GB2428704A

GB2428704A - Ground anchor for plant pots

Info

Publication number: GB2428704A
Application number: GB0614771A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steve Warburton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-25
Filing date: 2006-06-25
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: GB0614771D0; GB0515238D0

Abstract

An anchor 10 for use in securing plant pots to the ground, comprises an elongate body for driving into the ground, the anchor including arms 32 movable from an inactive position to an active position for anchoring the body in the ground, wherein the anchor includes a drive member 24 arranged to be driven downwards along the longitudinal axis of the anchor for driving said arms to their active position. Sets of arms can be provided along the length of the anchor, preferably on a moveable sleeve. The drive member may include an inclined drive surface 36, it may be in the form of a tubular sleeve 24 and is preferably mounted on the shaft of the anchor. The arms may include a guide surface against which the drive member preferably moves. The upper end of the anchor is preferably threaded 22 and adapted to receive a threaded nut 19, which in use forces the drive member away from the upper end of the anchor. A washer may be provided so that the anchor may engage with a portion of a plant pot. In use the anchor prevents the theft of plant pots.

Description

Ground Anchor The present invention relates to an anchor, more

particularly, but not exclusively, to an anchor for use in securing objects to the ground or like surface.

The theft of gardenieres and other types of plant pots from gardens and other outdoor areas is becoming an increasingly common problem, particularly in conurbations.

Conventional methods of preventing the theft of garden objects, such as garden furniture, typically involves the use of weights coupled to or mounted in the objects to be secured, with the aim of rendering the object relatively immovable. However, a determined thief will still be able to steal the object, if the thief is able to access and detach the weight from the object.

Clearly there is a need for a means of more permanently securing objects of the type mentioned above at a desired outdoor location, and it is an aim of the invention to provide such means.

WO 88/08066 describes an elongate device which includes a slotted sleeve at its lower end, wherein portions of the sleeve are designed to flare outwardly and thereby anchor the device in the ground. The sleeve is mounted about a rod and is prevented from moving over the lower end of the rod by a washer type stop. A tube is also mounted over about the rod and is intended to actuate the slotted sleeve when the device is in the ground, to cause flaring of the anchor portions, and thereby protect against undesired lifting of the device from the ground.

An upper portion of the rod is threaded. A nut is engaged on the thread and, in use, acts to pull the rod and slotted sleeve upwardly into engagement with the tube. Hence, the slotted sleeve is driven upwardly against the tube to cause simultaneous flaring of the anchor portions, wherein the tube remains stationary as the rod and sleeve are pulled upwards.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative anchor device.

According to the present invention, there is provided an anchor for use in securing objects to the ground, the anchor comprising an elongate body for driving into the ground, the anchor including an arm which is drivable from an inactive position to an active position, in which the arm forms a barb, for anchoring the body in the ground, wherein the anchor includes a drive member arranged to be driven downwards along the longitudinal axis of the anchor for driving said arm to its active position.

The invention involves the use of a downward force to drive the barbs to their active position, whilst the body of the anchor remains otherwise stationary. This arrangement has been found to be most effective, contrary to the teaching of WO 8 8/08066, which states that anything other than an upward movement of the lower end of the anchor is undesirable.

Preferably, the arm includes a guide surface against which the drive member moves to urge the arm into its active position.

The anchor may conveniently include a shaft, wherein said drive member is slidably mounted on the shaft.

The drive member may be in the form of a tubular sleeve.

An upper end of the anchor is preferably configured to receive a drive master for the drive member, and may conveniently include a threaded portion adapted to receive a threaded drive master, for forcing the drive member away from said upper end. In such instances, the drive master is preferably in the form of a threaded nut.

The anchor may include a set of said arms arranged for defining a plurality of barbs extending radially from a predetermined position on the body.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the anchor includes a plurality of sets of arms, spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the body, and wherein at least one of said sets is preferably provided on a movable sleeve. In use, each set is thereby actuated by a downwards movement of a sleeve in order to activate said arms.

Once deployed, each set contributes significantly to the resistance to upwards movement of the anchor.

Conveniently, the anchor includes a pointed tip for driving into the ground, and may also includes a washer for the upper end of the anchor, for use in clamping a portion of a plant pot or the like to the ground using the anchor.

According to a broadest aspect of the invention, there is provided an anchor for use in securing objects to the ground, the anchor comprising an elongate body for driving into the ground, the anchor including an arm which is drivable from an inactive position to an active position, in which the arm forms a barb, for anchoring the body in the ground, wherein the anchor includes a drive member for driving said arm to its active position.

Other aspects and features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is made, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an anchor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, in an inactive condition; Figure 2 shows the lower end region of the anchor from Figure 1 in an active condition; and Figure 3 shows an upper part of the anchor from Figures 1 and 2, in use.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, an anchor indicated generally at 10 is in the form of an elongate member having first and second ends 12, 14. The first end 12, or lower end as viewed in Fig. 1, includes a conical tip 16 which forms a point for use in driving the anchor 10 into the ground or like surface.

The second end 14, or upper end as viewed in Fig. 1, includes a removable cap 18. The cap 18 includes a hexagonal nut portion 19 and a rounded end 20, which is provided for striking with a hammer/mallet or like implement, for driving the anchor into the ground or like surface. The cap 18 also includes a threaded bore (not visible in the Figures).

The cap 18 is threadingly engaged on a threaded bar which extends up from the tip 16, and which substantially defines the length of the anchor 10. A portion of the threaded bar is indicated in Figure 1 at 22. It should be noted that the threaded bar 22 has a diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the tip 16.

First and second tubular sleeves 24, 26 are slidably mounted about the threaded bar 22, between the first end 12 and second end 14.

The tip 16 defines an annular stop surface 28 about the periphery of the threaded bar 22, for limiting the downward movement of the sleeves 24, 26 relative to the threaded bar 22. In particular, the lower end of sleeve 26 abuts against the stop surface 28, in use.

The lower sleeve 26 includes four elongate slots or cut lines, one of which is indicated at 30 in Fig. 1, so as to define four radially spaced arms 32 extending upwardly from the lower end of the sleeve 26. The distal end of each arm 32 includes at least one inclined drive surface 34, the purpose of which will be described in more detail below.

The lower end of the upper sleeve 24 is profiled to nest in abutment with the drive surfaces 34 on the lower sleeve 26. In particular, the lower end of the upper sleeve 24 is formed with an annular driving surface 36, which is inclined to nest in complimentary engagement with the drive surfaces 34 on the arms 32 of the lower sleeve 26.

In Figure 1, the anchor 10 is shown in an inactive or driving position, wherein the lower sleeve 26 is in abutment with the stop surface 28 on the tip 16, and wherein the lower surface of the cap 18 is threadingly engaged on the threaded bar 22, so as to be in abutment with the upper sleeve 24. Additionally, the driving surface 36 of the upper sleeve 24 is nested with the drive surfaces 34 on the lower sleeve 26.

It should be noted that the cap 18 is configured to be tightened on the threaded bar 22, so as to urge the upper and lower sleeves 24, 26 into abutment with one another, and to bring the lower sleeve 26 into abutment with the stop surface 28 at the lower end of the anchor I, to tighten the arrangement together, removing any significant slack between adjacent components, for the purpose of installing the anchor in the ground.

With the anchor 10 in its inactive position, the anchor 10 can be driven into the ground or like surface at a position where it is desired to secure a plant pot or the like, or a piece of garden furniture, for example, wherein the upper end 12 of the anchor should be left to protrude above ground level. It may be preferred to use a hammer or mallet or like striking implement in order to drive the anchor 10 into the ground, for example in the manner of a stake or tent peg. The rounded end 20 of the nut 18 protects against damage to the upper end of the threaded bar 22.

With the anchor 10 driven into the ground, the cap 18 is then removed, and a conventional nut (i.e. a nut not having a rounded upper end and therefore defining a threaded bore extending through the nut) is threadingly engaged on the threaded bar 22.

Continued rotation of the nut causes the upper sleeve 24 to be driven downwards along the threaded bar, against the lower sleeve 26, which in turn causes the lower sleeve 26 to be urged into tight abutment with the abutment surface 28 on the conical tip 16.

Further rotation of the nut causes the upper sleeve 24 to move progressively downwards with respect to the longitudinal axis of the anchor 10, whereby the driving surface 36 on the upper sleeve 24 drives against the drive surfaces 34 on the lower sleeve 26, so as to splay the radially spaced arms 32 on the lower sleeve 26. Rotation is continued, so that the driving surface 36 on the upper sleeve 24 moves downwards, thereby driving against the internal surface of the arms 32, to cause them to splay further outwards, until the arms 32 are urged into the fully active position shown in Figure 2. In the fully active position, it is not possible for the upper sleeve 24 to move further downwards with respect to the longitudinal axis of the anchor 10, thereby preventing further rotation of the bolt.

With the anchor 10 in its fully active position, the arms 32 act as barbs which prevent the anchor 10 from being easily drawn up through the ground into which it has been driven. The anchor 10 is then ideally located for fixing a plant pot or the like, at said location.

For example, Figure 3 shows the upper end of the anchor 10 in use in securing a plant pot 40 at a position in the ground. The plant pot 40 includes a base 42 defining an internal surface 44. An aperture 46 is provided in the base 42, the aperture 46 having a diameter which is suitable for receiving the upper end of the anchor 10.

The plant pot 40 is positioned over the anchor 10, with the upper end 12 of the anchor 10 protruding through the aperture 46 in the base 42 of the plant pot 40.

A large washer or like element 48 is then placed over the upper end 12 of the anchor 10, before the cap 18 or a conventional nut is then threadingly engaged on the threaded bar 22, so as to drive the washer 48 into clamping engagement with the base 42 of the plant pot 40. The plant pot 40 is then clamped at the desired location on the ground, and can then be filled in a conventional manner, thereby disguising the fact that the plant pot 40 has been secured to the ground. The barbs in the ground significantly hinder or prevent the theft or unauthorised removal of the plant pot 40 from its secured location.

It will be appreciated that the invention has similar application for use in securing garden furniture and the like at a desired location.

In an alternative embodiment, the anchor 10 includes one or more intermediate sleeves positioned between the upper and lower sleeves 24, 26. Each intermediate sleeve includes a lower driving surface corresponding to the drive surface 36 on the upper sleeve 24. Each intermediate sleeve also includes a plurality of arms corresponding to the arms 32 on the lower sleeve 26, the distal end of each arm having a drive surface corresponding to the drive surfaces 34 on the lower sleeve 24.

It will be appreciated that the intermediate sleeves are configured for driving the arms on a lower sleeve to their active position. The intermediate sleeves are also configured to be driven by the upper sleeve 24 so as to cause their own arms to be driven to an active position corresponding to the active position of the lower arms, thereby providing a plurality of sets of barbs spaced along the longitudinal length of the anchor 10.

In certain embodiments, it is preferable to include two, three or more intermediate sleeves of the kind described above, so as to define more than two sets of spaced barbed regions along the longitudinal axis of the anchor 10.

The anchor 10 may be of any suitable length and diameter. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the anchor 10 is 1 m in length and 25 mm in diameter.

However, in other embodiments the anchor 10 may be in the range of 30 cm to I m in length, and 10 mm to 50 mm in diameter.

Preferably, the anchor includes a threaded portion having a length at least suitable for the purpose of driving the barbs to their fully active position. Therefore, the length of the threaded portion should preferably be at least as long as the barbs.

Preferably, the anchor includes a portion which is engageable so as to prevent rotation of the anchor during driving of the barbs to their active position. For example, the upper end of the threaded bar 22 may include at least two opposing flat portions for engagement by a spanner or wrench or the like, so as to prevent rotation of the bar as the nut is rotated to drive the upper sleeve.

The arms may be of any suitable length, preferably 25 mm to 75 mm and most preferably between 30 mm to 50 mm. Where a plurality of sets of arms are provided, the length of the arms can be decreased, without significantly reducing the resistance to upward movement of the anchor that would otherwise be provided by the device having only a single set of arms of standard 50 mm length.

It should be noted that the hexagonal nut portion 19 of the cap 18 can be provided separately from the cap 18, so as to be movable relative the rounded end portion 20.

Alternatively, a separate threaded nut can be provided beneath the cap 18, for tightening the movable components prior to driving the anchor in to the ground, and for actuating the arms.

Claims

Claims I. An anchor for use in securing objects to the ground, the anchor

comprising an elongate body for driving into the ground, the anchor including an arm which is drivable from an inactive position to an active position, in which the arm forms a barb, for anchoring the body in the ground, wherein the anchor includes a drive member arranged to be driven downwards along the longitudinal axis of the anchor for driving said arm to its active position.
2. An anchor according to claim 1, wherein the drive member includes an inclined drive surface for driving said arm to its active position.
3. An anchor according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the arm includes a guide surface against which the drive member moves to urge the arm into its active position.
4. An anchor according to any of claims I to 3, wherein the anchor includes a shaft, and said drive member is slidably mounted on said shaft.
5. An anchor according to any preceding claim, wherein said drive member is in the form of a tubular sleeve.
6. An anchor according to any preceding claim, wherein an upper end of the anchor is configured to receive a drive master for the drive member.
7. An anchor according to claim 6, wherein the upper end of the anchor includes a threaded portion adapted to receive a threaded drive master, for forcing the drive member away from said upper end.
8. An anchor according to claim 7, wherein the drive master is in the form of a threaded nut.
9. An anchor according to any preceding claim, wherein the anchor includes a set of arms arranged for defining a plurality of barbs extending radially from a predetermined position on the body.
10. An anchor according to claim 9, wherein the anchor includes at least of said sets, spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the body.
11. An anchor according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said sets is provided on a movable sleeve.
12. An anchor according to any preceding claim, wherein the anchor includes a pointed tip for driving into the ground.
13. An anchor according to any preceding claim, wherein the anchor includes a washer for clamping engagement with a portion of a plant pot or the like.
14. An anchor for use in securing objects to the ground, the anchor comprising an elongate body for driving into the ground, the anchor including an arm which is drivable from an inactive position to an active position, in which the arm forms a barb, for anchoring the body in the ground, wherein the anchor includes a drive member for driving said arm to its active position.
15. An anchor substantially as herein described and as illustrated in Figure 1, andlor Figure 2, and/or Figure 3.