Abstract:
A device and method for securing a structural object, including a container having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion; and a slot integrated into the container through an entire height of the container and to about a central portion of the top and bottom portions, and having a width greater than a width of a pole shaped structural object adapted to be received within the slot.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to devices for securing structures, and more particularly to a device for securing temporary structures, such as open tents, shade structures, signs, and the like. 
         [0003]    Discussion of the Background 
         [0004]    In recent years, temporary structures have been developed, such as open tents, shade structures, signs, and the like. However, such structures can be light and difficult to maintain in place, due to winds, movement, and the like. Therefore, there is a need a device for securing temporary structures, such as open tents, shade structures, signs, and the like. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The above and other problems are addressed by exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which advantageously provide a device adapted to fit around legs of temporary structures, such as open tents, shade structures, signs, and the like, to secure such structures in place. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, aspects of the present invention relate to a device and method for securing a structural object, including a container having an open top portion and a closed bottom portion; and a slot integrated into the container through an entire height of the container and to about a central portion of the top and bottom portions, and having a width greater than a width of a pole shaped structural object adapted to be received within the slot. 
         [0007]    The container can be cylindrical or rectangular shaped. 
         [0008]    The slot can be rectangular, circular or wedge shaped. 
         [0009]    The device and method can include a lid having a slot corresponding to the slot of the container so as to fit over and cover the top portion of the container and rotate therearound. 
         [0010]    The lid can include an indentation adapted to allow stacking of the closed bottom portion of the container on top of the lid. 
         [0011]    The structural object can include a leg of a shade structure, tent or sign. 
         [0012]    Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a number of illustrative embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention. The present invention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details can be modified in various respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a device adapted to fit around legs of temporary structures to secure such structures in place; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates an integral lid used of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates a location of a structural element secured by the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates the device and lid of  FIGS. 1-2  configured around a structural element for securing the structural element; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a stackability of a device of  FIG. 1  over a lid of  FIG. 2  of another device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a further embodiment of the device described with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention includes recognition that numerous structures have been manufactured so as to provide a fast and convenient method of erecting a collapsible framework having extendable legs to support the spreading structural pieces. Such devices are commonly known as shade tent, shade structures, and the like. Such devices may have sides with screens and/or solid wind covers, and typically include an attachable fabric covering on the upper frame to provide sunshade or rain cover, and the like. Such devices are designed to be temporary structures, which are easily collapsed and can transported and stored until their next use. However, such structure have an inherent problem in that they can react to various elements of nature, including movement from wind, other objects, and the like. 
         [0021]    For example, due to the nature of an object of the size and portability of such a shade tent, structure, and the like, such structures require some means of support, as they can easily displaced and moved by wind, and the like. In not very extreme circumstances, such structures can be easily lifted and tossed about, creating hazards to life, property, and the like. To counteract such possibilities, the manufacturers of such structures recommend against erecting such structures during inclement weather, existing or predicted. In any case, they may advise securing such structures with stakes, and the like, which can be very time consuming and fail to provide sufficient anchoring support, and the like. 
         [0022]    In view of the above and other discovered problems, the present invention provides a means for adding a mass weight to the legs of such temporary structures so as to enable such structures to resist mechanical forces induced by the wind, and the like, and that is simple to employ, and can be easily manufactured using techniques to manufacture commonly produced objects, such as plastic injection molded, buckets, barrels, and the like. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a device adapted to fit around legs of temporary structures to secure such structures in place. In  FIG. 1 , the device  101  provides a simple and succinctly novel method of adding mass to legs of a structure. The device  101  can be configured in the shape of a slotted bucket, barrel, and the like, so that it can be easily manufactured (e.g., made of plastic using plastic injection molding or 3D printing techniques), and can be easily transported and stored (e.g., based on stackable, and nesting type design), and the like. 
         [0024]    Accordingly, the device  101  can be manufactured as a bucket, barrel, a container, and the like (e.g., cylindrical shaped, rectangular shaped, etc.), and with a slot, indent, and the like,  102  of predetermined shape (e.g., triangular, rounded, rectangular, etc.), width, and length, integrated through a full height of the device  101  configured a vessel that can hold, water, sand, and the like, to add mass to the device  101 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the indented slot  102  can be configured to extend to a central radius point  104  in the device  101  plus of a distance of about half a predetermined indent width  103  so as to center a structural element  309  shown in  FIG. 3  (e.g., a leg of an open tent, shade structure, signs, etc.) in the slot  102 . Advantageously, such design, as described, allows the structural element  309 , sized just under the width of  103 , and of any suitable shape, to be positioned and inserted along the slot  103  and up to the center radius point  104 . 
         [0025]    In addition, when the device  101  is in position, the mass of the device and its contents (e.g., water, sand, etc.) can be equally distributed around the circumference of the structural element  309 . Accordingly, the device  101  can accept liquid, solid, and the like, materials that can also be granular or cast in place as a solid (e.g., cement) for permanent mass addition. The device  101  functions as a container, and as such can effectively hold smaller groupings of weighted objects, and the like, in a confined space to increase mass (e.g., adding 8 five pound bags of sand produces a total device  101  weight when the device  101  is around the size of a 5 gallon bucket, thus exceeding 40 pounds, adding 5 sealed bags of water can produce a weight exceeding 40 pounds of mass, etc.). 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates an integral lid  205  for the device  101  of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , the lid  205  can be manufactured (e.g., made of plastic using plastic injection molding or 3D printing techniques) with an indented slot  207  that mirrors the slot  102  of the device  101  of  FIG. 1 . The lid  205  can be centered over the device  101  via an extension of a lip  208  adapted to fit the outside circumference of the device  101 . Advantageously, the lid  205  can be revolved to any suitable point thus closing off the top opening of the indented slot  102  of the device  101 , to lock in, to some degree, the structural element  309 , and so as to also provide resistance to lateral movement to so some degree. The top of the lid  205  has a manufactured lid top indentation  206  that accepts the bottom circumference of the device  101 , providing nesting, stackability, and the like. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a location of a structural element secured by the device of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3 , the structural element  309  (e.g., a leg of an open tent, shade structure, signs, etc.) can be placed within the indented slot  102  of the device  101  at the center of radius point  104 . The structural element  309  can typically include an attached flange  310 . The indented slot  102  is configured to be smaller than the flange  310  so that the flange  310  cannot to pass through the indented slot  102 . The mass of the device  101  and contents thereof are therefore equally distributed at  311  on the flange  310  for advantageously securing the structural element  309  by gravitational force and which that does not employ a fixed mechanical connection between the device  101  and the structural element  309 , and achieved by positioning of the device  101  without a need for critical measurements, and the like. The use of the device  101  in the described manner, advantageously, negates a need for additional securing devices, such as straps, ropes, and the like, that can fail at any time and for varied reasons, such as broken connections, and the like. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates the device and lid of  FIGS. 1-2  configured around a structural element for securing the structural element. In  FIG. 4 , the lid top indentation  206 , the lid indentation slot  207 , and the device  101  are configured around and to secure the structural element  309 , and with the bottom of the device  101  over the flange  310  of the structural element  309 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates a stackability of a device of  FIG. 1  over a lid of  FIG. 2  of another device of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 5 , the lid  205  with indent  206  is configured to accept a base  513  of the bottom another the device  101 , advantageously, proving the stacking of a device  101  on a lid  205 . This advantage allows for additional mass to be added to structural elements if desired. With such a stacking structure, the additional stacked and filled devices  101  add additional mass for holding down and securing structural elements  309   
         [0030]    Although the present inventions are described in terms of employing bucket (e.g., 3 or 5 gallon buckets, etc.), barrels (e.g., 55 gallon barrels, etc.), and the like, based on the teachings of the present invention, the devices of the present invention can be adapted in size, shape, and the like, for securing any type of suitable structure having legs to be secured, and the like, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s). 
         [0031]    For example,  FIG. 6  illustrates a further embodiment of the device described with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . In  FIG. 6 , the device  101  is shown as rectangular shaped instead of round, and the structural element  309  can also be of any suitable; shape, such as round, rectangular shape, and the like, as needed. For example, additional embodiments of the device  101  can be configured to simulate roman columns, keystone block pillars, caricatures, symbols, and the like, wherein the device  101  is configured as a vessel with an indented slot allowing the device  101  to be placed equally around any suitable structural elements  309 , and the like. 
         [0032]    Accordingly, the teaching of the present invention can include suitable applications with respect to shape, size, contours, artistic expressions of design, suitable materials, and the like, that create a vessel with a slot indentation to the center point of the vessel along a structural object to secure the structural object therein. 
         [0033]    Although the present inventions are described in terms of being employed for securing the legs of temporary structures, such as open tents, shade structures, signs, and the like, the teachings of the present invention can be adapted in size, shape, and the like, for securing any type of suitable structure having legs to be secured, and the like, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s). 
         [0034]    While the present inventions have been described in connection with a number of illustrative embodiments, and implementations, the present inventions are not so limited, but rather cover various modifications, and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of the appended claims.