AU2007237316B2 - Anchor - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract 5 An anchor comprising a base portion, the base portion including penetration means adapted to penetrate the sea bed and be retained thereon, an elongate member extending outwardly from said base portion, and balance means associated with said elongate member, said balance means located at a point between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate member. - 13

Description

An Anchor Field of the Invention. The present invention relates to an anchor. In particular, the present invention relates 5 to an improved anchor with increased holding power and reduced environmental impact. Background Art. Plough-style anchors have been in use since the 1930s and are very popular amongst 10 sailors due to their ability to be used in most sea bed conditions. Typically, plough anchors comprise a heavy, thick shank which is bent or curved, and/or a roll bar to assist in rolling the anchor off its back or side during use and onto its tip where it will penetrate the sea bed and therefore hold a vessel, such as a boat or ship, in place. 15 The use of the heavy shank and roll bar adds a significant amount of weight to the anchor, resulting in high resistance to the anchor penetrating the sea bed. This increased resistance reduces the effectiveness of the anchor by increasing the time taken for the anchor to successfully penetrate the sea floor and hold the vessel. In addition, a resistance to the anchor penetrating the sea bed means that the anchor will 20 be dragged across the sea bed before eventually holding, increasing the potential for damage to the sea bed and to marine life. Thus, there would be an advantage if it were possible to provide an anchor with increased ease of use, sea bed penetration speed, holding power and reliability, with 25 minimal impact on the marine environment. It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country. 30 Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context of use indicates otherwise.

2 Object of the Invention. It is an object of the present invention to provide an anchor which may overcome at least some of the abovementioned disadvantages, or provide a useful or commercial choice. 5 In one aspect of the invention, there is provided an anchor comprising a base portion, the base portion including penetration means adapted to penetrate the sea bed and be retained thereon, an elongate member extending outwardly from said base portion, and a balance means associated with said elongate member, the balance means located 10 at a point between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate member, and comprising one or more projections extending outwardly from the rear and one or more sides of said elongate member, wherein the balance means and the base portion are located substantially parallel to one another. 15 The anchor may be constructed from any suitable material, such as, but not limited to, metal, plastic, wood, concrete and the like. The anchor may be formed as one piece (such as by molding the anchor), or may be constructed as two or more pieces that are subsequently connected together in temporary or permanent engagement. If the anchor is constructed in two or more pieces, each piece may be constructed of the 20 same material. Alternatively, the two or more pieces may be constructed from different materials. The anchor of the present invention may be constructed in a wide range of sizes depending on the application to which it is to be applied. For instance, if the anchor is 25 to be used for larger boats, the anchor will be constructed in a larger size than if it were to be used for a smaller boat. The penetration means may be formed integrally with the base portion or may be formed separately from the base portion. The penetration means may be of any 30 suitable configuration. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the penetration means comprises at least one tapered or sharpened point adapted for penetration of the sea bed. In some embodiments of the invention the penetration means may be barbed, serrated, in the shape of an arrowhead or the like in order to assist in retaining the anchor on the sea bed.

3 The base portion of the anchor may be of any suitable configuration. However, it is preferred that the base portion is shaped in a way that assists in angling the penetration means towards the sea bed during use. In some embodiments of the invention, the base portion comprises a curved section. The base portion may further comprise one 5 or more stabilizing means to improve the balance of the anchor. The stabilizing means may be of any suitable form, such as, but not limited to, one or more projections extending outwardly from an outer edge of the base portion. The stabilizing means may extend along the entire length of an outer edge of the base portion, or only a portion of the length of the outer edge. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the 10 stabilizing means comprise a pair of projections (or "ears") located opposite one another on the base portion. Preferably, the said pair of projections extend downwardly from respective outer edges of the base portion. The elongate member (or "shank") may be of any suitable construction. However, it is 15 preferred that the elongate member comprises a substantially straight member extending outwardly from the base portion. Preferably, the elongate member extends substantially upwardly from an upper surface of the base portion. In some embodiments of the invention, a proximal end of the elongate member is connected to the base portion, while a distal end of the elongate member is located at a point 20 furthest from the portion. By providing a substantially straight elongate member, the anchor may penetrate deeper into the sea bed due to reduced resistance compared to a bent or curved shank as used in prior art anchors. Furthermore, the addition of balance means to the elongate member allows the elongate member to be positioned further forward on the base portion. In some embodiments of the invention, the elongate 25 member is connected to the base portion in such a way that less than 50% of the upper surface of the base portion is located between the elongate member and the penetration means. More preferably, the elongate member is connected to the base portion in such a way that less than 30% of the upper surface of the base portion is located between the elongate member and the penetration means. This significantly 30 reduces the vertical force required to change the direction of the anchor when retrieving it, making the anchor easier to pull free from the sea bed than prior art anchors. This, in turn, reduces damage to the marine environment and minimises the chances of the anchor becoming trapped under rocks or coral reefs.

4 The elongate member may be constructed to have a relatively narrow cross-sectional area. By providing the elongate member with a relatively narrow cross-sectional area, the weight of he elongate member may be significantly reduced in comparison to prior 5 art anchors. The elongate member may be provided with connection means. The connection means may be any suitable means that allow the anchor to be connected to a vessel (such as a ship or boat) via a spoolable member (such as rope, chain, cable and the like). In some 10 embodiments the connection means may comprise a clamp, clip, hook or any other means to which a spoolable member may be connected. Alternatively, the connection means may comprise one or more bores extending at least partially through the elongate member, into or through which a spoolable member may be passed and connected. 15 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection means is located at or adjacent the distal end of the elongate member. As stated previously, the anchor of the present invention comprises balance means 20 located at a point intermediate the distal and proximal ends of the elongate member. The balance means may comprise any suitable means adapted to affect the balance of the anchor during use such that the anchor will turn in order to angle the penetration means towards the sea bed. In this way, a greater proportion of the weight of the anchor is exerted on the sea bed by the penetration means during use than with prior 25 art anchors. This causes the anchor of the present invention to set faster and more reliably than prior art anchors. The balance means preferably extends outwardly from the elongate member at a point approximately midway between the proximal and distal ends of the elongate member, 30 although a person skilled in the art will understand that in order to provide the anchor with the correct balance, it may be necessary to locate the balance means at other points on the elongate member depending on the size and weight of the anchor.

5 The balance means may be formed integrally with the elongate member, or may be constructed separately and either permanently or temporarily attached to the elongate member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the balance means comprises one or more projections extending outwardly from the elongate member, preferably in 5 the opposite direction to the penetration means. The balance means may comprise one or more relatively thin, flat projections extending substantially horizontally outwards from the elongate member. The exact shape of the balance means is not critical to the working of the invention, provided that the balance means extends outwardly from the rear and one or more sides of the balance means a sufficient distance to improve the 10 balance of the anchor during use. In some embodiments of the invention, the balance means provides an additional surface area of between I and 50% of the surface area of the base portion. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the balance means provides an additional 15 surface area of between 5 and 30% of the surface area of the base portion. In a still more preferred embodiment of the invention, the balance means provides an additional surface area of between 10 and 20% of the surface area of the base portion The balance means of the present invention affects the balance of the anchor through a 20 combination of its weight and hydrodynamic forces acting on the anchor during use. In particular, when the anchor is being pulled through the water, the weight of the balance means and the hydrodynamic forces acting on the anchor serve to rapidly orientate the anchor in such a way that the penetration means are angled towards the sea bed. In this way, the anchor of the present invention is rapidly in position to 25 penetrate the sea bed and hold the vessel in place. The anchor of the present invention provides a number of significant advantages over the prior art. Firstly, the present anchor is able to penetrate deeper into the sea bed, increasing the holding power of the anchor. Secondly, the initial penetration of the sea 30 bed using the anchor of the present invention is faster and more reliable than with prior art anchors. This reduces damage to the marine environment caused by the anchor dragging prior to penetrating the sea bed. Thirdly, less force is required to retrieve the anchor of the present invention from the sea bed when it is no longer 6 required, causing reduced damage to the marine environment. Finally, the anchor of the present invention is lighter than prior art anchors, making it cheaper to produce, easier to retrieve from the sea bed and more convenient to store on board a vessel when not in use. 5 Brief Description of the Drawings. An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a view of an anchor according to an embodiment of the 10 present invention when in use; Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of an anchor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Drawings. 15 It will be appreciated that the drawings have been provided for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and that the invention should not be considered to be limited solely to the features as shown in the drawings. In Figure 1 there is illustrated an anchor 10 according to an embodiment of the present 20 invention. The anchor 10 comprises a base portion 11, an elongate member 12 extending substantially upwardly from the base portion 11 and balance means 13 extending rearwardly from the rear and sides of the elongate member 12. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the balance means 13 is located approximately midway between the proximal end 14 and the distal end 15 of the 25 elongate member 12. The base portion 11 comprises penetration means 16 in the form of an arrowhead shaped tip adapted to be driven into the sea bed 17. The base portion 11 further comprises a pair of projections 18 (or "ears") extending downwardly from an outer 30 edge 19 of the base portion 11 and adapted to assist in balancing the anchor 10 such that the penetration means 16 is angled towards the sea bed 17. The elongate member 12 is a substantially straight member and comprises connection 7 means 20 in the form of a bore extending entirely through the elongate member 12. The connections means are located adjacent the distal end 15 of the elongate member 12, and is adapted to connect the anchor 10 to a vessel (not shown) via a spoolable member (not shown) such as rope, chain, cable and the like. 5 The balance means 13 comprises a thin plate located so as to be substantially parallel to an upper surface 21 of the base portion 11. The balance means 13 assists in turning the anchor 10 during use to the position illustrated in Figure 1 wherein the penetration means 16 are positioned above the sea bed 17 ready to penetrate the sea bed 17 and be 10 retained thereon. The additional surface area provided by the balance means 13 and the fact that the elongate member 12 is straight increases the depth into the sea bed 17 to which the penetration means 16 penetrates, thereby significantly increasing the holding power of the anchor 10 in comparison to prior art anchors. 15 In Figure 2 there is illustrated a perspective view of the anchor 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this Figure, the shape of the base portion 11 may be more clearly seen, particularly the tapering of the base portion 11 at the penetration means 16. The arrowhead shape of the penetration means 16 may also be more clearly seen. The base portion comprises a pair of projections 18 or "ears" 20 extending downwardly in use from an outer edge 19 of the base portion 11. The balance means 13 is located on the elongate member 12 at a point approximately midway between a proximal end 14 and a distal end 15 of the elongate member 12. In the anchor 10 illustrated in Figure 2, the elongate member 12 may be provided as a 25 substantially straight member as the balance means 13 creates an axis 22 around which the anchor 10 is balanced. Thus, the weight and size of the elongate member 12 may be significantly reduced by the presence of the balance means 13. The location of the axis 22 around which the anchor 10 balances cause the anchor 10 30 to turn during use in the direction indicated by arrow 23. Thus, the natural tendency of the anchor 10 during use is to turn or rotate so that the penetration means 16 is angled downwardly towards the sea bed (not shown). This results in significantly faster penetration of the sea bed (not shown), reducing damage to the marine environment 8 caused by an anchor dragging across the sea bed (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will be 5 understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

Claims (9)

1. An anchor comprising a base portion, the base portion including penetration means adapted to penetrate the sea bed and be retained 5 thereon, an elongate member extending outwardly from said base portion, and a balance means associated with said elongate member, the balance means located at a point between a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate member, and comprising one or more projections extending outwardly from the rear and one or 10 more sides of said elongate member, wherein the balance means and the base portion are located substantially parallel to one another.

2. An anchor according to claim I wherein the balance means provides an additional surface area of between 1 and 50% of the surface area of 15 the base portion.

3. An anchor according to any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the balance means is located approximately midway between the proximal and distal ends of the elongate member.

4. An anchor according to any one of claims I to 3 wherein the 20 penetration means comprises at least one sharpened or tapered point.

5. An anchor according to any one of claims I to 4 wherein the penetration means is barbed, serrated or arrowhead-shaped.

6. An anchor according to any one of claims I to 5 wherein the elongate 25 member is connected to the base portion at a point toward the front of the base portion.

7. An anchor according to any one of claims I to 6 wherein the elongate member comprises connection means adapted to connect the anchor to a vessel via a spoolable member. 30

8. An anchor according to claim 7 wherein the connection means is located at or adjacent the distal end of the elongate member.

9. An anchor as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.