US2863415A - Anchor - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1958 B. R. SCHOFIELD ANCHOR Filed Aug. 5, 1954 K m NMQ w f5 6 9. s m k H r 1958 B. R. SCHOFIELD 2,863,415

ANCHOR Filed Aug. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ANCHOR Bernard R. Schofield, Williams Bay, Wis. Application August 5, 1954, Serial No. 448,024

9 Claims. (Cl. 114-207) My invention is an improvement in anchors. The main object of the invention is to provide an anchor that may be attached by remote control to the bottom of the lake or river bed in substantially a predetermined spot with substantially more holding power than anchors heretofore known or in use. Further objects are to provide an anchor that will hold effectively in the bottom of a lake or bed of a river (hereinafter referred to as the bottom) where the character of said bottom varies considerably, and to provide an anchor which has excellent holding capacity for its size andweig'ht and is capable of being easily handled.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain n'ovel combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

, The anchors heretofore in use are lowered from the boat to the bottom and must necessarily be dragged by the boat until they either dig into the mud, sandor gravel or snag on weeds, rocks, roots, etc. I haveimproved one of the more common types of anchors used on small boats and row boats, namely, the mushroom or disc type, hereinafter referred to as the disc type, by adding a feature by means of which the anchor may be firmly attached to the bottom wherever the bottom is sufiiciently hard for it to hold against the pull of the boat. In places where the bottom character is soft mud or silt this new feature will not hold against the pull of the boat and after being pulled out the anchor will automatically function similarly to the disc type, that is, depending on the pull of the boat to attach it to the bottom.

The feature I have added is a means for firmly attaching the anchor to a bottom of suitable character by remote control. The remote control means is the anchor rope alone, or in combination with an additional rope, in a certain manner to be described later. The drive anchor feature operates on an entirely different principle than the disc and other common types of anchors. The drive anchor shaft is driven into the bottom by a movable driving weight cooperating with it, said driving weight being operated by means of remote control. The drive anchor feature is not dependent upon the pull of the boat to make it attach or dig into the bottom and this feature I believe to be new and novel and an improvement over anchors heretofore in use. I deem essential the dual functions in theone anchor construction because of the varied bottom conditions or character in which an anchor must hold.

To anchor a boat with the drive anchor, the anchor is lowered to the bottom, and while keeping the boat directly above the anchor, the rope is raised the proper amount and then suddenly lowered. This motion of the anchor rope is repeated until the anchor shaft is driven fully into the bottom or as farv as desired; Then an extra length of the anchor rope is payed out 'to allow the 2 boat to drift so that the pull of the boat on the anchor will be in more of a horizontal direction.

To remove the drive anchor, the boat is maneuvered directly above the anchor. The anchor rope is pulled up taut, then slackened enough to let the driving weight drop and then pulled up sharply again. This motion of the anchor rope is repeated until the anchor shaft is driven upwards out of the bottom.

The essential parts of the drive anchor are a straight elongated pointed shaft, 21 means for driving this shaft into the bottom, and a means for loosely holding or supporting the shaft in a substantially upright or vertical position while it is being driven. It is within the scope of the invention to make the pointed tip of the shaft removable for replacement or for substituting different types of tips. It is within the scope of the invention to design the driving means to impart a rotative as well as a longitudinal motion to the shaft while it is being driven into the bottom, and a reverse rotative and longitudinal motion for removing the shaft from the bottom. The shaft in this case has the tip formed in the shape of a drill for a better grip in the bottom and may have removable tips for replacement and for different sized drills and for dismantlement.

The shaft of the drive anchor is of comparatively small diameter to better penetrate the bottom, the weight of the shaft being incidental to its practical construction. The heavier'parts of the anchor are the base and the driving weight, the driving weight being made as heavy as practical for speed in driving the shaft. The shaft may be threaded at the tip end or other means utilized to allow changing the tips for varied character of the bottom.

Structures which are embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a drop anchor embodying one form of the invention, the base or grapple of the anchor being shown partly in section. The base is shown in its normal position by full lines, its possible movement on the anchor shaft being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base or grapple showing a preferred non-rolling design, with lobes, and spoon shaped extremities;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation rotated degrees of the formed point showing the wide flat portion;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a separate rope in addition to the anchor rope, for operating the driving weight, in a different construction or embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a drive anchor embodying another form of the invention and designed to impart forward and reverse longitudinal and rotative motion to the shaft which has a drill point tip;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the base of the anchor of Fig. 5, such base being suitable for hard bottom use; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, rotated approximately 90 degrees, of the driving weight of Fig. 5.

In the drawing similar numerals of reference refer to identical parts in all of the views.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the drive anchor comprises a shaft 1 of substantially uniform diameter terminating in a hardened tip 2 at its lower end. The base 3 is iron, substantially fiat on the bottom surface, and is free to slide between stop 4 and the driving weight 5 on shaft 1, in agreement with its dual function as previously described. The bore 6 of the annular shoulder 7 fits without excessive looseness around shaft 1. Base 3 has self-cleaning and anti-suction holes 8 therein and lobes 9 to prevent wheeling or rolling on the bottom. The lobes 9 have tapered lips 10, spoon-shaped, and curved to the optimum angle 11 to dig into the bottom in the event shaft'l is unable to hold and pulls out. The driving weight is heavy iron, shaped to minimize water resistance, and is free to slide between the end 12 of thei embodying in its central portion a vertical open ended of the boat acts. A slot or other mean's'lS is provided is in the driving weight for the ring 16,'to which the anchor rope 17 is attached. The curve of this slot 15 in the vertical plane is such as to keep the pull of the boat on ring 16 substantially nearer the base '3 as more of the anchor rope is payed out. A modification of the driving means of the anchor of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is shown in Fig. 4, where the driving weight 18 is moved by remote control between stops 19 and 20 on shaft 24, by means of an additional rope 21 which is threaded through the hole 22 in driving weight 18, the anchor rope 17 being attached to an eye 23 on the upper end of the anchor shaft.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawing, a modification of the drive feature is shown where the driving weight is designed to impart rotative as well as longitudinal motion to shaft 31, which motion is achieved by inclined cam-like striking surfaces 32 and 33 hitting the ends of crosspin 34 and inclined cam-like striking surfaces 35 and 36 hitting the ends of crosspin 37 Yoke 38 attaches to the driving weight 30 in holes 39. Holes 39 are located near the bottom of the driving weight 30 in order to bring the pull of the boat nearer the base 40. The anchor rope is attached to the ring 41 on the yoke 38. The base slides freely upon shaft 31 between stops 42 and 43 and is shown partly in section. A plurality of rods 44 bent to the optimum performance angle 45 and pointed at 46 are part of base 40 and radiate therefrom. Self-cleaning and anti-suction holes 47 are included in the base 40 which has its structure properly proportioned for most effective action in bottoms of hard character. The shaft 31 has a drill point tip 48 which may be removably attached to the shaft 31 by means of drive pin 50.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodying a substantially vertical open ended bore, a normally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end, extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, and provided at its upper portion with stop means, coacting means between the base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of the shaft and arranged so to coact with the stop means that in connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof it operates through the medium of said stop means to impart downward hammer blows to the shaft and drive the latter into the bed, and a flexible element having one end thereof connected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, said element being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, provided with radially extending armlike members, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water to comeflatly to rest on the bed, and

bore of uniform diameter from end to end, a normally upstanding shaft of circular cross section, embodying a point at its lower end, having the diameter thereof uniform from end to end and slightly less than that of the bore in the base, extending through said bore in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, and provided at its upper end with stop means, coacting means between the base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of the shaft and arranged so to coact with the stop means that in connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof it operates through the medium of said stop means to impart hammer blows to the shaft and drive the latter downwards into the bed, and a rope having one end thereof connected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, said rope being adapted when movedup and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodying in its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, a normally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end and extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards withrespect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, coacting means between the base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of the shaft, a'lower stop connected to the uppercentral portion of the shaft and adapted to limit downward sliding movement of the weight, an upper stop connected to the upper portion of the shaft and adapted to limit upward sliding movement of the weight, said weight being adapted so to coact with thelower stop that in connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof it operates through the medium of said lower stop to impart downward hammer blows to the shaft and drive the latter into the bed, said weight being also adapted so to coact with the upper stop that in connection with repeated upward sliding movement thereof it operates through the medium of said upper stop to impart upward hammer blows to the shaft and remove the latter from the bed, and a rope having one end thereofconnected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodying in its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, a normally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end, extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, coacting means between the base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of the shaft, a pin and slot connection extending between the weight and the upper end of the shaft, adapted to limit up and down sliding movement ofifthe weight, operative in connection with repeated downward sliding movement of the weight to impart downward hammer blows to the shaft and drive the latter into the bed, and also operative in connection with repeated upward sliding movement of the weight to impart hammer blows to the shaft and remove the latter from the bed, and a rope having one end thereof connected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

5, As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed, of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water tocome flatly to rest on the bed, and embodying in its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, a normally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end and extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, coacting means between the base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of the shaft and provided at one side thereof with an upwardly extending slot, a lower stop connected to the upper central portion of the shaft adapted to limit downward sliding movement of the weight, an upper stop connected to the upper end of the shaft adapted to limit upward sliding movement of the weight, said weight being adapted so to coact with the lower stop that in connection with repeated downward sliding move ment thereof it operates through the medium of said lower stop to impart downward hammer blOWs to the shaft and drive the latter into the bed, said weight being also adapted so to coact with the upper stop that in connection with repeated upward sliding movement thereof it operates through the medium of said upper stop to impart upward hammer blows to the shaft and remove the latter from the bed, a ring extending through, and slidable up and down in, the slot on the weight, and a rope having one end thereof connected to the ring and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodying in its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, a normally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end and an eye at its upper end, extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, and provided on its upper end portion with stop means, coaeting means between the base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight above the stop means mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of the shaft and arranged so to coact with the stop means that in connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof it operates through the medium of said stop means to impart hammer blows to the shaft and drive the latter downwards into the bed, an anchor rope having one end thereof connected to the eye and its other end leading to the boat, and a remote control rope having one end thereof connected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, said remote control rope being adapted when moved 6 up and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

7. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodying in its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, a normally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end, extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, and provided on'its upper portion, with stop means, coacting means between the base and the lower end ofxthe shaft for: limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight above the stop means mounted to slide up and down on the upper end of the shaft and arranged so to coact with the stop means that in connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof it operates through the medium of said stop means to impart hammer blows to the shaft and drive the latter downwards into the bed, an inverted U-shaped yoke consisting of side parts and an intermediate connecting part, arranged in straddled relation with the weight, and having the free ends of its side parts connected pivotally to lower opposite side portions of said weight, and a rope having one end thereof connected to the intermediate part of the yoke and its other end and adapted to be connected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight through the medium of the yoke.

8. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodying in its central portion a substantially vertical open endedbore, a normally upstanding shaft having a pointed lower end,'extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, and provided on its upper portion with a crosspin having projecting ends, coacting means between the base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight mounted on the upper end of the shaft so as to slide up and down over the crosspin, provided on its bottom portion with cam-like surfaces, and adapted in connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof to have its cam-like surfaces engage and coact with the projecting ends of the crosspin in such manner as to impart down; ward hammer blows and rotative movement to the shaft and cause the shaft to be driven into the bed, and a rope having one end thereof connected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

9. As a new article of manufacture, an anchor designed releasably to secure a boat to the bed of a body of water and comprising a base having materially greater width than height, adapted when the anchor is dropped into the body of water to come flatly to rest on the bed, and embodying in its central portion a substantially vertical open ended bore, a normally upstanding shaft provided at its lower end with a drill-like point, extending through the bore in the base in such manner that it is free to slide upwards and downwards with respect to the base while at the same time it is prevented from tilting laterally to any appreciable extent relatively to said base, and provided on its upper end portion with lower and upper spaced apart crosspins with projecting ends, coating means between .the base and the lower end of the shaft for limiting upward sliding movement of the shaft relatively to said base, a weight mounted on the .cam-like surfaces on its upper portion, adapted in connection with repeated downward sliding movement thereof to have its downwardly facing cam-like surfaces engage and coact with the ends of the lower crosspin in such manner as to impart downward hammer blows and rotative movement in one direction to the shaft and cause the latter to be driven into the bed, and further adapted in connection with repeated upward sliding movement thereof to have its upwardly facing cam-like surfaces en- "gage and coact with the ends of the upper crosspin in such manner as to impart upward hammer blows and rotative movement in the opposite direction to the shaft 8 and cause the latter to be withdrawn from the bed, and a rope having one endthereof connected to the weight and its other end adapted to be connected to the boat, said rope being adapted when moved up and down to impart up and down sliding movement to said weight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 163,915 Bradley June 1, 1875 267,605 Sherman Nov. 14, 1882 571,624 Ryan Nov. 17, 1896 1,086,053 Howell Feb. 3, 1914 1,493,489 Holzapfel May 13, 1924 1,494,545 Holzapfel May 20, 1924 2,490,460 McAvoy Dec. 6, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,836 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1930

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