U.S. patent application number 14/757071 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-09 for shallow water anchor.
The applicant listed for this patent is David BAILEY, Jantzen MAYNARD, John OLIVERIO, Amit PATEL. Invention is credited to David BAILEY, Jantzen MAYNARD, John OLIVERIO, Amit PATEL.
Application Number | 20170066508 14/757071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51983677 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170066508 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BAILEY; David ; et
al. |
March 9, 2017 |
Shallow water anchor
Abstract
A shallow water anchor to anchor a water craft in a shallow body
of water comprising an anchor positioning assembly mounted on or to
the water craft and an anchor member, the anchor position assembly
comprises at least one anchor engaging member coupled to an anchor
positioning device or drive mechanism to raise and lower the anchor
member vertically between an elevated or raised position and an
extended or anchored position and further includes a system control
to control the operation of the anchor position assembly in raising
and lowering the anchor member between the elevated or raised
position and the extended or anchored position such that the anchor
member is lowered to engage the bottom of the shallow body of water
when the anchor member is in the anchored position to anchor the
water craft and the anchor member disengages the bottom of the
shallow body of water when the anchor member is raised vertically
from the anchored position to permit the water craft to move about
the shallow body of water.
Inventors: |
BAILEY; David; (Riverview,
FL) ; MAYNARD; Jantzen; (Tampa, FL) ;
OLIVERIO; John; (Tampa, FL) ; PATEL; Amit;
(Tampa, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BAILEY; David
MAYNARD; Jantzen
OLIVERIO; John
PATEL; Amit |
Riverview
Tampa
Tampa
Tampa |
FL
FL
FL
FL |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51983677 |
Appl. No.: |
14/757071 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13986742 |
May 31, 2013 |
9187152 |
|
|
14757071 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 21/26 20130101;
B63B 21/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63B 21/26 20060101
B63B021/26; B63B 21/30 20060101 B63B021/30 |
Claims
1. A shallow water anchor to anchor a water craft in a shallow body
of water comprising an anchor positioning assembly mounted on or to
the water craft and an anchor member including an outer surface,
said anchor position assembly comprises at least one anchor
engaging member coupled to an anchor positioning device or drive
mechanism to raise and lower said anchor member such that said
anchor member is lowered to engage the bottom of the shallow body
of water to anchor the water craft and said anchor member is raised
to disengage the bottom of the shallow body of water to permit the
water craft to move about the shallow body of water.
2. The shallow water anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor engaging
member comprises a substantially vertical disk having including a
groove having an inner surface formed in a peripheral edge or
circumference thereof to operatively engage said outer surface of
said anchor member.
3. The shallow water anchor of claim 2 wherein said anchor
positioning device or drive mechanism comprises .a reversible motor
coupled to said substantially vertical disk to selectively rotate
said substantially vertical disk in clockwise or counter-clockwise
direction to selectively raise and lower said anchor member.
4. The shallow water anchor of claim 3 wherein said reversible
motor is operatively coupled to a control device to selectively
control direction of rotation of said reversible motor to raise and
lower said anchor member.
5. The shallow water anchor of claim 2 further including a
resilient tread disposed in said groove to operatively engage said
outer surface of said anchor member.
6. The shallow water anchor of claim 2 wherein said groove
comprises a rectilinear configuration including a substantially
inner flat surface to engage said outer surface of said anchor
member.
7. The shallow water anchor of claim 2 wherein said groove
comprises a substantially arcuate configuration including a
substantially concave inner surface to engage said outer surface of
said anchor member.
8. The shallow water anchor of claim 2 wherein said anchor member
comprises an upper elongated element including an outer surface
terminating in a lower reduced anchoring element
9. The shallow water anchor of claim 8 further comprising an anchor
alignment to engage said outer surface of said upper elongated
element of said anchor member to maintain said anchor member in a
substantially vertical position.
10. The shallow water anchor of claim 9 wherein said substantially
vertical disk is at least partially disposed within a housing
including a wall and said anchor alignment comprises a groove
including an inner surface formed on said wall of said housing such
that said outer surface of said upper elongated element of said
anchor member engages said inner surface of said groove of said
anchor alignment and said inner surface of said groove of said
substantially vertical disk to maintain said anchor member in the
substantially vertical position.
11. The shallow water anchor of claim 10 further comprises an upper
anchor alignment comprising a hollow sleeve coaxially aligned with
the geometric center cooperatively formed between said inner
surface of said groove of said substantially vertical disk and said
inner surface of said groove of said wall of said housing to
receive said upper elongated element of said anchor member to
further maintain said member in the substantially vertical
position.
12. The shallow water anchor of claim 9 wherein said an anchor
alignment comprises a rotatably substantially vertical disk
including a groove having an inner surface formed in the peripheral
edge or circumference thereof to operatively engage said outer
surface of said anchor member opposite said outer surface of said
anchor member engaged by said inner surface of said groove of said
substantially vertical disk of said anchor engaging member.
13. The shallow water anchor of claim 12 further comprises an upper
anchor alignment comprising a hollow sleeve coaxially aligned with
the geometric center cooperatively formed between said inner
surface of said groove of said substantially vertical disk and said
inner surface of said groove of said wall of said housing to
receive said upper elongated element of said anchor member to
further maintain said member in the substantially vertical
position.
14. The shallow water anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor
engaging member comprises a substantially vertical disk having a
plurality of teeth or projections formed on a peripheral edge or
circumference thereof to operatively engage a plurality of teeth or
projections formed on said outer surface of said anchor member.
15. The shallow water anchor of claim 14 further comprising an
anchor alignment to engage said outer surface of said anchor member
opposite said plurality of teeth or projections to maintain said
anchor member in the substantially vertical position.
16. The shallow water anchor of claim 15 wherein said substantially
vertical disk is at least partially disposed within a housing
including a wall and said anchor alignment comprises a groove
including an inner surface formed on said wall of said housing such
that said outer surface of said upper elongated element of said
anchor member engages said inner surface of said anchor alignment
and said inner surface of said groove of said groove of said
substantially vertical disk to maintain said anchor member in the
substantially vertical position.
17. The shallow water anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor
positioning assembly is at least partially disposed within a
housing.
18. The shallow water anchor of claim 17 wherein said anchor
positioning assembly comprises an anchor engaging assembly
including a pair of counter-rotating anchor engaging members
rotatably disposed within said housing and operatively coupled to
said anchor positioning device or drive mechanism including a
reversible motor disposed within said housing and a gear drive
assembly disposed within said housing portion to cooperatively
raise and lower said anchor member.
19. The shallow water anchor of claim 18 wherein each said anchor
engaging member comprises a disk having a groove including an inner
surface formed in the peripheral edge or circumference thereof to
at least partially receive said anchor member therein.
20. The shallow water anchor of claim 19 wherein each said groove
comprises a rectilinear configuration including a substantially
flat inner surface to engage said outer surface of said anchor
member.
21. The shallow water anchor of claim 19 wherein each said groove
comprises a concave configuration including a substantially concave
inner surface to engage said outer surface of said anchor
member.
22. The shallow water anchor of claim 19 further includes a
resilient tread disposed within said groove of each said anchor
engaging member.
23. The shallow water anchor of claim 22 wherein said resilient
tread includes a V-shaped design to operatively engage said outer
surface of said anchor member.
24. The shallow water anchor of claim 22 wherein said anchor member
includes an upper elongated portion and a lower reduced
portion.
25. The shallow water anchor of claim 24 wherein said lower reduced
portion comprises a blunt substantially convex tip.
26. The shallow water anchor of claim 24 wherein the horizontal
distance between said resilient treads is less than the diameter of
said upper elongated portion of said anchor member to grasp or
squeeze said anchor member therebetween.
27. The shallow water anchor of claim 19 wherein the horizontal
distance between said inner surfaces of said grooves is less than
the diameter of said anchor member and said anchor member is
compressible such that said anchor member is grasped or squeezed
therebetween.
28. The shallow water anchor of claim 18 wherein said gear drive
assembly comprises a substantially vertical counter-rotating drive
gear operatively coupled to said reversible motor and said
counter-rotating anchor engaging members.
29. The shallow water anchor of claim 18 further includes an upper
anchor member guide including a guide hole having an inner surface
formed therethrough and a lower anchor member including a guide
hole having an inner surface formed therethrough mounted to or
supported within said upper housing portion and a lower housing
extension formed on said lower housing portion respectively such
that said anchor member extends through said guide holes and said
outer surface of said anchor member engages said inner surfaces of
said guide holes to maintain substantially vertical alignment of
said anchor member.
30. The shallow water anchor of claim 18 further including a free
floating disk squeegee or wiper member movably disposed within a
recess formed in said housing to wipe said outer surface of said
anchor member during the raising and lowering of said anchor
member.
31. The shallow water anchor of claim 30 wherein said free floating
disk squeegee or wiper member includes a substantially horizontal
groove formed on the outer vertical surface thereof and an inverted
frustum conical hole formed through the center portion thereof
aligned with said guide hole formed through said upper anchor
member guide and said guide hole formed through said lower anchor
member guide to receive said anchor member therethrough.
32. The shallow water anchor of claim 31 wherein the diameter of
said lower circumference of said inverted frustum conical hole is
slightly greater than the diameter of said anchor member and the
diameter of said upper circumference of said inverted frustum
conical hole is greater than that of the diameter of said anchor
member.
33. The shallow water anchor of claim 1 including an input control
device to control said anchor positioning drive or drive mechanism
to selectively raise or lower said anchor member.
34. The shallow water anchor of claim 18 further including a system
control to control the operation of the anchor position assembly to
selectively raise and lower said anchor member, said system control
comprises a microcontroller and input system controls to control
the operation of said anchor positioning device or drive mechanism
to selectively raise or lower said anchor member.
35. The shallow water anchor of claim 34 wherein said input system
controls includes a keypad.
36. The shallow water anchor of claim 34 wherein said input system
controls includes wireless receiver.
37. The shallow water anchor of claim 34 wherein said input system
controls includes manual operator switches.
38. The shallow water anchor of claim 34 including at least an
anchor position sensor assembly coupled to said microcontroller to
generate a sensor signal fed to said microcontroller when said
anchor member reaches a predetermined position during the raising
or lower thereof and said microcontroller generates a control
signal fed to said reversible motor to stop said reversible
motor.
39. The shallow water anchor of claim 38 wherein said anchor
position sensor assembly comprises a lower anchor member position
sensor coupled to said microcontroller and a lower anchor member
position sensing element coupled or mounted to said anchor member
such that when in proximity relative to each other said lower
anchor member position sensor element generates said sensor
signal.
40. The shallow water anchor of claim 39 further including a second
anchor system sensor assembly comprising an upper anchor member
sensor coupled to said microprocessor and an upper anchor member
positioning sensor element coupled or mounted to said anchor member
such that when in proximity relative to end other said upper anchor
member position sensor element generate said sensor signal.
41. The shallow water anchor of claim 38 wherein said anchor
position sensor assembly comprises an upper anchor member sensor
coupled to said microprocessor and an upper anchor member
positioning sensor element coupled or mounted to said anchor member
such that when in proximity relative to end other said upper anchor
member position sensor element generate said sensor signal.
42. The shallow water anchor of claim 34 wherein said system
control further includes a current sensor coupled to said
microcontroller to monitor motor current of said reversible motor
and to generate a current signal fed to said microcontroller when
said anchor member engages the bottom of the shallow body of water
and said microcontroller generates a control signal fed to said
reversible motor in response to said current signal to stop said
reversible motor to anchor the water craft in position.
43. The shallow water anchor of claim 42 wherein the current sensor
monitors motor current to generate a second current signal fed to
said microcontroller when said anchor member passes through said
anchor engaging members traveling upward when said reversible motor
is operating to raise said anchor member to the reverse direction
of said reversible motor to lower said anchor member until said
upper anchor member position sensor and said upper anchor member
position sensing element are in proximity relative to each other to
stop said reversible motor with said anchor member in the raised
position.
44. The shallow water anchor of claim 42 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in attitude of the water
craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
45. The shallow water anchor of claim 44 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in orientation of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
46. The shallow water anchor of claim 45 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in global position of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
47. The shallow water anchor of claim 42 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in global position of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
48. The shallow water anchor of claim 47 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in orientation of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
49. The shallow water anchor of claim 42 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in orientation of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
50. The shallow water anchor of claim 1 further including a system
control to control the operation of the anchor position assembly to
selectively raise and lower said anchor member, said system control
comprises a microcontroller and input system controls to control
the operation of said anchor positioning device or drive mechanism
to selectively raise or lower said anchor member.
51. The shallow water anchor of claim 50 wherein said input system
controls includes a keypad.
52. The shallow water anchor of claim 50 wherein said input system
controls includes wireless receiver.
53. The shallow water anchor of claim 50 wherein said input system
controls includes manual operator switches.
54. The shallow water anchor of claim 50 including at least an
anchor position sensor assembly coupled to said microcontroller to
generate a sensor signal fed to said microcontroller when said
anchor member reaches a predetermined position during the raising
or lower thereof and said microcontroller generate a control signal
fed to said reversible motor to stop said reversible motor.
55. The shallow water anchor of claim 54 wherein said anchor
position sensor assembly comprises a lower anchor member position
sensor coupled to said microcontroller and a lower anchor member
position sensing element coupled or mounted to said anchor member
such that when in proximity relative to each other said lower
anchor member position sensor element generates said sensor
signal.
56. The shallow water anchor of claim 55 further including a second
anchor system sensor assembly comprising an upper anchor member
sensor coupled to said microprocessor and an upper anchor member
positioning sensor element coupled or mounted to said anchor member
such that when in proximity relative to end other said upper anchor
member position sensor element generate said sensor signal.
57. The shallow water anchor of claim 54 wherein said anchor
position sensor assembly comprises an upper anchor member sensor
coupled to said microprocessor and an upper anchor member
positioning sensor element coupled or mounted to said anchor member
such that when in proximity relative to end other said upper anchor
member position sensor element generate said sensor signal.
58. The shallow water anchor of claim 50 wherein said system
control further includes a current sensor coupled to said
microcontroller to monitor motor current of said reversible motor
and to generate a current signal fed to said microcontroller when
said anchor member engages the bottom of the shallow body of water
and said microcontroller generates a control signal fed to said
reversible motor in response to said current signal to stop said
reversible motor to anchor the water craft in position.
59. The shallow water anchor of claim 58 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in attitude of the water
craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish an anchor position on the bottom
of the shallow body of water.
60. The shallow water anchor of claim 59 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in orientation of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
61. The shallow water anchor of claim 60 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in global position of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
62. The shallow water anchor of claim 58 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in global position of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
63. The shallow water anchor of claim 62 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in orientation of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
64. The shallow water anchor of claim 58 wherein said system
control further includes a micro-electromechanical sensor coupled
to said microcontroller to sense a change in orientation of the
water craft and to generate a signal fed to said microcontroller to
generate a control signal fed to said reversible motor to lower
said anchor member to re-establish anchor on the bottom of the
shallow body of water.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This is a continuation application of co-pending utility
application Ser. No. 13/986,742 filed May 31, 2013.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Field of the Invention
[0003] A shallow water anchor to selectively anchor a water craft
in a shallow body of water.
[0004] Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Fishing from a boat or other water craft in shallow water is
common where there are extensive shallow, grass-bottomed areas
known as "flats". Conventional anchors and poles forced into the
bottom are used to secure the boat in place.
[0006] Danforth or spud types used by flats fishermen has several
shortcomings. Often the boat's position is not firmly fixed
allowing the boat to drift at the end of the anchor line. In
addition, both setting and retrieving an anchor, the anchor's
flukes tear sea grass from the bottom causing significant
ecological damage. In addition, when the anchor is retrieved, mud
and sea grass from the anchor often foul the inside of the
boat.
[0007] Poles are often used to propel a boat through flats when
attempting to approach fish without the sound of an engine. In some
cases, the fisherman may provide some sort of pole-retaining
hardware such as a vertically disposed pipe having two open ends
and a diameter substantially greater then that of the pole may be
fastened to the boat hull to hold the boat to the pole after the
pole is thrust more or less vertically into the bottom. Such
arrangements fix the position of the boat more securely and cause
substantially less damage to sea grass beds than does anchoring.
This approach is not widely used, as poling is slow and laborious,
and the great majority of flats fishermen do not carry or use
poles.
[0008] U.S. 2013/0036961 discloses a shallow water anchoring device
that attaches to the outside hull of a boat. The device drives a
sharpened rod into the floor of the body of water. The device uses
an electric motor to drive the driving wheel that drives the rod
into the floor. The rod is housed within a tube that connects to
the housing of the driving wheel.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 2,092,011 shows an anchoring device for
watercraft comprising an extensible spud including a plurality of
multiplicity of telescopic sections adapted for slidable movement
through a well operating means including a rotatable pinion and
means in connection with the spud including a longitudinally
extending rack adapted to engage the pinion to move the spud
through the spud well.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,662 relates to a motorized push pole
device having a standard mounted to a raised poling platform on a
boat. A housing is mounted to the standard removable clamp around a
push pole. A drive wheel is mounted under the housing in contact
with the push pole to rotate in a first direction causing push pole
to move in an extendable motion and to rotate in the opposite
direction causing push pole to move in a retractable motion. An
electrical switch is connected to a motor for controlling operation
of the motor for rotating the drive wheel. The motor includes a
rotating motor shaft terminating in a worm gear. The drive wheel
further comprising a cog wheel for engaging the worm gear of the
motor.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 7,921,794 describes a rod-shaped anchor and
collar to slidably receive the anchor. A drive mechanism
selectively raises and lowers the anchor.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 16,704 discloses a device for pushing boats
through the water comprising a pole or rod and piston
combination.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,047 relates to an anchor comprising a
first part engagable within an anchoring medium ground along an
insertion axis; a second part to which loads are attached; and
linking means interconnecting the first and second parts while
permitting displacement of the second part relating to the
insertion axis so that when a load is applied to the second part
after the first part has been inserted into the anchoring medium
the second part can alter position without moving the first part
thus reducing the effective loading on the first part.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,064 teaches a land anchor comprising a
hammer element that permits the anchor to be driven into the soil
including a stabilizing assembly that increases the anchoring force
of the anchor for loose soils. The stabilizing assembly includes a
wing section that is expended from a stored, ground-entering
configuration to a ground-gripping configuration by operation of a
screw extending within a central rod of the anchor.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 1,122,401 is an additional example of the
prior art.
[0016] While various elements, in part, similar to some components
of the instant invention are known, the combination of structural
elements are neither taught or suggested.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention relates to a shallow water anchor
mounted on .sub.or in a water craft for use in a body of shallow
water comprising an anchor positioning assembly at least partially
disposed within an housing, an anchor member and a system
control.
[0018] The anchor positioning assembly comprises at least one
anchor engaging member coupled to an anchor positioning device or
drive mechanism to cooperatively raise and lower the anchor member
vertically between an elevated or raised position and an extended
or anchored position. The anchor engaging member comprises a disk
or wheel to operatively engage the anchor member; while, the anchor
positioning device or drive mechanism comprises'a reversible motor.
The disk or wheel coupled to the reversible motor is controlled by
a system control operatively coupled to a power source to
selectively raise and lower the anchor member.
[0019] The water craft may be powered about the shallow body of
water by a motor with the anchor member in the elevated or raised
position. When the water craft is located in a desired location,
the anchor member is then lowered by the system control causing the
reversible motor to rotate the disk or wheel to lower the anchoring
element downward until the anchor member engages the bottom of the
small body of water to anchor the water craft.
[0020] When the operator decides to move the water craft, the
direction of the reversible motor is reversed rotating the disk or
wheel in the opposite direction to raise the anchor member
vertically upward from the extended or anchored position
disengaging the lower portion of the anchor member from the bottom
of the shallow body of water allowing the water craft to move
about.
[0021] The invention accordingly comprises the features of
construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts
which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set
forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view of the shallow water anchor of the
present invention with the anchor member in the elevated or raised
position such that the anchor member is disengaged from the bottom
of the shallow body of water.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the shallow water
anchor of the present invention with the anchor member in the
second or lowered position such that the anchor member engages the
bottom of the shallow body of water.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the shallow
water anchor of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional top view of the shallow
water anchor of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an
alternate embodiment of the shallow water anchor of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional top view of the
alternate embodiment of the shallow water anchor of the present
invention shown in FIG. 5.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of another
alternate embodiment of the shallow water anchor member of the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional top view of the
alternate embodiment of the shallow water anchor of the present
invention shown in FIG. 7.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional front view of yet
another alternate embodiment of the shallow water anchor of the
present invention.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional rear view of the
alternate embodiment of the shallow water anchor of the present
invention shown in FIG. 9.
[0033] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional top view of the
alternate embodiment of the shallow water anchor of the present
invention shown in FIG. 9.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lower
portion of the housing and directional disk of the alternate
embodiment of the shallow water anchor of the present invention
shown in FIG. 9.
[0035] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the system control of the
shallow water anchor of the present invention.
[0036] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention relates
to a shallow water anchor generally indicated as 10 mounted on a
console generally indicated as 12 located mid-ship of a water craft
generally indicated as 14 for use in a shallow body of water
16.
[0038] The shallow water anchor 10 and console 12 may be located at
the bow 15 or the stern 17 or both at the bow 15 and the stern 17.
Alternatively, the water anchor 10 and console 12 may be located on
the starboard or port side of the water craft 14.
[0039] The shallow water anchor 10 comprises an anchor positioning
assembly generally indicated as 18 partially disposed within an
housing generally indicated as 20 including housing walls 21 and a
substantially vertical anchor member generally indicated as 22.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the anchor positioning
assembly 18 comprises an anchor engaging member generally indicated
as 24 coupled to an anchor positioning device or drive mechanism
generally indicated as 26 to raise and lower the substantially
vertical anchor member 22 between an elevated or raised position
(FIG. 1) and an extended or anchored position (FIG. 2).
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the anchor engaging member 24
comprises a substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 having a
concave groove 30 including a concave inner surface 31 formed in
the peripheral edge or circumference 32 thereof to operatively
engage the outer surface 52 of the anchor member 22. The
substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 is rotatably disposed
within a cavity 34 of the housing 20 by a pin or mounting member 36
and a drive shaft 38 extending outwardly from a reversible motor 40
which together form the anchor positioning device 26. The drive
shaft 38 of the reversible motor 40 may extend through opposite
housing walls 21 to support the substantially vertical disk or
wheel 28 without the pin or mounting member 36. The reversible
motor 40 is operatively coupled to a control device 41 and a power
source such as a marine battery (not shown). A resilient tread
similar to that shown in FIG. 11 may be disposed in the concave
groove 30 to operatively engage the outer surface 52 of the anchor
member 22. As described hereinafter with respect to an alternate
embodiment, the groove 30 may comprise a rectilinear groove or
configuration with a substantially flat inner surface.
[0042] As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the anchor member 22
comprises an upper substantially cylindrical elongated element 42
terminating in a lower substantially conically shaped anchoring
element 44 that cooperatively form a spike.
[0043] The shallow water anchor 10 may further comprise an anchor
alignment to engage the outer surface 52 of the upper substantially
cylindrical elongated element 42 of the anchor member 22 to
maintain the anchor member 22 in the substantially vertical
position. As shown in FIG. 4, the anchor alignment comprises a
substantially vertical groove 46 formed on the inner surface 48 of
an end wall 50 of the housing 20 that includes a concave surface 51
adjacent the concave surface 31 of the substantially vertical disk
or wheel 28 of the anchor engaging member 24 such that the outer
surface 52 of the upper substantially cylindrical elongated element
42 of the anchor member 22 engages the concave surface 31 and the
concave surface 51 to maintain the substantially vertically
disposed anchor member 22 in the substantially vertical
position.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, a secondary or upper anchor
alignment comprising a hollow sleeve 54 coaxially aligned with the
geometric center cooperatively formed between the concave surface
31 of the substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 and the concave
surface 51 of the end wall 50 of the housing 20 and disposed on the
top wall 56 of the housing 20 in vertical alignment with an upper
housing aperture 58 and a lower housing aperture 60 formed through
the top wall 56 and a bottom wall 62 of the housing 20 respectively
to receive the upper substantially cylindrical elongated element 42
of the anchor member 22 to further maintain the anchor member 22 in
the substantially vertical position.
[0045] When assembled, the anchor member 22 extends vertically
through the hollow sleeve 54 and the upper housing aperture 58,
engaging both the concave surface 31 and concave surface 51 and
through the lower housing aperture 60.
[0046] The water craft 14 is intended to be powered about the
shallow body of water 16 by a motor 64 with the anchor member 22 in
the elevated or retracted position (FIG. 1). When the water craft
14 is positioned in a desired location, the anchor member 22 is
then lowered by the reversible motor 40 using the control device 41
causing the substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 to lower the
anchoring element 22 downward to the extended or anchored position
(FIG. 2) such that the lower substantially conically shaped
anchoring element or tip 44 engages the bottom 66 of the shallow
body of water 16.
[0047] When the operator decides to move the water craft 14, the
substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 raises the anchor member 22
to an intermediate position or to the fully elevated or raised
position (FIG. 1) by operating the reversible motor 40 in the
opposite or reverse direction.
[0048] FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose an alternate embodiment of the
shallow water anchor 10 with similar structural elements similarly
designated. Specifically, the anchor positioning assembly 18
comprises an anchor engaging member generally indicated as 24
coupled to an anchor positioning device or drive mechanism
generally indicated as 26 to cooperatively raise and lower the
substantially vertical anchor member 22 between an elevated or
raised position (FIG. 1) and an extended or anchored position (FIG.
2).
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the anchor engaging member 24
comprises a substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 having a
concave groove 30 including a concave surface 31 formed in the
peripheral edge or circumference 32 thereof to operatively engage
the outer surface of the anchor member 22. The substantially
vertical disk or wheel 28 is rotatably disposed within a cavity 34
of the housing 20 by a pin or mounting member 36 and a drive shaft
38 extending outwardly from a reversible motor 40 which together
form the anchor positioning device 26. The drive shaft 38 of the
reversible motor 40 may extend through opposite housing walls 21 to
support the substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 without the pin
or mounting member 36. The reversible motor 40 is operatively
coupled to a control device 41 and coupled to a power source such
as a marine battery (not shown). A resilient tread similar to that
shown in FIG. 11 may be disposed in the concave groove 30 to
operatively engage the outer surface 52 of the anchor member 22. As
described hereinafter with respect to an alternate embodiment, the
groove 30 may comprise a rectilinear groove or configuration with a
substantially flat surface.
[0050] The anchor member 22 comprises an upper substantially
cylindrical shaped elongated element 42 terminating in a lower
substantially conically shaped anchoring element or tip 44 as shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0051] The shallow water anchor 10 may further comprise an anchor
alignment to engage the outer surface 52 of the upper substantially
cylindrical elongated element of the anchor member 22 to maintain
the anchor member 22 in the substantially vertical position. As
shown in FIG. 6, the anchor alignment generally indicated as 70
comprises a substantially vertical disk or wheel 72 having a
concave groove 74 including a concave surface 76 formed in the
peripheral edge or circumference 78 thereof to operatively engage
the outer surface 52 of the anchor member 22 opposite the outer
surface 52 of the anchor member 22 engaged by the concave surface
31 of the concave groove 30 of the substantially vertical disk or
wheel 28 of the anchor engaging member 24. The substantially
vertical disk or wheel 72 is rotatably disposed within the cavity
34 of the housing 20 by a shaft or mounting member 80.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, a secondary or upper anchor alignment
comprising a hollow sleeve 54 coaxially aligned with the geometric
center cooperatively formed between the concave surface 31 of the
substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 and the concave surface 76
of the substantially vertical disk or wheel 72 and disposed on the
top wall 56 of the housing 20 in vertical alignment with an upper
housing aperture 58 and a lower housing aperture 60 formed through
the top wall 56 and a bottom wall 62 of the housing 20 respectively
to receive the upper substantially cylindrical elongated element 42
of the anchor member 22 to further maintain the anchor element 22
in the substantially vertical position.
[0053] When assembled, the anchor member 22 extends vertically
through the hollow sleeve 54 and the upper housing aperture 58,
engaging both the concave surface 31 and the concave surface 76 and
through the lower housing aperture 60.
[0054] The water craft 14 and shallow water anchor 10 are operated
similarly to the shallow water anchor 10 described with reference
to FIGS. 1 through 4.
[0055] FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose another alternate embodiment of the
shallow water anchor 10 with similar structural elements similarly
designated. In particular, the anchor positioning assembly 18
comprises an anchor engaging member generally indicated as 82
coupled to an anchor positioning device or drive mechanism
generally indicated as 26 to cooperatively raise and lower the
anchor member 22 between the elevated or raised position (FIG. 1)
and the extended or anchored position (FIG. 2).
[0056] The anchor engaging member 82 comprises a substantially
vertical disk or wheel 84 having a plurality of teeth or
projections each indicated as 86 formed on the peripheral edge or
circumference 87 thereof to operatively engage a plurality of teeth
or projections each indicated as 90 formed on the outer surface 88
of the anchor member 22. The substantially vertical disk or wheel
84 is rotatably disposed within the cavity 34 of the housing 20 by
a pin or mounting member 36 and a drive shaft 38 extending
outwardly from a reversible motor 40 which together form the anchor
positioning device or drive mechanism 26. The drive shaft 38 may
extend through opposite housing walls 21 to support the
substantially vertical disk or wheel 28 without the pin or mounting
member 36. The reversible motor 40 is operatively coupled to a
control device 41 is operatively coupled to a power source such as
a marine battery (not shown).
[0057] The anchor member 22 comprises an upper substantially
cylindrical elongated element 42 terminating in a lower
substantially conically shaped anchoring element or tip 44.
[0058] The shallow water anchor 10 may further comprise an anchor
alignment to engage the convex outer surface 92 of the anchor
member 22 opposite the plurality of teeth or projections 90 to
maintain the anchor member 22 in the substantially vertical
position. As shown in FIG. 8, the anchor alignment comprises a
substantially vertical groove 46 formed on the inner surface 48 of
an end wall 50 of the housing 20 that includes a concave surface 51
adjacent the convex outer surface 92 of the anchor member 22.
[0059] This embodiment is similarly assembled and operated as the
two previously described embodiments.
[0060] FIGS. 9 through 12 depict yet another embodiment of shallow
water anchor generally indicated as 110 operable in a manual mode
or an automatic mode (auto-mode) mounted on or to the water craft
14 for use in the shallow body of water 16 as shown in FIGS. 1 and
2.
[0061] The shallow water anchor 110 comprises an anchor positioning
assembly disposed within a housing including a lower housing
portion 112 and an upper housing portion 114 and an anchor member
including an upper substantially cylindrical elongated portion 116
and a lower substantially conically shaped portion 118 terminating
in a blunt convex tip 120 to cooperatively form a spike (FIG.
12).
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 9 through 11, the anchor positioning
assembly comprises an anchor engaging assembly including a pair of
counter-rotating anchor engaging members each generally indicated
as 122 rotatably disposed within the lower housing portion 112 and
operatively coupled to an anchor positioning drive mechanism
including a reversible motor 124 disposed within the upper housing
portion 114 and a gear drive assembly generally indicated as 126
disposed within the lower housing portion 112 to cooperatively
raise and lower the anchor member between the elevated or raised
position (FIG. 1) and an extended or anchored position (FIG.
2).
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, each anchor engaging member 122
comprises a substantially vertical disk or wheel 127 having a
rectilinear groove 128 including a flat inner surface 130 formed in
the peripheral edge or circumference 132 thereof. A resilient tread
134 including a V-shaped design is disposed in each rectilinear
groove 128 to operatively engage the outer surface 136 of the
anchor member.
[0064] The horizontal distance between the resilient treads 134
aligned with the vertically disposed anchor member is less than the
diameter of the upper substantially cylindrical elongated portion
116 to grasp or squeeze the anchor member therebetween.
Alternately, the anchor member can be constructed of compressible
material to be grasped or squeezed between the flat inner surface
130.
[0065] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the gear drive assembly 126 of
the anchored position drive mechanism comprises a pair of
substantially vertical counter-rotating drive gears each indicated
as 138 disposed in operative engagement with a worm gear 142
coupled to the output shaft 140 of the reversible motor 124.
[0066] Each substantially vertical counter-rotating disk or wheel
126 and corresponding substantially vertical counter-rotating drive
gear 138 is rotatably disposed within the lower housing portion 112
by a mounting member or shaft 144.
[0067] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, a disk or donut-like upper
anchor member guide 146 including a guide hole 148 formed
therethrough and a disk or a donut-like lower anchor member guide
150 including a guide hole 152 formed therethrough are mounted to
or supported within the upper housing portion 114 and a lower
housing extension 153 formed on the lower end of the lower housing
portion 112 respectively by an upper guide support 154 and a lower
guide support 156 respectively. Since the anchor member extends
through the coaxially aligned guide holes 148 and 152, the outer
surface 136 of the anchor member engages the inner surface of the
disk or donut-like upper anchor member guide 146 and the disk or
donut-like lower anchor member guide 150 to maintain vertical
alignment or disposition of the anchor member.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 12, a free floating disk squeegee or wiper
member generally indicated as 158 is movably disposed within a
substantially circular or cylindrical recess 160 formed in the
bottom 162 of lower housing extension 153 of the lower housing
portion 112 to wipe the outer surface 136 of the anchor member
during the raising and lowering thereof. In particular, the free
floating disk squeegee or wiper member 158 includes a substantially
horizontal circular groove 164 formed on the outer vertical surface
thereof and an inverted frustum conical hole 166 formed through the
center thereof aligned with the guide hole 148 formed through the
upper disk or donut-like anchor member guide 146 and the guide hole
152 formed through the lower disk or donut-like anchor member guide
150 to receive the anchor member therethrough. The diameter of the
lower circumference 172 of the inverted frustum conical hole 170 is
slightly greater than the diameter of the upper substantially
cylindrical elongated portion 116 of the anchor member; while, the
diameter of the upper circumference 174 of the inverted frustum
conical hole 166 is greater than that of the diameter of the guide
hole 152 of the disk or donut-like lower anchor member guide 150.
The substantially circular or cylindrical recess 160 includes a
substantially horizontal flange or retainer lip 168 extending
inwardly from the mid-portion of the inner substantially surface
170 of the substantially circular or cylindrical recess 160 into
the substantially horizontal circular groove 164 of the free
floating disk squeegee or wiper member 158 to support the free
floating squeegee or wiper member 158 at least partially within the
substantially circular or cylindrical recess 168.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 13, the system control comprises a system
control circuit including a microcontroller 210 with a
microprocessor and operator or external system controls such as a
keypad 212, a receiver 214, a transceiver 216 and the hand control
41 (FIGS. 6 and 8), an upper and lower anchor position sensor
assembly including an upper anchor member position sensor 218
coupled to the microcontroller 210 (FIG. 9) and an upper anchor
member position sensing element 220 such as a magnet or reflective
element (FIG. 12), and a lower anchor member position sensor 222
(FIG. 9) coupled to the microcontroller 210 and a lower anchor
member position sensing element 224 such as a magnet or reflective
element (FIG. 9) respectively, and a current sensor 226 (FIG. 13)
coupled between the reversible motor 124 and the microcontroller
210, and a nine-axis micro-electromechanical sensor (MEMS) 228
(FIG. 13) including a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis magnetometer
and a 3-axis gyroscope coupled to the microcontroller 210, and a
global position system (GPS) sensor 230 (FIG. 10) coupled to the
microcontroller 210 through port 238.
[0070] A first or elevated sensor signal is transmitted to the
microcontroller 210 by the upper anchor member position sensor 218
when the upper anchor member position sensor 218 and the upper
anchor member position sensing element 220 are substantially
aligned in the horizontal plane or in proximity relative to each
other to stop the reversible motor 124 when the anchor member 116
is in the elevated or raised position. A second or extended sensor
signal is transmitted to the microcontroller 210 by the lower
anchor member position sensor 222 when the lower anchor member
position sensor 222 and the lower anchor member position sensing
element 224 are substantially aligned in the horizontal plane or in
proximity relative to each other to stop the reversible motor 124
when the anchor member 116 is in the lower most position whether or
not anchored.
[0071] The current sensor 226 monitors motor current of the
reversible motor. 124 to generate a first current signal fed to the
microcontroller 210 when the blunt convex tip 120 of the lower
substantially conically shaped portion 118 of the substantially
vertical anchor member 116 engages the bottom 66 of the shallow
body of water 16 to stop the reversible motor 124 to anchor the
water craft 14 in position.
[0072] In addition, the current sensor 226 monitors motor current
to generate a second current signal fed to the microcontroller 210
when the blunt convex anchor tip 120 of the lower substantially
conical shaped portion 118 of the substantially vertical anchor
member 116 passes through the counter-rotating anchor engaging
members 122 traveling upward when the reversible motor 124 is
operating to raise the anchor member 118 to the reverse direction
of the reversible motor 124 to lower the substantially vertical
anchor member 116 until the first upper anchor member position
sensor 218 and the second upper anchor member position sensing
element 220 are substantially aligned in the horizontal plane or in
proximity relative to each other to stop the reversible motor 124
with the anchor member in the elevated or raised position as shown
in FIG. 1.
[0073] When the shallow water anchor 110 is operating in the
auto-mode, the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor 228
feeds acceleration, gyroscopic, and magnetometer signals to the
microcontroller 210 for power management, deployment control,
bottom sensing and holding operation to maintain the anchor in the
anchored position (FIG. 2) when deployed.
[0074] Specifically, when the accelerometer, magnetometer or
gyroscope of the MEMS sensor 228 or the GPS sensor 230 coupled
through port 238 senses a change in attitude, orientation or
position of the water craft 14 a signal will be fed to the
microcontroller 210 which, in turn, generates an auto down signal
fed to the reversible motor 124 to power or move the anchor member
down to reestablish the anchored position. If the anchor member
remained anchored, then the current sensor 226 will signal the
microcontroller 210 to shut down the reversible motor 124.
[0075] The microprocessor of the microcontroller 210 calculates
current measurements as well as the use of the proximity sensor
signals for multiple parameter calculation techniques of pole
position determinations as previously noted. All motion commands
include speed information that controls the PWM signals from the
microcontroller 210 to the reversible motor 124.
[0076] In addition, motor controllers can use timed sensor
measurements to determine when the anchor is elevated and extended
or is securely anchored to the bottom 66 of the shallow body of
water 16 to feed stabilizing command signals fed from the MEMS
sensor 228 and the GPS sensor 230 through port 238 to the
microcontroller 210.
[0077] The anchor pole electronic system controls provide DC motor
operation and wireless interconnection of system devices. UP and
DOWN anchor controls are initiated by user inputs from switches
local 41 or remote RF connected devices. Manual or Auto modes of
operation are determined by the remote devices and updated commands
are sent to the microcontroller 210 to operate and control the
motor controller(s).
[0078] Manual UP and DOWN drives the motor(s) for a minimum time
upon receiving a command. Remote sends updated manual commands
repeatedly during activation. The auto extend or retract mode is
entered by the remote detecting a double switch sequence.
[0079] The reversible motor 124 and system control are powered from
a marine type direct current (DC) battery 232. The marine type DC
battery 232 supplies direct current power to analog, digital and
communication circuitry through a steering diode and voltage
regulators 234. Power is managed using an electromechanical relay
236 operated by the microcontroller 210. This power arrangement
provides reverse polarity protection and minimizes connection
sparking. The keypad switches 212 and LEDs are incorporated for
human interface to operate the motor drive and to indicate status.
JTAG and optional I/O ports 238 are incorporated to load the
program memory and to provide alternate connections such as USB,
CAN, GPS (NEMA) along with individual inputs and outputs. The
reversible motor 124 is controlled by signals generated by the
microcontroller 210 in response to the previously described control
signals and supplied to the reversible motor 124 with high current
pulse width modulated (PWM) controlled full H-bridge drivers. The
motor current sensor 226 provides instantaneous current measurement
to the microcontroller 210 for operational control. The
microcontroller 210 may employ a crystal (8 MHz) oscillator and
internal low frequency (32 KHz) RC internal oscillators to generate
trimming for timed digital and poser managed operation. An UHF (433
MHz) receiver is incorporated to provide low power short range
remote control. The UHF receiver is powered by one of the voltage
regulators with power management enabled control and is connected
to the antenna with a frequency selective matching network. The UHF
receiver data line is connected to the microcontroller 210 to
decode the baseband data. The 2.4 GHz transceiver module 216 is
included to provide cell telephone and internet connectivity with
Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi. The 2.4 GHz transceiver module 216
communicates with the microcontroller 210 using serial data
connections.
[0080] The shallow water anchor 110 may be reversed to a fully
retracted or elevated by reversing the motor divers to secure
shallow water anchor 110 in a predetermined position relative to
the counter-rotating anchor engaging members 122 of the anchor
positioning assembly as previously described. The electromechanical
control system is capable of employing time, current or position
sensor measurements to determine when the secure shallow water
anchor 110 is the elevated or raised position as shown in FIG. 1.
Extreme low power hibernation may be entered using timing and lack
of movement measured with or sensed by the MEMS sensor 228.
Commands or movement may wake the microcontroller 210 from
hibernation and prepare for normal operation. The MEMS sensor 228
and GPS sensor 230 allow the anchor pole system to maintain the
water craft 14 anchored position by operating the reversible motor
124 to raise or lower the anchor 110 independent of operator
input.
[0081] To summarize, in operation the user actuates the reversible
motor 124 using the control 41, key pad 212 or remote wireless
control to move or extend the anchor member downward until the
blunt convex tip 120 of the lower substantially conical shaped port
118 of the substantially vertical cylindrical anchor member 116
engages the bottom 66 of the shallow body of water 16 causing the
current through the reversible motor 124 to change with respect to
time such that the current sensor 226 to feed a control signal to
the microcontroller 210 to stop the reversible motor 124 to anchor
the water craft 14 in position. Alternatively, the control signal
can be fed directly to the reversible motor 124.
[0082] If the anchor member 116 reaches the fully extended position
before touching the bottom 66, the lower anchor member position
sensing element 224 of the lower anchor position sensor assembly is
substantially aligned in the horizontal plane or in proximity to
the lower anchor member positioning sensor 222 to generate a second
or extended sensor signal fed to the microcontroller 210 to shut
off the reversible motor 124. Alternatively, the control signal can
be fed directly to the reversible motor 124.
[0083] The operator can raise the anchor member 116 vertically
partially or to the fully elevated or raised position in order to
move the water craft 14 through the use of the control 41, key pad
212 or remote wireless control. When the anchor member 116 reaches
the fully elevated or raised position, the upper anchor member
position sensing element 220 of the upper anchor position sensor
assembly will be substantially aligned in the horizontal plane or
in proximity to the upper anchor member position sensor 218 to
generate a control signal fed to the microcontroller 210 or to the
reversible motor 124 directly to shut off the reversible motor
124.
[0084] Alternately, as the anchor member is raised or elevated, the
current sensor 230 will sense to the anchor member 116 not grasped
or clasped between the resilient treads 134 to generate a control
signal fed to the microcontroller 210 or directly to the reversible
motor 124 to reverse the direction of the reversible motor 124
moving the anchor member 116 downward until the upper anchor
position sensor assembly is aligned to shut off the reversible
motor 124.
[0085] Once anchored, any movement of the water craft 14 will be
sensed by the GPS sensor 230 coupled through port 238 or the MEMS
sensor 228 will generate a signal fed to the microcontroller 210
which, in turn, will feed an auto-down signal to the reversible
motor 124 to reestablish an anchored position by moving the anchor
member downward until the anchor member touches the bottom 66. If
the water craft 14 has not lost anchor, the current sensed will
cause the reversible motor 124 to shut off.
[0086] The inverted frustum conical hole 166 of the free floating
disk squeegee or wiper 158 receives the anchor member 116 when
moving downward centering the free floating disk squeegee of wiper
158 within the substantially circular or cylindrical recess 160 in
alignment with guide holes 148 and 152 of the upper disk or
donut-like anchor member guide 146 and the lower disk or donut-like
anchor member guide 150 such that the lower circumference of the
inverted frustum conical hole 170 engages the outer surface of the
upper substantially cylindrical elongated portion 116 of the anchor
member to wipe the outer surface clean when raising or retracting
the anchor member.
[0087] Although the use of a single shallow water anchor 10 is
described, two or more shallow water anchors 10 may be used in
tandem or laterally disposed.
[0088] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among
those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently
attained and since certain changes may be made in the above
construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it
is intended that all matter contained in the above description or
shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0089] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the
invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the
invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall
therebetween.
[0090] Now that the invention has been described,
* * * * *