Patent Abstract:
A tent stake has a lighting component. A portion of the lighting component can be disposed between walls of the tent stake, and slidably attached thereto. The lighting component can have a lens attached to a flexible housing of the lighting component. A light source of the lighting component can be actuated by manually depressing the lens, with the lens floating on the housing. Also, in some embodiments, the lens can be pressed multiple times to select different lighting modes.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/793,814 (filed Mar. 15, 2013) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to tent stakes for use in securing tent structures, and in particular, to tent stakes have illumination capabilities. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Assembly of tents often includes using tent stakes (or pegs) to anchor the tent to the ground. Tent stakes are typically constructed as a spike-like structure, made of metal, wood, plastic, or composite material, and can be driven into the ground and attached to the sheet material of the tent, or to ropes (or cords) attached to the tent. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a tent stake of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a back side plan view of the tent stake of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the tent stake of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front side plan view of the tent stake of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the tent stake of  FIG. 4 , as viewed from line A-A in the direction of the arrows A-A as indicated in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6   a  is a right side view of the tent stake of  FIG. 1 , showing the tent stake driven into a ground surface, and a fastening cord attached to the tent stake, such as, for example, a rope, having an end-loop that is looped around the tent stake and hooked or retained within a lower holding notch section of the tent stake. 
         FIG. 6   b  is the tent stake of  FIG. 1 , showing the lighting component with housing having been slidably positioned on a top portion of the tent stake, so that the tent stake can be driving deeper into the ground than in  FIG. 6   a.    
         FIG. 7  is a left side view of the tent stake of  FIG. 1 , showing a fastening cord, such as, for example, a rope, having an end-loop that is looped around the tent stake and disposed within an upper holding notch section of the tent stake. 
         FIG. 8  is a right side view of another embodiment of the tent stake of  FIG. 1 , having only a front facing notch section on the body portion, showing the tent stake driven into a ground surface, and a fastening cord attached to the tent stake, such as, for example, a rope, having an end-loop that is looped around the tent stake and hooked or retained on laterally extending edges of the housing of the lighting component. 
         FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the tent stake of  FIG. 1 , having hooks or notch sections provided on, or formed integral with, the housing for the lighting component. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the present description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure. However, upon reviewing this disclosure one skilled in the art will understand that the various embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without many of these details. In other instances, some well-known structures and materials associated with tents and tent stakes, switches, LEDs, and various materials of construction have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the embodiments of the disclosure. 
     In the present disclosure, to the extent the terms “about” and “approximately” are used, they mean ±20% of the indicated range, value, or structure, unless otherwise indicated. In the present description, the terms “a” and “an” as used herein refer to “one or more” of the enumerated components. The use of the alternative (e.g., “or”) should be understood to mean either one, both, or any combination thereof of the alternatives. As used herein, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used synonymously, which terms and variants thereof are intended to be construed as non-limiting. The definitions in this paragraph are intended to apply throughout this disclosure unless otherwise expressly stated. 
     Various embodiments in this disclosure are described in the context of use with tents. However, as will be understood by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, various other structures may be suitable for use with the disclosed tent stakes, such as, for example, tarps or other sheet material used to cover objects. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , in some embodiments, a tent stake  2  is provided, which includes a body portion  4 , and a lighting component  6 . The lighting component  6  can have a lens  8  and a housing  10 . 
     The body portion  4  can be constructed of, for example, aluminum, but various other materials of construction may also be suitable. In some embodiments, the body portion  4  is formed in the shape of two longitudinally extending walls  5  that meet at an angle (e.g., without limitation, between 60 and 90 degrees) at inward joined lateral edge portions thereof. In manufacturing, the two walls can be formed by creating a centerline longitudinally extending single bend or crease (e.g., a bend that defines the inward lateral edge portions of the walls  5 ) within a workpiece material of construction (e.g., a metal), with various pre-formed (e.g., pre-cut) features. 
     The body portion  4  can have an upper hook-like notch section  13  at one end portion, with a lower hook-like notch section  11 , formed just below the upper hook-like notch section  13 . In addition, a pointed tip can be provided at an opposite end portion (for use in driving the tent stake  2  into a ground surface). Also, the body portion  4  can include further cut-out sections to, for example, reduce the weight of the tent stake  2 , or provide decorative appeal, without compromising its structural integrity suitable for use. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 , in some embodiments, the upper hook-like notch section  13  comprises two laterally aligned cut-outs, one on each longitudinal wall  5 , opening on lateral outward edge portions of the longitudinal walls  5 , with upper edges  13 ′ of the cut-outs angled slightly downward as they extend outward, for use in securing a cord or other fastening member (as described further below). 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 , in some embodiments, the lower hook-like notch section  11  comprises a single cut-out, formed with a center thereof disposed at the joined edge portions of the longitudinal walls  5 , without opening on lateral outward edge portions of the longitudinal walls  5 , with an upper edge  11 ′ of the cut-out angled slightly downward as it extends toward its centerline at the joined walls, for use in securing a cord or other fastening member (as described further below). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the lens  8  of lighting component  6 , can be transparent or semitransparent, and house one or more LED(s)  14 , which can be attached to a circuit board  16  to mechanically support and electrically connect the LEDs  14  to a switch structure. The LED(s)  14  can rest just beneath the lens  8 , on the circuit board  16 . Also, power to the LED(s)  14  can be supplied by a battery, such as, for example, a single AAA battery  20 , housed within a battery cover  18 , within the housing  10  of the lighting component  6 . 
     In some embodiments, the lens  8  can be constructed of a thermoplastic polymer, such as, for example, polypropylene (PP) plastic. Also, the housing  10  and/or battery cover  18 , can be constructed of, for example, a thermoplastic rubber or elastomeric material. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 5 , in some embodiments, the battery cover  18  and lens  8  are attached to the housing  10 , by being snap fit together from above and below a ridge  28  of the housing  10 . That is, for example, the lens  8  can have a base perimeter indent  26 , extending along all or a part of its base perimeter, and the battery cover  18  can have a corresponding inwardly extending edge  24 , that can be inserted into the indent  26 . The base  8 ″ of the lens  8  (having the perimeter indent  26 ) can be inserted into a top (“top,” relative to  FIG. 5 ), or forward facing, opening  10 ′ of the housing  10 , with downward (“downward,” relative to  FIG. 5 ) facing wall portions  8 ′ of the lens  8  abutting against the top surface of the housing ridge  28 . The perimeter indent  26  can be pressed into position between the inwardly extending edge  24  portions of the battery cover  18  below the housing ridge  28 . That is, the battery cover  18  can have spring characteristics allowing its edge portions  24  to expand outward under pressure to allow a base  8 ″ of the lens  8  to be pressed between the edge portions  24 , then allowing the edge portions  24  to be biased inward into the perimeter indent  26  of the base  8 ″ of the lens  8 , to grip the base  8 ″. A top surface  24 ′ of the battery cover  18 , or top of the edge portions  24 , can abut against a downward (“downward,” relative to  FIG. 5 ) facing wall of the housing ridge  28 , thus cooperatively working with the base  8 ″ of the lens  8  to retaining the lens  8  and battery cover  18  attached to the housing  10 . 
     The lens  8  can serve as a manually depressible switch, depressible from a resting position That is, for example, the lens  8  can be manually pressed (by pushing on its face), such as in the direction of arrow “B,” in  FIG. 5 , and can float on the housing  10 , the housing serving as a deformable spring, so that when the lens is depressed, a switch on the circuit board  16  can be contacted to activate or deactivate the LED(s)  14 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in art after reviewing the present disclosure. The housing  10  can return the lens  8  to an original (e.g., resting) position after being depressed so that the lens  8  can be depressed again to switch the LED  14  off. However, in some embodiments, the LED  14  can have more than one mode. For example, the LED  14  can be switched on and provide continuous light in a “flood” mode, after a single press of the lens  8 . When the lens  8  is depressed a second time, the LED  14  can be switched to a second mode, in which it flashes at a pre-set rate. When the lens  8  is depressed a third time, the LED  14  can be switched off. 
     In some embodiments, the housing  10  can be flexible and snuggly wrapped about an exterior portion of the walls  5  of the tent stake  2  body, as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  5 . The housing  10  can be shorter in length along the centerline or bend between the walls  5  of the body portion  4 , and longer near lateral edge portions of the walls  5 . 
     The battery cover  18  can be disposed within the housing  10 , but with a longitudinal gap  19  extending between the battery cover  18  and an inside wall surface of the housing  10 , the longitudinal gap  19  opening on both end portions of the housing  10 . The longitudinal gap  19  can be sized to snuggly accommodate the walls  5  of the tent stake body  4 . The tent stake  2  body  4  can thus be inserted through the gap  19 , between the housing  10  and the battery cover  18 , to snuggly hold the lighting component  6  on the tent stake body  4 , but to allow the lighting component  6  to be slidably movable along the length of the tent stake body  4 , as shown by arrows “C” in  FIGS. 6   a  &amp;  7 . That is, the lighting component  6  can be selectively manually positioned along the length of the tent stake body  4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b , and  7 , in some embodiments, during use, the tent stake  2  can be driven into a ground surface  23 , and a cord  22 , or other flexible fastening member, can extend from a tent (not shown in the figures) to the tent stake  2 , to be attached, or hooked, on the tent stake  2  to provide tension to the cord, by being looped about the tent stake body  4 , and hooked, or otherwise retained, within an opposite facing lower notch section  11 , or upper notch section  13 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. 
     For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , in some embodiments, when the lower notch section  11  is faced opposite a tent, the lens  8  of the lighting component  6  can face the tent. The tent (not shown in the drawings), is located in the direction from which the fastening cord  22  extends toward the tent stake  2 . In this position, a user can depress the lens  8 , and activate the LED to provide lighting to the tent with the lens  8  directly facing the tent, such as, for example, in a continuous light mode, or flood mode. In another example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the upper notch section  13  is facing opposite the tent, the lens  8  of the lighting component can also face away from the tent. In this position, a user can depress the lens  8 , and activate the LED while the lens is facing away from the tent, such as, for example, in an LED flashing mode (or flood mode, if desired by a user), which can be useful for locating the tent in the dark, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , in some embodiments, a user may slide the lighting component  6  (or housing  10 ) in the directions corresponding to arrows “C.” As best seen in  FIG. 6   b , a user may slide the lighting component  6  up toward a top portion of the tent stake  2 , to be snuggly retained on a top end portion of the tent stake  2 , so that the tent stake  2  may be driven deeply into the ground  23  without abutting against the lighting component  6 . For example, in regular use, or during storage or transportation, a user may not want to position the lighting component  6  near an end portion of the tent stake, but may do so when the tent stake needs to be driven into the ground deeply, such as, in loosely packed ground. Sliding the lighting component  6  back downward on the tent stake body  4  provides for compact storage and can avoid the lighting component  6  sliding off, unless a stop feature is provided on the tent stake to prevent the lighting component  6  from sliding off the top end portion of the tent stake body  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in some embodiments of the present disclosure, only one notch section is provided on a single face, such as notch section  13 , on the front side of the tent stake  2 . However, in such embodiments, a user can still retain a tent cord  22  under tension on an opposite side of the notch section  13 , on the back side of the tent stake  2 , such as by, for example, placing the cord  22  (cord loop) wrapped about the tent stake  2  below the housing  10  of the lighting component, and allowing the cord  22  to abut against laterally extending lower edges  10 ′ of the housing  10  (See, e.g.,  FIGS. 4 &amp; 8 ). In some embodiments, even though the laterally extending edges  10 ′ may be narrow (e.g., less than ½ cm, or ¼ cm), since the housing  10  is made of non-slick thermoplastic rubber or elastomer, friction between the cord  22  in tension and the housing can be sufficient to retain the cord from slipping away from, or past, the laterally extending edges  10 ′. In other embodiments, the lateral edges  10 ′ are wider than ½ cm. Also, in some embodiments, no notch sections are provided on the tent stake body  4 , either forward facing or backward facing, and the laterally extending edges  10 ′ of the housing  10  may be used to retain a cord  22  with the tent stake facing in either direction. Although the housing can be manually slidable, when the cord abuts against the housing, and the cord is in tension, since it is not parallel to the body portion  4 , only some component of the tension in the cord may be directed upward along the body portion  4  so that most of, or a substantial portion of, the force the cord exerts is not directed toward pushing the housing  10  upward. Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 8 , the cord tension may cause some compression of the housing against the body portion  4 , thus also prevent the housing  10  from sliding when used to abut against the cord. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in some embodiments of the present disclosure, hooks or notch sections can be provided on, or formed integral with, the housing  10 , for use in retaining the cord  22 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a hook structures  10 ″ can be provided on either side of the housing  10 . In other embodiments, a hook (not shown in the drawings) could be formed on the back side of the housing  10 , extending directly backward away from the center line of the body portion  4 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. In some embodiments, no notches are provided on the body portion  4 , for use in combination with the hook structures  10 ″ on the housing  10 , and the tent stake  2  could be used to retain the cord using only the housing  10  for the lighting component, with the tent stake facing toward or away from, the tent. 
     Although specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described supra for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art after reviewing the present disclosure. The various embodiments described can be combined to provide further embodiments. The described structures and methods can omit some elements or acts, can add other elements or acts, or can combine the elements or execute the acts in a different order than that illustrated, to achieve various advantages of the disclosure. These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the above detailed description. 
     In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4