WO2023208979A1

WO2023208979A1 - Stake for anchoring in the ground

Info

Publication number: WO2023208979A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/060881
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrice Carpanzano
Original assignee: Fabrice Carpanzano
Priority date: 2022-04-26
Filing date: 2023-04-26
Publication date: 2023-11-02
Also published as: FR3134827A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an anchoring stake intended to be sunk into loose or sandy ground (10), comprising: - a longitudinal and rectilinear body (2), the distal end (3) of which is in the form of a point (3), said body being made of a semi-rigid material, - rectilinear side arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) secured to the body (2) by their end (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) that is closest to the point (3), and the other ends (41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d) of which are free, said arms being arranged along said body and being distributed over the periphery thereof, - the side arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) number at least four, - the body (2) and the side arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are made from a biodegradable plastic, - the ratio between the initial length of the side arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and their initial width is between 15 and 20, - and the ratio between the initial length of the side arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and their initial thickness is between 15 and 20.

Description

Title: Anchor stake in the ground.

[Technical area.

[1] The subject of the invention is an anchor stake in the ground.

[2] The invention relates to anchor stakes used in particular for the installation and fixing of objects such as tarpaulins made of textile, grass, canvas, geotextile or other soft, flexible and thin material.

State of the art.

[3] Stakes are known that are complex enough to allow, whatever the consistency of the ground, to ensure satisfactory anchoring, as described in patent application FR2945554. But such piles are relatively complex to manufacture and implement and are therefore too expensive for a use which is nevertheless very simple and which is sometimes only temporary.

[4] Patent document FR2979926 describes an anchor stake intended to be driven into soft ground, comprising a cylindrical body with axis XX' whose distal end is in the shape of a point. This stake comprises at least two lateral arms secured to the cylindrical body by their end closest to the tip and the other ends of which are free. The arms are arranged along the body and distributed evenly around its periphery. A disadvantage noted is that in practice, these stakes are not very stable when installed in soft or sandy soils. In addition, this type of fixing is not necessarily intended to last several decades so that these stakes remain buried in the ground and are a source of pollution, once the object to be fixed is dismantled and/or replaced. .

[5] The invention aims to remedy this state of affairs. In particular, an objective of the invention is to propose an anchor post whose design ensures improved stabilization in loose or sandy soils. Yet another objective of the invention is to propose an ecological and durable anchor post which has a limited impact on soil pollution. Presentation of the invention.

[6] After multiple tests and attempts, the applicant developed an anchor post allowing him to achieve the aforementioned objectives.

[7] The anchor post according to the invention is intended to be driven into loose or sandy soil. It comprises a longitudinal body whose distal end is in the shape of a point and whose proximal end comprises a flat disc-shaped head, which body is made of a semi-rigid material. Rectilinear lateral arms are attached to the body at their end closest to the tip and the other ends of which are free. These arms are arranged along the body and distributed around the periphery of it.

[8] This anchor post is remarkable in that the side arms are at least four in number and in that the body and the side arms are made of biodegradable plastic. In addition, the ratio between the length of the arms and their width is between 15 and 20. And the ratio between the length of the arms and their thickness is also between 15 and 20.

[9] Such an anchor post is much more stable in loose or sandy soils than the posts described in the aforementioned patent document FR2979926. In addition, this stake has no impact on the environment.

[10] Other advantageous features of the invention are listed below. Each of these characteristics can be considered alone or in combination with the notable characteristics defined above. Each of these characteristics contributes, where appropriate, to the resolution of specific technical problems defined further in the description and to which the remarkable characteristics defined above do not necessarily contribute. The latter may be the subject, where appropriate, of one or more divisional patent applications:

- According to one embodiment, in the rest position, the arms move away from the body from their end secured to it towards the free end by an angle of at most 5°.

- According to one embodiment, the tip has a bevel, which bevel defines an inclined face having a slope which is between 30° and 45°. - According to one embodiment, the free ends of the lateral arms each have a bevel, which bevel defines an inclined section having a slope which is between 5° and 20°.

- According to one embodiment, the body has a hook-shaped proximal end.

- According to one embodiment, the biodegradable plastic used has a flexural modulus greater than 0.7 GPa at 20°C and 50% relative humidity and more preferably between 1.5 GPa and 2.5 GPa at 20° C and 50% relative humidity.

- According to one embodiment, the side arms are arranged in pairs, each pair being located at the same level on the body.

- According to another embodiment, the side arms are arranged in pairs, each pair being located at different levels on the body.

- According to one embodiment, the side arms of a pair have the same length and/or the same shape as the arms of another pair.

- According to another embodiment, the side arms of a pair have a length and/or shape distinct from the arms of another pair.

Brief description of the figures.

[11] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of a preferred embodiment which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, produced as indicative and non-limiting examples and on which :

[Fig. 1] is a schematic top view of an anchor post according to the invention.

[Fig. 2A] is a front view of an anchor post according to one embodiment of the invention.

[Fig. 2B] is a profile view of the stitch in Figure 2A.

[Fig. 3A] is a front view of an anchor post according to another embodiment of the invention. [Fig. 3B] is a profile view of the stitch of Figure 3A.

[Fig. 4] is a front view of an anchor post according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

Description of the embodiments.

[12] The anchor post according to the invention is particularly intended to be installed in loose or sandy soil. The method of installing the stake is similar to that described in the aforementioned patent document FR2979926 to which those skilled in the art may refer.

[13] In the context of the present invention, we qualify as “loose or sandy” soil, soil such that, when we press on such a stake 1 with its lateral arms (using a hammer, by hand bare or with the foot) and following a force of up to approximately 35 kg, it sinks into this ground 10. The stake with its lateral arms can however be used for a ground requiring a support force of up to beyond 35 kg.

[14] The post 1 comprises a longitudinal and rectilinear body 2 whose section can be cylindrical, square, oblong, fluted, etc. The length of body 2 is between 10 cm and 30 cm and its diameter (or thickness) between 5 mm and 20 mm.

[15] The body 2 has a distal end 3 in the shape of a point. According to one embodiment, this point 3 has a bevel 30. The bevel 30 defines an inclined face having a slope which is advantageously between 30° and 45°. Such a beveled tip allows better penetration into the object O and/or into the ground 10. The applicant has further noted that this bevel 30 improves the straightness of the trajectory of insertion of the stake 1 into the ground 10, by allowing to limit lateral deviations.

[16] The body 2 also has a proximal end 6 opposite the distal end 3. In Figures 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, the proximal end 6 is in the form of a flat head perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 2. The diameter of the head 6 can for example be between 2 cm and 6 cm, and its thickness for example between 2 mm and 10 mm. [17] The stake 1 can also include a washer 7 and which can be made of the same material as the body 2. This washer 7 slides along the body 2 being able to come to rest under the head 6 to sandwich the object O with the ground 10. The washer 7 is not essential, but improves the support and maintenance of the object O against the ground without risk of sinking and/or drilling of the head through the object O and/or deterioration thereof by the head 6. The washer 7 is advantageously provided with notches for the passage of the arms 4. The diameter of the washer 7 can for example be between 5 cm and 10 cm, and its thickness for example between 1 mm and 5 mm.

[18] In the alternative embodiment of Figure 4, the proximal end 6 is in the shape of a hook whose diameter can be between 10 mm and 20 mm. This hook 6 is configured to hold a pipe 60 such as a garden hose or a drip hose for example. In this application, the stake 1 may not be used for fixing another object, in particular for fixing the aforementioned object O.

[19] According to a characteristic of the invention, the stake 1 (i.e. the body 2, the arm 4, the head 6, and the washer 7 if applicable) is made of a biodegradable plastic. The advantage of using a biodegradable plastic is that over time the stake 1 will degrade in the soil environment into non-toxic components, so there is no need to remove it from said soil when the The object O to be fixed is dismantled and/or replaced.

[20] According to a preferred embodiment, the biodegradable plastic meets ASTM D6400 biodegradation standards. Biodegradable plastic is also advantageously hydrophobic.

[21] The rigidity of the plastic composition is important in the ability to insert the stake 1 into the ground 10 without deformation. Preferably, the biodegradable plastic used has a flexural modulus greater than 0.7 GPa at 20°C and 50% relative humidity and more preferably between 1.5 GPa and 2.5 GPa at 20°C and 50%. relative humidity.

[22] The biodegradable plastic used is advantageously chosen from the following family: cellulose acetate butyrate; proportioned cellulose acetate; thermoplastic starch; chemically modified starch such as starch acetate or starch maleate; polylactic acid; polyhydroxyalkanoate; biodegradable synthetic polyester; polyurethane based on biosourced polyols derived from soy polyols, castor oil polyols, or their mixture; 100% natural materials, for example corn or sugar cane, which material is mixed with a plasticizer.

[23] During the biodegradation process, the physical properties of the plastic tend to deteriorate, which reduces the anchoring to the ground of the stake 1. To remedy this, and according to a characteristic of the invention, the stake 1 comprises at least four lateral arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d rectilinear and integral with the body 2 by their end 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d closest to the tip 3. Their other end 41a, 41 b, 41c, 41 d is free . The arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are arranged along the body 2 and distributed around the periphery thereof. In the attached figures, and as appears in particular in Figure 1, the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are arranged at TT/2. More generally, if the stake 1 comprises a number N of arms (such that N>4), then said arms are arranged at 2TT/N.

[24] The arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d move away from the body 2 in the rest position, that is to say when the stake 1 is stored without any external constraint. The arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d move apart in the ground 10, like the ribs of an umbrella, when we try to remove the stake 1.

[25] According to a preferred embodiment, the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d deviate by at most 5° in the rest position. The applicant has in fact noted that in practice, beyond 5°, the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d present a structural weakness at their end 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, weakening said arms and reducing their anchoring effect in the ground during a tearing effort from the stake 1 (when it is planted in the ground and pulled on it to remove it).

[26] So that the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d move further away from the body 2 during a tearing force from the stake 1 and increase the anchoring effect in the ground 10, the free ends 41a, 41 b, 41c, 41 d are advantageously beveled, the bevel being oriented towards said body. The best results in terms of resistance to tear force are obtained when the bevel defines a pan inclined having a slope which is between 5° and 20° relative to the longitudinal axis of the arm.

[27] Preferably, to obtain a sufficient anchoring effect and resistance to tearing during the first five years of the biodegradation process, the ratio between the initial length of the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and their width initial is between 15 and 20. Likewise, the ratio between the initial length of the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and their initial thickness is also between 15 and 20. By “initial length”, “initial width” and “ initial thickness”, means respectively the length, width and thickness of the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d before burying the stake 1 in the ground 10, the beveled end of said arms not being taken into account. Beyond five years of burial, the soil 10 is generally harder (less loose) so that it is no longer necessary for the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d to maintain an optimal anchoring effect in said ground. According to a preferred embodiment, the length of the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is between 20 mm and 100 mm. For a length of 20 mm, their width is between 1 mm and 1.3 mm and their thickness is between 1 mm and 1.3 mm. For a length of 100 mm, their width is between 5 mm and 6.7 mm and their thickness is between mm and 6.7 mm.

[28] According to one embodiment, the arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are arranged in pairs. In the appended figures, two pairs of arms are represented, but a greater number can be considered (for example 3 pairs or 4 pairs).

[29] Each pair can be located at the same level on body 2 (Figures 2A and 2B) or at different levels (Figures 3A and 3B). Arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d located at the same level are particularly advantageous for ensuring optimal anchoring in very soft soils.

[30] Arms 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d located at different levels are particularly advantageous for ensuring optimal anchoring when the ground has distinct loose layers. For example, a layer formed of sand at the level of the pair of arms 4a, 4b closest to the point 3 and a layer formed of gravel at the level of the other pair of arms 4c, 4c. In Figures 3A and 3B, the pairs are spaced so that the free ends 41a, 41b of the arms 4a, 4b are located at the fixed ends 40c, 40d of the arms 4c, 4d. The fixed ends 40c, 40d can however be located above the free ends 41a, 41 b, for example by a distance of between 5 mm and 50 mm.

[31] According to an embodiment making it possible to simplify the design, the arms 4a, 4b of a pair have the same length and/or the same shape as the arms 4c, 4d of the other pair.

[32] According to another embodiment, the arms 4a, 4b of a pair have a length and/or a shape distinct from the arms 4c, 4d of the other pair, so that each pair of arms is adapts to the characteristics of distinct loose layers to ensure optimal anchoring. For example, a pair of arms 4a, 4b installed in a layer formed of sand may be longer than the pair of arms 4c, 4c installed in a layer formed of gravel. For this other pair of arms 4c, 4c, it is also not necessary for the free ends 41c, 41 d to be beveled if the free ends 41a, 41 b are. Or vice versa. This characteristic relating to a difference in length and/or shape of the pairs of arms is also of interest when said pairs are located at the same level on the body 2, in particular to create differentiated resistance forces to tearing.

[33] The arrangement of the different elements and/or means and/or steps of the invention, in the embodiments described above, should not be understood as requiring such an arrangement in all implementations. Various variants can be provided.

[34] In addition, one or more characteristics and/or steps exposed only in one embodiment can be generalized to other embodiments. Likewise, one or more features and/or steps set forth only in one embodiment may be combined with one or more other features and/or steps set forth only in another embodiment.

[35] The use of the verb “include”, “understand” or “include” and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim. [36] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses shall not be construed as a limitation of the claim.)

Claims

[Claim 1] (Anchor post intended to be driven into loose or sandy soil (10), comprising:

- a longitudinal and rectilinear body (2) whose distal end (3) is in the shape of a point (3), which body is made of a semi-rigid material,

- rectilinear lateral arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) secured to the body (2) by their end (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) closest to the tip (3) and whose other ends (41 a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d) are free, said arms being arranged along said body and distributed around the periphery thereof, characterized in that:

- the lateral arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are at least four in number,

- the body (2) and the side arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are made of biodegradable plastic,

- the ratio between the initial length of the lateral arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and their initial width is between 15 and 20,

- the ratio between the initial length of the lateral arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and their initial thickness is between 15 and 20.

[Claim 2] Post according to claim 1, in which, in the rest position, the arms (4) move away from the body (2) from their end (11) integral with it towards that free (5) of an angle of at most 5°.

[Claim 3] Post according to one of the preceding claims, in which the point (3) has a bevel (30), which bevel defines an inclined face having a slope which is between 30° and 45°.

[Claim 4] Post according to one of the preceding claims, in which the free ends (41a, 41 b, 41 c, 41 d) of the lateral arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) each have a bevel, which bevel defines an inclined section having a slope which is between 5° and 20°.

[Claim 5] Stake according to one of the preceding claims, in which the body (2) has a proximal end (6) in the form of a hook.

[Claim 6] Stake according to one of the preceding claims, in which the biodegradable plastic used has a flexural modulus greater than 0.7 GPa at 20°C and 50% relative humidity and more preferably between 1.5 GPa and 2.5 GPa at 20°C and 50% relative humidity.

[Claim 7] Post according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the lateral arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are arranged in pairs, each pair being located at the same level on the body (2).

[Claim 8] Post according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the lateral arms (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are arranged in pairs, each pair being located at different levels on the body (2).

[Claim 9] Post according to one of claims 7 or 8, in which the lateral arms (4a, 4b) of a pair have the same length and/or the same shape as the arms (4c, 4d) of a other pair.

[Claim 10] Post according to one of claims 7 or 8, in which the lateral arms (4a, 4b) of a pair have a length and/or a shape distinct from the arms (4c, 4d) of another pair .