Folding Ground Stake

The client is a long established manufacturer of electric fencing products including electric fence energisers and ground stakes which are used as a means by which to support and hold the energisers. 

Hillside Product Design were asked to develop an energiser stake that could be folded to reduce its size. Unlike other ground stakes this would make it suitable for shipping inside pre-existing packaging. Due to the rugged and robust environment that this product would have to function in the stake would also have to be very strong and rigid enough to be driven into the ground.

Materials, fabrication and manufacturing processes were chosen so that sheet metal parts provided the strength while moulded plastic parts created the user operated parts. These included an easy to operate clip that would make it easy for the user to operate even on a cold day whilst they may be wearing gloves. All were designed to be corrosion resistant, suitable for 24/7 exposure to the elements.

The final design was developed and a verified using a cosmetic and mechanically functional prototype that Hillside Product Design had prepared. 3D CAD data and 2D control drawings were issued to toolmakers and fabricators for signoff allowing the client to proceed and manage production from this point.