Ground anchors using tines and compression plate

Abstract

A ground anchor for beach anchoring of vessels comprises three spaced parallel tines ( 10 ) pointed at one end and secured in spaced relationship at the other end by a mounting member ( 14, 24, 34 ). The mounting member includes one or more vertical or horizontal plates ( 16, 26, 40 ) and an optional stabilizer ( 28 ) which coact with the tines ( 10 ) to induce overlapping zones of compression in a sandy soil mass to reinforce the soil against movement of the anchor when horizontal tension is applied to it from a hawser attached to a moored vessel.

1 . A ground anchor, comprising: 
 a plurality of tines having tapered free lower ends,    a mounting member, the upper ends of said plurality of tines being attached to said mounting member so that said tines are generally parallel and spaced apart,    a loop or aperture attached to or part of said mounting member for enabling a hawser to be attached to said mounting member,    said mounting member comprising a compression plate positioned to compress the ground when said tines are inserted into the ground and tension from a hawser is applied to said loop or aperture in a direction generally perpendicular to said tines,    whereby said anchor will resist pullout due to compression of the ground by said tines and said compression plate.    
   
   
       2 . The ground anchor of  claim 1  wherein said compression plate is generally parallel to said tines.  
   
   
       3 . The ground anchor of  claim 1  wherein said compression plate is generally perpendicular to said tines.  
   
   
       4 . The ground anchor of  claim 1 , further including a second compression plate so as to provide two compression plates, said compression plates being positioned perpendicular to each other so that one is parallel to said tines and the other is perpendicular to said tines.  
   
   
       5 . The ground anchor of  claim 1  wherein said compression plate has two opposing surfaces, is generally parallel to said tines, and said upper ends of said tines are attached to one of said surfaces, and further including a top plate which is oriented normal to said tines and is attached to said compression plate so that said anchor can be inserted in the ground by applying downward force to said top plate.  
   
   
       6 . The ground anchor of  claim 5 , further including a plurality of end members attached to said compression plate at a normal angle to said compression plate and parallel to said tines.  
   
   
       7 . The ground anchor of  claim 6  wherein said loop or aperture comprises a loop pivotally attached to said end members.  
   
   
       8 . The ground anchor of  claim 6  wherein said top plate has a pair of wings extending above said end members so as to limit pivotal movement of said loop.  
   
   
       8 . The ground anchor of  claim 5 , further including a horizontal stabilizing member comprising a front plate having a pair of side ends and a pair of side plates attached to said side ends and normal to said front plate, said side plates being pivotally attached to said end members so that said front plate can be pivoted parallel to or normal to said tines.  
   
   
       9 . The ground anchor of  claim 8  wherein, when said front plate is pivoted parallel to said tines said side plates extend up above said font plate and have free upper ends that are pivoted to said respective end members, and wherein said loop or aperture comprises an aperture in said front plate.  
   
   
       10 . The ground anchor of  claim 1  wherein said compression plate comprises a flat member which is oriented normal to said tines, and wherein said mounting member also comprises a flat vertical member having opposing faces and upper and lower edges which is (a) oriented parallel to said tines, (b) has one opposing face attached to said tines, and (c) has its lower edge attached to said compression plate so that said vertical member is attached substantially perpendicularly to said compression plate.  
   
   
       11 . The ground anchor of  claim 10 , further including a top plate attached to said upper edge of said vertical member, said top plate being oriented normal to said tines so as to provide a pushing surface.  
   
   
       12 . The ground anchor of  claim 11  wherein said loop or aperture is attached or part of said top plate.  
   
   
       13 . The ground anchor of  claim 11  wherein said top plate is rectangular and said loop or aperture is a loop attached said top plate.  
   
   
       14 . The ground anchor of  claim 11  wherein said top plate is has a pointed or tapered end and said loop or aperture is aan aperture formed in said pointed or tapered end.  
   
   
       15 . The ground anchor of  claim 1  wherein said tines are curved so that their lower ends point in a direction that is at an angle with respect to their upper ends, and so that said bottom ends are offset from said top ends in a direction parallel to said direction.  
   
   
       16 . A ground anchor comprising a mounting member and a plurality of spaced, parallel tines having pointed bottom ends and top ends attached to said mounting member, and a loop or aperture attached to or part of said mounting member for enabling a hawser to be attached to said mounting member, said mounting member comprising a compression plate having a flat surface or face, said flat surface or face being oriented with respect to said tines such that when said tines are inserted into soil or sand, pointed ends first, up to said mounting member, and a hawser is attached to said loop or aperture and pulled in a direction generally normal to said tines, said compression plate will tend to compress said soil or sand, whereby said ground anchor will have superior holding ability.  
   
   
       17 . The ground anchor of  claim 16  wherein said compression plate is generally parallel to said tines.  
   
   
       18 . The ground anchor of  claim 16  wherein said compression plate is generally perpendicular to said tines.  
   
   
       19 . The ground anchor of  claim 16  wherein said mounting member comprises said compression plate, a connecting plate, and a top plate said compression plate and said top plate being oriented generally perpendicular to said tines, said connecting plate being oriented generally parallel to said tines and attached to said tines and connecting said compression plate to said top plate.  
   
   
       20 . The ground anchor of  claim 16 , further including a second compression plate so as to provide two compression plates, said compression plates being positioned perpendicular to each other so that one is parallel to said tines and the other is perpendicular to said tines.  
   
   
       21 . The ground anchor of  claim 20  wherein said compression plate has two opposing surfaces, is generally parallel to said tines, and said upper ends of said tines are attached to one of said surfaces, and further including a top plate which is oriented normal to said tines and is attached to said compression plate so that said anchor can be inserted in the ground by applying downward force to said top plate, and further including a plurality of end members attached to said compression plate at a normal angle to said compression plate and parallel to said tines, said loop or aperture comprising a loop pivotally attached to said end members.  
   
   
       22 . The ground anchor of  claim 16  wherein said tines are curved so that their bottom ends point in a direction that is at an angle with respect to their top ends, and so that said bottom ends are offset from said top ends in a direction parallel to said predetermined direction.  
   
   
       23 . A ground anchor comprising a mounting member and a plurality of spaced, parallel tines having pointed bottom ends and top ends attached to said mounting member, and a loop or aperture attached to or part of said mounting member for enabling a hawser that extends in a predetermined direction generally perpendicular to said tines to be attached to said mounting member, said tines being curved so that their bottom portions are offset in a direction parallel to said determined direction.  
   
   
       24 . The ground anchor of  claim 23  wherein said mounting member further comprises a compression plate having a flat surface or face, said flat surface or face being oriented with respect to said tines such that when said tines are inserted into soil or sand, pointed ends first, up to said mounting member, and a hawser is attached to said loop or aperture and pulled in a direction generally normal to said tines, said compression plate will tend to compress said soil or sand, whereby said ground anchor will have superior holding ability.