US20140048758A1 - Fence Stretcher - Google Patents

Abstract

A fence stretcher for use in building fences that can be used by one person and is able to stretch fence wire under a constant tension. The fence stretcher has a winch assembly to which a tensioning cable is connected. A wire grabber is attached to the tensioning cable and is used to securely hold the fence wire. The winch assembly is used to stretch the fence wire such that the fence wire is tensioned, at which point a brake assembly is engaged. The brake assembly allows the fence wire to be fed to the user at the user's desired tension level. A mount assembly allows the present invention to be attached to a brace structure at the desired height for laying the fence. The fence stretcher is able to automatically feed any type of wire or cable across any type of terrain while following the contours of the terrain.

Description

• The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/684,483 filed on Aug. 17, 2012.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for laying fences. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus for use in building fences which is able to stretch fence wire at a user's desired tension level and is able to automatically feed any type of wire or cable across any type of terrain while following the contours of the terrain.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Current products on the market may provide an apparatus for laying fence over uneven terrain, however, these devices require two people to lay the fence in an efficient manner. One individual is needed to operate the device and keep the fence wire stretched at the desired tension, while a second individual is needed to attach the fence wire to tee posts or similar structures. As the device itself only requires one person to operate, it is possible for a single person to lay the fence by themselves. This process is tedious and time consuming though, as the single individual must constantly walk back and forth between the device and the tee post to which they are securing the fence wire. Even when two individuals are laying fence it is difficult to ensure that the tension in the fence wire is constant between tee posts. Inconsistent tension in the fence wire can result in premature failure of the fence, thus it is critical to the stability of the fence for the fence wire to be stretched evenly along the length of the fence.
• Therefore it is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for use in building fences that can be used by one person and is able to stretch fence wire under a constant tension. The present invention includes a winch assembly to which a tensioning cable is connected. A wire grabber is attached to the tensioning cable and is used to securely hold the fence wire. The winch assembly is used to stretch the fence wire such that the fence wire is tensioned, at which point a brake assembly is engaged. The brake assembly allows the fence wire to be fed to the user at the user's desired tension level. A mount assembly allows the present invention to be attached to a brace structure at the desired height for laying the fence. The present invention is able to automatically feed any type of wire or cable across any type of terrain while following the contours of the terrain.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a right side perspective view of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a left side perspective view of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the present invention showing the pair of brake pads engaging the brake disc.
• FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a left side sectional view of the present invention showing the pawl engaging the gear end.
• FIG. 10 is a right side perspective view of the present invention with the winch crank alternatively attached directly to the winch shaft.
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 is a fence stretcher that is used to lay fence over any type of terrain. In reference toFIG. 1-2, the fence stretcher comprises awinch assembly1, abrake assembly2, amount assembly3, atensioning cable4, and awire grabber5. Thewinch assembly1 functions as the hub to which thebrake assembly2,mount assembly3 andtensioning cable4 are all connected. Thebrake assembly2 is used to keep the fence wire under constant, even tension, while themount assembly3 allows the user to affix the fence stretcher to any brace, such as a pipe, railroad tie, tee post, etc. Fence wire is placed in thewire grabber5, which is connected to thetensioning cable4, and is held under the desired tension. The present invention can be used to stretch any type of wire, cable, etc.
• In reference toFIG. 7-8, thewinch assembly1 is the central hub of the present invention and comprises awinch frame11, aratchet drum12, apawl15, awinch crank13, awinch shaft14, and anadjoining gear16. Thewinch frame11 provides a three-wall support structure for theratchet drum12,pawl15,winch crank13 andwinch shaft14. Theratchet drum12 is a spool that is positioned within thewinch frame11 between the two side walls of thewinch frame11. Theratchet drum12 is supported within thewinch frame11 by thewinch shaft14. Thewinch shaft14 traverses through the two side walls of thewinch frame11 and axially through theratchet drum12. While thewinch shaft14 is permanently connected to theratchet drum12, thewinch shaft14 is rotatably connected to thewinch frame11 by means of a plurality of bearings. In this way, theratchet drum12 is able to rotate about the axis of thewinch shaft14 while being positioned within thewinch frame11. Each of the plurality of bearings is connected to thewinch frame11, with thewinch shaft14 traversing through each of the plurality of bearings. The plurality of bearing reduces the friction between thewinch shaft14 and thewinch frame11, thus allowing thewinch shaft14 to more freely rotate.
• In reference toFIG. 3, one end of thetensioning cable4 is connected to theratchet drum12 and theremaining tensioning cable4 is coiled around theratchet drum12. Thewire grabber5 is attached to thetensioning cable4 opposite theratchet drum12. Thewire grabber5 may be attached directly to thetensioning cable4 or attached to thetensioning cable4 by a cable hook, loop, etc. Thewire grabber5 securely holds a length of fence wire such that the fence wire can be stretched along the desired path. Once attached to thewire grabber5, the fence wire is stretched to a predetermined tension by rotating theratchet drum12. As theratchet drum12 is rotated, thetensioning cable4 further coils around theratchet drum12, thus pulling the fence wire tight along the desired path.
• In reference toFIG. 3 andFIG. 5, rotation of thewinch shaft14 by the user is carried out through thewinch crank13. Thewinch crank13 is positioned adjacent to thewinch frame11 and axially engages theadjoining gear16. Theadjoining gear16 is rotatably mounted inside thewinch frame11, such that theadjoining gear16 rotates as thewinch crank13 is turned. Theratchet drum12 comprises agear end121, with thegear end121 being positioned adjacent to thewinch crank13. Thegear end121 is positioned in such a way as to allow theadjoining gear16 to engage thegear end121. In this way, thewinch crank13 is mechanically coupled to theratchet drum12. As thewinch crank13 is turned, theadjoining gear16 rotates within thewinch frame11. Rotation of theadjoining gear16 forces thegear end121 to rotate and in turn theentire ratchet drum12 and shaft rotate. Thewinch crank13 may be a ratcheting type handle or thewinch assembly1 may be designed such that a socket wrench may be used as the crank. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, theadjoining gear16 is not present. Rather than being attached to theadjoining gear16, thewinch crank13 is axially attached to thewinch shaft14, such that rotation of theratchet drum12 is directly controlled by the turning of thewinch crank13, as shown inFIG. 10.
• In reference toFIG. 9, thepawl15 is used to inhibit rotation of theratchet drum12 in one direction when thepawl15 is in an active position. Thepawl15 is pivotally connected to thewinch frame11 by a flip lever, or similar mechanism, around thegear end121 of theratchet drum12. The flip lever is used to position thepawl15 from the active position to an inactive position and vice versa. When thepawl15 is in the active position, thepawl15 engages thegear end121. In the active position, theratchet drum12 can only be rotated in the direction required to tighten the stretched fence wire. By disengaging thepawl15 from thegear end121 and returning thepawl15 to the inactive position, theratchet drum12 is allowed to freely rotate in both directions.
• In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, thewinch assembly1 further comprises a first roller and a second roller. Both the first roller and second roller are attached to thewinch frame11 in front of theratchet drum12. The first roller is positioned across the top of thewinch frame11 and the second roller is positioned across the bottom of thewinch frame11, with thetensioning cable4 passing in between the first roller and the second roller. The first roller and the second roller assist in the alignment of thetensioning cable4 and fence wire and also assist in thetensioning cable4 being fed from theratchet drum12.
• In reference toFIG. 3 andFIG. 6, rotation of theratchet drum12 is also controlled by thebrake assembly2. Thebrake assembly2 comprises abrake disc21, acaliper bracket22, anactuating mechanism23, and a pair ofbrake pads24. Thecaliper bracket22 provides the support structure for theactuating mechanism23 and the pair ofbrake pads24. Together, thecaliper bracket22,actuating mechanism23, and pair ofbrake pads24 function as the brake caliper in a traditional disc brake system. Thecaliper bracket22 is adjacently connected to thewinch frame11 opposite the winch handle, while thebrake disc21 is axially connected to the end of thewinch shaft14 that is adjacent to thecaliper bracket22. Thecaliper bracket22 forms a channel at one end, which allows thebrake disc21 to be positioned into thecaliper bracket22.
• In reference toFIG. 3, the pair ofbrake pads24 and theactuating mechanism23 are used to inhibit the motion of thebrake disc21 and are positioned within thecaliper bracket22. The brake pads are positioned within thecaliper bracket22 such that when thebrake disc21 is positioned into thecaliper bracket22, thebrake disc21 is also positioned in between the pair ofbrake pads24. Theactuating mechanism23 is operatively coupled to the pair ofbrake pads24, such that activation of theactuating mechanism23 causes the pair ofbrake pads24 to clamp together around thebrake disc21. This frictional engagement between the pair ofbrake pads24 and thebrake disc21 results in inhibited rotation of thebrake disc21 as thecaliper bracket22 is fixedly connected to thewinch frame11. Typically, theactuating mechanism23 consists of at least one piston which either engages the pair ofbrake pads24 or is connected to the pair ofbrake pads24. A controlling device of theactuating mechanism23 directs the motion of the at least one piston to either engage or disengage the pair ofbrake pads24 from thebrake disc21.
• In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theactuating mechanism23 comprises acaliper lever231, a break-over-center lever233, and alink member234, as shown inFIG. 6. Together, thecaliper lever231, the break-over-center lever233 and thelink member234 function as the controlling device. One end of the break-over-center lever233 is pivotally connected to thecaliper bracket22, while thelink member234 is pivotally connected to both the break-over-center lever233 and thecaliper lever231. Thecaliper lever231 is operatively coupled to the pair ofbrake pads24 through the at least one piston or a similar device. The break-over-center lever233 can be manipulated from a disengaged position to an engaged position and vice versa. In the engaged position, the break-over-center lever233 and thelink member234 lock into position ensuring that the pair ofbrake pads24 does not inadvertently disengage thebrake disc21. Although it has been described in the preferred embodiment, theactuating mechanism23 may include the use of a hydraulic system, magnetic system, or similar system.
• Depending on the type of fence, terrain, user's preference, etc., it may be necessary to adjust the tension at which the fence wire is stretched. In order to adjust this tension, the force with which the pair ofbrake pads24 clamps thebrake disc21 must be adjusted by either moving the pair ofbrake pads24 closer to or farther away from thebrake disc21. The position of the pair ofbrake pads24 is adjusted through the use of a lock nut and a set bolt. The set bolt traverses through the lock nut into thecaliper bracket22 and is mechanically coupled to the pair ofbrake pads24. In this way, the position of the set bolt determines the position of the pair ofbrake pads24. In order to adjust the position of the set bolt, the lock nut must first be loosened. The set bolt can then be turned clockwise for a higher tension or turned counterclockwise for a lower tension. Once the pair ofbrake pads24 is the desired distance from thebrake disc21, the lock nut can then be tightened in order to secure the set bolt in the desired position.
• In reference toFIG. 4, themount assembly3 is positioned adjacent to thewinch frame11 opposite theratchet drum12 and allows the fence stretcher to be attached to a brace structure. Themount assembly3 comprises a mountingbracket31, abracket shaft32, afirst hinge plate33, asecond hinge plate34, and a mountingstrap35. The mountingbracket31 is adjacently connected to thewinch frame11, with thebracket shaft32 being connected along the mountingbracket31. Both thefirst hinge plate33 and thesecond hinge plate34 are pivotally connected to thebracket shaft32, such that the angle formed between thefirst hinge plate33 and thesecond hinge plate34 is variable in order to accommodate the different shape of different brace structures. This allows the fence stretcher to be mounted onto most, if not all, types of brace structures.
• In further reference toFIG. 4, the mountingstrap35 is attached to both thefirst hinge plate33 and thesecond hinge plate34. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hook is connected to one end of the mountingstrap35 and a loop is attached to thesecond hinge plate34. The hook engages the loop to attach the one end of the mountingstrap35 to thefirst hinge plate33. A strap clamp, or similar mechanism, is connected to thefirst hinge plate33. The end of the mountingstrap35 opposite the hook is inserted through the strap clamp and the mountingstrap35 is pulled to the desired tightness. The strap clamp is then locked in order to securely hold the mountingstrap35 in place. Any other method may be used to attach the mountingstrap35 to thefirst hinge plate33 andsecond hinge plate34, such that the mountingstrap35 has a variable length that can be positioned around a brace structure.
• The following provides an example method of use for the present invention. A user wishes to lay fence from point A to point B with tee posts spaced every twenty feet. The user first attaches the fence stretcher at a desired height to a brace structure at point A. With thefirst hinge plate33 and thesecond hinge plate34 pressed against the brace structure, the mountingstrap35 is pulled tight around the opposite side of the brace structure and clamped into place. Fence wire is first attached to the last tee post at point B and then attached to thewire grabber5. Once the fence wire is attached, the user can then turn the winch crank13 in order to rotate theratchet drum12 and coil the tensioning wire. When the fence wire is over tensioned, the user then engages the pair ofbrake pads24 to thebrake disc21 by pulling up on the break-over-center lever233. The winch crank13 is then detached from thewinch frame11 in order to prevent the winch crank13 from getting tangled in thetensioning cable4 or fence wire, or from otherwise interfering with the operation of the fence stretcher. With thebrake assembly2 engaged and the winch crank13 detached, the user can then disengage thepawl15 from thegear end121 of theratchet drum12. This allows theratchet drum12 to rotate in an opposite direction, providing some slack to thetensioning cable4 and fence wire until the predetermined tension is reached. The user can then go from tee post to tee post attaching the fence wire. As the fence wire is pulled and attached to the tee posts, thetensioning cable4 is fed from theratchet drum12, thus maintaining the desired tension in the fence wire. Excess fence wire should be mounted behind the fence stretcher such that it can be fed to the user. Once the fence wire has been tied of at point A at the desired height, the user can simply adjust the height of the fence stretcher and repeat the above process for the remaining levels of fence to be placed.
• 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.

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:

1. A fence stretcher comprises:

a winch assembly;

a brake assembly;

a mount assembly;

a tensioning cable;

a wire grabber;

the winch assembly comprises a winch frame, a ratchet drum, a pawl, a winch crank, and a winch shaft;

the brake assembly comprises a brake disc, a caliper bracket, an actuating mechanism, and a pair of brake pads;

the ratchet drum being positioned within the winch frame;

the winch shaft traversing through the winch frame and the ratchet drum;

the winch shaft being permanently connected to the ratchet drum;

the winch shaft being rotatably connected to the winch frame;

the brake disc being axially connected to the winch shaft;

the brake disc being positioned into the caliper bracket;

the caliper bracket being adjacently connected to the winch frame;

the mounting assembly being adjacently positioned to the winch frame opposite the ratchet drum;

the tensioning cable being connected to the ratchet drum;

the tensioning cable being coiled around the ratchet drum; and

the wire grabber being attached to the tensioning cable opposite the ratchet drum.

2. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 1 comprises:

the pair of brake pads and the actuating mechanism being positioned within the caliper bracket;

the disc brake being positioned in between the pair of brake pads; and

the actuating mechanism being operatively coupled to the pair of brake pads, wherein activating the actuating mechanism forces the pair of brake pads to clamp around the brake disc.

3. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 1 comprises:

the pair of brake pads frictionally engaging the brake disc.

4. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 1 comprises:

the actuating mechanism comprises a caliper lever, a break-over-center lever, and a link member;

the break-over-center lever being pivotally connected to the caliper bracket;

the link member being pivotally connected to both the break-over-center lever and the caliper lever; and

the caliper lever being operatively coupled to the pair of brake pads, wherein pulling on the break-over-center lever forces the pair of brake pads to clamp around the brake disc.

5. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 1 comprises:

the ratchet drum comprises a gear end;

the gear end being positioned adjacent to the winch crank; and

the pawl being pivotally connected to the winch frame around the gear end.

6. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 5 comprises:

the pawl engaging the gear end, wherein the ratchet drum may only rotate about the winch shaft in one direction.

7. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 1 comprises:

the mounting assembly comprises a mounting bracket, a bracket shaft, a first hinge plate, a second hinge plate, and a mounting strap;

the mounting bracket being adjacently connected to the winch frame;

the bracket shaft being connected along the mounting bracket;

the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate being pivotally connected to the bracket shaft; and

the mounting strap being attached to both the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate.

8. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 1 comprises:

the winch assembly further comprises an adjoining gear;

the ratchet drum comprises a gear end;

the adjoining gear being rotatably mounted to the winch frame;

the adjoining gear engaging the gear end;

the winch crank axially engaging the adjoining gear; and

the winch crank being positioned adjacent to the winch frame opposite the caliper bracket.

9. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 1 comprises:

the winch crank being axially attached to the winch shaft; and

the winch crank being positioned adjacent to the winch frame opposite the caliper bracket.

10. A fence stretcher comprises:

a winch assembly;

a brake assembly;

a mount assembly;

a tensioning cable;

a wire grabber;

the winch assembly comprises a winch frame, a ratchet drum, a pawl, a winch crank, and a winch shaft;

the brake assembly comprises a brake disc, a caliper bracket, an actuating mechanism, and a pair of brake pads;

the actuating mechanism comprises a caliper lever, a break-over-center lever, and a link member;

the ratchet drum being positioned within the winch frame;

the winch shaft traversing through the winch frame and the ratchet drum;

the winch shaft being permanently connected to the ratchet drum;

the winch shaft being rotatably connected to the winch frame;

the brake disc being axially connected to the winch shaft;

the brake disc being positioned into the caliper bracket;

the caliper bracket being adjacently connected to the winch frame;

the mounting assembly being adjacently positioned to the winch frame opposite the ratchet drum;

the tensioning cable being connected to the ratchet drum;

the tensioning cable being coiled around the ratchet drum; and

the wire grabber being attached to the tensioning cable opposite the ratchet drum.

11. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 10 comprises:

the pair of brake pads and the actuating mechanism being positioned within the caliper bracket;

the brake disc being positioned in between the pair of brake pads;

the break-over-center lever being pivotally connected to the caliper bracket;

the link member being pivotally connected to both the break-over-center lever and the caliper lever; and

the caliper lever being operatively coupled to the pair of brake pads, wherein pulling on the break-over-center lever forces the pair of brake pads to clamp around the brake disc.

12. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 10 comprises:

the pair of brake pads frictionally engaging the brake disc.

13. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 10 comprises:

the mounting assembly comprises a mounting bracket, a bracket shaft, a first hinge plate, a second hinge plate, and a mounting strap;

the mounting bracket being adjacently connected to the winch frame;

the bracket shaft being connected along the mounting bracket;

the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate being pivotally connected to the bracket shaft; and

the mounting strap being attached to both the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate.

14. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 10 comprises:

the winch assembly further comprises an adjoining gear;

the ratchet drum comprises a gear end;

the adjoining gear being rotatably mounted to the winch frame;

the adjoining gear engaging the gear end;

the winch crank axially engaging the adjoining gear;

the winch crank being positioned adjacent to the winch frame opposite the caliper bracket;

the gear end being positioned adjacent to the winch crank; and

the pawl being pivotally connected to the winch frame around the gear end.

15. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 14 comprises:

the pawl engaging the gear end, wherein the ratchet drum may only rotate about the winch shaft in one direction.

16. A fence stretcher comprises:

a winch assembly;

a brake assembly;

a mount assembly;

a tensioning cable;

a wire grabber;

the winch assembly comprises a winch frame, a ratchet drum, a pawl, a winch crank, and a winch shaft;

the brake assembly comprises a brake disc, a caliper bracket, an actuating mechanism, and a pair of brake pads;

the mounting assembly comprises a mounting bracket, a bracket shaft, a first hinge plate, a second hinge plate, and a mounting strap;

the actuating mechanism comprises a caliper lever, a break-over-center lever, and a link member;

the ratchet drum being positioned within the winch frame;

the winch shaft traversing through the winch frame and the ratchet drum;

the winch shaft being permanently connected to the ratchet drum;

the winch shaft being rotatably connected to the winch frame;

the brake disc being axially connected to the winch shaft;

the brake disc being positioned into the caliper bracket;

the caliper bracket being adjacently connected to the winch frame;

the mounting assembly being adjacently positioned to the winch frame opposite the ratchet drum;

the mounting bracket being adjacently connected to the winch frame;

the bracket shaft being connected along the mounting bracket;

the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate being pivotally connected to the bracket shaft;

the mounting strap being attached to both the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate;

the tensioning cable being connected to the ratchet drum;

the tensioning cable being coiled around the ratchet drum; and

the wire grabber being attached to the tensioning cable opposite the ratchet drum.

17. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 16 comprises:

the pair of brake pads and the actuating mechanism being positioned within the caliper bracket;

the brake disc being positioned in between the pair of brake pads;

the break-over-center lever being pivotally connected to the caliper bracket;

the link member being pivotally connected to both the break-over-center lever and the caliper lever; and

the caliper lever being operatively coupled to the pair of brake pads, wherein pulling on the break-over-center lever forces the pair of brake pads to clamp around the brake disc.

18. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 16 comprises:

the pair of brake pads frictionally engaging the brake disc.

19. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 16 comprises:

the winch assembly further comprises an adjoining gear;

the ratchet drum comprises a gear end;

the adjoining gear being rotatably mounted to the winch frame;

the adjoining gear engaging the gear end;

the winch crank axially engaging the adjoining gear;

the winch crank being positioned adjacent to the winch frame opposite the caliper bracket;

the gear end being positioned adjacent to the winch crank; and

the pawl being pivotally connected to the winch frame around the gear end.

20. The fence stretcher as claimed inclaim 19 comprises:

the pawl engaging the gear end, wherein the ratchet drum may only rotate about the winch shaft in one direction.

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