Post

Abstract

A post that comprises at least one elongate flange with one or more spaced apertures therethrough is disclosed. A given one of the apertures is located and configured to be elongate, whereby a longitudinal axis of the given aperture is generally parallel to or aligned with an elongate axis of the flange. Configuration of the aperture, as presently disclosed, has surprisingly been shown to assist with the prevention of failure of the post at the aperture when a bending moment is applied to the post in a first instance. The post may be employed in applications such as fencing, demarcation, signage, retention, barricades etc.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A Y- or T-post, being of a type that comprises a major flange that defines a stalk in the Y- or T-post, and remaining flanges that define wings in the Y- or T-post, the stalk having an elongate axis, the stalk comprising one or more spaced apertures therethrough that are arranged along the stalk with respect to the elongate axis, with a given aperture being located and configured to be elongate, whereby a longitudinal axis of the given aperture is generally parallel to or aligned with the stalk elongate axis. 
     
     
         17 . A post as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the given aperture is located where the greatest bending moment occurs in the post in use. 
     
     
         18 . A post as claimed in  claim 16  wherein, in use, the given aperture is at least one of a group of lowermost apertures in the stalk. 
     
     
         19 . A post as claimed in  claim 18  wherein, in use, the group of lowermost apertures, comprising at least one given aperture, are more closely spaced along the longitudinal axis than a remainder of the apertures. 
     
     
         20 . A post as claimed in  claim 16  wherein, when the post is inserted into ground, in-use, the given aperture is the lowermost aperture at or above the ground. 
     
     
         21 . A post as claimed in  claim 16  wherein, when the post comprises a plurality of spaced apertures, the given aperture comprises one or more of the spaced apertures. 
     
     
         22 . A post as claimed in  claim 21  wherein each given aperture may be configured in the same, or a different, manner. 
     
     
         23 . A post as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the given aperture comprises a substantially straight leading edge, with reference to a distal edge of the stalk. 
     
     
         24 . A post as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the given aperture comprises top and bottom edges extending, from the leading edge, away from the stalk distal edge. 
     
     
         25 . A post as claimed in  claim 24  wherein at least one of the top and bottom edges extends arcuately, for at least a portion thereof, from the leading edge. 
     
     
         26 . A post as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the top and bottom edges extend to a substantially straight trailing edge. 
     
     
         27 . A post as claimed in  claim 26  wherein at least one of the top and bottom edges forms a semi-circle between the leading and trailing edges. 
     
     
         28 . A post as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the post is formed from steel. 
     
     
         29 . A method of improving the ductility of a Y- or T-post being of a type that comprises a major flange that defines a stalk in the Y- or T-post, and remaining flanges that define wings in the Y- or T-post, the stalk having an elongate axis, the stalk comprising one or more spaced apertures therethrough that are arranged along the stalk with respect to the elongate axis, the method comprising locating and configuring a given aperture in the stalk to be elongate, whereby a longitudinal axis of the given aperture is generally parallel to or aligned with the stalk elongate axis. 
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the given aperture is located where the greatest bending moment occurs in the post in use.