Anchoring means for benthic barrier

Abstract: A fixation device for securing articles such as benthic barriers to the earth comprising an elongated subteraneanly pivotable plastic body (21) having a strap (18) affixed centrally to one side thereof and a benthic barrier clamping element (12) with an aperture therethrough that is slidable on the strap. The strap is intended for passage through a hole in a benthic barrier (32), and the clamping element in ratchet-like fashion secures the benthic barrier to the ground or lake bottom to a desired degree of tightness.

Description: The present invention relates generally to an anchoring means for attaching articles such as benthic barriers, ground covers, tarps, etc., to the earth. Benthic barriers have heretofore been used to cover the bottom of a body of water to prevent the growth of aquatic weeds in the water. The present invention provides novel anchoring means for securing such barriers to the bottom of a body of water. The invention may be employed also to secure ground cover, tarps or barriers over inclines along highways, railways, etc. to prevent erosion or landslides. It has been known to apply barriers such as plastic film or woven or non-woven fabric to the bottom of a body of water. See U.S. Patent No. 4,887,757 to Bridgewater et al., issued December 19, 1989. Said patent also teaches the use of stakes to secure the barrier to the body of water. Similar benthic barriers are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,518,280, issued to E.L. Fletcher on May 21, 1985. Erosion control barriers which are affixed to an embankment with stakes have also hithertofore been used. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 1,026,616, issued to E.P. Stratton on May 14, 1912. FR 2,277,190 also teaches the use of steel rods retained by pivotally attached vanes. Earth anchors utilizing an elongated member that pivots under the earth to provide firm anchoring have also been used heretofore. See U.S. Patent Nos. 3,969,854 and 4,044,513 to Deike. US-A-4 574 539 teaches an earth anchor utilising such a pivotable member provided with a bore to accept a tool for driving the anchor into the ground. Self clinching straps have heretofore been used for strapping or bundling together a plurality of articles, for example, for storage or shipping. The use of such means for securing ground clothes or benthic barriers has not, however, been suggested. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,186,047 to Schwester et al. issued June 1, 1965. The present invention provides a new and improved anchoring means which can be applied to any of the barriers disclosed in said prior art. The anchoring means of the present invention include an elongated subteraneanly pivotable body portion to the side of which is attached a flexible strap which is provided with means such as teeth or notches that coact to lock in position a clamping means of the "self clinching" type that is slidable on said strap toward the pivotable body portion to securely hold down the benthic barrier. Hence, the fixation device of the present invention has a clamping means and a pivotable subteraneal body portion which coact by means of a strap in such a way that the clamping means can only slide on the strap towards but not away from the pivotable body portion. In contrast to the prior art, this allows a benthic barrier, for example, to be held securely in place. In addition, by adjusting the clamping means in only one direction, the present invention allows the barrier to be held securely with a desired degree of tightness. Furthermore, in the event that the benthic barrier becomes loosened, then it can easily be tightened again by sliding the clamping means further downwards on the strap. Hence, the adjustable tightening of the anchoring means allows continued and secure anchoring of, for example, a benthic barrier to a lake bottom. The anchoring means of the present invention are preferably constructed entirely out of non-metallic materials in order to minimize hazards to people and wildlife. The present invention relates to an improved fixation device for securing articles such as benthic barriers for aquatic weed control or erosion control fabrics to the earth. The present invention, therefore, provides a fixation device for securing articles to the earth comprising an elongated subteraneanly pivotable body portion having a bore extending at least partly through the length thereof to receive an installing rod, and a strap affixed to one side of said pivotable body portion, characterised in that said fixation device further comprises a benthic barrier clamping means with an aperture therethrough being slidable on said strap of said pivotable body portion, the strap being intended for passage through a hole in a benthic barrier, the clamping means being provided with coacting means which in ratchet-like fashion allow the clamping means to slide on said strap towards but not away from said pivotable body portion, thereby providing means to secure a benthic barrier to the ground or lake bottom to a desired degree of tightness. The pivotable body portion, which is preferably formed of plastic, is provided with a concentric bore so that the stake may be slipped over an insertion rod. The bore may extend either partly or entirely through the length of the pivotable element. The strap is preferably formed with notches or ratchet-like projections that coact with a pawl-like element on the internal surface of an aperture extending through the clamping means to provide a one way fastener which can be repeatedly tightened but not loosened. Alternatively, the aperture is provided with a sharp edged pawl-like means to lock the clamping means in a desired position on the strap. The invention will be more specifically set forth in the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. FIGURE 1 of the drawings is a perspective view with parts in cross-section view of an anchoring means of the present invention. FIGURE 2 is a diagramatic view illustrating underwater application of a benthic barrier with the anchoring means of this invention. FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the subteraneanly pivotable body portion of a fixation means of this invention shown in conjunction with apparatus for installation thereof. FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention with parts broken away. FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a further embodiment showing an alternate means for securing a strap to a pivotable unit. Referring firstly to FIGURE 1, there is shown an anchoring means 10 of this invention which includes an elongated hollow tubular subteraneanly pivotable element 20 to one side of which is affixed a strap 18 that is adapted to slidably receive clamping means 12 thereon. Clamping means 12 is preferably in the shape of a disc of sufficient diameter to effectively hold down a benthic barrier 32. 5 to 7 cm in diameter has been found suitable. All parts of anchoring means 10 are preferably formed of tough plastic materials such as polypropylene, nylon or high density polyethylene. Strap 18 may be provided with rachet-like teeth that engage a pawl-like element 16 that is embedded in a central insert 14 in clamping means 12. Alternatively, clamping means 12 can be formed of one piece provided that it is formed of a similar material sufficiently hard and elastic to provide a pawl-like element 16 having sufficient strength to act as a locking means for clamping means 12. If pawl-like member 16 is formed of a sharpened piece of metal, it may not be necessary to form a ratchet-like surface on strap 18, but rather to rely on the pawl-like element to dig into the strap 18 to effectively permit clamping means 12 to be moved down, but not up, strap 18 as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2. Subteraneanly pivotable element 20 is formed of an elongated pivotable body portion 21 which has a hollow central core 28, that is adapted to fit over an insertion rod 142, by means of which it may be driven into the ground. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, an opening 24 of a configuration to receive strap 18 is provided through the side of pivotable body portion 21 below the center point thereof. A pin 22, which can fit into a cavity 26 in body portion 21, may be used to secure strap 18 to body portion 21. A pointed insertion end 29 is preferably provided to permit easy insertion of element 20 into the ground. After insertion into the ground, element 20/21 may subteraneanly pivot when upward force is applied to strap 18, if soil conditions permit. In soft sand, pivotable body portion 21 will tend to pivot to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. It will be appreciated that in the event benthic barrier 32 loosens from lake bottom 34, it can easily tightened again by sliding clamping means 12 further down on strap 18. Insertion apparatus 40 as seen in FIGURE 3 consists of an elongated rod portion 42 or 142 which is of a diameter such that hollow tubular core 28, 128 or 228 (depending on the particular embodiment used) can be slipped over the same. The lower end 44 of rod 42 is preferably tapered in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 to facilitate insertion of the stake into the ground. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, installing rod 142 is provided with a blunt end as shown to fit against the bottom of hollow tubular core 228 of body portion 228. If desired, a shoulder such as 45 can be added to the embodiment of insertion rod 142 shown in FIGURE 4. In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, pivotable element 220 is molded of one piece with strap 218. In other respects, the embodiment is similar to that shown in FIGURE 1. In the alternate embodiment of FIGURE 3, strap 118 is preferably also molded integrally with pivotable body portion 121 of subteraneanly pivotable element 120. Hollow core 128 extends entirely through pivotable body portion 121 and is adapted to receive insertion rod 42. Rod 42 may have a pointed end 44 as shown for ease of insertion. Shoulder 45 is provided so that driving force applied to rod 42 is transmitted to pivotable body portion 121 . Rod 42 is also provided with a shoulder 46 which is designed to be impacted by a hammering element 48 formed of metal such as steel and having a hollow central bore, which as shown, fits over upper portion 49 or rod 42. A cap 47 may be provided to retain hammering element 48 on rod end 49. Rod 42 may be of a length to accommodate easily underwater installation of the pivotable element, preferably 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 2 meters). Benthic barrier 32 should be provided with holes to permit insertion of the pivotable body portion and strap therethrough. In FIGURE 5, an alternative way to attach strap 18 to pivotable body portion 21 is shown. In this embodiment, a tapered opening 25 is provided to receive a doubled over end 19 of strap 18, which end becomes wedged in opening 25 to affix the parts together. It has been found than a 14° angle between the opposed side of opening 25 provides optimum results. It will be apparent that installation of a benthic barrier using the anchoring means of this invention is quite simple. The installing apparatus with pivotable element in place as shown in FIGURE 3 can be driven through a benthic barrier by puncturing the same in cases where the barrier is of a tear-resistant structure such as non-woven fabric. Otherwise, as noted, the barrier or fabric may be provided with holes and/or grommets for passage of the pivotable elements therethrough. Insertion of the stake into the ground is completed by applying sufficient pressure and/or blows by hammer element as indicated by arrow 52 to drive the pivotable body portion securely into the bottom of the body of water. The anchoring means can be similarly installed if it is desired to attach an article such as a fabric or tarp to the ground outside of a body of water. It is to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are to be considered illustrative of the invention. Various modifications, changes or alterations of the invention disclosed herein may be evident to those skilled in the art and thus the invention disclosed herein is not intended to be limited by the description hereinabove but rather, is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims: A fixation device for securing articles to the earth comprising an elongated subteraneanly pivotable body portion (21) having a bore (28) extending at least partly through the length thereof to receive an installing rod, and a strap (18) affixed to one side of said pivotable body portion (21), characterised in that said fixation device further comprises a benthic barrier clamping means (12) with an aperture therethrough being slidable on said strap (18) of said pivotable body portion (21), the strap (18) being intended for passage through a hole in a benthic barrier (32), the clamping means (12) being provided with coacting means which in ratchet-like fashion allow the clamping means (12) to slide on said strap (18) toward but not away from said pivotable body portion (21), thereby providing means to secure a benthic barrier to the ground or lake bottom to a desired degree of tightness. A fixation device according to claim 1, wherein said strap (18) is affixed centrally to one side of said pivotable body portion (21). A fixation device according to claim 1, wherein said pivotable body portion (21) and strap (18) are formed of nylon. A fixation device according to claim 1, wherein said pivotable body portion (21) is hollow through its entire length. A fixation device according to claim 1, wherein said pivotable body portion (21) is tapered toward one end. A fixation device according to claim 1, wherein said strap (18) and said pivotable body portion (21) are integrally molded of one piece. A fixation device according to claim 1, wherein said strap (18) is affixed to said pivotable body portion (21) by wedging of a doubled over end (19) thereof in a tapered hole (25) which passes through said body. A fixation device according to claim 7, wherein said pivotable body portion (21) has a hollow central bore (28) that extends partly through the length thereof and the tapered hole (25) is located at a point below the closed end of said bore (28). A fixation device according to claim 1, wherein the strap (18) is affixed at a point closer to the bottom end of said pivotable body portion (21) than to its top end and said strap has ratchet-like indentations along one side thereof. A fixation device according to any of claims 1 to 7 or 9 wherein the pivotable body portion (21) has a central bore (28) extending all the way through. A fixation device according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pivotable body portion (21) is of plastics material. A fixation device according to claim 1 in combination with a benthic barrier (32), wherein said barrier is positioned at the bottom of a body of water and said strap (18) penetrates said benthic barrier with the pivotable body portion (21) embedded beneath said bottom, the clamping means (12) overlies said barrier (32) and acts to hold the same in place on said bottom.

Inventors: BRIDGEWATER TODD JEFFREY, BRIDGEWATER, TODD JEFFREY
Applicants: DOW CORNING, DOW CORNING CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E02D5
IPC codes: E02D5, E02B3