Patent Publication Number: US-2017356154-A1

Title: Apparatus, Systems and Methods for Anchoring a Structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/347,400, filed Jun. 8, 2016 and entitled “Apparatus, Systems And Methods For Anchoring A Structure,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety under 35 U.S.C. §119(e). 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The various embodiments herein relate to an improved anchoring post for use with a temporary structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The disclosure relates to apparatus, systems and methods for anchoring a support structure, such as a ground blind. Ground blinds are designed to be easy to move and place, but are typically light and provide insufficient anchoring in strong winds and extreme weather. The improved post  10  addresses this shortcoming in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Discussed herein are various implementations of an improved post for anchoring a temporary structure, such as a hunting blind, pergola or other structure. 
     One Example includes a support post, including a hollow, elongate shaft including a lumen and a base plate including a mating opening, where the elongate shaft and base plate are configured to allow support rod passage into the mating opening and lumen. Implementations of this Example may include one or more of the following features. The post further including a mating opening flange. The post where the elongate shaft has first and second ends, and the mating opening flange is constructed and arranged to couple to the shaft at the first or second end. The post further including a support rod. The post where the support rod is a T-post. The post further including a structure. The system further including a base plate configured to be attached to the elongate shaft. 
     Another Example includes a support system for a structure, including at least one support post, each support post including an elongate shaft including a lumen, and an elongate support rod configured to be anchored in ground, where the support post is configured to be attached to the structure, and where the support post is mounted on the support rod via the lumen. Implementations of this Example may include one or more of the following features. The system further including a base plate configured to be attached to the elongate shaft. The system where the base plate includes a mating opening. The system further including a mating opening flange. The system where the elongate shaft has first and second ends, and the mating opening flange is constructed and arranged to couple to the shaft at the first or second end. The system where the elongate shaft and base plate are configured to allow support rod passage into the mating opening and lumen. The system further including a base plate configured to be attached to the elongate shaft. The system where the base plate includes a mating opening and flange constructed and arranged to couple to the elongate shaft. The system where the elongate shaft and base plate are configured to accommodate the advancement of the support rod into the mating opening and lumen. The system where structure is a hunting blind. The system where structure is a pergola. The system where the support rod is a T-post. The system where the base plate includes at least one hole. 
     Another Example includes a support system, including at least one support post, each support post including an elongate shaft including a lumen; an elongate support rod configured to be anchored in ground; and a structure, where the at least one support post is configured to be attached to the structure, and where the support rod is configured to prevent movement of the structure via the at least one elongate shaft. Implementations according to this Example may include one or more of the following features. The system further including a base plate configured to be attached to the elongate shaft. The system where the base plate includes a mating opening and flange constructed and arranged to couple to the elongate shaft. The system where the elongate shaft and base plate are configured to accommodate the advancement of the support rod into the mating opening and lumen. The system where structure is a hunting blind. The system where structure is a pergola. The system where the support rod is a T-post. The system where the base plate includes at least one hole. 
     While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods. As will be realized, the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the improved post, according to one implementation. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a known temporary structure having improved posts installed, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of an alternate known temporary structure having improved posts installed, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective bottom view of the elongate shaft separated from the base plate, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a support rod, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view showing the placement of the elongate shaft over the rod, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective bottom view of the elongate shaft being mounted to the base plate, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective bottom view of the base plate, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the base plate being positioned over the support rod, according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The various embodiments disclosed and contemplated herein relate to methods and devices for anchoring a temporary structure, such as a hunting blind. In various implementations, the devices and methods relate to an improved post  10  and securing a temporary structure  1  such as the ground blind shown in the implementation of  FIGS. 1A-1C . It is understood that while many of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein discuss temporary structures such as hunting blinds, the various device implementations disclosed or contemplated herein can be used with any kind of structure or other device requiring anchoring. It is further understood that while the implementations of  FIGS. 1B and 1C  depict 4-cornered, or posted, structures, in alternate implementations and n-cornered structure can be accommodated. 
     In various implementations, and as shown in  FIG. 1A , the post  10  has a central lumen  18  defined therethrough that is configured to allow for passage of a support rod  20  therethrough as shown below. In these implementations, the support rod  20  is embedded in or otherwise fixedly attached to the ground to provide structural anchoring of the structure  1 , as is described further herein. In implementations like that shown in  FIG. 1B , which shows a structure  1  that is a hunting blind  1  and  1 C, which shows the post  10  installed in a structure  1  that is a pergola  1 . In these and other implementations, the improved post  10  can be disposed at several corners  2 ,  4 ,  6  of the structure  1 . As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the post  10  of various implementations can be used with any number of temporary, semi-temporary and permanent structures, some non-limiting examples including hunting blinds, pergolas, tents, tee-pees, and other pop-up or other installed structures known in the art. 
     As shown in the implementation of  FIG. 2A , the elongate post  10  has a hollow, generally elongate support shaft  12  having first  12 A and second  12 B ends. It is understood that while this implementation is an elongate rectangular shaft  12 , other cross-sectional shapes are possible, such as round, oval, square, or other known extruded or otherwise formed shapes capable of forming or otherwise defining a lumen  18  therethrough. It is understood that in alternate implementations, the lumen  18  can be an opening which is “open,” that is, not entirely encircling an object such as a rod passed therethrough. 
     As is shown in  FIG. 2A , in various implementations the post  10  has a base plate  14  having a flange  15  and mating lumen or opening  16  disposed therethrough. In various implementations, the base plate  14  and mating opening  16  are constructed and arranged or otherwise configured to couple with the shaft  12  such that the opening  16  is aligned with the shaft lumen  18  via friction or other known forces for coupling a lumen or lumen-like structure in the manner as a male/female coupling. It is understood that these various implementations align the mating opening  16  of the base  14  with the lumen  18  so as to allow passage of a support rod  20 , such as a T-post, as shown in  FIG. 2B . It is further understood that alternate implementations can be configured so as to allow the base  14  and shaft  12  to be urged into fixed and co-lumenal communication with one another to allow said passage of the support rod, as is described herein. 
     Accordingly, as would be understood by a skilled artisan, in exemplary embodiments the flange  15  and opening  16  are sized to be snugly fitted within the lumen  18  on the inner lumen surface  18 A, and in alternate embodiments the flange  15  and opening  16  are sized to be snugly fitted outside the lumen  18  by the inner mating surface  17 . While the implementations of  FIGS. 1-2A  depict the lumen  18  and mating opening  16  formed by the flange  15  as substantially square, it would be apparent to one of skill in the art that further implementations are of course possible. 
     Turning to the implementation of  FIG. 3 , in use of the post according to certain implementations, it possible to drive a support rod  20  into the ground  22 , and fit the improved post  10  over the rod  20  through the opening  16  and lumen  18  to anchor the post  10 . Accordingly, in use, it is possible under these implementations to secure each of the “corners” or other support pieces, sides or ends of a structure by driving the support rods into the ground—either individually or in sequence—and then fitting each of the shafts  12  over the rods to erect or otherwise tether the structure (best shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C ) into place. It is further understood that in certain of these implementations, the structure (again, shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C  comprises flexible sections or portions that allow it to be fitted over or otherwise to the posts  20 . In alternate implementations, the structure is modular and configured to be assembled in conjunction with the fitting of the shafts  12 . 
     Other implementations of known construction techniques are possible, and it is understood that in each of these implementations, the rods  20  can be placed or otherwise settled into the ground prior to, or during, erection of the structure so as to secure the structure to the anchoring support rods  20 . It is further understood that the rod  20  is advanced into the mating opening  16  and lumen  18  during insertion according to certain implementations. It will be appreciated that once the support rod  20  is advanced into position inside the lumen  18 , the support rod  20  will prevent lateral movement of the structure  1 . 
     In various of these implementations, the outer rod surface  20 A is able to prevent significant post  10  movement by abutting against the inner shaft surface  18 A and/or inner mating opening surface  16 A, as would be understood by one of skill in the art. In various implementations, the cross-sectional size of the inner shaft surface  18 A and/or inner mating opening surface  16 A can be set so as to accommodate a variety of rods  20 , such as T-posts, rebar, and the like, and to permit some degree of sway and ease of assembly, as described above. 
     As best shown in the implementation of  FIG. 4 , the shaft  12  and mating opening  16 /flange  15  can have paired mounting points  24 ,  26  configured to allow the insertion of fasteners (not shown) to fixedly attach the shaft and base plate  14 . In further implementations, the base plate  14  can have plate holes  28  configured to allow the passage of fasteners (not shown) into the ground or other surface, such as tent posts. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in certain implementations, the mating opening  16  mounting points  26  can have optional mounting posts  30  configured to accommodate and couple to a fastener passed through the shaft hole (shown in  FIG. 4  at  24 ), so as to provide additional mounting support. It would be apparent to one of skill in the art that these mounting posts  30  can extend into the of the mating opening lumen defined by the inner opening surface  16 A without preventing the support rod  20  from advancing into the mating opening  16  and lumen  18  during insertion. In alternate implementations, the mounting posts  30  are not required. 
     According to any embodiment disclosed or contemplated herein,  FIG. 6  depicts the passage of such a rod  20  through the mating opening  16  and lumen  18  so as to be in physical communication with the inner opening surface  16 A. It is understood that in various implementations, the support rod  20  has a smaller diameter or exterior circumference than the diameter or circumference of the opening  16  and lumen  18 , though the ratio of these diameters and/or circumferences or perimeters may vary between implementations. In various implementations, direct contact between the support rod  20  and the inner surfaces of the opening  16 A and/or lumen  18 A need not be continuous, nor constant. Rather, it is understood that in these implementations, the elongate shaft  12  is understood to be constrained in its movement by the presence of the support rod  20  within. In alternate implementations, the support post  20  is snug fitting within the lumen  18 . 
     Although the disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods.