EP4343084A1

EP4343084A1 - Pole anchor

Info

Publication number: EP4343084A1
Application number: EP22196605.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sanjeev Gupta
Original assignee: Eurokon Global Exports Pvt Ltd
Current assignee: Eurokon Global Exports Pvt Ltd
Priority date: 2022-09-20
Filing date: 2022-09-20
Publication date: 2024-03-27

Abstract

A pole anchor (100) configured to be driven into a ground surface and having a lower portion (102), a middle portion (106) & a top portion (110). The lower portion (102) & the middle portion (106) are configured to be driven into the ground one after the other, and the top portion (110) may remain at a level above the ground in the driven state of the pole anchor (100) into the ground. The middle portion (106) is connected to the lower portion (102) & extends vertically upwards therefrom. The top portion (110) is attached to the middle portion (106), and receives the force applied by a user for driving the pole anchor into the ground. A tooth portion (118) is defined at a connecting region (104) between the lower portion (102) and the middle portion (106).

Description

Pole anchors are widely used for the purpose of mounting tents, pavilions or shelters of various sizes in outdoor areas. In cases where big size tents or pavilions are mounting using such anchors, one major challenge is the stability of the pole anchor inside the ground surface, when it is in a state completed knocked into the ground.
Further, many state of the art pole anchors require a huge driving force, and therefore substantial manual effort in completely knocking them into the ground. Depending upon their structure and design, it may in fact take several minutes for some prior-art pole anchors to be driven into the ground. Further, since the lowermost part of anchors in contact with the ground generally has the lowest cross-sectional area and highest pressure is generally developed in that part, it has a tendency to easily deform while the pole anchor strikes the ground.
Another major challenge is the mechanical strength of the joints between different structure components of pole anchors, especially under high load conditions. Some of these components may quickly deform or even reach their fracture point at the joints when subjected to high load.
Therefore, there exists a need for an improved design of a pole anchor, which can address such problems in state of the art pole anchors mentioned above.
In light of the drawbacks in the state of the art pole anchors mentioned above, the object of the invention is to provide a pole anchor, which requires less force & time for driving it into the ground, prevents its deformation during use, and has a relatively higher stability in its driven state into the ground.
To achieve that objective, the present invention provides a pole anchor in accordance with the subject matter of independent claim 1 or independent claim 2. More specifically, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a pole anchor configured to be driven into a ground surface and having a lower portion, a middle portion & a top portion. The lower portion & the middle portion are configured to be driven into the ground one after the other, and the top portion may remain at a level above the ground in the driven state of the pole anchor into the ground. The middle portion is connected to the lower portion & extends vertically upwards from the lower portion. The top portion is attached to the middle portion, and receives the force applied by a user for driving the pole anchor into the ground. A tooth portion is defined at a connecting region between the lower portion and the middle portion. Along the vertically upward direction, the width of the pole anchor first increases continuously from a lowermost end of the lower portion towards the tooth portion, thereafter decreases again in the tooth portion, and then continuously increases again towards the top portion.
With this structure & shape of the pole anchor, the applied driving force is transferred from the top portion via the middle portion to the region of the lower portion in contact with the ground in few seconds. Further, the required driving force is much less in comparison to the state of the art pole anchors.
According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a pole anchor configured to be driven into a ground surface and having a lower portion, a middle portion & a top portion. More specifically, the lower portion & the middle portion are configured to be driven into the ground, and the top portion may remain at a level above the ground in the driven state of the pole anchor into the ground. The middle portion is connected to the lower portion and extends vertically upwards from the lower portion. The top portion is attached to the middle portion and receives the force applied by a user for driving the pole anchor into the ground. The middle portion or the top portion or both are provided with one or more ribs extending vertically along a surface thereof.
In this manner, the pole anchor has a higher stability when inserted into the ground, and deformation of its body is prevented while striking the ground and also during its use.
According to an embodiment, the middle portion may include one or more fins that may extend vertically and radially outwards from a central axis of the pole anchor. These fins further aid in transmitting the driving force quickly towards the lower portion. Further, since the fins have sharp edges, they can be easily inserted into the ground and can hold the anchor firmly into the ground in its inserted state.
According to another embodiment, the middle portion may be provided with one or more ribs that may extend vertically. These ribs may be further provided on the fins of the middle portion. The ribs serve to provide higher stability to the middle portion in its driven position into the ground and prevent its deformation in the inserted or driven position of the anchor.
In one embodiment, the lower portion of the pole anchor may have a V-shaped structure. Due to this shape, the contact area of the lowermost end of the lower portion with the ground is minimized, so that the pressure generated at that region due to the applied driving force is substantially high.
In another embodiment, the lowermost end of the lower portion may be formed as a tip having a width smaller than the remaining part of the lower portion. The tip serves to reduce the driving force & impart further stability to the pole anchor in its inserted position.
In a yet another embodiment, the middle portion may include multiple fins that may extending vertically and radially outwards from a central axis of the pole anchor. The fins may extend in a manner that each pair of adjacent fins may form a V-shaped structure in a perspective view of the pole anchor.
According to one embodiment, the top portion of the pole anchor may be in the shape of a cuboid.
Owed to this feature, the upper surface of the top portion may define a flat surface in a horizontal plane that comes in substantial contact with the mechanical instrument (i.e., a hammer) that applies the driving force to the anchor, and easily transmits the force to the middle portion of the anchor.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the top portion may have a bottom surface connected to the middle portion, and the bottom surface may have one or more slots provided therein. The fins of the middle portion may be inserted into these slots for mechanical attachment of the middle portion to the top portion. Specifically, when connected to the top portion, the fins of the middle portion may extend to a certain depth within the interior of the top portion.
A high-strength of mechanical fixture is thereby facilitated between the middle portion and the top portion.
The pole anchor may be designed to bear a load of at least 12.6 KN in its driven state into the ground. Therefore, it serves as a highly stable foundation for mounting big size tents & pavilions.
The pole anchor may be electroplated or galvanized to have a zinc coating thereon. The pole anchor may be further provided with an additional powder coating for durability or increased life span during its consistent use, and to prevent its rusting during rainy weather conditions.
In one embodiment, the contact region between the top portion & the middle portion may have a cross-shaped structure.
The width of the top portion may be greater than the width of the middle & the lower portion in one embodiment. Due to that, the top portion easily remains well above ground level in the driven state of the anchor into the ground and does not even partially submerge at its bottom into the ground under high load conditions.
One or more surfaces of the top portion may also be provided with ribs forming a closed-loop structure, to impart additional mechanical strength to the top portion.
In a further embodiment, the ribs in the top portion may form a quadrilateral.
Embodiments of the present invention will further be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a pole anchor according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a view of the lower portion & the middle portion of the pole anchor of the present invention, depicting a tooth portion defined at a connecting region between the lower & the middle portion;
Fig. 3 is an inverted partial view of the middle portion of the pole anchor, depicting multiple fins & ribs provided thereon;
Fig. 4 is a side view of the top portion of the pole anchor of the present invention, showing multiple ribs provided thereon;
Fig. 5 depicts a view of the top portion of the pole anchor of the present invention taken from the top, depicting the hollow interior of the top portion and its mechanical connection with the middle portion;
Fig. 6 depicts a perspective view of an alternative design of the pole anchor according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 7 depicts a perspective view of another alternative design of the pole anchor according to a yet another embodiment of the present invention.

The core of the invention & its various illustrative embodiments will now be explained in conjunction with the appended drawings.
Referring now to Fig. 1, a perspective view of a pole anchor 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown therein.
The pole anchor 100 has a lower portion 102, a middle portion 106 connected to the lower portion 102 and extending vertically upwards from the lower portion 102, and a top portion 110 connected to the middle portion 106 and extending further vertically upwards from the middle portion 106. The lower portion 102 and the middle portion 106 both get inserted into the ground one after the other when a driving force F_d is applied to the pole anchor 100.
The top surface of the top portion 100 receives the driving force F_d applied by a user/worker using a mechanical hand tool, such as a hammer, for knocking the anchor 100 into ground. The top portion 110 may remain above the level of ground when the pole anchor 100 is in its fully driven or inserted state into the ground. In the fully driven state, a bottom surface 114 of the top portion 110 comes in contact with, abuts & lies levelled with and above the ground when the pole anchor 100 is in its inserted state.
An encircled tooth portion 118, as shown, is defined at a connecting region 104 between the lower portion 102 & the middle portion 106. When traversing vertically upwards along a central axis AA^/ of the pole anchor 100, its width first increases continuously from a lowermost end 102 (a) of the lower portion 102 towards the tooth portion 118, thereafter declines in the tooth portion 118, and then continuously increases again towards the top portion 110, till one arrives at the uppermost end of the middle portion 106.
This pattern of increase and decline in the width of the anchor 100 can be better seen in Fig. 2, depicting an enlarged view of the lower portion 102, the middle portion 106 & the tooth portion 118 defined at the connecting region 104 between the lower portion 102 & the middle portion 106. As shown therein, the width of the pole anchor 100 first increases continuously when traversing vertically upwards from the lowermost end 102 (a) towards the tooth portion 118, specifically in the lower region 118 (a) of the tooth portion 118. Eventually, the width acquires its maximum value w₁ by defining a notch 118 (b) in the tooth portion 118. Thereafter, the width of the anchor again decreases in the upper region 118 (c) of the tooth portion 118.
Moving further vertically upwards, the tooth portion 118 merges with the middle portion 106. Thereafter, the width of the anchor starts increasing again continuously in the middle portion 106, towards the top portion 110, as can be better seen in Fig. 1. Further, as is clear from Fig. 2, the pattern of increase and decrease in the width may follow a linear function.
The middle portion 106 may acquire its greatest width at its top end, where it is connected to the bottom surface 114 of the top portion 110.
Referring back to Fig. 1, the middle portion 106 may include multiple fins 122 extending vertically and radially outwards from the central axis AA^/ of the pole anchor 100. In a preferred embodiment, the middle portion 106 may include four fins 122 (a)-(d) extending vertically and symmetrically around the axis AA^/. The fourth fin 122 (d) is hidden in the view of Fig. 1 and extends backwards, radially outwards from the axis AA^/.
Each pair of adjacent fins 122, for example, fins 122 (b) & (c), may form a v-shaped structure in a perspective view of the pole anchor 100. The angular separation between adjacent fins 122 in the preferred embodiment having an arrangement of four fins on the middle portion 106 may be 90⁰ due to radial symmetry.
Alternative embodiments may also be contemplated, wherein the middle portion 106 may be provided with less or more of such fins 122, such as a combination of three fins positioned symmetrically around the axis AA^/ at angular separation of 120⁰ between adjacent fins, or a combination of six fins, with each adjacent pair of fins being separated by 60⁰ from each other.
The structure of the middle portion 106 can be visualized as a rectangular pyramid, with its rectangular base virtually formed at the bottom surface 114 of the top portion 110 and V-shaped notches excised from all its four triangular faces extending vertically, thus defining the fins 122 (a)-(d). These V-shaped notches all converge and unite at the central axis AA^/ of the pole anchor 100.
As can further seen from Fig. 1, since the fins 122 have sharp edges, they aid in reducing the driving force required for knocking or driving the anchor 100 into the ground and also provide a firm grip to the anchor 100 in its inserted position, as mentioned earlier.
At the connecting region of the middle portion 106 with the top portion 110, the fins 122 are inserted to a certain depth within slots provided in the bottom surface 114 of the top portion 110, which would be explained later in detail in conjunction with the Fig. 5.
Referring back to Fig. 1, one or more ribs may be provided in the middle portion 106. As shown, ribs 106 (a) & 106 (b) may be provided directly on the surface of the respective fins 122 (a) & 122 (b). Though hidden in the current view, at least two more ribs 106 (c) & 106 (d), one each extending vertically may be similarly provided on the other two fins 122 (c) & (d), respectively. Therefore, the four fins 122 (a)-(d) may each have at least a respective rib 106 (a)-(d) provided thereon. These ribs 106 (a)-(d) may extend vertically and project outwards from the surface of the respective fins 122 (a)-(d) they are provided on.
These ribs 106 (a)-(d) serve to provide additional strength to the middle portion 106 and more stability to the anchor 100 in its driven position into the ground. An additional function of these ribs is to prevent deformation of their corresponding fins while striking the ground.
A clearer view of the fins 122 and the ribs 106 provided thereon is shown in Fig. 3, depicting a partial view of the middle portion 106.
The lower portion 102 of the anchor 100 will now be explained in conjunction with Fig. 2. As shown, that lower portion 102 may have a V-shaped structure, and its lowermost end 102 (a) may form a tip that may have a width smaller than the remaining part of the lower portion. More specifically, the width of the anchor is smallest at the lowermost end 102 (a) of the lower portion 102. This design of the tip substantially reduces the driving force required to knock the pole anchor 100 into the ground and provides additional stability to the anchor 100 in the ground.
Referring back to Fig. 1, the top portion 110 of the pole anchor 100 may be in the shape of a cuboid having a hollow interior, thus providing it a box-shaped structure. However, other embodiments may be contemplated by those skilled in the art, wherein the top portion 100 may have a different shape, such as a cylinder. A pole anchor 100 having a cylindrical top portion 110 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention is depicted in Fig. 6. Additionally, a flange 134 in the form of a circular plate may be provided between the top portion 110 & the middle portion 106 in that embodiment. The flange 134 may further ensure that the top portion 110 remains at a level above the ground and does not submerge therein, especially when the anchor 100 is under high load conditions.
Mounting holes 110 (b) may be provided within the top portion 110, as shown in Figs. 1 & 6, which are used for attaching the corresponding foundation poles of a tent or a pavilion to the pole anchor 100 using nuts and bolts.
The width of the top portion 110, or its diameter when being cylindrical, may be greater than the width of the middle portion 106 and the lower portion 102.
Fig. 4 depicts a side view of the top portion 110. On each side face of its cuboidal structure, the top portion 110 may be provided with multiple ribs 126 (a)-(d), wherein two of them may extend vertically and the rest of the two horizontally on the side face 110 (a), as shown. Therefore, the ribs 126 may form a closed-loop structure, such as a quadrilateral. The currently depicted design of ribs forms a rectangular loop, though minor variations in their arrangement on the side faces of the top portion 110 may also be contemplated by those skilled in the art.
Similar to the ribs on the middle portion 106, these ribs 126 on the top portion 110 provide additional strength thereto and avoid its deformation, when the driving force is applied.
The mechanical connection between the middle portion 110 & the top portion 110 can be more clearly understood from Fig. 5, which depicts the bottom surface 114 of the top portion 110, when viewed from the top.
The bottom surface 114, which is fixed to the middle portion 106, may be provided with four slots 130 (a)-(d) forming a cross-shaped structure that defines a contact region between the top portion 110 & the middle portion 106. These slots 130 (a)-(d) may receive the top edge of the corresponding fins 122 (a)-(d). The fins 122 may be inserted to a certain depth within these slots 130, in a manner extending into the hollow interior of the top portion 110, as shown. After being inserted, the fins 122 may be mechanically secured to the top portion 110 by any suitable means, such as, by welding. This provides additional strength to the joint between the middle portion 106 & the top portion 110.
Fig. 7 shows a yet another alternative design of a pole anchor 100 in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, two flanges 134 (a) & 134 (b) separated by a disc-shaped structural element 138 are positioned between the top portion 110 and the middle portion 106 of the pole anchor 100. The middle portion 106 may be directly secured to the lower flange 134 (b) & the bottom surface of the top portion 110 may be positioned above & secured to the upper flange 134 (a). In its fully driven state into the ground, the pole anchor 100 in this alternative design may have all its structural components above the lower flange 134 (b) resting at a level above the ground.
The pole anchor 100 of the present invention may be galvanized to have a zinc coating thereon, and its outer surface may then be powder coated, to provide it a long-lasting life & aesthetic appeal, and to prevent rusting on its surface.
The design and structure of the pole anchor reduces the driving force required to knock it into the ground by about 25 %, compared to state of the art pole anchors.
The Test report at the Material Testing Laboratory of the Technical Services Center of the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) in Delhi, India manifested that the pole anchor of the invention is capable of withstanding a load of at least 12.6 KN, when tents/pavilions are mounted and assembled thereon. Further, it takes about less than eight seconds to knock the pole anchor of the present invention completely into the ground.
Though the present invention has been description in conjunction with various embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings, these embodiment do not intend to limit the scope of the invention, which is solely defined by the appended claims.

List of Reference Numerals

102: Lower Portion
102 (a): Lowermost end of the lower portion 102
104: Connecting region between the lower portion 102 & middle portion 106
106: Middle portion
106 (a)-(d): Ribs of the middle portion 106
110: Top portion
110 (a): Side face of the top portion 110
110 (b): Mounting holes in the top portion 110
114: Bottom surface of the top portion 110
118: Tooth portion
118 (a): Lower region of the tooth portion 118
118 (b): Notch in the tooth portion 118
118 (c): Upper region of the tooth portion 118
122 (a)-(d): Fins of the middle portion 106
126 (a)-(d): Ribs on the top portion 110
130 (a)-(d): Slots in the bottom surface 114 of the top portion 110
134, 134 (a), 134 (b): Flanges
138: Disc-shaped structural member between flanges 134 (a) & 134 (b)

Claims

A pole anchor (100) configured to be driven into a ground surface, the pole anchor comprising:
a lower portion (102) configured to be driven into the ground;

a middle portion (106) connected to the lower portion (102), the middle portion (106) extending vertically upwards from the lower portion (102) and being configured to be driven into the ground along with the lower portion; and

a top portion (110) attached to the middle portion (106), the top portion being configured to receive a force applied by a user for driving the pole anchor (100) into the ground, characterized by:
a tooth portion (118) defined at a connecting region (104) between the lower portion (102) and the middle portion (106), wherein, along the vertically upward direction, the width of the pole anchor first increases continuously from a lowermost end (102 (a)) of the lower portion (102) towards the tooth portion (118), thereafter decreases again in the tooth portion (118), and then continuously increases again towards the top portion (110).
A pole anchor (100) configured to be driven into a ground surface, the pole anchor comprising:
a lower portion (102) configured to be driven into the ground;

a middle portion (106) connected to the lower portion (102), the middle portion (106) extending vertically upwards from the lower portion (102) and being configured to be driven into the ground along with the lower portion; and

a top portion (110) attached to the middle portion (106), the top portion (110) being configured to receive a force (F_d) applied by a user for driving the pole anchor (100) into the ground, characterized by:
the middle portion (106) and/or the top portion (110) being provided with one or more ribs (106a-d, 126a-d) extending vertically along a surface thereof.
The pole anchor (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the middle portion (106) comprises one or more fins (122) extending vertically and radially outwards from a central axis (AA^/) of the pole anchor.
The pole anchor (100) of claims 2 and 3, wherein the middle portion (106) is provided with one or more ribs (106a-d) extending vertically, the ribs being provided on the fins (122a-d) of the middle portion (106).
The pole anchor (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower portion (102) has a V-shaped structure.
The pole anchor (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the lowermost end (102a) of the lower portion (102) is formed as a tip having a width smaller than the remaining part thereof.
The pole anchor (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the middle portion (106) comprises a plurality of fins (122a-d) extending vertically and radially outwards from a central axis (AA^/) of the pole anchor in a manner that each pair of adjacent fins may form a V-shaped structure in a perspective view of the pole anchor.
The pole anchor (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the top portion (110) is in the shape of a cuboid.
The pole anchor (100) of claim 3 or 4, wherein the top portion (110) has a bottom surface (114) connected to the middle portion (106), the bottom surface (114) having one or more slots (130a-d) provided therein, and the fins (122a-d) of the middle portion (106) are inserted into the slots (130a-d), respectively.
The pole anchor (100) of one of the preceding claims, the pole anchor being designed to bear a load of at least 12.6 KN in its driven state into the ground.
The pole anchor (100) of one of the preceding claims, the pole anchor being galvanized to have a zinc coating thereon.
The pole anchor of one of the preceding claims, wherein a contact region between the top portion (110) and the middle portion (106) has a cross-shaped structure.
The pole anchor (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the top portion (110) is greater than the width of the middle portion (106) and the lower portion (102).
The pole anchor (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more surfaces of the top portion (110) is provided with ribs (126a-d) forming a closed-loop structure.
The pole anchor (100) of claim 13, wherein the ribs form a quadrilateral.