Patent ID: 8118047

Claim:
A stake system configured to be used in substantially loose material to anchor a stake-down object, the stake system comprising: a stake member including a longitudinal length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the stake member including a distal portion proximate to the distal end and an elongated portion longitudinally extending between the distal portion and the proximal end, the elongated portion being longitudinally longer than the distal portion, the elongated portion being integrally formed with the distal portion, the distal portion defining a first lateral width and the elongated portion defining a second lateral width, the first lateral width being larger than the second lateral width, the distal portion and at least a portion of the elongated portion configured to be forced and positioned into the loose material with the proximal end configured to remain exposed above a surface of the loose material; and a flexible line having a first end and a second end with an intermediate portion therebetween, the first end configured to be coupled to the distal portion of the stake member and configured to be below the exposed surface of the loose material, the flexible line sized and configured to cut through the loose material such that at least a portion of the intermediate portion extends tautly away from the stake member and through the loose material below the exposed surface, the second end configured to extend above the loose material and configured to be coupled to the stake-down object; wherein the stake member is configured to substantially maintain a constant orientation relative to the exposed surface of the loose material upon the stake member being forced into the loose material and upon the flexible line being extended tautly away from the stake member at an angle ranging between about 45 degrees and about 135 degrees.