GB2269832A

GB2269832A - Removable ground anchorage

Info

Publication number: GB2269832A
Application number: GB9216711A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maurice Geoffrey Arden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-08-06
Filing date: 1992-08-06
Publication date: 1994-02-23
Also published as: GB9216711D0

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for providing a removable ground anchorage point with which to secure objects such as motor cycles, trailers, boats where no convenient immovable or fixed object exists. The apparatus comprises a helical coil arrangement (12) with a driving point (16) and an anchorage mechanism (26) connected thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN ANCHORAGE POINT The present invention relates to apparatus for providing an anchorage point for the securing of objects to a suitable penetrable medium such as soil or earth.

Throughout the present specification, such apparatus will be described as a ground anchor.

In a number of situations, it is highly desirable for the avoidance of theft to secure movable objects to a fixed anchorage point. For example, a motor cycle or trailer may be secured to an immovable object such as a lamp post.

However, a convenient anchorage point is not always available. Such a situation commonly arises when camping (in particular at specialist events such as moto-cross, enduro, grass-track, road racing or jet-ski), often in a field with no suitable place for securing a motor cycle or the like, which, even though locked and having wheels chained to the frame, remains highly vulnerable to being lifted straight onto a trailer.

In such circumstances it is desirable to be able to provide a convenient anchorage point. In particular, it is desirable that any such anchorage means may be provided in the form of a portable device which may be removed after use and relocated elsewhere.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ground anchorage point for the attachment of objects thereto. It is a further object to provide the anchorage in the form of a conveniently portable and relocatable apparatus.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for providing a ground anchorage point comprising a ground-engaging portion in the form of a screw means and anchorage means attached to the ground-engaging portion.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for securing an object to the ground including the following steps: a) providing a ground anchorage apparatus having a ground-engaging portion in the form of a screw means and an anchorage means attached to the ground-engaging portion; b) driving an end of said screw means into a suitable medium by applying torque about the longitudinal axis of said screw means until said screw means is substantially embedded in said medium; c) attaching said object for securing to said anchorage means.

Throughout the present specification, the term "ground" is used to include earth, soil and any other suitable penetrable medium into which the placement of the ground anchor described herein is appropriate.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail by way of example, and with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a ground anchor according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a detailed perspective view of the lower end of the ground anchor of figure 1; Figure 3 shows a detailed perspective view of the upper end of the anchor of figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view of an alternative ground anchor in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a side view of the top of an anchor according to figure 2 but with modifications to the top thereof.

With reference to figure 1, there is shown a ground anchor 10 which comprises a helical coil 12 formed from suitable material such as 10mum circular cross section steel. Ideally, the steel will be surface treated to prevent corrosion thereof by such means as chrome passivation, or the coil may alternatively be manufactured in suitable corrosion-resistant materials. Although the presently preferred embodiment uses circular cross-section material, it will be recognized that a number of different shaped cross-sections may also be employed.

At one axial end 14 (the lower end), the coil is left "open" with a point 16 protruding in a tangential and downward direction to provide a driving point for penetrating the ground. According to a presently preferred embodiment, the driving point 16 is provided as a bevelled edge 18 (best seen in figure 2), with the bevel ground on the upper surface of the coil end. This provides a downward bias when the coil is to be driven into the ground. The driving point 16 may alternatively be provided by any suitable shaping of the open end of the coil.

With reference now to figure 3, at the other end 20 (the upper end) of the coil, the coil is "closed" (ie. the helical aspect ceases) and the upper end 20 provides a circular supporting surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX of the coil. A circular disc or plate 22 is attached to this supporting surface of the coil 12 by suitable technique such as welding or brazing.

The plate 22 has an upper surface 24 which provides a suitable base for the attachment of an anchorage means which, in the presently preferred embodiment, comprises a shackle 26 which, in combination with the plate 22, forms a complete loop through which a securing chain or the like may pass.

The ends of the shackle 28,30 may be brazed or welded to the plate surface 24, or may be attached directly to the upper end 20 of the coil 12, thus eliminating the necessity for the plate 24, and thereby also eliminating the necessity for the coil end 20 to be closed.

The shackle 26 also has a secondary function additional to use as the anchorage point herein described.

In use, the helical coil 12 is driven into the ground by bearing down on the driving point 16 (for example with one's foot) and rotating the coil about its longitudinal axis XX in order to engage the lower end 14 with the ground. The required torque to turn the coil 12 in the aforementioned manner is best applied by means of a torsion bar (not shown) which is passed through the shackle 26 which gives rise to the secondary function of the latter.

Once the entire coil 12 has been engaged with the ground, the torsion bar is withdrawn, and shackle 26 remains protruding above ground level. A chain or locking mechanism may then be used to secure, for example, a motor cycle or trailer to the anchor. It will be clear that in order to move the motor cycle or trailer by raising the ground anchor, it will be necessary to lift the entire cycle or trailer in order to rotate it about the longitudinal axis XX of the coil 12 (providing that the securing chain does not include excessive slack which may take up such rotational motion). Clearly, this activity will be difficult and time-consuming, and will thus provide a deterrent to a would-be thief. The alternative of digging up the entire anchor will also be a time-consuming activity (dependent upon the length and diameter of the coil) and one likely to attract attention.

In further embodiments, refinements may be made. For example, the locking chain and shackle loop may be of corresponding diameter such that when passed through the shackle, the chain prevents the use of a torsion bar to raise the anchor.

The shackle 26 may be provided with a hinged end and a suitable locking mechanism at the other end and allow a cycle wheel to be placed on top of the plate 24, the shackle 26 then being closed to clamp the wheel.

With reference to figure 4, it will be recognized that the features of the present invention may be realised in another embodiment by substitution of the "coil" 12 with helical blade arrangement 40 attached to a central cylindrical core 42 in the form of an Archimedes screw 44.

A pointed end 46 and radially tapering driving blade 48 are also provided. It is intended that the use of the term helical coil herein encompasses such helically coiled blade arrangements as exemplified by the embodiment of figure 4.

The coil 12 (figure 1) may also be fabricated with a cross section which includes an opposing pair of blades or fins protruding laterally therefrom to further resist uprooting of the anchor except by rotation of the anchor about the axis XX.

With reference to figure 5, there is shown an adaptation 55 of the shackle 26 to incorporate a motorcycle stand unit. Shackle 26 has attached to its upper or side surface a cylindrical collar 50 by means of welding, brazing or other suitable technique. The central aperture 52 of the collar (represented by dotted lines) allows passage therethrough of a cradle support 54, upon which is affixed cradle 56. A series of holes 58 provided in the cradle support 54 may be used in conjunction with a corresponding hole 60 provided in the cyclindrical collar to lock the cradle at predetermined heights by means of a pin passing therethrough. The cradle may thus be used as a motor cycle stand.

It will further be clear that the principle underlying the present invention can be extended beyond the security usages herein described. A common technique for erecting fence posts is to use a metal stake driven into the ground, the metal stake having a post engaging mechanism at the upper end thereof for anchoring the post to the ground in an upright position. It will be readily recognized that the present ground anchor may be adapted to provide such an anchorage mechanism in place of the shackle.

It will be appreciated that if the anchorage point is to be relocated, it is unscrewed from the ground and screwed back in at the new location.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing a ground anchorage point comprising a ground-engaging portion in the form of a screw means and anchorage means attached to the ground-engaging portion.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ground engaging portion screw means includes a helical coil.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said coil includes a first, open end and a second end, said first end of said coil being bevelled to provide a driving wedge or point.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said second end of said coil is closed to form an attachment surface to which said anchorage means is fixed.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the attachment surface is in the form of a plate member having a first surface attached to said second end of said coil, and a second surface to which the anchorage means is fixed.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said anchorage means defines a closed loop.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said anchorage means comprises a shackle portion.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the anchorage means is adapted to receive a torsion bar therethrough to enable application of a torque about the longitudinal axis of said screw means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein entry of said torsion bar into said shackle is prevented when said shackle is in use as an anchorage point.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said shackle portion is hingeably attached to said plate member.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the anchorage means incorporates a motor cycle stand.

12. A method for securing an object to the ground including the following steps: a) providing a ground anchorage apparatus having a ground-engaging portion in the form of a screw means and an anchorage means attached to the ground-engaging portion; b) driving an end of said screw means into a suitable medium by applying torque about the longitudinal axis of said screw means until said screw means is substantially embedded in said medium; c) attaching said object for securing to said anchorage means.