U.S. patent application number 16/953424 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-26 for yard stake.
The applicant listed for this patent is Steve Bright, Stephen Gifford, Steve Mahurin. Invention is credited to Steve Bright, Stephen Gifford, Steve Mahurin.
Application Number | 20220162875 16/953424 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005265815 |
Filed Date | 2022-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220162875 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bright; Steve ; et
al. |
May 26, 2022 |
Yard Stake
Abstract
A garden stake includes a top portion that includes an elongate
parallelepiped body having an open top and a closed bottom. The
body has a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough. A
flange extends outwardly from the closed bottom. A bottom portion
includes a spike extending from the flange, away from the body.
Inventors: |
Bright; Steve; (Aurora,
MO) ; Mahurin; Steve; (Milton, GA) ; Gifford;
Stephen; (Mocksville, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bright; Steve
Mahurin; Steve
Gifford; Stephen |
Aurora
Milton
Mocksville |
MO
GA
NC |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005265815 |
Appl. No.: |
16/953424 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/2269 20130101;
E04H 12/2215 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04H 12/22 20060101
E04H012/22 |
Claims
1. A garden stake comprising: a top portion comprising an elongate
parallelepiped body having an open top and a closed bottom, the
body having a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough; a
flange extending outwardly from the closed bottom; and a bottom
portion comprising a spike extending from the flange, away from the
body.
2. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the
parallelepiped body has a square cross section.
3. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the top portion
further comprises a lip extending around a perimeter of the open
top.
4. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the body
comprises a front side having a first plurality of rectangular
through openings spaced along a length of the body.
5. The garden stake according to claim 4, wherein the front side
further comprises a plurality of screw holes extending
therethrough, wherein each of the plurality of screw holes is
formed between adjacent through openings.
6. The garden stake according to claim 4, wherein the body
comprises a rear side having a second plurality of rectangular
through openings spaced along a length of the body.
7. The garden stake according to claim 6, wherein the second
plurality of through openings is vertically offset from the first
plurality of through openings.
8. The garden stake according to claim 6, wherein at least one of
the second plurality of through openings is vertically aligned with
one of the screw holes.
9. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the flange is
circular in shape.
10. The garden stake according to claim 1, wherein the spike
comprises a plurality of spike faces extending outwardly from the
central longitudinal axis.
11. The garden stake according to claim 10, wherein each of the
plurality of spike faces is triangular in shape.
12. The garden stake according to claim 10, wherein the plurality
of spike faces form a cross-shaped cross section.
13. A garden stake comprising: a hollow body having: an open top; a
bottom; a front face extending between the open top and the bottom,
the front face having a first plurality of through openings formed
therein; and a rear face extending between the open top and the
closed bottom, opposite from the front face, the rear face having a
second plurality of through openings formed therein; a flange
extending outwardly from the closed bottom; and a spike extending
from the flange, the spike comprising a plurality of spike faces
having a wide end proximate to the flange and a narrow tip distal
from the flange.
14. The garden stake according to claim 13, further comprising a
lip surrounding the open top.
15. The garden stake according to claim 13, wherein the front face
has a plurality of screw holes extending therethrough.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to a stake that can be inserted into
the ground to support structures, such as trellises, yard signs,
and the like.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Many yard structures, such as trellises, are constructed
from wood. When a wooden structure is placed on in inserted into
the ground, however, over time, the wooden structure tends to rot,
reducing the life of the wooden structure.
[0003] It would be beneficial to provide a device that can be
inserted into the ground to support a wooden structure so that the
wooden structure can avoid direct contact with the ground.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter.
[0005] In one embodiment, the present invention is a garden stake
comprising a top portion that includes an elongate parallelepiped
body having an open top and a closed bottom. The body has a central
longitudinal axis extending therethrough. A flange extends
outwardly from the closed bottom. A bottom portion includes a spike
extending from the flange, away from the body.
[0006] In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is a
garden stake comprising a hollow body having, an open top, a
bottom, and a front face extending between the open top and the
bottom. The front face has a first plurality of through openings
formed therein. A rear face extends between the open top and the
closed bottom, opposite from the front face. The rear face has a
second plurality of through openings formed therein. A flange
extends outwardly from the closed bottom and a spike extends from
the flange. The spike comprises a plurality of spike faces having a
wide end proximate to the flange and a narrow tip distal from the
flange.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the
general description given above and the detailed description given
below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the
drawings:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a garden stake
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the stake of FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the stake of FIG.
1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the stake of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the stake of FIG.
1, with the right side of the stake being identical;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the stake of FIG. 1; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the stake of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements
throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only
and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention.
The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned,
derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments
illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are
chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention
and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled
in the art to best utilize the invention.
[0016] Reference herein to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment"
means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic
described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at
least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the
phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification
are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are
separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive
of other embodiments. The same applies to the term
"implementation."
[0017] As used in this application, the word "exemplary" is used
herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration.
Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not
necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other
aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended
to present concepts in a concrete fashion.
[0018] The word "about" is used herein to include a value of +/-10
percent of the numerical value modified by the word "about" and the
word "generally" is used herein to mean "without regard to
particulars or exceptions."
[0019] Additionally, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive
"or" rather than an exclusive "or". That is, unless specified
otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to
mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X
employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs
A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In
addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this application and
the appended claims should generally be construed to mean "one or
more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be
directed to a singular form.
[0020] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and
range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word
"about" or "approximately" preceded the value of the value or
range.
[0021] The use of figure numbers and/or figure reference labels in
the claims is intended to identify one or more possible embodiments
of the claimed subject matter in order to facilitate the
interpretation of the claims. Such use is not to be construed as
necessarily limiting the scope of those claims to the embodiments
shown in the corresponding figures.
[0022] The present invention provides a garden stake 100 ("stake
100") that can be used to support or secure structures place on an
unpaved or uncovered surface, such as a lawn, a flower bed, or
other permeable surface, such as soil. Stake 100 can support the
legs of a trellis, a yard sign, or other instrument that is
typically placed on or into the permeable surface. Additionally,
stake 100 can be used to add support to a tree, a shade umbrella,
or any other object placed or planted into the permeable
surface.
[0023] Stake 100 can be constructed from a polymer or other
non-corrosive material that will not deteriorate or decompose with
contact with soil or other organic matter. Stake 100 allows
materials that are constructed from material that will deteriorate
or decompose with contact with soil or other organic matter, such
as wood, to be erected using stake 100 and prevent or retard such
deterioration.
[0024] Referring to the Figures, garden stake 100 comprises a top
portion 102 comprising an elongate parallelepiped body 104 having
an open top 106 and a closed bottom 108. Body 104 has a central
longitudinal axis 101 extending therethrough. A flange 130 extends
outwardly from the closed bottom 108 and a bottom portion 150
comprises a spike 152 extending from flange 130, away from body
104. The device to be supported is inserted into body 104, while
bottom portion 150 including stake 152 is inserted into the
ground.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 6, parallelepiped body 104 has a square
cross section. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize
that body 104 can have a different shaped cross section, such as
round. Additionally, top portion 102 further comprises a lip 110
extending around a perimeter of the open top 106.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, body 104 includes a front side 112
having a first plurality of rectangular through openings 114 spaced
along a length of body 104. Additionally, front side 112 further
includes a plurality of screw holes 116 extending therethrough.
Each of the plurality of screw holes 116 is formed between adjacent
through openings 114. Screw holes 116 allow a user to insert an
object, such as trellis legs (not shown), into body 104 through
open top 106 and secure stake 100 to the object by inserting screws
through screw holes 116 and into the object.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, body 104 also includes comprises a rear
side 120 having a second plurality of rectangular through openings
122 spaced along a length of the body 104. Front through openings
114 and rear through openings 122 are used to allow a clam shell
injection mold without undercuts and to reduce the amount of
material, redicing the weight of body 104.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, as can be shown by FIGS. 3 and
4, the second plurality of through openings 122 is vertically
offset from the first plurality of through openings 114 to prevent
over-weakening of the structure of body 104 in a plane
perpendicular to axis 101 through any of through openings 114, 122.
FIG. 4, however, shows that the upper two of the second plurality
of through openings 122 are vertically aligned with screw holes 116
such that screw holes 116 can be seen through corresponding through
openings 122.
[0029] Right and left side walls 126, 128, shown in FIGS. 2 and 1,
respectively, connect front side 112 to rear side 120. In an
exemplary embodiment, each of right and left side walls 126, 128 is
solid, although those skilled in the art will recognize that side
walls 126, 128 can have through openings formed therein.
[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, flange 130 is circular in shape.
Flange 130 is used to stop penetration of stake 100 into ground,
when stake 100 is inserted into the ground, such that flange 130
rests on top of the ground, with top portion 102 extending above
the ground and bottom portion 150 inserted into the ground. Flange
130 helps to stabilize the object inserted into body 104 so that
the object does not readily tip over.
[0031] Also, in an exemplary embodiment, spike 152 includes a
plurality of spike faces 154 extending outwardly from the central
longitudinal axis 101. Each of the plurality of spike faces 154 is
triangular in shape with a wide end 156 proximate to flange 130 and
a narrow tip 158 distal from flange 130. In an exemplary
embodiment, four (4) spike faces 154 are provided and extend
orthogonally relative to adjacent spike faces such that the
plurality of spike faces 154 form a cross-shaped cross section, as
shown in FIG. 7. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize
that more or less than four (4) spike faces 154 can be
provided.
[0032] To use stake 100 to support a trellis (not shown), one stake
100 is used for each trellis leg. Stakes 100 are spaced according
to the spacing between trellis legs and are hammered into the
ground. A block having an outer perimeter larger than the perimeter
of lip 110 is placed on lip 110 and the user pounds on the block
with a hammer (not shown) to drive bottom portion 150 of stake 100
into the ground up to flange 130. The block is removed from lip 110
and the process is repeated for additional stakes 100, as needed.
After all stakes 100 are inserted into the ground, the trellis legs
can be inserted into the body 104 of each stake 100.
[0033] It will be further understood that various changes in the
details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been
described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this
invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing
from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following
claims.
* * * * *