GB2581530A

GB2581530A - A ground anchor

Info

Publication number: GB2581530A
Application number: GB1902496.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stevens Richard
Original assignee: Surf & Turf Instant Shelters Ltd
Current assignee: Surf & Turf Instant Shelters Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-25
Filing date: 2019-02-25
Publication date: 2020-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-25
Also published as: GB2581530B; GB201902496D0

Abstract

A ground anchor is provided for anchoring an object to the ground. The ground anchor includes a body for installation into the ground. The body has a surface which is to be exposed when installed in the ground. An aperture 11 is formed in the surface which is to be exposed, and the aperture opens into a passage shaped to receive a foot 25 of a fitting 23. The passage enables the fitting to be releasably engaged with the body. When the fitting is engaged with the body, the fitting is retained relative to the body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface. The aperture may be a slot and the passage may be shaped to receive the foot to enable the fitting to hook under a part of the body.

Description

A GROUND ANCHOR

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ground anchor. Background to the Invention Ground anchors are used to provide a secure point of attachment between an external object and the ground.

Gazebos, marquees and the like are typically secured to the ground by use of ground anchors or weights; the choice of which generally depends on the surface on which it is placed. Where a gazebo or the like is to be used on a soft surface such as grass, it may be secured to the ground with a peg, inserted into the ground through a foot of the gazebo leg.

Where a gazebo or the like is to be used on a hard, paved surface where it is not possible to drive a peg into the surface, it is usual to place a weight or weights over each of its legs to hold it down. The weights are laborious to transport when erecting and removing gazebos. In the case of markets, fairs and the like, gazebos are often erected and removed frequently.

US2018/0216306 discloses a ground anchor for anchoring an object to the ground. The body of the ground anchor comprises a spear assembly which is driven into the ground A threaded stud extends from the top surface This is either welded to, or received into a threaded bore in, the body of the ground anchor. In use, a connecting ring comprising a threaded bore is screwed onto the stud to provide an attachment point for a guy rope or the like Owing to the spear assembly, this ground anchor is not suited for installation in a paved surface. Where this ground anchor is used over an extended period of time, a user may desire to leave the body of the ground anchor installed whilst removing the connecting ring. This leaves the stud projecting from the ground which presents a trip hazard. Where the stud is received into a threaded bore in the body it can of course be removed. However this is difficult or time consuming and when removed dirt can accumulate in the threaded bore in the body making it difficult or impossible to reintroduce the stud and/or cause damage to the body and/or stud It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved ground anchor and/or to address one or more of the problems presented above.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a ground anchor for anchoring an object to the ground, the ground anchor comprising: a body for installation into the ground, the body comprising a surface which is to be exposed when installed in the ground; and an aperture in the surface opening into a passage shaped to receive a foot of a fitting to enable the fitting to be releasably engaged with the body such that, when the fitting is engaged with the body, the fitting is retained relative to the body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface.

Such a constmction enables a ground anchor to be provided from which the fitting can be readily released from engagement by moving it in a suitable direction through the passage. The fitting can therefore be easily removed from the ground anchor when the ground anchor is not in use Despite this, when the fitting is engaged with the body the fitting is retained in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface, which is highly advantageous when the ground anchor is used to anchor an object to the ground. As a result, when the ground anchor is installed, an object can be quickly, easily and securely anchored to the ground by connection to the fitting when the fitting is received in the passage and releasably engaged The body may be elongate. The body may be substantially cylindrical. The body may comprise a cylindrical wall portion. By this construction, a hollow body portion may be defined. A first end of the cylindrical wall portion may be closed. The body may comprise a transverse plate. The transverse plate may be towards a second end of the body. The transverse plate may substantially close the cylindrical wall portion of the body. The transverse plate may substantially close the cylindrical wall portion at the second end. A bore may be formed through the transverse plate. One or more openings may extend through the cylindrical wall to provide access to an inner surface of the transverse plate.

The body may comprise one or more apertures and/or grooves formed in a surface of the body other than the surface which is to be exposed. The apertures and/or grooves may be formed in and/or through the cylindrical wall portion of the body. The apertures may be weight relief grooves. The apertures and/or grooves may increase the surface area of the body. Advantageously, the apertures and/or grooves may assist adhesion where the ground anchor is to be installed in the ground using an adhesive.

The surface which is to be exposed may be substantially flat. The aperture in the surface to be exposed may be an elongate slot. The slot may extend to an edge of the body. The slot may have a substantially constant width. The width of the slot may be substantially matched to the width of the fitting.

The passage may be shaped to receive the foot to enable the fitting to hook under a part of the body. Hooking under a part of the body may help to facilitate retention of the fitting relative to the body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface which is to be exposed The passage may comprise substantially parallel walls and a floor. The floor may be parallel to the surface which is to be exposed The passage may comprise one or more contact surfaces intended to contact surfaces of the foot and thereby retain the fitting. The contact surfaces may be intended to contact opposing surfaces of the foot. The contact surfaces may be spaced apart. Spaced apart contact surfaces help to prevent rotation of the fitting when it is engaged.

A first contact surface may be comprised in a roof portion of the passage. The roof portion may be shaped to cooperate with a first portion of the foot. The roof portion may comprise an archway. The archway may have a cross-sectional area which varies smoothly through the archway. Smooth variation of cross section aids insertion of the fitting.

A second contact surface may be comprised in a portion of the floor of the passage. The floor may comprise a step. The second contact surface may comprise the step. The step may be shaped to cooperate with a second portion of the foot. A surface of the step may be substantially flat. The surface of the step may be substantially parallel to the surface which is to be exposed. The surface may be the upper surface of the step.

The step may comprise a chamfered edge.

The ground anchor may further comprise a bore extending into the passage from the surface which is to be exposed for allowing debris to be removed from the passage. The bore may be separated from the aperture. Where the aperture in the surface which is to be exposed opens into the passage at one end of the passage, the bore may extend into the passage at the opposite end of the passage. The bore may facilitate the removal of debris from the passage following insertion of the fitting. Insertion of the fitting may push debris into and/or out of the bore.

Debris which has accumulated in the passage can prevent successful insertion and engagement of the fitting and/or damage the fitting. Therefore, providing a bore extending into the passage to facilitate the removal of debris is highly advantageous.

By such a construction, the passage may be flushed of debris which may accumulate in the passage when the fitting is not received therein. Pushing debris into and/or out of the bore during insertion of the fitting is advantageous as the bore does not need to be flushed of debris prior to insertion of the fitting.

The ground anchor may further comprise a fitting. The fitting may comprise a shank and a foot. The foot may project from an end of the shank. The shank and the foot may be substantially perpendicular.

The fitting may be releasably engaged with the body. When the fitting is engaged with the body, a portion of the fitting may protrude from the surface which is to be exposed. A portion of the shank may protrude from the surface which is to be exposed. Advantageously, the protruding portion of the fitting thereby provides a connection point outside of the body of the ground anchor. A portion of the fitting may support a screw thread along at least a part of its length. The exposed portion of the fitting may support a screw thread. The shank may support a screw thread along at least a part of its length. This allows the connection point to be releasably engaged by means of a complementary screw thread.

The fitting may comprise one or more surfaces shaped to engage a surface of the passage. The surface may be a contact surface of the passage. A first surface of the foot may comprise a groove. The groove may be rounded and smooth. The groove may be substantially saddle shaped. The first surface of the foot may be the upper surface of the foot. A second surface of the foot may comprise an indentation. The indentation

S

may be shaped to cooperate with the step in the passage. This is advantageous as the passage step provides a contacting surface to which the fitting can engage to prevent rotation of the fitting. The indentation may comprise a chamfered face. The indentation may comprise a flat face. The indentation may be an inward step.

The fitting may further comprise clamping means for attachment to the fitting.

This allows an object to be clamped between the clamping means and the surface which is to be exposed. The clamping means may comprise a nut. The nut may be engaged with the threaded portion of the fitting. Advantageously, when the foot is engaged with the body of the ground anchor, the nut can be threaded onto the shank, and an object positioned between the nut and the exposed surface of the ground anchor will be clamped therebetween. This is particularly advantageous where a foot of an object has an aperture which is placed over the shank, and the foot can be clamped between the nut and the exposed surface. The nut may be an eye nut.

The ground anchor may further comprise a stabilising rod. The stabilising rod may comprise an externally threaded end. The bore in the transverse plate may comprise an internal thread. The stabilising rod may be threaded into the bore in the transverse plate. Alternatively, the stabilising rod may be inserted through the bore in the transverse plate and a nut may be threaded onto the stabilising rod.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a ground anchor installation may comprise a ground anchor according to the first aspect of the invention wherein the body is installed in the ground with the surface to be exposed substantially at ground level and the clamping means clamps the foot of an object, thereby anchoring it to the ground.

The second aspect of the present invention may comprise any or all of the features of the first aspect of the invention, as desired or as appropriate

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ground anchor; Figure 2 is a cross sectional side view of the ground anchor of Figure 1 along the line A -A with the stabilising rod removed; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ground anchor of Figure 1 with a fitting received therein; Figure 4 is a top view of the ground anchor of Figure I; Figure 5 is a bottom view of the ground anchor of Figure 1 with the stabilising rod removed; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a fitting; Figure 7 is an exploded view of a ground anchor assembly; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the ground anchor assembly of Figure 6, assembled and used to anchor a gazebo foot; and Figures 9(a) -(9) are cross sectional perspective views of the top portion of the ground anchor showing the fitting at various stages of insertion into the body.

In what follows the terms upper, lower, top, bottom, left and right are used to refer to the invention in the orientation in which it is illustrated which is the orientation in which it is intended to be used, but should not be taken as otherwise limiting. The drawings are not to scale.

Referring now to Figures 1 -4, a ground anchor 1 comprises an elongate, generally cylindrical body 2 cast in alloy steel. The lower three quarters of the height of the body 2 comprise a cylindrical wall 3.

A transverse plate 4 having a wider end and a narrower end is attached at its ends to opposed parts of the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 3 to substantially close the cylinder end. The transverse plate 4 comprises a bore 5 coaxial with the cylindrical wall 3.

Formed through the cylindrical wall above each end of the transverse plate 4 are a set of three evenly spaced, vertically aligned, diametrically opposed, substantially circular apertures 6. Also formed through the cylindrical wall 3, slightly above the transverse plate 4 and halfway between the two sets of apertures 6 around the cylindrical wall 3, are two diametrically opposed rectangular openings 7. The bottom edge of each rectangular opening 7 is substantially horizontally aligned with the bottom of each lowermost aperture The openings 7 provide access to the top of the bore 5 in the transverse plate 4.

A stabilising rod 8 can be inserted through the bore 5 in the transverse plate 4 and into the lower portion of the body 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the bore 5 supports an inner screw thread which corresponds with an outer screw thread at an end of the stabilising rod 8. In this manner, the rod 8 can be threaded into the bore 5 to secure the rod in place. However, in embodiments where the bore 5 does not comprise a screw thread, the openings 7 provide access to the upper surface of the transverse plate 4 so that a nut may be threaded onto the rod to secure the rod 8 in place.

The upper quarter of the height of the body 2 comprises a circular top surface 9 and two diametrically opposed weight relief grooves 10 formed in the side of the upper quarter of the body 2.

An aperture 11 is formed in the top surface 9 of the body. The aperture 11 takes the form of an elongate slot extending radially from a point slightly displaced from the centre of the top surface 9 to meet the edge of the circular top surface 9. The end of the slot towards the centre of the top surface 9 is radiused. The width of the aperture 11 is substantially constant.

The aperture 11 opens into a passage 12 formed in the body 2. The passage 12 comprises two straight, parallel walls 13 extending into the body 2 from the sides of the aperture 11, and a substantially flat floor 14 parallel to the top surface 9 between the walls 13. The passage 12 opens to the side of the body 2 at the aperture side.

An entrance section 15 of the passage 12 extends from the aperture 11 down into the body 2 to meet the floor 14 below. The passage 12 extends beyond the radiused end of the slot under an archway 16 and into an end section 17. The archway 16 is formed below the centre of the circular top surface 9. The archway 16 has a semicircular hyperboloid intrados 18 such that the cross-sectional area of the archway 16 initially decreases into the passage before increasing again. The intrados 18 curves around to meet the radiused end of the aperture 11 at the side of the intrados 18 closest the aperture 11.

A step 19 rises up from the floor 14 in the end section 17. The step extends the width of the passage 12 and comprises a chamfered edge 20 and a substantially flat upper surface 21 parallel to the passage floor 14 The passage 12 does not open to the side of the body through the end section U. A bore 22 extends down through the top surface 9 to open into the end section 17 above the step 19 to provide communication between the passage 12 and the outside of the body 2 at a location other than via the aperture 11. This enables the bore 22 to function as a flushing duct, as will be described in detail below.

Turning now to Figure 5, a fitting 23 comprises a shank 24 and a foot 25 which curves smoothly round to extend perpendicular to the shank 24. The shank 24 supports a thread along a portion of its length from the free end. In this exemplary embodiment, the fitting 23 is formed by bending a single metal piece A groove 26 is formed in the upper surface of the foot 25, and is shaped to cooperate with the archway intrados 18 such that the foot 25 can be smoothly inserted and removed from the passage 12. The upper surface has a substantially saddle shape (or hyperbolic paraboloid) having a flat upper surface. The bottom of the foot 19 comprises an indentation 27 formed at its free end for engaging the step 19. The indentation 27 has a flat horizontal surface intended to sit flush on the upper surface of the step 21 and an angled face to sit flush on the chamfered edge of the step 20. The end face of the foot 28 is bevelled away from vertical back toward the rod 24.

Turning now to Figure 6, an exploded view of the ground anchor assembly is shown and the assembly and installation of the ground anchor will be described with reference thereto The assembled ground anchor assembly is shown in Figure 7.

A bore is drilled into the ground 31 to receive the ground anchor 1. Where a stabilising rod 8 is to be employed, a counterbore is drilled into the ground, the counterbore comprising a first circular bore 29 for receiving the body 2 and a narrower, second circular bore 30 coaxial with the first 29 for receiving the stabilising rod 8. The first circular bore 29 is sized such that the ground anchor body 2 can be inserted into the first circular bore 29 to sit flush with the ground surface 31. The second bore 30 extends into the ground 31 a distance such that when the stabilising rod is inserted into the second bore 30, the threaded end of the stabilising rod 8 protrudes into the first bore 29.

Once the bores 29, 30 are drilled, an adhesive, such as CT1 Power Grab n Bond as supplied by CT] Ltd of Newry, NIR, is applied to the stabilising rod 8 before inserting it into the second bore 30 with its threaded end pointing upward. Adhesive is then applied to the walls of the first bore 29 and to the transverse plate 4 on the side of the base of the anchor. The anchor 1 is then inserted into the first bore 29 and the threaded bore 5 in the plate 4 is threaded onto the stabilising rod 8 until the anchor 1 is flush with the ground. The apertures 6 formed in the side of the body 2 help to improve adhesion when the anchor 1 is installed using an adhesive A gazebo foot 32 comprising a plate 33 having an aperture 34 formed therein can be anchored to the ground 31 using the installed ground anchor 1 by the following steps.

First, the fitting 23 is inserted foot-first through the aperture 11 and received in the passage 12 of the installed anchor 1 so that the fitting 23 is releasably engaged with the body 2 and the threaded portion of the shank protrudes above the top surface 9 of the ground anchor I. The aperture 34 in the gazebo foot 32 is placed over the threaded end of the fitting 23 so that the fitting 23 protrudes through the plate 33.

An eye nut 35 comprising an internal threaded bore is threaded onto the fitting and tightened down on top of the foot plate 33 to clamp it in place, thereby anchoring the gazebo foot 32 to the ground The eye 36 of the eye nut provides an attachment point for a guy rope (not shown).

The insertion of the fitting 23 into the ground anchor 1 can be described with reference to Figures 7(a) -(e).

First, the fitting 23 is inserted foot-first through the aperture 11 and into the entrance section 15. The foot 25 is then hooked under the archway 16, with the groove 26 held in contact with the archway intrados 18. The fitting 23 is then rotated to bring I 0 the foot 25 parallel to the floor. The smooth variation in cross-sectional area of the archway 16 aids insertion of the fitting 23 during rotation.

It is important to ensure that the portion of the groove 26 nearest the tip of the foot 25 is kept in contact with the intrados during rotation, and not the portion of the groove nearest the shank; otherwise, when rotating the fitting 23 to bring the foot 25 parallel with the floor, the face of the foot 28 will catch on the front face of the step 19. This can be interpreted from Figures 6(e) and 6(d). The chamfered edge 20 provides greater clearance for rotation of the fitting 23 and thereby aids insertion into the passage 12.

Following rotation of the fitting 23, and still with the groove 26 in contact with the intrados 1_8 above, the foot 25 is inserted into the end section of the passage 17. As shown in Figure 6, the section of the groove 26 nearest the rod 24 will be brought into contact with the intrados 18, and the horizontal surface of the indentation 27 slides onto the upper surface of the step 21. When the fitting 23 is fully inserted, the angled face of the indentation comes into contact with the chamfered edge of the step 20 and sits flush thereon.

The foot 25 curves into the shank 24 through the entrance section 15 of the passage 12 and the unthreaded portion of the shank 24 terminates level with the top surface 9 of the body 2. The threaded portion of the shank 24 extends upwardly perpendicular to the top surface 9 and is accessible from outside of the body 2 of the anchor 1.

Advantageously, when the fitting is frilly inserted and received in the passage 12, the fitting 23 is retained in the body 2 under the application of an upward force in a direction perpendicular to the top surface, that is in a direction parallel to the axis of the rod 24. This is a result of the engagement of the indentation in the foot 27 with the step 19, and the engagement of the groove 26 with the archway intrados 18. Despite this, the fitting 23 may be readily released from engagement with the body 2 and removed from the ground anchor 1 as follows.

To remove the fitting 23 from the passage 12, the fitting is slid horizontally to release the indentation 27 from engagement with the step 19. The fitting 23 may then Ii be rotated out of the body 2 by rotating the rod 24 toward the foot 25, whilst keeping the groove 26 in contact with the intrados 18 to avoid catching the foot face 28 on the passage floor 14. Following this, the foot 25 can then be removed from the body 2 through the aperture 11 In use, the top surface 9 of the anchor 1 is intended to be exposed from the ground. When the anchor 1 is installed and left without the fitting 23 inserted, debris may accumulate in the passage 12.

During insertion of the fitting 23, the bevelled foot face 28 helps to push debris through the passage 12 into the end section and scoop it toward the bore 22 above. The chamfered edge of the step 20 also helps to direct debris upwards during insertion of the fitting 23. Debris will be pushed out through the bore 22 and/or may be easily removed from the bore 22 by hand. The bore 22 therefore functions as a "flushing duct" during insertion of the fitting 23 to allow debris to be flushed from the passage 12. Consequently, debris that has accumulated in the passage 12 does not prevent the fitting 23 from being received and engaged in the anchor 1.

The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSA ground anchor for anchoring an object to the ground, the ground anchor comprising: a body for installation into the ground, the body comprising a surface which is to be exposed when installed in the ground; and an aperture in the surface opening into a passage shaped to receive a foot of a fitting to enable the fitting to be releasably engaged with the body such that, when the fitting is engaged with the body, the fitting is retained relative to the body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface.
2. A ground anchor as claimed in claim I wherein the body comprises a cylindrical wall portion and a transverse plate, and one or more openings extend through the cylindrical wall to open into the body to provide access to an inner surface of the transverse plate.
3. A ground anchor as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the body comprises one or more apertures and/or grooves formed in a surface of the body other than the surface which is to be exposed A ground anchor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the surface to be exposed is substantially flat.A ground anchor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the aperture in the surface to be exposed is an elongate slot.6. A ground anchor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the passage is shaped to receive the foot to enable the fitting to hook under a part of the body.A ground anchor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the passage comprises substantially parallel walls and a floor.8. A ground anchor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the passage comprises one or more contact surfaces intended to contact opposing surfaces of the foot and thereby retain the fitting.A ground anchor as claimed in claim 8 wherein the contact surfaces are spaced apart 10. A ground anchor as claimed in either of claims 8 or 9 wherein a first contact surface is comprised in a roof portion of the passage 11. A ground anchor as claimed in claim 10 wherein the roof portion comprises an archway.12. A ground anchor as claimed in any of claims 8 to Ii wherein a second contact surface is comprised in a portion of the floor of the passage 13 A ground anchor as claimed in claim 12 wherein the second contact surface comprises a step.14. A ground anchor as claimed in claim 13 wherein the step comprises a surface substantially parallel to the surface which is to be exposed.15. A ground anchor as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a bore extending into the passage from the surface which is to be exposed, for allowing debris to be removed from the passage 16. A ground anchor as claimed in claim 15 wherein the aperture in the surface which is to be exposed opens into the passage at one end of the passage and the bore extends into the passage at the opposite end of the passage 17. A ground anchor as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a fitting comprising a shank and a foot is releasably engaged with the body, a portion of the fitting protruding from the surface which is to be exposed 18. A ground anchor as claimed in claim 17 wherein the shank and foot are substantially perpendicular.19. A ground anchor as claimed in either of claims 17 or 18 wherein the shank supports a screw thread along at least a part of its length A ground anchor as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19 wherein a first surface of the foot comprises a groove shaped to engage a surface of the passage 2L A ground anchor as claimed in any of claims 17 to 20 wherein a second surface of the foot comprises an indentation shaped to engage a surface of the passage 22. A ground anchor as claimed in any of claims 17 to 21 wherein the fitting further comprises clamping means for attachment to the fitting to allow an object to be clamped between the clamping means and the surface which is to be exposed.23. A ground anchor as claimed in claim 22 wherein the clamping means comprises anat.24. A ground anchor as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a stabilising rod.25. A ground anchor installation comprising a ground anchor as claimed in either of claims 22 or 23 wherein the body is installed in the ground with the surface to be exposed substantially at ground level and the clamping means clamps the foot of an object, thereby anchoring it to the ground.