width of a clip to be used with the post.

The post 14 is used with an alternative clip 17 details of which appear in Figures 5 to 7. The clip 17 is injection moulded from a plastic material and has a base 18 the width of which is the same as that of the width of the channel 16 in the post 14. The clip 17 has two wire engaging means. Each wire engaging means can be a shaped slot with an open end or mouth 19 one of which faces upward and the other downward. The other end of the slot can be formed as a retaining section 20. The width of the slot at the open or mouth end 19 can be less than the width of the slot in the retaining section 20.

The arrangement is such that a wire, rope or the like can be held relative to a metal post 8 when engaged in the retaining section 20. 2052 - Final complete.doc 7 The clip 17 has in the face 21, opposite to the base 18, a locating recess 22 (Figure 7). The recess 22 is adapted in use to assist a user holding the clip in position in the channel by a point 24 of a ballistic nail or screw 25 held in the magazine of a nail gun or the like.

In use the clip 17 is fixed to the post 14 by using the ballistic nail or screw 25 which is fired through the clip and into the wall of the channel 16.

Where in the description particular mechanical integers are described it is envisaged that their mechanical equivalents can be substituted as if they were individually described herein.

Thus by the invention there is provided a plastic clip and post assembly.

Particular examples of the invention have been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the attached claims. 2052 - Final complete.doc 8

Claims (14)

Claims

1. A method of locating a plastic clip relative to a post which when assembled together provide a means for attaching a wire or cable to the post, the method including the steps of: holding a plastic clip in juxtaposition with the side of a metal or fibre reinforced plastic post; and firing a ballistic fixing means through the plastic clip and into the post to thereby locate the plastic clip relative to the post.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A metal or fibre reinforced plastic post square, round, rectangular or other shape in cross-section provided with a side wall through which a ballistic nail is fired to locate a plastic clip in juxtaposition to the post, the plastic clip having a wire engaging means, the plastic clip being usable to locate a wire engaged in the wire engaging means relative to the post.

4. A post as claimed in claim 3 and wherein holes are punched in the post to aid the ballistic firing of the nail into the side wall.

5. A post as claimed in claim 4 wherein the holes are round, square or rectangular in elevation.

6. A post as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the post is metal and painted and/or coated a distinctive colour such as green, brown, grey or shades thereof.

7. A post as claimed in claim 3 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A plastic clip and metal or fibre reinforced plastic post assembly including a plastic clip adapted to hold a wire and being of sufficient strength and rigidity so a ballistic nail fired therethrough holds the clip to the post so that a wire held by the clip is held relative to the post. 2052.3rd Amendment proposal specificatlon.doc INTEtlECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF HZ 17 FEB 2006 RECEIVED

9. A plastic clip and metal post assembly as claimed in claim 8 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A plastic clip adapted for use in the method of claim 1, the plastic clip including a wire engaging means for holding a wire relative to the post.

11. A plastic clip as claimed in claim 10 and wherein the wire engaging means is a shaped slot intermediate two ends of the clip, the slot including an open end or mouth and a retaining section.

12. A plastic clip as claimed in claim 11 wherein the slot can be J shaped in side elevation with the upper end of the J acting as the open end or mouth and the bottom of the J acting as the retaining section.

13. A plastic clip as claimed in claim 12 wherein the end of the clip adapted to be fixed by the ballistic nail or screw direct to the post is provided with a locating recess against which a point of the ballistic nail or screw rests before it is fired through the clip and into the post to locate the clip in juxtaposition with the post.

14. A plastic clip as claimed in claim 13 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. END OF CLAIMS jINTEUfCTUM. PROPEBU wnutl I 17 FEB 2006 1 RECEIVED 2052.3rd Amendment proposal specification.doc 10