US3391515A

US3391515A - Recessed anchor structure

Info

Publication number: US3391515A
Application number: US556511A
Authority: US
Inventors: Horace A Clay
Original assignee: Horace A. Clay
Current assignee: HORACE A CLAY
Priority date: 1966-06-09
Filing date: 1966-06-09
Publication date: 1968-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 1985-07-09

Description

July 9, 1968 H. A. CLAY RECESSED ANCHOR STRUCTURE Filed June 9. 1966 v G 1 a 1 1 u a .I

INVENTOR. HORACE A. CLAY 3,391,515 RECESSED ANCHOR STRUCTURE Horace A. Clay, 2908 W. Montebello, Phoenix, Ariz. 85017 Filed June 9, 1966, Ser. No. 556,511 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-709) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A recessed anchor structure having a cylindrical housing adapted to be recessed into concrete, or the like, and having a vertically reciprocally mounted plunger adapted to be locked into flush position with the upper end of the cylindrical structure or to be locked into upward projecting position or which may be vertically removed, and wherein the plunger is spring loaded in the cylindrical member tending to move the cylindrical member upwardly.

This invention relates to a recessed anchor structure, and more particularly, to a recessed anchor structure for use in holding pOOl covers or other objects, such as items which may be tied down to a concrete deck, or the like.

Prior art recessed anchor structures have been utilized in connection with concrete decking around swimming pools and for other purposes, however, a common fault with many of these structures is that when the features of the structure become corroded, the parts may not readily be serviced or cleaned and this is particularly true of recessed anchor structures whch may be used around a swimming pool where chemicals, galvanic action and time silt may be present in the area of the retractable structure of such anchors.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recessed anchor structure, wherein a hollow cylindrical casing is recessed in a concrete deck, or the like, and wherein an anchor plunger is vertically extendable and retractable into the casing and may be locked in flush position with the surface of the deck or in an extended position permitting pool covers or other items to be tied thereto and also the plunger is provided with retainer means which, when rotated at given amount, permits the plunger to be vertically removed from the casing so that the casing may be cleaned and so that a plunger extending spring in the casing may be replaced, if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recessed anchor structure which employs a recessed casing with a plunger disposed therein, said plunger being rotatably and reciprocally mounted in the casing and engaged by a spring tending to force the plunger axially upward; the peripheral portion of said plunger being provided with notch portions extending axially and circumferentially in stepped position and engaged by an inwardly extending projection in the housing, such that rotation of the plunger a given number of degrees permits the vertically stepped slotted portion to pass said projection and permit the plunger to move upwardly to a stepped notch in the periphery of the plunger and whereupon further rotation relative to said projection, permits the slotted portion to reach an axially disposed slot extending to the end of the plunger and to thereby permit axial removal of the plunger from the housing for cleaning the housing or replacing the plunger and/ or the spring between the bottom of the housing and the plunger.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a recessed anchor structure in accordance with the invention and showing 33%,515 Patented July 9, 1968 ice portions of the housing thereof broken away and in section to amplify the illustration;

FIG. 2 is a reduced vertical sectional view of the recessed anchor structure of the invention, shown recessed in concrete decking and showing the plunger of the structure in extended position for engagement by a rope or grommet of a pool cover, or the like, for holding such rope or pool cover in anchored position; and

FIG. 3 is a developed view taken from the line 33 of FIG. 1, showing the periphery of the plunger of the anchor structure of the invention laid out in fiat position in order to illustrate the peripheral and axially disposed relation of the slot in the plunger which is engaged by an inward projection of the housing of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the recessed anchor structure of the invention is provided with a hollow cylindrical housing 10 having an enclosed bottom 12 provided by a pressed in plate 14. Supported by the plate 14 is a coil spring 16 which coil spring is a compression spring compressively engaging a lower end 18 of a plunger 20 tending to force the plunger 20 upward with respect to an upper open end 22 of the housing 10. The housing 10 is provided with a projection 24 which projects into the hollow circular in cross-section bore 26 thereof. To this projection 24 extends into a slotted portion 28 recessed in the periphery of the circular in cross-section plunger 20.

The slotted portion 28, as shown in the developed view in FIG. 3, comprises a portion 30 which is disposed horizontally in the periphery of the plunger 20. This slotted portion 30 is provided with an end 32, and when the slotted portion 30 is engaged on the projection 24, a normally upper end 34 of the plunger 20 is flush with the upper open end of the housing 10.

Communicating with the slotted portion 30 at an end 36 thereof, opposite the end 32, is an angularly directed slotted portion 38 which extends axially relative to the axis of the plunger 20 and this slotted portion 38 at its lower end, terminates in an axial recess 40 which is disposed to receive the projection 24 and when compression of the spring 16 acts upward on the plunger 20, tends to lock the plunger 20 againstrotation in the housing 10. When the slotted portion 40 engages the projection 24, the plunger 20 is forced upward by the spring into the extended position, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, wherein a peripheral groove 42 of the plunger is adapted to receive a rope, grommet or other fitting to be anchored thereon.

Communicating with the slotted portion 38 is a horizontally disposed groove portion 44. This groove portion 44 is provided with a normally lower side 46 disposed above the arcuate lower end of the groove portion 40 and this groove portion 44 extends laterally of the axis of the plunger 29 to an axially disposed groove portion 46 having an open end 48 communicating with the lower end 18 of the plunger 20 so that when the plunger 20 is depressed, the slotted portion 44 may be lined up with the projection 24, whereupon rotation of the plunger 20 in a direction of an arrow A, may permit the slotted portion 44 to traverse around the projection 24 until the slotted portion 46 reaches the projection 24, whereupon the spring 16 may then force the plunger 20 upwardly out of the housing and permit the slot 46 to pass over the projection 24 and, thus, the plunger 20 may be removed from the housing 16).

Replacement of the plunger may be accomplished in the reverse manner.

When it is desired to lock the plunger downwardly so that its upper end 34 is flush with the upper open end 22 of the housing 10 and with an upper surface of the decking B, the plunger may be rotated in a clockwise direction after being pressed down into flush position until the slotted portion 30 traverses the projection 24 and, thus, the plunger 20 is held downward against compression of the spring 16 in the housing so that the upper end 34 of the plunger is flush with the upper open end 22 of the housing and with the upper surface of the decking B.

When it is desired to extend the plunger so that its annular groove 42 is exposed above the level of the decking B, the plunger is rotated counterclockwise until the slot 32 has traversed past the projection 24 and so that the spring 16 may force the plunger 20 unwardly with the slotted portion 36 traversing the projection 24 until the end recess portion 40 of the slot engages the projection 24, thus, locking the plunger in extended position and against rotation until again depressed against compression of the spring 16.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that when the recessed anchor structure of the invention is installed in decking around a swimming pool or other areas where water and silt may collect, that eventually a collection of such materials and chemicals in the casing or housing 10, around the plunger 20, may cause sticking or corrosion of the parts and that galvanic action may take place. Accordingly, it is desirable at times to remove the plunger 20 and to clean out the casing 10, as well as the slotted portions of the plunger and to clean its periphery, so that it will operate smoothly and reliably at all times.

In the event one of the springs 16 is broken, the respective plunger 20 may be moved out of the housing 10 for replacement of the spring.

The upper end 34 of each plunger 20 is provided with a slot 50 which may be engaged by a screw driver or a coin for the purpose of rotating the plunger during its axial and rotational movements, hereinbefore described.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a recessed anchor structure the combination of: a hollow cylindrical housing having an upper open end adapted to be disposed in flush relation with the upper surface of concrete decking, or the like; a plunger vertically reciprocally mounted in said housing and rotatable therein about a vertical axis; means projecting into the interior of said housing; the periphery of said plunger having slotted portions engagable by said projection; said slotted portions having horizontally and vertically disposed recess portions in the periphery of said plunger; said slotted portions comprising a first slotted portion horizontally directed in the periphery of said plunger engageable with said projection so as to hold a normally upper end of said plunger in flush relationship with a normally upper open end of said housing; a spring in said housing engaging a lower portion of said plunger and tending to force it upward; a second slotted portion recessed in the side wall of said plunger and disposed vertically and communicating with said first mentioned slotted portion; a lower end of said second slotted portion recessed to engage said projection and to prevent rotation of said plunger relative to said housing; a third slotted portion above a lowermost end of said second slotted portion and adapted to traverse over said projection, said third slotted portion extending horizontally; a fourth slotted portion at an opposite end of said third slotted portion from said second slotted portion; said fourth slotted portion extending downwardly from said third slotted portion and open at a lower end of said plunger, whereby said third slotted portion and said fourth slotted portion, when traversed over said projection, permits said spring to force said plunger upwardly and to relieve said fourth slotted portion vertically around said projection and to permit removal of said plunger from said housing.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: an upper peripheral portion of said plunger being grooved and adapted to be exposed above the upper open end of said housing, when said second slotted portion is engaged over said projection at the lowermost portion of said second slotted portion.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: a tool engaging slotted portion is provided in the upper end of said plunger above said peripheral groove portion for use in rotating said plunger, when recessed in said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,042,161 7/1962 Meyer 52-166 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner. P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiner.