Ground anchoring mechanism

• US 6,412,748 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fix Plus
• Original Assignee: Fix Plus
• Inventors: Girard, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US09/376,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 248/530, 248/523, 248/535, 248/156, 248/545, 248/539, 248/507, 248/508
• US Class Current: 248/530
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2215 driven into the ground ground anchors E02D5/80

Abstract

A ground anchoring mechanism for attachment to an article, such as a beach umbrella, comprises an anchor post defining a lower pointed end and a horizontal step section extending sideways from the anchor post such that the anchor post may be translationally driven into the ground by using a person'"'"'s foot onto the horizontal step section and driving the anchor post in the ground using the person'"'"'s weight. The ground anchoring mechanism also includes at least one strap, and preferably a pair of such straps, which defines an opening for receiving an upper end of the anchor post and which comprises an elongated band, typically resilient, which is used to encircle the pole of the beach umbrella and secure the same to the anchor post. The strap also defines on an inner side thereof a concave recess which is adapted to receive part of the circumference of the umbrella'"'"'s pole. Openings are defined in the elongated band such that the elongated band, once brought around the umbrella'"'"'s pole, may be secured to a protrusion provided on an outside surface of the strap. The provision of an elastic elongated band and more than one openings therein allow for various diameters of poles to be accommodated within the strap.

Claims

1. A ground engaging assembly for securing an elongated article with respect to the ground, comprising a ground anchor and at least one strap, said anchor having an upper section, a lower section adapted to be driven into the ground, a side section extending transversally outwardly such that when sufficient force is applied downwardly thereon said lower section of said anchor is driven at least partly into the ground, said strap being adapted to be brought around the article such as to secure the article at least along said upper section with said side section extending sufficiently outwardly of both said upper section and the article such as to be engagable by a foot of the user.

2. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein an inner surface of said strap defines a recess for receiving part of a periphery of the article, said recess being concave.

3. A ground engaging assembly for securing an elongated article with respect to the ground, comprising a ground anchor and at least one strap, said anchor having an upper section, a lower section adapted to be driven into the ground, a side section extending transversally outwardly such that when sufficient force is applied downwardly thereon said lower section of said anchor is driven at least partly into the ground, said strap being adapted to be brought around the article such as to secure the article at least along said upper section with said side section extending sufficiently outwardly of both said upper section and the article such as to be engagable by a foot of the user, wherein said strap defines a vertical opening for receiving said upper section of said anchor and includes an elongated band adapted to extend around the article and to be attached to said strap in a securely closed loop said upper section of said anchor extending completely through said vertical opening such that said strap is located intermediate opposed longitudinal ends of said upper section.

4. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said elongated band is made of resilient material, and wherein said elongated band and an outer surface of said strap are provided with co-operating fastening means which, in a closed position thereof, retain said elongated band in said closed loop.

5. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said fastening means comprise at least one protrusion extending transversally of said strap and at least one hole adapted to releasably receive said protrusion.

6. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said fastening means comprise at least two holes defined in said elongated band and at least one protrusion on said outer surface capable of engaging either one of the two holes.

7. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said holes of said elongated band and said protrusion are oblong-shaped.

8. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said vertical opening is of substantially oblong cross-section and is adapted to frictionally and tightly receive said upper section of said ground anchor.

9. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said upper section comprises a pair of parallel and vertical spaced sections adapted to slidably fit within said vertical opening.

10. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said side section is provided at a lower end of a first one of said vertical sections.

11. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein said anchor is an unitary construction, said vertical sections merging at upper ends thereof with an inverted U-shaped section, said first vertical section merging at a lower end thereof with said side section, a second one of said vertical sections extending downwardly to said lower section of said anchor and merging therewith.

12. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein said side section includes a horizontal portion extending outwardly from said lower end of said first vertical section and an angled portion extending downwardly and inwardly from an outer end of said horizontal portion and having a lower end thereof adjacent to said second vertical section.

13. A ground engaging assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said lower end of said angled portion is welded to said second vertical section.

14. A strap for securing a first article to a second article, comprising a first end defining an opening for securely receiving the first article such that the first article extends therein along an axis of said opening, an elongated band extending from said first end and substantially at right angles to said axis of said opening, said band having a free end and being adapted to extend around the second article and to be attached at said free end to a location of said first end in a securely closed loop, wherein said opening extends between said location and said closed loop.

15. A strap as defined in claim 14, wherein said elongated band is made of resilient material, and wherein said elongated band and an outer surface of said first end are provided with co-operating fastening means which, in a closed position thereof, retain said elongated band in said closed loop.

16. A strap as defined in claim 15, wherein said fastening means comprise at least one protrusion extending transversally of said first end and at least one hole in said band adapted to releasably receive said protrusion.

17. A strap as defined in claim 16, wherein said fastening means comprise at least two holes defined in said elongated band and at least one protrusion on said outer surface.

18. A strap as defined in claim 14, wherein an inner surface of said first end defines a recess for receiving part of a periphery of the second article, and oriented such that when the first and second articles are attached to said strap, the first and second articles extend substantially parallel.

19. A strap as defined in claim 18, wherein said recess is concave.

20. A strap as defined in claim 14, wherein said opening is of oblong cross-section and is adapted to frictionally receive the first article.