Device for supporting a wire on a post

Abstract

A device for supporting a wire on a post, having a body with a base portion and two arm portions which extend away from the base portion generally in the same direction. A wire receiving opening is formed between the two arm portions. To use the device, it is affixed to a post at one arm portion and with the opening upwardly open. The wire to be supported is then inserted into the opening, between the arm portions, after which the arm portion which is not affixed to the post is deformed inwardly towards the post to substantially close the opening around the wire so that the wire is captured by the device.

The claims defining the invention are as follows:  
     
         1 . A device for supporting a wire on a post, comprising a body having a base portion and two arm portions which extend away therefrom generally in the same direction, so as to define therebetween a wire receiving opening such that the wire can be inserted into the opening by movement of the wire transverse to its direction of extent, between the free ends of the arm portions, the device being affixable to the post with one of the arm portions adjacent thereto and the other of the arm portions spaced outwardly therefrom, and with the base portion lowermost, whereby the wire may be entered into the opening by said movement thereof, the other arm portion being then deformable inwardly towards the one arm portion to substantially close the opening around the wire whereby the wire is captured by the device.  
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is weldable or otherwise affixable to a post.  
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein to facilitate electric welding the one arm portion or a free end of the base portion has an outwardly convex configuration which is pressed against a post to which the device is to be affixed, during application of electric current to effect welding.  
     
     
         4 . A device for supporting a wire on a post, wherein the convex configuration is a V-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         5 . A device according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein at least part of the outer edge of the base portion of the device is concave, in an open condition thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein said part of the outer edge adopts to a substantially linear form when the device is in a closed condition.  
     
     
         7 . A device as claimed in any preceding claim, formed such that said deformation may be effected by hammering of the other arm portion.  
     
     
         8 . A post fitted with the device of any preceding claim.  
     
     
         9 . A method of erecting a fence or other barrier, in which posts including at least one post as claimed in  claim 8 , are positioned in upright spaced relationship and a wire extending between the posts is located on said at least one post is located thereon by passing it into the opening, and secured in position by effecting said deformation.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the opening of said device fitted to said one post is upwardly open at least prior to said deformation.  
     
     
         11 . A method of securing a runner wire extending in a direction between two end posts to an intermediate post positioned between these, wherein the wire is secured to the intermediate post by deformation of a capturing means to capture the wire and hold it to the intermediate post.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the opening of said device fitted to said intermediate post is upwardly open at least prior to said deformation.  
     
     
         13 . A method of securing a runner wire extending in a direction between two end posts to an intermediate post positioned between these, wherein the wire is secured to the intermediate post by means of a device attached to the intermediate post and which is deformed to capture the wire and hold it to the intermediate post.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the opening of said device fitted to said intermediate post is upwardly open at least prior to said deformation.  
     
     
         15 . A method of securing a runner wire extending in a direction between two end posts to an intermediate post positioned between these, wherein the wire is secured to the intermediate post by means of a device attached to the intermediate post and which is deformed to capture the wire and hold it to the intermediate post, and wherein, prior to said deformation, the runner wire is run between the end posts by carrying a coil of runner wire from a location adjacent one end post to a location adjacent the other end post and uncoiling the runner wire from the coil, after which the runner wire is cut so that a length of the runner wire extends between the end posts and past the intermediate post, whereafter the coil is returned to said one end post.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein opening of said device fitted to said intermediate post is upwardly open at least prior to said deformation.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  or  claim 16 , wherein the wire secured to the end posts before said securing of the wire to the intermediate post is effected.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to any one of  claims 15  to  17 , wherein the wire is separately positioned to rest on a base portion of the device, before effecting said deformation to capture the wire.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to any one of  claims 15  to  18 , wherein the deformation is effected by hammering an upwardly extending arm portion of the device inwardly towards the intermediate post.  
     
     
         20 . A device for supporting a wire on a post, comprising a body having a base portion and an arm portion which extends away therefrom, the device being affixable to the post so at to define a wire receiving opening between the arm portion and the base portion, with the base portion extending outwardly from the post, such that, with the post upright and the arm portion extending upwardly from the base portion, the wire can be inserted into the opening by downward movement of the wire transverse to its direction of extent, the arm portion being then deformable inwardly towards the post to substantially close the opening around the wire whereby the wire is captured in position with respect to the post.  
     
     
         21 . A device for supporting a wire on a post substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         22 . A method of securing a runner wire extending in a direction between two end posts to an intermediate post positioned between these substantially, as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         23 . A method of erecting a fence or other barrier substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         24 . The steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of this application, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations or any two or more of said steps or features.