FLOATING FENCE POST
The invention relates to a floating fence post that may be used with either electrified or non-electrified fence wire. The floating fence post consists of a hollow tube section (post), a floating means detachably attachable to the hollow tube section and movable vertically thereon, a weighting means located inside the hollow tube section, a cap on the lower end of the hollow tube section, and a detachable cap on the upper end of the hollow tube section with a means for holding fence wire thereon.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fence posts. More particularly, the present invention relates to floating electric (or hot-wire) fence posts.
2. Description of Related Art
An electric fence is a barrier that uses electric shocks to deter animals and/or people from crossing a boundary. Although electric fences are frequently used to enhance security of sensitive areas, most electric fences in use today are for agricultural purposes and/or other forms of animal control purposes.
Electric fences are designed to create an electrical circuit when touched by a person or animal. A component called a power energizer converts power into a brief electric pulse. One terminal of the power energizer releases an electrical pulse along a connected bare wire about once per second. Another terminal is connected to a metal rod implanted in the earth, called a ground or earth rod. A person or animal touching the wire and the earth simultaneously will complete an electrical circuit and will conduct the pulse, causing a painful electric shock. The effects of the electrical shock depend upon the voltage, the electrical current used, and the degree of contact between the animal and the fence or ground; the shock can range from barely noticeable to uncomfortable, painful, or even lethal.
Smooth steel wire is the material most often used for electric fence, ranging from a fine thin wire used as a single line to thicker, high-tensile wire. Less often, woven wire or barbed wire fences can be electrified, though such practices create a more hazardous fence, particularly if a person or animal becomes caught by the fencing material. Synthetic webbing and rope-like fencing materials woven with fine conducting wires (usually of stainless steel) have come onto the market in the last several decades, and are particularly useful for areas requiring additional visibility or as temporary fencing.
The electrified fence itself must be kept insulated from the earth and from any materials that will conduct electricity, burn, or short out the fence. Thus, fencing must avoid vegetation, and cannot be attached directly to wood or to metal posts. Typically, wood or metal posts are driven into the ground, plastic or porcelain insulators are attached to the posts, and fencing material is attached to the insulators. Other techniques include using fence posts made of non-conducting synthetic materials.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a fence post that may be used with electric (or hot-wire) fence that floats on water. An object of the invention is to provide a fence post that may be used with either regular fence wire or electric fence wire. Another object of the invention is to provide a fence post that may be used in a body of water. Another object of the invention is to provide a fence post that floats on a body of water.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the instant invention.
Referring to the drawings in detail,
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that modifications may be made in the details of the invention's construction and the arrangement of its components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for the purposes of exemplification.
Claims
1. A floating fence post comprising:
- a hollow tubular support member having an upper end, a lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface;
- a means for closing said lower end of said hollow tubular member;
- a means for maintaining a wire on or about said upper end of said hollow tubular support member;
- a means for weighting said lower end of said hollow tubular member and maintaining it below the surface of a body of water;
- a means for floating said upper end of said hollow tubular support member and maintaining it above the surface of a body of water.
2. A floating fence post comprising:
- a hollow tubular support member having an upper end, a lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface;
- a slip cap with a smooth inner surface that slips onto and encloses said outer surface of said lower end of said hollow tubular member;
- a slip and threaded adapter with a smooth inner surface and a threaded outer portion that slips onto and encloses said outer surface of said upper end of said hollow tubular support member;
- a notch that bisects said threaded outer portion of said slip and threaded adapter, said notch being of sufficient size to allow fence wire to be maintained therein;
- a threaded cap with threads located on the inner surface thereof that is detachably attachable to said slip and threaded adapter by interlocking said threads located on said inner surface of said threaded cap with said threaded outer portion of said slip and threaded adapter;
- a cylindrically shaped rod that may be selectively slid into and slid out of said hollow tubular support member;
- a hollow tubular float having an upper end, a lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface with an inner diameter that allows said float to be slid onto and maintained on said outer surface of said hollow tubular support member.
3. A floating fence post comprising:
- a hollow tubular support member having an upper end, a lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface;
- a threaded portion located on said outer surface of said upper end of said hollow tubular support member;
- a slip cap with a smooth inner surface that slips onto and encloses said outer surface of said lower end of said hollow tubular member;
- a notch that bisects said threaded portion of said outer surface of said upper end of said hollow tubular support member, said notch being of sufficient size to allow fence wire to be maintained therein;
- a threaded cap with threads located on the inner surface thereof that is detachably attachable to said hollow tubular support member by interlocking said threads located on said inner surface of said threaded cap with said threaded outer portion of said hollow tubular support member;
- a cylindrically shaped rod that may be selectively slid into and slid out of said hollow tubular support member;
- a hollow tubular float having an upper end, a lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface with an inner diameter that allows said float to be slid onto and maintained on said outer surface of said hollow tubular support member.
Type: Application
Filed: May 9, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2009
Inventors: JOHN RICHARD CONNACHAN (Kingman, KS), RITA FAYE CONNACHAN (Kingman, KS)
Application Number: 12/117,857
International Classification: E04H 17/02 (20060101);