GB2303572A

GB2303572A - Tent peg lifting device

Info

Publication number: GB2303572A
Application number: GB9515192A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-25
Filing date: 1995-07-25
Publication date: 1997-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-25
Also published as: GB9515192D0; GB2303572B

Abstract

A tent peg lifting device comprises a handle 1 with a hand grip 7 and an arm 2 extending obliquely to the handle having a peg engaging portion 4 at its free end. A ground engaging plate 8 is attached to a curved section 3. A peg (10 fig 3a) is lifted from the ground by moving the peg engaging portion into contact with a head (11 fig 3a) of the peg. The curved plate 8 is made to contact the ground and downward pressure on the handle causes the peg to be lifted out (fig 3b).

Description

DEVICE FOR LIFTING TENT PEGS Field of the Invention This invention relates to a device for lifting tent pegs and the like.

Background to the Invention Tent pegs have evolved from simple wooden pegs to steel and plastics pegs of various designs. All have in common the difficulty in removing the pegs from some types of ground. One tool available for assisting in the lifting of pegs consists of a hook with a handle, simply to provide a hand-hold while pulling the peg out of the ground. The use of such a tool can make the lifting of some pegs easier, but still involves an unacceptable level of effort for some users and in some circumstances. Larger pegs, for example for use with larger tents and caravan awnings, may prove impossible to lift with a simple hand tool.With such pegs, it is often necessary to use some form of lever arrangement, but known tools of this type are generally not designed for use on soft ground, and can require the use of a piece of wood, stone or the like to spread the load to avoid the tool sinking into the ground, reducing leverage and causing damage. In addition, it is difficult with such tools to ensure that the lifting effort is directed along the axis of the peg, thus leading to greater effort being required and possible enlargement of the hole left by the lifted peg, as well as the risk of the peg being bent.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a device for lifting ground pegs, comprising an elongate handle, an arm extending obliquely to the handle and having at the free end thereof peg-engaging means for transferring a lifting force to a peg driven into the ground, and a ground-engaging means between the arm and the handle, the ground-engaging means being curved and dimensioned and arranged in such a manner as to ensure that downward force applied to the handle is translated into a lifting force on the peg directed substantially along the axis thereof while the greater part of the length of the peg is lifted out of the ground.

Preferably, the ground-engaging means comprises a curved plate having a substantially smooth ground-engaging surface permitting a sliding action, as the peg is lifted, to ensure that the correct position of the pivot point on the ground for the application of a force along the axis of the peg is automatically achieved, even if the starting position is not correct.

The radius of curvature of the curved plate is preferably such that the in- cluded angle between the axis of the peg and the line joining the point of engage- ment of the peg-engaging means with the peg and the point of engagement of the ground-engaging means with the ground is maintained at substantially a right angle during a substantial part of the lifting of the peg. The width of the groundengaging means is preferably approximately three times the width of the arm . The peg-engaging means may consist of a transverse bar or rod extending from the free end of the arm, to be hooked under the head of the peg, or the rope-holding hook on the peg, according to its design.

The angle between the arm and the handle is suitably less than a right angle, and is conveniently about 82 . For many applications, with average sized pegs, the radius of curvature of the ground-engaging surface is of the order of 100 to 120 mm.

The handle and the arm may be formed from a single metal bar or tube, bent to the desired configuration.

The handle may be provided with a resilient hand-grip, for example of plastics or rubber, and may have an end portion angled outwardly relative to the arm to provide a more comfortable operating angle for the use, particularly when commencing lifting. The handle may formed in two parts to provide a sufficient overall length for good leverage in use, while permitting the device to be reduced in length for storage. The two parts may fit together by means of a push socket joint, for example in the manner of metal tent poles.

The device of the invention is convenient to use and renders the lifting of pegs a straightforward task requiring the minimum of effort by the user, while minimising the risk of damage to the ground and to the pegs. The device is small enough to be stored with other camping tools.

It will be understood that references herein to tent pegs will include pegs used for other similar temporary anchoring functions, for example in securing guy ropes for masts, anchoring ropes for river and canal boats, and holding down light aircraft in windy conditions.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device; Figure 2 is a top plan view; and Figures 3a and 3b are side elevations on a smaller scale showing two successive stages in the lifting of a peg using the device.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments The device is formed from a square-section steel tube curved so as to provide a handle 1 and a lifting arm 2 with a smoothly curved section 3 between them. The arm 2 has a steel pin 4 extending transversely therethrough adjacent to the end thereof, the end of the tube being closed by a plastics cap 5. The handle 1 has an end portion 6 bent to an angle of approximately 135 to the remainder of the handle, and fitted with a shaped plastics hand-grip 7 for the comfort of the user. The curved section 3 has a smooth ground-engaging plate 8 welded to the underside thereof, the plate following the curve of the curved section 3 and having a width approximately three times the width of the tube, for stability in use and in order to spread the load more evenly on soft ground, for example.

The use of the device is illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b. Figure 3a shows the device engaged on a peg 10, ready to commence lifting. The pin 4 on one side of the device is engaged under the hooked head 11 of the peg 10 with the plate 8 resting on the ground. The hand-grip 7 is then moved in the direction of the arrow, causing a lifting force to be transmitted to the peg approximately coincident in direction with the axis thereof. As the downward movement of the hand-grip 7 continues towards the final position as illustrated in Figure 3b, the point of contact with the ground is transferred away from the arm 2 and towards the handle 1 along the curved plate 8, ensuring that the lifting force continues to be directed approximately along the axis of the peg. This in turn ensures that the maximum effort is directed in overcoming the friction between the ground and the peg, and that there is no tendency for the peg to bend or for the hole it makes in the ground to be enlarged laterally, leaving undesirable disruption to the surface, to be avoided where the ground is to be used again for camping.

Figures 3a and 3b show the pin 4 engaged with the hooked head 11 of the peg 10 on the opposite side thereof from where the device engages the ground. In practice, engagement on the other side of the head 11 (i.e. to the right of the head instead of the left in Figures 3a and 3b) may be desirable to ensure that the lifting action is as effective as possible.

While the device illustrated permits pegs to be lifted easily and with the minimum of bending, the need for the user to bend at all during the peg-lifting operation might be avoided by the use of a longer handle, for example by way of an extension piece.

It will be appreciated that, although the device is illustrated as being formed from a single element (a tube), bent to shape, it could be made, for example, with a curved ground-engaging member with a straight arm and handle extending therefrom, formed as separate members and welded or otherwise attached to the ground-engaging member. It would be possible, as a further example, to form the ground-engaging member as a roller or pair of rollers, to which the arm and handle are pivotably attached. Such an arrangement may be advantageous for very large pegs and the like, for example such as are used with marquees.

Claims

1) A device for lifting ground pegs, comprising an elongate handle, an arm extending obliquely to the handle and having at the free end thereof pegengaging means for transferring a lifting force to a peg driven into the ground, and a ground-engaging means between the arm and the handle, the groundengaging means being curved and dimensioned and arranged in such a manner as to ensure that downward force applied to the handle is translated into a lifting force on the peg directed substantially along the axis thereof while the greater part of the length of the peg is lifted out of the ground.

2) A device according to Claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging means comprises a curved plate having a substantially smooth ground-engaging surface permitting a sliding action, as the peg is lifted, to ensure that the correct position of the pivot point on the ground for the application of a force along the axis of the peg is automatically achieved, even if the starting position is not correct.

3) A device according to Claim 2, wherein the radius of curvature of the curved plate is such that the included angle between the axis of the peg and the line joining the point of engagement of the peg-engaging means with the peg and the point of engagement of the ground-engaging means with the ground is maintained at substantially a right angle during a substantial part of the lifting of the peg.

4) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the width of the ground-engaging means is approximately three times the width of the arm.

5) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the peg-engaging means consists of a transverse bar or rod extending from the free end of the arm, to be hooked under the head of the peg, or the rope-holding hook on the peg, according to its design.

6) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the angle between the arm and the handle is less than a right angle.

7) A device according to Claim 6, wherein the angle between the arm and the handle is about 82".

8) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the radius of curvature of the ground-engaging surface is of the order of 100 to 120 mm.

9) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle and the arm are formed from a single metal bar or tube, bent to the desired configuration.

10) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle is provided with a resilient hand-grip.

11) A device according to Claim eil, wherein the resilient hand-grip is of plastics or rubber.

12) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle has an end portion angled outwardly relative to the arm to provide a more comfortable operating angle for the use, particularly when commencing lifting.

13) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle is formed in two parts to provide a sufficient overall length for good leverage in use, while permitting the device to be reduced in length for storage.

14) A device as herein described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.

14) A device according to Claim 13, wherein the two parts fit together by means of a push socket joint.

15) A device as herein described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been tiled as follows Claims

1) A device for lifting ground pegs, comprising an elongate handle, an arm extending obliquely to the handle and having at the free end thereof pegengaging means for transferring a lifting force to a peg driven into the ground, and a ground-engaging means between the arm and the handle, the groundengaging means being curved and dimensioned and arranged in such a manner as to ensure that downward force applied to the handle is translated into a lifting force on the peg directed substantially along the axis thereof while the greater part of the length of the peg is lifted out of the ground, wherein the groundengaging means comprises a curved plate having a substantially smooth groundengaging surface permitting a sliding action, as the peg is lifted, to ensure that the correct position of the pivot point on the ground for the application of a force along the axis of the peg is automatically achieved, even if the starting position is not correct.

2) A device according to Claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the curved plate is such that the included angle between the axis of the peg and the line joining the point of engagement of the peg-engaging means with the peg and the point of engagement of the ground-engaging means with the ground is maintained at substantially a right angle during a substantial part of the lifting of the peg.

3) A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the groundengaging means is approximately three times the width of the arm.

4) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the peg-engaging means consists of a transverse bar or rod extending from the free end of the arm, to be hooked under the head of the peg, or the rope-holding hook on the peg, according to its design.

5) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the angle between the arm and the handle is less than a right angle.

6) A device according to Claim 5, wherein the angle between the arm and the handle is about 82".

7) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the radius of curvature of the ground-engaging surface is of the order of 100 to 120 mm.

8) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle and the arm are formed from a single metal bar or tube, bent to the desired configuration.

9) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle is provided with a resilient hand-grip.

10) A device according to Claim 9, wherein the resilient hand-grip is of plastics or rubber.

11) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle has an end portion angled outwardly relative to the arm to provide a more comfortable operating angle for the use, particularly when commencing lifting.

12) A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle is formed in two parts to provide a sufficient overall length for good leverage in use, while permitting the device to be reduced in length for storage.

13) A device according to Claim 12, wherein the two parts fit together by means of a push socket joint.