Improvements in and/or relating to fence posts

Abstract

A fence post for engagement with the ground via insertion therein, wherein at least that part of the fence post which is to be inserted into the ground is tubular wherein the internal surface of the tube includes an internal thread extending between a ground engaging end and end of the fence post distance from the ground engaging end.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
   
   
       49 . A fence post for engagement with the ground via insertion therein, wherein
 (i) at least that part of said fence post which is to be inserted into said ground is tubular; and   (ii) the internal surface of the tube includes an internal thread extending between a ground engaging end and an end of said fence post spaced from said ground engaging end.   
   
   
       50 . A fence post for engagement with the ground via insertion therein, said fence post comprising:
 (i) a hollow tubular member having a longitudinal axis;   (ii) a thread;   (iii) said thread comprising an internal thread about said longitudinal axis of said hollow tubular member and extending to a ground penetrating end of said hollow tubular member.   
   
   
       51 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50 , wherein at said ground penetrating end there is an internally angled peripheral chamfer of said post whereby to aid cutting of said ground upon insertion. 
   
   
       52 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said fence post is made of plastic. 
   
   
       53 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said fence post is made of plastic and wherein said plastic is recycled plastic. 
   
   
       54 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said internal thread is of a coarse pitch of approximately at least the internal diameter of said hollow tubular member of said fence post. 
   
   
       55 . A fence post as defined in  claim 51 , wherein said angled peripheral chamfer acts as a cutting edge to aid engagement and insertion with and into said ground. 
   
   
       56 . A fence post as defined in  claim 51 , wherein said peripheral chamfer is notched to further aid cutting and engagement of said ground. 
   
   
       57 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50  wherein said fence post is made of plastic and wherein said plastic is of a type which can be penetratively fastened thereto for attachment of additional members. 
   
   
       58 . A fence post as defined in  claim 51 , wherein said internal thread and peripheral chamfer aid insertion of said fence post into said ground when rotation about said longitudinal axis and pressure parallel to said longitudinal axis and toward said ground are applied to said post. 
   
   
       59 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said fence post has, distal from its ground penetrative end, engagement means for engagement with insertion apparatus. 
   
   
       60 . A fence post as defined in  claim 59 , wherein said engagement means is complementary to said insertion apparatus such that said insertion apparatus can impart both said rotation and pressure. 
   
   
       61 . A fence post as defined in  claim 59 , wherein said engagement means is an aperture through said fence post perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said fence post. 
   
   
       62 . A fence post as defined in  claim 59 , wherein said engagement means is an aperture comprising a through hole. 
   
   
       63 . A fence post as defined in  claim 59 , wherein said engagement means is an aperture comprising a blind hole. 
   
   
       64 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said post is of entirely circular tubular cross section. 
   
   
       65 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said tubular member is able to engage an extension member to allow the height of said fence to be increased when greater fence height is required. 
   
   
       66 . A fence post as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said post includes said ground penetrating end and a distal end, said distal end being hollow to receive an extension to be retained in place by a pin therethrough. 
   
   
       67 . A fence post as defined in  claim 66 , wherein there is an attachment member intermediate of said distal end and said extension. 
   
   
       68 . A fence post as defined in  claim 67 , wherein said attachment member attaches to said fence post by sleeved engagement. 
   
   
       69 . A fence post as defined in  claim 66 , wherein said attachment member attaches to said extension by sleeved engagement. 
   
   
       70 . A fence post as defined in  claim 67 , wherein said attachment member is sleeved inside said fence post distal end. 
   
   
       71 . A fence post as defined in  claim 67 , wherein said attachment member is sleeved inside said extension. 
   
   
       72 . A fence post as defined in  claim 67 , wherein said attachment member is retained to both said fence post and said extension via a plurality of pins. 
   
   
       73 . A method of fence post insertion to insert a proximal end thereof into a retaining medium comprising the steps of:
 (i) engaging said fence post with a driving means at a location distal from said proximal end;   (ii) said driving means being capable of applying rotation about a longitudinal axis of said fence post and pressure parallel to said longitudinal axis toward said retaining medium, said fence post being of a hollow and tubular elongate cross-section at least in that part to be engaged with said medium, said post further having an internal threaded portion towards said proximal end of said hollow and tubular portion;   (iii) said post being driven into said medium by said driving means, with said rotation being in the engaging direction of said thread, which together with said internal thread can provide an in medium retained fence post.   
   
   
       74 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 73 , wherein said driving means is powered. 
   
   
       75 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 73 , wherein said driving means is powered and said powered driving means engages with the distal end of said fence post. 
   
   
       76 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 75 , wherein said powered driving means engages with said fence post via a complementary engagement means. 
   
   
       77 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 75 , wherein said powered driving means engages with said fence post via a complementary engagement means and wherein said complementary engagement means engages with at least one surface substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis to transmit said pressure. 
   
   
       78 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 76 , wherein said complementary engagement means engages with at least one surface substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis to transmit said rotation. 
   
   
       79 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 76 , wherein said complementary engagement means is a socket attachment. 
   
   
       80 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 76 , wherein said complementary engagement means is a socket attachment which engages with said distal end via a pin therethrough to at least transmit said rotation to said post. 
   
   
       81 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 80 , wherein said pin transfers said pressure to said fence post also. 
   
   
       82 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 80 , wherein said pin therethrough is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       83 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 79 , wherein said socket attachment also engages a surface (“the top surface”) at said distal end to impart said pressure parallel to said longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       84 . A method of fence post insertion as defined in  claim 73 , wherein rotation of said fence post in the opposite direction aids to remove said fence post from the ground. 
   
   
       85 . A method of fence erection wherein at least one fence post as defined in  claim 50  is driven into the ground and thereafter fencing material is run between said posts to form a fence line. 
   
   
       86 . A method of fence erection as defined in  claim 85 , wherein said fencing material is at least one wire. 
   
   
       87 . A method of fence erection as defined in  claim 85 , wherein said fencing material is retained to said post by nailing. 
   
   
       88 . A method of fence erection as defined in  claim 85 , wherein said fencing material is retained to said at least one fence post by cuts in the periphery of said fence post only. 
   
   
       89 . A method of fence erection as defined in  claim 88 , wherein said cuts are made at least in part by thermal energy. 
   
   
       90 . A method of fence erection as defined in  claim 85 , wherein the distal end of said at least one fence post is able to engage an extension to said fence post to allow the height of said fence to be increased when greater fence height is required. 
   
   
       91 . A method of fence erection as defined in  claim 90 , wherein said distal end is hollow to receive said extension directly and is retained in place by a pin therethrough. 
   
   
       92 . A method of fence erection as defined in  claim 90 , wherein said distal end is hollow to receive said extension by sleeved engagement of an intermediate attachment member and is retained in place by a pin therethrough. 
   
   
       93 . A method of fence post erection as defined in  claim 85 , wherein rotation of said at least one fence post opposite to that rotation applied upon insertion thereof aids in removal of said fence post from the ground.