Ice anchor system

Abstract

An ice anchor system, configured to secure items to a layer of ice formed at the surface of a body of water, is provided. The layer of ice has a bottom surface. The ice anchor system includes an anchor configured to seat against the bottom surface of the layer of ice. The anchor has a fin. A line is attached to the anchor and a float is slidably attached to the line. The float has a buoyancy. The anchor is configured for a substantially vertical orientation for insertion through an opening in the layer of ice and the fin is configured to urge the anchor into a substantially horizontal orientation for seating against the bottom surface of the layer of ice. The buoyancy of the float is configured to maintain the seating of the anchor against the bottom surface of the layer of ice.

1 . An ice anchor system configured to secure items to a layer of ice formed at the surface of a body of water, the layer of ice having a bottom surface, the ice anchor system comprising:
 an anchor configured to seat against the bottom surface of the layer of ice, the anchor having a fin;   a line attached to the anchor; and   a float slidably attached to the line, the float having a buoyancy;   wherein the anchor is configured for a substantially vertical orientation for insertion through an opening in the layer of ice and the fin is configured to urge the anchor into a substantially horizontal orientation for seating against the bottom surface of the layer of ice, and   wherein the buoyancy of the float is configured to maintain the seating of the anchor against the bottom surface of the layer of ice.   
     
     
         2 . The ice anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a center segment attached to opposing end segments, wherein the opposing end segments form angles with the center segment, and wherein the angles are in a range of from about 5° to about 40°. 
     
     
         3 . The ice anchor system of  claim 2 , wherein the opposing end segments include lobes. 
     
     
         4 . The ice anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a cleat, and wherein the line is attached to the cleat. 
     
     
         5 . The ice anchor system of  claim 2 , wherein one of the end segments includes a weight. 
     
     
         6 . The ice anchor system of  claim 2 , wherein one of the end segments includes an illumination apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The ice anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes opposing first and second segments, wherein at least one of the first and second segments include a plurality of angled surfaces, wherein the plurality of angled surfaces are configured to form a fin. 
     
     
         8 . An ice anchor system configured to secure items to a layer of ice formed at the surface of a body of water, the layer of ice having a bottom surface, the ice anchor system comprising:
 an anchor configured to seat against the bottom surface of the layer of ice, the anchor having a fin;   a rod attached to the anchor; and   a span member attached to the rod, the span member configured to extend beyond an opening in the layer of ice;   wherein the anchor is configured for a substantially vertical orientation for insertion through an opening in the layer of ice and the fin is configured to urge the anchor into a substantially horizontal orientation for seating against the bottom surface of the layer of ice, and   wherein the span member is configured to seat against an upper surface of the layer of ice and further configured to maintain the seating of the anchor against the bottom surface of the layer of ice.   
     
     
         9 . The ice anchor system of  claim 8 , wherein the rod is a threaded rod. 
     
     
         10 . The ice anchor system of  claim 9 , wherein the span member is held against the upper surface of the layer of ice by a fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The ice anchor system of  claim 2 , wherein the span member is made of angle iron. 
     
     
         12 . An anchor configured for securing items to a layer of ice formed at the surface of a body of water, the anchor comprising:
 a body having opposing end segments, at least one of the end segments having a fin;   wherein the body is configured for a substantially vertical orientation for insertion through an opening in the layer of ice and the fin is configured to urge the anchor into a substantially horizontal orientation for seating against the bottom surface of the layer of ice.   
     
     
         13 . The anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the anchor includes a center segment attached to opposing end segments, wherein the opposing end segments form angles with the center segment, and wherein the angles are in a range of from about 5° to about 40°. 
     
     
         14 . The anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the opposing end segments include lobes. 
     
     
         15 . The anchor of  claim 12 , wherein one of the end segments includes a weight. 
     
     
         16 . The anchor of  claim 12 , wherein one of the end segments includes an illumination apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the anchor includes a cleat, and wherein a line is attached to the cleat. 
     
     
         18 . The anchor of  claim 17 , wherein the cleat has a connector configured to connect opposing ends, wherein the heights of the opposing ends is different from each other. 
     
     
         19 . The anchor of  claim 18 , wherein a ring is configured to slide along the connector from one end of the cleat to the other end of the cleat.