Apparatus and Method for Digging and Lining a Moat

Abstract

A beach toy is provided to make a moat that is shaped and dimensioned to correspond with an impermeable moat liner. The beach toy includes a shovel, a cord, and a stake. The cord interconnects the shovel and the stake. In use, the stake is inserted into a porous medium. Next, the shovel is pulled away from the stake until the cord is taut. The blade of the shovel is inserted into the porous medium and moved about the stake while keeping the cord taught to remove material and form a annular-shaped moat.

1 . A beach toy comprising:
 a material displacement tool, an interconnecting member, and an anchor;   the interconnecting member being attached at a first end to the material displacement tool; and,   the interconnecting member being pivotally attached at a second end to the anchor to allow the material displacement tool to be moved in a generally circular path about the anchor, whereby the material displacement tool can dig a generally annular-shaped channel.   
     
     
         2 . The beach toy of  claim 1  wherein the material displacement tool is a shovel. 
     
     
         3 . The beach toy of  claim 2  wherein the shovel includes a depth gauge to allow the annular-shaped channel to be provided with a substantially constant depth along a given radius. 
     
     
         4 . The beach toy of  claim 2  wherein the shovel has a first connector at a first side for attachment to the interconnecting member to allow the shovel to be moved in a first direction about the anchor and a second connector at a second side for attachment to the interconnecting member to allow the shovel to be moved in a second, opposite direction about the anchor. 
     
     
         5 . The beach toy of  claim 1  wherein the anchor is a stake. 
     
     
         6 . The beach toy of  claim 5  wherein the stake includes a post and a head at an upper end thereof for attachment to the interconnecting member. 
     
     
         7 . The beach toy of  claim 1  wherein the interconnecting member is a cord. 
     
     
         8 . The beach toy of  claim 7  wherein the cord is a string. 
     
     
         9 . The beach toy of  claim 7 , wherein the interconnecting member includes a first ring at a first end and a second ring at a second end. 
     
     
         10 . The beach toy of  claim 7 , wherein interconnecting member is pivotally attached to the anchor such that a portion of the interconnecting member is crimped together with another portion of interconnecting member to form a loop around a portion of the anchor allowing for the material displacement tool to be moved in a generally circular path around the anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The beach toy of  claim 9 , wherein the material displacement tool is a shovel, the anchor is a stake, the shovel includes a hook for connecting with one of either the first ring or second ring, and the stake includes a post and head for connecting with the other of the first ring or second ring. 
     
     
         12 . The beach toy of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a liner, wherein the liner is made of an impermeable material. 
 
     
     
         13 . A beach toy comprising:
 a shovel, a cord, and a stake;   the cord having a first connector at a first end and a second connector at a second end;   the shovel including a corresponding connector;   the stake including a corresponding connector; and,   the first connector of the cord being attached to the corresponding connector of the shovel and the second connector of the cord being pivotally attached to the corresponding connector of the stake, whereby the shovel can be moved in a generally circular path about the stake to dig a generally annular-shaped channel.   
     
     
         14 . The beach toy of  claim 13 , wherein the shovel includes a depth gauge to allow the annular-shaped channel to be provided with a substantially constant depth along a given radius. 
     
     
         15 . The beach toy of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first connector and the second connector is a ring. 
     
     
         16 . The beach toy of  claim 13 , wherein the corresponding connector of the stake is a post and head that engages with the ring. 
     
     
         17 . The beach toy of  claim 13 , wherein the corresponding connector of the shovel is a hook that engages with the ring. 
     
     
         18 . The beach toy of  claim 13 , wherein the shovel includes two corresponding connectors, a first corresponding connector and a second corresponding connector, the first corresponding connected positioned at a first side to allow the shovel to be moved in a first direction about the stake and the second corresponding connector being positioned at a second side to allow the shovel to be moved in a second, opposite direction about the stake. 
     
     
         19 . A method for using a beach toy, wherein the beach toy comprises a material displacement tool, an interconnecting member, and an anchor, the interconnecting member being attached at a first end to the material displacement tool and being attached at a second end to the anchor, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting the anchor into a porous medium;   pulling the material displacement tool away from anchor whereby the interconnecting member is approximately taut;   inserting the material displacement tool into the porous medium; and,   moving the material displacement tool in a generally circular pattern about the anchor to dig a generally annular channel.   
     
     
         20 . A method for using a beach toy, wherein the beach toy comprises a shovel, a cord, and a stake, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting the stake into a porous medium, leaving a connector of the stake exposed;   attaching a first end of the cord to the stake;   attaching a second end of the cord to the shovel;   pulling the shovel away from the stake whereby the cord is approximately taut;   inserting a blade of the shovel into the porous medium whereby a surface of the porous medium is generally aligned with a depth gauge on the blade; and,   moving the shovel in a generally circular pattern about the anchor to dig a generally annular channel.