Supports – Pipe or cable – Brackets
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-08
2001-09-18
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Pipe or cable
Brackets
C174S15800R, C174S16300R, C256S010000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290190
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a support device.
In particular this invention relates to improvements in support devices used to support lengths of material utilised in fences.
BACKGROUND ART
This invention will be discussed in relation to support devices used as insulators to support electrically conducting lengths of material, particularly in relation to security fences. However, it should be appreciated that the principles of the present invention can be applied to the support of many other non-electrically conducting lengths of material in various different situations.
Insulators have been in use for many years for supporting and insulating the wires or other conductors used in electric fences.
Existing insulators commonly have a backing surface and two support fingers for supporting the wire at attached to the backing surface. The fingers will now be referred to as upper and lower support fingers.
These fingers are positioned so that the free end of the upper support finger is directed towards the fixed end (on the backing surface) of the lower support finger. Similarly, the lower support finger is positioned so that its free end is directed towards the fixed end (on the backing surface) of the upper support finger.
The free ends of both support fingers are positioned side by side so that they may overlap. This overlap of the free ends effectively creates a gap between the two support fingers through which a wire may be passed and subsequently restrained by the fingers.
In practice it is only what may be referred to as the lower support finger which actually supports the wire. The function of the upper support finger is to prevent any movement of the wire, (for example by wind) which could lead to the wire being no longer able to be supported by the lower support finger.
As the upper and lower fingers are functionally identical there are two equivalent orientations for supporting the wire should the insulator be rotated through 180 degrees to an alternate orientation. This feature allows for easy mounting of this type of insulator to fence posts or other vertical supports. This is because the person responsible for mounting these devices need not concern themselves with which of two possible orientations the insulator is to have, as functionally the two orientations are equivalent.
However there is a problem associated with current insulators when they are used in electric security fences.
This problem arises as the current insulators have functionally equivalent support fingers which, in addition to supporting the wire are capable of supporting the extra weight of a person. Hence people are able to climb the security fence wires commonly near the pole to which the support devices are attached. Thus, allowing the intruder to breach the perimeter enclosed by the security fence without detection.
Sometimes the insulator itself and its attachment to the pole gives sufficient support to an intruder who climbs directly on the insulator to scale the security fence.
While this situation may be solved by manufacturing a less rugged insulator, there are situations when it is desirable to be able to scale security fences when they are not operable (ie: say in a school). A less rugged insulator could not be used in this situation.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a support device for supporting a length of material wherein the support device includes:
at least one support finger for supporting the length of material which applies an initial load to the support finger;
the support device characterised in that the support finger no longer supports the length of material when the support finger is placed directly or indirectly under a load substantially greater than the initial load.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a support device for supporting a length of material having at least two fingers, the support device is capable of being placed in at least two orientations so that at least one finger is supporting the length of material which applies an initial load to the support finger;
the support device characterised in that the support device has:
a) at least one support finger incapable of supporting the length material when the support finger is placed directly or indirectly under an increased load substantially greater than the initial load when the support device is in one orientation; and
b) at least one other support finger capable of supporting the length of material when the support finger is placed under an increased load substantially greater than the initial load when the support device is in another orientation.
For ease of reference the length of the material shall now be referred to as wire. However, this term should not be seen as limiting.
The support device shall now be referred to for ease of reference as an insulator. However, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present invention.
It is envisaged that the insulator may come in a variety of different shapes and forms.
In some preferred embodiments the insulator may include a main body and an attachment device for securing an insulator to an external support such as a fence post. However, these features are not necessarily essential.
Reference shall now be made to the external support as being a fence post—although this is just one example.
The main body and the attachment device may come in a multitude of varying shapes, sizes and forms.
In other embodiments the insulator may just include a main body, without inclusion of an attachment device. In these embodiments the attachment to a fence post can be external to the insulator itself. For example, the means of attachment may include gluing, fusing, or frictional engagement of the main body to the fence post.
It is envisaged that the support fingers may come in a variety of shapes, sizes and configurations provided it is capable of supporting wire.
In preferred embodiments the support finger may be substantially hook shaped.
There may also be a variety of ways in which the support fingers can be attached to the insulator. For instance, this attachment may be achieved by a variety of means including but not limited to, VELCRO™, adhesives and hinges to name but a few.
In other embodiments the support fingers may be integrally formed as part of the insulator.
For the purposes of this specification and for ease of reference the term load shall be defined as meaning a substantially downward force.
The initial load refers to the force experienced by the support finger when the wires of the fence are in their normal tensioned and substantially horizontal position.
It is envisaged that there may be many ways of adapting at least one support finger so that it no longer supports the wire once it carries an increased load substantially over the initial load.
The predetermined increased load is expected to be of the magnitude effected by a person or animal climbing directly on the insulator or on the wire supported by the supporting finger of the insulator.
In some embodiments the support finger may be made of a resilient material which deforms so as to no longer support the wire when it carries an increased load.
In other embodiments the support finger may be hingedly attached by a resilient hinge which is biased towards a support position for the support finger. However, when the support finger is placed under an increased load the hinge is no longer able to bias the support finger towards the support position with the effect that the support finger is now unable to support the wire.
Further embodiments may also include a support finger which is hingedly attached. In these embodiments there may a replaceable yet breakable link which holds the support finger in a position where it can
Braun Leslie A.
Darby & Darby
Gallagher Group Limited
Le Tan
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