# US 8,540,217 B2 · Fence post assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,217 B2 - Document ID: US8540217B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/636,491 - Filed: 2009-12-11 - Published: 2010-08-12 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-13 - Applicants: Ashley Dean Olsson; Ashley Norman Olsson; Nathanael Dean Olsson; Stafford James Olsson; Kieran Blake Olsson - Inventors: Ashley Dean Olsson; Ashley Norman Olsson; Nathanael Dean Olsson; Stafford James Olsson; Kieran Blake Olsson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540217B2 ## CPC - E04H 17/12: the wire being placed in slots, grooves, or the like - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fence post assembly (120) comprising a fence post (121) and at least one keeper (122) for holding a fencing wire (2) relative to the post (121). The keeper (122) is movable between a holding position in which the wire (2) is held relative to the post (121) and a release position in which the wire (2) may be released from the post (121). The keeper (121) comprises a slot (123) extending within the post (121) for receiving the wire (2) and a retainer (124) connected to the post (121) that is pivotable between the holding and release positions, wherein in the holding position the retainer (124) obstructs the slot (123). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fence post assembly for holding a fencing member comprising: a fence post comprising at least one longitudinally extending arm having a longitudinal edge; and at least one keeper capable of holding the fencing member within the at least one arm, wherein the at least one keeper comprises: at least one slot extending within the at least one arm from the longitudinal edge and having a blind end capable of receiving a fencing member; and at least one retainer assembly comprising a plate or sheet retainer, wherein the retainer is exterior to the slot and comprises: a post mounting region at which the retainer is pivotally connected to the at least one arm at a pivot point and rotatable alongside and substantially parallel with the at least one arm between a holding position and a release position; and a fencing member engaging region, wherein in the holding position the fencing member engaging region extends across the slot at a point in substantially vertical alignment with the pivot point, is adapted to retain a fencing member within the blind end of the slot and is positioned so as not to be placed under load by a fencing member should the fencing member be subjected to a substantially horizontal force in the direction of the longitudinal edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer is biased to automatically return from the release position to the holding position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the post mounting region is pivotally mounted to the at least one arm at the pivot point by way of a pin of the retainer assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fence post assembly of claim 3, wherein the fencing member engaging region extends across the slot vertically in line with the pin when the retainer is in the holding position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fence post assembly of claim 3, wherein the retainer further comprises a counter-balance region to bias the retainer to the holding position under the influence of gravity, wherein in the holding position the counter-balance region is positioned alongside the at least one arm and exterior to the slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The fence post assembly of claim 3, wherein the pin of the retainer assembly comprises an enlarged head, such that the retainer is positioned between the head and the at least one arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The fence post assembly of claim 3, wherein the pin of the retainer assembly is adapted to prevent the retainer from rotating substantially beyond the holding and release positions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot follows a substantially L or J-shaped path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer is shaped to pivot in a first direction to the holding position under the influence of gravity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fence post assembly of claim 9, wherein the retainer is pivotable in a second direction opposite to the first direction such that a fencing member is able to be moved to the blind end of the slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one keeper is adapted to retain a fencing member selected from the group consisting of a plain wire, a barbed wire and a mesh panel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one keeper is adapted to retain a fencing member selected from the group consisting of an insulator, a bracket, a rain gauge, and a member capable or designed to fit within the blind end of the slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the fence post assembly comprises a plurality of said keepers spaced along a length of the at least one arm of the post. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the fence post assembly comprises a plurality of said keepers spaced along a length of the at least one arm, and the keepers are adapted to hold a fencing member comprising a mesh panel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm of the post comprises a longitudinal metallic portion and a non-metallic portion extending longitudinally along the metallic portion, wherein the non-metallic portion has a plurality of keepers spaced along a length of the non-metallic portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fence post assembly of claim 15, wherein the non-metallic portion is a non-conductive material strip connectable to the metallic portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer is substantially planar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer assembly further comprises a travel stop independent of the slot that prevents the retainer from rotating substantially beyond the holding and release positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The fence post assembly of claim 18, wherein the travel stop is a projection extending laterally from said at least one arm that engages the retainer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The fence post assembly of claim 18, wherein the travel stop engages the retainer when in the holding position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The fence post assembly of claim 18, wherein the travel stop of the retainer assembly comprises an enlarged head, such that when the retainer is in the holding position the retainer is positioned between the head and the at least one arm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The fence post assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer is a plate. ### Claim 23 A fence post assembly for holding a fencing member comprising: a fence post comprising a non-conductive material strip that forms part of an arm of the fence post and is connectable to a longitudinal edge of a metallic arm of the fence post at a mating longitudinal edge of the non-conductive material strip, wherein the non-conductive material strip includes an outer longitudinal edge that is distal from the mating longitudinal edge of the non-conductive material strip; and at least one keeper capable of holding the fencing member within the non-conductive material strip, wherein the at least one keeper comprises: at least one slot extending within the non-conductive material strip from the outer longitudinal edge and having a blind end capable of receiving a fencing member; and at least one retainer assembly comprising a plate or sheet retainer, wherein the retainer is exterior to the slot and comprises: a post mounting region at which the retainer is pivotally connected to the non-conductive material strip at a pivot point and rotatable alongside and substantially parallel with the non-conductive material strip between a holding position and a release position; and a fencing member engaging region, wherein in the holding position the fencing member engaging region extends across the slot at a point in substantially vertical alignment with the pivot point, is adapted to retain a fencing member within the blind end of the slot and is positioned so as not to be placed under load by a fencing member should the fencing member be subjected to a substantially horizontal force in the direction of the outer longitudinal edge. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The fence post assembly of claim 23, wherein the slot follows a substantially L or J-shaped path. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The fence post assembly of claim 23, wherein the retainer is shaped to pivot in a first direction to the holding position under the influence of gravity and the retainer is pivotable in a second direction opposite to the first direction such that a fencing member is able to be moved to the blind end of the slot. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The fence post assembly of claim 23, wherein the retainer assembly further comprises a travel stop independent of the slot that prevents the retainer from rotating substantially beyond the holding and release positions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The fence post assembly of claim 23, wherein the fence post assembly comprises a plurality of said keepers spaced along a length of the non-conductive material strip. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The fence post assembly of claim 23, wherein the post mounting region is pivotally mounted to the non-conductive material strip at the pivot point by way of a pin of the retainer assembly. ### Claim 29 A fence post assembly comprising: a fence post comprising at least one longitudinally extending arm having a longitudinal edge; at least one fencing member; and at least one keeper capable of holding the fencing member within the at least one arm, wherein the at least one keeper comprises: at least one slot extending within the at least one arm from the longitudinal edge and having a blind end capable of receiving a fencing member; and at least one retainer assembly comprising a plate or sheet retainer, wherein the retainer is exterior to the slot and comprises: a post mounting region at which the retainer is pivotally connected to the at least one arm at a pivot point and rotatable alongside and substantially parallel with the at least one arm between a holding position and a release position; and a fencing member engaging region, wherein in the holding position the fencing member engaging region extends across the slot at a point in substantially vertical alignment with the pivot point, is adapted to retain a fencing member within the blind end of the slot and is positioned so as not to be placed under load by a fencing member should the fencing member be subjected to a substantially horizontal force in the direction of the longitudinal edge. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The fence post assembly of claim 29, wherein the at least one fencing member is selected from the group consisting of a plain wire, a barbed wire, a mesh panel, an insulator, a bracket and a rain gauge. ### Claim 31 A fence post assembly comprising: a fence post comprising a non-conductive material strip that forms part of an arm of the fence post and is connectable to a longitudinal edge of a metallic arm of the fence post at a mating longitudinal edge of the non-conductive material strip, wherein the non-conductive material strip includes an outer longitudinal edge that is distal from the mating longitudinal edge of the non-conductive material strip; at least one fencing member; and at least one keeper capable of holding the fencing member within the non-conductive material strip, wherein the at least one keeper comprises: at least one slot extending within the non-conductive material strip from the outer longitudinal edge and having a blind end capable of receiving a fencing member; and at least one retainer assembly comprising a plate or sheet retainer, wherein the retainer is exterior to the slot and comprises: a post mounting region at which the retainer is pivotally connected to the non-conductive material strip at a pivot point and rotatable alongside and substantially parallel with the non-conductive material strip between a holding position and a release position; and a fencing member engaging region, wherein in the holding position the fencing member engaging region extends across the slot at a point in substantially vertical alignment with pivot point, is adapted to retain a fencing member within the blind end of the slot and is positioned so as not to be placed under load by a fencing member should the fencing member be subjected to a substantially horizontal force in the direction of the outer longitudinal edge. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The fence post assembly of claim 31, wherein the at least one fencing member is selected from the group consisting of a plain wire, a barbed wire, a mesh panel, an insulator, a bracket and a rain gauge.