# US 10,308,323 B2 · Reconfigurable anchor system for watercraft

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- Number: US 10,308,323 B2
- Document ID: US10308323B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/714,310
- Filed: 2017-09-25
- Published: 2019-03-28
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-25
- Assignees: Helmut K. Skyba
- Applicants: Helmut K. Skyba
- Inventors: Helmut Kurt Skyba; Wesley P. Pence
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308323B2

## CPC

- B63B 21/243: {foldable or capable of being disassembled (Anchors with two or more foldable flukes B63B21/36)}
- B63B 21/32: with one fluke
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

An anchor system for watercraft includes: a hub including a receiving contour; a skirt removably securable to the hub along a receiving contour of the hub, wherein: the skirt at least partially surrounds an inner recess and includes a gap such that such that the skirt is not circumferentially continuous; and the skirt is configurable in an open position and a closed position, wherein when the skirt is in the open position the gap is wider than when the skirt is in the closed position. The inner recess of the skirt has a radius that is larger than a complementary radius of the receiving contour of the hub when the skirt is in the open position. When in the closed position, the radiuses are substantially the same, such that the skirt is secured to the hub when the skirt is in the closed position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An anchor system for watercraft, comprising:
a hub including a receiving contour;
a skirt removably securable to the hub along the receiving contour of the hub, wherein:
the skirt at least partially surrounds an inner recess and includes a gap such that such that the skirt is not circumferentially continuous; and
the skirt is configurable in an open position and a closed position, wherein when the skirt is in the open position the gap is wider than when the skirt is in the closed position; and
an adjustment mechanism attached to the skirt, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively place the skirt into the open position or the closed position; and
wherein:
the inner recess of the skirt includes a radius that is larger than a complementary radius of the receiving contour of the hub when the skirt is in the open position; and
the radius of the inner recess of the skirt is substantially the same as the complementary radius of the receiving contour of the hub when the skirt is in the closed position, such that the skirt is secured to the hub when the skirt is in the closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The anchor system of claim 1, wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of flukes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The anchor system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a mating bolt and nut.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The anchor system of claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises two apertures in the skirt sized to receive the bolt, wherein the two apertures are located on opposite sides of the gap in the skirt.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The anchor system of claim 1, wherein the skirt forms a substantially frustoconical shape having a vertical sloping angle, wherein the vertical sloping angle is steeper when the skirt is in the closed position and shallower when the skirt is in the open position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The anchor system of claim 5, wherein the vertical sloping angle is approximately 60 degrees when the skirt is in the closed position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The anchor system of claim 1, further comprising an additional skirt which has a shape that is different from the skirt.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The anchor system of claim 7, wherein:
the skirt is formed from a single piece of sheet metal; and
the additional skirt is formed from a single piece of sheet metal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The anchor system of claim 1, wherein the receiving contour of the hub comprises a circumferential groove in the hub.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The anchor system of claim 1, wherein the inner recess of the skirt includes a radius that is 20 percent larger than the complementary radius of the receiving contour of the hub when the skirt is in the open position.

### Claim 11

A method for forming a portion of an anchor comprising:
stamping a piece of sheet metal using a first die to form a skirt, wherein:
the skirt defines an inner recess; and
there is a gap in the skirt such that the skirt is not circumferentially continuous.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising crimping the skirt using a second die.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
creating a first aperture in the skirt proximate a first edge of the gap; and
creating a second aperture in the skirt proximate a second edge of the gap, wherein the second edge of the gap is opposite the first edge of the gap,
wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture is sized to receive a bolt useable to secure the skirt.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
bending upwardly a portion of the skirt including the first aperture; and
bending upwardly a portion of the skirt including the second aperture,
wherein, after said bending steps, the first aperture and the second aperture are substantially aligned to receive the bolt.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first die comprises a plurality of flanges such that, once stamped, the skirt includes a plurality of flukes.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first die comprises only a single flange such that, once stamped, the skirt includes only a single fluke.