Fence protector

Application filed October 13, 1930. Serial No. 488,523

This invention relates to an improved fence protector in the form of a supplemental barbed wire, and brackets for attaching said barbed wire in spaced horizontal paralleli' ism to the line wires of a conventional wire fence.

Protecting a wire fence is a worthwhile project and unless protected in some way, the stock will ride it down by reaching through ¹⁰ to the other side, or by rubbing, stamping, or climbing on it, and in a few years it is necessary to replace the wires, if not the entire fence.

With the foregoing defects and objections ¹⁵ in mind, I have evolved and produced a simple and economical protector structure which is primarily characterized by an improved attaching bracket which is susceptible of easy _o application and removal on a conventional ²³ open-work wire fence.

In. developing the structure for accomplishing the desired result, I have provided a bracket which can be easily and quickly _o placed in position and removed, which stays “⁵ put, holds the barbed wire properly and securely, and does not require short pieces of wire, bolts, nails, screws or other fastenings to hold it to the post or fence, or to hold the barbed wire from falling down.

A further object is to provide a bracket which can be installed on any wire fence that has line wires and stay wires, regardless of the character of post used. One that can be installed anywhere desired on the fence, either high or low, at the post or between the post, and a structure which is neither a puzzle or a problem to apply and remove.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the bracket and barbed wire attached to the fence.

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure seen in Figure 1.

‘’’ Figure 3 is a perspective view of the anchoring end of the brace.

In the drawings, the horizontal line wires are indicated by the numerals 4 and the vertical stay wires by the numerals 5. This is an ordinary wire fence construction. The barbed wire which serves as a guard, is indicated by the numeral 6. This is also conventional.

The primary part of the bracket is designated by the numeral 7. It is formed from 55 a single length of wire bent upon itself into substantial V-shaped formation. The diverging arm portions are distinguished by the numerals 8 and 9. The intermediate or apex portion, is bent into a double ply retain 60 ing hook 10 in which the barbed wire 6 seats.

The inner , ends of the arms 8 and 9 are bent to permit attachment to the fence wires 4 and 5. This is accomplished by forming a return bend from the wire-ends as at 11, 65 then forming a U-shaped portion 12 to straddle the vertical wires 5 and providing a hook terminal 13 of appropriate angularity to engage over the wire 4.. Thus the U-shaped part 12 embraces the wire 5 and the U-shaped 70 portions 11 and 13 engage the wire 4 on opposite sides of the wire 5 making a convenient and dependable connection.

The numeral 14 designates a substantially diagonal brace which has an eye 15 at the 75 upper end surrounding the hooked end portion of the bracket 7. In fact, this eye 15 slides beneath the bill of the hook 10 and constitutes a keeper for holding the barbed wire therein as shown, in Figure 2. 80

The anchoring end of the brace is formed with, a return bend 16 and a peculiarly shaped portion 17 having a hook terminal 18 forming an appropriate fastener or anchor for attaching the brace to the line wire as shown in ⁸³Figure 2. The angularity of the hook 18 is such as to provide a guard to prevent accidental displacement of the brace and to make it necessary, to remove the brace manually by. getting it into proper angular relation- ^i)!ship with respect to the line wire on which it is anchored.

This prevents the animals from disengaging the brace accidentally and allowing the bracket to fall. 95

It is. thought, that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a ^loc ,841 portions, and terminal hooks providing fasteners for embracing intersecting horizontal and vertical wires of a fence structure,, and a brace comprising a length of wire having an eye at one end embracing the hooked inter- 70 mediate portion of said bracket, and provided at its opposite ends with anchoring hooks for engagement with a line wire.

6. The combination with a guard wire and a wire fence having a pair of spaced super- 75 posed line wires and a pair of spaced line wires connecting stay wires, of a guard wire support-comprising a single length of wire bent into substantially V-formation, the apex portion including an integral guard wire re- ⁸⁰ceiving.seat and .the free .ends having ,a detachable ..connection with.the line wire,at the line wire , and stay wire connection .and .partially embracing the stay .wire at .the connection, and a.brace .wire having one end detach- ⁸⁵ably mounted on the other line wire and associated with .the .apex portion for locking the guard wire-in .the seat.

.The combination with a guard wire .and a wire fence having, a pair of spaced super- ⁹⁰posed line wires and a pair .of .spaced line wires connecting stay wires, , of a guard .wire support comprising a single length of wire, bent.into.substantially V-formation,the apex portion including -an integral, guard wire ,re- ⁹⁵ceiving.seat and the free ends'having,a .detachable connection with the line wire.at the line wire and stay wire·-connectionrand partially embracing the line wire, at’both sides of the stay wire and partially, embracing the ¹⁰⁰stay wire.at the connection,.a brace wirehaving one end detachably mounted on tlie-other line wire and associated with the.apexportion for locking the guard wire in .the seat, and brace means operatively-associated with ¹⁰⁵the apex portion for securing the-guard wire in the seat and operatively , associated with the other wire for bracing purposes.

In testimony whereof I affix-my-signature.

' earl e. McDonald, ho ¹>⁸⁵⁶ more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field _β of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice if desired.