Patent Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an anchorage extractor. The extractor is used to remove post, anchorage or stake from the ground without using a force generated by a motor. The anchorage extractor comprises a base disposed on the ground to provide a stable support. A lever is connected to a driving wheel that is connected to a rack. The anchorage is attached to the rack and when the lever is actuated, the drive wheel drives the rack upward, removing the anchorage from the ground. An advantage of the present invention is that the direction of the extraction force is parallel to the anchorage axis by adjusting the angle of the extractor. The extractor may be folded on itself or dismantled to be transported.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of commonly assigned Canadian Patent Application no. 2,668,501, entitled “Extracteur d&#39;ancrage à angle variable” and filed at the Canadian Patent Office on Jun. 1, 2009. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to device used to remove anchorage or the like from the ground. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to devices used to remove anchorage or post inserted in the ground. Currently, non-motorized or motorized devices are used for this purpose, but users of these devices are rather dissatisfied with the performance or conditions of use. 
     Regarding the motorized devices, their advantage is the strength that can be generated but they are often bulky and heavy and consequently difficult to handle. In the specific environment of the assembly and dismantling of marquees or capital, hooks or anchorages used to secure the capital are often placed in confined spaces and a large device is awkward to use. These devices also require fuel to operate. Moreover, it is necessary to provide special equipment, such as a truck or trailer for moving these devices because of their size and weight. 
     The non-motorized devices that are currently used provide a limited force and a substantial effort is required from the user to remove the anchorages that are fixed in the ground. Indeed, the anchorages used to fix capitals are often inserted using pneumatic systems and in grounds such as asphalt or pavement composed of different materials pressed mechanically. Thus, these anchorages are firmly anchored in the ground. In addition, multiple anchorages are sometimes used, multiple anchorages are composed of a L-shaped structure which comprises several holes to receive several anchorages. Each of the anchorage is inserted individually in one of the hole of the L-shaped structure and the different anchorages will not have exactly the same orientation relatively to the ground. The different orientation of each of the anchorages creates a very high resistance to remove them all at the same time by exerting a force on the L-shaped structure. Because of this, each anchorage must be removed individually. 
     There is thus a need for a non-motorized device that has the advantages of both types of devices currently used, non-motorized and motorized. These advantages are ease of use, lightness of the system and the extraction force of the system independent of the strength of the user. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     A first object of this invention is to provide a non-motorized extractor for anchorages. 
     A second object of this invention is to provide a non-motorized extractor developing a large extraction force. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an extractor that may be positioned at different angles. 
     A fourth object of this invention is to provide an extractor having an extraction force that is generally independent of the strength of the user. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an anchorage extractor that is easily transportable. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an anchorage extractor that is foldable or that may be dismantled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aforesaid and other objectives of the present invention are realized by generally providing an extractor for anchorages or the like, the anchorages being installed in the ground and the anchorages having a longitudinal axis, the extractor comprising: a main body; a rack slidably connected to the main body; a shaft rotatively connected to the main body; a sprocket connected to the shaft, the sprocket cooperating with the rack; a first lever, wherein the actuation of the first lever cause the rotation of the shaft and of the sprocket; a connector adapted to cooperate with the anchorage, the connector being connected to the rack; a base connected to the main body, the base being in contact with the ground; wherein the actuation of the first lever drives the sprocket, and wherein the sprocket drives the rack upwardly and the rack pulls and remove the anchorage from the ground. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the extractor further comprises a driving wheel, the driving wheel being connected to the shaft, the driving wheel being rotated by actuating the first lever. The extractor further comprise a first lever-lock cooperating with the driving wheel, wherein the actuation of the first lever cause the first lever-lock to rotate the driving wheel, and wherein the first lever-lock transmit the rotation of the driving wheel to the shaft. The extractor comprises a second lever to release the first lever-lock. The extractor further comprises a second lever-lock cooperating with the driving wheel, the second lever-lock blocking the rotation of the driving wheel. The extractor comprises a release lever, the release lever releasing the second lever-lock from blocking the rotation of the driving wheel. 
     In a still further embodiment, aforesaid and other objectives of the present invention are realized by generally providing an extractor for anchorages or the like, the anchorages being installed in the ground and the anchorages having a longitudinal axis, the extractor comprising a main body, the main body having an elongated shape comprising a elongated cavity, wherein the main body may be disposed parallely to the longitudinal axis of the anchorage; a rack slidably connected into the cavity of the main body; a driving mechanism comprising: a shaft rotatively connected to the main body; a driving wheel connected to the shaft; a sprocket connected to the shaft, the sprocket cooperating with the rack; a first lever; a first lever-lock, the first lever-lock cooperating with the driving wheel, wherein the actuation of the first lever causes the first lever-lock to rotate the driving mechanism; a base connected to the main body, the base being in contact with the ground; a guiding member having an elongated shape, the guiding member being connected to the main body; a sliding structure adapted to slide along the guiding member, the sliding structure comprising an opening to receive the guiding member; a plurality of positioning holes, each of the positioning hole corresponding to an angular position of the main body; a locking member having an elongated shape, the locking member being adapted to cooperate with the positioning holes; wherein the actuation of the first lever drives the driving mechanism, and wherein the driving mechanism drives the rack. 
     The possibility to position the extractor at an angle substantially parallel to that of the anchorage provides a device that is more efficient. Indeed, when a force perpendicular to the ground is applied to remove an anchorage that is not perpendicular to the ground, only the force component that is in the same axis as the longitudinal axis of the anchorage is involved in the extraction. If the extraction force is applied in the same axis as the longitudinal axis as the anchorage, almost all this force acts as a force for extraction. Consequently, the device works more efficiently. The extractor of the present invention comprises a system to modify the angle of the main body. An example of such a system is illustrated later. 
     The support surface of the base of the anchorage extractor must be large enough to provide increased stability during extraction and thus prevent the extractor base to be destabilized during use. A triangular shape for the base of the support surface provides a good lateral stability. In addition, the support surface provided by the base is constant regardless of the angle of the main body. It is however to be understood that the shape of the base is not limited to a triangle and could be rectangular, polygonal, etc. . . . without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The device described in the present invention includes security mechanisms that are operated by levers or handles by the user. It is important to note that these security mechanisms are an example and they could be embodied by a different mechanism with the same utility, i.e. that will lock the extractor in a selected position. 
     The anchorages in the present invention may be devices inserted into the ground to keep objects in place or to provide an attachment point. These anchorages can be stakes for signs, anchorages for tents. It may also be, for example, stakes for trees, tent pegs, anchorages for tent, etc. . . . It should be noted that the extractor can be used to remove other devices inserted into the ground without limiting to the previous examples. 
     It has been experienced that the anchorage extractor as described in the present invention can develop sufficient strength to remove multiple anchorages as the one used for big size capitals. The multiple anchorage is a L-shaped structure having multiple holes, each hole adapted to receive an individual anchorage. A large force is required to remove the multiple anchorages, indeed, when the individual anchorages are positioned in the ground at different angles, the force required to remove them all at the same time is greater. Also, the anchorages for capitals are often inserted in grounds that are very compact, such as rocky grounds, asphalt, etc. . . . 
     The anchorage extractor can be made of metal or polymer having sufficient rigidity to withstand the forces transmitted during the extraction of anchorages. Aluminum, for example, is a good choice because it offers strength and lightness. 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the anchorage extractor. 
         FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of the anchorage extractor. 
         FIG. 2   b  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 2   a.    
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the safety mechanism of the anchorage extractor. 
         FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view of the safety mechanism of the anchorage extractor. 
         FIG. 3   c  is a perspective view of the position selector. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of the main body. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the lifting mechanism and of the release mechanism of the anchorage extractor. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the anchorage extractor. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a portion of the anchorage extractor. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective close-up view of the angle selector mechanism. 
         FIG. 9   a  is an exploded view of the angle selector mechanism. 
         FIG. 9   b  is a cross-section view of the angle selector mechanism of  FIG. 9   a.    
         FIG. 10  is a schematic cross-section of the main body. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A novel anchorage extractor will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiment(s), it is to be understood that the embodiment(s) described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the anchorage extractor includes a first lever  104 , a main body  102  and a base  188 . The base  188  is formed, in this embodiment, by a first and a second section  190  and  191  which are arranged in a “V” shape or triangular shape one relative to another. These two sections  190  and  191  are connected by a third section  192  on which are fixed wheels  195 . Two pivoting members  193  and  194  are connected to the base and the main body  102 , the first extremity pivotally connected to the sliding structure and the second extremity connected to the base. The connections between members  193  and  194  with the base  188  and the main body  102  are of the pivot type, to change the angular position of the main body  102  relatively to the base  188 . The shape of the base  188  includes an enlarged portion (section  192 ) which provides a stable support surface when the anchorage extractor is in use. It should be noted that the base may have a shape other than triangular, the important aspect being to have a support surface sufficiently large and stable. 
     To minimize the space occupied when the anchorage extractor is not used, it can preferably be folded on itself or disassembled. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the main body  102 , the base  188  and the pivoting members  193  and  194  are fixed to each other by using pivot connections  202 ,  204 ,  206  and  208 . By dismantling one or more of these connections it is possible to fold or disassemble the anchorage extractor. For example, if the pivot connection  202  or the pivoting members  193  and  194  are dismantled, the main body  102  can be disposed or folded on the base  188 . The pivot connections are typically composed of a rod with a bolt at each end to connect the main body  102 , the base  188  and the pivoting members  193  and  194 . 
     The main body  102  of the anchorage extractor  100  can be positioned in the same axis or almost the same as the longitudinal axis of the anchorage or stake to remove. A first embodiment of the mechanism for changing the angle of the main body is illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c . It includes a sliding structure  122 , an angle selector  120 , a transmission member  121 , a locking rod or member  127 , a guiding member  123 , positioning plates  124  and a security device  126 . The angular position selector  120  is connected to the transmission member  121  which is itself connected to a locking member  127 . The sliding structure includes a hole  125  which is adapted to receive the guiding member  123 . The plates  124  extend on both sides of the main body  102 . The transmission member  121  is partially contained in the sliding structure  122 . The security device  126 , in a locked position, is partially inserted into the transmission member  121 , preventing the angle of the anchorage extractor to change during its use. 
     To change the angle of the main body  102 , the security device  126  is held in unlocked position and the angle selector  120  is activated. When the angle selector  120  is activated, it releases the locking member  127  and the sliding structure  122  is displaced along the main body  102 . The positioning plates  124  maintain the lateral position of the sliding structure  122 . When the angular position of the main body  102  is reached, the angle selector  120  is released and the locking member  127  is repositioned to its locked position, i.e. in one of the holes designed to receive the locking member  127 . The surface  128  of main body  102 , adjacent to the locking member  127 , comprises the positioning holes  129 . Each of these positioning holes  129  correspond to an angular position of the main body  102 . The number of positioning holes  129  determines the number of possible angular positions of the main body  102 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , the main body  102  comprises a longitudinal cavity  118  and an opening  116  where the drive wheel  144  interacts with the rack  140 . A rack  140  and a plate  160 , which are fixed to each other, are located in the cavity  118 . In  FIG. 10 , is it shown that the rack  140  is connected to the rack support structure  161 . The rack support structure  161  slide on the low-friction material block  221 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the driving mechanism  138 , which includes a first gear or drive wheel  144 , a first lever  104 , the rack  140 , a second gear (or sprocket)  142 , and a shaft  156 . The sprocket  142  and the drive wheel  144  are connected to the shaft  156 . The mounting blocks  180  and  182  are mounted on the shaft  156 . The rotating block  154  comprises a hole  155  that is adapted to receive the shaft  156 . The shaft  156  rotates in the hole  155 . The first lever  104  is connected to the rotating block  154 . A first lever-lock  146 , controlled by the second lever or handle  148 , is connected to the rotating block  154 . 
     Attachment means or connector such as a hook  170  and/or a jaw  172 , to which one or more anchorages are attached, is attached to the plate  160 , shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . When the drive mechanism is actuated, by displacing upwardly and downwardly the first lever  104 , the rack  140  is driven upward and thereby removes the anchorage from the ground. 
     To displace the rack  140 , the first lever  104  is moved up and down. By lowering the first lever  104 , the first lever-lock  146  contacts one of the teeth of the drive wheel  144  and the latter rotates along the shaft  156 . The rotation of the drive wheel  144  causes the shaft  156  to rotate and this rotation is transmitted to the sprocket  142 . The sprocket  142  is engaged with the rack  140  and drives the latter upward. The reduction ratio depends on the diameters of the drive wheel  144  and of the sprocket  142 . In a preferred embodiment, the drive wheel  144  comprises less teeth than the sprocket  144 . 
     The handle  148  of the first lever-lock  146  is automatically held in a locked position using a spring (not shown in the figures). The second lever-lock  150  is adapted to interact with the teeth of the drive wheel  144 , it locks the drive wheel  144 , and consequently the rack  140 , to its current position and the first lever  104  may be raised again to transmit a further displacement to the rack  140 . When the anchorage is removed from the ground, the release mechanism  151  allows the rack  140  to be repositioned to the starting position. The release mechanism  151  comprises the release lever  152  and the second lever-lock  150 . By actuating the release lever  152 , the second lever-lock  150  is disengaged from the drive wheel  144  and allows the latter to rotate freely and allow the rack  140  to go back to its rest or starting position. 
     To reduce the friction occurring between the plate  160  and the main body, strips or block  219  of a material having a very low coefficient of friction are connected to the main body or on the plate. This material may be, for example, UHMWPE. 
     To remove an anchorage from the ground, the user positions the extractor near the anchorage to be removed. The user adjusts the angle of the main body  102  to place it substantially parallel to the angle of the anchorage. The anchorage is connected to the extractor through the hook  170  or the jaw  172 , or any other suitable means, depending on the physical configuration of the anchorage. It is possible to use an intermediary such as a chain to attach the anchorage to the hook  170  or the jaw  172 . 
     At the starting or rest position, the rack  140  is ideally located at its lowest position relatively to the main body  102 . The user moves the first lever  104  upwardly, this movement does not offer resistance, and then moves the first lever  104  downwardly, this movements driving the drive wheel  144  and moving upwardly the rack  140  within the cavity of the main body. Under the action of the sprocket on the rack, the rack slide upwardly. 
     To reposition the extractor to the starting position, the user actuates the release lever  152 , allowing the rack  140  to move down freely. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  shows another embodiment of an angle selector for the main body. It comprises a sliding structure  222 , an angle selector  220 , a locking member  227 , positioning plates  224  and a spring  228 . The angle selector  220  is connected to the locking member  227 . The sliding structure  222  comprises a hole  225  which is adapted to receive the guiding member  223 . The plates  224  extend on both sides of the main body  102 . The locking member  227  is partially contained in the sliding structure  222 . The spring  228  is contained in a hole in the sliding structure  222  (shown at the exterior of the sliding structure in  FIG. 9 ). The extremity of the locking member  227  is adapted to be received by one of the holes  229  in the guiding member  223 . To change the angle of the main body, a user pulls the position selector  220 , it will compress the spring  228 , and displaces the sliding structure  222  upwardly or downwardly. The user let go the angle selector  220  when the main body is at the appropriate angle and the spring will force the locking member  227  to move towards the guiding member  223 . When the locking member  227  faces one of the positioning holes  229 , the extremity of the locking member  227  engages with the hole and locks the main body at the selected position or angle. It is to be noted that the sliding structure may be made in one block or more, depending of the design. 
     While illustrative and presently preferred embodiment(s) of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4