AU2007302887A1

AU2007302887A1 - A ground anchor

Info

Publication number: AU2007302887A1
Application number: AU2007302887A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Karl Jacob Peterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-02
Filing date: 2007-09-03
Publication date: 2008-04-10
Also published as: WO2008041864A3; WO2008041864A2

Description

WO 2008/041864 PCT/NZ2007/000244 1 A Ground Anchor. FIELD OF INVENTION 5 A preferred form of this invention relates to a ground anchor suitable for use in securing tent pegs, ground brackets, or the like. BACKGROUND It is known to use ground pegs when erecting tents or the like. Such pegs are 10 driven into the ground and anchor a length of rope extending from the peg up to a tent. A number of pegs and ropes positioned around the tent assist it to remain erect, even in windy conditions. However in some cases the force of stronger winds can cause the pegs to be pulled out of the ground with a resulting collapse of the tent. This can also be a problem if the tent pegs are only driven into 15 reasonably soft or loose soil. It is accordingly an object of a preferred form of the present invention to go at least some towards addressing this problem, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. The term "comprising" or derivatives thereof, if and when used in this document 20 should be interpreted non-exclusively, eg to mean "consisting of or including". SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of anchoring a ground peg, comprising the steps of: 25 i) obtaining a ground anchor, the anchor having an elongate body portion and a head portion, the head portion having an aperture proceeding therethrough at an angle with respect to the body portion, ii) driving the anchor into a ground surface, and iii) driving a peg through the anchor via the aperture such that the peg is 30 directed by the aperture to substantially align with the angle of the aperture. Optionally the angle of the aperture is acute with respect to the body portion.

WO 2008/041864 PCT/NZ2007/000244 2 Optionally the body portion has a pointed portion at an end of the anchor remote from the head portion. Optionally the peg is a tent peg. 5 Optionally the head portion is substantially wider than the body portion and is suitable for being struck with a hammer with a level of force within a range normal when hammering tent pegs into the ground without damage to the anchor. 10 Optionally the head portion has an extension spaced from but substantially aligned with the body portion, the extension being suitable for receiving a rope. Optionally the extension is elongate and is substantially parallel to the body portion. 15 Optionally a rope is secured to the extension. Optionally the extension contacts the ground surface and the rope is trapped between the extension and the ground surface. 20 Optionally the ground anchor is locked with respect to the peg to prevent or reduce the likelihood of undesired removal of these and/or an object that they are anchoring. 25 Optionally the anchor is releasably locked to the peg by locking means forming part of the anchor and/or peg. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a ground anchor having an elongate body portion and a head portion, the head portion having an 30 aperture proceeding therethrough at an acute angle with respect to the elongate body portion, the anchor formed such that it is suitable for use in a method as described in the first mentioned aspect of the invention.

WO 2008/041864 PCT/NZ2007/000244 3 Preferably the anchor is provided with or is otherwise in combination with a ground peg. Preferably anchor has locking means which enables the anchor to be releasably 5 locked with respect to a ground peg to prevent or reduce the likelihood of undesired removal of these. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example 10 and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a ground anchor in use with a bracket and a peg; Figure 2 is a side view of an upper part of the ground anchor; 15 Figure 3 is a side view of the anchor in use with the bracket and peg; Figure 4 is an isometric view showing detail of parts of the anchor and peg; Figure 5 is a series of isometric views illustrating steps involved in using an anchor according to a further embodiment of the invention with a tent guy rope; 20 Figure 6 is an isometric view illustrating an anchor according to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is an isometric view further illustrating the anchor of figure 5; and Figure 8 is an isometric view illustrating an anchor according to a another embodiment of the invention. 25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to figure 1, a ground anchor 1 has a dome like head 2 and a shaft like elongate body 3. The body 3 has a sharp or pointed end 4 remote from the head 2. An aperture 2a proceeds through the head 2 at an acute angle with respect to 30 the elongate body. As shown in figure 1, when the anchor 1 is in use it can be hammered into the ground 5 through a bracket 6 until the head 2 touches the bracket. A pointed peg 7 is then hammered into the ground through the aperture 2a. The aperture 2a is only marginally wider than the peg 7 and so the peg is WO 2008/041864 PCT/NZ2007/000244 4 caused to substantially follow or align with the acute angle of the aperture and remain in that disposition. In this way the bracket 6 is firmly anchored. As will be appreciated, a force seeking to remove the bracket from its figure 1 5 position must contend with the mass of soil above the angled peg. If a pulling force is aligned with the angle of the peg 7 to more easily move that peg then it will not be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate body 3 and will thus have to contend with the mass of soil to the right of the anchor 1, and vice versa. However, when desired one can deliberately remove the peg 7 by pulling it in the 10 direction of the acute angle, and then remove the ground anchor 1 directly by pulling it directly upwards as a second step, in each case by hand alone or optionally with the aid of a hammer, crow bar or other suitable tool. Figures 2, 3 and 4 show various detail of the upper part of the anchor 1, the 15 anchor 1 plus the peg 7 and bracket 6, and the anchor 1 and peg 7, respectively. In particular, figure 3 illustrates the peg 7 just before it enters the acutely angled aperture. Figure 5 shows, step by step, an anchor 8 according to a further embodiment of 20 the invention in use with a tent peg 9. The anchor 8 is first hammered into the ground 10 until its generally plate like head 11 is only slightly above ground level. A tent guy rope 12 is then secured (eg looped) onto a down turned extension (eg a tail) 13 of the head as shown at 14. The peg 9 is then hammered through the acutely angled aperture 15 of the head 11 and into the ground. The sturdy walls 25 of the aperture 15 guide the peg 9 to assume and maintain the same acute angle as the aperture and, as shown at 16, the angled upper end 17 of the peg stops the peg passing completely through the aperture. When one wishes to collapse the tent (not shown) the peg 9 is first removed, the rope 12 released from the anchor 8, and the anchor then pulled from the ground, optionally with the use of 30 the hook 18 of a hammer. Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the anchor 19 where its head 20 comprises a bent over upper part 21 of substantially the same width or transverse cross sectional area as the anchor's elongate body 23. As shown, a peg 24 WO 2008/041864 PCT/NZ2007/000244 5 proceeds through an acutely angled aperture in a similar manner to that described above. Anchors according to the invention are preferably formed from a suitable sturdy 5 metallic substance such as stainless steel, although they may be manufactured from non-metallic substances if desired, for example from suitable plastics materials. Whatever material an anchor according to the invention is formed from it should be sufficient to withstand the sorts of forces corresponding to the use it is put to. 10 Figure 7 illustrates an anchor of the type shown in figure 5 together with the associated peg in more detail. Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the anchor which is substantially the same as the figure 7 version in terms of functional aspects but has a different shape and configuration. The thicker figure 15 8 embodiment can, for example, be more suitable in situations where the anchor and/or peg are manufactured from plastics materials. The wider profile of the figure 8 embodiment may give better anchorage than the narrower figure 7 embodiment in some soft ground applications. 20 In some embodiments of the invention ground anchors the same or similar to those described above can be used in other than soil environments, for example in sand, ice, snow or rock. In certain embodiments the anchor and/or the peg may incorporate a locking facility so that these can be locked together to avoid or reduce the likelihood of undesired removal, for example theft, once they have 25 been driven into the ground. A locking facility can be used beneficially in, for example, the context of mooring a watercraft so that the craft cannot be easily stolen. The invention has been described above with domed, plate like, and bent over 30 rod head portions. It should be appreciated that other types of head can be used, for example an eyelet or simply a' portion of shaft integral with the main body portion.

WO 2008/041864 PCT/NZ2007/000244 6 While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims. 5 10 15 20 25 30

Claims

1. A method of anchoring a ground peg, comprising the steps of: i) obtaining a ground anchor, the anchor having an elongate body 5 portion and a head portion, the head portion having an aperture proceeding therethrough at an angle with respect to the body portion, ii) driving the anchor into a ground surface, and iii) driving a peg through the anchor via the aperture such that the 10 peg is directed by the aperture to substantially align with the angle of the aperture.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the aperture is acute with respect to the body portion. 15

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body portion has a pointed portion at an end of the anchor remote from the head portion.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the peg is a tent peg. 20

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head portion is substantially wider than the body portion and is suitable for being struck with a hammer with a level of force within a range normal when hammering tent pegs into the ground without damage to the anchor. 25

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head portion has an extension spaced from but substantially aligned with the body portion, the extension being suitable for receiving a rope. 30

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the extension is elongate and is substantially parallel to the body portion.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a rope is secured to the extension. WO 2008/041864 PCT/NZ2007/000244 8

9. A method according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the extension contacts the ground surface and the rope is trapped between the extension and the ground surface. 5

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anchor is releasably locked to the peg by locking means forming part of the anchor and/or peg. 10

11. A ground anchor having an elongate body portion and a head portion, the head portion having an aperture proceeding therethrough at an acute angle with respect to the body portion, the anchor formed such that it is suitable for use in a method according to claim 1. 15

12. A ground anchor according to claim 11, wherein the body portion has a pointed portion at an end of the anchor remote from the head portion.

13. A ground anchor according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the head portion is substantially wider than the body portion and is suitable for being struck with a 20 hammer with a level of force within a range normal when hammering tent pegs into the ground without damage to the anchor.

14. A ground anchor according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the head portion has an extension spaced from but substantially aligned with the body 25 portion, the extension being suitable for receiving a rope.

15. A ground anchor according to claim 14, wherein the extension is elongate and is substantially parallel to the body portion. 30

16. A ground anchor according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the anchor is provided with or is otherwise in combination with a ground peg. WO 2008/041864 PCT/NZ2007/000244 9

17. A ground anchor according to claim 16, wherein the peg is in and supported by the aperture and is at an acute angle with respect to the body portion. 5

18. A ground anchor according to any one of claims 11 to 17, having locking means which enables the anchor to be releasably locked with respect to a ground peg to prevent or reduce the likelihood of undesired removal of these.

19. A method according to claim 1 substantially as herein described. 10

20.. A ground anchor according to claim 11 substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompany drawings.