Metal fence posts with insulating couplers and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to multi-piece fence posts that include: (a) a first anchor (typically metal) fence post member having opposing first and second end portions, wherein, in position, the first end portion is configured to reside underground; (b) a second (typically metal) fence post member having opposing first and second end portions; and (c) a coupler configured to snugly hold the second end portion of the first anchor metal fence post member and the first end portion of the second metal fence post member to thereby define an elongate fence post.

1 . A multi-piece fence post comprising:
 a first anchor fence post member having opposing first and second end portions, wherein, in position in the ground, the first end portion is configured to reside underground;   a second fence post member having opposing first and second end portions; and   a insulating coupler configured to snugly hold the second end portion of the first anchor metal fence post member and the first end portion of the second metal fence post member to thereby define an elongate fence post.   
     
     
         2 . A fence post according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fence post members are metal, and wherein the insulating coupler that has spaced apart first and second receiving channels, each of the channels configured to snugly slidably receive and releasably hold a respective one of the first and second fence post members. 
     
     
         3 . A fence post according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulating coupler comprises a partition residing between the first and second receiving channels to prevent proximately held ends of the first and second fence members from contacting when assembled. 
     
     
         4 . A fence post according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulating coupler comprises a closed partition residing between the first and second receiving channels to prevent the proximately held portions of the first and second fence members from contacting when assembled. 
     
     
         5 . A fence post according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fence post members comprise metal rods. 
     
     
         6 . A fence post according to  claim 5 , wherein the metal rods have a cross-sectional profile with opposing first and second substantially planar portions connected by first and second opposing substantially arcuate portions, and wherein the insulating coupler is configured with at least one substantially corresponding receiving channel shape configured to matably and snugly receive target end portions of the first and second fence post members. 
     
     
         7 . A fence post according to  claim 6 , wherein the metal rods have a diameter that is between about 0.3 to about 0.5 inches, measured from a centerline extending across the metal rod to the arcuate portions. 
     
     
         8 . A fence post according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the first and second channels is longer than the other. 
     
     
         9 . A fence post according to  claim 8 , wherein the longer channel is between about 10-30% longer than the other channel. 
     
     
         10 . A fence post according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulating coupler is non-metallic. 
     
     
         11 . A fence post according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one non-metallic fencing material coupler configured to slidably mount to the second fence post member to releasably hold fencing material. 
     
     
         12 . A fence post according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of non-metallic fencing material couplers configured to releasably hold flexible, substantially planar fencing material. 
     
     
         13 . A fence post according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of non-metallic fencing material couplers configured to releasably hold a strip of wire. 
     
     
         14 . A fence post according to  claim 11 , wherein the non-metallic fencing material couplers are configured to hold the fencing material in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         15 . A non-metallic insulating fence post coupler sized and configured to hold two metallic rods in spaced apart alignment. 
     
     
         16 . A coupler according to  claim 15 , wherein the insulating coupler comprises a partition residing between spaced apart first and second receiving channels to prevent the two metallic rods from contacting when assembled. 
     
     
         17 . A coupler according to  claim 16 , wherein the insulating coupler comprises a closed partition residing between the first and second receiving channels to prevent proximately held ends of the two rods from contacting when assembled. 
     
     
         18 . A coupler according to  claim 15 , wherein the receiving channels have a cross-sectional profile with opposing first and second substantially planar portions connected by first and second opposing substantially arcuate portions. 
     
     
         19 . A fence post according to  claim 16 , wherein one of the first and second channels is between about 10-30% longer than the other channel. 
     
     
         20 . A fencing system comprising:
 a plurality of metal fence posts, at least some of which comprise first and second metallic fence post rod members held in spaced apart alignment by a non-metallic insulating coupler;   a plurality of fencing material couplers mounted on the metal fence posts; and   flexible material held by the fencing material couplers so as to extend between the metal fence posts to enclose a target area.