Abstract:
A garden stake support including a first lowermost portion including a hammer portion and a second uppermost portion axially offset from said uppermost portion, said lowermost portion being adapted to form a stake. The garden stake includes the hammer portion to assist in easy insertion and has a removal wedge that allows the stake to be levered out of the ground when no longer required.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to garden stake support. The support of the invention is useful both in commercial and in domestic situations.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The difficulties experienced by gardens in securing garden stakes into position are well known. A garden stake may typically be of considerable height and could be expected to bear substantial loads. For this reason stakes are usually buried deep into the ground to stabilise the structure. However, it is no easy task to install the stake in the first place and no easy task to remove the stake once in position. Where none of the stake is below ground it is difficult to reach the top of the stake to enable it to be hammered into the ground and it may be necessary to use steps to reach to top of the stake. Depending on the position of the stake in a garden this is not always convenient and in any event the top of a ladder is not the most secure position from which to swing a mallet. Similarly, removing a stake from hard ground is difficult. Digging a stake out of the ground risks disturbing adjacent plants, which may be undesirable.  
           [0003]    It is to this situation that the present invention is addressed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Therefore in one form of the invention though this need not be the only or indeed the broadest form there is proposed a garden stake support for use in ground including:  
           [0005]    a lowermost portion adapted to engage the ground;  
           [0006]    an offset portion connecting said lowermost portion to an uppermost portion that is axially offset from said lowermost portion;  
           [0007]    said offset portion including an open platform directly above said lowermost portion to serve as a hammer point when driving said lowermost portion into the ground.  
           [0008]    By having a stake that has an axial offset it is possible to include a hammer point that can be used to drive the stake into the ground without the difficulties associated with driving in the stake from a height. Further by locating the axial offset generally at ground level the stake has a pleasingly uniform appearance.  
           [0009]    In preference the lowermost portion is, in use, located below the ground surface and the uppermost portion is located above the ground surface.  
           [0010]    Preferably the lowermost portion consists of an I-shaped open three-sided channel member wherein a first side element extends further and is longer than a second side element and whereby at a lower end the lowermost portion forms a point.  
           [0011]    Preferably a bottom edge extends slopingly between said first and second side elements and wherein said bottom edge includes an indented shoulder portion.  
           [0012]    Preferably the offset portion extends generally at right angles to the lowermost portion and includes a pair of spaced upper and lower parallel frame members.  
           [0013]    Preferably the lower frame member includes on an outer side thereof a curled tongue extension able to receive a water supply pipe.  
           [0014]    Preferably a branch pipe member is able to extend from the supply pipe and pass in the space between the upper and lower frame members towards the uppermost portion.  
           [0015]    Preferably the uppermost stake portion consists of an open ended base section into which is fitted an interlocking upright section and wherein the base section extends upwardly from the frame members said base section having a footprint that allows the upper frame member to form a narrow first ledge around the perimeter of the base section, said base section including adjacent an upper edge thereof but spaced therefrom an upper surrounding collar extending partially around the base section in line with the first ledge formed by the upper frame member.  
           [0016]    Preferably said lower frame member forms a narrow second ledge adjacent and around the bottom of the base section.  
           [0017]    Preferably a notch is cut into each of the first ledge and collar on opposing sides of the base member whereby the notches are axially aligned on either side of the stake base member the arrangement of the frame members and notches in the first ledge and collar combining to form a means for securing and directing a water supply from the branch pipe to an elevated position.  
           [0018]    Preferably the interlocking upright section is a snug fit in the open ended base section, said interlocking section consisting of an extrusion that in cross section takes the form of a back to back C-shaped element.  
           [0019]    Preferably said interlocking section is formed of two said interlocked back to back C-shaped elements forming a stable structure said second back to back C-shaped element being partially located within one side of the back to back C-shaped element and further partially received in slots cut into an upper edge of the base member.  
           [0020]    Preferably the stake further includes a removal wedge located below the offset portion said removal wedge consisting of an asymmetric notch cut into a bracket extending downwardly from the offset portion, wherein the wedge may be used to lever an embedded stake.  
           [0021]    Preferably a second stake is used as a levering tool and a pointed end of the lowermost portion lodges in the wedge an indent on a sloping edge of the point helps the removing stake to engage the embedded stake and thus facilitates the removal process. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 illustrates a first perspective view of a garden stake support in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 illustrates a second perspective view of a garden stake support in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 illustrates a third perspective view of a garden stake support in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of the stake during a removal process;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  show in detail an offset portion of the stake;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the stake; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b  illustrate interconnecting elements used to form the uppermost portion of the stake.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]    Shown in the drawings is a garden stake  10  constructed in accordance with the invention. The garden stake of the invention serves the same purpose as existing stakes however in constructional details the stake  10  is very different from conventional devices.  
         [0031]    The stake  10  comprises a lowermost portion  12  and an uppermost portion  14 . The lowermost and uppermost portions  12 , 14  are interconnected at an offset portion  16 .  
         [0032]    As can be seen in FIGS.  1 - 3  the lowermost portion  12  consists of an open three sides channel member having a first side element  18 , a second side element  20  and a rear element  22 . The first side element  18  extends further and is longer than the second side element  20 . Thus at a lower end the lowermost portion  12  forms a point  24  where the first side element  20  and rear side  22  meet. The outer edge  26  of the rear  22  slopes from sides  20  to  22 . However, as can be seen from the drawings the slope on the edge  26  is not straight and includes a slight indented shoulder  27 .  
         [0033]    The lowermost portion  12  terminates at its upper end in the offset portion  16 . The offset portion  16  is seen to advantage in side view in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b . The offset portion  16  extends generally at right angles to the lowermost portion  12  and includes a pair of spaced upper and lower parallel frame members  28  and  30  respectively. In use the frame members  28 ,  30  cold be expected to rest generally horizontally at approximately ground level. The lowermost stake portion  12  depends downwardly from one end of the offset portion  16  and the uppermost stake portion  14  extends generally upwardly from an opposing end of the offset portion.  
         [0034]    Thus the offset portion  16  directly above the lowermost stake portion  12  forms an open platform area serving as a hammer point  32 . The end of the upper frame member  28  is rounded at the hammer point  32  that thus forms a target. Striking the hammer point  32  with an impact force will drive the lowermost stake portion  12  into the ground.  
         [0035]    The lower frame member  30  includes on an outer side thereof a curled tongue extension  34 . The extension  34  is open at an upper end and is thus able to receive a water supply pipe  36  or  38  as shown in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b . The extension  34  is sized so as to comfortably accommodate and hold differing sizes of water supply pipe diameter. With oversize pipe  38  a moderate deformation of the pipe ensures a close fit in the extension  34 . A branch pipe member  40  is thus able to extend from the supply pipe  36 , 38  and pass in the space between the upper and lower frame members  28 ,  30  towards the uppermost stake portion  14 . Where required the branch pipe  40  may terminate in a distribution point just beyond the edge of the stake  10  as shown In dotted lines in FIG. 1.  
         [0036]    The uppermost stake portion  14  consists of a four sided open ended base section  42  into which is fitted an interlocking upright section  44 . The base section  42  extends upwardly from the upper frame member  28 . Moreover, as shown the base section  42  has a footprint that allows the frame member  28  to form a narrow ledge around the perimeter of the base member  42 . A bracket  46  extending between the base member and a free part of the upper frame member  28  serves as a buttress and supports the base member  42 .  
         [0037]    Adjacent an upper edge of the base member  43  but spaced therefrom is an upper surrounding collar  48  that extends around three outer sides of the base member  42  in line with the ledge formed by the frame member  28 . A notch  50  is cut into each of the ledge and collar  48  on opposing sides of the base member  42 . As can be seen from the drawings the notches  50  are axially aligned on either side of the stake  10 . The branch pipe  40  is turned through 90 degrees close received in the notches  50 . The arrangement of the frame members  28 , 30  and notches  50  in the ledge and collar  48  combine to form a means for securing and directing a water supply to an elevated position. The branch pipe  40  is held against the stake  10  and thus secured against any unwanted movement and, to some extent at least protected from damage.  
         [0038]    The an interlocking upright section  44  is a snug fit in the open ended base section  42  and is illustrated in grater detail in FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b . The upright section  44  serves a number of purposes. Firstly, as can be seen in FIG. 1 the upright can house risers  54  from the water supply pipe  40  to thereby enable water to be delivered from a stable elevated position. Secondly, the upright also forms the traditional garden stake to which plants may be secured. The upright section  44  is the most visible part of the stake  10 . As the most prominent visual part of the stake  10  it is generally desirable for the upright to have a reduced visual impact. That is to say the garden itself and the plants in the garden should not be dominated by the physical infrastructure used to support them. Notwithstanding the need to diminish the visual impact of the upright portion  44  of the stake  10  it is still important that this part of the whole is sufficiently strong to serve its purpose.  
         [0039]    These potentially conflicting requirements are resolved in the present invention by use of interconnecting elements  56  that that may be used singly or combination. The specific arrangement selected in any case will depend on an assessment of the needs of the situation. Each interconnecting section  56  consists of an extrusion that in cross section takes the form of a back to back C-shaped element having thus a central wall  58  that is the back to back element and outer sides  60  that are closed and lead to open sides  62  bounded by edges  64 . In a simple form of the invention inserting a single interconnecting section  56  into the base member  42  as shown in FIGS.  1  to  3  may embody the invention. The section  56  is a smooth fit in the base member  42  and is thus prevented from any unwanted movement by the base member  43 . Advantageously, the open ends  62  of the section  56  are able to receive the water pipe  40  therein.  
         [0040]    The manner in which the elements  56  interconnect is shown in FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b . The central wall  58  effectively divides the inner space of the section  56  into two halves. Each half of the inner space in the element is bounded by the central wall  58  and a part of the outer sides  60  and the open sides  64 . The section  56  is rectangular rather than square and one end of a first section  56  comprised of a side-wall  60  and adjacent edges  64  of the open side  62  can be slotted into the open half space of a second element  56 . The interlocking connection is a secure connection and as can be seen from the drawings the two elements  56  when interlocked are prevented from movement with respect to each other thereby forming a stable structure.  
         [0041]    The stable structure formed from the two interlocking sections and as illustrated in FIG. 7 a  can be incorporated onto the base member to form a more substantial upright where circumstances demand. A first section  56  is located in the base member  42  as described. A second interlocking section  56  is positioned in the first section  56  so as to form the structure shown in FIG. 7 a . Upwardly of the collar  48  the second element is received in slots  52  cut into an upper edge of the base member  42 . The slots  52  are arranged on either side of the base member  42  In line with the notches  50  and provide additional structural stability for the unit. To install the stake  10  it is thus a simple matter of positioning the stake and hammering on the hammer point  32 . The hammer point is closer to the ground surface than the top of a conventional stake and is easier to access. The operator is thus able to exert force more easily on the stake thereby making the installing process less traumatic. The point  24  on the lowermost stake portion  12  also assists installation of the stake  10 .  
         [0042]    Stakes embedded in hard ground can often be difficult to remove. The stake  10  of the present invention incorporates a device that is designed to facilitate the removal process.  
         [0043]    Located below the lower frame member  30  of the offset portion  16  is a removal wedge  66 . The wedge  66  consists of an asymmetric notch cut into a bracket  68  extending downwardly from the frame member  30 . The pointed end  24  a second free stake  10  may be slotted into the wedge  66  and used to lever the embedded stake  10  out of the ground as shown in FIG. 4. The indent  27  on the sloping edge  26  of the point  24  helps the removing stake to engage the embedded stake and thus facilitates the removal process. It can also be seen from the drawing that the removal wedge  66  is relatively close to the ground surface. Accordingly, where a conventional stake has to be pulled out of the ground, which requires considerable force the stake of the present invention uses the mechanical advantage of a lever.  
         [0044]    Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.  
         [0045]    In any claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprising” is used in the sense of “including”, i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.