GB2415970A

GB2415970A - Memorial anchor assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2415970A
Application number: GB0513636A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Hill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-03
Filing date: 2005-07-04
Publication date: 2006-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-04
Also published as: GB2415970B; GB0414994D0; GB0513636D0

Abstract

An anchor assembly for a memorial 8 comprises an anchor 20 engageable in vertical opening 14 in a base member 4 for engagement in the ground, and a locking member 30 for locking the anchor 20 to the base 6 of memorial 8. Locking member 30 is a J-shaped pin whose longer arm 32 engages in one of a plurality of bores 22,24,26 in anchor 20 and whose shorter arm 34 is engageable in recess 19 by sliding in direction A so as to lock base 6 and memorial 8 to anchor 20; reverse movement frees the base 6 for removal from the anchor 20.

Description

24 1 5970 Memorial Anchor Assembly The present invention relates to an

improved anchor assembly. The invention has particular application in the field of mounting a memorial to the ground.

Once in position, it is important that a memorial such as a gravestone remains in position. Apart from any damage that may be caused to the memorial, since memorials are typically manufactured from heavy stone, such as granite, there is a danger to those in the vicinity of falling memorials. Memorials may be caused to topple either through natural forces such as gusting wind or due to subsidence or other causes such as vandalism. Thus there is a requirement that a memorial may be securely fixed in position.

However, it is also a requirement that memorials be removable for example for maintenance or further inscription.

Moreover, it is desirable that an indication is provided of the manner by which a memorial is secured.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided An anchor assembly for a memorial comprises: a first elongate anchor member engageable in a generally vertical opening in a base member of the memorial for engagement in the ground; and a locking member for locking said anchor member to said base member; wherein said locking member has first and second portions; said anchor member has a plurality of cooperating areas for engagement with said first portion of said locking member; and said locking member is movable between a first position wherein said first portion engages said anchor member and said second portion engages said base member thereby to prevent movement of said base member and said memorial relative to said anchor member, and a second position free of said base member thereby to allow removal of said base member and said memorial from said anchor member. - 2

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided A memorial assembly comprising: an anchor assembly as defined in the immediately preceding paragraph; and a foundation member having a generally vertical through opening for receiving the anchor member; and wherein said base member has a recess (19) for engagement of said locking member when in said first position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided A method of mounting a memorial assembly comprises the steps of: providing a foundation member in the ground, the foundation member having a vertical through opening and a groove disposed in an upper surface thereof, and a base member having a first vertical through opening and a blind bore in a rear face thereof; arranging the base member on the foundation member such that the through openings share a common axis; providing a first elongate anchor member having one or more cooperating areas; inserting the anchor member through the vertical through openings along the common axis into the ground; providing a connecting pin having a first longer arm and a second shorter arm; and arranging the connecting pin so that the first longer arm engages said cooperating areas in said anchor member and the second shorter arm resides in the blind bore in the rear face of the base member.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a memorial assembly incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing a memorial assembly incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention. - 3

Figure 1 shows in side section a memorial assembly 2 incorporating a foundation member 4, a base member 6 and an upstanding memorial member 8 securely mounted to the base member 6. The foundation member 4 may be secured to the base member 6 by any suitable means, for example by a cement layer (not shown). The memorial member 8 may comprise an upstanding headstone or inscription member.

An upper surface of the foundation member 4 is, in use, flush with the surrounding ground 10.

The foundation member 4 is provided with a generally vertical through bore or opening 14. The foundation member 4 is further provided on an upper surface with a groove 18. Although the groove 18 is illustrated as being in the foundation member 4, it could equally be formed in the base member 6. The groove 18 may be formed in any convenient manner, for example by moulding or otherwise.

Conveniently, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the groove 18 extends across a diameter of the through opening 14.

The base member 6 is also provided with a generally vertical bore or opening 16 which may extend fully or part way through the base member. In the illustrated embodiment the opening 16 is a through opening extending through the base member 6. When the base member 6 is in position on the foundation member 4, the through opening 14 of the foundation member 14 and the through opening 16 of the base member 6 share a common axis. 25,

The base member 6 is further provided with a recess in the form of a generally horizontal blind bore 19 extending from the rear edge of the base member 6.

This provides a shoulder 50.

3() An anchor assembly has an anchor member in the form of an elongate member 20. Conveniently the elongate member 20 is circular in section and of a suitable - 4 diameter to pass through the through openings 14, 16 in the foundation member 4 and base member 6, preferably being a loose fit.

Towards one end of the elongate member 20 the elongate member is provided S with a through bore 22 across a diameter of the member. Additional through bores 24, 26 may also be provided along a central axis of the elongate member 20.

The anchor assembly also includes a locking member which here is in the form of a generally "J" shaped connecting pin 30. The pin 30 has a first portion formed by the longer arm 32 of the pin and a second portion formed by the shorter arm 34 of the pin, these being connected by a central connecting web 36.

Conveniently, an opening may be created in the ground 10 sharing the common axis of the base and foundation member through openings 14,16 to receive the elongate member 20.

The elongate member 20 is inserted through the vertical through openings 14,16 along the common axis into the ground 10, such that one of the through bores 22,24,26 of the elongate member 20 is aligned with the groove 18 (in the illustrated embodiment through bore 24). The different locations of the through bores 22,24,26 along the central axis of the elongate member 20 enable the elongate member 20 to be used with a variety of thicknesses of base and foundation members 4, 6.

Conveniently an upper end surface of the elongate member 20 is provided with a groove or channel 28 formed in the upper end surface and aligned with the through bores 22, 24, 26. This enables a user looking down on the end surface readily to see when the through bores 22, 24, 26 are in a correct alignment with the groove. Further the channel 28 may be engaged by a suitable tool to enable alteration or adjustment of the angular location of the through bores 22,24,26 of the elongate member 20 as may be required. - 5

The longer arm 32 of the locking pin 30 is located in the groove 18 in the foundation member 4 and passed through the through bore 22 of the elongate member 20 in line with the groove 18 and the second shorter arm 34 is at the same time engaged over the should 50 and passed into the blind bore 19 in the rear face of the base member 6 (as shown by the arrow A in Figure 1). In the final position, the central connecting web 36 sits flush with the rear face of the base member 6.

In use, the foundation 4, base 6 and memorial 8 are all secured to one another by suitable means. The anchor 20 is dropped through the throughopenings 16 and 14 through the base 6 and foundation 4 and driven into the ground. The locking pin 30 is then moved from its unlocked position, in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1 into the locking position so that the longer arm 32 engages through one of the through openings 23 in the anchor member 20. At the same time, the shorter arm 34 of the locking pin engages over the should 50 into the bore 19.

The anchor assembly anchors the memorial, base and foundation and because the anchor member 20 is driven into the ground, it will resist any attempt to tip or topple the memorial.

The central connecting web 36 acts as a discreet marker, i.e. provides a visual indication, that the anchoring system according to the present invention is in use.

The connecting web 36 can conveniently carry a cap or marker with an emblem or indicia. The connecting pin 30 will not readily permit of tampering, but can be removed by the use of a suitable tool should the memorial require maintenance necessitating removal of the base member 6 and memorial member 8.

Referring now to Figure 2, this shows a further form of anchor assembly in which the assembly includes a tube 52 which extends from the groove 18 through the through opening in the foundation member 4 into the ground. The tube can be a - 6 press-fit in the through opening 14 or a lose fit. The tube assists in location of the anchor member 20 and can be provided where the ground is particularly firm.

Although the tube 52 is shown as extending into the found member 40 it can, of course, extend from the lower end of the through opening 14.

In an alternative construction, the connecting pin 30 may be located in the groove 18 prior to location of the base member 6 on the foundation member 4.

The memorial 8 may be secured to the base member 6 by any suitable means, for example by dowels. - 7

Claims

Claims 1 An anchor assembly for a memorial comprises: a first elongate

anchor member (20) engageable in a generally vertical opening (16) in a base member (6) of the memorial for engagement in the ground; and a locking member (30) for locking said anchor member (20) to said base member (6); wherein said locking member (30) has first and second portions (32, 34); said anchor member has a plurality of cooperating areas (24, 26, 28) for engagement with said first portion (32) of said locking member; and said locking member is movable between a first position wherein said first portion (32) engages said anchor member and said second portion (34) engages said base member thereby to prevent movement of said base member and said memorial relative to said anchor member, and a second position free of said base member thereby to allow removal of said base member and said memorial from said anchor member.
2 An anchor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking member (30) has first and second arms serving as said first and second portions.
3 An anchor assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking member (30) is a generally "J" shaped locking pin, the longer arm forms said first portion and the shorter arm fornis said second portion.
4 An anchor assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second arms extend generally parallel with one another.
5 An anchor assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said bore (16) of said base member (6) is a through bore. - 8
6 An anchor assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said co operating areas of said anchor member are formed by through holes in said anchor member in which said first portion (32) of said locking member (30) is engageable.
7 An anchor assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein each of said co-operating areas comprises a recess means in the radially outer surface of said anchor member engageable by said first portion of said locking member in said first position.
8 An anchor assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said recess means is a peripheral groove in said locking member.
9 An anchor assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first portion of said locking member comprises a forked end portion and wherein the arms of said forked end portion engage in said peripheral groove when said locking member is in said first position.
An anchor assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims further comprising a tube (50) alienable with said through opening for receiving said anchor member.
11 A memorial assembly comprising: an anchor assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10; and a foundation'member (4) having a generally vertical through opening for receiving the anchor member; and wherein said base member has a recess (19) for engagement of said locking member when in said first position.
12 A memorial assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein said recess (19) provides a shoulder over which the second portion of said locking member engages when in said first position. - 9 -
13 A memorial assembly as claimed in claim 1 1, 12 or 13 wherein one of said foundation member and said base member has a groove for receiving said first portion of said locking member, said groove intersecting said opening in said base or foundation member.
14 A memorial assembly as claimed in claim 11, 12, 13 or 14 when appendent to claim 10 wherein said tube is aligned with said through openings and extends from said foundation.
A method of mounting a memorial assembly comprises the steps of: providing a foundation member in the ground, the foundation member having a vertical through opening and a groove disposed in an upper surface thereof, and a base member having a first vertical through opening and a blind bore in a rear face thereof; arranging the base member on the foundation member such that the through openings share a common axis; providing a first elongate anchor member having one or more cooperating areas; inserting the anchor member through the vertical through openings along the common axis into the ground; providing a connecting pin having a first longer arm and a second shorter arm; and arranging the connecting pin so that the first longer arm engages said cooperating areas in said anchor member and the second shorter arm resides in the blind bore in the rear face of the base member.
16 A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein: said one or more cooperating areas comprise through bores extending through the elongate member for engagement by said longer arm of said connecting pin.
17 A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein: - 10 said one or more cooperating areas comprise peripheral grooves in the elongate member for engagement by a said longer arm of said connecting pin, said longer arm being bifurcated.
18 An anchor assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
19 A memorial assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
20 A method of mounting a memorial assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.