Anchor apparatus, assemblies and methods

Abstract

An apparatus including a ground anchor having an elongated member which has a chisel-shaped, substantially straight front end portion and which also has at least two flanges extending outwardly from the elongated member along an imaginary longitudinal axis of the elongated member. The flanges include two wing-like flanges disposed in the same imaginary plane. Assemblies and methods for anchoring a structure to the ground using the apparatus are also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus comprising a ground anchor comprising an elongated member comprising a chisel-shaped, substantially straight front end portion and at least two flanges extending outwardly from the elongated member and along an imaginary longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the flanges comprise two wing-like flanges and wherein the wing-like flanges are disposed in the same imaginary plane. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the elongated member comprises a rear end portion which defines an axially extending blind bore, which bore is sized and configured for receiving a removable driving rod for forcing the ground anchor below a ground surface when the ground anchor is in use. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the elongated member comprises a rear end portion which defines an axially extending blind bore which bore is sized and configured for receiving a removable driving rod for forcing the ground anchor below a ground surface when the ground anchor is in use. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein each of the flanges comprises an angled tail portion. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising a tether structure for adjusting the position of the ground anchor below the ground surface. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  further comprising a stabilizing body which is sized and configured to coordinate with the tether structure, and which stabilizing body is partially disposed below the ground surface when the ground anchor is in use. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the stabilizing body comprises at least one gripping portion for limiting movement of the stabilizing body along the ground surface when the stabilizing body is in use. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the tether structure comprises a threaded shaft attached to the elongated member at a first end of the threaded shaft, and a nut sized and configured to cooperate with a second end of the threaded shaft and wherein the stabilizing body defines a substantially centrally disposed aperture whereby the position of the ground anchor is adjusted when the threaded shaft is positioned through the aperture of the stabilizing body and the nut is tightened along threads of the second end of the threaded shaft which threads extend beyond the aperture. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the tether structure comprises a flexible cable attached at a first end of the cable to the elongated member, and a winch assembly sized and configured to cooperate with a second end of the cable and wherein the stabilizing body defines a substantially centrally disposed aperture sized and configured to accommodate the second end of the cable whereby when the second end of the cable is positioned through the aperture of the stabilizing body and disposed through the winch assembly, the position of the ground anchor is adjusted by action of the winch assembly. 
   
   
       11 . An assembly for anchoring a structure which comprises:
 A) a ground anchor for disposal below a ground surface;   B) a tether structure for adjusting the position of the ground anchor below the ground surface which tether structure is attached to the ground anchor; and   C) a stabilizing body sized and configured to cooperate with the tether structure which stabilizing body is partially disposed below the ground surface when the ground anchor is in use.   
   
   
       12 . The assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the ground anchor comprises an elongated member comprising a chisel-shaped, substantially straight front end portion and at least two wing-like flanges extending outwardly from the elongated member and along an imaginary longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the flanges are disposed in the same imaginary plane. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly according to  claim 12  wherein each of the flanges comprises an angled tail portion. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the elongated member comprises a rear end portion which defines an axially extending blind bore, which bore is sized and configured for receiving a removable driving rod for forcing the ground anchor below a ground surface when the ground anchor is in use. 
   
   
       16 . The assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the stabilizing body comprises at least one gripping portion for limiting movement of the stabilizing body along the ground surface when the stabilizing body is in use. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the tether structure comprises a threaded shaft attached to the elongated member at a first end of the threaded shaft, and a nut sized and configured to cooperate with a second end of the threaded shaft and wherein the stabilizing body defines a substantially centrally disposed aperture whereby the position of the ground anchor is adjusted when the threaded shaft is positioned through the aperture of the stabilizing body and the nut is tightened along threads of the second end of the threaded shaft which threads extend beyond the aperture. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the tether structure comprises a flexible cable attached at a first end of the cable to the elongated member, and a winch assembly sized and configured to cooperate with a second end of the cable and wherein the stabilizing body defines a substantially centrally disposed aperture sized and configured to accommodate the second end of the cable whereby when the second end of the cable is positioned through the aperture of the stabilizing body and disposed through the winch assembly, the position of the ground anchor is adjusted by action of the winch assembly. 
   
   
       19 . A method for anchoring a framed structure to the ground, which method comprises:
 driving a ground anchor into the ground which ground anchor has a first end of a threaded shaft of a tether structure attached thereto;   attaching a stabilizing body to a second end of the threaded shaft;   biasing the stabilizing body toward the ground anchor so as to provide tension along the threaded shaft and to urge the stabilizing body into the ground; and   securing the stabilizing body to the framed structure so as to inhibit lateral and vertical movement of the framed structure.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the ground anchor comprises an elongated member comprising a chisel-shaped, substantially straight front end portion and at least two flanges extending outwardly from the elongated member and along an imaginary longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the flanges comprise two wing-like flanges and wherein the wing-like flanges are disposed in the same imaginary plane. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein each of the flanges comprises an angled tail portion. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the elongated member comprises a rear end portion which defines an axially extending blind bore, which bore is sized and configured for receiving a removable driving rod for driving the ground anchor into the ground. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the elongated member comprises a rear end portion which defines an axially extending blind bore which bore is sized and configured for receiving a removable driving rod for driving the ground anchor into the ground. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 19  which method further comprises limiting the movement of the stabilizing body along a ground surface by partially disposing a gripping portion of the stabilizing body below the ground. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the tether structure further comprises a nut sized and configured to cooperate with the second end of the threaded shaft and wherein the stabilizing body defines a substantially centrally disposed aperture whereby the position of the ground anchor is adjusted when the threaded shaft is positioned through the aperture of the stabilizing body and the nut is tightened along threads of the second end of the threaded shaft which threads extend beyond the aperture.