U.S. patent application number 10/376384 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for ground anchor having assembling structure.
Invention is credited to Hsu, Shih Hao.
Application Number | 20040163336 10/376384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32869092 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040163336 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu, Shih Hao |
August 26, 2004 |
Ground anchor having assembling structure
Abstract
A ground anchor for erectly supporting a longitudinal member
includes a conduit, and an auger member secured to the conduit and
having one or more auger blades to engage into ground. A stabilizer
cap is engageable onto the conduit and includes one or more teeth
to engage into the ground. A sleeve may be engaged between the
conduit and the stabilizer cap, and includes a slot to allow the
sleeve to engage onto the conduit. The sleeve includes an inner
peripheral shoulder to engage with a peripheral swelling of the
conduit, and to limit the movement between the conduit and the
sleeve and the stabilizer cap.
Inventors: |
Hsu, Shih Hao; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Shih Hao Hsu
P.O. Box 63-99
Taichung
406
TW
|
Family ID: |
32869092 |
Appl. No.: |
10/376384 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/157 ;
52/155 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/2223
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/157 ;
052/155 |
International
Class: |
E02D 005/74 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A ground anchor for erectly supporting a longitudinal member,
said ground anchor comprising: a conduit including a bore formed
therein for receiving and supporting the longitudinal member
therein, and including a lower portion, an auger member secured to
said lower portion of said conduit, and including at least one
auger blade provided thereon for engaging into ground, a stabilizer
cap including at least one tooth extended downwardly therefrom to
engage into the ground, and engageable onto said conduit, and means
for positioning said conduit to said stabilizer cap.
2. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auger
member includes a stem provided thereon and engaged into said lower
portion of said conduit, and a shaft engaged through said stem of
said auger member and said conduit, to secure said auger member and
said conduit together.
3. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conduit
includes at least one projection provided thereon, said auger
member includes at least one depression formed therein to receive
said at least one projection of said conduit, and to prevent said
auger member from being rotated relative to said conduit.
4. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
positioning means includes a sleeve engageable between said conduit
and said stabilizer cap.
5. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said stabilizer
cap includes a cylindrical member provided therein and having an
inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of said conduit, to
allow said stabilizer cap to engage onto said conduit, said sleeve
is received in said cylindrical member of said stabilizer cap.
6. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sleeve
includes a slot formed therein to allow said sleeve to engage onto
said conduit.
7. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sleeve
includes a bore formed therein to receive said conduit therein, and
at least one rib extended into said bore thereof to engage with
said conduit.
8. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sleeve
includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed therein, said conduit
includes a peripheral swelling extended radially and outwardly
therefrom, for engaging into said inner peripheral shoulder of said
sleeve, and for limiting a movement of said conduit relative to
said sleeve and said stabilizer cap.
9. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
driver shank engageable into said conduit, to rotate said conduit
and said auger member relative to the ground.
10. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
barrel engageable onto said conduit, and including a peripheral
flange extended radially and inwardly therefrom to engage onto said
conduit, and to position said barrel to said conduit.
11. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
peripheral flange of said barrel includes an inclined surface
formed therein.
12. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a
collar engageable into said barrel and said conduit, and including
a bore formed therein to receive the longitudinal member.
13. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said collar
includes a slot formed therein to allow said collar to engage onto
said conduit.
14. The ground anchor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said collar
includes a bore formed therein for receiving the longitudinal
member, and at least one rib extended into said bore thereof for
engaging with the longitudinal member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a ground anchor, and more
particularly to a ground anchor including a number of members or
parts to be assembled together and to be received or packaged in a
compact storing status for facilitating the storing or
transportation purposes thereof.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Various kinds of typical ground anchors have been developed
to support longitudinal rods, umbrella, antenna, or the like, and
comprise one or more auger blades for being driven into the ground
when the helical shaped auger blades cut into the ground as the
ground anchors are rotated by the typical installation drivers.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,867 to MacKarvich discloses
one of the typical ground anchors which includes a stabilizer cap
formed integral with the anchor shaft that has the helical shaped
auger blades formed thereon. However, the stabilizer cap may not be
disengaged from the anchor shaft, and the anchor shaft includes the
helical shaped auger blades formed thereon, such that the ground
anchor occupies a great volume that is adverse for storing or
transportation purposes thereof.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,273 to Kemikem discloses another typical
ground anchor which includes a longitudinal support member formed
integral with a longitudinal anchor shaft that has the helical
shaped auger blades formed thereon. However, the longitudinal
support member may not be disengaged from the longitudinal anchor
shaft, and the anchor shaft includes the helical shaped auger
blades formed thereon, such that the ground anchor includes a great
length having the lengths of the longitudinal support member and
the longitudinal anchor shaft added together, such that the ground
anchor also occupies a great volume that is adverse for storing or
transportation purposes thereof.
[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional ground
anchors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a ground anchor including a number of members or parts that may be
easily manufactured and that may be easily assembled together.
[0009] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a
ground anchor including a number of members or parts that may be
received or packaged in a compact storing status for facilitating
the storing or transportation purposes thereof.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a ground anchor for erectly supporting a longitudinal
member, the ground anchor comprising a conduit including a bore
formed therein for receiving and supporting the longitudinal member
therein, and including a lower portion, an auger member secured to
the lower portion of the conduit, and including at least one auger
blade provided thereon for engaging into ground, a stabilizer cap
including at least one tooth extended downwardly therefrom to
engage into the ground, and engageable onto the conduit, and means
for positioning the conduit to the stabilizer cap.
[0011] The auger member includes a stem provided thereon and
engaged into the lower portion of the conduit, and a shaft engaged
through the stem of the auger member and the conduit, to secure the
auger member and the conduit together.
[0012] The conduit includes at least one projection provided
thereon, the auger member includes at least one depression formed
therein to receive the projection of the conduit, and to prevent
the auger member from being rotated relative to the conduit.
[0013] The positioning means includes a sleeve engageable between
the conduit and the stabilizer cap. The stabilizer cap includes a
cylindrical member provided therein and having an inner diameter
greater than an outer diameter of the conduit, to allow the
stabilizer cap to engage onto the conduit, the sleeve is received
in the cylindrical member of the stabilizer cap.
[0014] The sleeve includes a slot formed therein to allow the
sleeve to engage onto the conduit. The sleeve includes a bore
formed therein to receive the conduit therein, and at least one rib
extended into the bore thereof to engage with the conduit. The
sleeve includes an inner peripheral shoulder formed therein, the
conduit includes a peripheral swelling extended radially and
outwardly therefrom, for engaging into the inner peripheral
shoulder of the sleeve, and for limiting a movement of the conduit
relative to the sleeve and the stabilizer cap.
[0015] A driver shank may further be provided and engageable into
the conduit, to rotate the conduit and the auger member relative to
the ground.
[0016] A barrel may further be provided and engageable onto the
conduit, and includes a peripheral flange extended radially and
inwardly therefrom to engage onto the conduit, and to position the
barrel to the conduit. The peripheral flange of the barrel includes
an inclined surface formed therein.
[0017] A collar may further be provided and engageable into the
barrel and the conduit, and includes a bore formed therein to
receive the longitudinal member. The collar includes a slot formed
therein to allow the collar to engage onto the conduit. The collar
includes at least one rib extended into the bore thereof for
engaging with the longitudinal member.
[0018] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ground anchor in
accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the ground anchor;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of
FIG. 1; and
[0022] FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views similar to FIG. 3,
illustrating the operation of the ground anchor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a
ground anchor in accordance with the present invention comprises a
conduit 10 including a bore 19 formed therein, and including a
lower portion having one or more, such as two concave members or
projections 11 extended into the bore 19 thereof, and including a
peripheral swelling 13 extended radially and outwardly from the
middle portion thereof. Each of the projections 11 of the conduit
10 includes an orifice 12 formed therein to receive a shaft 24
therein.
[0024] An auger member 20 includes a stem 21 formed or provided on
one end thereof, such as formed on the upper portion thereof for
engaging into the lower portion of the bore 19 of the conduit 10,
and includes one or more, such as two depressions 22 formed
therein, to receive the projections 11 of the conduit 10, and to
prevent the auger member 20 from being rotated relative to the
conduit 10. The auger member 20 includes an aperture 23 formed
therein and communicating with the depressions 22 thereof.
[0025] The shaft 24 may be engaged through the orifices 12 of the
conduit 10, and through the aperture 23 of the auger member 20, in
order to secure the auger member 20 to the conduit 10. The
engagement of the projections 11 of the conduit 10 into the
depressions 22 of the auger member 20 may solidly secure the auger
member 20 to the conduit 10, for allowing the auger member 20 to be
effectively or forcefully rotated or driven by the conduit 10.
[0026] The auger member 20 includes one or more auger blades 27
formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and preferably
having different outer diameters, for allowing the auger member 20
to be easily engaged or cut into the ground as the ground anchor or
the conduit 10 is rotated or driven by the typical installation
drivers. For example, a driver shank 16 (FIG. 2) may be engaged
into one or more openings 15 of the conduit 10, in order to rotate
the conduit 10 and thus the auger member 20 relative to the
ground.
[0027] A barrel 14 may be engaged onto the conduit 10, and includes
a peripheral flange 17 extended radially and inwardly therefrom to
engage onto the conduit 10, and to position the barrel 14 on top of
the conduit 10. The peripheral flange 17 preferably includes a
tapered or inclined surface 18 formed therein.
[0028] A collar 50 is engageable into the barrel 14 and the conduit
10, and includes a bore 51 formed therein to receive a longitudinal
member 60, such as a post 60 (FIG. 5) that is to be erectly
supported by the ground anchor of the present invention, and
includes one or more ribs 52, such as longitudinal ribs 52 extended
into the bore 51 thereof, to engage with the post 60, and to
decrease the contact area with the post 60. The collar 50 includes
a slot 53 formed therein for allowing the collar 50 to receive
posts 60 of different diameters.
[0029] As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the collar 50 preferably
includes a tapered or inclined outer peripheral surface, and
preferably includes an upper portion having a greater outer
diameter than that of the lower portion thereof, and greater than
the inner diameter of the peripheral flange 17 of the barrel 14,
for preventing the collar 50 from being moved beyond the barrel 14
and deeply engaged into the conduit 10. The collar 50 preferably
includes a peripheral flange 54 extended radially and outwardly
from the upper portion thereof to engage with the barrel 14 or the
conduit 10, and to prevent the collar 50 from being deeply engaged
into the conduit 10.
[0030] A stabilizer cap 30 may further be provided, and includes
one or more projections or teeth 31 extended downwardly from the
outer peripheral portion thereof, to engage into the ground 80
(FIGS. 4, 5), and includes a cylindrical member 32, such as a
cone-shaped cylindrical member 32 provided in the middle portion
thereof, and having an inner diameter greater than the outer
diameters of the barrel 14 and/or the peripheral swelling 13 of the
housing 10, for allowing the cap 30 to be slidably engaged onto the
conduit 10.
[0031] A sleeve 40 is engageable into the cylindrical member 32 of
the stabilizer cap 30, and includes a bore 41 formed therein to
receive the post 60 (FIGS. 4, 5), and includes one or more ribs 42,
such as longitudinal ribs 42 extended into the bore 41 thereof, to
engage with the post 60, and to decrease the contact area with the
post 60. The sleeve 40 includes a slot 43 formed therein for
allowing the sleeve 40 to receive posts 60 of different
diameters.
[0032] As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sleeve 40 preferably
includes a tapered or inclined outer peripheral surface, to engage
with the cone-shaped cylindrical member 32 of the stabilizer cap
30, and for allowing the sleeve 40 to be stably supported or
retained within the cone-shaped cylindrical member 32 of the
stabilizer cap 30.
[0033] The sleeve 40 preferably includes a peripheral flange 44
extended radially and outwardly from the upper portion thereof to
engage with the stabilizer cap 30, and to prevent the sleeve 40
from being moved downwardly beyond the cylindrical member 32 of the
stabilizer cap 30.
[0034] The sleeve 40 preferably includes an inner peripheral
shoulder 47 formed therein, such as formed in the ribs 42, to
receive the peripheral swelling 13 of the conduit 10, and to limit
the movement of the conduit 10 relative to the stabilizer cap 30
and the sleeve 40, and to prevent the peripheral swelling 13 of the
conduit 10 from being moved downwardly beyond the stabilizer cap 30
and the sleeve 40.
[0035] In operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the auger member 20 may
first be rotated or engaged into the ground 80 by the typical
installation drivers. The stabilizer cap 30 may then be engaged
onto the conduit 10, and may engage the teeth 31 thereof into the
ground 80. The sleeve 40 may then be engaged onto the conduit 10
and engaged into the cylindrical member 32 of the stabilizer cap
30. The provision of the slot 43 in the sleeve 40 allows the sleeve
40 to be engaged onto the conduit 10 and to be moved beyond the
peripheral swelling 13 of the housing 13. The sleeve 40 may thus be
used as a positioning device to position the conduit 10 in the
stabilizer cap 30.
[0036] The conduit 10 may then be further rotated or driven
relative to the ground 80 by the typical installation drivers, in
order to further engage the auger member 20 into the ground 80,
until the peripheral swelling 13 of the housing 10 is engaged into
the inner peripheral shoulder 47 of the sleeve 40, as shown in FIG.
5. The post 60 may thus be stably and erectly supported in the
conduit 10.
[0037] It is to be noted that the stabilizer cap 30 and/or the
sleeve 40 and/or the collar 50 and/or the barrel 14 are separated
from each other and may be separately manufactured, and may thus be
received or packaged in a compact storing status for facilitating
the storing or transportation purposes thereof.
[0038] Accordingly, the ground anchor in accordance with the
present invention includes a number of members or parts having at
least the stabilizer cap and/or the sleeve and/or the collar and/or
the barrel that may be easily manufactured and that may be easily
assembled together, and that may be received or packaged in a
compact storing status for facilitating the storing or
transportation purposes thereof.
[0039] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *