System and Method of Securing Pole Tents to a Ground Surface

Abstract

A tent securing system using a rigid base and relatively shorts stakes for securing the guylines of tents and other erectables to a ground surface, and particularly a ground surface comprising turf. The tent securing system typically comprises a rigid base having a plurality of holes spaced therethrough in a predetermined array or pattern, a plurality of relatively short auger stakes that pass through the holes and are secured into the ground, and a connector for coupling the rigid base to the guyline of the tent. The auger stakes are typically a fraction of the length of a prior art stake, but the tent securing system provides comparable and even superior pull-out force.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A tent guyline securing system comprising:
 a rigid base configured to rest on a ground surface, the base including a guyline connector and one or more stake holes extending therethrough; and   a stake having a head and a shaft extending downwardly from the head, the shaft being less than 12″ in length, the head including a lower portion comprising an integral washer from which the shaft extends, and an upper portion, the upper portion configured to interface with an installation tool, the integral washer having an effective washer diameter greater than a hole diameter of the one or more stake holes.   
     
     
         2 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the stake is an auger stake and the upper portion is configured to interface with at least one of a wrench, a ratchet with a socket, and an electric driver or drill permitting a user to turn the auger stake to screw or unscrew the auger stake from the ground surface. 
     
     
         3 . The tent guyline securing system of the  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is configured for striking with a mallet. 
     
     
         4 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 2 , wherein the upper portion comprises at least one of a hex head, a square heat and a socket head. 
     
     
         5 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is less than 8 inches in length. 
     
     
         6 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 2 , wherein the auger stake consists essentially of plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 6 , wherein the plastic is nylon. 
     
     
         8 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 2 , wherein a tip of the auger stake is blunted. 
     
     
         9 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 8 , wherein a tip of the auger stake has a diameter of more than about 0.2″. 
     
     
         10 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 8 , wherein the tip is semispherical. 
     
     
         11 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 2 , wherein the auger stake comprises a helical flange having a maximum diameter about twice the maximum diameter of the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid base is substantially comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid base comprises at least four or more stake holes extending therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom side of rigid base is substantially flat. 
     
     
         15 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the guyline connector comprises a looped strap passing through connector holes in the rigid base. 
     
     
         16 . The tent guyline securing system of  claim 1 , wherein the guyline connector comprises a U-bolt secured to the rigid base. 
     
     
         17 . In combination, a plurality of tent guyline securing systems of  claim 2 , and a pole tent, wherein the tent is erected on a ground surface with each tent guyline securing system coupled to the ground and each guyline of a plurality of guylines of the pole tent secured to a guyline securing system of the plurality of guyline securing systems to hold the pole tent erect. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using the tent guyline securing system of  claim 2  with a guyline of a pole tent, the method comprising:
 placing the rigid base on a ground surface at a desired location; 
 placing a first auger stake through a first stake hole and screwing it into the ground surface using one or more of a wrench, a ratchet with a socket, and an electric driver or drill until the integral washer of the first auger stake contacts a surface of the rigid base; 
 placing a second auger stake through a second stake hole and screwing it into the ground surface using one or more of a wrench, a ratchet with a socket, and an electric driver or drill until the integral washer of the second auger stake contacts a surface of the rigid base; and 
 attaching the guyline to the guyline connector. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 detaching the guyline from the guyline connector; and 
 unscrewing the first and second auger stakes from the ground surface using one or more of a wrench, a ratchet with a socket, and an electric driver or drill. 
 
     
     
         20 . A tent guyline securing system comprising:
 a rigid base with a substantially flat bottom surface configured to rest on a ground surface, the rigid base including a guyline connector and three stake holes extending therethrough; and   a plastic auger stake having a head and a shaft extending downwardly from the head, the shaft being less than 10″ in length and having a blunted tip with a diameter of more than about 0.2″ in diameter, the head including a lower portion comprising an integral washer from which the shaft extends, and an upper portion, the upper portion configured to interface with at least one of a wrench, a ratchet with a socket, and an electric driver or drill permitting a user to turn the auger stake to screw or unscrew the auger stake from the ground surface, the integral washer having an effective washer diameter greater than a hole diameter of the one or more stake holes.