U.S. patent application number 10/861637 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for anchor system for use in forming barrier walls.
Invention is credited to Irvine, John E..
Application Number | 20050271480 10/861637 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35449100 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050271480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Irvine, John E. |
December 8, 2005 |
Anchor system for use in forming barrier walls
Abstract
Briefly described, the present disclosure relates to an anchor
system for maintaining a driven wall structure in a given position,
the wall structure including a plurality of elongated structural
panels. Each structural panel has an inner surface, an outer
surface, and is disposed adjacent another structural panel. The
anchor system includes a first anchor member having a proximal end,
a central portion and a distal end. The proximal end includes a
domed head and the distal end is threaded. The anchor system
further includes a force abutter disposed on the inner side of the
wall structure. The first anchor member extends through the wall
structure, the domed head is disposed on the outer side of the wall
structure and the distal end extends inwardly away from the inner
side of the wall structure toward the force abutter.
Inventors: |
Irvine, John E.; (Atlanta,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER & RISLEY, LLP
100 GALLERIA PARKWAY, NW
STE 1750
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5948
US
|
Family ID: |
35449100 |
Appl. No.: |
10/861637 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/285 ;
405/272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B 3/066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/285 ;
405/272 |
International
Class: |
E02D 005/00; E21D
005/00 |
Claims
1. A driven wall structure for retaining soil, comprising: a
plurality of elongated structural panels, each said structural
panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and being driven
vertically into the soil adjacent a previously driven structural
panel; at least one elongated wale, said wale being horizontally
disposed adjacent said outer surface of said wall structure; an
anchor system for maintaining said wall structure in a fixed
position, said anchor system including: a first anchor member
having a proximal end, a central portion and a distal end, said
proximal end including a domed head and said distal end being
threaded, and a plastic coating on said proximal end and its domed
head and on said central portion; a second anchor member having a
first end, a middle portion, and a second end, said first end being
threaded; a connector having a pair of threaded ends, each of said
pair of threaded ends receiving one of said distal end and said
second end; and a force abutter disposed on said inner side of said
wall structure; wherein said first anchor member extends through
said wale and said wall structure, said plastic coated domed head
is disposed on said outer side of said wall structure, said plastic
coated proximal end extends through said wale and said structural
panel, and said distal end extends inwardly away from said inner
side of said wall structure, said first end of said second anchor
member is secured to said force abutter and said second end extends
toward said wall structure, and said distal end and said second end
are secured together by said connector.
2. The driven wall structure of claim 1, wherein said connector is
a turnbuckle configured to draw said distal end and said second end
together when turned in a first direction.
3. The driven wall structure of claim 1, further comprising a
vertically driven pile positioned in abutment with a side of said
wale opposite form said structural panels, the plastic coated
proximal end of said first anchor member extending through said
pile, through said wale and through said structural panel such that
only the coated domed head of said first anchor member extends
beyond the pile and is directly exposed to the atmosphere.
4. The driven wall structure of claim 1, wherein said wale further
comprises a wooden wale with a plastic outer coating.
5. The driven wall structure of claim 1, wherein said force abutter
further comprises an anchor wall disposed in the soil and said
second anchor member further comprises a tie-rod.
6. The driven wall structure of claim 3, wherein said proximal end
of said first anchor member extends through the structural panel at
an interval where the structural panel engages the wale, such that
the exposure of the proximal end of the first anchor member
directly to the atmosphere is minimized by said pile, said wale,
and said structural panel.
7. The driven wall structure of claim 6, wherein said force abutter
is a pile.
8. (canceled)
9. The driven wall structure of claim 1, further comprising: an
elongated pile being driven vertically into the soil such that said
pile is adjacent said wale; and wherein said first anchor member
further extends through said pile, and said domed head spreads the
force applied by the first anchor member to said pile.
10. The driven wall structure of claim 9, wherein said pile further
comprises a wooden pile with a plastic outer coating.
11. A driven wall structure for retaining soil, comprising: a
plurality of elongated structural panels, each said structural
panel being adjacent at least another said structural panel to form
a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface; at least one
elongated wale, said wale being horizontally disposed adjacent said
outer surface of said wall; a plurality of vertically driven piles
engaging said wale; and an anchor system for maintaining said wall
structure in a fixed position, said anchor system including: a
first anchor member having a proximal end, a central portion and a
distal end, said proximal end including an enlarged head, said
proximal end and said central portion coated with plastic and said
distal end being threaded; and a force abutter disposed on said
inner side of said wall structure; said coated portion of said
first anchor member extending through said pile and said wale and
said wall structure, said enlarged head of said proximal end is
disposed adjacent said pile on said outer side of said pile and
said distal end of said first anchor member extends inwardly away
from said inner side of said wall toward said force abutter.
12. The driven wall structure of claim 11, said anchor system
further comprising: a second anchor member having a first end, a
middle portion, and a second end, said first end being threaded; a
connector having a pair of threaded ends, each of said pair of
threaded ends receiving one of said distal end and said second end;
and wherein said first end of said second anchor member is secured
to said force abutter and said second end extends toward said wall,
and said distal end and said second end are secured together by
said connector.
13. The driven wall structure of claim 12, wherein said connector
is a turnbuckle configured to draw said distal end and said second
end together when turned in a first direction.
14. (canceled)
15. The driven wall structure of claim 11, wherein said wale
further comprises a wooden wale with a plastic outer coating.
16. (canceled)
17. The driven wall structure of claim 11, wherein said pile
comprises a wooden pile with a plastic outer coating and said wale
comprises a wooden wale with a plastic outer coating.
18. The driven wall structure of claim 11, wherein said enlarged
head is dome shaped.
19. An anchor system for maintaining a driven wall structure in a
given position, the wall structure including a plurality of
elongated structural panels, each structural panel having an inner
surface, an outer surface, and being disposed adjacent another
structural panel, the anchor system comprising: a first anchor
member having a proximal end, a central portion and a distal end,
said proximal end including a domed head and said distal end being
threaded, said proximal end and its domed head being coated with
plastic, and a force abutter disposed on the inner side of the wall
structure; wherein the coated portion said first anchor member
extends through the wall structure, said domed head is disposed on
the outer side of the wall structure and said distal end extends
inwardly away from the inner side of the wall structure toward said
force abutter.
20. The anchor system of claim 19, further including: a second
anchor member having a first end, a middle portion, and a second
end, said first end being threaded; a connector having a pair of
threaded ends, each of said pair of threaded ends receiving one of
said distal end and said second end; and said first end of said
second anchor member is secured to said force abutter and said
second end extends toward said wall structure, and said distal end
and said second end are secured together by said connector.
21. The driven wall structure of claim 20, wherein said connector
is a turnbuckle configured to draw said distal end and said second
end together when turned in a first direction and a plastic coating
is disposed on said proximal end and said central portion of said
first anchor member.
Description
[0001] This application is related to copending U.S Utility patent
application entitled "Elongated Structural Members for Use in
Forming Barrier Walls," filed on ______ and accorded Ser. No.
XX/XXX,XXX which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to driven wall
structures such as sea walls, piers, dikes, barrier walls and the
like, constructed of extruded structural panels. More specifically,
the present disclosure relates to anchor systems and structural
members used to maintain driven wall structures in their desired
positions.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Barrier walls that are formed from a plurality of elongated
piles typically are driven into the earth to a depth sufficient to
support the panels in an upright attitude. In some cases, the piles
are in the form of extruded structural panels and are formed with
male and female opposed edges so that similar panels can be locked
together at their adjacent edges to form a continuous barrier
wall.
[0004] In recent years, structural panels have been constructed of
polyvinyl chloride and other plastics in order to reduce their
weight and susceptibility to corrosion. However, these plastics
have relatively low tensile and high compression strengths as
compared to steel. To help maintain the structural panels in the
desired positions, horizontally mounted structural elements, or
wales, and vertically driven foundation members, such as piles, are
mounted along the outer surfaces of the structural panels and tie
rods extend from the wale elements/foundation members back through
the panels to a force abutter disposed behind the barrier wall.
Typically, the force abutter is a reinforced cement wall disposed a
desired distance behind the barrier wall such that adequate
retaining force is exerted from the force abutter through the tie
rods against the barrier wall, thereby maintaining the barrier wall
in the desired position. Instead of using a force abutter for
several tie rods, individual ground anchors may be used with each
tie rod.
[0005] Typically, the wale elements that have been used to
stabilize a retaining wall were comprised of wood. The use of wood
in the wales risks significant damage from both exposure to the
environment as well as from infestation of the wood elements by
wood borers and other insects and organisms. Wale elements also
have been comprised of steel and other metals which are susceptible
to corrosion when used in aquatic environments such as those that
exist near sea walls. Although the steel wale elements can be
protected by coatings, these coatings must be breached when passing
tie rods through the wale elements to the force abutter disposed
behind the barrier wall. The points at which the protective
coatings are breached leave the steel wale elements subject to
corrosion.
[0006] As well, the vertically driven foundation members are also
frequently exposed to direct contact with bodies of water. As would
be expected for structures such as piers and seawalls, the soils in
which the foundation members are driven also frequently exhibit
high moisture content. As such, foundation members of these
structures are frequently subjected to accelerated decay and
subsequent weakness, especially those made of wood. Replacement of
damaged and decayed foundation members is both time consuming and
expensive. Note also, soils having high moisture content are not
only found near bodies of water such as lakes, streams, ponds, etc.
Therefore, a need can exist for foundation members that resist
decay caused by extended exposure to the elements, such as water,
whether or not the structure is located near a body of water.
[0007] In the past, foundation members of wood have been
impregnated or coated with various chemicals to help offset decay
due to exposure to the elements. As would be expected, as those
foundation members eventually decay, the chemicals used to treat
the wooden foundation members can enter the environment in which
the foundation members are used. For example, the potential exists
for treated wood foundation members used in constructing a pier to
eventually leach the chemicals into both the body of water and the
soil the foundation members extend into.
[0008] Foundation members may also be constructed of cement and
other similar materials. Foundation members constructed of such
materials exhibit excellent resistance to corrosion. However, those
foundation members are typically extremely heavy and therefore
difficult to work with.
[0009] Another alternative to chemically treated wood foundation
members is foundation members constructed of metal, most frequently
steel. As previously noted with regard to metal wales, since most
metals typically are subject to corrosion in aquatic environments,
those foundation members are frequently painted or coated so as to
prevent direct exposure of the metal to the environment. However,
foundation members constructed of metal are often exceedingly heavy
and therefore difficult to work with, much like the foundation
members constructed of cement. As well, it is often desirable to
attach or pass various structural elements (bolts, support rods,
etc.) through the foundation members. This often requires drilling
holes into and through the members. In the case of metal foundation
members, breaching the protective coating by drilling can lead to
unprotected metal being exposed to the elements, and subsequent
corrosion.
[0010] As previously noted, tie rods are typically used to transfer
retaining force from the force abutter to the barrier wall.
Existing tie rods are threaded at one or both ends, or possibly
threaded for their entire length, with at least a threaded section
extending beyond the sea wall so that a threaded fastener and
washer can be secured thereto, thereby transferring the retaining
force from the force abutter to the sea wall. The tie rods are
typically made of hot dipped galvanized (HDG) steel or stainless
steel, both of which exhibit corrosion in salt-water environments.
Corrosion is especially prevalent on that portion of the tie rod,
washer, and threaded fastener which extend through and outwardly
from the sea wall and are therefore exposed to air. Portions of the
tie rod behind the sea wall tend to exhibit minimal corrosion as
that portion is not exposed to air. Corrosion of the exposed
portions of the tie rods often leads to reduced retaining force
being exerted on the sea wall, and subsequent costly replacement of
the corroded tie rods. Preferably, the life cycles of the various
components (wales, piles, anchor system, etc.) are each maximized
in that replacement of one component often requires great effort
and expense, even though the remaining components still perform
adequately.
[0011] In the past, portions of the tie rods that are exposed on
the outside of the sea wall have been coated with paint, plastics,
etc., in an attempt to prevent corrosion. These coatings must be
applied after securing the tie rods and related fasteners to the
sea wall since coating the threaded portion of the tie rod would
prevent attachment of the threaded fastener thereto. At a minimum,
securing a threaded fastener to the tie rod would result in damage
to the coating on the threaded portion as the threaded fastener is
urged thereon. Moreover, existing tie rods pose a threat to objects
and watercraft operated in their vicinity since the exposed
threaded end has the potential to scrape, puncture, etc. whatever
it comes in contact with.
[0012] Therefore, there is a need for improved structural members
which address these and other shortcomings of the prior art.
SUMMARY
[0013] Briefly described, the present disclosure relates to an
anchor system for maintaining a driven wall structure in a given
position, the wall structure including a plurality of elongated
structural panels. Each structural panel has an inner surface, an
outer surface, and is disposed adjacent another structural panel.
The anchor system includes a first anchor member having a proximal
end, a central portion and a distal end. The proximal end includes
a domed head and the distal end is threaded. The anchor system
further includes a force abutter disposed on the inner side of the
wall structure. The first anchor member extends through the wall
structure, the domed head is disposed on the outer side of the wall
structure and the distal end extends inwardly away from the inner
side of the wall structure toward the force abutter.
[0014] The present disclosure also relates to a driven wall
structure for retaining soil, the wall structure including a
plurality of elongated structural panels, each structural panel
having an inner surface, an outer surface, and being adjacent at
least another structural panel and at least one elongated wale. The
wale is horizontally disposed adjacent the outer surface of the
wall structure. The wall structure further includes an anchor
system for maintaining the wall structure in a fixed position. The
anchor system has a first anchor member having a proximal end, a
central portion and a distal end, the proximal end including an
enlarged head and the distal end being threaded. The anchor system
also includes a force abutter disposed on the inner side of the
wall structure. The first anchor member extends through the wale
and the wall structure, and the enlarged head is disposed on the
outer side of the wall structure and the distal end extends
inwardly away from the inner side of the wall structure toward the
force abutter.
[0015] Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a
driven wall structure for retaining soil, the wall structure
including a plurality of elongated structural panels, each
structural panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and
being driven vertically into the soil adjacent a previously driven
structural panel. The wall structure further includes at least one
elongated wale, the wale being horizontally disposed adjacent the
outer surface of the wall structure, and an anchor system for
maintaining the wall structure in a fixed position. The anchor
system includes a first anchor member, a second anchor member, and
a connector. The first anchor member has a proximal end, a central
portion and a distal end, the proximal end including a domed head
and the distal end being threaded. The second anchor member has a
first end, a middle portion, and a second end, the first end of
which is threaded. The connector has a pair of threaded ends, each
of the pair of threaded ends receives one of the distal end and the
second end. A force abutter is disposed on the inner side of the
wall structure and the first anchor member extends through the wale
and the wall structure. The domed head is disposed on the outer
side of the wall structure and the distal end extends inwardly away
from the inner side of the wall structure. The first end of the
second anchor member is secured to the force abutter and the second
end extends toward the wall structure, the distal end and the
second end are secured together by the connector.
[0016] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent upon reading the following
specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Many aspects of the anchor system can be better understood
with reference to the following drawings. The components in the
drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present
anchor system. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a barrier wall
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure, used as a sea wall.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the barrier
wall shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a partially cut-away, side elevation of
the barrier wall, wale, pile, abutter and anchor rod of the present
disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 3-3.
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a partially cut-away, side elevation of
an alternative embodiment of the barrier wall, wale, pile, abutter
and anchor rod of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1, taken
along line 3-3.
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a partially cut-away, side elevation of
an alternative embodiment of the barrier wall, wale, pile, and
force abutter of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1, taken
along line 3-3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the description of
the anchor system as illustrated in the drawings. While the anchor
system will be described in connection with these drawings, there
is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed
therein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives,
modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope
of the anchor system as defined by the appended claims.
[0024] In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a driven wall structure,
in the form of a sea wall 10, constructed of elongated structural
panels 12, wales 20, and piles 26 according to the present
disclosure. The sea wall 10 forms a retainer for the soil 11 on the
backside of the sea wall 10, with water 15 at the front surface.
The panels 12 extend vertically with lower ends received in the
subsoil below the lower level of the body of water 15. Wales 20 are
mounted along outer surfaces of the structural panels 12 and accept
anchor members 32 (FIG. 3) which extend to a force abutters or
similar anchors on the opposite side of the sea wall 10. A typical
force abutter would comprise an anchor wall 60 of poured reinforced
concrete placed behind the barrier wall 10 and extending generally
parallel to the barrier wall 10. Several anchor members can be
connected to a single force abutter 60.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, each wale 20 forms a constant,
uniform cross-section from end-to-end. In a preferred embodiment,
each wale 20 includes in cross-section a wooden core 22 with an
outer coating 24 of a material such as plastic, vinyl,
polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. As well, each pile 26 has a
wooden core (not shown) and an outer coating 24 formed of a
material such as plastic, vinyl, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.
Although wooden wales 20 and piles 26 are typically square and
round in cross-section, respectively, embodiments of the present
disclosure include wales 20 and piles 26 of various cross-sections.
As well, embodiments of the disclosed anchor system are envisioned
wherein the wales 20 and/or piles 26 are constructed from materials
other than wood, such as aluminum, steel, polyvinylchloride,
composite materials, etc.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the ends of the wales 20 show an exposed
wooden core 22, which has been done for better understanding of the
present disclosure. Preferably, the outer coating 24 of each wale
20 will cover the ends of each wale 20 as well as its entire length
so that no portion of the wale 20 is directly exposed to the
environment. However, it may be necessary at times to cut a wale 20
to size, thereby breaching the outer coating 24. For example, this
may be necessary when bringing two wales 20 into abutment. As such,
preferred embodiments of the disclosure include a sleeve 25 of a
material such as plastic, vinyl, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.,
to cover and protect the joint 27 (dashed line) between adjacent
wales 20 with their wooden cores 22 exposed. The sleeve 25 is
dimensioned such that the wales 20 are slidably received therein
and minimal water, debris, insects, etc., are able to pass between
the sleeve 25 and the respective outer coatings 24. Similarly, a
sleeve 25 with an end wall (not shown) can be used as an end cap
for a wale 20 with an exposed wooden core 22.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an
anchor system according to the present disclosure taken along line
3-3 of FIG. 1. Typically, when a structural panel 12 is to be
driven into the earth at the construction site, the structural
panel 12 is positioned above and adjacent a previously installed
structural panel 12. The structural panel 12 being installed is
then moved downwardly so that the locking elements (not shown),
typically male and female elements, guide along the length of the
locking elements of the adjacent previously installed panel 12. The
structural panel 12 is progressively moved downwardly by driving,
vibration, gravity or other external forces, until the upper end of
the structural panel 12 becomes located approximately the desired
height. If necessary, the upper ends of the structural panels 12
that do not reach the desired height can be cut away.
[0028] After adjacent structural panels 12 have been driven to the
desired height, an anchor system 30 is installed. Portions of the
preferred anchor system 30 shown in FIG. 3 include a first anchor
member 32, a second anchor member 40, a turnbuckle 50, and a
threaded fastener 45. To secure the wall 10 in a desired position,
a plurality of wales 20 are positioned horizontally along the outer
surface of the wall 10 for support. Note also, the wales 20 as
described can also be used as vertical structural members.
Preferably, however, piles 26 are used as vertical structural
members that are driven into the soil at desired spacing along the
wall 10, so as to be in contact with the wales 20. Preferably, the
piles 26 are substantially parallel to the wall 10 and intersect
the wales 20 at a point where the wale 20 is "sandwiched" between
the outer surface 16 of the wall 10 and a pile 26. By so
positioning the piles 26, the installer can drill holes through the
piles 26 and the wales 20 that are required to receive portions of
the anchor system, such as anchor members, at these points of
intersection, thereby exerting maximum retention force on the wall
10. However, these holes may also be drilled where the wales 20 are
not in direct contact with the wall 10.
[0029] A plurality of second support members 40, preferably tie
rods, are installed such that one end is securely attached to a
force abutter 60, in this case, a poured reinforced concrete wall
that runs substantially adjacent to the wall 10 at a desired
distance in the soil 11 behind the wall 10. The opposite end of
each tie rod 40 is threadably secured to one end of a turnbuckle
50, which has threaded receptacles at opposed ends. Next, a
plurality of first anchor members 32, preferably domed head bolts,
each including a threaded end and an end with a dome-shaped head
34, are installed. Typically, each threaded end of a bolt 32 is
passed through a pile 26, wale 20, and structural panel 16 of the
wall. The domed head 34 acts as a force spreader such that the
force exerted on the wale 20 and/or pile 26 is evenly distributed.
The threaded end is then secured to the threaded receptacle
opposite the one to which the tie rod 40 is secured. The turnbuckle
50 is then rotated to exert either greater or less force on the
wall 10. This process is repeated until an adequate number of tie
rods 22 are installed along the wall 10 such that adequate force is
exerted thereon to hold the wall 10 in the desired position.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of an anchor
system 30' according to the present disclosure are envisioned where
the first anchor member 32 having a dome shaped head 34 extends all
the way from the outside of the wall 10 to the force abutter. The
alternate embodiment of the anchor system 30' shown in FIG. 4
differs from that of FIG. 3 in that the force abutter is a driven
pile 26 having a wooden core 22 and a protective outer coating
28.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment
of an anchor system according to the present disclosure. Similar to
the previously disclosed embodiment, after adjacent structural
panels 12 have been driven to the desired height, an anchor system
30" is installed. The anchor system 30" as shown in FIG. 5 differs
primarily from that as shown in FIG. 3 in that the force abutter is
a driven wooden pile 26 having a protective outer coating 28 and
the tie rods 40', threaded fasteners 45, and ogee washers 49 are
used to transfer retention forces from the force abutters to the
sea wall 10. To secure the wall 10 in a desired position, the
plurality of wales 20 and piles 26 are positioned along the sea
wall 10, as previously discussed. After so positioning the wales 20
and piles 26, the installer can drill holes through the piles 26
and the wales 20 at the points of intersection, as previously
noted.
[0032] Next, the plurality of tie rods 40' are installed such that
one end is securely attached to a force abutter, in this case, a
wooden pile 26 with a protective coating 28. The wooden pile 26 is
vertically driven such that it is substantially parallel to the
wall 10 at a desired distance in the soil 11 behind the wall 10.
The opposite end of each tie rod 40' is passed through the
structural panel 12, the wale 20, and the pile 26 such that it is
exposed on the exterior surface of the wall 10. Preferably, a force
spreader such as an ogee washer 49 is placed about the tie rod 40'
such that the force exerted on the pile 26 is evenly distributed.
Lastly, the ogee washer 49 is secured adjacent to the pile 26 with
a threaded fastener 45. This process is repeated until an adequate
number of tie rods 40' are installed along the wall 10 such that
adequate force is exerted thereon to hold it in the desired
position.
[0033] Although preferred embodiments of the anchor system have
been disclosed in detail herein, it will be obvious to those
skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the
disclosed embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the anchor system as set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *