Earth anchor

Abstract

An earth anchor of the pivoting type having an essentially cylindrical body, a blind bore extending thereinto from a trailing axial end of the cylindrical body and a leading edge projecting from a leading end of the body, the leading edge being formed as a rounded surface adapted for penetration through reinforcement paths while minimizing severing of the strands of the mat.

1 . In a driven pivoting anchor of the type having a leading end to be driven into the ground, an intermediate main body portion and a trailing end adapted to receive a driving instrument for applying a longitudinal driving force to the anchor, the anchor having an attachment point for attaching a withdrawal member, the improvement of the leading end being rounded and provided with an axially extending small diameter guide nib projecting from the leading end. 
   
   
       2 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the leading end is generally semi-spherical. 
   
   
       3 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the leading end is generally parabolic. 
   
   
       4 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of ribs extends forward of the main body portion to the leading end, the ribs having generally planer opposite sides and outer edges, the outer edges converging towards one another to the leading edge, and the outer edges being rounded or flat. 
   
   
       5 . A driven pivoting anchor comprising a main body portion, a leading edge and a trailing edge, with a blind bore extending into the main body portion from the trailing edge, a raised rib or section on the main body portion having an attachment point for attachment of a withdrawal member, with a plurality of rib-like members extending from the main body member to the leading edge the leading edge comprising a rounded surface and the rib members having outer edge surfaces converging to the leading edge, the outer edge surfaces being generally blunted, the leading edge having a small projecting nib extending axially therefrom. 
   
   
       6 . The anchor of  claim 5  wherein four ribs are provided spaced equal distantly apart, two of the ribs extending backwardly from the leading edge beyond a forward portion of the main body portion and blending into side wings formed alongside the main body portion. 
   
   
       7 . The method of securing a stranded soil retention mat to the soil, which comprises the steps of providing a driven and pivoting anchor having a non-sharp, curved leading edge having a protruding nib extending axially from the rounded edge, the nib being small in diameter and acting as a guide, positioning mat having openings therein on the surface of the soil to be retained, positioning the leading edge of the anchor against the mat with the nib end positioned in an opening in the mat, driving the anchor into the mat spreading the strands of the mat apart, continuing the driving of the anchor to a predetermined depth in the soil with an attachment member attached to the anchor and extending through the mat to a point opposite the mat from the driven anchor, causing rotation of the anchor by pulling on the attachment member and thereafter securing the mat to the attachment member. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the anchor has a generally part ball-shaped leading portion defined by converging rounded rib outer edges extending forward of the main body portion of the anchor, the outer edges being blunted or curved. 
   
   
       9 . The anchor of  claim 4  wherein the outer edges curve towards one another as they converge to the leading edge, the curvature providing a rounded leading edge. 
   
   
       10 . The anchor of  claim 9  wherein the rounded leading edge is generally part spherically shaped in the areas formed by the edges of the ribs. 
   
   
       11 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the projecting nib is substantially conical blending into the forward edge of the leading end. 
   
   
       12 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the nib has a cylindrical extension extending axially forward leading end and terminating in a curved forward surface. 
   
   
       13 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the nib is pointed.