Fence wire securing device

Abstract

A fence wire securing device and method are used to secure a fence wire to a fence post. The device includes a body having first and second ends and a through bore for receiving a shaft of the fence post. A resilient flexible strap extends from the second end of the body. The flexible strap is moveable between an open configuration in which a fence wire can be placed against an outer sidewall of the body, and a closed configuration in which an opening in the flexible strap is placed over a protruding free end of the fence post. The fence wire is trapped by the flexible strap against the sidewall of the body in the closed configuration. The securing device can also be used in another mounting configuration with a separate fastener to attach a fence wire to a mounting surface, such as a wooden post.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fence wire securing device, comprising:
 a body having first and second ends and a through bore extending between the first and second ends for receiving a shaft of a fence post; and   a resilient flexible strap extending from said second end of the body, said flexible strap having a first opening therein, and said flexible strap being moveable between a first open configuration in which a fence wire can be placed against an outer sidewall of said body, and a second closed configuration in which the first opening in the flexible strap is placed over the shaft of the fence post adjacent to the first end of the body and the fence wire is trapped by the flexible strap against the sidewall of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said body has first and second projections that extend outwardly from said body at first and second ends of said sidewall, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 2 , wherein said flexible strap comprises a third projection that extends toward said sidewall between said first and second projections when said flexible strap is in said second closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 3 , wherein said third projection is adjacent to said first projection at the first end of the sidewall when said flexible strap is in said second closed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 4 , wherein a closed space for accommodating the fence wire when the flexible strap is in said second closed configuration is defined between opposing faces of the outer sidewall and the flexible strap and opposing faces of the second projection and the third projection. 
     
     
         6 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 5 , wherein said third projection and said first projection cooperate with each other to create a releasable barrier on one end of the closed space when the flexible strap is in said second closed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 6 , wherein said releasable barrier is arranged to allow the flexible strap to be pulled off of the shaft of the fence post when the fence wire is pulled in an axial direction of the fence post with a sufficient force, whereby the fence wire will be automatically released from the fence wire securing device when an animal or vehicle runs into the fence wire. 
     
     
         8 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 3 , wherein said sidewall is substantially planar between said first and second projections. 
     
     
         9 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 8 , wherein said first and second projections protrude outwardly from said sidewall approximately the same distance as said third projection extends from a flat face of said flexible strap. 
     
     
         10 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 2 , wherein said first and second projections have beveled surfaces that engage a facing surface of said flexible strap when said flexible strap is in said second closed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said through bore has a substantially triangular cross section to accommodate various shaft diameters of fence posts. 
     
     
         12 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said body and said flexible strap comprise a single integral molded article of nonconductive material. 
     
     
         13 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said body and said flexible strap are formed of a polymer alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 13 , wherein said polymer alloy is a blend of rubber and plastic. 
     
     
         15 . A fence wire securing device having multiple mounting configurations, comprising:
 a body having first and second ends and a through bore extending between the first and second ends; and   a resilient flexible strap extending from said second end of the body, said flexible strap having at least one opening therein for securing the flexible strap in a closed configuration for holding a fence wire between the flexible strap and the body.   
     
     
         16 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 15 , wherein said fence wire securing device has a first mounting configuration in which a shaft of a fence post is received in said through bore of the body, a fence wire is placed against an outer sidewall of said body, and said at least one opening comprises a first opening in the flexible strap placed over the shaft of the fence post adjacent to the first end of the body with the fence wire trapped by the flexible strap against the sidewall of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 15 , wherein said body has a lateral bore extending perpendicular to said through bore, and said fence wire securing device has a second mounting configuration in which a fastener extends through said lateral bore to secure said body to a mounting surface. 
     
     
         18 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 17 , wherein said second mounting configuration includes an opening in the flexible strap arranged to be placed over the fastener with the fence wire trapped between the second end of the body and the flexible strap. 
     
     
         19 . The fence wire securing device according to  claim 17 , wherein said fastener is selected from the group consisting of a threaded screw and a double headed nail. 
     
     
         20 . A method for securing a fence wire to a fence post, comprising:
 providing a securing device having a body with first and second ends and a through bore extending between the first and second ends, and a resilient flexible strap extending from the second end of the body and having a first opening therein;   placing the body onto a fence post with a shaft of the fence post received in the through bore and a free end of the fence post protruding from the first end of the body;   placing a fence wire against an outer sidewall of the body; and   bending said flexible strap and placing the first opening of the flexible strap over the free end of the fence post protruding from the first end of the body with the fence wire trapped by the flexible strap against the sidewall of the body.