Anchoring device

Abstract

An anchoring including a stake and a flange extending radially outwardly from the stake. The flange has a flange fixed section and a flange movable section movably attached to the flange fixed section. The flange movable section is selectively movable between an aligned configuration and an angled configuration, wherein in the flange angled configuration, the flange movable section is angled relative to the flange fixed section and, in the flange aligned configuration, the flange movable section is in a substantially co-planar relationship relative to the flange fixed section. The flange movable section is adapted to act as an auger for facilitating the insertion of the stake in the ground material when in the flange angled configuration and to co-operate with the flange fixed section when in the flange aligned configuration to assist in stabilising the stake in the ground material.

1 . An anchoring device for being anchoring into a ground material using a driving force, said anchoring device comprising: 
 a substantially elongated stake extending substantially along a stake longitudinal axis, said stake defining a stake first end and a longitudinally opposed stake second end;    a flange extending substantially radially outwardly from said stake, said flange having a flange fixed section and a flange movable section movably attached to said flange fixed section;    said flange fixed section extending substantially in a fixed section geometrical plane;    said flange movable section being selectively movable relative to said flange fixed section between an aligned configuration and an angled configuration, wherein 
 in said flange angled configuration, said flange movable section is angled relative to said flange fixed section;  
 in said flange aligned configuration, said flange movable section is in a substantially co-planar relationship relative to said flange fixed section;  
   whereby said flange movable section is adapted to act as an auger for facilitating the insertion of said stake in said ground material when in said flange angled configuration and to co-operate with said flange fixed section when in said flange aligned configuration to assist in stabilising said stake in said ground material.    
   
   
       2 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said fixed section geometrical plane extends in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to said stake longitudinal axis; said flange fixed and movable sections both extending in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to said stake when said flange movable section is in said aligned configuration.  
   
   
       3 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flange has a substantially flat and annular configuration when said flange movable section is in said aligned configuration.  
   
   
       4 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flange movable section is pivotally attached to said flange fixed section by a hinge for pivotable movement relative thereto between said aligned and angled configurations; 
 said hinge and said flange movable section being configured such that 
 upon insertion of said stake into said ground by rotating said stake about said stake longitudinal axis in a first rotational direction, the pressure exerted by said ground material onto said flange movable section biases the latter towards said angled configuration and,  
 upon rotation of said stake in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction with said flange inserted into said ground material, the pressure exerted by said ground material on said flange movable section biases the latter towards said aligned configuration.  
   
   
   
       5 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said flange fixed section extends circumferentially over an arc segment between a fixed section first end and a fixed section second end, said fixed section first and second ends defining a flange spacing therebetween for receiving said flange movable section; 
 said flange movable section having a movable section attached end and a substantially opposed movable section free end;    said movable section attached end being pivotally attached to said fixed section first end such that said movable section free end pivots substantially towards said stake first end when said flange movable section pivots towards said movable section angled configuration;    wherein when said flange is inserted in said ground material and said flange movable section is in said movable section angled configuration, said movable section free end is located deeper in said ground material than said movable section attached end.    
   
   
       6 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said flange is configured such that when said flange is inserted in said ground material, said flange movable section is biased towards said flange angled configuration by the contact between said ground material and said flange movable section adjacent said movable section free end upon rotation of said stake in said stake first rotational direction.  
   
   
       7 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said anchoring component is provided with a pivot limiter for limiting the pivotal movement of said flange movable section to a predetermined pivotal range.  
   
   
       8 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said pivot limiter is configured so as to prevent said movable section free end from pivoting towards said second end beyond said flange fixed section.  
   
   
       9 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said flange movable section is angled relative to said flange fixed section by a movable-to-fixed section angle when in said movable section angled configuration, said pivot limiter being configured so as to limit the pivotal movement of said flange pivotable section to a predetermined maximal movable-to-fixed section angle.  
   
   
       10 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said flange movable section pivots about a movable section axis, said pivot limiter also acting as a pivot guide for guiding the movement of said flange movable section; wherein said pivot limiter at least partially prevents said flange movable section from moving in a direction substantially parallel to said movable section axis.  
   
   
       11 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said flange fixed section defines a fixed section first surface and an opposed fixed section second surface, said fixed section first and second surfaces facing respectively substantially towards said stake first and second ends; 
 said flange movable section defining a movable section first surface and an opposed movable section second surface, said movable section first and second surfaces facing respectively substantially towards said stake first and second ends;    said anchoring component being further provided with a stopping component, said stopping component extending from said fixed section second surface over at least a portion of said flange spacing, said stopping component being configured, sized and positioned for abuttingly contacting said movable section second surface when said flange movable section is in said movable section aligned configuration so as to prevent said movable section free end from pivoting towards said stake second end beyond said flange fixed section.    
   
   
       12 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein 
 said stopping component is provided with a stopping component aperture extending therethrough;    said anchoring component is further provided with a guiding rod extending from said movable section second surface into said stopping component aperture;    said stopping component aperture and said guiding rod being configured, sized and positioned such that said guiding rod slides through said stopping component aperture as said flange movable section pivots between said movable section angled and aligned configuration;    said guiding rod defines a guiding rod proximal end attached to said movable section second surface and an opposed guiding rod distal end;    said guiding rod is provided with a rod stopping protrusion extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom for abuttingly contacting the peripheral edge of said stopping component aperture and limiting the movement of said flange movable section upon said flange movable section reaching a predetermined configuration.    
   
   
       13 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said hinge includes 
 at least one hinge ring attached to said flange fixed section substantially adjacent said fixed section first end;    a hinged rod attached to said flange movable section substantially adjacent said movable section attached end and extending through said hinge ring.    
   
   
       14 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring component further includes at least one reinforcement member extending between said flange and said stake for reinforcing said flange.  
   
   
       15 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring component further includes a compacting component attached thereto for compacting said ground material around at least a portion of said anchoring component.  
   
   
       16 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said compacting component is releasably attached to said compacting component.  
   
   
       17 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said compacting component includes 
 a compacting tube mountable over said stake;    a compacting auger blade extending substantially radially outwardly from said compacting tube.    
   
   
       18 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said compacting auger blade has a substantially helicoidal configuration, said helicoidal configuration being oriented so that rotation of said compacting tube in said stake second direction causes said compacting auger blade to contact said ground material towards said flange, when said compacting tube is mounted over said stake and said compacting tube is allowed to rotate independently relative to said stake about a tube longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       19 . An anchoring device as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said anchoring component is further provided with a stake-to-tube coupling means for releasably coupling said stake to said compacting tube when said compacting tube is mounted over said stake.