Wire strand attachment clip

{
  "publication_number": "US12152401B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Wire strand attachment clip",
  "abstract": "A wire strand attachment clip including a wire catch that defines a wire strand receiving and holding area configured to receive a wire strand, and a plurality of attachment arms connected to and extending from the wire catch that are dimensionally and biasingly configured to be positioned on a support post to attach the wire strand to that support post such that the attachment arms engage multiple surfaces of the support post.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A wire strand attachment clip comprising: a wire catch including a rear wire engager, a first connector connected to and extending forwardly and outwardly from a first end of the rear wire engager, a second connector connected to and extending forwardly and outwardly from the first end of the rear wire engager, a third connector connected to and extending forwardly and outwardly from a second end of the rear wire engager, and a fourth connector connected to and extending forwardly and outwardly from the second end of the rear wire engager; a first attachment arm including a first forearm connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the first connector, a first wrist connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the first forearm and then rearwardly and inwardly back toward the rear wire engager, and a first post engagement hand connected to and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the first wrist toward the rear wire engager, the first post engagement hand including a first outer corner edge facing away from the first forearm and a first inner corner edge facing the first forearm; a second attachment arm including a second forearm connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the second connector, a second wrist connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the second forearm and then rearwardly and inwardly back toward the rear wire engager, and a second post engagement hand connected to and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the second wrist toward the rear wire engager, the second post engagement hand including a second outer corner edge facing away from the second forearm and a second inner corner edge facing the second forearm; a third attachment arm including a third forearm connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the third connector, a third wrist connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the third forearm and then rearwardly and inwardly back toward the rear wire engager, and a third post engagement hand connected to and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the third wrist toward the rear wire engager, the third post engagement hand including a third outer corner edge facing away from the third forearm and a third inner corner edge facing the third forearm; and a fourth attachment arm including a fourth forearm connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the fourth connector, a fourth wrist connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the fourth forearm and then rearwardly and inwardly back toward the rear wire engager, and a fourth post engagement hand connected to and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the fourth wrist toward the rear wire engager, the fourth post engagement hand including a fourth outer corner edge facing away from the fourth forearm and a fourth inner corner edge facing the fourth forearm, wherein the first wrist, the second wrist, the third wrist, and the fourth wrist are the forward most portions of the wire strand attachment clip, wherein the wire catch, the first attachment arm, the second attachment arm, the third attachment arm, and the fourth attachment arm are positionable on a T-shaped support post to attach a wire strand to that T-shaped support post: (a) such that the first, second, third, and fourth attachment arms engage spaced apart surfaces of the T-shaped support post, (b) such that the first, second, third, and fourth inner corner edges engage front surfaces of the T-shaped support post, such that the wire catch, the first, second, third, and fourth attachment arms hold the wire strand, and (c) such that the first wrist, the second wrist, the third wrist, and the fourth wrist are each spaced apart from and forward of the T-shaped support post.",
    "2. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1, which is formed from a solid flat metal sheet.",
    "3. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1, wherein the rear wire engager has an hourglass shape.",
    "4. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1, wherein the first forearm, the second forearm, the third forearm, and the fourth forearm are engageable with respective outer side surfaces of the post.",
    "5. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1, wherein the wire catch is configured to be connected to at least one clip attachment member that sures the wire strand attachment clip to a collated group of wire strand attachment clips.",
    "6. A wire strand attachment clip comprising: a wire catch; a first attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the first attachment arm including a first forearm, a first wrist, and a first hand, the first hand including a first outer corner edge facing away from the first forearm and a first inner corner edge facing the first forearm, wherein the first hand is closer to the wire catch than the first wrist; a second attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the second attachment arm including a second forearm, a second wrist, and a second hand, the second hand including a second outer corner edge facing away from the second forearm and a second inner corner edge facing the second forearm, wherein the second hand is closer to the wire catch than the second wrist; a third attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the third attachment arm including a third forearm, a third wrist, and a third hand, the third hand including a third outer corner edge facing away from the third forearm and a third inner corner edge facing the third forearm, wherein the third hand is closer to the wire catch than the third wrist; and a fourth attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the fourth attachment arm including a fourth forearm, a fourth wrist, and a fourth hand, the fourth hand including a fourth outer corner edge facing away from the fourth forearm and a fourth inner corner edge facing the fourth forearm, wherein the fourth hand is closer to the wire catch than the fourth wrist, wherein the first wrist, the second wrist, the third wrist, and the fourth wrist are the forward most portions of the wire strand attachment clip, wherein the wire catch, the first attachment arm, the second attachment arm, the third attachment arm, and the fourth attachment arm are positionable on a T-shaped support post to attach a wire strand to that T-shaped support post: (a) such that the first, second, third, and fourth inner corner edges of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment hands engage spaced apart front surfaces of the T-shaped support post, (b) such that the wire catch, the first, second, third, and fourth attachment arms hold the wire strand, and (c) such that the first wrist, the second wrist, the third wrist, and the fourth wrist are each spaced apart from and forward of the T-shaped support post, wherein the wire catch, the first attachment arm, the second attachment arm, the third attachment arm, and the fourth attachment arm are formed from a solid flat metal sheet.",
    "7. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 6, wherein the wire catch has an hourglass shape.",
    "8. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 6, wherein the first forearm, the second forearm, the third forearm, and the fourth forearm are engageable with respective outer side surfaces of the post.",
    "9. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 6, wherein the wire catch is configured to be connected to at least one clip attachment member that sures the wire strand attachment clip to a collated group of wire strand attachment clips.",
    "10. A wire strand attachment clip comprising: a wire catch including a rear wire engager, wherein the rear wire engager has an hourglass shape; a first attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the first attachment arm including a first forearm, a first wrist, and a first hand, the first hand including a first outer corner edge facing away from the first forearm and a first inner corner edge facing the first forearm, wherein the first hand is closer to the wire catch than the first wrist; a second attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the second attachment arm including a second forearm, a second wrist, and a second hand, the second hand including a second outer corner edge facing away from the second forearm and a second inner corner edge facing the second forearm, wherein the second hand is closer to the wire catch than the second wrist; a third attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the third attachment arm including a third forearm, a third wrist, and a third hand, the third hand including a third outer corner edge facing away from the third forearm and a third inner corner edge facing the third forearm, wherein the third hand is closer to the wire catch than the third wrist; and a fourth attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the fourth attachment arm including a fourth forearm, a fourth wrist, and a fourth hand, the fourth hand including a fourth outer corner edge facing away from the fourth forearm and a fourth inner corner edge facing the fourth forearm, wherein the fourth hand is closer to the wire catch than the fourth wrist, wherein the first wrist, the second wrist, the third wrist, and the fourth wrist are the forward most portions of the wire strand attachment clip, wherein the wire catch, the first attachment arm, the second attachment arm, the third attachment arm, and the fourth attachment arm are positionable on a T-shaped support post to attach a wire strand to that T-shaped support post: (a) such that the first, second, third, and fourth inner corner edges of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment hands engage spaced apart front surfaces of the T-shaped support post, (b) such that the wire catch, the first, second, third, and fourth attachment arms hold the wire strand, and (c) such that the first wrist, the second wrist, the third wrist, and the fourth wrist are each spaced apart from and forward of the T-shaped support post.",
    "11. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 10, which is formed from a solid flat metal sheet.",
    "12. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 10, wherein the first forearm, the second forearm, the third forearm, and the fourth forearm are engageable with respective outer side surfaces of the post.",
    "13. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 10, wherein the wire catch is configured to be connected to at least one clip attachment member that sures the wire strand attachment clip to a collated group of wire strand attachment clips."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Various widely used fences (such as boundary fences, farm fences, and livestock boundary fences) have incorporated a series of wire strands (such as an electrically conductive metal single wire, barbed wire, or other wire with multiple strands) attached to a series of metal support posts that are each secured in the ground. The metal support posts frequently used for such fences include a ground securing mechanism connected to an elongated stem. The elongated stem extends upwardly (typically vertically) from the ground securing mechanism. The elongated stem typically has a T-shaped cross-section and typically has spaced-apart alignment guides that are sometimes employed to maintain the spacing of wire strands that form the fence. In various known fences, each of the wire strands are secured to each of the metal posts by a wire strand attachment device. Various known wire strand attachment devices have been employed. For example, one such known wire strand attachment device includes a short length of attachment wire that has a first end wrapped around the wire strand, a middle section passed around the metal support post, and a second end wrapped around the wire strand to hold the wire strand to the metal support post. To attain a tightly stretched and secured fence when using the this wire strand attached device, it is often necessary to employ a tool such as a wire puller in tandem. This is a time-consuming and cumbersome task, especially in view of the large quantity of such wire strand attachment devices that are needed to build a typical large boundary fence.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04H 17/124",
    "F16B 2/245",
    "F16B 2/248"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04H 17/10",
    "F16B 2/24"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Illinois Tool Works Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Daniel Stemper",
    "Patrick Schaefer",
    "Anthony Versino",
    "Graeme Young"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2023-11-08",
  "publication_date": "2024-11-26",
  "grant_date": "2024-11-26",
  "priority_date": "2020-06-03",
  "application_number": "US-202318504803-A",
  "family_id": "78817197",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}