IMPROVED GROUND ANCHORING DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to floor anchors, in particular, to pivoting floor anchors. Ground anchors or ground anchors of the pivoting or tilting type are well known and generally include a main body portion having a leading edge adapted to penetrate the ground, a trailing edge including an outwardly turned flange and a cable fixing point or guide wire, intermediate to the front and rear edges, usually located from about the midpoint of the overall length of the anchor or towards the trailing edge, such that when exerting a force on the cable or attached guide wire, after insertion of the anchor into the ground, the flange turned away from the trailing edge will be fastened to ground, causing the anchor to rotate or pivot to a locked position usually at a right angle to the pull force . Such anchors have included plate anchors, as shown in US Patent 3,969,854, which are generally difficult to sink into the ground. More recently, these anchors have been replaced with cylindrical or tubular anchors having a diameter in the body into which a driving rod can be inserted from the trailing edge to a splice junction.
rod in or adjacent to the bottom or end of the diameter. Such anchors, as shown in U.S. Patent 4,044,513, employ ridges turned outwardly at the trailing edge which usually define an opening therein. Such anchors are also shown in U.S. Patent 4,096,673, both of which are assigned to the assignee of this application. The transferee, Foresight Industries, Inc., has sold such anchors under the Duckbill brand name and generally consists of fused cylindrical bodies that have a cruciform front edge, a trailing edge with a turned-out flange, blind diameter and a raised projection on an upper side remote from the turned-out flange, which has an opening therethrough to receive either a shackle, a cable or other load-applying device to initiate rotation and "blockage" "load", that is, the fixing, of the anchor after it is driven into the ground by means of a driving rod, by means of a hammer, hammer drill, hydraulic press or the like. Variations in the general form of such anchors are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent 5,775,037, where the main body may be provided with lateral edges extending outwardly to the side of the central diameter beyond the raised rim. An additional variant, shown for example in the Patent
US 4,802,317, assigned to the current assignee, uses extended lateral wings that extend laterally of the cylindrical central body portion containing the blind diameter. Those side wings can have sharp front edges and, when the anchor is rotated towards the locked position, the wings increase the contact area between the anchor and the floor, providing a wider surface to resist extraction of the anchor. Sometimes, such ground anchors are referred to as wing anchors. However, the presence of the wings can be, in certain cases, a disadvantage because: (a) they have a much larger area that must be pushed through the ground during the insertion of the anchor, thus requiring a greater driving force; and (b) due to its lateral extension quite large with respect to the central body, the force necessary to pivot and block the anchor increases considerably. In addition, (c) the wings may cause a deviation of the anchor during driving. The coupling of an outer reach of the wing with a more resistant structure to the driven, either a hardened earth structure, such as hardened clay, or with a stone or rock can have the effect of pivoting the anchor during its driving, which can cause the anchor to change direction as it digs into the ground. This can not only result in a bad anchor
placed, but can cause a bending of the driving rod and, under extreme conditions, can prevent or hinder the removal of the driving rod after the anchor has been placed. A method to increase the driving capacity of the winged anchors and to reduce the necessary driving force is illustrated in US Pat. No. 6,237,289, where the leading edges of the wings are provided with a series of separate chisel leading edges that separate one from the other. the other axially and extending radially short distances, thus providing the leading edges of the wings with a series of separate front edges that move, each one, longitudinally with respect to each other and moving in radial shape with respect to the main body. Although jagged or stepped from the leading edges of large wing anchors is an improvement over the above large wing anchors, the need for a greater driving force and the difficulties associated with rotation to the locked position remain a problem. Therefore, such anchors are generally only used in cases where a high load resistance is required and more cylindrical anchors are used in cases where lower levels of resistance load are anticipated. However, the use of cylindrical anchors, with
its cruciform impulse edges leave the anchor, during driving, at risk of decentering or deviating from a vertical path. Since such anchors are normally driven into the ground at an angle to the vertical, which will represent the angle of the load application after the placement of the anchor and, since the load application is usually at a different angle to the 90 degrees, in particular in cases where the anchor is used to anchor a guidewire, a limit end or a tree stand or the like, it is sometimes difficult to drive the anchor in a straight line. The substantially cylindrical anchors usually have less retention or load bearing capabilities than similar anchorages with dimensioned wings, but are easier to sink and rotate to a locked position. Therefore, it would be an improvement in the technique if the generally cylindrical ground anchors can be provided with a reduced input resistance, with a better driving tendency in a straight path and with improved load bearing capabilities. The above advantages are obtained in the present invention by using a substantially cylindrical anchor having a main body portion which is provided with a raised projection extending from a top surface area of the cylinder, a first extension
flat plate type projecting forward of the main body ending in a stepped leading edge, a second generally flat plate-like extension extending forward of this main body which normally projects towards the front edge plate which provides guide surfaces , the second plate ends at its front edge in a series of stepped front edges. The stepped leading edge on each side of the main body extends beyond the diameter of the main body and forms a leading edge for a small tapering projection extending along the length of the main body from the leading edge of the projection to the rear edge of the main body and having a width projecting from the outer diameter of the main body generally no greater than the width of its leading edge, which is substantially the same as that of the leading edge of each row of the leading edges of the body. the guide surface. In one embodiment of the invention, the anchor comprises a substantially tubular or cylindrical main body section having a generally conical front or front end and a trailing edge formed at an obtuse angle to the body axis with a rim turned outwardly in the part of the body. bottom of the trailing edge, a raised projection projecting above the main body portion
and having a connector for connection to a tension member, a blind diameter extending towards the main body from the trailing edge, a flat leading edge member projecting forward from the main body that loads and terminates in a chisel point, a guide plate projecting laterally from the projection of the leading edge forward of the main body and the guide plates have serrated or staggered leading edges on both sides of the leading edge member. In one embodiment of the invention, the anchor comprises a substantially tubular main body section having a generally pointed or inclined front or front end and a trailing edge formed at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the body with a rim turned outwardly in the body. lower part of the trailing edge, a raised projection projecting above the main body portion and having a connector for connection to a traction member, a blind diameter extending towards the main body from the trailing edge, a front edge member projecting forward from the main body portion ending in a chisel point, a pair of guide plates projecting laterally on each side of the front edge projection forward of the main body and the guide plates
have serrated or stepped front edges, the projecting leading edge is formed as a substantially flat plate that is aligned vertically and extending along the axis of the body and terminating at chiseled and stepped front edges, the plates The guide members end at their lateral edges furthest in projections extending along the outside of the main body to the trailing edge, the projections projecting from the main body to approximately the width of a stepped leading edge of the guide surface. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a ground anchor that has an improved driving capability that requires the use of minimal driving force and has improved straight line driving tendencies. It is a further object of this invention to provide a substantially cylindrical or tubular floor anchor of the votive p-type having improved punching capacity, provided by projecting surfaces extending at an angle to each other and projecting forward from the body. main anchor distance between 20 and 40% of the total anchor length when measured from the front end of the main body portion or from 10 to 20% of the total length of the anchor when measured from the end of an anchor transition zone
between the end of the main body portion and the projection surfaces, wherein the transition zone is composed of an axially progressive reduction of the diameter from an external diameter of the main body portion to the projection surfaces, and where the surfaces of The projections terminate at leading edges that are pointed or chiseled and comprising a plurality of front edge sections that axially and radially displace one another in a gradual manner, the projection surfaces having opposite, generally flat, side surfaces that resist the rotation of the anchor around its axis during the driving. It is another object of this invention to provide a generally cylindrical, oval or rectangular floor anchor having a leading edge defined by chiselled surfaces that are axially and radially separated from each other and that are formed at the leading edges of generally flat plates projecting forward of the main body portion, the plates are positioned at an angle from one to the other, and the main body portion has protrusions that run substantially the length of the main body portion on opposite sides thereof. , the projections have non-dull front edges and generally have a width measured out from the surface of the main body portion of
about 20% or less of the transverse width of the main body portion, whereby the projections serve to assist in vertical anchoring of the anchor without providing significant obstruction or resistance to rotation. It is another important object of this invention to provide a generally cylindrical anchor having flat plate-like extensions that extend forward of the main body portion that terminates at the leading edges, the leading edges have chiselled and spaced edges, the chiselled edge further remote on each side of the main body forms the leading edge of a lateral projection running along the main body to the rear edge of the main body. These and other objects will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a description of the preferred embodiment illustrated, it being understood that this is only one embodiment of this invention and that many variations of shapes and dimensions are within the scope of the invention. of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side view of the anchor of this invention. Figure 2 is a top view of the anchor of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front view of the front edge of the anchor of this invention. Figure 4 is a view of the anchor of Figure 1 from the other side. Figure 5 is a view of the anchor from the bottom. Figure 6 is a front view of the trailing edge. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the anchor 10 of this invention is composed of a generally cylindrical main body portion 11 which may have a generally tapered front end 12 and a rear end 13 formed at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the main body. The rear end 13 incorporates, in a lower part 15 of the main body 11, an outwardly turned flange 16 which will be fastened to the floor surrounding the anchor after it has been driven to its desired depth and an extraction load applied. . A protrusion 17 is formed in an upper portion 18 of the main body 11 and, in the illustrated embodiment, includes a central projection section 20 projecting farther from the upper portion 18 of any portion of the main body, that section 20 is provided with an opening 21 extending transversely therethrough. The opening can have a wire threaded through it and fastened back in it or it can
provide a holding point for a shackle to which a cable or rod can be fixed. Numerous additional fastening examples are known for attaching the anchor wire or rod to the raised projection and can be replaced for the diameter 21. These include T-shaped slots that can receive a T-shaped head on an anchor rod, or openings which extend completely through the anchor from the upper surface 18 to the lower surface 15 having a smaller opening in the area of the projection than in the lower part so that a rod with head can be fed through the anchor from the part lower with the rod extending outwardly from the projection and the head pivoting in the opening and retaining therein through the smaller opening in the upper part of the projection. These are all the themes of design choice and are known in the art. Similarly, the tapered front end of the main body portion can be formed as inclined, flat surfaces, abrupt end walls or otherwise shaped. An inclined or angled wall, shaped either as a portion of the cone or as flat triangular sections having surfaces at an angle to the longitudinal axis may be convenient in comparison with a blunt radial surface when the anchor is driven into the ground considering that
such surfaces will push the earth away from the main body 11 behind them. In a similar way, the front upper surface 30 of the raised projection 17 is preferably formed at an angle to the longitudinal axis leading from the external diameter surface of the main body portion at its front end 32 to the central section 20 at an angle of attack that facilitates the movement of the earth. The embodiment shown in the Figures provides a flat upper surface 31 that increases in width from its intersection with the upper front end 32 of the surface 18 of the main body portion at the beginning of the conical section 12, the width increase extending towards back to a forward point of the section 20. The section 20 has a smaller width, transverse to the longitudinal centerline of the main body in order to produce a sharp reduction in width at 34 between the front portion of the projection and the portion 20 fixing. The side wall 35 of the projection extending from the flat top 31 can be widened in a linear fashion or, as shown in this embodiment, in a more rounded shape, the shape of these surfaces is a matter of design choice. Although an anchor having a flat surface 31 on the front face of the projection has been shown,
It will be appreciated that an edged surface that rises to a central peak and may extend entirely from behind the point 50 of the leading edge of the anchor to the section 20 may be desired to facilitate the penetration of the anchor into the ground. However, it is desired that the leading edge of the raised projection be configured to send the earth away from the section 20 since the cable, shackle, rod end or the like can extend out from the side of the projection section 20, causing a resistance for ease of passage of the anchor in the ground. Because the projection rises from the main body and because it provides the anchorage fixation point for the cable, rod, etc., which will be under tension when the anchor is pivoted and when providing its anchoring function, the projection it must be strong enough to accept such load forces without separation from the rest of the anchor. For this, such projections are relatively large and are a factor in the tendency of the anchor to deviate from a vertical course when the anchor is driven into the ground. A blind diameter 60 extends towards the main body from the trailing edge and terminates at a driving surface 61 at or adjacent one end of the blind diameter. The end can be square, as shown, or it can be rounded to avoid deformation of
the tip of the driving bit. An elongated driving auger is inserted into the diameter 60 and is used to drive the anchor into the ground by means of force application, which, depending on the size of the anchor, can vary from a hand hammer to a substantially similar piece of machinery to a pile driver. Since the depth of insertion of the anchor into the ground will depend on the size of the anchor, the load to be retained, the quality of the ground and the like, the driving bit can be quite long, constructed of threaded sections together and can not be in itself being structurally sufficient to ensure that the anchor is in a straight line. Although it has been known to provide cruciform projections extending from the leading end of the main body to help penetrate the earth for substantially cylindrical anchors, such extensions have not proven to be. Fully satisfactory to avoid de-centering or other than to move in a straight line of the anchor during the driving. For winged anchors, which have relatively large side wings projecting from the central body, projecting, chiselled and cruciform edges and sharp edges with wings have been used, as shown in US Pat. No. 5,031,370. In addition, such anchors have been
provided with serrated or staggered leading edges in both the vertical, upper to lower orientation, as well as in the horizontal orientation, from side to side and from wing to wing. Although these leading edges have benefits in winged anchors, they have not been used in substantially cylindrical or elliptical wingless anchorages depicted. This invention provides front plates 70, 71, 72 and 73 or projection surface members, which extend forward of the main body, which are positioned at an angle toward each other, generally at right angles, and which provide edges 50, 51-55 front. The plate 70 extends forward from the junction 32 of the raised projection and terminates at edges 50, 52 and 51 staggered with the 51 located in the center. Each edge is chiselled forming a piercing tip. The plates 70 and 71 can be considered as a plate and the plates 72 and 73 as a second plate, with the two plates intercepting or, for purposes of description, the plates can be considered as four separate plates extending radially from a joint common. A greater or lesser number of plates can be provided and, although it is shown that the plates 72 and 73 have their edges 53 spaced axially behind the leading edge 51 of the plate 70-71, it will be understood that the two plates can be extended by an amount same forward of the main body as it
shown in Figure 4. Preferably, the plates provide anti-rotation surfaces that resist the rotation of the anchor during driving. To this end, the plates extend approximately 1/3 of the total distance of the anchor when the starting point of the plate is measured from the point 32 representing the front end of the main body 11 before the conical or transition zone 12 . When measured from the end of the transition zone 12, the plate will extend approximately 20% of the total length of the anchor. Although these percentages may vary, it is preferred that when measured from point 32, the plates extend between 20 and 40% of the total length and, when measured from point 33, being the end of the transition, the plates project forward from 15 to 25 percent of the length. This provides a sufficient anti-rotation surface to help drive the anchor in a straight line. Although the upper and lower surfaces of the plates 70-73 can be formed parallel to each other, they can also be positioned at an angle. The plate 71 is the exact reflection of the plate 70 located on the other side or underside of the anchor, the plates 70 and 71 are separated by horizontal plates 72 and 73 projecting in a similar manner from the joining of the main body portion with the section 12 in conical form and have an exact reflection to the left and to the right. The plates 72, 73 can finish
in recess, at edges 53, 54 chiseled or may, if desired, have a more central edge extending up to point 51, although it is preferable to have a single chiselled front edge 51. Although an X-shaped or cruciform front edge has been shown consisting of four plates which are located at right angles to each other, equally spaced apart, it will be understood that other combinations may be used. For example, the lower plate 71 can be removed, such that the front projection is substantially T-shaped. It will be appreciated that the plate 70 can not be removed so easily since it bends back towards the raised projection. Although it has been chosen to describe the front extensions as plates or as plate-like members, this is only for descriptive purposes, it being understood that the entire anchor can be formed as a single cast part, that the extensions can have a curvature in cross section for the same or they can project upwards or downwards adjacent to their outermost edges. It will be further understood that the upper surface of the plate 70 or lower surface of the plate 71 or the sides of the plates 72 or 73 can be chiselled. The term chiseled is used to include all forms of sharp edges, including those with a radius at its furthest point. No chiselled surfaces with knife, sharp and dangerous
drive; however, the surfaces should not be blunted to the full thickness of the plate. Additionally, at the outer edges of the plates 72 and 73 and spaced apart from the last forwardly trailing edge 54, the projections 80 and 81 are located on either side of the main body, the projections may have front and chiselled edges 55 substantially triangular in shape. terminate at the outer edge of the projections, the outer edge is chiselled or pointed, as shown at 90, 91 of Figure 3. The leading edges 55 and projections 80, 81 have a width of the external diameter of the main body which is relatively small, preferably approximately 20% of the diameter of the main body 11. These projections are not designed to act as wings, such as are found in the winged anchors, but, instead, counteract the tendency of the raised projection to rotate the anchor from a vertical path during driving. By extending the projections 80, 81, the total length from before the leading end of the transition section 12 to the rear edge 13 of the main body, by keeping the projections relatively narrow and by making them V-shaped in cross section, they do not they add a significant blockage of the anchor when it is driven into the ground, but they do act to facilitate vertical anchoring of the anchor. It will be appreciated that the force of the earth that acts
against the front surface 30 of the raised projection will have a tendency to cause the anchor to pivot upward in its front part or push the entire anchor downward when it is driven into the ground. The projections 80, 81 are intended to help resist that tendency without adding significant resistance to the anchoring of the anchor in the ground. Although a preferred embodiment having only two projections that align with the center line of the longitudinal axis of the anchor and that start from the edges of the plates 72, 73 has been shown, others may choose to use this invention by providing, for example, two projections on each side or placing the projection higher or lower along the sides of the main body, therefore not flat with the plates 72, 73. It has also been chosen to use relatively flat plates 70-73 to define the extension projecting forward of the main body of the anchor since those flat surfaces also function to resist de-centering of the anchor. Others may decide on different shapes or sizes for the projection characteristics, for example, instead of the plates having a uniform thickness they may be thinner in the front part and thicker towards the main body portion. In addition, in cases where the leading edges 50-54 and 55 are shown at substantially angles
Straight to the longitudinal axis of the anchor, such edges can be oriented rearward if desired. These and other modifications of this invention will readily become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, although it has been shown and described that the anchors are substantially cylindrical or elliptical, the anchor body may be rectangular, octagonal or otherwise. In general, when the term "substantially cylindrical" is used, it is intended to cover all minor form variations.