Ground Anchor for Artificial Surface and Method

Abstract

An assembly of a ground anchor embedded within an artificial surface playing field is disclosed. The field has an artificial surface layer extending in a taut, level and smooth manner over an uppermost subsurface layer. A ground anchor body is embedded in the uppermost subsurface layer such that an upper wall of the ground anchor body engages an underside of the artificial surface layer. The upper wall of the ground anchor is fastened to the underside of the artificial surface layer with mechanical fasteners, an adhesive, or the like. An anchor member is connected to the ground anchor body and is extendable to a position in which the anchor member extends from the ground anchor body through a slit in the artificial surface layer to a position above the artificial surface layer so that it can be connected to an object to be anchored to the artificial surface layer.

1 . An assembly of an artificial surface playing field with embedded ground anchor, comprising:
 an artificial surface layer of a field extending in a taut, level and smooth manner over an uppermost subsurface layer of the field;   a ground anchor body embedded in said uppermost subsurface layer such that an upper wall of said ground anchor body engages an underside of said artificial surface layer;   means for positively securing said upper wall of said ground anchor to said underside of said artificial surface layer; and   an anchor member connected to said ground anchor body and extendable to a position in which said anchor member extends from said ground anchor body through a slit in said artificial surface layer to a position above said artificial surface layer for being connected to an object to anchor the object to said artificial surface layer.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a depth of penetration of said ground anchor body into said uppermost subsurface layer is less than 1 inch. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly according  claim 1 , wherein said anchor member is a flexible cord or chain, wherein one end of said flexible cord or chain is secured to said ground anchor body and wherein an opposite free end of said flexible cord or chain is movable to said position above said artificial surface layer and is removably connectable to the object to be anchored to said artificial surface layer. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said ground anchor body is a substantially flat, elongate, shallow body and said upper wall of said ground anchor body has a substantially flat upper surface that extends flush and level with an upper surface of said upper most subsurface layer. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said upper wall is elongate having a length and a width, with said length being greater than said width. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said anchor member has a fixed end secured to said ground anchor body and a free end extendable to said position above said artificial surface layer and to a stowed position below said upper wall, and wherein said upper wall has an opening formed therein permitting passage of said free end of said anchor member therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said slit in said artificial surface layer is located adjacent said opening of said upper wall, and wherein said slit extends perpendicular to said length of said elongate upper wall and is of a length less than said length of said elongate upper wall. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said ground anchor body defines a hollow compartment for housing said anchor member in a position completely below said artificial surface layer when said anchor member is not in use. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said upper wall of said ground anchor body extends laterally beyond said hollow compartment. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sports goal, wherein said anchor member extending to said position above said artificial surface layer is connected to said sports goal for anchoring said sports goal in a desired position on said artificial surface layer. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for positively securing said upper wall of said ground anchor to said underside of said artificial surface layer is an adhesive or a mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said artificial surface layer is a layer of artificial turf. 
     
     
         13 . A ground anchor, comprising:
 a substantially flat and shallow ground anchor body having a laterally- extending upper wall; and   an anchor member connected to said ground anchor body and moveable between a stowed position and an anchoring position, in said stowed position said anchor member being located entirely below said upper wall and in said anchoring position a free end part of said anchor member being extendable to a position above said upper wall for being removably connectable to an object to be anchored.   
     
     
         14 . A ground anchor according to  claim 13 , further comprising mechanical fasteners for fastening said upper wall of said ground anchor body to an overlying layer of artificial turf. 
     
     
         15 . A ground anchor according to  claim 14 , wherein said shallow ground anchor body being less than one inch in thickness thereby requiring a depth of penetration into the subsurface of the ground of less than 1 inch. 
     
     
         16 . A ground anchor according  claim 15 , wherein said anchor member is a flexible cord or chain, wherein one end of said flexible cord or chain is secured to said ground anchor body and wherein an opposite free end of said flexible cord or chain has a connection eyelet removably connectable to the object to be anchored. 
     
     
         17 . A ground anchor according  claim 15 , wherein said upper wall of said ground anchor body has a substantially flat upper surface, wherein said upper wall is elongate having a length and a width, with said length being greater than said width, and wherein said upper wall has an opening formed therein permitting passage of said free end part of said anchor member therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . A method of installing a ground anchor on a playing field, comprising the steps of:
 embedding a ground anchor body within an uppermost subsurface layer of the playing field directly beneath an artificial surface layer of the playing field, said ground anchor having an extendable anchor member that is positioned below the artificial surface layer when not in use and that is extendable to a position above the artificial surface layer for being connected to an object to be anchored; and   after said embedding step, fastening the artificial surface layer to an upper wall of the ground anchor body with mechanical fasteners or an adhesive.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein during said embedding step, a depth of penetration of the ground anchor body relative to the uppermost subsurface layer is no greater than 1 inch. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of, before said embedding step, cutting a slit-shaped opening in the artificial surface layer and inserting the ground anchor body through the slit-shaped opening such that the extendable anchor member is positioned adjacent said slit-shaped opening for being extended through said slit-shaped opening, said ground anchor body being elongate having a length and a width, and the slit-shaped opening extending perpendicular to the length of the elongate ground anchor body and being of a length that is equal to about the width of the elongate ground anchor body.