Abstract:
A ground anchor system for anchoring an article, such as a sports goal, bench or the like, to an underlying ground surface. The ground anchor includes an elongate body capable of being embedded within concrete within a hole in the ground and has an anchor and locking plate assembly secured to an upper end thereof. A separate anchor pin is removably securable to the anchor and locking plate assembly. The anchor pin has a knob at one end that is grippable by hand and can be manually placed into a locking position without the use of a separate tool in which the anchor pin is secured to the anchor and locking plate assembly. The anchor pin can also be manually positioned into an unlocking position in which the anchor pin is freely removable from the anchor and locking plate assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a ground anchoring system for anchoring sports goals, benches and the like to an underlying ground surface, and more particularly, to a system and method for removably anchoring sport goals and the like manually without the use of separate tools.  
         [0002]     Various structures, such as sport goal frames, benches, and the like require anchoring to an underlying ground surface for safety and other reasons. For example, the frames of soccer goals require anchoring to the underlying ground surface to prevent the goals from accidentally tilting over and causing injury to players or other persons located nearby. Typically, such systems utilize threaded bolts, nuts, or like fasteners to secure goal frames to anchors sunk within the ground. Such systems require the use of wrenches or other tools to connect or disconnect the goal frames to and from the anchors.  
         [0003]     Examples of ground anchors for sport goals are provided by U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,697 issued to Grunfield; U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,463 B1 issued to Stockwell, III; U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,428 issued to Nauman; U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,497 issued to Pena; U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,933 issued to DeJonghe; U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,195 issued to Pavonetti; U.S. Pat. No. 2,020,158 issued to Oakes et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,551 issued to Ferrara et al. and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP 2003-144595. In addition, examples of other anchoring devices are provided by U.S. Pat. No.: 1,089,842 issued to Johnson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,490,355 issued to Hubbard; U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,944 issued to Easley; U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,120 issued to Hall; U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,119 issued to Hlavin; U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,857 issued to Gray; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,296 B1 issued to Johnson.  
         [0004]     Although the above referenced ground anchors, sport goals, and methods of anchoring disclosed in the above referenced patents may be satisfactory for their intended purposes, there is a need for a ground anchor system enabling the attachment/removal of various articles to and from a ground anchor in a manner requiring a minimum of time, effort, skill and labor. Sport goals, benches and the like should be securable to, and removable from, the ground anchors without the need of wrenches or other tools. In addition, preferably the ground anchor system should be resistant to damage caused by weathering or like forces which tend to complicate the task of applying and/or removing fasteners.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     According to one aspect of the present invention, a ground anchor for anchoring an article, such as a sports goal or bench, to an underlying ground surface is provided. The ground anchor includes an elongate body capable of being embedded within concrete within a hole in the ground and has an anchor and locking plate assembly secured to an upper end thereof. A separate anchor pin is removably securable to the anchor and locking plate assembly. The anchor pin has a handle, or knob, at one end thereof that is grippable by hand without the use of a separate tool and can be manually placed into a locking position in which the anchor pin is secured to the anchor and locking plate assembly and an unlocking position in which the anchor pin is removable from the anchor and locking plate assembly.  
         [0006]     Preferably, the anchor pin has an elongate shaft on which a spring extends between the knob on a proximal end of the shaft and a locking head, or key, on a distal end of the shaft. The anchor and locking plate assembly has a keyway that extends transversely therethrough and a recess on the underside thereof that extends only partially through a thickness of the anchor and locking plate assembly. The keyway permits passage of the locking head of the anchor pin therethrough when the locking head is in proper alignment with the keyway. The recess is angularly offset from the keyway so that, when the anchor pin is positioned in the locking position, the locking head of the anchor pin is seated and captured within the recess and is maintained within the recess under the force of the spring. This prevents the locking head from unintentionally rotating into alignment with the keyway. The anchor pin is manually removed by pressing down on the knob to extend the locking head out of the recess and turning the anchor pin so that the locking head is aligned with the keyway for removal therethrough.  
         [0007]     According to other aspects of the present invention, a sports goal assembly including a ground anchor and a method of securing a goal frame to a ground anchor and disconnecting the goal frame therefrom are provided. Both the goal assembly and method utilize an anchor pin that can be positioned into locking and unlocking positions without the use of a separate tool. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is partially cut-away elevation view of an anchoring system and sports goal frame according to the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of an anchor pin and anchor and locking plate assembly according to the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the anchoring system and sports goal frame of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The anchoring system of the present invention is useful in securing sport goal frames, park benches, picnic tables, and like structures to an underlying ground surface. For example, a soccer goal  10  is shown in the drawings. The soccer goal  10  should be anchored to the surface  12  of the playing field to prevent the goal from accidentally tilting over and injuring nearby players or other persons.  
         [0016]     A typical soccer goal  10  has a frame  14  including goal posts  16  and a crossbar (not shown) extending therebetween that together define a goal mouth. Soccer goals  10  also include other framing elements to support the goal net (not shown) which extends rearward from the goal mouth. For example, the frame  14  can include arm assemblies  18  that extend from the rear  20  of the goal posts  16 . Each of the arm assemblies  18  may include a lower horizontal rail  22  that extends along and substantially parallel to the underlying ground surface  12 . The rails  22  may have slots  24  through which fasteners can be extended to secure the soccer goal  10  to a ground anchor or the like. Alternatively, brackets (not shown) or the like which extend about the rails  22  can provide slots for fasteners.  
         [0017]     Ground anchors are typically installed within holes  26  which are thereafter filled with concrete  28 . Typically, the location of each ground anchor is determined and a hole of about a minimum diameter of 24 inches and 20 to 36 inches deep is dug into the ground. With respect to a soccer goal, typically a pair of ground anchors is utilized on each arm assembly  18  in the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 . An anchor is placed in each hole  26  so that the upper surface of the anchor is generally flush with the ground surface  12  surrounding the hole. Thereafter, the holes are filled with concrete  28  embedding the anchors therein. After the concrete cures, a soccer goal  10  can be aligned with the ground anchors and attached thereto.  
         [0018]     A ground anchor  30  according to the present application includes an elongate body  32  that is substantially hollow at least adjacent an upper end  34  thereof. The body  32  projects from a base plate  36  located at a lower end  38  of the elongate body  32 . The base plate  36  permits the ground anchor to be self-supported in an upright position in a hole prior to the pouring of concrete in the hole. The upper end  34  of the elongate body  32  has an anchor and locking plate assembly  40  which can be manufactured as an integral piece, or can be the assembly of two separately manufactured plates. Preferably, the elongate body  32 , base plate  36 , and anchor and locking plate assembly  40  are made of steel and are welded together prior to use.  
         [0019]     As stated above, the anchor and locking plate assembly  40  extends generally flush with the surrounding ground surface  12  or playing field. Preferably, the assembly  40  includes an anchor plate  42  that has an upper surface  44  that is flush with the ground surface  12  and that has a centrally-located keyway  46  extending transversely therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, the keyway  46  is an elongate slot with rounded ends. By way of example, the steel anchor plate  42  can be about 3 inches by about 3 inches with a thickness of about 0.375 inch and with a keyway  46  of about 1.125 inches long by about 0.4 inch wide. Of course, other dimensions and materials can be used for the anchor plate  42 .  
         [0020]     A locking plate  48  is located underneath the anchor plate  42 . The locking plate  48  has a first keyway  50  which is substantially identical to the keyway  46  of the anchor plate  42  and which can be aligned therewith to form a continuous keyway through the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . In addition, the locking plate  48  includes a second keyway  52  angularly offset from the first keyway  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second keyway  52  extends substantially perpendicular to the first keyway  50  thereby forming a generally “+” shaped aperture through the locking plate  48 . As discussed in greater detail below, the second keyway  52  of the locking plate  48  provides a recess, or pocket, on an underside of the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . By way of example, the steel locking plate  48  can be about 3 inches by about 3 inches with a thickness of about 0.25 inch, and each keyway,  50  and  52 , can be about 1.125 inches long by about 0.4 inch wide. Of course, other dimensions and materials can be used for the locking plate  48 .  
         [0021]     The above referenced ground anchor  30  is intended for use with a separate anchor pin  54  having a shaft  56  with proximal and distal ends,  58  and  60 . A handle, or knob,  62  is secured on the proximal end  58  of the shaft  56  and permits an individual to grip the anchor pin  54  by hand and manipulate it between locking and unlocking positions manually without the use of tools. The distal end  60  of the shaft  56  has a key, lug, or locking head  64  that is sized to fit through the keyways,  46  and  50 , of the anchor and locking plates,  42  and  48 . For example, the locking head  64  can have a generally arrowhead-shape with a length of about 0.75 inch, a width of about 0.775 inch, and a thickness of about 0.375 inch. Of course, other dimensions and shapes can be utilized.  
         [0022]     A spring  66  is fixed about the shaft  56  of the anchor pin  54  for use in resiliently maintaining the anchor pin  54  in a locking position as discussed below in greater detail. Preferably, the spring  66  is a coil spring and is located between a washer  68  and the handle  62 , or between a pair of washers. In use, the locking head  64  of the anchor pin  54  is inserted through the keyways,  46  and  50 , of the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . The spring  66  must be compressed to permit the locking head  66  to be extended completely through the keyways,  46  and  50 , and underneath the underside  70  of the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . In this position, the anchor pin  54  can be rotated about a longitudinal axis “X” extending through the shaft  56  of the anchor pin  54 . Upon rotation, the locking head  64  is no longer aligned with the keyways,  46  and  50 , and thus is captured beneath the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . However, to ensure that the locking head  64  does not accidentally become aligned with the keyways,  46  and  50 , the locking head  64  is aligned with the second keyway, or recess,  52 . In this position, the spring  66  applies a force to urge the locking head  64  within the recess  52  and to maintain the locking head  64  therein. See  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this position, the locking head  64  is prevented from rotation and is prevented from inadvertent alignment with the keyways,  46  and  50 .  
         [0023]     When in the locking position, the anchor pin  54  can be manually removed from the ground anchor  30  by manually gripping the handle  62  and by applying a downward force thereon to extend the locking head  64  of the anchor pin  54  entirely below the underside  70  of the anchor and locking plate assembly  40  and out of the recess  52 . Thereafter, the anchor pin  54  can be turned such that the locking head  64  is aligned with the keyways,  46  and  50 . The anchor pin  54  can then be removed from the ground anchor  30 .  
         [0024]     A method of assembling a sports goal or the like according to the present invention includes aligning the sports goal  10  or the like with ground anchors  30  set in the ground surface  12 . Preferably, a slot  24  extending through a base rail  22  of the sports goal  10  or the like, or an aperture in a bracket secured to the base rail, is aligned with the keyways,  46  and  50 , of the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . The knob  62  of the anchor pin  54  is grasped by hand to manipulate the locking head  64  of the anchor pin  54  through the base rail  22 , or bracket, and into the keyways,  46  and  50 , of the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . The person applies a downward force on the knob  62  to compress the spring  66  and locate the locking head  64  underneath the underside  70  of the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . The person then turns the knob  62  about a quarter turn to displace the locking head  64  of the anchor pin  54  out of alignment with the keyways,  46  and  50 , and into alignment with the recess formed by the second keyway  52  of the locking plate  48 . As the anchor pin  54  is released, the spring  66  urges the locking head  64  to seat within the recess. This places the anchor pin  54  in the locking position and prevents the locking head  64  from unintentional rotation into alignment with the keyways,  46  and  50 . The washer  68 , spring  66 , and knob  62  extend above the sports goal rail  22  and prevent movement of the rail  22  relative to the ground anchor  30 . See  FIG. 1 .  
         [0025]     The anchor pin  54  can be manually moved from the locking position to an unlocking position in which the anchor pin  54  can be removed from the ground anchor  30  and rail  22  of the sports goal  10  or the like. The knob  62  of the anchor pin  54  is grasped by hand and pressed downwardly to compress the spring  66  and to extend the locking head  64  below the underside  70  of the anchor and locking plate assembly  40 . Thereafter, the anchor pin  54  is turned until the locking head  64  is aligned with the keyways,  46  and  50 . The anchor pin  54  is then removed from the ground anchor  30  and from the sports goal rail  22 .  
         [0026]     While a preferred ground anchor, sports goal assembly, and method have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the anchor, assembly, and method according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims.