Fence spool

Abstract

A fence spool core member has a slot having an open end to permit straddling of a flexible member. A niche adjacent the core open end receives a flange web to trap the flexible fence member in the slot. Torque couplings on the flanges permit rotational displacement of the core in relation to the flexible member. The end flanges include a plurality of peripheral openings that receive pins to retain any rotational displacement of the core in relation to the flexible fence member trapped in the core slot to remove slack from the flexible fence member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for tightening a flexible member of a fence, the flexible member being coupled to a plurality of posts situated in spaced relation to each other, the apparatus comprising: 
 a core member bifurcated by a slot having a closed end and an open end to form two legs, the open end permitting the core member legs to straddle a flexible fence member,    a first flange member fixed to the core member adjacent the closed end of the slot,    a second flange member engagable with the core adjacent the core open end to trap the flexible fence member in the core slot between the first and second flange members, each of the first and second flange members including a torque coupling and a plurality of peripheral openings, and    at least one retainer engagable in at least one of the plurality of peripheral openings of both flange members to retain any rotational displacement of the core in relation to the flexible fence member trapped in the core slot.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the core member includes a flange-engaging niche adjacent the open end, and the second flange member includes a web portion engagable in the flange-engaging niche.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the core member includes a cylindrical outer surface, the slot being aligned with a diameter of the cylindrical outer surface.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the flange-engaging niche is aligned perpendicularly to the slot.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the slot includes an enlarged portion adjacent to the open end leading to the flange-engaging niche.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of any of claims  3 - 5  wherein the second flange member includes arcuate openings adapted to receive a portion of the core member legs adjacent the open end.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the torque coupling of the second flange member is situated inside the arcuate openings.  
     
     
         8 . In apparatus for tightening a flexible member of a fence, the flexible member being coupled to a plurality of posts situated in spaced relation to each other, the apparatus including 
 a core member having a slot for receiving the flexible member and a torque coupling for rotationally displacing the core in relation to the flexible member, first and second flange members coupled to the core member at opposite ends of the slot, each of the first and second flange members including a plurality of peripheral openings, and at least one retainer engagable in at least one of the plurality of peripheral openings of both flange members to retain any rotational displacement of the core in relation to the flexible fence member trapped in the core slot, the improvement comprising: 
 an open end to the slot, the open end permitting the core to straddle the flexible fence member, the core member including a flange-engaging niche adjacent the open end, at least one of the first and second flange members being removably engagable in the flange-engaging niche so that the flexible fence member can be trapped in the slot.  
   
     
     
         9 . The improvement of  claim 8  wherein the core member includes a cylindrical outer surface, the slot being aligned with a diameter of the cylindrical outer surface.  
     
     
         10 . The improvement of  claim 9  wherein the flange-engaging niche is aligned perpendicularly to the slot.  
     
     
         11 . The improvement of  claim 10  wherein the slot includes an enlarged portion adjacent to the open end leading to the flange-engaging niche.  
     
     
         12 . The improvement of any of claims  8 - 11  wherein one of the flange members includes arcuate openings adapted to receive a portion of the core member legs adjacent the open end.  
     
     
         13 . The improvement of  claim 12  wherein the torque coupling of the second flange member is situated inside the arcuate openings.  
     
     
         14 . The improvement of  claim 12  wherein the arcuate openings are separated by web portions adapted to engage the flange-engaging niche.  
     
     
         15 . A method for tightening a flexible member of a fence, the flexible member being coupled to a plurality of posts situated in spaced relation to each other, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a spool having a core including two legs separated by a slot with an open end,    straddling the core legs on opposite sides of the flexible fence member,    closing the slot open end by securing a flange member to the spool core to trap the flexible fence member within the slot,    applying a torque to the spool to rotationally displace the core in relation to the flexible fence member, and    retaining the spool in the rotationally displaced condition.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the closing step comprises 
 inserting arcuate end portions of the spool legs into arcuate slots in the flange member, and  
 rotating the flange member relative to the core to engage web portions of the flange member in niches provided in the core member.