Fence post systems and methods

Abstract

Fence posts for constructing a wire fence, fence stays, and methods for constructing a wire fence are provided. The fence posts include a stem portion having a front edge connected to a rear portion or flange by a first bend portion. Receiving apertures are disposed in the stem portion of each fence post. The receiving apertures each include a slot portion and a retaining portion. The slot portion can taper from a relatively wide opening along the front edge of the fence post to a relatively narrow portion at an intersection between the slot portion and the retaining portion. The retaining portion is formed as an arc centered on the slot portion. The fence posts additionally include a base portion configured to be received in the ground. Fence stays, configured with receiving apertures like those of the fence posts, but without base portions, are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fence post, comprising:
 a stem portion;   a rear flange portion;   a first bend portion interconnecting the stem portion to the rear flange portion; and   a plurality of receiving apertures, wherein each receiving aperture of the plurality of receiving apertures is formed in the stem portion and includes:
 a slot portion, wherein the slot portion is open at a front edge of the stem portion and extends away from the front edge of the stem portion and toward the rear flange portion; and 
 a retaining portion, wherein the retaining portion is in communication with the slot portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fence post of  claim 1 , wherein the rear flange portion includes a plurality of flat portions interconnected to one another by one or more bend portions. 
     
     
         3 . The fence post of  claim 1 , wherein the rear flange portion includes a flat intermediate portion interconnected to the stem portion by the first bend portion and a flat back portion interconnected to the flat intermediate portion by a second bend portion. 
     
     
         4 . The fence post of  claim 3 , wherein the rear flange portion further includes a flat rear edge portion interconnected to the flat back portion by a third bend portion. 
     
     
         5 . The fence post of  claim 4 , wherein the stem portion is parallel to a first plane, and wherein none of the flat intermediate portion, the flat back portion, or the rear edge portion is parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         6 . The fence post of  claim 1 , wherein the fence post is formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         7 . The fence post of  claim 1 , wherein the rear flange portion includes a curved rear portion interconnected to the stem portion by the first bend portion. 
     
     
         8 . The fence post of  claim 1 , wherein the slot portion is tapered, and wherein an open end of the slot portion is disposed along a front edge of the stem portion. 
     
     
         9 . The fence post of  claim 8 , wherein the slot portion tapers from a relatively wide opening section along the front edge of the stem portion to a relatively narrow end section at an interface between the slot portion and the retaining portion. 
     
     
         10 . The fence post of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining portion includes an upper portion and a lower portion. 
     
     
         11 . The fence post of  claim 10 , wherein the upper and lower portions are of equal length. 
     
     
         12 . The fence post of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining portion is curved. 
     
     
         13 . The fence post of  claim 12 , wherein the curved retaining portion is configured as an arc that is centered on the slot portion. 
     
     
         14 . The fence post of  claim 12 , wherein the stem portion and the rear flange portion are formed from a rolled piece of metal. 
     
     
         15 . A wire fence, comprising:
 a plurality of fence posts, each fence post including:
 a stem portion; 
 a rear flange portion; 
 a first bend portion interconnecting the stem portion to the rear flange portion; and 
 a plurality of receiving apertures, wherein each receiving aperture in the plurality of receiving apertures includes:
 a slot portion, wherein the slot portion is open at and extends from a front edge of the stem portion and extends away from the front edge of the stem portion and toward the rear flange portion; and 
 a retaining portion, wherein the retaining portion is in communication with the slot portion; and 
 
   a plurality of fence wires, wherein a first fence wire is received in one receiving aperture of each of the fence posts, and wherein a second fence wire is received in another receiving aperture of each of the fence posts.   
     
     
         16 . The wire fence of  claim 15 , wherein the fence wires are disposed within the retaining portions of the respective receiving apertures. 
     
     
         17 . The wire fence of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a grommet, wherein the grommet is disposed around one of the fence wires and in one receiving aperture.   
     
     
         18 . The wire fence of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fence stays, each fence stay including:
 a stem portion; and 
 a plurality of receiving apertures, wherein each receiving aperture in the plurality of receiving apertures includes:
 a slot portion, wherein the slot portion is open at a front edge of the stem portion and extends toward a rear edge of the stem; and 
 a retaining portion, wherein the retaining portion is in communication with the retaining portion, wherein the first fence wire is received in one receiving aperture of each of the fence stays, and wherein the second fence wire is received in another receiving aperture of each of the fence stays. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The wire fence of  claim 15 , wherein each fence post in the plurality of fence posts is formed from a rolled piece of metal, wherein the rear flange portion includes a plurality of flat portions interconnected to one another by one or more bend portions. 
     
     
         20 . A method of constructing a wire fence, comprising:
 setting first and second braces at opposite ends of an intended fence line;   setting a plurality of fence posts in underlaying ground along the intended fence line, wherein each fence post in the plurality of fence posts includes:
 a stem portion; 
 a rear flange portion; 
 a first bend portion interconnecting the stem portion to the rear flange portion; and 
 a plurality of receiving apertures, wherein each receiving aperture of the plurality of receiving apertures is disposed in the stem portion and includes:
 a slot portion, wherein the slot portion is open at a front edge of the stem portion and extends away from the front edge of the stem portion and toward the rear flange portion; and 
 a retaining portion, wherein the retaining portion is in communication with the slot portion; 
 
   fixing a first fence wire to the first brace;   placing the first fence wire in one receiving aperture of each fence post in the plurality of fence posts, wherein for each fence post, the fence wire is placed in the slot portion of the one receiving aperture and then pushed into the retaining portion of the one receiving aperture; and   fixing the first fence wire to the second brace.