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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
AN ANCHORING DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2001/006077
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
An anchoring device provided with a rod-like body (10) whose bottom portion to be introduced into the ground comprises at least one tongue-shaped member (21) which, in relation to the rod-like body, is capable of flaring outward around its end which is directed towards the bottom end of the rod-like body, and with a, in relation to the rod-like body, slidably fitted slide element (30) for causing the at least one tongue-shaped member to flare outward when said slide element is moved downward, the slide element sliding with friction over the rod-like body. The slide element is embodied as an elastic element annularly provided around the rod-like body. The at least one tongue-shaped member is also elastic.

Inventors:
VAN HEUGTEN ANTONIUS MARIA (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL2000/000512
Publication Date:
January 25, 2001
Filing Date:
July 20, 2000
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
HEUGTEN ANTONIUS MARIA VAN (NL)
International Classes:
E02D5/80; E04H12/22; (IPC1-7): E04H12/22; E02D5/80
Domestic Patent References:
WO1996004429A11996-02-15
WO1988008066A11988-10-20
WO1988008066A11988-10-20
Foreign References:
DE1684639A11971-03-18
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Kupecz, Arpad (Weteringschans 96, XS Amsterdam, NL)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. An anchoring device provided with a rodlike body whose bottom portion to be introduced into the ground comprises at least one tongueshaped member which, in relation to the rodlike body, is capable of flaring outward around its end which is directed towards the bottom end of the rodlike body, and with a, in relation to the rodlike body, slidably fitted slide element for causing the at least one tongueshaped member to flare outward when said slide element is moved downward, characterized in that the slide element slides with friction over the rodlike body.
2. An anchoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide element is embodied as an elastic element provided around the rodlike body.
3. An anchoring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the slide element is annular.
4. An anchoring device according to claim 1,2 or 3, characterized in that the slide element is made of rubber.
5. An anchoring device according to claim 1,2,3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one tongueshaped member is elastic.
6. An anchoring device according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one tongueshaped member is made of rubber.
Description:
An anchoring device The invention relates to an anchoring device provided with a rod-like body whose bottom portion to be introduced into the ground comprises at least one tongue- shaped member which, in relation to the rod-like body, is capable of flaring outward around its end which is directed towards the bottom end of the rod-like body, and with a, in relation to the rod-like body, slidably fitted slide element for causing the at least one tongue-shaped member to flare outward when said slide element is moved downward.

Such an anchoring device is known from the international patent publication WO-88/08066, and may be used for anchoring in the ground an object such as a bicycle stand or a fence or partition post. The slide element of the prior art anchoring device is comprised of a tube surrounding the rod-like body. At the top of the tube a nut is provided on the thread of the rod-like body.

Tightening the nut in the appropriate direction causes it to be moved over the rod-like body in order to allow the tube to slide downward. The tube will be moved to between the rod-like body and the one or more tongue-shaped members to cause the same to flare outward. The nut will also prevent the tube from moving upward along the rod- like body, as otherwise the tongue-shaped members would be able to pivot inward again. When the anchoring device has been introduced into the ground, the outwardly flared tongue-shaped members will secure the anchoring device in the ground, and thus prevent the anchoring device from being pulled out of the ground. The drawback of the known anchoring device is that it is relatively complex, because of its being provided with thread and a nut that has to be tightened. Another drawback is that tightening the nut to effectuate the downward movement of the tube, is rather a slow process, so that flaring the tongue-shaped members

and thus actually placing the anchoring device, takes a long time.

It is the object of the invention to remove the above-cited drawbacks of the prior art anchoring device.

To this end the invention provides an anchoring device of the kind mentioned in the preamble, characterized in that the slide element slides with friction over the rod-like body. When the slide element has been moved downward between the rod-like body and the tongue-shaped members, there is no need for a lock nut to keep the slide element fixed in position. This is ensured by the friction between slide element and rod-like body. The slide element may be pushed downward over the rod-like body by generally known means, and this can be done extremely quickly. Thus the anchoring device according to the invention is a simple construction, allowing it to be manufactured at lower costs than the prior art anchoring device, and it can be placed quickly, which results in a further saving of costs.

In a preferred embodiment of the anchoring device, the slide element is embodied as an elastic element provided around the rod-like body. This is a simple manner for obtaining sufficient friction between the rod-like body and the tongue-shaped members. In a simply realizable embodiment, the slide element is annular and preferably made of rubber.

In order to further increase the friction between the slide element and the rod-like body in the situation where the slide element has been slid between the rod-like body and the tongue-shaped members, the at least one tongue-shaped member is preferably elastic. In an embodiment that is simple to realize, the at least one tongue-shaped member is made of rubber.

Hereinbelow the invention will be elucidated with reference to the appended drawing in which identical reference numbers indicate identical or similar parts, and in which:

-Figure 1, shows a schematic cross section of the anchoring device according to the invention, wherein the slide element is not received between the rod-like body and the tongue-shaped members; -Figure 2, shows a schematic cross section of the anchoring device according to the invention, wherein the slide element is received between the rod-like body and the tongue-shaped members; and -Figure 3, shows a view in perspective of the lower portion of the rod-like body with the tongue-shaped members.

The embodiment of the anchoring device according to the invention shown in the Figures 1,2 and 3 comprises a rod-like body 10, which at its lower portion is provided with a plurality of tongue-shaped members 20, serving as anchors for an anchoring device fixed in the ground. In the embodiment shown, the rod-like body 10 is comprised of a stainless steel tube and may form the lower portion of a bicycle stand, a fence post, or the like to be anchored in the ground.

The tongue-shaped members 20 form a part of the rubber sleeve 21 provided around the lower portion of the rod-like body 10, as can be seen particular in Figure 3.

From the top side, the sleeve 21 is provided with incisions to form the tongue-shaped members 20 in the sleeve, and by means of conventional fastening means such as rivets 25, it is fixed to the rod-like body 10. In the embodiment shown, the rivets 25 are applied below the incisions in the sleeve 21 in order to prevent tearing.

In addition, an elastic rubber ring 30 is provided around the rod-like body 10 as a slide element.

The ring 30 can be moved over the rod-like body 10 experiencing friction, so that the same will not easily become displaced. Due to the elasticity of the ring 30, a considerable friction will exist between the ring 30 and the rod-like body 10.

When the ring 30 is moved downward over the rod- like body 10 to between the tongue-shaped members 20 and

the rod-like body 10, the tongue-shaped members 20 will flare outward in relation to the rod-like body 10. This outwardly directed position of the tongue-shaped members 20 is maintained when the ring 30 is in the position shown in Figure 2. Due to the friction, the ring 30 will not become displaced over the rod-like body 10. As a result of the elastic properties of the sleeve 21 and the tongue- shape members 20, the tongue-shaped members 20 will exert a force on the ring 30, causing the friction to increase further and will thereby guarantee more certainly that the ring 30, will remain fixed in position.

When applying the anchoring device, it is first necessary to drill a hole into the ground, the diameter of the hole being larger than the diameter of the rod-like body 10 with the tongue-shaped members 20. Subsequently the anchoring device is introduced into the drilled hole, either independently or as part of an object to be secured such as, for example, a bicycle stand or a fence post. The ring 30 can then with the aid of conventional means be pushed downward to between the rod-like body 10 and the tongue-shaped members 20, causing the latter to flare outward. Any space in the drilled hole that is not taken up by the rod-like body may then be filled in with earth and stamped down, after which the anchoring device will be secured in the ground.

The above-described embodiment of the anchoring device according to the invention must not be interpreted such as to limit the invention. The anchoring device may be realized in various embodiments, all deemed to be within the protective scope of the appended claims.