Claims
- 1. An apparatus for anchoring a buoyant device, the apparatus comprising:
- first and second plates adjoined along a common line, an end of said second plate being transversely connected to an end of said first plate along the common line and extending inwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that said first and second plates in combination define an angled plate member;
- a third pronged plate adjoined along the common line and extending outwardly therefrom in a different direction from the angled plate member;
- a shank pivotally connected to a medial portion of said angled plate member and extending outwardly therefrom; and
- at least one prong member connected to and extending outwardly from the outer surface of each of said first and second plates of said angled plate member.
- 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said third plate has an elongate opening extending from a distal end to a proximal end along the common line, the elongate opening separating said third plate into a pair of pronged plate portions so that the pair of pronged plate portions and the elongate opening enhance the hold of the apparatus in sandy terrain.
- 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising plate positioning means connected to said shank and said angled plate member for adaptively positioning said angled plate member and said third pronged plate in various arrangements for various types of underwater terrain surfaces and for adaptively removing said angled plate member when secured to various underwater terrain surfaces.
- 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said plate positioning means includes pivotal connecting means connected to a distal end portion of said shank for pivotally connecting said shank to the medial portion of said angled plate member.
- 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said plate positioning means further includes an opening formed in the medial portion of said angled plate member and said third pronged plate, wherein the distal end portion of said shank extends through said opening, and wherein said pivotal connecting means includes an elongate rod transversely connected to at least the distal end portion of said shank.
- 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said opening in the medial portion of said angled plate member comprises an elongate opening extending through end portions of said first and second plates, and wherein the distal end portion of said shank pivots between at least three positions, a first position having a first portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank abuttingly contacting the inner surface of said first plate, a second position having a second portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank abuttingly contacting the inner surface of said second plate, and a third position having the first and second portions of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank positioned transverse to the inner surfaces of said first and second plates.
- 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said opening in the medial portion of said angled plate member comprises an elongate opening extending through end portions of said first and second plates, and wherein the distal end portion of said shank pivots between at least three positions, a first position having a portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank abuttingly contacting an end of said elongate opening extending along said second plate, a second position having another portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank abuttingly contacting the other end of said elongate opening extending along said first plate, and a third position having the respective portions of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank positioned transverse to the inner surfaces of said first and second plates.
- 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a pair of hook members extending through and between each of said first and second plates of said angled plate member, each of said hook members having a pair of prong members, wherein said at least one prong member comprises a pair of prong members connected to each of said first and second plate members, and wherein each of said pair of prong members are prongs of a corresponding hook member of said pair of hook members.
- 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said pair of hook members arcuately extend between said first and second plates of said angled plate member.
- 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said angled plate member has a generally L-shape and includes an anti-corrosive material.
- 11. An apparatus for anchoring a buoyant device, the apparatus comprising:
- a generally L-shaped plate member;
- a pronged plate connected to said L-shaped plate member and extending outwardly therefrom in a different direction from said L-shaped plate member, said L-shaped plate member and said pronged plate having a common open region formed therein; and
- a shank having a distal end thereof pivotally connected to said L-shaped plate member through the common open region in said L-shaped plate member and said pronged plate.
- 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said pronged plate has an elongate opening extending from a distal end to a proximal end along the common line, the elongate opening separating said third plate into a pair of pronged plate portions so that the pair of pronged plate portions and the elongate opening enhance the hold of the apparatus in sandy terrain.
- 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of elongate hook members each having a pair of prong members, each of said hook members extending through and between each of the plates of said L-shaped plate member so that each pair of prong members extend outwardly from the outer surface of said L-shaped plate member.
- 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising plate positioning means connected to said shank and said L-shaped plate member for adaptively positioning said L-shaped plate member in various arrangements for various types of underwater terrain surfaces and for adaptively removing said L-shaped plate member when secured to various underwater terrain surfaces.
- 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said plate positioning means includes pivotal connecting means connected to a distal end portion of said shank for pivotally connecting said shank to the medial portion of said L-shaped plate member.
- 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the distal end portion of said shank extends through the common open region of said L-shaped plate member and said pronged plate, and wherein said pivotal connecting means includes an elongate rod transversely connected to at least the distal end portion of said shank.
- 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein each of said pair of hook members arcuately extend between the plates of said L-shaped plate member, and wherein said L-shaped plate member includes an anti-corrosive material.
- 18. An apparatus for anchoring a buoyant device, the apparatus comprising:
- first and second plates adjoined along a common line, an end of said second plate being transversely connected to an end of said first plate along the common line and extending inwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that said first and second plates in combination define an angled plate member;
- a third plate adjoined along the common line and extending outwardly therefrom in a different direction than said angled plate member, said angled plate member and said third plate having a common open region;
- a shank having a distal end portion extending through the elongate opening, being pivotally connected to said angled plate member, and extending outwardly therefrom; and
- at least one hook member having a pair of prong members, said at least one hook member extending through and between each of the first and second plates of said angled plate member so that each of the prongs of said pair of prong members extends outwardly from the outer surface of said angled plate member.
- 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising plate positioning means connected to said shank and said angled plate member for adaptively positioning said angled plate member in various arrangements for various types of underwater terrain surfaces and for adaptively removing said angled plate member when secured to various underwater terrain surfaces.
- 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said plate positioning means includes pivotal connecting means connected to a distal end portion of said shank for pivotally connecting said shank to the medial portion of said angled plate member, said pivotal connecting means including an elongate rod transversely connected to at least the distal end portion of said shank.
- 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the common open region of said angled plate member and said third plate extends through portions of said first, second, and third plates, and wherein the distal end portion of said shank pivots between at least three positions, a first position having a first portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank abuttingly contacting the inner surface of said first plate, a second position having a second portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank abuttingly contacting the inner surface of said second plate, and a third position having the first and second portions of the outer surface of the distal end portion of said shank positioned transverse to the inner surfaces of said first and second plates.
- 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said third plate has an elongate opening extending from a distal end to a proximal end along the common line, the elongate opening separating said third plate into a pair of pronged plate portions so that the pair of pronged plate portions and the elongate opening enhance the hold of the apparatus in sandy terrain.
- 23. A method of anchoring an anchoring device, the method comprising:
- providing first, second, and third plates adjoined along a common line, an end of the second plate being transversely connected to an end of the first plate along the common line and extending inwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that the first and second plates in combination define an angled plate member, the third plate being adjoined to the common line and extending outwardly therefrom in a different direction from the angled plate member, the angled plate member having an opening formed in a medial portion thereof, and a shank having a distal end portion extending through the opening of the angled plated member, pivotally connected to the angle plate member, and extending outwardly therefrom.
- 24. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the plurality of positions includes a first position having a first portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank abuttingly contacting the inner surface of the first plate, a second position having a second portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank abuttingly contacting the inner surface of the second plate, and a third position having the first and second portions of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank positioned transverse to the inner surfaces of the first and second plates.
- 25. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the plurality of positions includes a first position having a portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank abuttingly contacting the end of the elongate opening extending along the second plate, a second position having another portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank abuttingly contacting the other end of the elongate opening extending along the first plate, and a third position having the respective portions of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank positioned transverse to the inner surfaces of the first and second plates.
- 26. A method of anchoring an anchoring device which includes first, second, and third plates adjoined along a common line, an end of the second plate being transversely connected to an end of the first plate along the common line and extending inwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that the first and second plates in combination define an angled plate member and so that the third plate extends outwardly therefrom in a different direction from the angled plate member, the method comprising:
- pivoting the distal end portion of a shank connected to a medial portion of the angled plate member to a first position having a first portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank abuttingly contacting the inner surface of the first plate; and
- pivoting the distal end portion of the shank to a second position having a second portion of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank abuttingly contacting the inner surface of the second plate.
- 27. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising pivoting the distal end portion of a shank to a third position having the first and second portions of the outer surface of the distal end portion of the shank positioned transverse to the inner surfaces of the first and second plates.
- 28. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising applying a force to the proximal end portion of the shank when the anchoring device is positioned in the first position in water and removing the anchoring device from the water.
- 29. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising applying a force to the proximal end portion of the shank when the anchoring device is positioned in the second position in water and removing the anchoring device from the water.
- 30. A method of removing an anchoring device, the method comprising:
- abuttingly contacting a distal end portion of a shank with an inner surface of an angled plate member of an anchoring device positioned in water, the angled plate member having at least one prong extending outwardly therefrom and a pronged plate member connected thereto and extending outwardly in a different direction therefrom;
- applying a force to the proximal end portion of the shank;
- leveraging the force applied to the proximal end portion of the shank against the inner surface of the angled plate member;
- dislodging the anchoring device from the surface of underwater terrain; and
- winching the anchoring device from the water.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/815,893 filed on Mar. 12, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,207 and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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815893 |
Mar 1997 |
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