Stake system and method for soft material

Systems, devices and/or methods of a stake system configured to be used in substantially loose material to anchor a stake-down object are provided. In one embodiment, the stake system includes an elongate member and a flexible line. One end of the flexible line is configured to be coupled to a distal portion of the elongate member and is configured to be below an exposed surface of the loose material. The flexible line is sized and configured to cut through the loose material such that at least a portion of the intermediate portion extends tautly away from the elongate member and through the loose material below the exposed surface. With this arrangement, the other end of the flexible line is configured to extend above the loose material and configured to be coupled to the stake-down object.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to an anchor or a stake and, more specifically, to stake systems, devices, and methods for anchoring objects in sand or loose material.

BACKGROUND

Prior-art stakes have generally taken the shape of large nails or pegs for various objects to be anchored, such as for tents, sun shades, tarps, etc. The attachment point for such stakes is at the top or top portion of the stake. In mild weather conditions, these prior-art stakes generally secure the object successfully if secured in compacted or somewhat solid soils despite heavy wind conditions. However, in loose, non-compacted sandy soils or sand the prior art stakes completely fail in even the most mild wind conditions. Similar failures occur when anchoring an object in snow. To overcome the issues of anchoring in non-compact material, such as sand or snow, longer stakes have been employed or stakes with auger type ends to provide reinforcement in the non-compact material. Such structures, however, are bulky, costly to manufacture, and add considerable weight to the stake itself, resulting in stakes that are impractical and, with unpredictable weather conditions, will simply not provide sufficient anchoring resistance in such non-compact material.

Therefore, based on the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide a light-weight stake with a minimal foot-print that is cost efficient to manufacture and provides considerable anchoring force in loose, non-compacted material, such as sand or snow.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to systems, devices and methods of a stake system configured to be used in substantially loose material to anchor a stake-down object. In accordance with one embodiment, the stake system includes an elongate member and a flexible line. The elongate member includes a longitudinal length extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The elongate member also includes a distal portion proximate to the distal end, wherein at least the distal portion is configured to be forced and positioned into the loose material. The flexible line includes a first end and a second end with an intermediate portion therebetween. The first end of the flexible line is configured to be coupled to the distal portion of the elongate member and is configured to be below an exposed surface of the loose material. The flexible line is sized and configured to cut through the loose material such that at least a portion of the intermediate portion extends tautly away from the elongate member and through the loose material below the exposed surface. With this arrangement, the second end of the flexible line is configured to extend above the loose material and configured to be coupled to the stake-down object.

In one embodiment, the flexible line is coupled distal to about a mid-point of the elongate member, wherein the mid-point is defined as half the longitudinal length of the elongate member. In another embodiment, the first end of the flexible line is coupled to the elongate member at a location closer to the distal end than the proximal end of the elongate member. In still another embodiment, the distal portion of the elongate member includes an opening defined therein, the opening sized and configured to receive the first end of the flexible line.

In another embodiment, the elongate member comprises a lateral extension at the distal portion of the elongate member. The flexible line may be configured to be removably coupled to the distal portion of the elongate member adjacent the lateral extension. In still another embodiment, the distal portion of the elongate member includes a paddle configuration.

In still another embodiment, the elongate member includes a cross-section with multiple ribs extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member to generally define a “Y” configuration. In another embodiment, the elongate member includes at least one bend in a surface along at least a portion of the longitudinal length. The flexible line may include a coupling member configured to seat within the at least one bend at the distal portion of the elongate member.

In one embodiment, the flexible line is configured to extend from the elongate member, upon being placed in a use-position within the loose material, at an angle relative to the elongate member, the angle ranging between about 60 degrees and about 120 degrees. Such flexible line may be at least one of a metal line or a polymer line.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a staking system may be used in substantially loose material. The staking system includes a stake-down object and a plurality of anchor systems. The stake-down object is at least partially positioned above ground level. Each of the plurality of anchor systems include an elongate member and a flexible line. The elongate member includes a longitudinal length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate member including a distal portion proximate to the distal end, wherein at least the distal portion is configured to be forced and positioned into the loose material. The flexible line includes a first end and a second end with an intermediate portion therebetween. The first end is configured to be coupled to the distal portion of the elongate member and is configured to be below an exposed surface of the loose material. The flexible line is sized and configured to cut through the loose material such that at least a portion of the intermediate portion extends tautly away from the elongate member and through the loose material below the exposed surface. With this arrangement, the second end of the flexible line is configured to extend above the loose material and is configured to be coupled to the stake-down object.

In one embodiment, the elongate member includes a bent profile so as to facilitate each elongate member of the plurality of anchor systems to be stored compactly together in a nested arrangement. In another embodiment, the elongate member includes a paddle configuration at the distal portion of the elongate member. In still another embodiment, the distal portion of the elongate member includes an opening defined therein, the opening sized and configured to receive the first end of the flexible line. In another embodiment, the flexible line includes at least one of a metal line or a polymer line. In one embodiment, the flexible line is configured to be removably coupled to the distal portion of the elongate member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of staking in loose material is provided. The method includes providing an elongate member and a flexible line, the elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the flexible line including a first end and a second end with an intermediate portion therebetween, the first end configured to be coupled to a distal portion of the elongate member proximate to the distal end of the elongate member; coupling the second end of the flexible line to a stake-down object; forcing the distal end of the elongate member and the flexible line into the loose material a distance from the stake-down object; and cutting through the loose material with the flexible line with the first end of the flexible line below a surface of the loose material and with a portion of the flexible line extending away from the elongate member and through the loose material toward the tie-down and with the second end exposed above the surface of the loose material. In one embodiment, the method includes coupling the first end of the flexible line to the distal portion of the elongate member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 4B, an anchoring or stake system20is shown. Such a stake system20may include an elongate member22(or otherwise termed a stake or anchor) and a flexible line24. The stake system20may be configured to provide anchoring resistance for a stake-down object16in soft or loose material12, such as sand or sandy soils. Other soft or loose materials12may include snow or any other soft or loose material, such as gravel, loose dirt, or other fine aggregate. The stake-down object16or objects that may be employed with the stake system20of the present invention may include tents, tarps, trees, shrubs, sun shades, boats or snow/ice climbing devices that may need to be anchored in loose material12, as set forth above, or any other object that may be anchored in loose material12. As shown in the drawings and as described throughout the following description, as is traditional when referring to relative positioning on an object, the term “proximal” refers to the end portion of the apparatus which is closer to the user and the term “distal” refers to the end portion of the apparatus which is further from the user in the normal use of such apparatus. For example, relative to the elongate member22or stake disclosed herein, the proximal end portion of the elongate member22is the portion that a user would strike with a hammer and the distal end portion of the elongate member is the portion that may include a spike end, or the like, that is driven below the surface of the ground.

The stake system20disclosed herein may be termed a deep anchoring system that, as previously set forth, may include the elongate member22and the flexible line24. Such a flexible line24may be sized and configured to be coupled to the elongate member22at a distal portion26thereof. The distal portion26of the elongate member22, with the flexible line24coupled thereto, may be configured to be pounded or forced into a soft or loose material12, for example, sand. Due to the loose nature of sand, the flexible line24can cut through the sand such that the coupled end and a portion of the flexible line24extend away from the elongate member22through the sand and toward the object being staked down. The other end of the flexible line24may be exposed above the sand to attach or couple to the stake-down object16, for example, a tent. Such coupling to the stake-down object16may include directly coupling to a tie-down14or a guy-line. With this arrangement, the flexible line24extending through the loose material and being coupled to the distal portion26of the elongate member22provides a deep anchoring system with greater pull-out resistance than that of conventional stakes so as to facilitate anchoring in loose material12, such as sand.

With reference toFIGS. 1 through 3, in one embodiment, the elongate member22may include a first side surface28and a second side surface30each extending along a longitudinal length21and a width of the elongate member22. The longitudinal length21may extend between a proximal end32and a distal end34of the elongate member22. The width of the elongate member22may vary along one or more portions of the longitudinal length21of the elongate member22. The elongate member22may include the distal portion26, an intermediate extension36and a proximal portion38. In one embodiment, the distal portion26may extend between about a midpoint27of the elongate member22to the distal end34of the elongate member22, the midpoint27being defined as one-half the longitudinal length21of the elongate member22. The distal portion26may include a coupling portion40sized and configured to couple to the flexible line24. Further, the distal portion26may include a distal point42along an end surface of the distal portion26, the distal point42configured to be initially forced in the ground or loose material12. In another embodiment, the end surface or distal end34may be flat, without the distal point.

The intermediate extension36may extend various lengths between the distal portion26and the proximal portion38depending on the desired length of the elongate member22. The proximal portion38may include a proximal end surface44configured to be pounded or forced downward and may be left exposed above the ground or loose material12. The proximal portion38may also define one or more notches46to facilitate pulling the elongate member from the ground for removal therefrom.

In one embodiment, the distal portion26may include a lateral extension48, extending laterally relative to the longitudinal length21, similar to a paddle or wing configuration. The lateral extension48may provide a first width23that is greater than a second width25at the intermediate extension36of the elongate member22. The lateral extension48may include various forms and may include an enlarged surface area per unit length relative to the intermediate extension36such that the first width23of the lateral extension48is greater than the second width25immediately proximal the lateral extension48.

The distal portion26of the elongate member22, as previously set forth, may include the coupling portion40. In one embodiment, such a coupling portion40may be in the form of an opening50defined in the elongate member22and extending therethrough. The opening50may define a circular shape with a slot extending therefrom. Such an opening50may be sized and configured to reversibly couple with one end of the flexible line24. Other coupling configurations may be employed, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the coupling portion40may be in the form of a protrusion or hook that may latch or couple to a looped end (not shown) of the flexible line24. The coupling between the flexible line24and the elongate member22may also be a permanent coupling so that the flexible line24remains fixed to the elongate member22. Importantly, the flexible line24should be coupled to the elongate member22at a position along the length of the elongate member22that positions the flexible line22within the loose material12. In one embodiment, the coupling portion40may be distal to at least the midpoint27of the elongate member22. In other words, the flexible line24may couple to the elongate member22at any point between the midpoint27and the distal end34of the elongate member22.

The flexible line24may include a first end52and a second end54with an intermediate portion56therebetween. In one embodiment, the flexible line24may include a line58with a coupling member60at the first end52and another coupling element, such as a ring62at the second end54. The ring62at the second end54of the flexible line24may be employed to couple to a tie-down14or a guy-line of, for example, a tent or any other suitable stake-down object16, as previously set forth. The coupling member60may be rod-like or a cylindrical like member with one end of the line58connected thereto. To couple the first end52of the flexible line24to the elongate member22, one end of the coupling member60may be inserted through the circular shaped portion of the opening50with the line58so that the line58may slide up the slot portion of the opening50. With this arrangement, the flexible line24may then be pulled tautly to bias or seat the coupling member60against a first side surface28of the distal portion26of the elongate member22, thereby, coupling the first end52of the flexible line24to the elongate member22. It should be noted that although a rod-like coupling member60may be used, other shapes for a coupling member60may also be used such as a sphere shaped member or a disc shaped member or any other suitable coupling member known in the art, some of which may be employed with different shaped openings50defined in the distal portion26of the elongate member22.

The line58of the flexible line24may be made from a metal or high-strength polymer material or a combination of both, or any other suitable material that is flexible and relatively thin that can cut through soft or loose material12, such as sand or snow. The line58can be wire-like and may be braided into a cable like structure or be made from a single high-strength and flexible line. Other materials for the line58may also be employed as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

In another embodiment, the elongate member22may define a bend64along the longitudinal length21of the elongate member22. The bend64may extend along the entire length or along a portion of the length, such as along the distal portion26of the elongate member22. Further, the bend64may extend along an axis66or center line of the elongate member22and along the longitudinal length21. The bend64in the first side surface28of the distal portion26of the elongate member22may be employed to seat the coupling member60against or within the bend64when the flexible line24is pulled taut, thereby, centering the coupling member60relative to the elongate member22. As known by one of ordinary skill in the art, other structures may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention that centers or aligns the flexible line24, upon being placed in a taut position, relative to the elongate member22.

As depicted inFIG. 3, an end view of the elongate member22is shown. The first side surface28of the elongate member22may be the surface facing upward and the second side surface30may be the surface facing downward. The second side surface30of the elongate member22may define a peak at the bend64and along the distal portion26or along the length of the elongate member22. The elongate member22may include a substantially flat structure defining a depth dimension68between the first side surface28and the second side surface30. In an embodiment with the bend64, such bend64may define a first side70(left side) and a second side72(right side) of the elongate member22.

In another embodiment, the elongate member22may define a lateral bend (not shown) that extends laterally relative to the axis66of the elongate member22. For example, a lateral bend may be employed to further stabilize the elongate member22, such as including a bend extending lateral to the longitudinal length21in, for example, the proximal portion38of the elongate member such that, in the use position, a proximal portion exposed above the loose material extends away from the direction of the flexible line. In this manner, the proximal portion of the elongate member may be employed as a pounding surface at the bend, the elongate member being forced into the loose material until the proximal portion that is bent is flush with the loose material. The proximal portion of the elongate member being flush with the loose material may further increase the pull-out resistance with an underside of the bent proximal portion having leverage against the surface of the loose material.

In one embodiment, the elongate member may be made from aluminum, steel, stainless steel, titanium or composites or combinations thereof or any other suitable metals or combination of metals or composites. In another embodiment, the elongate member may be made from a polymeric material of types known in the art. The elongate member may be manufactured utilizing known processes of fabrication and/or molding, such as stamping, laser cutting or injected molding in the case of employing a polymeric elongate member or any other known polymeric molding process, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bdepict the stake system20of the present invention being employed within the loose material12, such as sand, for anchoring a stake-down object16, such as a tent. With respect toFIG. 4A, a user of the stake system20may couple the second end54of the flexible line24to a tie-down14of the stake-down object16. The user may then couple the first end52of the flexible line24to the elongate member22so that the coupling member60(shown in outline form) is positioned within the bend (not shown) on the first side surface28of the elongate member22and the line58is positioned at a top-end of the slot of the opening50defined in the distal portion26of the elongate member22. The elongate member22may then be positioned a distance away from the tie-down14so that the flexible line24is taught. Also, the elongate member22may be oriented relative to a surface13of the loose material12at an angle α. The angle α may range between about 20 degrees to about 90 degrees, however, other angles may also be acceptable as the more important component in the deep anchoring system is the angle from which the flexible line24extends from the elongate member22, discussed in detail below with respect toFIG. 4B.

Further, with respect toFIG. 4A, when pulling the elongate member22to place the flexible line24in the taut position, care should be taken that the second side surface30of the elongate member22is oriented to face the tie down14at the angle α or, in other words, the elongate member22should not be skewed or rotated relative to axis66of the elongate member22when placing the elongate member22in the orientation prior to forcing the elongate member22into the loose material12. At this stage, a user may then place their knee or foot on the flexible line24at, or adjacent to, the second end54thereof to maintain the tautness of the flexible line24while forcing the elongate member22into the loose material12. The user may then employ a hammer or mallet to force or drive the elongate member22into the loose material12by pounding on the proximal end32of the elongate member22.

As depicted inFIG. 4B, the taut flexible line24is configured to cut through or slice through the loose material12as the elongate member22is driven into the loose material12. In the final use-position, the flexible line24may extend directly away from the elongate member22toward the stake-down object16at an angle β. The angle β is defined as the angle between the elongate member22and the flexible line24when the stake system20is in the use position. For maximum performance, the angle β may be preferably about 90 degrees. Other angles for angle β that provide acceptable resistance may range between about 60 degrees and about 120 degrees. Further, other angles for angle β that may be employed may range between about 45 degrees and about 135 degrees. In this manner, the stake system20, including the flexible line24coupled to the distal portion26of the elongate member22, acts as a deep anchoring system that provides a pull-force resistance allowing one to readily anchor in loose material12, such as sand. Further, the surface area of the lateral extensions48and the second side surface30of the elongate member22that is concealed or below the exposed surface13of the loose material12provides resistance from being pulled through the loose material12with a directional force74provided through the taught flexible line24being placed on the elongate member22at the distal portion26thereof and adjacent the lateral extensions48below the surface of the loose material12. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the bend (not shown) along the length and axis66of the elongate member22may automatically center and orient the second side surface30of the elongate member22relative to the directional force74in the taut flexible line24. Proper orientation of the second side surface30relative to the flexible line24may increase the pull-through resistance of the elongate member22due to maximizing the surface area of the second side surface30of the elongate member20facing the directional force74of the flexible line24. In this manner, the preferred angle β is about 90 degrees, but other angles may also provide acceptable resistance, as previously set forth. With this arrangement, the stake system20, including the elongate member22and flexible line24, may be employed in loose material12to anchor a stake-down object16.

Furthermore, in another embodiment, the stake system may be employed by attaching the second end of the stake-down object after forcing the elongate member into the loose material. For example, the first end52of the flexible line24may be coupled to the distal portion26of the elongate member22. The elongate member22may then be forced into the loose material12by, for example, pounding on the proximal end32with a mallet, with a portion of the flexible line24also being forced into the loose material12. The user can then pull the second end54of the flexible line24toward the tie-down14of the stake-down object16, thereby, pulling the flexible line24taut to cut or slice through the loose material12to extend in the direction of the tie-down14. The user can then couple the second end54of the flexible line24to the stake-down object16with a portion of the flexible line extending through the loose material, as depicted inFIG. 4B.

With reference now toFIG. 5, in another embodiment, the elongate member22may include the bend64, as previously set forth, along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the elongate member22to readily facilitate a nested arrangement76with other elongate members22. As depicted, a plurality of elongate members22may be nested together to allow a user to maintain the plurality of elongate members22together with a minimal foot-print. Such minimal foot-print facilitates greater portability in maintaining the plurality of elongate members22in a compact manner or the nested arrangement76.

In another embodiment, with respect toFIG. 6, the distal portion26of the elongate member22may include one or more secondary openings78defined therein. The secondary openings78may extend through the elongate member22and may be in the form of, for example, slots within the elongate member22or any other suitable shaped secondary openings78. In one embodiment, the secondary openings78may extend laterally relative to the longitudinal length of the elongate member22. In another embodiment, the secondary openings78may extend vertically or diagonally relative to the longitudinal length of the elongate member22. In still another embodiment, the secondary openings78may be circular or oval holes or define a curve-linear slot within the elongate member22.

The secondary openings78may be useful for being employed in loose material, such as snow. In particular, for example, upon the elongate member22being forced in a loose material, such as snow, the snow may melt so that water may collect within and along the secondary openings78and then turn to ice. The ice within and along the secondary openings78may provide an increase in the pull-through resistance. In this manner, the elongate member22may include one or more secondary openings78in the distal portion26and/or along other portions of the elongate member22to maximize the potential pull-through resistance of the elongate member22.

With respect toFIGS. 7 and 8, other embodiments are shown that may be employed at the second end54of the flexible line24to couple to a tie-down14(or guy-line) or coupled directly to a stake-down object16(seeFIG. 4A). For example,FIG. 7illustrates a hook structure80that may be fixed at the second end54of the flexible line24.FIG. 8shows a latch structure82fixed at the second end54of the flexible line24. The latch structure82may include an extension84that pivots, as depicted by arrow86. As known by one of ordinary skill in the art, other suitable structures may be utilized for coupling to a stake-down object.

With reference toFIGS. 9 and 9A, another embodiment of an elongate member122is shown,FIG. 9Abeing a cross-sectional view taken along section line9A ofFIG. 9. In this embodiment, the elongate member122is similar to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, except in this embodiment, the elongate member122may include a substantially constant width along the longitudinal length. The elongate member122may include a first side surface128and a second side surface130extending between a proximal end132and a distal end134with a bend164along an axis166or center line of the elongate member122. Further, the elongate member122may include a coupling portion140defined as an opening150in distal portion126of the elongate member122sized and configured to couple with the flexible line (not shown), similar to that described previously. Further, a proximal portion138of the elongate member122may include notches (not shown) along one or both sides of the elongate member122to facilitate pulling the elongate member122from the loose material, such as the sand.

With reference toFIGS. 10 and 10A, another embodiment of an elongate member222is shown,FIG. 10Abeing a cross-sectional view of the elongate member222taken along section line10A ofFIG. 10. The elongate member222, in this embodiment, may include a tri-wing configuration or a “Y” configuration, as depicted inFIG. 10A. As such, the elongate member222may include a first side surface228, a second side surface230and a third side surface231each defined by ribs233that may extend between a proximal end232and a distal end234along the longitudinal length of the elongate member222and extend laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member222. As in the previous embodiments, the elongate member222may include a coupling portion240or opening250defined in a distal portion226of the elongate member222. Such opening250may be sized and configured to receive a first end of a flexible line (not shown) so that, for example, a coupling member (not shown) may be disposed within a bend264in the first side surface228to center and align the elongate member222when being forced into the loose material, as previously discussed herein. Adjacent to the proximal end232, the elongate member222may include notches246defined in the ribs233to facilitate pulling the elongate member222from the loose material. Further, in another embodiment, the distal portion226may include a lateral extension (not shown) such that the ribs233extend laterally to enlarge the surface area of the distal portion226(similar to the lateral extension48depicted inFIG. 1).

Referring now toFIGS. 11 and 11A, another embodiment of an elongate member322is shown. In this embodiment, the elongate member322may include a circular cross-section, shown inFIG. 11A, taken from section line11A ofFIG. 11. Similar to previous embodiments, the elongate member322of this embodiment may include a coupling portion340or opening350defined in a distal portion326of the elongate member322for coupling to a flexible line (not shown). At a proximal end332of the elongate member322, the elongate member322may include a proximal end surface344sized and configured to receive pounding for forcing the elongate member322into the loose material to place the elongate member332and flexible line in the use-position. This embodiment may also include a lateral extension (not shown) or wing configuration at the distal portion326of the elongate member322.

With respect toFIG. 12, another embodiment of the stake system420is shown. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiments and more specifically to the embodiment depicted and described relative toFIG. 1. However, in this embodiment, the elongate member422or stake may include a T-configuration at a proximal portion438thereof. As in the previous embodiments, the stake system420of this embodiment may include the elongate member422and a flexible line424, the flexible line424configured to be coupled to the distal portion426of the elongate member422. In this embodiment, the proximal portion438of the elongate member422may include the T-configuration or one or more proximal lateral tabs490. The tabs490may extend laterally relative to the longitudinal length of the elongate member422at the proximal portion438of the elongate member422to define an under-side surface492of the tab. Further, the elongate member422may include a hole494defined in the elongate member422at the proximal portion438of the elongate member422. The hole494may extend through the depth of the elongate member422to include a hole periphery496defined in the elongate member422. The hole494may be sized and configured to receive one of the lateral tabs490of another elongate member422. For example, when it is desired to remove the stake system420from the ground, the hole494defined in the elongate member422may be exposed above ground level to allow a user to insert the tab490of another elongate member422into the hole494to abut the under-side surface492of the tab490against the hole periphery496. The user can then pull upward, thereby, pulling the stake system420from the ground. In this manner, the tab490and hole494arrangement in the proximal portion438of the elongate member422may be employed to more easily remove the stake system420from the ground. Alternatively, the stake system420may be removed from the ground (without the above-described hole) by placing the under-side surface492of one elongate member422under the under-side surface492of another elongate member422that is partially exposed in the ground for leverage therebetween. The user can then readily pull the partially exposed elongate member from the ground via the tabs490of the two elongate members422.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. Further, the structural features of any one embodiment disclosed herein may be combined or replaced by any one of the structural features of another embodiment set forth herein. For example, the tabs490ofFIG. 12may be included in any one of the embodiments of the elongate member described herein. As such, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.