Back to results
US 2004/0200155 A1Published application
Ground anchor
OwnerJames P. Chapman, Shelby M. Withrowinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ground anchor (10) for anchoring a structure to the ground includes an anchor shank (15) having a connection point (18) at which a connecting member, such as a chain (19) is coupled to the anchor shank (15). An anchor body (12) is pivotally connected to the anchor shank (10) at a point (14) remote from the connection point (18).
Claims20
An anchor operable to couple to a structure through a connecting member to the ground, the anchor comprising:
- an anchor shank having a first end and a second end;
- the first end providing a driving surface for the anchor;
- a connection feature positioned proximate the first end of the anchor shank and remote from the driving surface;
- a pivot slot having a lock feature, the pivot slot positioned proximate the second end of the anchor shank;
- an anchor body pivotally connected to the anchor shank at the pivot slot;
- the anchor body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the anchor body formed with an angled portion that extends away from the central axis of the anchor shank in the same direction as the offset of the connection feature, the angled portion for engaging with the ground when the anchor is set;
- a pivot pin disposed intermediate the first end and the second end of the anchor body, the pivot pin formed to couple with the lock feature of the pivot;
- and
- the anchor having a first position with the anchor body operable to pivot in the pivot slot to a second position with the first end of the anchor body extending towards the first end of the anchor shank and the pivot pin couples to the lock feature of the pivot slot.
6 more elements
An anchor for anchoring a structure to the ground the anchor comprising:
- an anchor shank having a first end and a second end;
- a connection feature for receiving a connecting member, the connection feature located proximate the first end of the anchor shank;
- a pivot slot having a lock feature, the pivot slot positioned proximate the second end and remotely disposed from the connection feature;
- an angled shoulder positioned between the connection feature and the pivot slot, the angled shoulder extending away from a central axis of the anchor shank and extending towards the second end of the anchor shank to form an acute angle;
- an anchor body pivotally connected to the anchor shank at the pivot slot;
- the anchor body having a first end and a second end with the anchor body connected to the pivot slot intermediate the first end and the second end of the anchor body;
- a cross-portion extending across the first end of the anchor body;
- the anchor having a first position in which the anchor body is generally aligned parallel with the anchor shank with the first end of the anchor body extending towards the first end of the anchor shank and the cross-portion of the anchor body disposed proximate the angled shoulder of the anchor shank;
- the anchor having a second position in which the anchor body is pivoted in the pivot slot to no longer be parallel with the anchor shank such that the anchor body couples to the lock feature of the pivot slot;
- and
- the angled shoulder of the anchor shank contacting the cross-portion of the anchor body when the anchor is in its second position such that the angled shoulder directs the anchor body in the pivoting direction.
8 more elements
The method of inserting a ground anchor into the ground, comprising:
- placing the anchor in a first position and inserting the anchor beneath a ground surface;
- applying a pulling operation to an anchor shank, to pivot an anchor body about the anchor shank to allow the anchor body to engage a lock feature on the anchor shank;
- and
- automatically interlocking the anchor body with the lock feature on the anchor shank when the anchor is in a second position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.