US-20260125927-A1 - Spring Wire Clip

US20260125927A1US 20260125927 A1US20260125927 A1US 20260125927A1US-20260125927-A1

Abstract

An improved wire clip is described which attaches fencing wire to a T-post. The clip is made of high carbon steel and has a preformed shape. One end features a preformed curl that engages fencing wire on one lateral side of a T-post. A middle section has a preformed shape that allows the clip to fit around the T-post spine. Another section features a preformed bend that engages the fencing wire on the other lateral side of the T-post. The other end of the clip features a length of wire terminating in a preformed curl. This other end bends back so that the curl on this end engages the T-post spine. This improved clip can be installed without the aid of wires or protective work gloves.

Inventors

Nicholas Andrew Hiner
Alan Wade Simon

Assignees

Lock Jawz LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251106

Claims (17)

1 . A spring wire clip suitable for securing fencing wire to a T-post comprising: a length of clip wire having a shear strength in a range of 125 Ksi to 600 Ksi, said clip wire having a preformed shape comprising: a first end with a preformed curl configured to engage fencing wire on one lateral side of the T-post, a first middle section having a preformed shape allowing the clip to fit around the T-post spine, a second middle section, directly adjacent to the first middle section with a preformed bend configured to engage fencing wire on the other lateral side of the T-post, a second end with a length of wire terminating in a preformed curl configured to engage the T-post spine, wherein the spring wire clip, when engaged with the fencing wire and T-post as defined above, secures the fencing wire to the T-post.
2 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first middle section preformed shape to fit around the T-post spine further comprises a V-shape.
3 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the clip wire has a diameter of 0.075 to 0.15 inches.
4 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said clip wire is made from a synthetic polymer.
5 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the clip wire sear strength range further comprises 282 Ksi to 312 Ksi.
6 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the clip wire is high carbon steel spring wire having a shear strength of about 300 Ksi and a diameter of 0.099 to 0.105 inches.
7 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the second end length of wire is formed in a straight line.
8 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the second end length of wire is formed with as shown in Figs. 9A and 9D.
9 . A method of secure attachment of fencing wire to a T-post comprising: a spring wire clip having a length of clip wire having a shear strength in a range of 125 Ksi to 600 Ksi, said clip wire having a preformed shape comprising: a first end with a preformed curl configured to engage fencing wire on one lateral side of the T-post, a first middle section having a preformed shape allowing the clip to fit around the T-post spine, a second middle section, directly adjacent to the first middle section, with a preformed bend configured to engage fencing wire on the other lateral side of the T-post, a second end with a length of wire terminating in a preformed curl configured to engage the T-post spine, said method comprises the steps of: contacting fencing wire to a front side of the T-post containing studs, the fencing wire extending laterally out both sides of the T-post, engaging the fencing wire on one lateral side of the T-post with the curl at the clip first end, engaging the fencing wire on the other lateral side of the T-post with the bend at the second middle section, and engaging the curl at the second end with the T-post spine, wherein the first end curl and the second middle section bend hold the fencing wire to the T-post to form a secure attachment of the fencing wire to the T-post and the first end curl and the second end curl hold the spring wire clip securely in place on the T-post.
10 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the fencing wire is selected from the group consisting of: barber wire, smooth wire, woven wire and high tensile wire.
11 . The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the first middle section preformed shape to fit around the T-post spine further comprises a V-shape.
12 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the clip wire has a diameter of 0.075 to 0.15 inches.
13 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said clip wire is made from a synthetic polymer.
14 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the clip wire sear strength range further comprises 282 Ksi to 312 Ksi.
15 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein the clip wire is high carbon steel spring wire having a shear strength of about 300 Ksi and a diameter of 0.099 to 0.105 inches.
16 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 9 wherein the second end length of wire is formed in a straight line.
17 . The spring wire clip as defined in claim 9 wherein the second end length of wire is formed with as shown in FOGS. 9 A and 9 D.

Description

BACKGROUND The present invention relates to improved wire clips, particularly to attach wire to T-posts used in fencing. Spring wire clips are used to attach fencing wire to fence posts. To construct a typical fence line, the caretaker of a plot of land installs a series of vertical fence posts in a line. Quite commonly this series of fence post is arrayed in a literal line, but, of course, the caretaker and array the “line” of fence posts in any convenient shape to fence off a desired area. Commonly, the caretaker uses T-posts. The caretaker will also string one or more fencing wires, typically in a horizontal direction, along the fence line. The caretaker will commonly attach the horizontal fencing wire each of the posts in the fence line. In prior art fence lines, the fencing wire was attached to the fence posts using flexible wire. The wire engages the fencing wire is some fashion and is then wrapped around the fence post. In the case of T-posts the fencing wire is typically run above the studs on the front of the post. The fencing wire is attached to the T-post with a flexible wire, which is operated much like a “twist tie.” That is, one end of the flexible wire is twisted around the fencing wire at a point near one side of the T-post. The flexible wire is run behind the spine of the T-Post and the other end of the flexible wire is wrapped around the fencing wire on the other side of the fence post. In fact, any method of wrapping the flexible wire around the fencing wire will work so long as the flexible wire keeps the fencing wire in contact with the T-post. The fencing wire will remain in place above the stud on the face of the T-post. Typically, the wire used in the prior art to secure fencing wire to T-posts is a form of low carbon soft steel. The critical feature being that the attachment wire be bendable. In a common design, wire is attached to a fence T-post between two nodes with a spring wire clip that wraps around the t-post and hooks into the wire from both sides. The spring wire clips typically engage the wire in the horizontal direction and the t-post in the vertical but not limited by such attachment. The prior art wire clips suffer certain disadvantages. In particular, these prior art clips are made from a soft low carbon steel which have to be installed with a tool by twisting around the wire to make a secure connection. When the clips are installed on a woven wire fence, it is very difficult to twist using the tool due to the smaller openings between the woven wire. The clips are also time consuming to install and have little or no adjustment mechanism after installation. Typically, these prior art clips are a one time use and if they need to be adjusted are cut from the fence and a new clip must be used. In another prior art clip, relatively stiff, unbending wire can be used in a type of “fence clip.” This clip has bilateral symmetry. The first and second ends of the clip engage the fencing wire on opposite sides of the T-post. The clip is designed to secure fencing wire to a T-post without tools. It is made of a relatively stiff wire of approximately 300K psi shear strength has a diameter 0.1 inch of high carbon steel. This clip has a preformed shape. One end of the clip has a preformed curl configured to engage fencing wire on one lateral side of the T-post. The middle section of the clip is typically V-shaped which allows the clip to fit around the T-post spine. The other end of the clip has a preformed curl, identical to that on the first end, which is also configured to engage fencing wire. This other end engages the wire on the other lateral side of the T-post. This clip is stiff enough to hold its shape but is not so stiff so that it can be installed, without tools, by bending the clip ends around the opposite sides of the fence pole. While tools are not strictly necessary, the user may find it more comfortable using gloves because of the force involved to bend the clips ends around the fencing wire. An improved design is described below the clips include an additional functional region which allows the user to install the clip using much less force than that used in prior art clips. SUMMARY The current spring wire clip has an improved construction from hardened high carbon spring steel and non-symmetrical geometry that allows the spring wire clip to be installed with no tools. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. illustrates a rear left view of the spring wire clip securing fencing wire on a T-Post. FIG. 2 illustrates a rear right view of the spring wire clip securing fencing wire on a T-Post. FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the installation of the spring clip. FIGS. 7A-E illustrate various views of the improved spring clip. FIGS. 8A-C illustrate various views of an improved clip with an alternate shape. FIGS. 9A-D illustrate alternative structures of the improved clip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION While any type of stiff wire can be used, a preferred embodiment is 300 Ksi (shear strength)