Multi-purpose auger-type anchoring system

Abstract

This anchoring system is specifically designed to be used in soft, sandy-like earth to anchor a variety of objects, including recovering of 4×4 vehicles stuck in sand or soft material, that need to be winched out without having a fixed object to anchor it to. In other words no fixed object like a tree or a pole, or another vehicle, is necessary to attach the anchor to. This anchoring system can easily be used by one person. What differentiates this auger from other kinds of augers is that the point of strength is underground and connected to a cable. If the cable is pulled it provides the anchor point to which a tensile load can be applied in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of the auger. It can be used in a variety of applications, like anchoring tents and poles, and recovering vehicles etc.

1 . An anchoring system including:
 a peg defining a longitudinal axis, the peg having an upper end and a lower end and being operable to be driven into the ground, the peg including an attachment formation defined at a lower end region of the peg; and   a flexible elongate connecting element which has a first end and a second end and which is attached to the attachment formation of the peg at its first end and which has an anchor point defined at its second end. the peg being driven into the ground, in use, so that the first end of the connecting element is below the ground surface and the second end is above the ground surface thereby to provide the anchor point to which a tensile load can be applied in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of the peg.   
     
     
         2 . The anchoring system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongate connecting element is in the form of a flexible cable. 
     
     
         3 . The anchoring system as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the connecting element is releasably attached to the attachment formation of the peg. 
     
     
         4 . The anchoring system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the connecting element is hingedly attached to the attachment formation of the peg. 
     
     
         5 . The anchoring system as claimed in anyone of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the peg comprises a shank which defines said longitudinal axis and said upper and lower ends of the peg; and a screw formation which surrounds at least a lower end region of the shank for use in screwing the shank into the ground. 
     
     
         6 . The anchoring system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the shank defines a longitudinal seat formation, in which part of the connecting element can be seated when screwing the shank into the ground, in use. 
     
     
         7 . The anchoring system as claimed in  claim 6 , which includes one or more holding formations for releasably holding the connecting element in the seat formation. 
     
     
         8 . The anchoring system as claimed in anyone of  claims 5  to  7 , which includes a handle formation which is connected to the upper end of the shank for applying a rotational force to the shank for screwing the shank into the ground, in use. 
     
     
         9 . The peg of the anchoring system as claimed in anyone of  claims 1  to  8 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of providing an anchor point to which a tensile load can be applied for anchoring an object, the method including:
 providing an anchoring system as claimed in anyone of  claims 1  to  8 ;   driving the peg of the anchoring system, into the ground in an arrangement wherein the first end of the elongate element is below the ground surface and the anchor point at the second end of the elongate connecting element is above the ground surface; and   connecting the object to the anchor point so that the tensile load can be exerted on the anchor point in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of the peg.