SEA ANCHOR

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a sea anchor for mooring boats. It should be understood that the sea anchor has application not only in sea water but also in fresh water environments , such as inland lakes and waterways .

Background of the Invention

Temporary moorings for boats typically comprise a large mass which is located on the sea floor. A chain is connected to the mass and a buoy is, in turn, connected to the other end of the chain. A boat can moor at the buoy by pulling up alongside the buoy and being attached to the buoy.

Usually these moorings are provided relatively close to the shore and provide a temporary mooring where boats can be moored for weeks or months before the boat moves on to another location .

Conventional moorings of this type have a number of problems. Firstly, the mass required is relatively heavy, thereby making it difficult to move the mass and install the sea anchor at a desired location. Furthermore, and more importantly in some instances, is that in storm conditions, the mass can be moved slightly whilst connected to a boat, thereby causing the mass to be dragged over the sea floor. This can cause damage to the ecology of the sea floor and thereby destroy the natural habitat of marine life. Whilst the amount of movement is generally small, the large number of temporary moorings of this type which are generally installed means that the damage to the sea floor in a particular environment can be significant.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a sea anchor which overcomes these problems .

The invention may be said to reside in a sea anchor comprising : a base for coupling with a tether having a buoy so that a boat can be moored by connection of the boat to the buoy; and at least one anchor member couplable to the base and for penetrating the sea floor by being driven relative to the base, to thereby anchor the base and therefore the sea anchor to the sea floor.

Since the base is anchored to the sea floor by the anchor member, the base can be made much lighter than conventional sea anchors , thereby overcoming the difficulties of moving and locating the sea anchor in position. Because the anchor member couples the base to the sea floor by penetrating the sea floor, the anchor member is securely installed in position and will not tend to move over the sea floor, thereby preventing any damage to the ecology of the sea floor.

In one embodiment the base includes at least one locating pin for penetrating the sea floor to locate the anchor in position on the sea floor prior to application of the anchor member .

Preferably the locator pin is moveable from a retracted position to an operative position, where it is able to penetrate the sea floor, so that the base can be moved with the pin in the retracted position to prevent the pin causing damage if the sea anchor base is accidentally dropped.

Preferably the locating pin is moveable by locating the

locatable pin by a pivotal mounting so the pin is moveable between the retracted and active position by pivotal movement .

Preferably the sea anchor further comprises a locking member for locking the pin in either the retracted position or the active position.

Preferably the anchor member comprises an auger rotatable relative to the base so the auger can be rotated to penetrate the sea floor to thereby anchor the base to the sea floor .

Preferably the base includes a tube and an opening through which the auger can pass, the auger having a head which locates in the tube and which is not able to travel through the opening.

Preferably the head of the auger includes a coupling section for coupling with a tool to rotate the auger to thereby drive the auger into the sea floor.

Preferably the base comprises a plurality of aims, each of the arms having a respective tube and opening for receiving a respective auger .

In the preferred embodiment the base is comprised of three arms .

Preferably the base includes a handle for facilitating movement of the base and for coupling of the tether to the base.

Preferably the sea anchor further comprises a tool for engaging the head of the auger, the tool comprising a shaft having a cooperating coupling member at one end for engaging the coupling section of the auger, the tool

having a handle for facilitating rotation of the tool and therefore the auger when the tool is connected to the auger to thereby rotate the auger in the tube so the auger can penetrate the sea floor by moving relative to the tube through the opening.

In the most preferred embodiments of the invention the sea anchor further comprises a locating element for penetrating the sea floor to initially locate the sea anchor in position prior to instalment of the at least one anchor member.

Preferably the locating element comprises a V-shaped bracket attached to an underside of the base .

Most preferably a plurality of such V-shaped brackets are attached to the underside of the base .

In the most preferred embodiment of the invention a cover is provided for covering the base and the base has an attachment and locking member, the cover having a slot for enabling the attachment and locking members to pass through the slot so that a tether can be connected to the attachment and locking member, the base having a pair of pockets adjacent the slot so the base can be rotated to bring the pockets into registry with the attachment and locking member to thereby lock the base and cover together .

Preferably the locking and attachment member comprises an eyelet.

Preferably the eyelet is located on a boss and the slot has opposed cut-outs for accommodating the boss when the cover is located on the base.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings : Figure 1 is a plan view of a sea anchor according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the anchor of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view taken at right angles to the side view of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sea anchor of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed exploded view of part of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 ; Figure 6 is a perspective view of an auger;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tool;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tool handle;

Figure 9 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is an underneath view of the embodiment of Figure 9 ;

Figure 11 is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 9 ;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view along the line XII-XII of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a cover used in the embodiment of Figures 9-12 ;

Figure 14 is a plan view of the cover of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 9 with the cover mounted in place .

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figures 1 to 5, a sea anchor 10 is shown which comprises a base 12 formed from three arms 12a, 12b and 12c. Each of the arms 12a-12σ is provided with a tube 14 which is angled inwardly towards the centre of the base

12 and which is hollow and registers with a respective opening 16 in the respective arm 12a-12c of the base 12.

The base 12 also has a generally U-shaped handle 17 which can facilitate carrying of the base 16 and also acts as a securing point for a tether, such as a chain (not shown) which has a buoy (not shown) connected to its opposite end, so that the buoy can float and provide an attachment for securing a boat to the sea anchor to thereby moor the boat.

The underside of each arm 12a-12c opposite the side to which the tube 14 is connected is provided with a respective locating pin 18.

As shown in Figure 5, the locating pin 18 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 20 which is fixed to the respective arm 12a-12c. The bracket 20 has a hole 21 for receiving a longer leg 26 of a U-shaped clip 30. The longer leg 26 of the clip 30 passes through a hole 19 in the pin 18 to provide a pivotal mounting for the pin 18. When the pin 18 is to be moved between a retracted position shown by reference 18' in Figure 3 and the active position 18 shown in Figure 3, the clip 30 is partly pulled out so that a shorter leg 29 of the clip 30 leaves hole 27 in the pin 18 and the hole 23 in bracket 20, so the pin 18 can then be pivoted on the longer leg 26 of the clip 30. The clip 30 can then be rotated about the axis of leg 26 and the shorter leg 29 of the clip can be located in the hole 22 and the hole 27 in the pin 18 when the pin 18 is in the retracted position, to thereby lock the pin in the retracted position .

By locking the pins 18 in the retracted position, the pins will not cause damage or injury if the base 12 is accidentally dropped whilst it is carried into position or manoeuvred on a boat prior to installation on the sea bed.

If desired, a stop 31 can be located on the end of the longer leg 26 of the clip 30 to prevent the clip from being pulled out of the hole 19 in the pin 18 and the hole 21 in the bracket 20.

If desired, the bracket 20 can be formed from two plates which are identical and which sandwich the pin 18. The second plate is shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

An anchoring auger 40 locates in each of the sleeves 14 with auger shaft 41 passing through opening 16 and with auger head 42 registering in the sleeve 14. An auger 40 is shown in detail in Figure 6. By rotating the auger 40 relative to the base 12, the auger 40 will penetrate the sea floor and will anchor the base 16 to the sea floor. Anchoring is facilitated by the auger spiral 43 and also by the fact that the augers penetrate at an angle with respect to one another, as is best seen in the side view of Figure 2. Hence the augers 40 cannot be pulled straight out of the sea floor and the sea anchor is securely anchored to the sea floor to provide a mooring.

The head 42 of the auger 40 is a snug fit in the sleeve 14 so the sleeve 14 assists in supporting the auger 40 in the orientation shown in Figures 1 to 4. The head 42 is provided with a cooperating member 50 in the form of a cross-slot having a first slot 51 and a second slot 52 so that the head 42 can be engaged with a tool to facilitate rotation of the auger 40.

The tool may be a power operated tool but more likely, because of the environment in which the sea bed will be located, is a manually operated tool.

Figures 7 and 8 show an embodiment of a manually operated tool . With reference to Figures 6 and 7 , the tool 60

comprises a shaft 62 having a head 63. The end of the shaft 62 opposite the head 63 is provided with a cooperating tool part 66 which has four flanges 67 which engage in the cross-slots 51 and 52 so that when the tool is rotated, the auger 40 is also rotated to facilitate driving of the auger 40 into the sea floor. The head 63 is provided with a hole 69 which can receive a cross handle in the form of a shaft 68 shown in Figure 7 to facilitate rotation of the tool 60 and therefore rotation of the auger 40.

The sea anchor 10 may also include plugs (not shown) which locate in the open ends of the tubes 14 to prevent sand or other material from entering the tubes and clogging the slots 51 and 52 of the auger 40. In still further embodiments a cover (not shown) can completely cover the top of the base and tubes 14 and be secured to the base. This will reduce the likelihood of any injuries should someone step on the sea anchor and will also protect the slots 51 and 52 of the auger 40. The cover can also provide a smooth surface about which sand and other marine life can flow, thereby preventing build ups around the tubes 14. The cover may have a hole through which the chain extends and will also serve to prevent unwanted disconnection of the chain from the handle 17.

Figures 9 to 14 show a second embodiment of the invention in which like reference numerals indicate like parts to those previously described. The augers used in this embodiment are exactly the same as in the earlier embodiment and function in the same way . Thus , the augers are not shown in Figures 9 to 14. With reference to Figures 9 to 12, the base 12 has three arms 12a, 12b and 12c as in the earlier embodiment and three tubes 14 for receiving the augers (not shown in Figures 9 to 12) . The underside of the base 12 includes V-shaped brackets 90 which replace the pins 18 in the earlier embodiment. The

brackets 90 perform the same function of providing a preliminary securing of the base 12 when the base is located in sand to hold the base in place until the augers 14 are screwed into position. The brackets 90 are permanently welded to the base 12 and do not retract or otherwise move .

In this embodiment, instead of having a generally square shaped handle 17 , the base 12 is provided with a boss 92 (see Figures 11 and 12) which has a stem 93 which locates in a hole in the base 12 and the boss 92 is welded to the base 12. An eyelet 94 is then welded to the boss 92. The eyelet 94 provides a handle for lifting the base and also an attachment point for a tether (not shown) which has a buoy (not shown) so the buoy can float and provide an attachment for securing a boat to the sea anchor 10.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a cover 100 used with the embodiment of Figures 9 to 12. The cover 100 has a generally conical outer peripheral wall 101 and an internal cavity 102 defined by an internal conical wall 103. A space 104 is defined between the internal wall 103 and 101, as can be best seen from the cross-sectional view forming Figure 15.

At the bottom of the internal conical wall 103, a slot 110 is provided. As is best shown in Figure 14, the slot 110 has an elongate slot section 111 and a pair of curved sections 112. When the cover is located on the base 12 as shown in Figure 15, the eyelet 94 passes through the slot section 111 with the top of the boss 92 being accommodated in the circular sections 112.

Located adjacent the circular sections 112 are two pockets 114 so that when the cover 100 is initially located on the base 12, the eyelet projects through the slot section 111. The base can then be manually rotated 90° to bring the

pockets 114 into registry with the eyelet 94 so that the eyelet 94 locates in the pockets 114 to hold the cover 100 fixed to the base 12 and to prevent further rotation of the cover 100 relative to the base 12 without manual intervention. When the cover 100 is in position the tubes 14 are accommodated in the space 104. The cover 100, when secured in place, prevents the tether from being entangled with the base 12 and the internal conical surface 103 provides a 360° surface for guiding the tether towards the surface of the water. The cover 100 also provides a warning of a foot hazard and also some protection should a person accidentally step on the cover so the person does not injure himself or herself.

The preferred embodiments of the invention may come in different sizes depending on the actual use and, in particular, whether they are for installation in relatively shallow water or intended to be installed by contractors in deep water . Embodiments applicable to deep water installation are generally much larger and the augers may be driven by a pneumatic hand tool rather than the tool shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Caps (not shown) may be provided for location on the tops of the tubes 14 when the augers are in position to prevent build up of sand or silt in the tubes 14.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove .

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise", or variations such as

"comprises" or "comprising", is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.