Ground anchors with compression plates

Abstract

Ground anchors, in particular tent stakes ( 100 ), comprise one or more inherently flexible tines ( 110 ), a ground compression plate ( 160 ), and various tie points (420, etc.) for attaching a guy rope or the like to the top of anchor. The compression plate extends perpendicularly or at a large angle to the tine so that when the guy rope pulls on the anchor, the tine will tend to rotate about an underground fulcrum so that the compression plate will press against the ground and help the anchor resist pullout. The anchors are preferably driven into the ground with a hammer or mallet. The tie points include hooks ( 420 ), closed holes ( 520 ), and swivel types comprising vertical members ( 810 ) with restraining, bulbous tops ( 820 ). An additional spring tie point ( 1600 ) can be inserted into optional lugs ( 1094, 1096 ) in the compression plate. The stakes can be driven into the ground vertically, or at an angle for additional holding force in some situations. They can also incorporate angled compression plates ( 160 H, 160 I). The stakes can be manufactured by a variety of means in various materials such as glass-reinforced plastic and forged or stamped metal.

1 . A ground anchor stake, comprising: 
 a. at least one elongated tine with top and bottom ends and a tip at said bottom end,    b. a compression plate fixed near said top end of said tine, said plate being oriented at an angle to said tine, said angle being 90 degrees or acute,    c. at least one tie point near said top of said tine,    whereby said tip of said tine can be driven into the ground until said plate contacts said ground, so that said plate will aid said stake in resisting pullout from said ground.    
   
   
       2 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said tip is selected from the group consisting of pointed and wedge-shaped members.  
   
   
       3 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein a second shortened tine extends beneath said plate.  
   
   
       4 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said angle is 90 degrees.  
   
   
       5 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the said angle is acute.  
   
   
       6 . The plate of  claim 5  wherein said compression plate includes a portion that lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said tine.  
   
   
       7 . The anchor of  claim 1  further including an expansion plate affixed to said compression plate, said expansion plate being larger than said compression plate.  
   
   
       8 . The anchor of  claim 7  wherein said expansion plate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic.  
   
   
       9 . The anchor of  claim 1 , further including a spring affixed to said compression plate.  
   
   
       10 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said stake is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic.  
   
   
       11 . The anchor of  claim 1  further including a bight loop formed in the intersection between said compression plate and said top of said tine.  
   
   
       12 . The anchor of  claim 1  further including at least one hook extending from a position near said top end of said tine, and lying above said compression plate.  
   
   
       13 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said tie point comprises a neck and a top, both lying above said compression plate.  
   
   
       14 . The anchor of  claim 13  wherein said tie point further includes a second tie point extending from said top downward to said compression plate.  
   
   
       15 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said tie point comprises at least one hole.  
   
   
       16 . The anchor of  claim 15  wherein said hole is located in said compression plate.  
   
   
       17 . The anchor of  claim 15  wherein said hole is located in said tine, above said compression plate.  
   
   
       18 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said tie point is a tie-off bar.  
   
   
       19 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said tie point is a hook extending from the top surface of said compression plate.  
   
   
       20 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein said tine further includes at least one first hole into which a pin can be inserted, said compression plate further includes a tubular portion attached to a top side of said compression plate and provided with at least one second hole for accommodating said pin so that said pin attaches said compression plate to said tine yet can be slidably moved up and down on said tine, whereby said tine can be driven a variable distance into the ground and said compression plate slidably moved downward on said tine until said compression plate contacts said ground, and said pin is inserted into said first and second holes, thereby holding said compression plate against said ground.  
   
   
       21 . The anchor of  claim 20  wherein the cross-section of said tine is selected from the group consisting of star-shaped, round, and square.  
   
   
       22 . A method for anchoring a pull load to the ground, comprising: 
 providing a stake with at least one elongated tine with a tip, providing a compression plate attached to said tine near the top of said tine, said compression plate forming an angle of 90 degrees or an acute angle with said tine, providing at least one tie point near the top of said tine, driving said tip into the ground until said plate contacts said ground, attaching a pull load to said tie point, whereby said plate will aid said stake in resisting pullout from said ground.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said tip is selected from the group consisting of pointed and wedge-shaped members.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further including a second shortened tine extending beneath said compression plate.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said angle is 90 degrees.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said angle is acute.  
   
   
       27 . The plate of  claim 26  wherein said compression plate includes a portion that lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said tine.  
   
   
       28 . A ground anchor comprising: 
 a. a stake including at least one elongated tine having bottom and top ends with a tip at said bottom end,    b. ground compression means attached to said tine for compressing said ground adjacent said tine, said plate forming an angle of 90 degrees or acute with said tine,    c. tie point means near said top end of said stake,    whereby when said tip of said tine is driven into said ground, said plate will aid said stake in resisting pullout from said ground.