Ground anchor with pivoting fluke

Claim 2

In a ground anchor having a fixed fluke adapted to be driven into the ground along a longitudinal axis, a driving tool having a releasable connection with the fixed fluke to leave the fixed fluke free to turn laterally to said axis when the driving tool is withdrawn, a movable fluke pivotally attached to said fixed fluke and movable between a first position in which said movable fluke is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second position in which said movable fluke is transverse to said longitudinal axis, a cable coupled to said movable fluke and operable to move said movable fluke from said first position thereof toward said second position thereof in response to a pull on said cable, abutment means on said fixed fluke engageable with said movable fluke to limit its movement in said second position thereof, means including said cable and said abutment means for exerting turning torque between the movable fluke and the fixed fluke when said movable fluke is in its second position and turn said fixed fluke transverse to said axis to set the anchor in the ground.

Claim 3

A ground anchor as defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed fluke has a slot formed therein and wherein said movable fluke has a shank portion which extends through said slot.

Claim 4

A ground anchor as defined in claim 2 wherein said cable is attached to the shank portion of said movable fluke.

Claim 5

A ground anchor as defined in claim 2 wherein an eye is formed in the shank portion of said movable fluke and said cable passes through said eye and prevents the shank portion of said movable fluke from falling out of the slot in said fixed fluke.

Claim 6

In a ground anchor having a fixed fluke adapted to be driven into the ground along a longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising a movable fluke pivotally attached to said fixed fluke and movable between a first position in which said movable fluke is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second position in which said movable fluke is transverse to said longitudinal axis, a cable coupled to said movable fluke and operable to move said movable fluke from said first position thereof toward said second position thereof in response to a pull on said cable, and abutment means on said fixed fluke engageable with said movable fluke to limit its movement in said second position thereof, whereby pressure applied to said cable when said movable fluke is in its second position tends to turn said fixed fluke transverse to the pull on said cable to set the anchor in the ground, said fixed fluke having a slot formed therein, said movable fluke having a shank portion which extends through said slot, an eye formed in the shank portion of said movable fluke, said cable passing through said eye to prevent the shank portion of said movable fluke from falling out of the slot in said fixed fluke, the shank portion of said movable fluke being approximately perpendicular to the fluke portion thereof.

Claim 7

In a ground anchor having a fixed fluke adapted to be driven into the ground along a longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising a movable fluke pivotally attached to said fixed fluke and movable between a first position in which said movable fluke is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second position in which said movable fluke is transverse to said longitudinal axis, a cable coupled to said movable fluke and operable to move said movable fluke from said first position thereof toward said second position thereof in response to a pull on said cable, and abutment means on said fixed fluke engageable with said movable fluke to limit its movement in said second position thereof, whereby pressure applied to said cable when said movable fluke is in its second position tends to turn said fixed fluke transverse to the pull on said cable to set the anchor in the ground, said fixed fluke having a slot formed therein, said movable fluke having a shank portion which extends through said slot, an eye formed in the shank portion of said movable fluke, said cable passing through said eye to prevent the shank portion of said movable fluke from falling out of the slot in said fixed fluke, the shank portion of said movable fluke being approximately perpendicular to the fluke portion thereof.

Claim 8

A ground anchor as defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed fluke has a shank portion aligned with said longitudinal axis and projecting from the upper end of said fixed fluke.

Claim 9

A ground anchor as defined in claim 6 and further comprising a shoulder on the top of said fixed fluke near the base of said shank portion thereof, the top of said shoulder being flattened to receive blows from a hammering tool for driving said anchor into the ground.

Claim 10

In a ground anchor having a fixed fluke adapted to be driven into the ground along a longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising a movable fluke pivotally attached to said fixed fluke and movable between a first position in which said movable fluke is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis any a second position in which said movable fluke is transverse to said longitudinal axis, a cable coupled to said movable fluke and operable to move said movable fluke from said first position thereof toward said second position thereof in response to a pull on said cable, aNd abutment means on said fixed fluke engageable with said movable fluke to limit its movement in said second position thereof, whereby pressure applied to said cable when said movable fluke is in its second position tends to turn said fixed fluke transverse to the pull on said cable to set the anchor in the ground, said abutment means comprising a first abutment on the bottom portion of said fixed fluke for limiting the downward movement of said movabble fluke and a second abutment on the top portion of said fixed fluke for limiting the upward movement of the shank portion of said movable fluke.

Claim 11

In a ground anchor having a fixed fluke adapted to be driven into the ground along a longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising a movable fluke pivotally attached to said fixed fluke and movable between a first position in which said movable fluke is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis any a second position in which said movable fluke is transverse to said longitudinal axis, a cable coupled to said movable fluke and operable to move said movable fluke from said first position thereof toward said second position thereof in response to a pull on said cable, aNd abutment means on said fixed fluke engageable with said movable fluke to limit its movement in said second position thereof, whereby pressure applied to said cable when said movable fluke is in its second position tends to turn said fixed fluke transverse to the pull on said cable to set the anchor in the ground, said abutment means comprising a first abutment on the bottom portion of said fixed fluke for limiting the downward movement of said movabble fluke and a second abutment on the top portion of said fixed fluke for limiting the upward movement of the shank portion of said movable fluke.

Claim 12

A ground anchor as defined in claim 8 wherein said first and second abutments are on opposite sides of said fixed fluke, whereby a pull on said cable when said movable fluke is against said abutments produces a turning moment on said fixed fluke tending to rotate the fixed fluke crosswise to said cable.

Claim 13

A ground anchor as defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed fluke and said movable fluke are both triangular in shape.