Anchoring Device

Abstract

An anchoring device made of an elongated shaft, a bracket with an L-shaped cross section, and an angled portion connecting the two. The anchoring device is configured to accept or connect to a beach or boating accessory at one end and insert into the ground at the other end. An alternate embodiment of the device includes a weighted portion that is located above the point where the shaft meets the angled portion of the device.

Claims

1. An anchoring device comprising an elongated shaft attached to a bracket having an L-shaped cross section.

2. The anchoring device of claim 1 wherein the bracket is attached to the shaft at an obtuse angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

3. The anchoring device of claim 1 wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end and the second end of the shaft extends away from a longitudinal axis of the shaft at an obtuse angle forming an angled portion of the shaft.

4. The anchoring device of claim 3 wherein the second end of the shaft is cut at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

5. The anchoring device of claim 2 wherein the second end of the shaft is cut at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

6. The anchoring device of claim 4 wherein the bracket has a first side and a second side that meet to form a corner and wherein the shaft is attached to the bracket such that the shaft is positioned in that corner.

7. The anchoring device of claim 5 wherein the bracket has a first side and a second side that meet to form a corner and wherein the shaft is attached to the bracket such that the shaft is positioned in that corner.

8. The anchoring device of claim 6 wherein the bracket has a first side and a second side each of which has an end that is tapered.

9. The anchoring device of claim 7 wherein the bracket has a first side and a second side each of which has an end that is tapered.

10. The anchoring device of claim 8 further comprising a weight proximate to the point where the shaft and the angled portion connect.

11. The anchoring device of claim 9 further comprising a weight proximate to the point where the shaft and the angled portion connect.

12. The anchoring device of claim 10 wherein the first end of the shaft is configured to accept an accessory inserted therein.

13. An anchoring device for a marine vessel comprising: an elongated, hollow, cylindrical shaft joined to a bracket having an L-shaped cross section such that the bracket extends away from a longitudinal axis of the shaft at an angle to said longitudinal axis; and a weighted section featured by the shaft.

14. The anchoring device of claim 13 wherein the bracket has a first side and a second side that meet to form a corner and wherein the shaft is attached to the bracket such that the shaft is positioned in that corner.

15. The anchoring device of claim 14 wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end and the second end is connected to the bracket and wherein the second end of the shaft is cut at an angle to its longitudinal axis.

16. The anchoring device of claim 15 wherein each side of the bracket has a first end and a second end wherein the first end is in contact with the shaft and the second end is tapered.

17. The anchoring device of claim 13 wherein the shaft has a first end configured to accept an accessory and a second end that is connected to the bracket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the anchoring device;

[0021] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the anchoring device with an accessory detached from the anchoring device;

[0022] FIG. 2B is another perspective view of a first embodiment of the anchoring device with an accessory detached from the anchoring device;

[0023] FIGS. 3A-3D are a perspective views of accessories that can be used with the anchoring device;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device inserted into the soil, example accessories and a marine vessel transporting the device and an accessory;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the anchoring device;

[0026] and

[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a marine vessel carrying the anchoring device and an accessory; and

[0028] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of a marine vessel carrying the anchoring device and an accessory

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the inventive anchoring device 10. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows the shaft 11, the angled portion 12 and the bracket 13. In this embodiment, the shaft 11 is a hollow pipe or tube that is joined to the bracket 13 by the angled portion 12. The angled portion 12 is a cylindrical tube or hollow pipe that connects to a first end 11a of the shaft 11 and the bracket 13 and can be an extension of the shaft 11. The shape of the shaft 11 and/or the angled portion 12 can be altered to form a square or rectangular prism if desired. The shaft 11 is joined to the angled portion 12 at a second end 11b end via conventional fastening means such that it is positioned at an angle to the bracket 13. Alternately, the shaft 11 and angled portion 12 could consist of one long shaft of metal that is bent to form the angled portion 12 at one end.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows the angled portion 12 connected to the bracket 13 such that it overlaps substantially with the bracket 13 and fits into a corner 14 of the bracket 13 formed by the two sides 15 of the bracket 13 coming together. FIG. 1 also shows the angled portion 12 having an end that is tapered. In this case, tapered means that the end of the angled portion that is farthest from the shaft 11 is not even, i.e. one side of it extends past the other. This structure is formed by cutting the angled portion of the device at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft or angled portion 12. This feature makes it easier to insert the device 10 into the ground past lowest part of the angled portion 12.

[0031] In addition, FIG. 1 shows the bracket 13 that extends away from the angled portion 12. In some embodiments, the far end 16 of the bracket 13, the end that is farthest from the shaft 11, is tapered. That is to say that each end of each of the sides of the bracket 13 are cut at an angle such that the sides that come together to form a corner 14. The sides of the bracket 13 are longer at the corner 14 than they are at other points. In this embodiment, the angled portion 12 and the bracket 13 overlap, such that the longest portion of the tapered end of the angled portion is closest to the corner 14 formed by the bracket 13.

[0032] FIGS. 2A and B show the same embodiment of the device 10 together with an accessory configured to attach to a first end 11a of the shaft 11. In this case, the accessory is a table 20 that features a solid protrusion or stock 21 that is sized and shaped to fit into the first end 11a of the shaft 11. In some embodiments, the stock 21 traverses the table from its bottom surface 22 to its top surface 23 and protrudes from the top surface. FIG. 2 also shows the device 10 from a different angle making the angled portion 12 a bit more noticeable.

[0033] FIGS. 3A-3D show other examples of accessories that can be used with the inventive anchoring device 10. Specifically, the inventors anticipate that some accessories will require the use of more than one anchoring device 10. A single device 10 can be used to support an accessory such as a chair 30 in the same manner that it supports a table 20 as described above, i.e. through the use of a stock 21 that inserts into the first end 11a of the device. Multiple devices 10 can be used in combination to support larger accessories such as a three-cornered duck blind 40 or a dock 50 with four corners.

[0034] In addition, FIG. 4 shows the anchoring device 10 inserted into soil that is underwater. Specifically, the only portion of the device that protrudes above the waterline is the first end 11a of the shaft 11 that is the attachment point for any accessory used with the device 10. All or a portion of the bracket 13 is inserted into the soil and generally, the angled portion 12 protrudes above the soil, but stays underwater. However, a user is free to insert the distal end 16 of the device, i.e., the end of the bracket 13 that inserts into the earth, into the soil as far as desired to produce the required resistance to lateral pulling forces, even to the point that a portion of the angled portion 12 or even the shaft 11 of the device 10 are inserted into the soil. The hollowness of the shaft 11 and angled portion 12 as well as the tapering of the end of the angled portion 12a make for less resistance to insertion into soil. FIG. 4 also shows optional structures or tie points 11c for attaching a line or rope (not shown) to the anchoring device to anchor any structure that is also in the water with the device 10.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the inventive anchoring device 10. This embodiment also features a shaft 11, an angled portion 12 and a bracket 13 having an L-shaped cross section. This embodiment also features a weighted portion 17 which in this example consists of additional metal, such as aluminum stock, integrated into the shaft 11 or angled portion 12 of the device. In other embodiments, the weighted portion can be a bulbous structure that is located just above the point where the angled portion 12 meets the shaft 11. This weighted portion 17 is meant to provide the anchoring device 10 with more resistance to being pulled out of the soil as would be more important when the anchoring device is used. This embodiment is meant to be used as an anchor for a marine vessel in shallow water.

[0036] Finally, FIGS. 6-7 show the device 10 being transported on a marine vessel. The device 10 can be stored in a gunnel of a marine vessel and an accessory such as a table 20 can be stored using a rod holder adapted to accept the stock 21 of said accessory.

[0037] Other variations of the anchoring device are contemplated including a variation that does not have the cylindrical shaft at all. In such a device, the bracket has a first end and a second end that is meant to be inserted into the soil. The second end is the same as what has been described above. However, the first end of the bracket could be configured to accept an accessory as above, through the use of an adapter piece which would be a cylindrical structure located at the terminus of the first end and into which an accessory could be inserted. This embodiment of the device would feature an angled portion of the bracket such that the second end of the bracket would extend away from a longitudinal axis of the bracket at an angle.

[0038] Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0039] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[0040] It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

[0041] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.