Patent ID: 7934567

Claim:
A driving apparatus for planting a shaft of an article in a granular base, said driving apparatus comprising: an anvil assembly, a weight, and attaching means; said anvil assembly being fixedly disposed on an intermediate portion of said shaft; said shaft being in generally vertical orientation and having a tapered lower end; said weight being retained on said shaft above said anvil assembly in freely slidable engagement by said attaching means; whereby said shaft may be positioned with said tapered end adjacent to said granular base and said weight may be repeatedly propelled against said anvil assembly, for driving said shaft into said base; wherein: said weight comprises a pair of half-sections each having an interior surface with a recess; said half-sections being assembled in a closed state with interior surfaces adjacent, and said recesses cooperating to receive said shaft; said attaching means comprising a hinge and securing means; said hinge joining said half-sections for respective articulation between an opened state and said closed state; said securing means being mounted on said weight and being adapted to selectively prevent articulation of said half-sections, in a closed state.