Patent Publication Number: US-6219888-B1

Title: Anchor device

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/183,066 filed Jan. 18, 1994 entitled Configurable Shade Structure Including Kit and Method Therefor, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,614. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an anchor device which is adapted to engage a cord along a cord segment. More particularly, the present invention relates to an anchor device for use to interconnect a cord with a support structure so that the cord is indirectly secured to the support structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tents and canopies have been used for decades to provide temporary and portable shelters for equipment and personnel. Generally, a tent or a canopy is a flexible covering suspended over an area to be protected and secured directly or indirectly to an earthen support surface usually by tethers. The tethers are each connected at one end to and along various locations at margin edges of the flexible covering and at an opposite end to stakes embedded into the earthen surface. The margin edges of the flexible covering extend peripherally around the flexible covering and often include a sewn seam or a welting. Metal eyelets are usually secured either directly into the seam or proximate to the welting. These eyelets act to reinforce the flexible covering at the locations of attachment thereby minimizing chances of tearing the flexible covering when the tether is pulled taunt to secure it over the protected area. 
     Sometimes an earthen support surface is not available when erecting a tent or canopy. In these cases, the tethers must be secured to some other type of support such as a post embedded in concrete or a fastener connected to a wall. Since such supports are often not movable, occasionally the tent or canopy must be raised and then re-positioned in order to align the metal eyelets at more optimum positions for tethering to the supports. If these supports are not appropriately position, the tent or canopy might appear distorted which distracts from any aesthetic appeal that modern tents and canopies provide. 
     Flexible cord is used in many types of applications in order to secure an article to a support. One of these many applications occurs in the sport of sailing. For example, sails are slidably retained on booms by loops of cord threaded through the eyelets in the seam of the sail and around the boom. Occasionally, severe windy conditions can cause the main body of the sail to tear away from its seam. Presently, the only option available to the sailor is to collapse the sail and stow it around the boom until repairs can be made. 
     Sails, tents and canopies are just a few samples of articles that are include flexible cords. Flexible cords can be either a cord itself or a flexible sheet of material having a welting. The welting could be standard whereby a margin edge of the flexible sheet of material is folded around a cord then sewn to itself. Sometimes the welting could be the margin edge of the flexible sheet of material rolled around itself numerous times then stitched along the centerline of the roll. In other instances, the welting could be numerous small folds of the margin edge about itself and sewn along its centerline. In all circumstances, these weltings are flexible and act similarly as a cord connected to the margin edge of the flexible sheet material. 
     There is a need in the industry for an anchor device to engage a cord along a cord segment. Specifically, there is a need for an anchor device to interconnect a flexible cord with a support structure. It would be advantageous if such anchor device could be connected to the welting or a cord and slide therealong so that the point of interconnection between the flexible cord structure and the support can be changed, if desired, without removing it from the cord. This feature would resolve the problem associated with erecting tents and canopies on certain surfaces where the tent or canopy must be oriented strategically relative to fixed supports. There is another need for an anchor device that could be used to interconnect a torn portion of a sail with a support so that the torn sail could continue to be employed during sailing without worry of further destruction. It would be advantageous of this anchor device would be simple and inexpensive to manufacture as well as easy to use. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides these advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful anchor device adapted to engage a cord segment to interconnect a cord and a support structure so that the cord and the support structure can be indirectly secured to each other. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an anchor device that can be used to retain a segment of a margin edge of tents, canopies, sails or other flexible sheets of materials having a welting for interconnecting the same to a support structure. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an anchor device for slidably retaining the cord segment so that the anchor device could move along the cord, when desired, without having to be disconnected therefrom. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an anchor device whereby, after being connected to the cord segment, the anchor device can slide along the cord in order to change the point of interconnection without having to removed the anchor device from the cord. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an anchor device which is simple in construction, easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     Accordingly, an anchor device of the present invention is hereinafter described. In it broadest form, the anchor device of the present invention which is adapted to engage a cord segment includes a body poriton and first and second opposed jaw portions. Each jaw portion has an inner surface with the inner surfaces being in a spaced-apart facing relation to one another to define a cavity therebetween. The cavity has a forwardly-disposed mouth opening and a pair of side openings disposed opposite one another and in communication with the mouth opening. 
     First and second retainers are disposed in the cavity and are laterally spaced from one another to define a passageway extending therebetween along a longitudinal axis. The first retainer is secured to the first jaw portion and has a first upper slide surface spaced from the inner surface of the second jaw portion; the second retainer is secured to the second jaw portion and has a second upper slide surface spaced from the inner surface of the first jaw portion. Each of the first and second retainers forms a channel portion opposite the mouth opening of the cavity. The channel portions are transversely aligned to the passageway to form a locking channel. 
     Thus, the body member may be advanced onto a length of the cord segment with the first and second jaw portions positioned on opposite sides thereof. The length of the cord segment accordingly enters the mouth opening and slides along the side openings and across the retainers and into the locking channel. When the cord segment is received in the locking channel, opposite end portions of the cord segment extend from respective ones of the side openings with the cord segment being slidably retained within the channel portions. Each of the first and second upper surfaces of respective ones of the first and second retainers inclines upwardly from respective inner surfaces of the first and second jaw portions. The inclination of each first and second upper surfaces commences proximate to the mouth opening and extends toward the channel portions. 
     One embodiment of the anchor device of the present invention incorporates a block member for each of the first and second retainers. It is preferred that these first and second retainers are formed as a unitary construction with respective ones of the first and second jaw portions. Each block member is configured with a first edge extending along and parallel to the channel portion, a second edge connected to the first edge in a perpendicular relationship and extending along and parallel to the passageway and a third edge. The third edge is arcuate and is connected to and between the first and second edges. For this embodiment, the inclination commences proximate to the mouth opening at an intersection of the second and third edges so that respective ones of first and second retainers terminate in a rear wall that has a surface partially defining a respective one of the channel portions. The rear wall surface is preferably concave in configuration and sized and adapted to receive the cord segment. It is also preferred that the first and second upper surfaces of respective ones of the first and second retainers inclines away from respective inner surfaces of the first and second jaw portions commencing along the second edge toward the third edge. It is further preferred that each of the first and second upper surfaces of respective ones of the first and second retainers is curved. 
     Another embodiment of the anchor device of the present invention includes first and second retainers that are each a roller assembly. The roller assembly includes a disk-shaped pulley element rotatably mounted onto a shaft connected to a respective one of the inner surfaces. Each of the pulley elements has an outer concave peripheral edge which is sized and adapted to receive the length of the cord segment. 
     Preferably, the body member includes an arm portion which is connected to at least one of the first and second jaw portions. The arm portion extends longitudinally and oppositely from that one of the first and second jaw portions. The arm portion has a hole extending therethrough. This embodiment of the anchor device has the arm portion and the one of first and second jaw portions as a unitary construction. Each of the first and second jaw portions has a jaw width and the arm portion has an arm width that is less than the jaw width. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing two identical anchor devices of the present invention engaged with cord segments of a canopy and interconnecting a cord segment of the canopy with a support structure so that the cord segment is secured to the support structure; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view partially broken away of a first exemplary embodiment of the anchor device of the present invention receiving and capturing a cord segment therein with the insertion of the cord segment into the anchor device being shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the anchor device of the anchor device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view in elevation of the anchor device shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view in cross-section of the anchor device of the present invention taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view in cross-section of the anchor device of the present invention taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7 is an end view in cross-section of the anchor device of the present invention taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an anchor half of the anchor device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view in elevation of an anchor device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective viewof an anchor half used to form the anchor device according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a partial side view in cross-section of the anchor half shown in FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     An anchor device of the present invention which is adapted to engage a cord segment is hereinafter described. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate numerous types of cords and cord segments anticipated for use with the present invention. For example, one type of cord or cord segment that could engage the anchor device of the present invention other than a conventional cord could be a welting that is sewn into an edge of a product fabricated from flexible sheet material such as a canopy. Another example of a cord or cord segment is a rolled edge of a flexible sheet material. A cord or cord segment could be impromptu fabricated by enveloping a cord around flexible sheet material which could be useful for temporarily securing torn sails. Thus, when describing the exemplary embodiments of the anchor device of the present invention, the terms “cord” or “cord segment” are employed in a generic sense since a skill artisan would construe these term to include other types of cords and cord segments which could be utilized with the present invention without departing from the spirit and inventive concepts disclosed herein. 
     A first exemplary embodiment of an anchor device  10  of the present invention is generally introduced in FIGS. 1-8. In FIG. 1, two anchor devices  10  of the present invention are shown engaging respective ones of cord segments  12 , 13  of a canopy  14 . One such anchor device interconnects cord segment  12  of canopy  14  to a support structure  16  while another interconnects cord segment  13  to a stake  17  set in ground  20 , each by way of a tether  18 . 
     As best shown in FIGS. 2-7, a representative anchor device  10  of the present invention includes a body portion  22 . First and second opposed jaw portions  28  and  30  extending forwardly of body portion  22 . Each jaw portion  28  and  30  has a front edge  31 , an inner surface  32  and a pair of side edges  33 . Inner surfaces  32  face one another and are spaced-apart from one another a selected distance “d”, preferably about one-half inch (1.27 cm). To this end, also, jaw portions  28  and  30  are in parallel facing relation to one another so as to define a cavity  34  therebetween. Cavity  34  has a forwardly-disposed mouth opening  36  and a pair of side openings, such as side opening  38  (FIG. 6) which are laterally disposed opposite one another and in communication with mouth opening  36  and a back wall  39 . Preferably, anchor device  10  is constructed by a pair of substantially identical anchor halves  50  and  52  (FIG. 8) which are fastened together. 
     Jaw portions  28  and  30  include retaining structures to secure the cord segment. For example, first jaw portion  28  includes a first retainer  24  while second jaw portion  30  includes a second retainer  26 . First and second retainers  24  and  26  are disposed in cavity  34  and are oriented laterally from one another and are laterally spaced to define a passageway  40  extending longitudinally therebetween along an axis “A” and centrally located in the cavity  34 . 
     The rear portions of each of first and second retainers  24  and  26  are located forwardly of wall  39  to form a transverse locking channel  46  opposite mouth opening  36  of cavity  34 . Thus, locking channel portion  47  is located between the rear portion of retainer  24  and rear wall  39  and locking channel portion  49  is located between the rear portion of retainer  26  and rear wall  39 . Locking channel  46  is transversely aligned relative to passageway  40 . First retainer  24  is secured to first jaw portion  28  and has a base  41  and a first slide surface  42 . Second retainer  26  is secured to second jaw portion  30  and has a base  43  and a second slide surface  44 . Slide surfaces  42  and  44  are each spaced a selected distance “x” from its respective inner surface  32 , with this distance “x” being larger than one-half of the distance between inner surfaces  32  when anchor halves  50  and  52  are assembled. Accordingly, first slide surface  42  is slightly spaced from inner surface  32  of second jaw portion  30 , and second slide surface  44  is slightly spaced from inner surface  32  of first jaw portion  28 . 
     It is preferred that anchor device  10  is fabricated with a first anchor half  50  and a second anchor half  52 , as shown in FIGS. 2-6, which preferably are sized and configured identically. First anchor half  50  includes first jaw portion  28  and a first arm portion  54  extending along longitudinal axis “A” which is connected to first jaw portion  28  that also extends along longitudinal axis “A” but in a direction opposite of first jaw portion  28 . Second anchor half  52  includes second jaw portion  30  and a second arm portion  56  extending along longitudinal axis “A” which is connected to second jaw portion  30  that also extends along longitudinal axis “A” but in a direction opposite of second jaw portion  30 . Preferably, first jaw portion  28  and first arm portion  54  are integrally formed as a one-piece construction; likewise, second jaw portion  30  and second arm portion  56  are integrally connected as a one-piece construction. For example, each of anchor halves  50  and  52  can be injection molded of a convenient plastic material. 
     Each of first anchor half  50  and second anchor half  52  is generally spatulate in shape such that inner surfaces  32  are formed with a slight concavity. First and second jaw portions  28  and  30  each has a jaw width ‘w j ” while each of first and second arm portions  54  and  56  has an arm width “w a ” best shown in FIG.  3 . Jaw width “w j ” is greater than arm width “w a ”. Although not by way of limitation, respective first and second jaw portions  28  and  30  have chamfered corners  72  at a distal end thereof, and respective first and second arm portions  54  and  56  also have chamfered corners  74  at a distal end thereof. Also, each of first and second arm portions  54 , 56  has a hole  60  extending therethrough which is located proximate the distal end thereof. 
     First and second arm portions  54  and  56  are sized and adapted to abut one another and be connected together to form a single arm  58 . Such connection is achieved by a conventional adhesive disposed between abutting portions, by ultrasonic welding or by any other conventional methods commonly known in the industry. With first and second arm portions  54  and  56  being connected together to form single arm  58 , first and second anchor halves  50  and  52  form body member  22 . Furthermore, holes  60  in each first and second arm portions register with each other to form a single hole through anchor device  10  when first and second arm portions  54  and  56  are connected together. 
     Attention is now again directed to first and second retainers  24  and  26 . As best shown in FIGS. 2-8, first retainer  24  is secured to first jaw portion  28  and has a base  41  and a first slide surface  42 . Second retainer  26  is secured to second jaw portion  30  and has a base  43  and a second slide surface  44 . For the first exemplary embodiment of anchor device  10 , each of first and second retainers  24  and  26  is a block member  62  (FIG.  8 ). As best shown in FIG. 8, a block member  62  is disposed on inner surface  32  of representative second jaw portion  30  on one side of longitudinal axis ““A” and a pair of ridges  63  extends along each side edge of second jaw portion  30  on an opposite side of longitudinal axis “A”. Block member  62  is configured with a rear portion  64 , a first side portion  66  and a second side portion  68 . Rear portion  64  extends along and parallel to locking channel  46 . First side portion  66  is connected to rear portion  64  in a perpendicular relationship and extends along and parallel to passageway  40 . Although not by way of limitation, second side portion  68  is arcuate and is connected to and between rear portion  64  and first side portion  66 . 
     Slide surfaces  42  and  44  incline in two different directions simultaneously. First, each of first and second slide surfaces  42  and  44  of respective ones of first and second retainers  24  and  26  inclines upwardly from respective inner surfaces  32  of first and second jaw portions  28  and  30  in a first direction that commences proximate to mouth opening  36  at an intersection of first and second side portions  66  and  68  and extends toward locking channel  46  and second side portion  68 . There, the inclination terminates at rear portion  64  which has a rear surface  70  that is concave in configuration to partially defines locking channel  46 . For the first exemplary embodiment of anchor device  10 , the rear wall surface is sized and adapted to receive cord segment  12 . Second, each of first and second slide surfaces  42  and  44  of respective ones of first and second retainers  24  and  26  inclines away from respective inner surfaces  32  of first and second jaw portions  28  and  30  that commences along first side portion  66  and toward second side portion  68 . Preferably, each of first and second slide surfaces  42  and  44  of respective ones of first and second retainers  24  and  26  is curved. For the first embodiment of anchor device  10  of the present invention, first and second retainers  24  and  26  are formed as a unitary construction with respective ones of first and second jaw portions  28  and  30 . 
     Now, with reference to FIG. 2, the use of anchor device  10  may be more fully appreciated. Here, anchor device  10  is advanced onto a length of cord segment  12  with first and second jaw portions  28  and  30  positioned on opposite sides thereof. The length of the cord segment  12  enters mouth opening  36  and slides along side openings  38  and across first and second slide surfaces  42  and  44  of retainers  24  and  26  (as is drawn in phantom in position A) and into locking channel  46  wherein opposite end portions  48  of cord segment  12  extend from respective ones of side openings  38  while cord segment  12  is slidably retained within locking channel  46 . 
     A second exemplary embodiment of an anchor device  210  of the present invention is generally introduced in FIGS. 9-11. Anchor device  210  employs similarly constructed anchor halves  250  and  252  which are joined together as described with respect to anchor halves  50  and  52 . Accordingly, opposed jaw portions  228  and  230  act to capture a cord segment. Since the anchors halves are the same, only a description of anchor half  252  is provided to avoid redundancy. In this embodiment, though, it should be understood that anchor device  210  employs a pair of retainers that each include a roller assembly to facilitate sliding movement of anchor device  210  laterally along a cord received therein. 
     With reference then to FIGS. 10 and 11, anchor half  252  includes a jaw portion  230  that extends forwardly of arm portion  256 . A retainer  226  is formed on inner surface  232  and includes a forward ramp portion  227  and a roller assembly  229 . Roller assembly  229  a disk-like, cylindrically-shaped roller element  280  which is rotatably journaled on a shaft  282  connected to a respective one of inner surfaces  232  of jaw portion  230 . Shaft  282  has a cap  284  which is in a plane that is coextensive with both the plane of the upper slide surface  244  of ramp portion  227  and the upper flat side  281  of roller element  280 . Cap  284  also rotatably retains roller element  280  into a recess  286  and shaft  282  may be fastened to jaw portion  230  in any convenient manner. Roller element  280  has an outer concave peripheral edge  288  which is sized and adapted to receive cord segment  12 . 
     The anchor device of the present invention engages a cord segment to interconnects a cord and a support structure so that the cord and the support structure are indirectly secured to each other. The anchor device of the present invention can slide along the cord, when desired, so that the point of interconnection between the flexible cord structure and the support structure can be changed without removing the anchor device from the cord. Tents and canopies can now be erected on certain surfaces without having to orient the tent or canopy strategically to fixed supports. Also, the anchor device of the present invention could be used to interconnect a torn portion of a sail with a support by rolling the torn edge into a welting. The anchor device of the present invention can now be used to interconnect the welting to a support so that the torn sail could continue to be employed during sailing without worry of further destruction. The anchor device is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use. Furthermore, the hole formed in the arm renders the anchor device of the present invention quite versatile. The hole can be used to tie a rope to the anchor device and then tethered to the support structure such as a stake or a tree. The hole is also useful to receive the stake directly thereby eliminating the use of rope where possible. 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.