Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
GROUND ANCHOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a ground anchor.
More
specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a ground
anchor for
soccer goals and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ground anchors are well known and are used for a variety
of
purposes from securing posts, sports equipment, soccer goals and a variety of
other
structures.
[0003] Conventional ground anchors are not convenient for
certain
structures such as soccer goals, for example U-bolts on the base of a soccer
goal do
not provide sufficient force, whereas, J-bolts, eye-bolts and other like
anchor rods
are dangerous since they protrude from the field when not in use.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a ground
anchor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
there is
provided a ground anchor for anchoring a structure positioned on the ground,
the
ground anchor comprising: a base member for being fitted in a hole within the
ground and fixedly secured to the ground against removal thereof; a movable
anchoring member mounted to the base member and being movable between a non-
anchoring position and an anchoring position; and a holding member mountable
to
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the movable anchoring member when in the anchoring position and to the
structure
positioned on the ground; wherein when the base member is fixedly secured to
the
ground, and the movable anchoring member is in the anchoring position with the
holding member mounted thereto and to the structure, the ground anchor anchors
the structure to the ground.
[0006] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
there is
provided a ground anchor kit for anchoring a structure positioned on the
ground, the
ground anchor kit comprising: a plurality of ground anchors, each ground
anchor
comprising: a base member for being fitted in a hole within the ground and
fixedly
secured to the ground against removal thereof; a movable anchoring member
mounted to the base member and being movable between a non-anchoring position
and an anchoring position; and a holding member mountable to the movable
anchoring member when in the anchoring position and to the structure
positioned on
the ground; wherein when each ground anchor is assembled and fixedly secured
into
to the ground, and the movable anchoring members are in the anchoring position
with the holding members mounted thereto and to the structure, the ground
anchors
anchor the structure to the ground.
[0007] In an embodiment, the base member comprises a top part
that is
generally flush with the ground when the base member is fitted therein.
[0008] In an embodiment, the base member top part comprises an
opening for the movable anchoring member.
[0009] In an embodiment, the movable anchoring member comprises
a
top part thereof that is generally flush with the base member top part when in
the
non-anchoring position. In an embodiment, the base member top part and the
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anchoring member top part provide respective top surfaces that are in close
proximity. In an embodiment, at least one of these respective top surfaces is
camouflaged so as to seem similar to the surrounding ground surface. In an
embodiment, at least one of these respective top surfaces comprises a material
selected from the group consisting of shock absorbent material, non-skid
material,
anti-slip material or any combination thereof.
[0010] In an embodiment, the movable anchoring member is movable
about the opening so as to be moved out of the opening when in the anchoring
position. In an embodiment, the movable anchoring member comprises a stopper
so
as to be prevented from being removed from the base member when moved towards
the anchoring position. In an embodiment, the movable anchoring member
comprises an elongate body, the stopper being positioned near the bottom end
of
the elongate body. In an embodiment, the movable anchoring member comprises
an elongate body, the stopper being positioned at the bottom end of the
elongate
body. In an embodiment, the stopper comprises a disc member that is larger
than
the base member top part opening.
[0011] In an embodiment, the base member top part comprises a
top
surface providing recesses that border the opening.
[0012] In an embodiment, the base member comprises a bottom end
thereof comprising draining apertures.
[0013] In an embodiment, the base member comprises a cylindrical
configuration.
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[0014]
In an embodiment, the base member comprises a bottom casing
and a removable top casing cover. In an embodiment, the top casing cover is
fastened to the bottom casing via fasteners. In an embodiment, the top casing
cover
comprises a hole providing a space for the movable anchoring member. In an
embodiment, the hole is centrally located in the top casing cover. In an
embodiment,
the movable anchoring member is positioned in the bottom casing when in the
non-
anchoring position. In an embodiment, the top surface of the movable anchoring
member is flush with the top surface of the casing cover when in the non-
anchoring
position. In an embodiment, the bottom end of the movable anchoring member
rests
on the bottom end of the bottom casing when in the non-anchoring position.
[0015]
In an embodiment, the movable anchoring member comprises a
generally cylindrical configuration.
[0016]
In an embodiment, the movable anchoring member comprises an
elongate body having a top surface and a bottom end thereof. In an embodiment,
the elongate body is positioned within the base member when in the non-
anchoring
position. In an embodiment, at least a portion of this elongate body is
positioned
outwardly of the base member when in the anchoring position. In an embodiment,
this at least a portion of the elongate body is visually distinguishable so as
to be
visually detectable when positioned outwardly of the base member.
In an
embodiment, this at least a portion of the elongate body comprises a mounting
element for mounting the holding member thereto. In an embodiment, this
mounting
element comprises a hole. In an embodiment, the holding member is a cable. In
an
embodiment, the elongate body comprises a stopper so as to be prevented from
being removed from the base member when moved outwardly thereof.
[0017]
In an embodiment, the holding member comprises a locking
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element. In an embodiment, the holding member comprises a cable and this cable
is
securely mounted to the structure via a lock.
[0018] In an embodiment, the ground anchor further comprises a
ground
securing assembly mountable to the base member for fixedly securing the base
5 member to the ground against removal thereof. In an embodiment, the
ground
securing assembly comprises a ground embedding structure mountable to the base
member and for being embedded into the ground. In an embodiment, the ground
embedding structure comprises pin members. In an embodiment, the base member
comprises guiding structures for receiving the pin members providing the pin
members to protrude via the bottom of the base member so as to be embedded
into
the ground. In an embodiment, the guiding structures are formed along the
internal
wall of the base member. In an embodiment, the pin members are fastened to the
guiding structures via fasteners. In an embodiment, the pin members are
configured
to be embedded into a pile driven into the ground. In an embodiment, the
ground
securing assembly comprises a support embedded into the ground and fasteners
for
fastening the base member to the support. In an embodiment, the support
comprises a pile.
[0019] Other aspects, objects, advantages and features of the
present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive
description of non-limiting illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of
example
only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] In the appended drawings:
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[0021] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ground anchor of
the present
invention in accordance with a non-limiting illustrative embodiment thereof;
[0022] Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the ground
anchor of
Figure 1;
[0023] Figure 3 is perspective view of the casing cover of the present
invention in accordance with a non-limiting illustrative embodiment thereof;
[0024] Figure 4 is perspective view of the anchoring member of
the
present invention in accordance with a non-limiting illustrative embodiment
thereof;
[0025] Figure 5 is perspective view of the anchoring member
stopper of
the present invention in accordance with a non-limiting illustrative
embodiment
thereof;
[0026] Figure 6 is perspective view of the casing of the present
invention
in accordance with a non-limiting illustrative embodiment thereof;
[0027] Figure 7 is a perspective partially assembled view of the
ground
anchor of Figure 1;
[0028] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the ground anchor of
the present
invention in accordance with another non-limiting illustrative embodiment
thereof, the
movable anchoring member being shown in the non-anchoring position;
[0029] Figure 9 is the perspective view of Figure 8 with the
movable
anchoring member being shown in the anchoring position;
[0030] Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the ground
anchor of
Figure 8;
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[0031] Figure 11 is another exploded perspective view of the
ground
anchor of Figure 8;
[0032] Figure 12 is a sectional view of the ground anchor of
Figure 8 fitted
within the ground; and
[0033] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the ground anchor of Figure 8
in
operation being fitted within the ground and anchoring a structure such as a
soccer
goal.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0034] With reference to the appended drawings, illustrative
embodiments
of the present will be described herein so as to exemplify the invention only
and by no
means to limit the scope thereof.
[0035] Figure 1 shows the ground anchor 10 including a base
member 11
having a bottom casing 12 as well as top casing cover 14. The top casing cover
14
includes an opening in the form of central hole 16 providing a space for a
movable
anchoring member 18 that receives a holding member 20. The holding member can
be a locking element such as cable member 20 for mounting on a structure (not
shown in this Figure) that is to be anchored. In one non-limiting example, the
cable
member 20 can be made of strands of steel that are enveloped by vinyl. The
cable
member 20 can also include loops at its free ends (not shown in this Figure),
which
can be secured together via a padlock for example.
[0036] With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, the casing
cover 14
includes a pair of apertures 22 and 24 for receiving fasteners 26a and 26b
(the
function and structure of which will be described herein). A pair of recesses
28 and
are formed in the casing cover 14 and border the central hole 16. In one non-
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limiting example, the top surface 32 of the casing cover 14 can include a
shock
absorbent non-skid or anti-slip material.
[0037] With reference to Figures 2 and 4, the anchoring member
18
includes a lateral hole 34 for receiving the cable 20 (as shown in Figure 1)
therethrough. In a non-limiting example, the top surface 36 of the anchoring
member
18 can be made of shock absorbent non-skid or anti-slip material similar to
that of
the top face 32 of the casing cover 14. In fact and as will be explained
herein, when
the anchoring member 18 is inserted with in casing 12, its top surface 36 is
flush with
the top surface 32 of the casing cover 14. Furthermore, the upper portion 38
of the
anchoring member 18 can be made of a material similar to that of the casing
cover
14. Moreover, the lower portion 40 and the top portion 38 can be visually
distinguishable, by way of different colors for example, so that when the
anchoring
member 18 protrudes through hole 16 (as will be explained herein) it will be
visually
detectable.
[0038] With reference to Figures 2 and 5, there is shown a stopper 42
including a circular plate stopping member 44 having a U-shaped top structure
45 on
the upper face 46 thereof. The U-shaped top structure 45 is to be inserted
within the
open bottom end 48 (see also Figure 4) of the anchoring member 18 as is shown
is
Figure 7. The plate member 44 is welded to the anchoring member 18 and has a
surface that is larger than hole 16 of the casing cover 14, thereby preventing
the
removal of the anchoring member 18 from the hole 16 as will be further
described
herein.
[0039] In another embodiment, the anchoring member 18 and the
stopper
42 form a single integral piece.
[0040] Referring to Figures 2, 6 and 7, the casing 12 includes an open
top end 48 as well as a bottom end 50 defined by a floor having a plurality of
draining
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apertures 52. The bottom end 50 also includes positioning elements 54 in the
form
of circular short wall sections for positioning the stopper 42 within the
space 55
defined therebetween. The casing 12 also includes a pair of tubular guiding
structures 56a and 56b that are formed along the internal wall 58 thereof. The
guiding structures 56a and 56b are generally symmetrically disposed and
include
respective internally threaded bores 60a and 60b for respectively and
complementarily receiving a ground-embedding structure, in this non-limiting
example being a pair of leveling pins 62a and 62b (see Figures 1 and 7).
Furthermore, the casing 12 also includes a pair of auxiliary tubular
structures 64a
and 64b, which are generally symmetrically disposed along inner wall 58 and
include
respective bores 66a and 66b.
[0041] When installing the ground anchor 10, the user first digs
a hole into
the ground that is sufficient to fit the casing 12 therein. The hole is deep
enough to
provide for the top surface 32 of the cover 14 to lie flush with the ground
surrounding
the hole, thereby providing for a substantially contiguous surface. The
leveling pin
members 64 are threadedly inserted into the tubular guide structures 56a and
56b
from the rear side 68 (see Figure 2) of the casing 12. A washer 70 and nut 72
assembly are mounted to each pin member 62a and 62b so as to fix the pin
members 62a and 62b at a desired level within their respective guide
structures 56a
and 56b. The washer 70 and nut 72 assembly can be inserted from the inside (at
the bottom end 50) of the casing 12 or from the rear side 68.
[0042] The bottom ends 74 of the pin members 62a and 62b are
embedded within a ground surface such as concrete by a variety of ways known
in
the art. In a non-limiting example, a polypropylene bag or layer of material
can be
placed in the hole of the ground so as to surround the casing 12 when inserted
therein.
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[0043] As the casing 12 is inserted into the hole, the guide
structures 56a
and 56b are respectively guided along pin members 62a and 62b. Once the casing
12 is installed, the anchoring member 18 is then positioned within the casing
12.
More specifically, the plate member 44 of the stopper 42 is positioned within
space
5 55; in this way, the locating elements 54 secure the anchoring member 18
in
position. The cover 14 is then mounted on the casing 12 by respectively
aligning
apertures 22 and 24 with the bores 60a and 60b. Fasteners 26a and 26b are then
respectively inserted into openings 22 and 24 to be mounted onto the upper
ends 76
(see Figure 2) of the pin members 62a and 62b.
10 [0044] Referring to Figure 7 the fasteners 26a and 26b are
barrel nut
fasteners having a triangular head 80 and a support collar 82 as well as a
connecting
section 84. The connecting section 84 is fitted within the bores 60a and 60b
of each
guide structure 56a and 56b and mounted onto the top end 76 (see Figure 2) of
a
respective pin members 62a or 62b. The head 80 is sunk within the apertures 22
and 24 thereby avoiding protrusion thereof beyond cover surface 32. In this
way, the
cover 14 is locked onto the casing 12 and when the anchoring member 18 is not
lifted, surfaces 32 and 36 are flush with the ground surrounding the dug hole.
The
fasteners 26a and 26b can be locked into position or unlocked to release the
cover
14 via a key member (not shown).
[0045] In operation, once the ground anchor 10 has been installed, the
user will pull the anchoring element 18 out of the central hole 16 until the
stopper 42
abuts the inner side 86 (see Figure 3) of the casing cover 14. The recesses 28
and
provide access for the fingers of a user to lift the anchoring member 18 from
its
top portion 38. The user can then place the cable 20 within the lateral hole
34 of the
25 anchoring member 18. The cable 20 is then looped around the structure
that is to be
anchored, such as a soccer goal for example. The loops at the free ends of the
cable 20 are locked together via a padlock for example. The anchoring element
18
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is released and may fall back into the casing 12 via the central hole 16; this
fall
though is arrested by the cable 20 which is attached to the structure that is
being
anchored. When a pressure is applied to the anchored structure, the cable 20
will
keep it fixed in its place since cable 20 is immobilized by the stopper 42
which abuts
the internal side of the cover 14 thus not allowing the anchoring member 18 to
be
disassociated from the casing 12. Furthermore, the cover 14 is locked onto the
casing 12 via fasteners 26a and 26b thereby, the cover 14 cannot be
disassociated
from the casing 12. Finally, the casing 12 itself is locked to the pin members
62a
and 62b, via the washer 70 and nut 72 assembly, with the pin members 62a and
62b being fixedly embedded in a in-ground surface such as concrete.
[0046] In the case of a conventional soccer goal, four such
ground
anchors 10, which constitute a kit, can be used with the cable 20 looped about
the
base of the soccer goal, with one ground anchor 10 mounted, via a cable 20, to
each
lateral side of the soccer goal base and two ground anchors 10 mounted to the
back
portion of the soccer goal base.
[0047] Of course, the present ground anchor can be used to
anchor a
variety of elements, sports equipment, park fixtures and the like as will be
readily
understood by a person having skill in the art.
[0048] In order to clean the ground anchor 10, the user must
unlock the
cable 20 from the anchored structure and remove it from the anchoring member
18.
The user then removes fasteners 26a and 26b, via the key member (not shown),
thereby allowing the removal of cover 14 from the casing 12. The anchoring
member 18 is then removed from the now opened casing 12. In turn, the casing
12 is
removed from the ground hole by respectively guiding the tubular structures
56a and
56b along the pin members 62a and 62b. The ground anchor 10 is then
reassembled as described above. Water within the casing 12 will flow out of
the
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drainage holes 52.
[0049] Having now described an illustrative embodiment of the
ground
anchor 10 in accordance with the present invention other non-limiting
alternative
embodiments and features thereof will now be discussed so as to further
exemplify
the invention only.
[0050] The casing 12 and cover 14 can be of any type of suitable
configuration, such as a cylinder, a rectangle and the like and can be
provided in a
variety of sizes. The ground anchor 10 can be made of a variety of suitable
materials. A variety of different types of bolts or locking mechanisms can be
used to
lock the cover 14 to the casing 12. A variety of ground securing assemblies
can be
provided within the scope of the present invention to secure the ground anchor
10 to
the ground. For example, the ground-embedding structure can be ground
anchoring
elements, such as the pin members 62a and 62b, described above and can be
provided in a number of configurations, designs, structures, materials and
sizes as
will be understood by the skilled artisan. For example, a greater number of
pin
members can be used. Pin members or extensions having jagged embedding ends
can also be provided. Drilling elements can also be useful within the context
of the
present invention. Various rods and embeddable structures can be contemplated
by
one having skill in the art, depending on the ground surface, as well as the
size,
weight and configuration of the structure being anchored, and the force
against
which the ground anchor 10 needs to act in order to prevent the anchored
structure
from moving.
[0051] In an embodiment, the top surfaces 32 and 36 of the cover
14 and
the anchoring member 18 respectively, will be camouflaged so as to emulate the
ground surface of a soccer field. Of course, other types of fields and surface
areas
can also be emulated.
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[0052] With references Figures 8 to 13 a ground anchor 100 in
accordance with another illustrative embodiment will now be described to still
further
exemplify the present invention. It should be noted that ground anchor 100
generally
resembles ground anchor 10 as such the following description will pay greater
attention to the differences between ground anchors 100 and 10 for concision
purposes only.
[0053] Figure 8 shows the ground anchor 100 including a base
member
102 and movable anchoring member 104 fitted therein. The base member 102
includes a bottom end 106 and a top end 108 defining a top surface 110. More
specifically, the base member 102 includes a bottom casing 112 and top casing
cover 114 having an opening 116, with adjacent recesses 128 and 130, for the
anchoring member 104. The anchoring member 104 is in the non-anchoring
position
as such its top surface 117 lies flush with top surface 110.
[0054] Figure 9 shows the movable anchoring member 104 in the
anchoring position. The movable anchoring member 104 includes a mounting
element in the form of lateral hole 134 for mounting a holding member 120
thereto.
As previously mentioned the holding member 120 can be a rope, cable or any
other
type of suitable member for holding a structure S as shown in Figure 13.
[0055] Turning to Figure 13, the ground anchor 100 is shown with
the
base member 102 fitted into the ground G so that its top surface 110 lies
flush
therewith. The movable anchoring member 104 is in the anchoring position and
the
cable 120 is mounted thereto and to the structure S, which in this example is
a
soccer goal. More specifically, the cable 120 is looped around the base B of
the
soccer goal S with its free ends, which include loops 121, being locked
together by a
lock 123.
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[0056] With reference to Figures 10, 11, and 12 the ground
anchor 100 is
assembled by first positioning the anchoring member 104 within the bottom
casing
112. The cover 114 is then mounted on the bottom casing 112 by aligning its
apertures 122 and 124 with the complementary bores 160a and 160b of the bottom
casing 122 and attaching the cover to the casing via fasteners 126a and 126b
as
shown in Figure 12.
[0057] As shown in Figure 12, the movable anchoring member 104
can be
longitudinally moved within the space 138 provided by the base member 102.
[0058] The movable anchoring member 104 is an elongated body
140,
having a top end 117 and a bottom end 142 that is in the form of an enlarged
disc.
As shown in Figure 12, the bottom end 142 is larger than opening 116 and
therefore
acts as a stopper against the underside 144 of the cover 114 preventing the
movable
anchoring member 104 from being removed from the base member 102 when
moved in the anchoring position.
[0059] With particular reference to Figures 10 and 11, the bottom end 106
of the base member 102 includes a draining aperture 146 as well as apertures
148
for a ground-securing assembly which includes pins 150 (see Figure 12).
[0060] Turning now to Figure 12, when installing the ground
anchor 100,
the user first digs a hole H into the ground G and then adds a cylindrical
guard or pot
152 is embedded into the hole H. The ground securing assembly includes a
support
such as pile 154 which is driven and embedded within the pot 152 into the
ground.
The bottom casing 114 is then inserted into the hole H on top of the pile 154.
The
bottom casing 114 is fastened to the pile 154 via the fastening pins 150. A
further
fastener 156 can also be used to mount the bottom casing to the pile 154. The
movable anchoring element 104 is inserted within space 138 defined by casing
112
and the casing 112 is finally covered by cover 114 which is fastened thereto.
The
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user can then selectively move the movable anchoring element 104 to the
anchoring
position by gripping it via the space provided by recesses 128 and 130 and
proceed
to pass the holding element 120 into the hole 134 and mount it on a structure
S.
When the user releases the movable anchoring element it will remain in the
5 anchoring position since the holding element 120 mounted on the structure
S will
prevent it from dropping back into the base member 112 as shown in Figure 13.
[0061] It should be noted that the various components and features
of
the ground anchors 10 and 100 described above can be combined in a variety of
ways so as to provide other non-illustrated embodiments within the scope of
the
10 invention.
[0062] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its
application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the
accompanying
drawings and described hereinabove. The scope of the claims should not be
limited by the embodiments provided as examples, but should be given the
15 broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
6430688.1
