AU2009200939A1 - A peg guide and guy line anchor and its method of use - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Applicant(s): NORMAN MOXEY Actual Inventor(s): NORMAN MOXEY Address for Service: PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES 26 Ellingworth Parade Box Hill Victoria 3128 Australia Title: A PEG GUIDE AND GUY LINE ANCHOR AND ITS METHOD OF USE Associated Provisional Applications: No(s).: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 2 A PEG GUIDE AND GUY ROPE ANCHOR AND ITS METHOD OF USE Field of the Invention The invention relates to a peg guide and guy rope anchor and its method of use , e.g. for erecting tent or tent like structures. Background to the Invention Recreational camping is undertaken as a pleasurable leisure activity by a broad section of the community who participate in camping. A number of these people particularly older people, people with physical disabilities, people with illnesses and people with limited mechanical skills and/or experience find it difficult to satisfactorily erect a tent. The development of modern equipment is aimed at making camping easier, to improve camping safety and thereby improve the enjoyment of camping. Tents, caravan annexes and other temporary outdoor shelters are normally supported by guy ropes that are attached at one end to the tent/shelter and secured at the other end to the ground via tent pegs or stakes that are driven at an angle into the ground. The most basic system of tying a guy rope of a tent comprises hammering a tent peg into the ground, usually at about 45'. A guy rope is then passed around the hook or through the eye in the top tent peg and back to a toggle. In one form, the toggle comprises a piece of dowel about 100mm long and 2.5mm in diameter with two holes drilled diametrically through the dowel at opposite ends. The guy rope passes through one hole, down to the tent peg, back up to the other hole where its end is knotted, and by sliding the toggle along the rope the tension in the rope can be adjusted and the friction of the rope passing through around two sharp turns in passing through the first hole prevents the toggle from moving and releasing the tension. The most relevant prior art known to the applicant is: (1) US 6,619,307 (Orr). This specification shows a plastics peg which is driven into the ground with the point at which the guy rope is attached being shifted from the "head" of the peg part which is driven into the ground so that the line of force extends 3 down to the part of the peg more deeply embedded in the ground (which helps to resist dislodgment). (2) US 2007/0181171 which shows an anchor and in paragraph 0009 it-shows the holes being angled so that the stakes are at the required angle. It also shows the point at which the tope is attached being shifted laterally from the head of the stake or tent peg. (3) US 1,268,459 which shows another tent peg construction with a component to shift the rope anchoring point laterally. In use in normal camping situations the maximum tension in a guy rope that supports a tent is limited by the ground embedded tent peg's capacity to "grip" the ground. Guy ropes are normally attached to the tent peg at the upper part of the tent peg - where the tent peg first enters the ground. That is the area where the peg's penetration into the ground is shallow and least able to resist the force. Tent pegs are dislodged when the tension in the guy line guy exceeds the resistance of the shallow and less compacted soil at or near the ground surface. The tent peg initially pulls through the soil near the surface and then pivots about the lower end as the upper section progressively "tears" through the soil and ultimately the tent peg is dislodged. In certain circumstances, the tent peg may be bent as the greater resistance at the lower section of the tent peg combines with less resistance and greater applied force in the upper section to create a powerful bending force. The dislodged tent peg is substantially damaged in that event. Tent pegs with larger sectional area and section profiles shaped to increase the surface area in contact with the soil increase the capacity to resist guy line tension. The extra sectional area and shape can also reduce the tent peg's tendency to bend. Increasing the sectional area, however, makes tent pegs substantially more difficult to drive into the ground, bulkier and more costly. Some tent peg forms of complex shape (the tent peg of US Patent # 6,619,307) relocate the guy line connection to a point some horizontal distance from the point where the device first enters the ground. The force is now applied to a greater length of that tent peg's embedded component that is now better able to resist the guy line tension. The soil is better able to resist the tension in the guy line because the depth and compactness of the deeper soil now resisting the guy line tension is greater. The effect is to 4 significantly increase the tent peg's "grip" on the ground. 'rent pegs of this complex form have improved "grip" capability and can replace conventional tent pegs, however, the complex shape is very difficult to manipulate. Driving the complex shape into the ground at the correct angle is ungainly and difficult. The part that is driven into the ground is subject to damage with normal use. When damage occurs to that part, the device requires total replacement. The component part to be embedded into the ground is therefore generally of increased sectional area and of stronger form. The increased sectional area requires increased impact to drive it into the ground. The rigid versions of these complex shaped tent pegs are bulky and difficult to stow. The folding versions of these tent pegs are easier to stow but very vulnerable to damage when being driven into the ground and are therefore not in general use. All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert and the applicant reserves the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country. It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification including the claims, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning, ie that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term "comprised" or "comprising" is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process. An object of the present invention is to provide an effective peg guide and guy rope anchor and its method of use for erecting tent like structures. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

5 Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a peg guide and guy line anchor device which comprises a base to be located on a ground surface and including: a. a guide inclined at an acute angle to the base so that a peg located by and passing along the guide' enters the ground beneath the base at the acute angle thereto; b. an action point such as an eye or fairlead spaced from that part of the base providing the guide; c. a grip means for securing a free end of a guy line to the base; the arrangement being such that in use a peg driven through the guide fixes the anchor device to the ground and a guy line acting on the anchor device at the action point such as by extending through the eye or fairlead can be fixed in the grip means to thereby anchor the guy line to the ground. Preferably the base includes a resilient zone between the guide and the action point so that forces applied to the device through the guy line can resiliently deform the base. The resilient zone of the base may be created by the inherent resilient flexibility of the material from which it is constructed. In one embodiment, the resilient zone is created by its shape and configuration and includes a transverse formation which enables a resilient deflection response of the base when sufficient force is applied by the guy line at the action point. The resilient zone may comprise a narrowed thickness zone of the base between the guide and the action point. The peg guide and guy rope anchor device can be manufactured as a one piece device from any suitable material. For example the device can be manufactured from a metal or metal alloy material, plastics material or wood and is preferably injection moulded from a plastics material such as nylon or another suitable polymer which may be fibre reinforced if necessary. The material can be brightly coloured and/or impregnated so as to glow at night. Preferably the guide comprises a hole. The hole may be elongated and have sufficient length to prevent significant rotation of the base about the longitudinal axis of the peg when installed and in use. The elongation of the hole is preferably provided by an extension formation projecting above the upper surface of the base.

6 The guide may include an extension for penetrating the ground below the base when the device is located for use, the extension being shaped to continue to guide the peg as it passes along the guide, extends below the base and starts to penetrate the ground. Preferably the action point is provided by an eye or fairlead that acts as a guide for the guy line. The grip means is preferably a rope or line holding/locking device. The grip means may comprise a cleat in which the guy line is tightly fitted to be gripped thereby such as a jam cleat or "V" cleat or a clam cleat. Preferably the grip means is located between the guide and the action point, e.g. being located immediately adjacent the action point. In one preferred embodiment, the base is shaped to store thereon a guy line for storage purposes. For example the base may have formations spaced apart and shaped to hold part of loops of the guy line in place when it is wrapped about the formations. A front end of the base preferably has a pair of fingers which comprise one of said formations and preferably another of said formations comprises either a similarly shaped part formed at the opposite end of the base or a notch defined between an upwardly extending section of the base and a rear end of the base. Also preferably the base has a shaped slot with a restricted mouth formed to provide a guy line retaining clip that secures a free end of the guy line when wrapped onto the base forrnations with the free end having been forced laterally through the restricted mouth. According -to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of using a peg guide and guy line anchor device as herein defined, the method including the stcpg of: a. fitting the device to a guy line so that guy line is engaging with the action point and a free end of the guy line is unsecured; b. locating the peg guide and guy line anchor device on the ground or other surface with the action point being closer to the structure from which the guy line extends than the guide; C. driving a peg along the guide so that the peg enters the ground or other surface at an acute angle to the ground surface and generally towards the structure; d. tensioning the guy line so that the line of action of the tensile force in the guy line is directed down to the peg embedded in the ground through the action point and through the base of the device; and 7 e. while maintaining the tension in the guy line fixing the free end thereof to the grip means. According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a tent peg guide and guy rope anchor assembly with an angled peg guide arranged so that the tensile force in a guy rope used therewith is shifted through an intermediate region of the guide and anchor assembly to be directed down to a peg extending through the peg guide into the ground with a free end of the guy rope being anchored by a rope grip formed in the assembly, Preferably the intermediate region of the guide and anchor assembly includes a resilient zone between the angled peg guide and an action point where forces applied to the device through the guy line can resiliently deform the intermediate region. As used herein "tent" in the context of the invention includes any tent, fly, gazebo or any other structure which is erected or located or tethered or braced with the use of a peg and guy line such as a rope, tie or cable or other mechanism of a similar character. Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only. Description of the Drawings An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of peg guide and guy rope anchor device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the example of the invention shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the example shown in Figure 1 on the lines A - A shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a side view of the example of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 shows a rear end view of the example of the invention shown in Figure 4; 8 Figure 6 shows a view from the other end of the example of the invention shown in Figure 4; and Figure 7 shows a view from below of the example of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 6. Description of the Example The example of the invention will now be described with reference to a tent.peg guide and guy line anchor device which in use anchors a guy rope of a tent to a tent peg- Tt will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that the invention can be used in a wide range of situations such as with a tent, fly, gazebo or any other structure which is erected or located with the use of a peg and guy line e.g. rope, line, tie, cable or other mechanism of a similar character which uses a peg guide and guy ancbor. The example shown in the drawings is manufactured as a one piece device which comprises a number of parts which have particular functions: It will be appreciated that some of these parts arc optional but in a preferred form all the seven parts described below are incorporated. The guide and guy anchor device (hereinafter the "device") generally indicated by arrow 1 in the drawings includes a base in the form of a plate 2 into or onto-which are incorporated the other six Functional components or parts. In use the base plate 2 is situated in a generally horizontal position dependent on the level of the ground on which it is used. An intermediate generally centrally situated section 3 of the base plate 2 is constructed and shaped to provide some shock dampening benefit to a guy rope. The section 3 is specifically shaped or made of a material to be resiliently flexible so that it is capable of deflection when an excess load is applied thereto. The section 3 in the example is shaped e.g. with a transverse narrowed thickness zone and alternatively can include alternating ribs and valleys ribs (not shown) which encourage an appropriate resilient deflection response when used. The device 1 includes near to a rear end thereof a peg guide 20 which includes an extension formation shown as a raised section 4 with a hole or aperture 5 therein inclined at an acute angle, preferably about 45* to the plane of the base plate 2. The hole 5 extends through the base plate and is dimensioned and shaped so that a tent peg 9 (not part of this invention) can be driven to firmly secure the guide and guy anchor device to the ground. The cross sectional form of the hole 5 generally matches the cross sectional form of the tent peg and with sufficient clearance to allow free sliding movement of the tent peg when it is being driven into the ground. For example the hole 5 can be round, square, rectangular or any complex shape which might apply to a tent peg. The hole can be elongated laterally to allow for the easier removal of tent pegs that might be bent during use. The base plate 2 of the device I is formed such that the hole 5 is of sufficient length to prevent significant vertical rotation of the base plate about the longitudinal axis of the tent peg. In a preferred and particular configuration an optional additional extension shown as section 6 of the base plate 2 extends downwardly below the base plate 2 for penetrating the ground. This additional section 6 is pushed into the surface of the ground when the device I is in use. The section 6 allows the guiding function of the hole 5 to be extended and to add strength to the base plate 2 where it is possibly weakened by the inclusion of the hole 5. In another configuration (not shown), the device I is shaped to allow for more additional tent peg or pegs to be inserted into the hole 5 or into additional guides or holes in the rear end of the base plate 2 so that the additional peg/s help to resist the bending forces applied to the device 1 by a guy line. In this case, the second and any subsequent peg/s holes can be orientated at generally at the same angle as the hole 5 but to the rear of the first tent peg hole 5. At a front end 7 of the base plate 2 is an anchor point 30 provided by an eye or fairlead 8. The eye 8 is spaced from that part of the base plate incorporating the hole 5. The eye 8 acts as a guide for a guy line 35 (Fig 3) and leads to a grip means 40'into which a free end 36 of the guy line 35 is tightly fitted to hold it securely. If necessary the device can include more than one eye/fairlead 8 depending on the layout of the upper surface of the base plate 2. The grip means 40 or other rope bolding/locking device 9 is incorporated to secure the free end 36 of the guy line to the device. This grip part 9 can be a rope holding device such as those known as "jam cleats" or."V cleats" or "clam cleats". The grip part 9 can be located between the section 3 and the eye 8 but in another variation (not shown) is located elsewhere on the base plate 2. More than one eye/fairlead can be included to improve holding capability if required.

10 Optionally the base plate 2 can be shaped to store thereon a guy rope for storage purposes or to assist in storing the device I relative to a tent by retaining the device on the guy rope. This can be done by forming each end of the device I so that loops of the guy rope are wrapped about the device for storage- In the example shown this shape is created by forming in the front end 7 a pair of fingers 10 which co-operate with either a similarly shaped part (not shown) formed at the opposite end of the device or as shown the angular notch or region 11 between the upwardly extending section 4 of the base plate 2 with the hole 5 therein and the rear end 12. Alternatively (not shown) this shape can be by other component parts or parts formed for that purpose. In additiori a shaped slot 13 cain be formed to provide a rope or cord retaining clip that secures the wrapped guy rope to the device and thereby prevents accidental dislodgement of the guy line whilst stored. In the example this is a simple shaped slot 13 formed in the rear end 12 whereby the restricted mouth 14 of the slot 1~3 narrows near the outer edge 15. The flexibility in the material from which the device is manufactured and/or compressibility of the rope allows the rope or cord to enter the slot shaped retaining area with some resistance at the mouth 14 that prevents inadvertent dislodgement. The device 1 can be made from a variety of materials (steel, plastic or timber) but, typically, is moulded from a plastics material such as nylon or another suitable polymer. In the preferred embodiment, this device can be manufactured from or impregnated with or coated with a brightly coloured plastic material or alternatively a night glowing or photoluminescent material may be incorporated in the plastic to help avoid visibility and accidental injury caused by tripping on unseen tent pegs and/or guy lines. In use the device 1 can be adapted in design for use with any form or style of tent peg provided that the cross sectional form of the tent peg is generally consistent throughout the length of the tent peg. In use a particular matching.tent peg may be formed to suit particular ground conditions or specific applications. For example, the tent peg can be longer in length and/or wide across the axis of prevailing forces for soft ground (eg . beach sand) where dislodgement occurs by pulling through the ground medium. The tent peg can be shorter and deeper in line with the guy line force for use in hard ground where bending of the peg is the more likely mode of failure.

11 The invention is a device 1 that is a tent peg accessory - not a tent peg replacement and this device is to be used in conjunction with a tent peg to increase the tent peg grip by a realignment of the force from a guy line. This device (in suitable configuration) will increase the "grip" of virtually any size or shape of tent peg in current use. The device 1 is substantially easier to use than a one piece complex shaped tent peg whereby the whole teDt peg (both the connected horizontal and semi-vertical parts) must be driven down in unison while being held by the camper at the correct angle (about 45') which is very difficult for even a skilled tradesman. In contrast, the sliding tent peg connection with the new device provides for the device to remain stationary whilst guiding the correct angle of entry for tie tent peg being driven into the ground - a substantially easier process for the user The device I also allows the use of different length tent pegs for varying conditions not possible with a one piece complex shaped tent peg. Occasional damage to the tent peg is part of normal camping, but, in this case, the damage is restricted to the tent peg only and does not affect the device 1. The device I is not subjected to major impact or wearing stresses and therefore has a very long working life. The preferred device I has other substantial and important advantages that facilitate easier use of tent pegs and associated guy ropes. These advantages include the following: 1. Guy rope tension adjustment is normally via a sliding "toggle" arrangement whereby the guy rope is passed around the tent peg and the length of the loop is adjusted by sliding the toggle along the guy line toward the tent to increase guy rope tension. The invention replaces the toggle and is much simpler and easier to operate because the guy rope is secured in a simple clam cleat. The ribbed "V" form of the clam cleat instantly holds the guy rope which can also be instantly released to simplify the tasks of erecting the tent, adjusting guy rope 12 tension and dismantling the tent without delays for knot tying and untying. The clam cleat in this device forms part of the device that is held fast to the ground by the tent peg. 2. A section 3 (or all) of the base plate 2 that locates the guy rope horizontally distant from the tent peg upper end is formed to have some elastic bending characteristic. This provides for a deflection in the base plate 2 when the guy line force is substantially and/or suddenly increased - eg strong winds, wet weather or some tent impact event. The ability of the base .plate 2 to "flex" upwards helps maintain proper tension in the guy line and will dampen the impact that could otherwise cause damage. The device can remove the need for springs, elastic cords or other devices that are often used to maintain correct tension in tent guy ropes. 3. Whilst most campers are aware that tent pegs should be driven into the ground at an angle of about 45", few campers are sufficiently skilled to achieve this ideal. The device I guides the tent peg at the correct angle for driving into the ground. This can be a very important feature because it substantially simplifies the camper's task. 4. Personal injuries caused by tent peg accidents are fairly common - usually when the tent peg is being driven into the ground. Currently the tent peg (regardless of simple or complex form) must be held in the operator's hand while he/she drives it into the ground with a mallet of some form. The opportunity for accidental impact with the hand or fingers exists. The device 1 provides for the operator's hand to be well clear of the impact area when he/she brings the mallet down into contact with the tent peg. A user holds only the device 1 whicb safely holds the tent peg in the ideal position and conveniently at the correct angle. 5. The device 1 can also be an easily seen visual marker to the guy line and tent peg e.g. being made of or coated with bright coloured or night glowing or photoluminescent material - thus helping avert accidental entanglement with the rope or tent peg.

13 6. Campers unfamiliar with rope bandling tend to have difficulty untangling ropes and finding the various components when setting up camp. With the device, the guy line remains attached to the tent and to the device. The device is fitted with convenient protrusions at either end that allow the guy rope to be easily wrapped around the device for storage. Tent storage is neater and the tent is ready for use at the next camping outing without the confusion and delay caused by a tangle of guy lines which is often the case. In general terms, advantages of the invention include: I. To make the task of securing a tent or fly significantly easier and quicker. 2. To reduce the possibility of personal injury that can result from tent peg use and to help reduce other hazards associated with camping. 3. To secure the tent better and thereby help avoid the inconvenience and equipment damage that can occur when tent pegs are inadvertently dislodged. Thus by the invention there is provided a peg guide and guy rope anchor and its method of use for erecting tent or tent like structures. Examples of the invention have been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications thereto can take place without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

Claims (28)

1. A peg guide and guy line anchor device which comprises a base to be located on a ground surface and including: d. a guide inclined at an acute angle to the base so that a peg located by and passing along the guide enters the ground beneath the base at the acute angle thereto; e, an action point such as an eye or fairlead spaced from that part of the base providing the guide; f. a grip means for securing a free end of a guy line to the base; the arrangement being such that in use a peg driven through the guide fixes the anchor device to the ground and a guy line acting on the anchor device at the action point such as by extending through the eye or fairlead can be fixed in the grip means to thereby anchor the guy line to the ground.

2. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claims wherein the base includes a resilient zone between the guide and the action point so that forces applied to the device through the guy line can resiliently deform the base.

3. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the resilient zone of the base is created by the inherent resilient flexibility of the material from which it is constructed.

4. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the resilient zone is created by its shape and configuration and includes a transverse formation which enables a resilient deflection response of the base when sufficient force is applied by the guy line at the action point.

5 A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the resilient zone comprises a narrowed thickness zone of the base between the guide and the action point.

6. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is manufactured as a one piece device from any suitable material. 15

7. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the suitable material is a metal or metal alloy material, a plastics material or wood.

8. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the device is injection moulded from a plastics material such as nylon or other suitable polymer.

9. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the plastics maternal is brightly coloured or is impregnated so as to glow at night.

10. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the guide comprises a hole.

11. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hole is elongated and has sufficient length to prevent significant rotation of the base about the longitudinal axis of the peg when installed and in use. .

12. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the elongation of the hole is provided by an extension formation projecting above the upper surface of die base.

13. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the guide includes an extension for penetrating the ground below the base when the device is located for use, the extension being shaped to continue to guide the peg as it passes along the guide, extends below the base and starts to penetrate the ground.

14. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the action point is provided by an eye or fairlead that acts as a guide for the guy line.

15. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the grip means is a rope or line holding/locking device. 16

16. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the grip means comprises a cleat in which the guy line is tightly fitted to be gripped thereby such as. ajam cleat or "V" cleat or a clam cleat.

17. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the grip moans is located between the guide and the action point.

18. A peg guide and guy line as claimed in claim 17 wherein the grip means is located immediately adjacent the action point.

19. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base is shaped to store thereon a guy line for storage purposes.

20. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the base has formations spaced apart and shaped to hold part of loops of the guy line in place when it is wrapped about the formations.

21. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 20 wherein a front end of the base has a pair of fingers which comprise one of said formations and wherein another of said formations comprises either a similarly shaped part formed at the opposite end of the base or a notch defined between an upwardly extending section of the base and a rear end of the base.

22. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the base has a shaped slot with a restricted mouth fonned to provide a guy line retaining clip that secures a free end of the guy line when wrapped onto the base formations with the free cud having been forced Jaterally through the restricted mouth.

23. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of using a peg guide and guy line anchor device as herein defined, the method including the steps of: a. fitting the device to a guy line so that guy line is engaging with the action point and a free end of the guy line is unsecured; 17 b. locating the peg guide and guy line anchor device on the ground or other surface with the action point being closer to the structure frn which the guy line extends than the guide; c. driving a peg along the guide so that the peg enters the ground or other surface at an acute angle to the ground surface and generally towards the structure; d. tensioning the guy line so that the line of action of the tensile force in the guy line is directed down to the peg embedded in the ground through the action point and through the base of the device; and e. while maintaining the tension in the guy line fixing the free end thereof to the grip means.

25. A method of using a peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim 24 and substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. A tent peg guide and guy rope anchor assembly with an angled peg guide arranged so that the tensile force in a guy rope used therewith is shifted through an intermediate region of the guide and anchor assembly to be directed down to a peg extending through the peg guide into the ground with a frce end of the guy rope being anchored by a rope grip formed in the assembly.

27. A peg guide and guy line anchor device as claimed in claim26 wherein the intermediate region of the guide and anchor assembly includes a resilient zone between the angled peg guide and an action point where forces applied to the device through the guy line can resiliently deform the intermediate region.

28. A tent peg guide and guy rope anchor assembly as claimed in claim 26 and substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.