Abstract:
A land anchor device that is configured for external driving with a hammer or the like and self-contained extraction with an up-slide hammer member. Among other benefits, weight, bulk and cost-of-manufacture are reduced by a land anchor device in accordance with the present invention. The device may include a drive stake having a continuous drive member from striking surface to tip, any of and various cross-sectional configurations. The handle arrangements facilitate easy-of-use. The device includes an auger accessory. Various embodiments and fabrication materials and methods are disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to land anchors and similar devices that are designed to be driven into the earth to anchor an item and also for removal when no longer needed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The prior art teaches several land anchor devices including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,806,453; 6,481,364; and 6,606,829, among others. The present invention is an improvement over these devices in many ways including, but not limited to, being significantly less expensive to manufacture, relatively lightweight, capable of being more rapidly driven into the ground, and configured to more steadfastly hold its position once driven into the ground.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,453, issued to Cook for a Land Anchor Device, teaches a relatively complicated slide hammer arrangement that provides up and down hammering and includes a large number of components. The handle has a limited range of motion and is configured for removable attachment. The large number of components makes the device disadvantageously expensive to manufacture and more prone to mechanical failure.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,364, issued to Woyjeck for an Anchoring Device and Methods of Use, teaches a device having a cylindrical hammer assembly that encompass the top half or more of the drive stake and stabilizing fins that extend from the bottom portion of the stake. The long cylindrical hammer and to perhaps a lesser extent the fins add disadvantageously to the bulk, weight and cost of manufacture of the device.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,829, issued to Benincasa et al., teaches a device that is collapsible. The “runner” or handle shaft member may be slid into the “anchor body” permitting the device to be compressed in size for stowing, etc. While this feature may be desirable to some users, it represents a trend in land anchor devices to include a multiplicity of components, to be expensive to manufacture and to have relatively limited drivability due to inherent design limitations (for example, the inherent structural compromises of the &#39;829 design) and a limited range of motion of the hammer.  
         [0006]     A need thus exists for a land anchor device that is configured in a manner that has relatively few parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, is relatively lightweight, can be driven quickly and efficiently to a secure position, is configured to more steadfastly hold a position once driven into the ground, and can be readily removed when desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a land anchor device that overcomes one or more of the shortcomings of the prior art including being lesser in weight, bulk and/or cost-of-manufacture.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a land anchor device that is configured for driving by an external force and being extracted by a self-contained mechanism.  
         [0009]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a land anchor device that has a non-circular lateral cross-sectional configuration.  
         [0010]     These and related objects of the present invention are achieved by use of a land anchor having up-slide hammer as described herein.  
         [0011]     In one of many embodiments, the present invention may include a drive stake having a striking surface and an insertion tip. The drive stake may include a continuous member from the striking surface to the tip to efficiently transfer a driving force to the tip. The extraction anvil is preferably positioned below the striking surface and a hammer member is provided that may be moved upward along the drive stake into contact with the extraction anvil to deliver an upward or de-anchoring force to the device.  
         [0012]     Various embodiments, features and materials are included in the present invention.  
         [0013]     The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention taken together with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are respectively an elevation view and a top view of one embodiment of a land anchor device with up-slide hammer device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3-5  are side views and  FIG. 6  is an end view illustrating one embodiment of assembly of the extraction hammer and handle arrangement of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a stop member of the land anchor device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIGS. 8-10  are a side view and two top views of auger members in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 11   a - 11   c  are lateral cross-sectional views of representative alternative embodiments of a drive stake in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an elevation view and a top view of one embodiment of a land anchor with up-slide hammer device  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown.  
         [0020]     Device  10  includes a drive stake  20  that is configured for being driven into the ground or other anchoring medium. An extraction anvil  22  is preferably coupled to the stake near a top portion thereof. An extraction hammer  30  is preferably provided below the extraction anvil and configured for upward movement along stake  20  in the direction of arrows A. Upward movement of hammer  30  into contact with extraction anvil  22  delivers an extraction force to the anvil (and hence stake  20 ), causing the stake to be extracted from its anchoring medium. A stop member  24  is preferably provided on stake  20  below extraction anvil  22  to maintain hammer  30  at a convenient location for being grasped by a user.  
         [0021]     Hammer  30  preferably includes a hammer head  31  and a pair of handles  34 . Hand guards  35  are preferably provided by or on handles  34  in such a manner as to prevent a user&#39;s hand or fingers from moving into a position where they might get pinched between hammer head  31  and anvil  22 .  
         [0022]     In use, device  10  is configured for being driven by an external force, for example, a hammer and preferably a sledge hammer. A conventional 5 or 6 lbs. sledge hammer is a suitable driving tool for the approximately 40″ version or the like described below, though other sized hammers may be used (and other sized land anchor devices in accordance with the present invention may be formed). The top or “strike receiving surface”  21  of stake  20  is configured to receive the driving blow of the sledge. As a continuous linear member or the like, stake  20  transfers a blow delivered to striking surface  21  through to the distally located drive tip  26 , thereby driving stake  20  into the ground or other medium. Note that tip  26  is preferably pointed or otherwise configured to facilitate being driven into the ground.  
         [0023]     Extraction anvil  22  may be provided slightly below striking surface  21 . In this arrangement, drive blows are delivered directly to the striking surface. With repeated use, striking surface  21  may mushroom over onto parts of the extraction anvil.  
         [0024]     The present invention strategically supports the combination of external driving to secure the land anchor to land and non-external driving for removal. Typically, the most significant challenge in using a land anchor is driving it into the ground. Use of an external hammer or the like facilitates greater efficacy in driving because a hammer or the like can deliver more momentum than prior art down slide hammers. The increased momentum is attributable to the greater range of motion of the hammer, the positioning of the hammer relative to a user that permits a user to put more force in a blow, and the weight of the hammer head which is often heavier than a prior art land anchor hammer head.  
         [0025]     In addition, by eliminating the down hammer components found in prior art devices, the land anchor of the present invention is lighter and less bulky than those devices.  
         [0026]     Stake  20  may be formed of a sturdy, rigid material such as various metallic materials (with corrosion protection, if necessary). Suitable material, depending on use conditions, include steel (stainless and non-stainless), aluminum and other metals and alloys thereof. It should also be recognized that non-metal materials that are sufficiently sturdy may also be used. In one embodiment, stake  20  is formed of 1″ square steel stock and cut to a length of approximately 40″. The steel stock in this exemplary embodiment preferably has a yield strength of approximately 36K pounds and a tensile strength of approximately 58K to 80K pounds. A stake of this size is designed for use in anchoring a house boat or small plane or the like. For anchoring smaller devices such as smaller water craft and the like, a smaller sized version of device  10  may be used and/or lighter weight materials such as aluminum, etc., may be utilized. In addition, material such as stainless steel may be used for stake  20  and/or other device components for a higher end product or to obtain a given aesthetic appearance.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , assembly of extraction hammer  30  is illustrated. While  FIGS. 3-6  illustrate one manner of manufacture the hammer and handle assembly, it should be recognized that other manners of manufacture may be employed without departing from the present invention.  
         [0028]     Handles  34  may be formed of cylindrical pieces of steel or other suitable shapes and materials. In one embodiment, the individual handles  34  are made of 1″ diameter steel rods cut to lengths of approximately 6″. A corner of each of the rods is preferably notched as shown to receive hammer head  31 . Hammer head  31  may be formed as a circular (or otherwise shaped) member with a preferably centered square hole (matching the geometry of stake  20 ). In one embodiment, hammer head  31  has a height of ½″ and a diameter of 3″ and is stamped out of flat plate steel.  
         [0029]     Extraction anvil  22  may have substantially the same dimensions as hammer head  31  and be formed in substantially the same manner. Accordingly, a top view of hammer head  31  may look substantially like anvil  22  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0030]     Handles  34  are preferably welded to hammer head  31  on opposite sides to achieve the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4 . Hand guards  35  are preferably coupled to each of handles  34 . While the guards may be made of any suitable materials, in one embodiment, they are formed of steel washers that are welded to handles  34  at the appropriate locations.  FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a guard  36  mounted to a handle  34 . The relative position of hammer head  31  is also shown.  
         [0031]     Handles  34  may then be covered with a rubber or like material that provides better grip and/or shock absorption. These grips  36  may be provided through various manners known in the art, including dipping into a suitable grip material, gluing the grip material in place, spraying on the grip material, etc. Note that the metallic components of the device are preferably powder coated (assuming this is necessary based on the type of metal used), and the powder coating is preferably applied before application of the grip material.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates stop member  24 . Stop member  24  may be formed in various ways. In one embodiment, stop member  24  is formed of a hollow cylinder having an inner diameter that can fit around the preferably square stake. The stop member is preferably made of a metallic material and welded to stake  20 .  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 8-9 , an elevation view and a plan view of an auger member  50  in accordance with the present invention are respectively shown. Auger member  50  is preferably configured to fit over a bottom region  28  of stake  20  (see  FIG. 1 ). The auger member may include a shaft  51  and an auger blade  52  welded to or otherwise formed with the shaft. Auger blades are know in the art. Shaft  51  preferably has a lateral cross-sectional geometry that is complementary to stake  20  so as to readily fit over the stake yet securely engage it. Complementary holes  29  and  59  may respectively be formed in the stake and auger member for removable insertion of a locking pin  61  or other removable device. Note that other releasable attachment schemes could be used without deviating from the present invention. Many releasable schemes are known in the art. The shaft section  53  at which mounting hole  59  is located is preferably double walled for reinforcement.  
         [0034]     Shaft  51  may b 3  formed of any suitable material, including steel, other metals or other rigid durable materials. Suitable materials for auger blade and shafts are known in the art.  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  illustrates the top edge  55  of auger blade  52 , shaft  51  and mounting hole  59 .  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a top plan view of another embodiment of an auger member  60  in accordance with the present invention. Auger member  60  includes a shaft  61  that in lateral cross-section has a substantially square interior  64  and a substantially circular exterior  66 . The auger blade  62 , attachment hole  69  and other features are substantially as described above for auger member  50  of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The circular exterior may reduce the drag associated with turning the auger member.  
         [0037]     In use, auger member  50  (and  60 ) permits insertion and secure retention of land anchor  10  in a sandy or like substrate such as on a beach. The auger member is attached to the bottom of stake  20  and horizontally disposed handles  34  provide leverage to screw the land anchor into the ground. The position of handles  34  provide good leverage for operating the land anchor in this manner. To remove the anchor, the handles are turned in the opposite direction. The provision of auger member  50  (and  60  and the like) increases the versatility of the land anchor of the present invention.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIGS. 11A-11C , representative, but not limiting, alternative embodiments for the lateral cross-sectional configuration of a drive stake in accordance with the present invention are shown. Each of these embodiments are non-circular, making the drive stake more difficult to turn in an anchoring medium.  FIG. 11A  illustrates a substantially triangular configuration  81 , while  FIG. 11B  illustrate a substantially polygonal configuration (hexoganal)  82  and  FIG. 11C  illustrates a more amorphous curved shape (hour-glass like)  83  with recessed side portions. The embodiments of both  FIGS. 11B and 11C  are longer (i.e., deeper) than wide.  
         [0039]     With respect to other features of a land anchor in accordance with the present invention, stake  20  may have any lateral cross-sectional configuration. The device of  FIGS. 1-2  and  8  illustrates a square configuration, though it should be recognized that a triangular, hexagon, circular, rectangular or other shape may be used. The use of a square shape (or triangular or the like) provides a stake that is less likely to turn in the anchoring medium once it is driven in. Circular shaped stakes tend to turn more readily than square or triangular shapes and this may lead to the stake loosening its position more quickly.  
         [0040]     It should also be recognized that stake  20  may be formed of any length. Some different length embodiments are discussed above.  
         [0041]     It should also be recognized that while handles  34  are configured in an arrangement that facilitates attachment of an anchoring rope or the like, supplemental cleats or loops or the like may be coupled to a land anchor device  10  in any of its various embodiments.  
         [0042]     While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.