A wire fencing system including one or more fencing wires supported by at least two posts is described. A method of establishing and repairing a wire fencing system is described as well.

Fencing systems are used for many purposes, to prevent animals from moving out of a defined area, typically a pasture, or to prevent animals from moving into a defined area, for example a road or railway line, among other things. Setting up and maintaining such fencing systems is resource- intensive and such fencing systems often suffer from a short service life. To provide an effective, durable fence by the current techniques, woven fences with post-spacing of less than 2 metres are used to a great extent. A 100-metre roll of conventional sheep netting weighs 70-80 kg and is quite demanding to handle, especially in rugged terrain. It is also demanding to make a fence like that follow a hilly terrain satisfactorily. A further problem is to adapt the height of the fence to varying needs, for example when a portion of a fence needs to be heightened because of the shape of the terrain or locally large snow depths at, for example, a wildlife fence towards a road or railway. Yet another problem that occurs with the current fencing systems is corrosion in hanging means or fencing materials, which leads to reduced life for the fence in its entirety. The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

The object is achieved through features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

A wire fencing system is provided, formed with one or more fencing wires extending substantially parallel to the

underlying terrain, in which a fence post has a sleeve-shaped attachment unit attached to it. The attachment unit has several functions, it functioning in general as a wire attachment fixed at a prescribed height above the terrain to a fence post, a centre bore of the sleeve-shaped attachment unit being arranged to accommodate a portion of the fence post, and the attachment unit being fixable to the fence post in an arbitrary position by means of one or more fixing screws arranged substantially radially. The attachment unit is arranged to anchor a fencing wire, for example an end portion of a fencing wire at the starting point of the fence or at a joint. Furthermore, the attachment unit is provided with fencing-wire supporting means, the attachment unit being provided with one or more cut-outs which are arranged to accommodate a portion of the fencing wire, the fencing wire being movable in the axial direction, but being restricted in the radial direction. At least a first opening may be opened and closed for the insertion of the fencing wire in a radial direction, for example by an elastic lip being able to be pressed inwards from an abutment, thereby creating a passage for the fencing wire between the lip and the abutment.

A portion of the attachment unit is formed as a spool

arranged in association with at least one wire attachment to which an end portion of the fencing wire may be anchored, typically by the fencing wire being passed through a passage in a projecting end portion of the reel portion and being passed back externally and wound around the extended fencing wire in the immediate vicinity of the wire attachment. In one embodiment, the attachment unit is provided with two wire attachments arranged diametrically opposite each other. When terminating a stretch of fencing, the fencing wire is

anchored, and then the attachment unit is rotated until the fencing wire has achieved the prescribed tightening, the fencing wire being spooled onto the spool portion.

When there is a break in a fencing wire, a suitable length of wire is advantageously spliced in, and the two loose wire ends are anchored to the nearest attachment unit. The

attachment unit is then rotated, both wires being spooled simultaneously onto the spool portion, so that the desired tightening is achieved.

In one embodiment, an end portion of the attachment unit is provided with a flange including several axial cut-outs. The flange forms a connecting portion for joining two opposite attachment units, as fastening means, typically screws, are passed through the cut-outs, fixing the two attachment units to each other. The combined, double attachment unit may thereby be used to extend a fence post .

A side portion of the attachment unit opposite the fencing- wire supporting means is provided with a radially arranged threaded hole which opens into a side-abutment surface arranged to receive the side-abutment surface of an adjacent attachment unit, the two attachment units arranged side by side being mutually joined together by means of a pin screw or the like arranged in the threaded hole. By slipping one of the two combined attachment units onto a fence post and placing the centre opening of the other one of the two combined attachment units at an angle relative to the centre opening of the first one, a diagonal rod may be extended from the combined attachment units into the ground for the

stabilization of a fence post. By the side-abutment surface being arranged parallel to the elongated opening or openings in the fencing-wire supporting means, the diagonal rod will have a direction that coincides with the direction of the fencing wire. When there is a need for lateral support in some other direction, the fence post is provided with a set of combined attachment units which are positioned at a distance from the fencing wire(s) and oriented in a direction that provides a desired position for a diagonal rod.

In one embodiment, the attachment unit is formed out of an electrically insulating material.

In one embodiment, the wire fencing system also includes a wire support unit provided with fencing-wire supporting means of the same type as those described for the attachment unit described above. The wire support unit is arranged for attachment to an arbitrary mantle portion of a wooden fence post, a ring segment forming a base for said fencing-wire supporting means. The ring segment is typically provided with holes extending radially through it, for the insertion of fastening means, for example screws. The wire support unit is typically used on fence stretches in which there is no need for tightening, that is to say axial anchoring of the fencing wire .

In one embodiment, the wire support unit is formed out of an electrically insulating material.

The invention also provides a method of setting up and repairing a wire fence by the use of the attachment unit and the wire support unit according to the invention.

In a first aspect, the invention relates more specifically to a wire fencing system including one or more fencing wires supported by at least two posts, characterized by at least some of the posts being provided with one or more attachment units which are each arranged in a rotatable manner around a portion of the post, a sleeve-shaped body being provided with means arranged to releasably fix the attachment unit relative to the post, and being provided with at least one wire attachment arranged to fix a wire end portion in the axial direction of the fencing wire, and being provided with at least one wire abutment arranged to support a portion of the fencing wire, the wire abutment surrounding said portion of the fencing wire and restricting the radial movement of said fencing-wire portion relative to the attachment unit.

The wire abutment may be provided with a closable side opening arranged for a portion of the fencing wire to be passed radially through it.

The sleeve-shaped body may include a spool portion arranged to receive the fencing wire externally.

The spool portion may be in association with the at least one wire attachment.

The sleeve- shaped body may include an end flange provided with several bores directed axially, distributed in the circumferential direction of the flange.

Diametrically opposite the wire abutment, a side-abutment surface may be arranged parallel to the centre axis of the wire abutment and to the centre axis of the sleeve-shaped body, and in the side-abutment surface, a radial bore

arranged to receive a threaded bolt may be arranged.

A post -joining sleeve may include two attachment units of axially opposite directions, which are connected to each other by end flanges, which are arranged on the sleeve-shaped bodies, bearing against each other and being connected by means of coupling bolts extending through flange holes arranged axially.

A diagonal-rod attachment may include two attachment units which are connected to each other by side-abutment surfaces, arranged diametrically opposite the wire abutment and

parallel to the centre axis of the wire abutment and to the centre axis of the sleeve- shaped body, being placed opposite each other in mutual abutment, the attachment units being held together by means of a threaded bolt arranged in a radial bore in the side-abutment surface, and the centre axis direction of a first attachment unit deviating from the centre axis direction of a second attachment unit.

At least some of the posts may be provided with one or more wire support units which are each arranged on a portion of the post, a body in the shape of a ring segment being

provided with means arranged to secure the wire support unit to a portion of a mantle surface of the post and being provided with at least one wire abutment arranged to support a portion of the fencing wire, the wire abutment surrounding said portion of the fencing wire and restricting the radial movement of said fencing-wire portion relative to the wire support unit.

In a second aspect, the invention relates more specifically to a method of establishing and repairing a wire fencing system, characterized by the method including the following steps :

providing a line of posts projecting up from a base; providing at least each one of the first and last posts in the line of posts with at least one attachment unit according to claim 1 fixed at a prescribed height above the base ;

securing an end portion of a fencing wire to a wire attachment on the attachment unit of the first post;

passing a second end portion of the fencing wire up to the last post as a portion of the fencing wire is placed in wire abutments on the intermediate posts;

securing the second end portion of the fencing wire to a wire attachment on the attachment unit of the last post;

spooling a portion of the first or second end portion of the fencing wire onto the attachment unit of the respective post by rotating the respective attachment unit around its centre axis until the prescribed tightening of the fencing wire has been achieved;

fixing the attachment unit by screwing at least one fixing screw into abutment against the mantle surface of the respective post.

The wire abutment on the intermediate posts may be provided by mounting an attachment unit or a wire support unit at a prescribed height above the base.

A break in a fencing wire may be repaired by the method including the following further steps:

joining a splice wire and a first wire-break end portion together;

securing a second wire end portion and a splice-wire end portion to a wire attachment on the attachment unit of an adjacent post;

spooling a portion of the fencing wire and the splice wire onto the attachment unit by rotating the attachment unit around its centre axis until the prescribed tightening of the fencing wire has been restored; and

fixing the attachment unit by screwing at least one fixing screw into abutment against the post. Stabilization of a post may be provided by the method

including further steps :

connecting a first attachment unit and a second

attachment unit by a side-abutment surface on each of the attachment units being brought into supporting mutual abutment and held together by means of a threaded bolt arranged in a radial bore in the side-abutment surface, and the centre axis direction of the second attachment unit being placed at an angle relative to the centre axis direction of the first attachment unit;

fixing the first attachment unit on the post;

passing a diagonal rod through the centre bore of the second attachment unit into supporting abutment against the base; and

fixing the diagonal rod in the second attachment unit by screwing at least one fixing screw into abutment against the diagonal rod.

In what follows is described an example of a preferred embodiment which is visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a wire fence according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows an attachment unit for a fencing wire

arranged in an arbitrary position on a post with a diameter adapted to the centre bore of the attachment unit;

Figure 2a shows an attachment unit arranged on a top surface of a post with a larger cross section than the centre bore of the attachment unit;

Figure 3 shows a wire support unit for a fencing wire; Figure 4 shows a side view of a combination of two

attachment units for the formation of a post- joining sleeve;

Figure 5 shows a combination of two attachment units for

attaching a diagonal rod to a post; and

Figure 6 shows a wire support unit arranged on a post.

In figure 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates a wire fencing system provided from several spaced posts 11 arranged in line, projecting up from a base 2. Several fencing wires 12 are extended substantially parallel between first and last posts 11' , 11" and are secured to the posts 11, 11' , 11" by means of attachment units 13, possibly wire support units 14 which are secured to the posts 11, 11', 11" at a prescribed height above the base 2 (see figure 6) . In figure 5, a post 11 provided with a diagonal rod 3 for extra stabilization of the post 11 is shown, a diagonal-rod attachment 5 having been provided by connecting first and second attachment units 13, 13' side by side. A post 11 which is provided with a post extension 113 is shown as well, a post-joining sleeve 4 having been provided by combining first and second attachment units 13, 13' end to end (see figure 4) .

Reference is now made to figure 2, in which the attachment unit 13 is shown in greater detail. A sleeve-shaped body 131 is provided with a centre bore 132. Two diametrically

opposite radial bores 133 extend through the body 131 and are arranged to receive fixing screws 133a as the radial bores 133 are provided with an internal threaded portion (not shown) .

Perpendicularly to the diametrically opposite radial bores 133 and centred in a side-abutment surface 134 (see figures 4 and 5) , a further radial bore arranged to receive a threaded bolt 134a is arranged.

At an end portion of the body 13, a spool-shaped portion 136 bounded by an end flange 139 is provided with several flange holes 139a distributed peripherally. At a distance from the end flange 139, the spool portion 136 is provided with two projecting wire attachments 135, each provided with a cut-out 135' arranged for the passing and securing of an end portion 121, 121' of the fencing wire 12.

Parallel to the opposite radial bores 133 and in a portion projecting from the body 131 opposite the side-abutment surface 134, a first wire abutment 137 and a second wire abutment 137a are arranged. The first wire abutment 137 is provided with a side opening 138 which is closable by means of an elastic lip 138a which is moved, when the side opening is being opened 138, inwards and away from a lip abutment 138b. The second wire abutment 137a is formed as an elongated bore in the projecting portion of the body 131, here

identical to the earlier mentioned cut-out of the wire attachment 135.

In figure 2a the attachment unit 13 is attached to an end surface 111 of a post 11 with a cross section considerably larger than the centre bore 132, the end flange 139 resting against the end surface 111 and being secured by means of fastening means (not shown), typically screws or nails, which have been inserted through the flange holes 139a and into the end surface 111.

Reference is then made to figure 3, in which a wire support unit 14 is provided with a body 141 formed as a ring segment. A first and a second wire abutments 142, 142a have been formed in a portion projecting from the body 141 and are formed like the first and second wire abutments 137, 137a of the attachment unit 13, see above. The body 141 is provided with several fixing holes 143 arranged to receive a fastening means, for example a fixing bolt (not shown) .

The sleeve-shaped attachment unit 13 may be formed with a centre bore 132 that fits standardized post diameters of posts formed out of both metal, synthetic material and wood, whereas the wire support unit 14 in the shape of a ring segment is only meant for attachment to materials suitable for the insertion of fastening means, typically screws or nails, into a mantle surface, for example posts formed out of wood or synthetic materials.

Figure 4 shows two attachment units 13, 13' combined end flange to end flange 139 and held together by means of fastening means 139b, typically screws, which have been passed through the coinciding flange holes 139a. The combined attachment units 13, 13' form a post-joining sleeve 4 of sufficient axial length and rigidity. The post-joining sleeve 4 is secured to the top of a post 11 by means of the fixing screws 133a of the lower attachment unit 13, whereas a post extension 113 is correspondingly secured in the upper

attachment unit 13' .

Reference is then made to figure 5, in which a combination of two attachment units 13, 13' side by side forms a diagonal - rod attachment 5, the respective side-abutment surfaces 134 bearing supportingly against each other, and the attachment units 13, 13' being held together by means of a threaded bolt 134a which is screwed into the threaded portion of the corresponding radial bores 133. The centre axis direction of the second attachment unit 13' is placed at an angle relative to the centre axis direction of the first attachment unit 13. The diagonal-rod attachment 5 is connected to the post 11 which is to be supported, or, possibly, the second attachment unit 13' has been connected to an attachment unit 13 which has already been applied for the attachment or support of the fencing wire 12. A diagonal rod 3 is passed through the centre bore 132 of the second attachment unit into support in the base 2 before the diagonal rod 3 is fixed in the

diagonal-rod attachment 5 by means of the fixing screws 133a of the second attachment unit 13' .

A wire fence 1 is provided by the necessary posts 11 being secured to the base 2. The posts 11, 11', 11" are provided with the attachment units 13 necessary, and for the posts at which there is no need for axial anchoring of the fencing wire 12, wire support units 14 are possibly used. End posts 11', 11" and other posts 11 that need bracing are provided with diagonal rods 3 which are secured by means of diagonal- rod attachments 5. A first end portion 121 of a length of the fencing wire 12 is secured to the wire attachment 135 of an attachment unit 13 on the first post 11', and the fencing wire 12 is extended to the last post 11" where it is attached to the wire attachment 135 of a corresponding attachment unit 13. On the way, the fencing wire 12 may be passed through the second wire abutments 137a, 142a of intermediate posts 11, or it may, possibly after the fencing wire 12 has been extended, be inserted into the first wire abutments 137, 142 of the intermediate posts through the side openings 138. When a fencing wire length 12 has been extended and connected to the posts 11, it is tightened by one of the attachment units 13 being rotated in such a way that parts of a wire end portion 121, 121' is spooled onto the spool portion 136 of the attachment unit 13.

When there is a break in a fencing wire 12, the fencing wire 12 is spliced by a splice wire 123 being joined to a first wire-break end portion 122 in such a way that the spliced wire 12 reaches the next post 11, where a splice-wire end portion 124 is secured to the first wire attachment 135 of a attachment unit 13. The length of the second wire-break end portion 122' is adjusted relative to the position of said attachment unit 13 and is secured to the second wire

attachment 135a of the attachment unit 13. See figure 1. The attachment unit 13 is then rotated until the spliced wire 12 has its prescribed tightening, and the attachment unit 13 is fixed to the post 11.

Alternatively, the tightening of the fencing wire 12 after a break may be done individually for the two wire portions 122 123 by said attachment unit 13 being pulled up from the post 11, turned upside down and slipped onto the post again. A further attachment unit 13' is slipped onto the post as it i shown in figure 4. The wire portions 122, 123 are each secured to a respective attachment unit 13, 13' and tightene separately. After tightening, the two attachment units 13, 13' may possibly be connected to each other as it is

described for the post-joining sleeve 4 above and shown in figure 4.

The tightening of the fencing wire 12 may be carried out by the use of a torque wrench not shown, provided with means arranged for releasable engagement with suitable portions of the attachment unit 13, 13', for example the fixing screws