NZ548066A - Anchoring device that can be rotatably driven into the ground - Google Patents

Abstract

An anchoring device (10), such as a tent peg, that can be screwed into the ground is disclosed. The device has a shaft (11) adapted (20) at one end (13) to allow it to be rotatably driven about its longitudinal axis. A blade (19) is connected to the shaft oriented at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis, with the blade extending from one side of the shaft only.

Description

Patents Form # 5 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL # : 548066 DATED : 22 June 2006 TITLE : Improvements Relating to Anchoring Devices I, BUTCHER, Murray James Address: 105 Panorama Drive, R.D.5, Tauranga, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand citizen do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 191472NZCap 20070320 1042 PBA FEE CODE 1050 2 0 MAR 2007 / ■BMCElVFri FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an anchoring device, and in particular, but not exclusively to an anchoring device suitable for use as a tent peg.

BACKGROUND Anchoring devices generally of the form of pegs or stakes are required for a range of applications, for example to secure a tent, or to steady a tall structure. In addition, anchoring devices such as stakes or ground anchors are used to support retaining walls, to provide winching points for vehicles or mooring points for boats. The common requirement is to 10 drive a peg or stake far enough into the ground to provide a sufficiently robust anchoring point.

A stake does not need to be driven as far into the ground when the ground is firm, however the firmness of the ground can make it difficult to drive the stake. And yet in soft ground, while it may be easier to drive the stake, the stake will need to be driven much further to 15 provide any useful support.

While stakes or pegs can be driven into the ground using a mallet or hammer, a number of designs have been proposed or used which employ screw threads or auger forms. Pegs or stakes having a thread or an auger form can be driven into the ground using a screwing action.

However, stakes or pegs having screw threads or auger forms can be expensive to manufacture and they can be heavier than pegs having a simple straight shaft. In addition, they can require a high torque to be installed into the ground.

Anchoring devices that have screw threads or auger forms are not dissimilar to the auger style post hole borers which can be more effective at dislodging the soil than penetrating into 25 it.

While some the weight, and difficulty of installation, associated with auger style pegs can be minimised by reducing the overall length of the auger form, this can introduce another 191472NZ_CAPSpec_Mar07/PA difficulty. The shorter auger forms can be difficult to remove from the ground, tending only to rotate within the soil, rather than withdrawing from it.

OBJECT It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an anchoring device which will at 5 least go some way towards overcoming the above mentioned problems, or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in an anchoring device having a shaft with a first end and a second end, the device being adapted at or 10 adjacent the first end to allow it to be rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the device having at least one substantially flat blade connected to the shaft between the first end and the second end, or at the second end, the blade being oriented within a plane that is at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis.

Preferably the or each blade extends primarily from one side of the shaft only.

Preferably the or each blade is connected to the shaft between a mid point along the length of the shaft and the second end.

Preferably a part or an outer edge of the or each blade has a profile which is substantially circular in shape.

Preferably the or each blade is connected to the shaft at or adjacent a point at the radial 20 centre of the substantially circular profile.

Preferably the or each blade is substantially in the shape of a semicircle.

Preferably the or each blade is oriented within a plane that is at an angle in the range of forty five to eighty five degrees to the longitudinal axis.

More preferably the or each blade is oriented within a plane that is at an angle in the range of 25 fifty to sixty degrees to the longitudinal axis. 19!472NZ_CAPSpec_Mar07/PA Optionally the or each blade is oriented within a plane that is at an angle in the range of seventy to eighty degrees to the longitudinal axis.

Preferably the shaft has a substantially circular cross section.

Preferably the device further includes a tethering fitting.

Preferably the tethering fitting is rotatably connected to the anchoring device.

Preferably the tethering fitting includes a shaft portion which can be aligned substantially parallel with the shaft of the anchoring device.

Optionally the anchoring device is a tent peg.

Optionally the anchoring device is a ground anchor.

In a second aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a temporary dwelling incorporating at least one anchoring device substantially as specified herein.

Preferably the temporary dwelling is a tent or a marquee.

In a third aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a shelter or umbrella incorporating at least one anchoring device substantially as specified herein.

In a fourth aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a pole incorporating at least one anchoring device substantially as specified herein, for example the pole of a sporting apparatus.

In a fifth aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a ground anchor incorporating at least one anchoring device substantially as specified herein.

The invention may also broadly be said to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents, such equivalents are incorporated herein as if they were individually set forth. 191472NZCA PSpec_Mar07/PA DESCRIPTION Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an anchoring device, FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the anchoring device, FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the anchoring device, and FIGURE 4 is a front elevation view of the anchoring device.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, an anchoring device (10) is shown having a shaft (11) with 10 a first end (13) and a second end (15). The device is adapted at or adjacent the first end (13) to allow it to be rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis (17) of the shaft (11). The device (10) also has a substantially flat blade (19) that is connected to the shaft (11) between the first end (13) and the second end (15), or at the second end (15).

It can be seen in figure 2 that the blade (19) is oriented within a plane that is at an acute 15 angle (21) to the longitudinal axis (17) of the shaft (11).

The anchoring device (10) is intended for uses such as a tent peg or a ground anchor. In this example, the device (10) includes a bolt head (20) at the first end (13) which allows the device (10) to be rotated using a suitable wrench. A powered or battery operated drill or screw driver fitted with a suitable socket can also be used. The second end (15) can be 20 pushed into the ground, until the blade (19) contacts the ground and then the device (10) can be rotated allowing the blade (19) to cut into the ground and to draw the device (10) into the ground. Since the blade (19) is at an angle (21) to the axis (17) of the device (10), the blade acts like a part of a screw thread or an auger to drive the device into or out of the ground.

In the example shown, the device (10) includes a single blade (19), however, it is envisaged 25 that in an alternative embodiment two or more similarly configured blades could be used. 191472NZ_CAPSpec_Mar07/PA It can be seen that the blade (19) extends primarily from one side of the shaft (11) only, and in this case the blade (19) is connected to the shaft (11) between a mid point (23) along the length of the shaft (11) and the second end (15).

The blade (19) is shaped such that a part or an outer edge (25) of the blade (19) has a 5 substantially circular profile, and overall the blade (19) is substantially in the shape of a semicircle. The blade (19) is connected to the shaft (11) at or adjacent a point at a radial centre (27) of the substantially circular profile.

The inventor has found that the device (10) works well in firm ground, or ground with small stones or pebbles, when the blade (19) is oriented within a plane that is at an angle (21) of about fifty five degrees to the longitudinal axis (17), or preferably in the range of fifty to sixty degrees. However, depending on the soil type that the device (10) is to be used in, the blade (19) can be oriented within a plane that is anywhere within the range of forty five to eighty five degrees. For example in sand the optimum angle (21) can be in the range of seventy to eighty five degrees.

A semicircular shaped blade (19) where the radius of the outer edge (25) is in the range of twelve to twenty millimetres, and ideally in the range of fifteen to seventeen millimetres, has been found to work well in a range of soil types. For use in sand, it is envisaged that the blade (19) could have a radius of the outer edge (25) in the range of seventy to one hundred and twenty millimetres.

Preferably the shaft (11) has a substantially circular cross section since it is to be screwed into the ground. For use as a tent peg or similar device, the shaft (11) can be in the range of one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty millimetres long. For other uses, such as a ground anchor for a retaining wall, or for use in sand, the shaft (11) can be much longer, for example half a metre to one and a half metres in length.

The device (10) can also include a tethering fitting (29) which can be used to hold down a flap or guy rope of a tent. Preferably the tethering fitting (29) is connected to the anchoring device (10) in such a manner that it can rotate about the shaft (11). This means that the tethering fitting (29) does not need to rotate when the device (10) is being screwed into or out of the ground. 191472NZ_CAPSpec_Mar07/PA In this example the tethering fitting (29) includes a shaft portion (31) which can be aligned substantially parallel with the shaft (11) of the anchoring device (10). The shaft portion (31) can be inserted though an eyelet in the flap of a tent, and can be driven into the ground when the device is being screwed into place, to securely hold the flap. Or a guy rope can be 5 attached to the tethering fitting (29) and when the tethering fitting (29) is driven into the ground the guy rope will be held securely.

It is envisaged that temporary dwellings such as tents or marquees could be supplied complete with one or more anchoring devices (10) described herein.

VARIATIONS Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

It is envisaged that the anchoring device (10) as described above, or a variation to it, could be incorporated into a pole, for example a pole of a shelter, or of an umbrella, or of a pole 15 used as part of a sporting apparatus. Similarly, the device (10) could form part of a ground anchor, for example for use in a retaining wall, or for a winching anchor, or to anchor a boat.

The anchoring device (10) can be made of metal, preferably steel or aluminium, and it is also envisaged that it can be made from plastics materials.

In the above example the anchoring device is rotated by connecting a tool with the bolt head 20 (20), however alternative devices (10) could include other drive connections, for example a screw driver slot, an internal or an external spline, etc.

DEFINITIONS Throughout this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, 25 integers or steps. 191472N Z_CAPSpec_Mar07 /PA ADVANTAGES Thus it can be seen that at least the preferred form of the invention provides an anchoring device which can be inserted into, and be removed from the ground with relative ease and yet which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 191472NZ CAPSpec_Mar07/PA Received at IPONZ on 3 June 2008

Claims (18)

1. An anchoring device having a shaft with a first end and a second end, the device being adapted at or adjacent the first end to allow it to be rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the device having at least one substantially flat blade connected to the shaft between the first end and the second end, or at the second end, the blade being oriented within a plane that is at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis and wherein the, or each, blade is further characterised in that it extends primarily from one side of the shaft only.

2. An anchoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each blade is connected to the shaft between a mid point along the length of the shaft and the second end.

3. An anchoring device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a part or an outer edge of the or each blade has a profile which is substantially circular in shape.

4. An anchoring device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the, or each blade, is connected to the shaft at or adjacent a point at the radial centre of the substantially circular profile.

5. An anchoring device as claimed in any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the, or each blade, is substantially in the shape of a semicircle.

6. An anchoring device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the, or each, blade is oriented within a plane that is at an angle in the range of forty five to eighty five degrees to the longitudinal axis.

7. An anchoring device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the, or each, blade is oriented within a plane that is at an angle in the range of fifty to sixty degrees to the longitudinal axis.

8. An anchoring device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the, or each, blade is oriented within a plane that is at an angle in the range of seventy to eighty degrees to the longitudinal axis. 191472NZ_CAPSpee_May 30 2008doc.doc/PA Received at IPONZ on 3 June 2008 -10-

9. An anchoring device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shaft has a substantially circular cross section.

10. An anchoring device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device further includes a tethering fitting. 5

11. An anchoring device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the anchoring device is a tent peg.

12. An anchoring device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the anchoring device is a ground anchor.

13. An anchoring device substantially as described herein, with reference to any one of 10 the accompanying drawings.

14. A temporary dwelling incorporating at least one anchoring device substantially as claimed herein.

15. A temporary dwelling as claimed in claim 14, wherein the temporary dwelling is a tent or a marquee. 15

16. A shelter or umbrella incorporating at least one anchoring device substantially as claimed herein.

17. A pole incorporating at least one anchoring device substantially as claimed herein.

18. A ground anchor incoiporating at least one anchoring device substantially as claimed herein. Attorneys for: BUTCHER, Murray James 191472NZ_CAPSpec_Mar07 .doc/PA