The current application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application PCT/B2018/051452 filed on Mar. 6, 2018. The PCT application PCT/B2018/051452 claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/467,535 filed on Mar. 6, 2017.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to wire and chain handling devices. More specifically, the present invention is a wire and chain tensioning and handling device which allows a user to tension, install, and generally handle barbed wires, chains, cables, coils, and any other rope-like structures that are used for bearing mechanical loads or transmitting electrical and telecommunication signals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Barbed wire, and in general fencing wire, is used to close off and secure a certain amount of land. The traditional design for a barbed wire includes a twisted core of two elongated wires with sharp edges and points distributed along its length. The sharp edges deter animals and personnel from crossing the barbed wire as direct contact causes discomfort and possible injury. Barbed wire fencing is highly popular as fencing because it only requires fence posts, wire, and fixing devices and is therefore cheap, easy to construct, and quick to install. One of the drawbacks of barbed wire fencing is that barbed wire is difficult to handle and resultantly cumbersome to repair. It is therefore an object of the present invention to introduce an apparatus for engaging and easily tensioning barbed wire.
The present invention allows a user to engage an end of barbed wire(s) and pull said barbed wire to a certain length or tension. This is achieved by attaching a bracket to a running post which supports a coupling rod. The barbed wire attaches to one end of the coupling rod and the other end of the coupling rod receives torque from an external tool. As torque is applied to the coupling rod, the coupling rod and the attached barbed wire translate relative to the bracket and therefore the running post, thus tensioning the barbed wire. Tools that may be used in conjunction with the present invention include, but are not limited to, cordless/corded drills and hand ratchets. This is ideal for installing barbed wire(s) in complicated orientation and repairing barbed wire. The present invention may be attached to any size corner or running post as well. Additionally, the present invention also provides a variety of interchangeable heads which allow for the tensioning of other rope-like structures such as chains, cables, and coils to name a few non-limiting examples.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the post-engaging bracket is a curved bracket.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention, wherein the post-engaging bracket is a curved bracket.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the post-engaging bracket of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the unlocked position of the thumb screw within the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the locked position of the thumb screw within the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the post-engaging bracket is the elongated plate.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the wire-engagement head is the L-shaped bracket.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention, wherein the wire-engagement head is the L-shaped bracket.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the present invention attached to a running post.
FIG. 10 is a side-view of the post-engaging bracket and the rod-support plate of the present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention generally relates to wire and chain handling devices. More specifically, the present invention is a tensioning device used to install, repair, and manage barbed wire. The present invention attaches to any size corner/running post for anchorage and utilizes a linear actuator for tensioning. The linear actuator is powered by an external torque tool on one end and is attached to the barbed wire on the other end. The rotating motion of the external torque tool is converted to linear translation by the linear actuator and resultantly pulls the barbed wire towards the running post. Additionally, the present invention may be used in conjunction with a variety of different torque tools including, but not limited to cordless/corded drills, hand ratchets, and wrenches.
Referring to FIG. 1-3, the present invention comprises a wire-retaining rod 1, a post-engaging bracket 19, and a rod-receiving slot 25. The wire-retaining rod 1 engages and pulls the wire being tensioned into a post. The post-engaging bracket 19 attaches and or braces against a running post, a corner, or any other similar structure and thus anchors the present invention in place. The rod-receiving slot 25 mechanically couples the wire-retaining rod 1 and the post-engaging bracket 19 as the rod-receiving slot 25 normally traversing through the post-engaging bracket 19.
In one embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6, the post-engaging bracket 19 is an elongated plate and further comprises a rod-support plate 22. The rod-support plate 22 couples the post-engaging bracket 19 to the wire-retaining rod 1. In particular, the rod-support plate 22 comprises a first plate 23, a second plate 24, and a rod-receiving slot 25. The first plate 23 and the second plate 24 are each an elongated rectangular structure composed of a strong metal. The first plate 23 is terminally connected to the post-engaging bracket 19 and acts as an offset structure to separate the second plate 24 and the post-engaging bracket 19. The second plate 24 supports the wire-retaining rod 1 and is terminally connected to the first plate 23, opposite to the post-engaging bracket 19. The second plate 24 supports the wire-retaining rod 1 through the rod-receiving slot 25. In particular, the rod-receiving slot 25 normally traverses through the second plate 24 and is sized complimentary to the wire-retaining rod 1.
In one embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 3, the post-engaging bracket 19 is a curved bracket and further comprises a bracket body 47, a first end 48, a second end 49, a handle 50, and at least one teeth 51. More specifically, the first end 48 and the second end 49 are oppositely positioned of each other about the bracket body 47 thus delineating the general profile of the post-engaging bracket 19. Preferably, the post-engaging bracket 19 is a C-shaped body. The handle 50 is laterally connected to the bracket body 47 and allows the user to securely grasp the present invention. The at least one teeth 51 is laterally connected to the bracket body 47 and positioned opposite of the handle 50. The at least one teeth 51 functions as gripping members as the at least one teeth 51 penetrates into the post. Preferably, the handle 50 is positioned adjacent to an external wall 53 of the C-shaped body, and the at least one teeth 51 is positioned adjacent to an internal wall 52 of the C-shaped body. The rod-receiving slot 25 normally traverses through the first end 48 and is sized complimentary to the wire-retaining rod 1.
On one end, the wire-retaining rod 1 receives and holds an end of the wire being tensioned. On the other end, the wire-retaining rod 1 mechanically couples to an external torque tool as shown in FIG. 1-3. More specifically, the wire-retaining rod 1 comprises a rod body 2, a wire-engagement head 3, and a torque-receiving head 18. The rod body 2 is an elongated cylindrical structure and comprises a threaded section 41 and a non-threaded section 42. More specifically, the threaded section 41 and the non-threaded section 42 are adjacently connected to each other and concentrically positioned to each other thus delineating a single body. The wire-engagement head 3 receives and holds the wire to be tensioned. The wire-engagement head 3 is rotatably connected around the non-threaded section 42 of the rod body 2. The torque-receiving head 18 is the coupling structure which interlocks with an external torque tool to receive and transfer rotation motion from the external torque tool to the rod body 2. In one embodiment, the torque-receiving head 18 is a hexagonal bolt head, although alternative designs and geometries may also be utilized. For this, the torque-receiving head 18 is terminally connected to the threaded section 41 of the rod body 2, opposite the wire-engagement head 3. To connect the wire-retaining rod 1 to the post-engaging bracket 19, the rod body 2 is threadably engaged within the rod-receiving slot 25. Then the rod body 2 and the rod-receiving slot 25 together act as a linear actuator to convert rotational motion of the rod body 2 into linear translation of the wire-engagement head 3. More specifically, the rod body 2 and the rod-receiving slot 25 are sized complimentary to each other such that when the rod body 2 is positioned within the rod-receiving slot 25, the threads of the rod body 2 engage with the threads of the rod-receiving slot 25. Resultantly, when the rod body 2 is rotated about a main axis of the rod body 2, the rod body 2 is able to translates rotational motion of the external torque tool into linear translation of the wire-engagement head 3.
In order to use the present invention, the user first attaches the wire in need of tensioning to the wire-engagement head 3. Next, the user braces/attaches the post-engaging bracket 19 onto a running post at the desired height and configuration. Finally, the user couples an external torque tool to the torque-receiving head 18. Turning the rod body 2 translates rotational motion into linear motion about the rod-receiving slot 25 thus applying tension to the wire relative to the post-engaging bracket 19, and therefore the running post. Once the desired tension and or configuration for the wire is achieved, the user simply secures the wire in place through any traditional fastening methods and disengages the present invention.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the post-engaging bracket 19 comprises a first leg plate 20 and a second leg plate 21. The first leg plate 20 is perpendicularly connected along and to the second plate 24 to yield an L-shaped structure. This allows the post-engaging bracket 19 to be braced against two sides of a running post for additional support. In this embodiment, the present invention further comprises a first slot 26 to connect the rod-support plate 22 to the post-engaging bracket 19. The first slot 26 normally traverses through the first leg plate 20 and is sized to receive the rod-support plate 22 as seen in FIG. 6. More specifically, the first plate 23 is oriented parallel to the first leg plate 20 and is positioned within the first slot 26. Additionally, the first plate 23 is laterally and perpendicularly connected to the second leg plate 21.
Referring to FIG. 10, the present invention allows the wire-retaining rod 1 to be positioned and functional at a variety of angles relative to the rod-support plate 22. For this, the second plate 24 is angled relative to the first plate 23 and the rod-receiving slot 25 is extended to traverse through a free end of the second plate 24. More specifically, the second plate 24 is oriented towards the first leg plate 20 of the post-engaging bracket 19 and is positioned at a first obtuse angle 27 with the first plate 23. Additionally, the rod-receiving slot 25 traverses along and into the second plate 24, opposite the first plate 23, to create a U-shaped opening at the free end of the first plate 23. As a result, the wire-retaining rod 1 is allowed to be positioned at various angles relative to the first plate 23 due to the clearance created by elongating the rod-receiving slot 25 and the first plate 23 being oriented at the first obtuse angle 27. The preferred value for the first obtuse angle 27 is 135 degrees although alternative values may be used as well. Furthermore, this configuration allows the user to easily engage or disengage the wire-retaining rod 1 with the rod-receiving slot 25 by simply sliding the rod body 2 along the length of the rod-receiving slot 25. For additional flexibility, the rod-receiving slot 25 also normally traverses through the second plate 24.
Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 9, another optional feature of the present invention is a fence-receiving slot 28. The fence-receiving slot 28 allows the post-engaging bracket 19 to be braced or attached to a post at a perpendicular orientation. For this, the fence-receiving slot 28 is aligned with the rod-receiving slot 25 and traverses into the second leg plate 21, opposite the first plate 23. Additionally, the fence-receiving slot 28 also normally traverses through the second leg plate 21. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fence-receiving slot 28 is pentagon shaped such that the apex corner of the pentagon shape is complimentary to a standard right angle running post.
In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented to tension barbed wire. Referring to FIG. 6, the wire-engagement head 3 comprises a first tubular body 4, a cap 5, an elongated block body 6, and a wire-receiving slot 7. The first tubular body 4 is an elongated cylinder with a central hole that is sized complimentary to the rod body 2. The first tubular body 4 is internally threaded such that the first tubular body 4 can be concentrically and threadably attached to the rod body 2. The cap 5 is a disk with a diameter matching the outer diameter of the first tubular body 4 and is used to secure the first tubular body 4 to the rod body 2. More specifically, the cap 5 is concentrically connected to the first tubular body 4, opposite to the rod body 2. The elongated block body 6 and the wire-receiving slot 7 engage and retain/secure the barbed wire in need of tensioning. More specifically, the elongated block body 6 is laterally and perpendicularly connected to the first tubular body 4, providing clearance for the barbed wire. The wire-receiving slot 7 is sized to receive the coiled portion of the barbed wire and traverses along and into the elongated block body 6, opposite to the first tubular body 4. Additionally, the wire-receiving slot 7 laterally traverses through the elongated block body 6. The resulting U-shape acts as a hook to grasp or retain the barbed wire with the hooks, sharp angles, and protruding elements of the barbed wire pressing against the elongated block body 6. For use, the user simply threads the body of the barbed wire through the opening of the wire-receiving slot 7 and begins to rotate the wire-retaining rod 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, in another embodiment of the present invention, the wire-engagement head 3 comprises a second tubular body 8, at least one railing slot 9, a tubular sleeve 10, a second slot 11, and annular flange 12. This embodiment is designed for barbed wire and normal wire. The second tubular body 8 is an elongated cylinder with a central hole that is sized complimentary to the rod body 2. the annular flange 12 is concentrically and laterally connected to the second tubular body 8 to acts as a brace for the tubular sleeve 10. The central hole of the second tubular body 8 is a smooth internal surface so that the rod body 2 and the second tubular body 8 can be smoothly rotated about the non-threaded section 42. The annular flange 12 is outwardly extended from the second tubular body 8 so that the annular flange 12 can function as a stop for the tubular sleeve 10 while tension being applied to the wire. The railing slot 9 normally traverses into the second tubular body 8 and the annular flange 12 as the railing slot 9 receives the wire and allow the user to wrap the wire about the second tubular body 8. More specifically, the railing slot 9 is radially distributed about the second tubular body 8 and are oriented parallel to the second tubular body 8. In other words, the railing slot 9 traverses from an external surface of second tubular body 8 towards the center of the second tubular body 8; for the annular flange 12, the railing slot 9 traverses through the annular flange 12. Furthermore, the second tubular body 8 and the annular flange 12 are concentrically encircled around the non-threaded section 42 of the rod body 2 so that the non-threaded section 42 is fully hidden within the wire-engagement head 3. The second slot 11 traverses along and through the tubular sleeve 10 as the tubular sleeve 10 is concentrically and slidably position around the second tubular body 8.
In order to properly secure the tubular sleeve 10 around the second tubular body 8, the wire-engagement head 3 further comprises a screw receiving opening 46 and a thumb screw 43 as shown in FIG. 4-5. The screw receiving opening 46 is normally traverses into the tubular sleeve 10 and radially offset of the second slot 11. The thumb screw 43 is threadably engaged within the screw receiving opening 46 thus allowing the user to lock or unlock the tubular sleeve 10 to the second tubular body 8. More specifically, the thumb screw 43 comprises a head 44 and a threaded shaft 45 that are axially connected to each other. The threaded shaft 45 is engaged within the screw receiving opening 46, and the head 44 is positioned external to the tubular sleeve 10 so that the user can easily operates the thumb screw 43. Furthermore, a diameter of the threaded shaft 45 is smaller than a width of the railing slot 9 so that the threaded shaft 45 can traverse into the railing slot 9 and press down on the wire during a locked position.
In reference to FIG. 4-5, to wrap the wire within the second tubular body 8, the user first inserts the wire into the railing slot 9 through the second slot 11 as the railing slot 9 and the second slot 11 are aligned with each other. Since the tubular sleeve 10 sits against the annular flange 12 thus preventing from slipping off of the second tubular body 8, the user can then turn the tubular sleeve 10 around the second tubular body 8 to trap the wire in between the tubular sleeve 10 and the second tubular body 8. When the tubular sleeve 10 is rotate about the second tubular body 8, the thumb screw 43 is configured at an unlocked position as only the threaded shaft 45 is engaged within the screw receiving opening 46. To secure the wire in this configuration, the thumb screw 43 is then aligned with the railing slot 9 configured into a locked position. More specifically, the threaded shaft 45 is treadably extended into the railing slot 9 via the rotational movement of the head 44 thus locking the wire in place.
A secondary wire-engagement head may also be used to splice two wires together. For this, the second tubular body 8 of the secondary wire-engagement head is threaded all the way through, thus allowing the user to position the secondary wire-engagement head anywhere along the rod body 2 as the wire-engagement head 3 is treadably engaged around the rod body 2. Resultantly, when torque is applied to the present invention, the wire-engagement head 3 and the secondary wire-engagement translate towards each other thus applying tension on two loss end of wire.
Referring to FIG. 7-8, in another embodiment of the present invention, the wire-engagement head 3 comprises an L-shaped bracket 13, a plurality of hooks 16, and an at least one rod-receiving hole 17. This embodiment allows the user to tension a mesh-like fence at different points. The rod-receiving hole 17 receives the rod body 2 and centrally traverses through a first leg 14 of the L-shaped bracket 13. The plurality of hooks 16 allows the fence to latch onto the L-shaped bracket 13. For this, the plurality of hooks 16 is distributed along a second leg 15 of the L-shaped bracket 13 with each of the plurality of hooks 16 being adjacently connected to the second leg 15. To attach the wire-engagement head 3 to the rod body 2, the rod body 2 is concentrically and threadably attached to the first leg 14, within the rod-receiving hole 17. A nut or any other similar faster may be used to secure the wire-engagement head 3 to the rod body 2. To use, the user simply attaches different parts of the wire fence to the plurality of hooks 16 and applies torque to the rod body 2.
Referring to FIG. 9, the present invention further comprises an at least one post-fastening mechanism 29. The post-fastening mechanism 29 secures the present invention to a running post. The post-fastening mechanism 29 comprises a tether 30 and a ratcheting mechanism 31. The tether 30 is an elongated rope, chain, fabric, or other similar devices. The tether 30 is terminally attached to the first leg plate 20 and, when installed, wraps around the running post. The ratcheting mechanism 31 is a mechanical device which allows continuous motion in one direction. The ratcheting mechanism 31 receives the tether 30 and constricts the tether 30 about the running post. More specifically, the ratcheting mechanism 31 is adjacently attached to the second leg plate 21, opposite to the first leg plate 20. Additionally, the tether 30 is mechanically engaged to the ratcheting mechanism 31.
In one embodiment, the ratcheting mechanism 31 comprises a tubular anchor, a bolt, and a receiving hook as seen in FIG. 9. The tubular anchor is mounted to the second leg plate 21. The bolt is threadably engaged within the tubular anchor. Rotation of the bolt translates the bolt along the tubular anchor and, thus, tightening or releasing the tether 30. The tether 30 is attached to the bolt through the receiving hook. More specifically, the receiving hook is rotatably and concentrically mounted along the bolt and interlocks with the tether 30. In another embodiment, the tether 30 is an elongated chain and the ratcheting mechanism 31 is a locking chain clamp. The at least one post-fastening mechanism 29 comprises a first fastening mechanism and a second fastening mechanism. More specifically, the first fastening mechanism and the second fastening mechanism are positioned opposite to each other across the rod-support plate 22 to adequately secure the present invention to the running post.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
