GROUNDING ROD

Abstract

A grounding rod having an elongated metal rod, an adjustment member, and a bracket. The bracket is attached to a metal portion of a piece of machinery. The adjustment member is mechanical, electric, or hydraulic and raises and lowers the elongated rod from a transport position where the elongated rod does not engage the ground, to a lowered position where the elongated rod is pushed into the ground.

Claims

1. A grounding rod, comprising: an elongated metal rod; an adjustment member connected to the elongated metal rod; a bracket connected to the adjustment member; the bracket connected to a metal portion of machinery; wherein the elongated metal rod is positioned to be selectively pushed into the ground and raised out of the ground.

2. The rod of claim 1 wherein the machinery is high-tech farm equipment.

3. The rod of claim 1 wherein the machinery is high-tech construction equipment.

4. The rod of claim 1 wherein the elongated metal rod is made of copper.

5. The rod of claim 1 wherein the elongated metal rod is made of aluminum.

6. The rod of claim 1 wherein the elongated metal rod has a chrome finish.

7. The rod of claim 1 wherein the adjustment member is mechanical.

8. The rod of claim 1 wherein the adjustment member is electrical.

9. The rod of claim 1 wherein the adjustment member is hydraulic.

10. The rod of claim 1 wherein the adjustment member is associated with the ignition switch of the machinery to automatically raise and lower the elongated rod.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a side view of a grounding rod; and

[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of a grounding rod and machinery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] Referring to the Figures, a grounding rod 10 includes an elongated metal rod 12, an adjustment member 14, and a bracket 16. The grounding rod is for use with any type of machinery 18 with electronic equipment such as high-tech farm equipment, high-tech construction equipment, and the like. The metal rod 12 is made of any type of metal such as copper, aluminum, a metal with a chrome finish or the like. The adjustment member 14 is of any type that permits the rod 12 to be moved toward and away from the bracket 16, and is mechanical, electric, or hydraulic. The bracket 16 is of any size, shape and structure that permits the grounding rod 10 to be attached to a metal portion of the machinery 18 in any conventional way such as with nuts and bolts or the like.

[0009] In operation, the grounding rod 10, using the bracket 16, is attached to the machinery 18 at any location. In the examples shown, the grounding rod 10 is attached either to a ladder or to the frame of the machinery 18. Once attached, during a transport position, the elongated rod 12 is in a raised position so that it does not engage the ground surface 20. When the machinery is no longer in use, using the adjustment member 14, the elongated rod 12 is lowered with sufficient force that it is pushed into the ground 20. This is done either manually by the operator, or through the electrical 22 or hydraulic 24 system of the machinery 18. The adjustment member 14 can also be associated with the ignition switch 26 of the machinery so that when the machinery 18 is turned off, the adjustment member automatically lowers the rod 12 into the ground 20 and when turned on automatically raises the rod 12 so that it does not engage the ground 20.

[0010] From the above discussion and accompanying figures and claims it will be appreciated that the grounding rod offers many advantages over the prior art. It will be appreciated further by those skilled in the art that other various modifications could be made to the device without parting from the spirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be covered thereby. It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in the light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included in the spirit and purview of this application.