Stake assembly having a controller

A stake assembly for placing in the ground so that the stake assembly has no rigid structure extending substantially above the surface of the ground, comprising:

• a spike having a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal axis of the stake assembly;
• a flange connected at the second end of the spike and extending laterally therefrom, the flange having an opening extending into the receptacle of the spike, a lower surface facing the first end of the spike for covering the surface of the ground adjacent to the spike and limiting the penetration of the stake assembly into the ground and an upper surface forming the axial extremity of the second end of the spike so that the second end of the spike and the upper surface of the flange are adapted to be substantially flush with the surface of the ground when the spike assembly is placed in the ground;
• a receptacle extending axially into the flange from the second toward the first end of the spike;
• a resilient fastening member having a first end connected to the stake within the receptacle between the lower surface of the flange and the first end of the spike, and a second end extending out of the receptacle beyond the upper surface of the flange, the resilient fastening member being both axially and laterally resilient continuously between the first and second ends of the resilient fastening member so that the stake assembly has no rigid structure extending beyond the upper surface of the flange at any time;
• and
• a controlling member having first and second ends and being laterally flexible, substantially linearly inflexible, and having a length greater than the resilient fastening member in its normal unstressed condition, said first end being connected to the stake within the receptacle and said second end being connected to said second end of the resilient fastening member for limiting the amount of movement of the second end of the fastening member in a direction away from the stake.