U.S. patent application number 10/778806 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-19 for stabilizer for in-ground members, assemblies including the same, and method of installation.
Invention is credited to Stone, Ronald L..
Application Number | 20040159055 10/778806 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32853576 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040159055 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stone, Ronald L. |
August 19, 2004 |
Stabilizer for in-ground members, assemblies including the same,
and method of installation
Abstract
A stabilizer for an in-ground member includes: a mounting collar
having a channel extending therethrough; a plurality of arms having
respective collar ends, the collar ends being adapted to extend
through the channel and engage with the mounting collar; and a
resilient member being sized (a) to be disposed within the channel
between the collar ends and (b) to be engaged by the in-ground
member so as to urge the resilient member against the collar ends
to force the collar ends against the mounting collar, whereby to
rigidify the stabilizer. A method for installing an in-ground
member into the ground to dispose a portion thereof beneath the
surface of the ground and to leave a portion thereof extending
above the surface of the ground, the method includes: providing a
mounting collar having a channel extending therethrough and a
plurality of arms having respective collar ends; inserting the
collar ends through the channel of the mounting collar so that the
collar ends engages with the mounting collar; inserting a resilient
member into the channel of the mounting collar so that the
resilient member supports the collar ends, the resilient member
having a bore; engaging the in-ground member with the resilient
member; and driving the plurality of arms into the ground.
Inventors: |
Stone, Ronald L.; (Bristol,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN LLP
55Griffin Road South
Bloomfield
CT
06002
US
|
Family ID: |
32853576 |
Appl. No.: |
10/778806 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60448256 |
Feb 19, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/153 ; 52/154;
52/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/2215 20130101;
E02D 5/80 20130101; E01F 9/685 20160201; E04H 12/2269 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/153 ;
052/154; 052/160 |
International
Class: |
E02D 005/74; E04H
017/22 |
Claims
1. A stabilizer for an in-ground member comprising: a mounting
collar having a channel extending therethrough; a plurality of arms
having respective collar ends, said collar ends being adapted to
extend through said channel and engage with said mounting collar;
and a resilient member being sized (a) to be disposed within said
channel between said collar ends and (b) to be engaged by said
in-ground member so as to urge said resilient member against said
collar ends to force said collar ends against said mounting collar,
whereby to rigidify said stabilizer.
2. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein said collar ends have
respective nubs that protrude beyond a bottom edge of said mounting
collar.
3. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein said collar ends have
respective nubs that hook onto a bottom edge of said mounting
collar.
4. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein said resilient member has at
least one ear that overlaps an edge of said mounting collar.
5. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein said plurality of arm include
respective stabilizing sections and anchoring sections, said
stabilizing sections are disposed adjacent to said collar ends and
extend radially from said mounting collar for a first distance to
an end, said anchoring sections extend from said end downwardly for
a second distance to a distal end.
6. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein said anchoring sections
include respective projections disposed at said distal end.
7. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein an angle between one of said
stabilizing section and one of said anchoring section is
approximately 90 degrees.
8. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of said
stabilizing section and at least one of said anchoring section are
coupled together at said end.
9. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of said
anchoring section includes at least one hole for mounting an anchor
fin.
10. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of said
anchoring sections includes an anchor fin, said anchor fin is
adjustable.
11. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein each of said anchoring
sections includes an anchor fin and one of said anchor fins is
disposed at a higher elevation than the other anchor fins.
12. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein said resilient member has a
bore therein and said in-ground member is adapted to be engaged
with said resilient member by being inserted into said bore so that
upon insertion of said in-ground member into said resilient member,
said resilient member is forced against said collar ends to force
said collar ends against said mounting collar to provide rigidity
to said stabilizer.
13. A method for installing an in-ground member into the ground to
dispose a portion thereof beneath the surface of the ground and to
leave a portion thereof extending above the surface of the ground,
the method comprising: providing a mounting collar having a channel
extending therethrough and a plurality of arms having respective
collar ends; inserting said collar ends through said channel of
said mounting collar so that said collar ends engages with said
mounting collar; inserting a resilient member into said channel of
said mounting collar so that said resilient member supports said
collar ends, said resilient member having a bore; engaging the
in-ground member with said resilient member; and driving said
plurality of arms into the ground.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said in-ground member engages
said resilient member by inserting said in-ground member into a
bore of said resilient member so that upon insertion of said
in-ground member into said resilient member, said resilient member
is forced against said collar ends to force said collar ends
against said mounting collar to provide rigidity to said
stabilizer.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, before driving said
plurality of arms into the ground, excavating a portion of the
ground.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the date of
the earlier filed provisional application, having U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/448,256, filed on Feb. 19, 2003, which is
incorporated herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention concerns a stabilizer for in-ground
members such as stakes, poles and the like. Typical of such
in-ground members are the target stakes of horseshoes or ring-toss
games, and poles used to support articles such as badminton or
volleyball nets, flags or banners, tents, plants, vines and the
like.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] The utilization of in-ground members such as target stakes
in the games of horseshoes, ring-toss and the like, and support
poles for any kind of article is, of course, well known in the art.
A problem long encountered in the prior art is lack or loss of
stability of such in-ground members, which usually are simply
driven into the ground to provide their sole or primary means of
support. As used herein, reference to "in-ground" members means and
includes stakes, poles and the like, which are primarily or
entirely supported by the ground into which they are driven. In
this context, the phrase "the ground" means and includes earth,
soil, sand, loam and the like, whether bare ground, plant-, grass-
or lawn-covered ground, meadow, beach sand, clay, etc.
[0006] One difficulty with such in-ground members is a lack of
stability, which may result from loosening of the ground retaining
the member in place, which loosening may be aggravated by impacts
sustained by, or stresses imposed on, the in-ground member. Such
impacts may result from a game, such as when the target stake of a
horseshoe game is impacted by the horseshoe striking it, and
stresses may be imposed by the wind exerting a force on a tent,
plant, flag or banner, or by physical contact by persons, animals
or objects with the in-ground member or the article it
supports.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The above discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies are
overcome or alleviated by a stabilizer for in-ground members that
includes a mounting collar having a channel extending therethrough
and a plurality of arms. Each of the plurality of arms has a collar
end, which is adapted to extend through the channel and engage with
the mounting collar. The stabilizer also includes a resilient
member that has a bore and is sized to be disposed within the
channel so as to support the collar end of each of the plurality of
arms at the mounting collar. The resilient member is adapted to
receive the in-ground member.
[0008] Additionally, a related method for installing an in-ground
member into the ground to dispose a portion thereof beneath the
surface of the ground and to leave a portion thereof extending
above the surface of the ground, the method includes providing a
plurality of arms that each have a collar end and a mounting collar
and inserting the collar end through the channel of the mounting
collar so that the collar end engages with the mounting collar. In
addition, the method includes inserting a resilient member, which
has a bore, into the channel of the mounting collar so that the
resilient member supports the collar end and inserting an in-ground
member into the bore so that the resilient member is forced against
the mounting collar to provide rigidity to the plurality of arms.
The method also includes driving the plurality of arms into the
ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a stabilizer in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention aligned with
an in-ground member, a portion of which is embedded beneath the
ground and another portion of which protrudes vertically above the
ground;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an elevation view, with the ground shown in cross
section, showing an assembly of the stabilizer and in-ground member
of FIG. 1 fully installed in the ground;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an assembly of a fully installed
stabilizer and in-ground member of FIG. 1; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment for
an anchor leg of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a stabilizer 10
aligned with an in-ground member 12. In-ground member 12 has an
above-ground portion 12a which extends vertically above the surface
S of the ground G, and has a below-ground portion 12b which is
embedded in the ground G.
[0014] Stabilizer 10 includes a mounting collar 16 that has a
channel 18 extending therethrough. A plurality of arms is shown as
four arms 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d. Arms 20a-20d are disposed at
ninety-degree intervals about mounting collar 16, i.e., adjacent
ones of the arms are at right angles to each other. Each arm
20a-20d includes a stabilizing section 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d that
extend radially from mounting collar 16, and an anchoring section
24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d that extend downwardly from stabilizing
section 22a-22d. When stabilizer 10 is used for a horseshoe game,
each stabilizing section 22a-22d may be in a range of approximately
8 inches to 10 inches and each anchoring section 24a-24d is at
least 10 inches. In an exemplary embodiment, each stabilizing
section 22a-22d is disposed approximately four inches below the
ground.
[0015] The figures illustrate that stabilizing section 22a-22d and
anchoring section 24a-24d are a continuous member with
approximately a ninety-degree angle between the two sections. The
advantage of this is easy of manufacturing and assembly. In
addition, stabilizing section 22a-22d may also be a separate piece
from anchoring section 24a-24d and the two sections may be couple
together by a bolt, screw, weld, or any other known means for
attaching two sections.
[0016] Each anchoring section 24a-24d may also include a respective
projection or foot 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d, which helps to anchor
the arms 20a-20d into the ground G. Each arm 20a-20d includes a
respective collar end 30a-30d with a respective nub 32a-32d. Each
collar end 30a-30d extends from stabilizing section 22a-22d in a
downwardly direction through channel 18 so that nubs 32a-32d engage
with mounting collar 16. Nubs 32a-32d help to keep the assembly
from being forced upward upon impact. It will be appreciated that
collar ends 30a-30d engage mounting collar 16 without the
assistance of any mechanical means such as welds, bolts, screws, or
the like.
[0017] Stabilizer 10 also includes a resilient member 40 that is
inserted into channel 18 and helps to secure collar ends 30a-30d to
mounting collar 16. Resilient member 40 also absorbs the impact
when there is forced placed on in-ground member 12, i.e., when a
horseshoe ring impacts in-ground member 12, and also ensures that
in-ground member 12 does not slip. Resilient member 40 may be made
from foam, rubber, or any material that is compressible and resists
compression. In addition, resilient member may also be a spring
device or any type of device that is compressible and resists
compression. Resilient member 40 includes a bore 42 that extends
through member 40. Resilient member 40 is shaped so that it extends
through mounting collar 16. In an exemplary embodiment, resilient
member 40 has a curved body 44 and ears 46 (barbelled shaped). Ears
46 expand over a top edge 48 and a bottom edge 50 of mounting
collar and help to hold resilient member in place within mounting
collar 16. Bore 42 is sized to be smaller than in-ground member 12
so that when in-ground member 12 is received into bore 42,
resilient member 40 is compressed and securely holds in-ground
member 40 at mounting channel 16.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of arms
20a-20d is illustrated. In addition, while only one arm is
illustrated, it is understood that the embodiment is applicable to
each of the arms 20a-20d. Anchoring section 24d may include an
anchor fin 54d, which is attached to anchoring section 24d. In
addition, anchoring section 24d may also include a plurality of
holes 56 so that an installer may choose the height at which to
attach anchor fin 54d to anchoring section 24d. By providing
anchoring section 24d with a plurality of holes 56, anchor fin 54d
may be positioned at various heights along anchoring section 24d.
This enables variation of the depth of individual anchor fins below
ground surface when the installation is complete, and/or permits
fastening of more than one anchor fin to a given anchoring section.
Each anchor fin 54a, 54b, 54c (not shown), and 54d may be arranged
at similar heights or at least one anchor fin may be offset for one
of the other anchor fins. In an exemplary embodiment, anchor fin
54d is somewhat fan-shaped. Anchor fin 54d may be attached to
anchoring section 24d by a mechanical fastener, such as a bolt,
screw, weld, or the fins may ride in a track (not shown) on the
anchoring section, and may be locked in place at a desired position
by a detent or other suitable locking member.
[0019] Referring again to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment for
arranging stabilizer 10 in ground G is illustrated. If stabilizer
10 is used for a horseshoe game, there is enhanced stability by
arranging stabilizer 10 in an X formation so that a horseshoe is
thrown at in-ground member 12 from a direction 60. Direction 60
shows the impact force that would be imposed on in-ground member 12
if it served as the target stake of a horseshoes game in which the
horseshoes were pitched from a position that causes them to travel
along a path substantially parallel to, and in the direction
60.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, in order to attain the assembly of
stabilizer 10 and in-ground member 12, the following method is
utilized. A hole for the mounting collar 16 and four trenches, for
each stabilizing section 22a-22d of each arm 20a-20d. Stabilizer 10
is then assembled by sliding each collar end 30a-30d through
channel 18 so that nubs 32a-32d hook onto bottom edge 50. Resilient
member 40 is then inserted into channel and in-ground member 12 is
slide into bore 42. Anchoring sections 24a-24d are then placed on
the ground G with foot 26a-26d each being located in one of the
trenches and with mounting collar 16 located directly above the
hole. Anchoring sections 24a-24d are then driven into the ground by
either pushing on arms 20a-20d or using a sledgehammer to drive
anchoring sections 24a-24d into the ground G. Repeated blows
distributed in sequence to each arm 20a-20d will drive stabilizer
10 into the ground to the position illustrated in FIG. 2. If the
ground G comprises a loose soil or sand, for example, beach sand or
a sand or loam used in a game such as horseshoes or ring-toss,
stabilizer 10 will, of course, be easily driven into the ground G
and holes and trenches may not be necessary. Once stabilizing
sections 22a-22d are located within the trenches and mounting
collar 16 is located in the hole, the hole and trenches are
backfilled so as to cover stabilizer 10 and to have a section of
in-ground member 12 extending above ground G.
[0021] It will be appreciated that stabilizer 10 will provide an
extremely secure retention of in-ground member 12 within ground G,
and will provide a high degree of resistance to impacts in any
direction, but especially in the direction of the arrow 60 of FIG.
3, thereby maintaining in-ground member 12 and its above-ground
portion in desired alignment, usually vertical, relative to the
surface S of ground G.
[0022] While four arms 20a-20d have been illustrated as extending
radially outwardly from mounting collar 16 at ninety-degree
intervals, more or fewer than four arms may be used and they may be
positioned at equal or unequal radial intervals, depending on the
nature of the ground and whether directionality of highest
resistance to impact is desired.
[0023] It will be appreciated that the in-ground member of the
invention need not be a target stake for horseshoes or ring-toss as
illustrated, but may be a tent pole, fence post, some other type of
post, a pole or other in-ground member, or the like. Such in-ground
members, alone or in cooperation with similar or identical
in-ground members, may serve to support any of a wide range of
articles, for example, a badminton or volleyball net or the like, a
flag or banner, a tent, growing plants and vines, etc. Whatever the
purpose of the in-ground member, a stabilizer in accordance with
the present invention, such as stabilizer 10, will enormously
enhance the stability of any type of in-ground member.
[0024] The advantages of stabilizer 10 are that stabilizer 10 is
inexpensive to make and it can be shipped disassembled. Stabilizer
10 is also easy to assemble and may be assembled in the field at
the time of installation into the ground.
[0025] While the invention has been described with respect to
specific preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that
numerous variations may be made to these specific embodiments which
variations nonetheless lie within the spirit and scope of the
present invention. For example, the stabilizer may be made of any
suitable material, metal, plastic or a combination thereof, and it
may be formed of components which are secured to each other by any
suitable means, or it may be an integrally-formed, i.e., one-piece,
stabilizer. The stabilizer of the present invention may be
dimensioned and configured to be fitted onto an existing in-ground
member, or it may be pre-assembled with an in-ground member to
provide a unitary assembly comprising a stabilizable in-ground
member.
* * * * *