A stake to be inserted into the ground or other soft medium and used to moor a watercraft, tether an animal, support an umbrella or secure a tent includes a slide hammer having a central shaft, an enlarged tubular striking handle, and a spike hingedly mounted at a distal end of the shaft; whereby the spike can be folded against the shaft and stowed within the handle for safe handling. The spike can be spring-loadedly angularly locked in the deployed orientation.

A system for anchoring a pole into the ground includes an anchoring base intended to be anchored into the ground, the anchoring base exhibiting a high, flush end intended to be flush with the ground; at least one interface exhibiting a housing capable of holding a pole, the interface having elements for holding a pole inserted in the housing thereof; and elements for assembling/disassembling the interface on the anchoring base.

A beach umbrella post having a suction system whereby the post of the beach umbrella is configured to suction sand when inserted into a soft surface via a plunger enabling the beach umbrella to anchor without the use of external weights or digging tools. The beach umbrella post with integrated suction also includes a release mechanism to expel sand from the inner compartment when use is ended.

A footing plate (10) including a planar web (12) through or from which a plurality of tubes (14) pass, the tubes (14) being adjacent to the edges of the planar web (12) and being disposed at angles to the planar web (12), none of the angles being 90, the tubes (14) being sized to permit the passage therethrough of pins (18) for fixing into underlying ground, the upper face of the planar web (12) optionally being provided with a plurality of holes to accept bolts for retaining means to receiving a post, pole or upright structural beam, the planar web (12) also being provided with a downwardly extending flange (16) from at least one of the edges of the planar web (12).

An embedded pole installation method including applying a rotational force to a leading pole and an intermediate pole. The leading pole comprises a first helical plate disposed on a first portion of the leading pole. The intermediate pole is coupled to a second portion of the leading pole and comprises a second helical plate disposed on a first portion of the intermediate pole. The diameter of the intermediate pole is greater than a diameter of the leading pole. Applying the rotational force embeds the first helical plate and the second helical plate into a foundation such that a second portion of the intermediate pole does not penetrate the foundation. The method further includes coupling a utility pole to the second portion of the intermediate pole.

An embedded pole installation method including applying a rotational force to a leading pole and an intermediate pole. The leading pole comprises a first helical plate disposed on a first portion of the leading pole. The intermediate pole is coupled to a second portion of the leading pole and comprises a second helical plate disposed on a first portion of the intermediate pole. The diameter of the intermediate pole is greater than a diameter of the leading pole. Applying the rotational force embeds the first helical plate and the second helical plate into a foundation such that a second portion of the intermediate pole does not penetrate the foundation. The method further includes coupling a utility pole to the second portion of the intermediate pole.

A weight plate for securing portable structures employing a low-profile, planar plate having an aperture formed therethrough. The aperture is configured so as to allow the base of the leg of a structure to pass through. The plate is subsequently transposed so as to lock the base of the leg underneath the plate while the leg of the shelter passes through the plate and an opposite side of the plate extends away form the leg.

A foundation system for mounting a utility pole includes a foundation base member, a plurality of anchor piles, and a plurality of anchor adapters. The foundation base member is configured to support the utility pole. The foundation base member includes a plurality of preformed holes defining an array of preformed through holes. The plurality of anchor piles is configured to be driven into the ground. The plurality of anchor adapters is configured to secure the foundation base member to the anchor piles. The plurality of preformed through holes are arranged to receive the anchor adapters.