An anchor for a watercraft

Abstract

An anchor for a watercraft comprising a shank and at least one prong adapted for attachment to the shank, wherein the anchor for a watercraft also comprises at least one weakened connection configured to release the at least one prong from the shank when a load on the at least one prong exceeds a predetermined threshold.

1 . An anchor for a watercraft comprising:
 a shank;   at least one prong adapted for attachment to the shank; and   at least one weakened connection configured to release the at least one prong from the shank when a load on the at least one prong exceeds a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor for a watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the shank comprises two or more portions and wherein a first shank portion is frangibly attached to the second shank portion by the at least one weakened connection. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor for a watercraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the prong is frangibly attached to the shank by at least one weakened connection. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one weakened connection comprises or is a shear pin. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor according to  claim 2 , further comprising a stop member to preclude the first shank portion from passing through the second shank portion. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor according to  claim 5 , wherein the stop member comprises an outward extending flange. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor according to  claim 6 , wherein the flange is adapted to preclude movement of the at least one prong. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor according to  claim 1 , where the anchor comprises two or more different dimensioned prongs. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor according to  claim 8 , wherein each prong is adjacent different dimensioned prongs. 
     
     
         10 . The anchor according to  claim 1 , each of the at least one prong is pivotally hinged to the shank. 
     
     
         11 . The anchor according to  claim 1 , wherein the shank comprises a plurality of arms adapted to pivotally hinge at least one prong. 
     
     
         12 . The anchor according to  claim 1  comprising a first set of prongs and a second set of prongs, wherein the first set of prongs have a more acute fluke-shank angle compared to the second set of prongs. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor according to  claim 1  when used with a watercraft. 
     
     
         14 . A method of releasing an anchor for a watercraft including:
 providing an anchor for a watercraft comprising a shank, at least one prong adapted for attachment to the shank, and at least one weakened connection configured to release the at least one prong from the shank when a load on the at least one prong exceeds a predetermined threshold;   subjecting a load greater than the predetermined threshold on the at least one prong, to thereby release the anchor.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined load causes the at least one weakened connection to break which facilitates release of the at least one prong.