Fence post assembly, portable fencing system and method

Abstract

A fence post assembly, as well as a fencing system and related method utilizing the fence post assembly, for forming a temporary enclosure, such as a horse corral for restraining horses. The fence post assembly is provided with an extensible and retractable fence strand, such as polytape or wire, as well as a ground anchor at one end of the post to enable the post to be anchored into the ground. The extendable and retractable fence strand is selectively positionable along the length of the post between the first and second opposite ends thereof. In addition, the fence strand can be electrically conductive to permit the enclosure to be electrified. Provision is made to maintain electrical continuity between fence strands.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A fence post assembly, comprising: 
 a post having first and second opposite ends;    a ground anchor connected to the post adjacent the first end for anchoring the post; and    a fence strand assembly connected to the post, said fence strand assembly includes an extendable and retractable fence strand, and said extendable and retractable fence strand is selectively positionable along the length of the post between the first and second opposite ends thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said extendable and retractable fence strand is at least partially disposed within a housing, and said housing is selectively positionable along the length of the post between the first and second opposite ends thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said extendable and retractable fence strand is connected to a spindle, and further including a spool connected to the spindle for rotating the spindle.  
     
     
         4 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 3 , further including a crank handle connected to the spool.  
     
     
         5 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said housing includes a clamp assembly connected thereto, said clamp assembly is in releasable clamping engagement with the post.  
     
     
         6 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said extendable and retractable fence strand includes an end disposed outside of said housing, and means for connecting the end of the fence strand to an object.  
     
     
         7 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said means for connecting comprises a gate handle attached to the end of the fence strand.  
     
     
         8 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said housing includes a lock lever associated therewith, said lock lever is selectively engageable with said extendable and retractable fence strand to control extension and retraction of the fence strand from the housing.  
     
     
         9 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the lock lever is pivotable relative to the housing between a first locking position and a second unlocked position.  
     
     
         10 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the lock lever includes a scalloped depression.  
     
     
         11 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the fence strand is electrically conductive.  
     
     
         12 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 11 , further including a wire connected to the housing, the wire includes a first end in the form of a loop and a second end positioned on an opposite side of the housing from the first end.  
     
     
         13 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 11 , further including a power source that provides electrical energy to the fence strand, and a controller that controls the electrical energy provided to the fence strand.  
     
     
         14 . A portable fencing system for forming an enclosure, comprising: 
 at least one fence post assembly, the at least one fence post assembly including: 
 a post having first and second opposite ends;  
 a ground anchor connected to the post adjacent the first end for anchoring the post; and  
 a fence strand assembly connected to the post, said fence strand assembly includes an extendable and retractable fence strand, and said extendable and retractable fence strand is selectively positionable along the length of the post between the first and second opposite ends thereof.  
   
     
     
         15 . The portable fencing system according to  claim 14 , including a plurality of said fence post assemblies.  
     
     
         16 . The portable fencing system according to  claim 15 , wherein the extendable and retractable fence strand of one of said fence post assemblies has a length that is sufficient to connect to an adjacent one of said fence post assemblies.  
     
     
         17 . The portable fencing system according to  claim 14 , wherein said extendable and retractable fence strand is at least partially disposed within a housing, and said housing is selectively positionable along the length of the post between the first and second opposite ends thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The portable fencing system according to  claim 17 , wherein said housing includes a clamp assembly connected thereto, said clamp assembly is in selective clamping engagement with the post.  
     
     
         19 . The portable fencing system according to  claim 17 , wherein the fence strand is electrically conductive.  
     
     
         20 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 19 , further including a wire connected to the housing, the wire includes a first end in the form of a loop and a second end positioned on an opposite side of the housing from the first end.  
     
     
         21 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 19 , further including a power source that provides electrical energy to the fence strand, and a controller that controls the electrical energy provided to the fence strand.  
     
     
         22 . A method of forming an enclosure, including the steps of: 
 providing a first fence post assembly having a post with first and second opposite ends, a ground anchor connected to the post adjacent the first end for anchoring the post and a fence strand assembly connected to the post, said fence strand assembly including an extendable and retractable fence strand, and said extendable and retractable fence strand being selectively positionable along the length of the post between the first and second opposite ends thereof;    anchoring the post to the ground;    extending the fence strand a sufficient amount to at least partially form an enclosure; and    positioning the fence strand along the length of the post to achieve the desired fence strand height.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further including: 
 providing at least one additional fence post assembly; and    using the at least one additional fence post assembly and said first fence post assembly to form the enclosure.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , further including: 
 connecting said first fence post assembly to said additional fence post assembly.    
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said additional fence post assembly is identical to said first fence post assembly.  
     
     
         26 . A fence strand assembly for a fence post, comprising: 
 a housing, the housing including a clamp assembly configured for releasable engagement with the fence post whereby the housing can be connected to and selectively positioned along the fence post; and    fence strand material at least partially disposed within the housing, said fence strand material is extendable and retractable relative to said housing.    
     
     
         27 . The fence strand assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the housing further includes a mechanism connected to the fence strand material for extending or retracting the fence strand material.  
     
     
         28 . The fence strand assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said housing further includes a lock lever, said lock lever is selectively engageable with said fence strand material to control extension and retraction of the fence strand material from the housing.  
     
     
         29 . The fence strand assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the fence strand is electrically conductive.  
     
     
         30 . The fence strand assembly according to  claim 29 , further including a wire connected to the housing, the wire includes a first end in the form of a loop and a second end positioned on an opposite side of the housing from the first end.  
     
     
         31 . A fencing kit, comprising: 
 a plurality of fence post assemblies, each fence post assembly including: 
 a fence post;  
 a ground anchor for anchoring the post; and  
 a fence strand assembly, said fence strand assembly includes an extendable and retractable fence strand, and means for selectively positioning the fence strand along the length of the post.  
   
     
     
         32 . The fencing kit according to  claim 31 , wherein said fence strand is electrically conductive.  
     
     
         33 . A fence post assembly, comprising: 
 a post having first and second opposite ends;    a ground anchor connected to the post adjacent the first end for anchoring the post; and    a fence strand assembly connected to the post, said fence strand assembly includes an extendable and retractable fence strand, and the fence strand is electrically conductive; and    means for providing electrical current to the electrically conductive fence strand.    
     
     
         34 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 33 , wherein said fence strand comprises bi-polar tape.  
     
     
         35 . The fence post assembly according to  claim 34 , wherein said bi-polar tape includes an end, and a gate handle connected to the end of the bi-polar tape, the gate handle including means for maintaining electrical continuity between the bi-polar tape and an object to which the gate handle is attached.