Stapler For Anchoring Articles to Ground

Field of Invention

The invention relates to a stapler for anchoring articles such as turfs, carpeting, TRM, Erosion Control Rolled Blanket, geogrid, geotextiles, geomembrane, geocells or other articles possessing layer-like shape to ground, slope and reinforced soil wall.

Background of Invention

Various layer-like articles such as covers, sheets, membranes, grids, reinforcement matrices, cell matrices has been used for reducing soil erosion, stabilizing and reinforcing soils. Depending on the stage of a construction project, whether it is in progress or has reached its completion, different types articles are applied to prevent soil erosion, stabilized soils or reinforce soils. In all cases, all of these articles need to be anchored temporarily or permanently to the soil using ground staplers to prevent them from being moved out of place.

Summary of Invention

The invention is a ground stapler for anchoring articles possessing layer-like shape to ground, comprising a head having a body, a stem having a first end and a second end, wherein the body of the head is joined to the first end and a hooked end, wherein the hooked end is joined the second end of the stem at an acute angle, the acute angle is formed in between the body of the hooked end and a longitudinal axis of the stem that is parallel to the overall length dimension of the stem.

Preferably, the head is slender and the ground stapler can be driven below ground level.

Preferably, a second angle formed in between the body of the head and the longitudinal axis of the stem is not sharp but is less than 90 degrees.

In one of the embodiment, a second angle formed in between the body of the head and the longitudinal axis of the stem is at 90 degrees.

In one of the embodiment, the head has a free end and the body of the head is bent so that the free end points in a direction substantially directed to the hooked end.

Preferably, the stem on the overall is straight.

In one of the embodiment, the stem has barb-like protrusions, majority of or each of the protrusions are joined to the stem at an acute angle that is pointing towards the second end of the stem.

In one of the embodiment, part or whole of the stem is zigzag but maintains the overall length dimension of the stem that is measureable from the first end to the second end of the stem.

In one of the embodiment, part or whole of the stem is undulating but maintains the overall length dimension of the stem that is measureable from the first end to the second end of the stem.

In one of the embodiment, part or whole of the stem is helical but maintains the overall length dimension of the stem that is measureable from the first end to the second end of the stem.

In one of the embodiment, part or whole of the stem is contoured but maintains the overall length dimension of the stem that is measurable from the first end to the second end of the stem.

Preferably, the head and the hooked end are integrally formed with the stem.

Preferably, the protrusions are integrally formed with the stem.

Brief Description of Drawings

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be extricated from the entire invention and shown alone by itself to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the ground stapler.

Figure 2a shows an alternative embodiment of the head of the ground stapler.

Figure 2b shows another embodiment of the head of the ground stapler.

Figure 2c shows an alternative embodiment of the head of the ground stapler.

Figure 3a shows an alternative embodiment of the stem of the ground stapler.

Figure 3b shows a third embodiment of the stem of the ground stapler.

Figure 3 c shows a fourth embodiment of the stem of the ground stapler.

Figure 3d shows a fifth embodiment of the stem of the ground stapler.

Figure 4a, 4b and 4c illustrates the ground stapler used in some exemplary situations.

Detail Description of Invention

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment which summarize all aspects of different embodiments of this invention are provided herein and it is appreciated that these aspects may be implemented individually or in any combination. It is also understood that the present invention may be embodied in various -forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

With reference to all the figures briefly described above, the invention is a ground stapler (100) for anchoring turfs, carpeting, geotextiles, geomembrane clay liner, self sealing membrane, slope cover, river bank lining, turf reinforcement matrix (TRM), geogrid, geonet, geocells or other articles possessing layer-like shape to ground. The ground stapler with some of its preferred embodiments is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3d. The ground stapler as illustrated in Figure 1 generally comprises a head (110), a stem (120) and a hooked end (140). The stem (120) has a first end (122a) and a second end (122b) and the head (110) is joined by its body to the first end (122a) of the stem. The hooked end (140) is joined to the second end (122b) of the stem at an acute angle. The acute angle is formed in between the body of the hooked end (140) and a longitudinal axis of the stem that is parallel to the overall length dimension (150) of the stem.

In its application as illustrated in Figure 4a, 4b and 4c, the hooked end (140) of the ground stapler (100) punctures through the articles (e.g. turfs, carpetings, different types of covers or membranes) or goes through any of the apertures found on the articles (e.g. TRM, geogrids, geonets, geocells) to be anchored. This is facilitated by joining the hooked end (140) to the stem (120) at an acute angle as mentioned earlier. The ground stapler (100) is then driven into the soil with the hooked end (140) penetrating the soil first and followed by the whole stem (120). The head (110) finally rests on top of a portion of the articles to be anchored, holding that portion of the article to the ground after the majority portion of the stem (120) is fully driven in.

The head (110) of the driven in ground stapler (100) is turned relative to the ground along the longitudinal axis of the stem. It was found that turning the head (110) in the described manner at an angle of more than 20 degrees, preferably around 30 to 90 degrees will improve the anchorage of the ground stapler to the soil substantially. The improved anchorage is particularly noticeable in pull out tests conducted on ground staplers driven into soft soils, soils with particles that are loose or soils that are not firm such as medium stiff clay.

Specifically, the ground stapler can be applied in many situations not limited to anchoring TRM, turfs or reinforced grass composites for preventing soil erosion and or anchoring geogrids for stabilizing soft soil. The ground stapler also can be used to anchor geogrids or geocells to even very steep slopes as illustrated in Figure 4 for slope erosion control, stabilization and reinforcement.

Preferably, the head (110) is suitably dimensioned and orientated with respect to the stem as shown in Figures 1, 2a and 2b, so that in combination with the acute-angled hooked end, it is possible to manually hammer the ground stapler (100) into the soil. One way of orientating the head (110) with respect to the stem (120) as shown in

Figure 1 is to join the head to the first end (122a) of the stem so that a second angle formed in between the body of the head (110) and the longitudinal axis of the stem is not sharp but is less than 90 degrees. Alternatively, Figure 2a shows that the second angle can also be 90 degrees.

Still another embodiment of the ground stapler (100) as shown in Figure 2b has the head (110) with its body bent so that the free end (112) points in a direction substantially directed toward the hooked end. This is suitable for holding a relatively thick article such as geocells. Nevertheless, the ground stapler (100) with similarly bent head (110) is equally useful for anchoring article thinner than a typical geocells as free end (112) can puncture into the article that is being anchored. Another alternative embodiment of the head (110) that functions in a similar manner described earlier has a shape which is generally semi-circular as illustrated Figure 2c.

Whenever possible, the head and the hooked end are integrally formed with the stem, such as from a single piece of stiff rod that is bent at different portions to form the head (110) and the hooked end (140). When made in this manner, the head (110) of the ground stapler is joined to the first end (122a) of the stem (122) by one end its body. However, when the ground stapler is fabricated in a different manner, such by welding different parts together, the head (110) can also be orientated with respect to the stem as explained earlier but attached to the stem at different portions of its body, such as the middle of the body although not illustrated.

All the different embodiments of the heads (110) as described earlier also facilitates pulling out a ground stapler (100) that was driven into the soil in case it needs to be driven in at a different location. Besides that, all the different types of heads (110) is preferably slender so that the ground stapler (100) can be driven into firmer soil below ground level as shown in Figure 4 in cases where the soil is very soft to

provide stronger anchorage against pull-out. A suitable piece of continuous flexible media such as wire or cable can be tied to the head (110) before the ground stapler (100) is driven into the soil using a machine. The head is also turned along the longitudinal axis of the stem as described earlier before an appendage of the machine that drives the ground stapler (100) into the ground is withdrawn. The exposed end of the wire or cable is later tied to any article, not limited to layer-like article that needs to be anchored.

With reference to Figure 1, the stem (120) on the overall is straight. The stem is made from stiff or strained hardened material such low carbon steel so that it does not bend easily. The ground stapler can be fabricated with longer stem when the hooked end (140) needs to be driven deeper into soil for cases of soft soils.

Alternatively, the stem has barb-like protrusions (124) as shown in Figure 3a.

Majority of the protrusions or each of the protrusions (124) are joined to the stem (120) at an acute angle that is pointing towards the second end (122b) of the stem.

The protrusions (122) are preferably formed integrally with the stem (120).

In another embodiments of the ground stapler as shown in Figure 3b to 3d, part or whole of the stem (122) is contoured but maintains the overall length dimension (150) of the stem that is measureable from the first end (122a) to the second end (122b) of the stem. Part or whole of the stem (120) can be zigzag (126), undulating (128) or helical (130) as shown in Figure 3b, 3c and 3d respectively. Other types of contours are also possible as long as each of them serves to further stiffen the stem (120) against unintended bending when the ground stapler (100) is driven at any angle of entry into firm soil. Although the hooked end (140) contributes mainly to the ground stapler anchorage, some of the contoured stems such as the zigzag (126) and the helical (130) stem can also further enhance the anchorage. Such ground stapler may not need to be driven below ground level if they are used in soft soil areas.

In all embodiments of the ground stapler (100), it is preferable that the hooked end (140) and the stem (150) have small diameter and are stiff so that the ground stapler can be easily driven in. This can be achieved by fabricating the ground stapler (100) using low carbon steel or other materials with high stiffness or that has been strain hardened.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.