Prior Art In general, wire tensioning devices comprise a piece of metal strip that is bent into a U-form. The bent piece of metal strip comprises a shaft that is rotatably mounted in and between two openings arranged in the legs of the U- form.

Such wire tensioning devices are for example known from FR-A-2399583, wherein the prolongations of the legs of the U-form are bent towards each other so as to form a closed loop. A binding wire is fixed to the prolongations and then wound around the fence post so as to fix the wire tensioning device to the fence post. The extremity of the wire to be tensioned is then entered through a hole in the bight of the U-form and fixed to the shaft and then wound thereon, whereby the wire is tensioned. The tensioned wire is prevented from unwinding by barb means associated with the shaft. This wire tensioning device has proven very efficient over the years. However, the process for fixing the device is rather complicated and time consuming. Indeed, the wire tensioning device first needs to be attached by means of a binding wire. Only then can the wire to be ten- sioned be fixed to the shaft and wound thereon. Furthermore, as these wire tensioning devices are mounted between the fence post and the wire, a consid- erable gap is left between the wire and the fence post in the plane of the fencing material. This gap in the fence is usually not desired, especially if the wires of the fencing material are close together.

From US-A-3949968, wire tensioning devices are known wherein the U- form is designed so as to fit over the fence post, and the prolongations of the legs of the U-form comprise a shaft for winding up and tensioning a wire of the

fencing material. Instead of fixing the wire tensioning device to the fence post by means of a binding wire, the bight of the U-form can now simply be passed over the fence post. These devices are hence easier and quicker to mount. The fencing material can be drawn closer to the fence post, a gap between the fencing material and the fence post, in the plane of the fencing material, however still remains.

Prior art wire tensioning devices also have the disadvantage, that the wire to be tensioned is substantially directed towards the centre of the fence post, which gives the fence a discontinued appearance in proximity of the fence post on which the wire is tensioned.

There is a strong need for a wire tensioning device for tensioning a wire of fencing material, wherein, in the plane of the fencing material, there is no gap between the fencing material and the fence post.

Object of the invention The object of the present invention is hence to provide a wire tensioning device for fixing a wire of fencing material to a fence post and subsequently tensioning the wire, wherein, in the plane of the fencing material, no gap is left between the fencing material and the fence post.

General description of the invention In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, the present inven- tion provides a wire tensioning device, in particular for tensioning a wire of fencing material. Such a wire tensioning device comprises fixing means for fixing the wire tensioning device to a fence post and tensioning means for tensioning a wire of the fencing material. The tensioning means comprises a shaft, which is rotatably mounted on the fixing means and which has a bore therethrough for receiving a wire of the fencing material. The shaft further comprises barb means by which, when the wire is tensioned, rotation of the shaft in the unwinding direction is prevented. An important feature of the wire tensioning device is that the arrangement is such that, when it is mounted on a

fence post, an axis of the shaft and an axis of the fence post are substantially perpendicular to each other and lie in a plane passing through the fence post.

By means of the above wire tensioning device, a wire of the fencing material is tensioned in very close proximity of the fence post. Unlike with prior art wire tensioning devices wherein the wire to be tensioned is directed towards the centre of the fence post, the wire now tangentially meets the outer wall of the fence post. This allows the fencing material to cover the whole distance be- tween two fence posts; i. e. there is no gap in the fence between the fence post and the fencing material in the plane of the fencing material. Furthermore, the wire tensioning device can always be fixed on the same face of the fence. If the fence posts are aligned, the fencing material attached to these fence posts lies in one plane, even in the proximity of the fence post on which a wire of the fencing material is tensioned.

The shaft of the tensioning means preferably comprises a base which is rotatably mounted in the fixing means and which protrudes from the fixing means through an opening arranged therein. The tensioning means is securely maintained in place in the fixing means by means of the base.

The end of the shaft protruding from the fixing means advantageously comprises a head portion, which is designed in such a way that a tool can engage the head portion for rotating the shaft. The head portion facilitates the winding of the wire onto the shaft of the tensioning means. The head portion can e. g. be a hexagonal head, but is advantageously just a square head so that the wire can be tensioned by use of a suitable wrench. It is hence very easy to tension a wire of the fencing material.

The wire tensioning device can further comprise a hook-like element mounted on the fixing means. Fencing material is commonly supplied on a roll having a certain length. One such roll is usually not sufficient though to erect the whole of a fence. It is therefore necessary to fix and tension the fencing material on one fence post and start using a new roll on the same fencing post. By means of the hook-like element, the subsequent roll of fencing material can e. g. be engaged with a vertical wire in the hook-like element, thereby creating a

continuous look of the fencing material attached to the fence post. Furthermore, the hook-like element preferably comprises a slot therethrough, so that a e. g. horizontal wire of the fencing material can engage in the slot of the hook-like element. Vertical shifting of the fencing material is thereby prevented. The fencing material can thereby easily and securely fixed to the wire tensioning device.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fence post has an axial groove arranged therein. The axial groove is aligned along an outer wall of the fence post and has an inner cavity and a neck portion leading from the outer wall to the inner cavity. The inner cavity is wider than the neck portion, so that the axial groove comprises a recess where inner cavity and neck portion meet. The fixing means of the wire tensioning device then preferably comprises feet for mount- ing the fixing means in the axial groove of the fence post. The feet have a nose for engaging behind the recess of the axial groove. The wire tensioning device is introduced into the axial groove through an opening at the top end of the fence post and axially slides along the axial groove, so that the wire tensioning device can be brought into the right position. The nose of the fixing means engages behind the recess in the axial groove, thereby providing secure fastening of the wire tensioning device in the axial groove. The wire tensioning device can thereby be easily, rapidly and securely fitted to a fence post. It will be appreciated that the base of the shaft of the tensioning means can also be designed as a pivot bearing extending into the axial groove of the fence post, so as to further provide a tilting bearing for the tensioning means.

The fence post preferably has circular cross-section and can be flattened in the vicinity of the opening created in the outer wall by the axial groove. This enables the fixing of the fencing material to the fence posts in a straight line.

Indeed, as the fencing material is fixed to the fence posts, it is not bent at its fixing point. In particular, if the fence post is used as a corner post, the fencing material can be smoothly curved around the corner, so that there is no sudden kink.

The fixing means and/or the tensioning means are each advantageously formed in one piece, whereby production costs and time of the respective means can be reduced.

The wire tensioning device can be made of metal and/or suitable plastic material.

It will be appreciated that a cover can be fixed to the top end of the fence post in order to protect the axial groove against water or dirt infiltration.

It will also be appreciated that although the fencing material is preferably a wire mesh, it can also be a single wire to be tensioned between two fence posts.

Detailed description with respect to the figures The present invention will be more apparent from the following description of a not limiting embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: Fig. 1: shows a section view through a fence post; Fig. 2: shows a side and top view of a wire tensioning device for fixing and tensioning a wire of fencing material ; Fig. 3: shows the fixing device of Fig. 2 fixed to a fence post Fig. 4: shows a section view through the wire tensioning device of Fig. 2 fixed to a fence post Fig. 1 shows a cylindrical fence post 10 having an outer wall 12 with one flattened region 14. An axial groove 16 is arranged in the fence post 10 on the flattened region 14 thereof. The axial groove 16 comprises an inner cavity 18 and a neck portion 20 leading from the flattened region 14 of the fence post 10 to the inner cavity 18. The neck portion 20 is tapered towards the inner cavity 18, and at the point where neck portion 20 and inner cavity 18 meet, the neck portion 20 is narrower than the inner cavity 18 so that the axial groove 16 comprises a recess 22 therein. Reference number 24 designates a fold of the fence post.

Fig. 2 shows in a) a side view of a wire tensioning device for fixing and ten- sioning a wire of fencing material and in b) a top view of the same device. Fig. 3 shows the device of Fig. 2 fixed to a fence post and Fig. 4 is a section view thereof.

The wire tensioning device 26 comprises fixing means 28 for fixing the wire tensioning device 26 to a fence post 10 and tensioning means 30 for tensioning a wire 32 of the fencing material. The fixing means 28 comprises two feet 33 for mounting the wire tensioning device 26 in the axial groove 16 of the fence post 10. The feet 33 have substantially the same shape as the axial groove 16, but they are slightly smaller to allow the wire tensioning device 26 to slide up or down the axial groove 16 of the fence post 10, so that it can be vertically aligned with a wire of the fencing material. The feet 33 comprise a nose 34 which engages behind the recess 22 of the axial groove 16 when the wire tensioning device 26 is mounted in the axial groove 16 of the fence post 10. The wire tensioning device 26 is thereby securely maintained in the axial groove 16 of the fence post 10.

The tensioning means 30 of the wire tensioning device 26 comprises a shaft 36 perpendicularly mounted on the fixing means 28. The shaft 36 com- prises a base 38 for rotatably maintaining the shaft 36 in the fixing means 28.

The base 38 is maintained in the fixing means 28 and the shaft 36 protrudes from the fixing means 28 through an opening 39 arranged in the fixing means 28. The shaft 36 further comprises a bore 40 therethrough for receiving a wire 32 of the fencing material. On its end opposite the base 38, the shaft comprises a head portion 42, which can be a square head, so that a suitable conventional wrench can be used for rotating the shaft 36 of the tensioning means 30 and thereby tensioning the wire 32.

The feet 33 of the fixing means 28 of the wire tensioning device 26 are in- troduced into the axial groove 16 through an open top end of the fence post 10.

The feet 33 slide down the axial groove 16 and are maintained therein by the recess 22. Once the wire tensioning device 26 is in its desired position, a wire 32 of the fencing material is passed through the bore 40 arranged in the shaft

36 of the tensioning means 30. A conventional wrench is then used to rotate the shaft 36 of the tensioning means 30 in the winding direction, whereby the wire 32 is wound onto the shaft 36 and tensioned. The rotation of the shaft 36 in the unwinding direction is prevented by barb means 44 associated with the shaft 36. As the tensioned wire 32 pulls the shaft 32 in the unwinding direction, the barb means 44 hit a shoulder 46 arranged in the opening 39 through which the shaft 32 protrudes, thereby preventing rotation of the shaft 36 in the unwinding direction.

The wire tensioning device 26 further comprises a hook-like element 48 mounted on the fixing means 28. By means of the hook-like element 48, subsequent fencing material can be attached to the fence post 10, for continu- ing the fence. By means of the hook-like element, fencing material can be continued in a direction perpendicular to the previous fencing material, in the same direction as the previous fencing material or in any intermediate direction.

In order to do so, a vertical wire of the subsequent fencing material is engaged in the hook-like element 48. In order to prevent vertical shifting of the subse- quent fencing material in the hook-like element, the latter has a slot 50 there- through for receiving a horizontal wire of the subsequent fencing material. The fencing material and the subsequent fencing material are fixed to the same fence post and are very close together, thereby giving the finished fence a continuous appearance.