Anchor system for supporting utility structure

Abstract

An anchor system for supporting a utility structure with a connecting guy wire is disclosed. The anchor system comprises: a ground anchor formed to be generally planar in shape having an inner surface around a center axis of the ground anchor to define an inner space extending between a top opening and a bottom opening, wherein the bottom opening is larger than the top opening; an anchor rod including a first end portion, a second end portion, and a rod body therebetween, the second end portion being shaped to be a wedge tapered longitudinally toward the rod body, wherein the shape and dimensions are configured to conform to the inner space; a crimp coupler crimped on the first end portion; a second crimp coupler on the second end portion; and an eyenut for coupling the guy wire to the crimp coupler. The ground anchor, anchor rod, and second end portion are made of non-metal material that resist corrosion and crimp couplers and eyenuts of metal or metal alloys.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anchor system for supporting a utility structure with a connecting guy wire, the anchor system comprising:
 a ground anchor formed to be generally planar in shape having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an inner surface disposed around a center axis of the ground anchor to define an inner space, the inner surface extending between a top opening on the top surface and a bottom opening on the bottom surface, wherein the bottom opening is larger than the top opening;   an anchor rod elongated longitudinally and including a first end portion, a second end portion, and a rod body therebetween, the second end portion being formed to have a shape of a wedge tapered longitudinally toward the rod body, wherein the shape and dimensions of the wedge are configured to conform to the inner space defined by the inner surface of the ground anchor;   a first crimp coupler crimped on the first end portion of the anchor rod;   a second crimp coupler on the anchor rod and encased by the second end portion; and   an eyenut for coupling the guy wire to the crimp coupler.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 in an assembled configuration, the second end portion is placed to fit in the inner space defined by the inner surface of the ground anchor while the anchor rod is positioned longitudinally along the center axis of the ground anchor, and secured in the inner space for resisting tension force longitudinally transmitted through the anchor rod.   
     
     
         3 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner surface is cylindrically disposed around the center axis of the ground anchor, and extends between the top opening and the bottom opening that are disposed circularly around the center axis, wherein a diameter of the bottom opening is larger than a diameter of the top opening.   
     
     
         4 . The anchor system of  claim 3 , wherein
 the wedge is a generally tapered solid cylinder having top and bottom wedge surfaces that are circular and disposed laterally to the anchor rod, wherein a diameter of the bottom wedge surface is larger than a diameter of the top wedge surface.   
     
     
         5 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner space defined by the inner surface of the ground anchor and the wedge are formed to have a generally polyhedron shape.   
     
     
         6 . The anchor system of  claim 5 , wherein
 the inner space defined by the inner surface of the ground anchor and the wedge are formed to have a generally pyramid shape.   
     
     
         7 . The anchor system of  claim 5 , wherein
 the inner space defined by the inner surface of the ground anchor and the wedge are formed with a portion of the shape comprising a larger diameter than the rest of the shape.   
     
     
         8 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the ground anchor has a shape of a generally round plate.   
     
     
         9 . The anchor system of  claim 7 , wherein
 the top surface of the ground anchor has radially formed ridges.   
     
     
         10 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 patterns, including ridges and basins, are formed on the top surface of the ground anchor to increase a top surface area, to increase anchoring resistance by increasing the amount of underground soil in contact with the top surface of the ground anchor in use in the ground.   
     
     
         11 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first crimp coupler has a shape of a generally hollow cylinder for crimping on the first end portion, and includes a threaded protrusion longitudinally formed at one end for fastening to the eyenut.   
     
     
         12 . The anchor system of  claim 11 , wherein
 the eyenut comprises an eye section for connecting to the guy wire and a nut section having a threaded inner surface for fastening to the threaded protrusion of the first crimp coupler.   
     
     
         13 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first crimp coupler and the second crimp coupler are made of a metal or metal alloy.   
     
     
         14 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the eyenut is made of a metal or metal alloy.   
     
     
         15 . The anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the ground anchor, anchor rod, and second end portion are made of non-metal material.   
     
     
         16 . The anchor system of  claim 15 , wherein
 the non-metal material is fiberglass.   
     
     
         17 . The anchor system of  claim 15 , wherein
 the non-metal material is carbon fiber.   
     
     
         18 . The anchor system of  claim 15 , wherein
 the non-metal material is fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite fiber rods.   
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling the anchor system for supporting a utility structure with a connecting guy wire of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 inserting the first end portion and the first crimp coupler crimped thereon from the bottom opening of the ground anchor through the inner space defined by the inner surface of the ground anchor;   passing the anchor rod, the second crimp coupler and second end portion crimped thereon, and the rod body of the anchor rod through the inner space until the second end portion and wedge is placed to fit in the inner space;   securing the second end portion in the inner space while the anchor rod is positioned longitudinally along the center axis of the ground anchor; and   fastening the eyenut to the first crimp coupler crimped on the first end portion of the anchor rod.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein
 the first crimp coupler has a shape of a generally hollow cylinder for crimping on the first end portion, and includes a threaded protrusion longitudinally formed at one end, and the eyenut comprises an eye section for connecting to the guy wire and a nut section having a threaded inner surface,   wherein the fastening comprises fastening the nut section of the eyenut to the threaded protrusion of the first crimp coupler.