Patent Publication Number: US-2022220688-A1

Title: Stake with ground engagement feature

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the invention relate generally to stakes. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a stake that can be easily placed into the ground and can include ground engagement features to prevent inadvertent release of the stake from the ground. 
     2. Description of Prior Art and Related Information 
     The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. 
     Ground stakes can be used to create a loop for tying down various items. Ground stakes can be used for securing tents, trees, trailers, storage sheds, or other items that may be affected by wind or other forces that can cause the items to move from their desired location. Ideally, ground stakes should be easy to insert, but more difficult to remove from the ground. To achieve this goal, for example, stakes may be pounded into the ground at an angle, facing away from the device to be secured. However, such positioning can still result in the stake being pulled out or loosened. 
     In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved ground stake that can be easily inserted into the ground, but difficult to inadvertently remove. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a ground stake comprises a main body having a top surface and a hollow tubular member extending downward from the top surface; a moveable shaft fitting into the hollow tubular member through a hole in the top surface of the main body; a connector at a top end of the movable shaft; at least one ground engagement member pivotably attached at a bottom end of the movable shaft; and at least one opening in the hollow tubular member, wherein the at least one ground engagement member retracts into and extends out of the at least one opening as the movable shaft is moved between an insertion configuration, with a majority of the ground engagement member disposed inside the hollow tubular member, and a deployed configuration, with the ground engagement member extending outward from the at least one opening. 
     Embodiments of the present invention further provide a ground stake comprising a main body having a top surface and a hollow tubular member extending downward from the top surface; a moveable shaft fitting into the hollow tubular member through a hole in the top surface of the main body; a connector at a top end of the movable shaft; at least two ground engagement members pivotably attached at a bottom end of the movable shaft; at least two openings in the hollow tubular member, wherein the at least two ground engagement members retract into and extend out of respective ones of the at least two openings as the movable shaft is moved between an insertion configuration, with a majority of each ground engagement member disposed inside the hollow tubular member, and a deployed configuration, with each ground engagement member extending outward from respective ones of the at least two openings; and a deployment arm attached to the connector at the top end of the movable shaft, the deployment arm rotatable about an axis to move the movable shaft between the insertion and deployed configurations. 
     Embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for creating a tie down location in the ground, comprising inserting a ground stake, in an insertion configuration, into the ground, the ground stake comprising a main body having a top surface and a hollow tubular member extending downward from the top surface, a moveable shaft fitting into the hollow tubular member through a hole in the top surface of the main body; a connector at a top end of the movable shaft; at least two ground engagement members pivotably attached at a bottom end of the movable shaft; and at least two openings in the hollow tubular member; and moving a deployment arm, attached to the connector, to move the moveable shaft upward and to cause the at least two ground engagement members to extend outward from the at least two openings and engage with the ground, creating a deployed configuration of the ground stake, wherein in the insertion configuration, a majority of each ground engagement member is disposed inside the hollow tubular member, and in the deployed configuration, each ground engagement member extends outward from the at least two openings. 
     In some embodiments, the method includes moving the moveable shaft downward to retract the at least two ground engagement members into the insertion configuration; and removing the ground stake from the ground when the tie down location is no longer needed. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a ground stake, in a deployed configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the ground stake of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the ground stake of  FIG. 1 , in an insertion configuration; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the ground stake of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the deployed ground stake of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded side view of the deployed ground stake of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the insertable ground stake of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded side view of the insertable ground stake of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates perspective view of a ground engagement blade of the ground stake of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a side view of the ground engagement blade of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a detailed view of an engagement between the ground engagement blade and an attachment loop on a movable shaft of the ground stake of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of a ground stake having two sets of ground engagement blades, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a top pull tab ground stake in an insertion configuration, having four folding ground engagement members, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates the insertion configuration ground stake of  FIG. 13  with the outer cover removed; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates the ground stake of  FIG. 13  in a deployed configuration; 
         FIG. 16  illustrates the deployed configuration ground stake of  FIG. 15  with the outer cover removed; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates the ground stake of  FIG. 13  having an extended ground level plate and a removal pull loop, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 18  illustrates the ground stake of  FIG. 15 , with the outer cover removed, including a stake stopper, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF INVENTION 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims. 
     In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
     The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. 
     As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal configuration of a commercial implementation of any device, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may be configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application. 
     Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a ground stake that can be easily inserted into the ground and once inserted, the stake includes ground engagement members that can extend out of the stake body to engage into the earth. The ground engagement members, when deployed, can help prevent inadvertent disengagement of the stake from the ground. When the user desires to remove the stake, the user can retract the ground engagement members back into the stake body and easily pull the stake out of the ground for re-use. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 8 , a ground stake  10  (also referred to as stake  10 ) can be moved between a deployed configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and an insertion configuration ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In the insertion configuration, ground engagement members  44  can be retained inside a main stake body  22 . In the insertion configuration, the main stake body  22 , typically including a pointed tip  46 , can be easily inserted or removed from the ground. Once the stake  10  is in the ground, the user can actuate a deployment arm  12 , as described in greater detail below, to cause the ground engagement members  44  to extend from the main stake body  22  and into the ground, typically at an upward (toward the surface of the ground, or toward a top surface  26  of the main stake body  22 ) angle to prevent inadvertent removal of the stake  10  from the ground. 
     The main stake body  22  can include the top surface  26  with one or more attachment loops  28  formed therein for connecting a rope, cord, or the like. A hole  32  can be formed in the top surface to access an interior of a hollow tubular member  30  of the main stake body  22  that extends downward from the top surface  26 . The pointed tip  46  can be attached on a distal end (relative to the top surface  26 ) of the tubular member  30 . In some embodiments, the pointed tip  46  can include male threads  48  that can threadably engage with female threads (not shown) formed at the distal end of the hollow tubular member  30 . Typically, the exterior of the hollow tubular member  30  can be generally a smooth surface as shown. However, in some embodiments, exterior undulating protrusions may be formed on at least a portion of the exterior surface, permitting the stake  10  to be screwed into the ground for insertion, for example. The hollow tubular member  30  can have a round cross-sectional shape, as shown, but other cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangular, triangular, or the like, may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. The hollow tubular member  30  may have a constant cross-sectional diameter, as shown, or may be tapered, as shown in the hollow tubular member of the embodiments of  FIGS. 13 through 18 , discussed in greater detail below. 
     The hollow tubular member  30  can include a plurality of ground engagement member openings  34  (also referred to simply as openings  34 ) into which the ground engagement members  44  can retract into (in the insertion configuration) or extend therefrom (in the deployed configuration). In some embodiments, the openings  34  can include a sloped upper surface  36  to help guide the ground engagement members  44  out of and away from the hollow tubular member  30 . 
     Opposing slotted channels  24  can extend from opposite sides of the top surface  26  of the main stake body  22 . The channels  24  can have a length that is at least as long as the movement required for translation of the movable shaft  38 , as discussed below, between the deployed configuration and the insertion configuration. A pin  20  can be positioned to span between the channels  24 . The pin  20  may travel in the channels  24  between a lower position proximate the top surface  26  (the insertion configuration) and an upper position distal the top surface  26  (the deployed configuration). 
     The deployment arm  12  can include holes  16  for receiving ends of the pin  20 . Thus, movement of the deployment arm  12  (via rotation of the arm extension  14 ) can move the pin  20  between the lower and upper positions within the channels. The deployment arm  18  can further include a slot  18  formed therein to improve access to the attachment loop  28  when the stake  10  is in the deployed configuration (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The pin  20  can extend through a pin hole  40  formed in an upper end of a moveable shaft  38 . A lower end  42  of the movable shaft can have the ground engagement members  44  attached thereto. The movable shaft  38  can have the upper end extending out of the hole  32  in the top surface  26  of the main stake body  22 . The lower end  42  of the movable shaft  38  is positioned in the hollow tubular member  30 , with the attachment loop  56  (discussed in greater detail below) positioned at or near the openings  34  in the hollow tubular member  30  (in the deployed configuration) or below the openings  34  in the hollow tubular member  30  (in the insertion configuration). The movable shaft  38  can be moved between the insertion configuration and the deployed configuration via movement of the arm extension  14  of the deployment arm  12 , causing the pin  20  to move along the channels  24 , thus raising or lowering the movable shaft  38 . 
     In the insertion configuration, the ground engagement members  44  can be positioned inside the openings  34  in the hollow tubular member  30 . Typically, distal ends of the ground engagement members  44  (distal relative to their attachment slot  54 ) can rest against the sloped surface  36  of the openings  34 , thus urging the ground engagement members  44  out of the openings  34  as the stake is moved into its deployed configuration. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 9 through 11 , the ground engagement member  44  may be formed as a flat, elongated member that can include a sharpened tip  52  to help ground penetration when deploying the stake in the ground. The ground attachment members  44  may pivotably attachment to the distal end of the moveable shaft  38 . Various attachment mechanisms may be used to provide this pivotable attachment. For example, an attachment slot  54  can be formed in an attachment end of the ground engagement member  44 . The attachment slot  54  can be removably attached into an attachment loop  50  formed at the distal end of the moveable shaft  38 . 
     While two ground engagement members  44  are shown extending from openings  32  on opposite sides of the hollow tubular member, it should be understood that any number of ground engagement members  44  may be used, depending on their size and the desired application. For example, three or four ground engagement members  44  may extend from the stake in the deployed configuration. The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13 through 18  illustrate four ground engagement members, as discussed in greater detail below. 
     Further, two or more ground engagement members may be disposed within a single opening  32  so that two or more ground engagement members may be released outward from a single opening  32 . In this embodiment, the ground engagement members may have a resilient curvature that can cause the ground engagement members to move away from each other as they are deployed. 
     Further, it should be noted that, as illustrated, the openings  32  are positioned at a single height from the pointed tip  46 . However, the openings  32  may have an offset height. In some embodiments, a long hollow tubular member may be used with the ground engagement members  44  extending from more than one height from the pointed tip  46 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , a first set  44 A of ground engagement members  44  may extend from an upper height from openings  32  and a second set  44 B of ground engagement members  44  may extend from a lower height from the openings  32 . Such a configuration may be useful in soft ground or where additional holding strength is desired. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13 through 16 , a stake  60  can include a hollow tubular member  62  (also referred to as outer cover  62 ) having two or more slotted openings  64  disposed along a length thereof. Typically, the slotted openings  64  are disposed on different sides of the hollow tubular member  62  at the same height therealong. For example, four slotted openings  64  are shown disposed along the outer cover  62  at 90 degree intervals about the conical tubular member  62 , as shown in the figures. While a conical hollow tubular member  62  is shown, this element may have a constant cross-section, similar to the hollow tubular member  30 , described above. A pointed tip  68  can be formed at the bottom of the hollow tubular member  62  to aid in insertion of the stake  60  into the ground. 
     A movable member  70  can extend from an opening in the top of the hollow tubular member  62  and move between an insertion configuration ( FIG. 13 ) and a deployed configuration ( FIG. 15 ), where, in the deployed configuration, the movable member  70  extends out from the opening in the top of the hollow tubular member  62  a distance farther than when in the insertion configuration. 
     A loop  72  can be formed on the top of the movable member  70 . The loop  72  can be used to move the movable member  70  upward into the deployed configuration. Once in the deployed configuration, the loop  72  can be used as a tie down loop for a rope or the like. 
     A ground engagement member  74  can be attached to the bottom end of the movable member  70 . The ground engagement member  74  can be formed from a first arm  74 A having its top end  86  attached to the hollow tubular member  62  so as to pivot about an axis  82 . A second arm  74 B can have its bottom end  84  attached to the bottom end  88  of the movable member  70 . The top end of the second arm  74 B and the bottom end of the first arm  74 A can connect at a pivoting joint  80 . 
     In use, the stake  60  can be inserted into the ground and the movable member  70  can be moved upward, changing the stake from being in the insertion configuration to the stake being in the deployed configuration, with the ground engagement members  74  moving into the earth outward from the hollow tubular member  62 . As the movable member  70  is moved upward, the top end  86  of the first arm  74 A is vertically fixed (via its pivoting attachment axis  82  onto the hollow tubular member  62 ), with the pivoting joint  80  (connecting the arms  74 A and  74 B) moving outward (as the angle formed from the pivoting joint  80  changes from about 130 to 180 degrees (in the insertion configuration) to about 20 to 60 degrees (in the deployed configuration). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , the top of the hollow tubular member  62  may include an extended plate  78  that may be placed flat against the ground after insertion of the stake  60 . The user may use the extended plate  78 , for example, to secure the stake in place while the movable member  70  is raised to engage the ground engagement members  74 . A user, for example, can step on the extended plate  78  to prevent removal of the stake while raising the movable member  70 . 
     A loop  76  may be formed on the extended plate  78 . The loop  76  may be used as a tie down or as a pull tab for removing the stake after use thereof and after moving the movable member  70  back to the insertion configuration (with the ground engagement members  74  moving back within a periphery defined by the outer surface of the hollow tubular member  62 ), permitting removal without having to pull on the movable member  70  (and possibly re-deploying the ground engagement members  74 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 18 , in some embodiments, a stopper  90  may be formed on the movable member  70 . The stopper  90  can be configured to rest against a top inner surface of the hollow tubular member  62  when the movable member  70  is in the deployed configuration. The stopper  90 , when the stake is in the deployed configuration, can also act to keep dirt or debris from entering a space between the opening in the top of the hollow tubular member  62  and the movable member  70  when the stake is deployed, thus preventing such dirt from causing difficulties in moving the stake back to the insertion configuration when the user desires to remove the stake from the ground after use. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 13 through 18 , the bottom of the ground engagement members  74  are attached to the movable member  70 , while the top of the ground engagement members  74  are attached to the inside of the hollow tubular member  62 . The opposite connection can also be used. For example, in some embodiments, the top of the ground engagement members  74  can be attached to the movable member  70 , while the bottom of the ground engagement members  74  are fixed to the inside of the hollow tubular member  62 . In this embodiment, the ground engagement members  74  can extend to the deployed position by pushing the movable member  70  down after the entire assembly has been inserted into the ground (instead of pulling it up, as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 13 through 18 ). This would require the loop to be on the hollow tubular member  62  to secure a rope or the like, but this embodiment can enable the expansion to be lower in the ground, and would not requiring holding the unit down while pulling up on the movable member  70  to deploy. To insert into the ground, the movable member  70  would be extended up first (to have the ground engagement members  74  in the insertion configuration), and the outer plate of the hollow tubular member  62  would be used to insert the unit into the ground. 
     All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims. 
     Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements. 
     The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species. 
     The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
     The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.