GB2524557A

GB2524557A - Improved tool and tent peg combinaition and method of use

Info

Publication number: GB2524557A
Application number: GB1405505.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George R Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-27
Filing date: 2014-03-27
Publication date: 2015-09-30
Also published as: GB201405505D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a tool 2 and tent peg 20 for the insertion and extraction of a tent peg 20 into the ground, where the tool and tent peg have means to allow them to be attached and detached from each other. Preferably tool 2 has a handle 14, and a bayonet fixing (Fig 3) located at a lower end of the tool; and the tent peg has a cross pin element 22 for engagement within the bayonet fixing of the tool, and a metal collar 26. In use, when a tent peg 20 is to be inserted in the ground, the cross pin element 22 of the tent peg 20 is attached to the bayonet fixing of the tool 2 and the tent peg is secured in the ground by hammering on an upper end portion of the tool 7. To extract a tent peg 20 from the ground, the tool 2 and tent peg 20 are attached together, whereupon the pulling of the handle 14 extracts the tent peg 20 from the ground. The tool and tent allows the insertion and extraction of a tent peg without the need for the user to kneel or bend.

Description

IMPROVED TOOL AND TENT PEG COMBINATION AND METHOD OF USE

This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to a tool and tent peg combination and a method of use thereof and, particularly, the invention relates to a method of inserting a tent peg into the ground and extracting the peg after use.

By tent peg where used herein, it is meant a conventional tent peg, ground anchor or the like elements, for securing the guy ropes and stays of a tent, marquee, canopy and the like covers of flexible materials normally associated with camping, hospitality tents for conferences, weddings, celebrations, entertainment and temporary accommodation.

The problems met in putting a tent peg into the ground and withdrawing the peg after use is a chore that is readily accomplished by a fit person; however, if a person is incapacitated in any way, for example they cannot bend down to a level at which it is normal to insert or withdraw a tent peg from the ground, they have to rely on the help of others. This is embarrassing and somewhat humiliating for otherwise proud and independent personages.

There have been many proposals to make the insertion and withdrawal of tent pegs; however, such proposals often leave something to be desired for the most advantageous usage by incapacitated persons.

Examples of prior arrangements include: a) French Patent Specification FR233341 1 that discloses a tool for hammering a tent peg into the ground and withdrawing it after usage using a claw hammer feature of the tool. Such an arrangement does not offer any useful help for an impaired person who cannot bend or kneel down.

b) US4 198719 discloses a tent peg mallet with provision for hammering a tent peg into the ground and a tab for prising the tent peg out of the ground after use. Once again, such an arrangement is not useful for an impaired person.

c) Australian Specification No. AU-A-85497/82 discloses a tool comprising a head member for hammering a tent peg into the ground and a hook element for aiding the withdrawal of the peg after use; however, there is no way of placing the tent peg on the ground before hammering it home other than bending down to do so.

d) Canadian Specification No. CA2537376 discloses a tool for hammering a tent peg into the ground and withdrawal after use, but, once again, the arrangement does not provide an easy option for the impaired person insofar that use of the tool is carried out when bending or kneeling down.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved insertion and extraction tool and tent peg combination for use by impaired persons when setting up tents, canopies and the like structures that are secured by the use of tent pegs, ground anchors or the like elements as hereinbefore defined.

The disadvantages of the prior art arrangements are overcome, or at least mitigated by the present invention, which provides an insertion and extraction too land tent peg combination for temporarily attaching a tent peg at a lower end portion thereof so that insertion of the tent peg may be carried out by hammering an upper end of the tool until the tent peg is secured in the ground whereupon the tool is detached from the tent peg. Extraction of a tent peg is carried out by: a) re-attaching the tool to the tent peg; and, b) pulling on a handle of the tool to remove the peg from the ground.

Conveniently, the present invention provides a method and a tool and tent peg combination for the insertion and extraction from the ground of a tent peg as set out in the Claims appended hereto.

There now follows, by way of example, a detailed description of the invention, which description is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of the insertion and extraction tool and tent peg combination provided by the invention; Figure 2 is an illustration of a tent peg provided by the present invention; and, Figure 3 shows an enlarged section view of a lower end of the tool with a tent peg attached thereto and shown in chain dotted lines.

The insertion and extraction tool 2 provided by the present invention, see Figures 1 and 3, comprises a metal tube 4 provided with a metal plug 6 inserted at an upper end 8 thereof and an attachment metal plug 10 inserted at a lower end 12 of the metal tube 4.

A handle 14 is provided towards the upper end of the tool 2 for a reason to be described hereinafter.

The present invention also provides a novel tent peg 20, see Figure 2, which comprises a cross pin element 22 at an upper end portion 24 thereof in order to facilitate the attachment of the peg 20 within the attachment metal plug 10 of the tool 2 as described hereinafter.

The peg 20 also comprises a thin metal collar 26 located on the peg 20 below the level of the element 22, the collar 26 providing location for guy ropes or stays attached to a tent, not shown.

In use the metal plug 10, see Figure 3, is configured to receive the upper end portion 24 of the peg 20, which portion 24 is effectively the same as a bayonet cap' that fits within an L' shaped slot 30 of the plug 10. The upper end portion 24 of the tent peg is indicated in chain dotted line in Figure 3.

When a tent peg 20 is to be secured in the ground it is temporarily attached to the tool 2 by inserting the upper end portion 24 of the peg 20 into the metal pluglO so that the cross pin element 22 is received in a vertical section 32 of the L' shaped slot 30. The user then rotates the tool 2 so that the peg 20 is located in locking relationship within a horizontal section 34 of the L' shaped slot 30 as shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 3.

The tool 2 with the attached peg 20 is then positioned with a lower end 36 of the peg in contact with the ground, not shown, whereupon the peg 20 is secured in the ground by hammering against an upper surface 7 of the metal plug 6.

When the peg 20 is secured in the ground to the satisfaction of a user, they grip the handle 14 and rotate the tool 2 so that the cross pin element 22 is aligned with the vertical section 32 of the L' shaped slot 30 so that the tool 2 may be readily lifted clear of the peg 20.

The guy ropes or stays of the tent, or other covering as hereinbefore described, are now secured about the tent pegs 20 to lie below their respective collars 26.

Alternatively, the guy ropes or stays may be attached to the tent pegs 20 before putting the pegs 20 in the ground; to this end, the guy ropes or stays, not shown, are provided with loops that are arranged to lie below the collars 26 of their respective pegs 20.

When it is desired to withdraw the pegs 20 from the ground when de-tenting, the tool 2 is offered up to an upper end 18 of a peg 20 so that the cross pin element 22 engages in the vertical portion 32 of the L' shaped slot 30. The user rotates the tool 2 until the element 22 is located within the horizontal section 34 of the L' shaped slot 30.

The user then grips the handle 14 of the tool 2 and pulls the peg 20 out of the ground, which peg is detached from the tool 2 by rotating the tool 2 with respect to the peg 20 so that the cross pin element 22 is once more aligned with the vertical section of the L' shaped slot 30 thereby facilitating the separation of the tool 2 from the peg 20.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the present invention provides a novel tool 2 and peg 20 combination that may be advantageously used by those who's incapacitation prevents them bending over and/or kneeling down the fix a tent peg or ground anchor in the ground for the attachment of guy ropes and stays.

Whereas, the tool 2 and tent peg combination lend themselves to advantageous usage by those who may be incapacitated in any way, the tool and pegs may be used to advantage by any other persons, who do not have the same afflictions.

Modifications to the tool 2 and peg 20 combinations may be made within the scope of the Claims appended hereto, for example, the attachment and detachment of the tool 2 from the tent peg 20 may be by a pin that is accommodated within aligned holes of the tool 2 and the tent peg 20.

Other modifications to the present invention are envisaged with the scope of the Claims appended hereto.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A tool and tent peg combination for use in inserting a tent peg into a surface, the tool comprising means, when the tool is use, for inserting and extracting a tent peg, as hereinbefore defined, into and from said surface, the tool comprising means for attachment and detachment from the tent peg.
2. A tool and tent peg combination according to Claim 1, characterised in that the means for attachment and detachment of a tent peg from the tool comprises a bayonet fixing arrangement located at a lower end portion of the tool.
3. A tool and tent peg combination according to Claim 2, characterised in that the bayonet fixing arrangement is formed in a plug element provided at a lower end portion of the tool.
4. A tool and tent peg combination according to according to Claim 3, characterised in that the tool comprises a metal tube wherein the plug element is inserted in a lower end portion of the metal tube.
5. A tool and tent peg combination according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the tool is provided with a handle towards an upper end thereof for facilitating the extraction of a tent peg from a surface.
6. A tool and tent peg combination according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the means for attaching and detaching the tent peg from the tool comprises a cross pin element, provided at an upper end portion of the tent peg, for location in the bayonet fixing arrangement located at the lower end portion of the tool.L
7. A tool and tent peg combination according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the tent peg comprises a collar located on the tent peg for use in securing guys or stays when the tent peg is in use.
8. A tool and tent peg combination according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the tool is provided with a metal plug inserted in an upper end portion thereof, which metal plug provides a strike surface for hammering a tent peg that is attached to the tool into a surface where it is to be secured.
9. A method of inserting a tent peg into a surface using the tool and tent peg combination of Claims I to 8, the method comprising the steps of: (i) attaching a tent peg to the tool by placing an upper end portion of the tent peg into the metal plug so that the cross pin element thereof engages within the vertical section of the L' shaped slot; (ii) rotating the peg within the tool so that the cross pin element enters a horizontal section of the L' shaped slot; (iii) positioning the tool and tent peg combination with a lower end of the peg, in contact with ground and hammering on the upper end of the tool to secure the peg therein whereupon the tool is removed from contact with the tent peg by reversing the procedure of steps (ii) and (i) above.
10. A method of extracting a tent peg from a surface comprising the steps of: (i) attaching the tool to the tent peg by placing a lower end of the tool overlying an upper end portion of the tent peg to allow the cross pin element of the tent peg to engage in the vertical section of the L' shaped slot; (ii) rotating the tool until the cross pin element of the tent peg is located in the horizontal section of the L' shaped slot; and, (iii) gripping the handle of the tool and pulling to extract the tent peg from the ground.
11. A tool and tent peg combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.