AU2003204267B2 - Fence picket removal apparatus - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT FENCE PICKET REMOVAL APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: FENCE PICKET REMOVAL APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with an apparatus for the removal of fence pickets.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The invention will be primarily described in relation to the removal of metal fence pickets that have previously been installed into the earth, however it may also find application to the removal of other types of pickets and members.

Metal fence pickets are widely used in wire fencing, for example to enclose paddocks and other areas. Fence pickets are typically installed by means of a specialised picket hammer. Figure 1 depicts a fence picket 2 being driven into turf by means of a picket hammer 12. The fence picket has three longitudinal fins 54, at least one of which has a series of holes through which fence wires may be threaded.

Picket hammer 12 has a tubular body 4 which fits over picket 2 and is closed at one end by a heavy base 14. The picket hammer is repeatedly raised and brought down upon picket 2 by means of handles 8 and 6 so that base 14 strikes the top of picket 2 thereby forcing its lower end into turf The removal of metal fence pickets is often difficult and time consuming. This is because the pickets are usually deeply installed into the earth so that they are able to resist the strain placed on them by the fence wires that they support. Furthermore, in some types of soil, particularly sandy soils, it has been found that the subterranean portion of the picket may react chemically so that the picket fuses with the soil thereby making it very difficult to remove. Where substantial force is used to remove a picket it may be bent or otherwise damaged so that it cannot be used again in the future. Furthermore, the pickets may be difficult to engage.

One approach to fence picket removal is to lift them out of the earth by means of hydraulic lifters attached to motorised vehicles such as tractors. However, such an approach requires the use of expensive motorised machinery. Other approaches include digging around the base of the picket in order to loosen the earth about it so that the picket may be pulled out manually. Digging about the base of the picket is time consuming and tiring.

It will be realised from the above discussion that there is a need for an 0 improved approach to removing fence pickets.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that facilitates the convenient and straightforward removal of fence pickets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION r- According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fence picket N removal apparatus including: a base for supporting the apparatus; a handle pivotally connected to the base; and Can elongate engagement means coupled to the handle, and configured to extend and engage along a fin of a fence picket; wherein the handle operates as a lever for use by an operator of the apparatus.

Preferably the base is pivotally connected to the handle between an operator end of the handle and the engagement means.

In a preferred embodiment the base incorporates a fence picket hammer.

The engagement means may be adapted to receive the fin of the fence picket.

The engagement means may further include one or more slots or holes through which a key may be passed to engage a hole in the fin.

The engagement means may be configured as a rack. Preferably the rack is bifurcated to receive the fin.

Preferably the slots are slanted so that as the engagement means is moved along the picket towards the earth a key engaged in a hole in the fin, and passing through one of said slots, will tend to be forced out of the slot for entry into an upper slot.

In a further embodiment the engagement means may be coupled to the handle between an operator end of the handle and the base.

The base may be in two part form wherein one of the parts comprises a picket hammer.

A removal apparatus according to the invention may be supplied either assembled or in kit form.

Other preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description wherein the invention will be explained in relation to a number of exemplary drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate typical preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art picket hammer used in the installation of a fence picket.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a fence picket remover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a fence picket remover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a first operating position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fence picket remover of Figure 4 in a second operating position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fence picket remover according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of a fence picket removal apparatus 16 according to the present invention is depicted in Figures 2 to 4 wherein Figure 2 is an exploded view of the picket remover. Picket remover 16 includes a base 18. The base is conveniently provided in a two part form comprising a picket hammer 20 and a head portion 23. It will be realised that the base could be provided as a single piece however by incorporating a picket hammer into the base a user of the apparatus has the option of dissembling the base in order to use the picket hammer to install pickets if desired. Head portion 23 includes a shaft 28 dimensioned to be received into the tubular body 36 of picket hammer 20. A plate 22 is welded on the top of shaft 28.

Welded upon plate 22 are opposing lugs 30 and 32. The lugs are spaced to snugly receive pivot end 27 of operator handle 24 between them and have corresponding bores for receiving the shaft of bolt 26. The shaft of bolt 26 passes through the bores in lugs 30 and 32 and through a corresponding pivot hole 38 in handle 24 thereby pivotally connecting handle 24 to head portion 23. Handle portion 24 has an operator end 25 which is grasped by an operator during use. Base 18 forms a support for the picket removal apparatus and acts as a fulcrum about which handle 24 may be levered, as will be explained.

Picket remover 16 further includes a picket engaging means in the form of rack 40. The rack is bifurcated having a pair of opposing flanges 42 and 44 between which a fin of a picket may be received. The rack further includes a lug 46 and guide 48. Corresponding slots are formed in each flange for receiving a key 57. The slots slant diagonally from the outside of flanges 42 and 44 downward towards guide 48.

The key may be chained to rack 40 so that it is at hand during use of the apparatus.

Lug 46 has a bore for pivotal connection of rack 40 to handle 24. Bolt 50 passes through the bore in lug 46 and thence through corresponding holes 52 at the pivot end 27 of handle 24.

Figure 3 shows picket removal apparatus 16 in use for removal of picket 2.

Base 18 of the removal apparatus is positioned adjacent the picket so that a fin 54 of picket 2 is located between flanges 42 and 44 of rack 40. The operator end 25 of handle 24 is raised so that rack 40 is relatively lowered. In that position key 57 is inserted through a pair of slots in rack 40 and also through a hole in fin 54.

Initially key 57 is inserted through the lowermost slot in rack 40. Force is then applied to handle 24 in the direction shown by arrow 56 so that rack 40 is levered up about base 18 thereby exerting a lifting force on picket 2 via key 57 and lifting the picket. After the handle has been fully depressed the operator end 25 of the handle is raised. Upon raising end 25 rack 40 slides down picket 2. The picket, which is still engaged by the earth, and pin 57, which is engaged by the picket, remain stationary.

As the rack descends pin 57 is forced away from the rack until it escapes from the lowest slot in rack 40. It will be noted that the slots in rack 57 are angled so that forcing the rack downwards tends to force the pin out of the rack. As the rack continues to descend pin 57 comes adjacent the entrance to the second lowermost slot of the rack and enters it. Once pin 57 is engaged by the second lowermost slot the operator depresses handle 24 so that rack 40 is again raised thereby raising picket 2 further via pin 57. Subsequently the handle is lifted until pin 57 is transferred to the third lowermost slot of rack 40 wherein the handle is again depressed to raise picket 2 further. Figure 4 shows the position of the handle after it has been fully depressed.

The above procedure is repeated until the pin is transferred to an uppermost position on rack 40, being one where it rests on the top of the rack. If the picket is not disengaged from the earth at this point then pin 57 is removed and replaced in the lowermost slot of rack 40. The procedure is repeated as necessary until picket 2 is disengaged from the earth.

It will be realised that the removal apparatus is able to engage the picket even though fencing wires may be attached to the picket. This is in contrast to some prior art picket removal means, for example hydraulic lifters, which cannot readily engage pickets while fence wires are still attached.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5 wherein rack 40 is coupled to handle 24 between base 18 and the operator end of the handle. In order to raise the fence picket the handle is lifted, as indicated by arrow 60, rather than forced down as in the previous embodiment.

It will be realised that other embodiments and variations to the invention are possible. For example, the base may be provided as a single piece. Furthermore the picket engaging means, which is in the form of rack 40 in the embodiments described, may be alternatively configured.

In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (13)

1. A fence picket removal apparatus including: a base for supporting the apparatus; a handle pivotally connected to the base; and an elongate engagement means coupled to the handle, and configured to extend and engage along a fin of a fence picket; wherein the handle operates as a lever for use by an operator of the apparatus.

2. A fence picket removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base is pivotally connected to the handle between an operator end of the handle and the engagement means.

3. A fence picket removal apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the base incorporates a fence picket hammer.

4. A fence picket removal apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement means may be adapted to receive the fin of the fence picket.

A fence picket removal apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the engagement means further includes one or more slots through which a key may be passed to engage a hole in the fin.

6. A fence picket removal apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the engagement means is configured as a rack.

7. A fence picket removal apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the rack is bifurcated to receive the fin.

8. A fence picket removal apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the one or more slots are slanted so that as the engagement means is moved along the picket towards the earth a key engaged in a hole in the fin, and passing through one of said slots, will tend to be forced out of the slot for entry into an upper slot.

9. A fence picket removal apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement means is coupled to the handle between an operator end of the handle and the base.

A fence picket removal apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims without dependency upon claim 2, wherein the base is provided in a two-part form with one of the parts comprising a picket hammer.

11. A fence picket removal apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4.

12. A fence picket removal apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figure

13. A kit for a fence picket removal apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. George C.E. Lyons By my attorneys Eagar Newcomb Buck Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys