CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 20 2004 003 022.5, filed Feb. 27, 2004, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ground anchor for securement of lumber products.
Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
Ground anchors with an anchoring post are known for securement in a concrete floor or ground and have an upper end for attachment of an L-shaped angle or U-shaped angle through a welding process. Placed on the angles are vertical studs whereby the upright legs of the angles form a stop in horizontal direction and are formed with holes for securement of the studs with nails or screws. Three screw holes are traditionally positioned vertically or slantingly above one another.
It would be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved ground anchor which allows attachment of lumber products in particular in horizontal position for assembly of, for example, wooden decks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a ground anchor includes an anchoring post for securement in a ground, and an angle secured to an upper end of the anchoring post and having two legs extending perpendicular to one another, wherein at least one of the legs is constructed for securement of two horizontal lumbers disposed in end-to-end relationship in an area of the legs with at least two screw holes provided for each of the lumber products.
To ensure clarity, it is necessary to establish the definition of several important terms and expressions that will be used throughout this disclosure. The term “lumber product” is used here in a generic sense and should be construed to include stud, joist, beam, log, timber, scantling, and the like. The term “ground” is also used here in a generic sense and should be construed to cover all types of bases or floorings, including soil, stone base, concrete floor, etc. The term “horizontal” relates to a typical mounting situation in which the anchoring post extends vertical in relation to the ground. In other words, the lumber product extends transversely to the direction of the anchoring post.
The present invention resolves prior art problems by constructing the ground anchor in such a way that a framework of horizontally laid lumber products can be made easier by allowing two lumber products to be placed in end-to-end disposition in the area of the ground anchor. Both lumber products are supported by the angle of the ground anchor and can be securely connected via at least two screw holes with the ground anchor.
According to another feature of the present invention, the anchoring post may be constructed in the form of a screw anchor. The screw anchor may hereby have a coarse thread for threaded engagement in the ground. As an alternative, the anchoring post may also be constructed in the form of a concrete anchor for insertion in concrete flooring.
According to another feature of the present invention, the anchoring post may be constructed for vertical adjustment. While the vertical adjustment of the anchoring post can be realized in many ways, it is currently preferred to make the anchoring post of two parts which are interconnected via a sleeve with internal thread.
According to another feature of the present invention, at least one of the legs of the angle extends perpendicular to the axis of the anchoring post so as to provide a support surface for the lumber products. Suitably, the angle is connected with the anchoring post via this leg extending transversely to the anchoring post.
According to another feature of the present invention, at least one of the legs may have a configuration in the shape of a quadrilateral, such as a rectangle or square, with four screw holes provided in corners of the quadrilateral. Suitably, this one leg may, optionally, be provided with a central screw hole, e.g. in the center of the quadrilateral. The center screw hole may be used to secure a continuous lumber product centrally to the ground anchor with little effort.
According to another feature of the present invention, the angle may have an L-shaped configuration, with one of the legs, typically the horizontal leg, being connected to the anchoring post and constructed of a length which is greater than a length of the other leg. In this way, the ground anchor is applicable for lumber products of different standard size. The shorter leg is hereby smaller or equal to the minimum side width of the lumber products being used, whereas the longer leg has a length between the minimum and maximum side widths of the lumber products. In the event squared lumber products are used that have minimum side width, the longer leg of the angle projects slightly out, unlike the shorter leg, so that the angle does not project beyond the lumber product upwards. When squared lumber products of maximum side width are used, the horizontal longer legs still provide sufficient support for the lumber products.
As an alternative, the angle may have a U-shaped configuration. Suitably, the opposing parallel side legs of the angle may hereby be provided with screw holes for securement of the lumber products. This type of angle is suitably connected to the anchoring post via the center leg which interconnects the side legs. The U-shaped angle is especially applicable for secure support of lumber products of a width which corresponds to a distance between the side legs.
According to another feature of the present invention, the U-shaped angle can be constructed to allow adjustment of a distance between the side legs. In this way, the ground anchor may be used for lumber products of various side widths.
According to another feature of the present invention, the angle may be connected in one piece with the anchoring post, e.g. through material union by welding.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top and side perspective view of a first embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ground anchor of FIG. 1, depicting the support of a continuous lumber product;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ground anchor of FIG. 1, depicting the support of two lumber products disposed in end-to-end relationship;
FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a wooden deck, showing the securement of lumber products, using ground anchors according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a top and side perspective view of a second embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a top and side perspective view of a third embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a top and side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a top and side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is a top and side perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements are generally indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.
Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a top and side perspective view of a first embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 10. The ground anchor has a lower portion in the form of an anchoring post 11 which is constructed as screw anchor with a cylindrical shank 11a and a screw thread 11b in the form of a helical ridge formed on the shank 11a. The shank 11a of the anchoring post 11 terminates in an upper cone-shaped portion 13 by which the ground is compacted as the ground anchor 10 is threaded into the soil. The cone-shaped portion 13 is formed with an upper throughbore 14 for insertion of a suitable tool, such as a rod or the like, to facilitate the insertion of the ground anchor 10. In addition, the cone-shaped portion 13 is formed with a lower hole 12a.
Connected to the upper end of the anchoring post 11, e.g. by welding, is an L-shaped angle 15 having a leg 16a, which extends transversely to a length axis of the anchoring post 11, and a leg 16b. In other words, the leg 16a of the angle 15 extend horizontal when the ground anchor 10 is ultimately mounted in the ground, whereas the leg 16b points vertically upwards. The horizontal leg 16a is formed in midsection with a hole 12b. The hole 12b in the horizontal leg 16a and the hole 12a in the cone-shaped portion 13 are intended as run-off bores for zinc during galvanizing of the entire ground anchor 10 as well as water drainage. The free leg 16b has a quadrilateral configuration, here rectangle or square, and is formed with four screw holes 17 which are placed in the corners of the rectangle. In other words, the screw holes 17 are placed in pairs vertically above one another. In addition, the leg 16b is formed with a central screw hole 18.
FIG. 2 shows the ground anchor 10 with a lumber product 1 in the form of a square timber being fully received by the angle 15. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the legs 16a, 16b of the angle 15 have different lengths, with a height H of the vertical leg 16b being smaller than a length L of the horizontal leg 16a. As a consequence of the difference in length between the legs 16a, 16b, the angle 15 is applicable for supporting lumber products 1 of different sizes, whereby the vertical height H of the leg 16b typically reflects the minimum side width of the lumber products 1 and the length L of the leg 16a reflects the maximum width of the lumber products 1. When the side width of the lumber products 1 ranges between the limits H and L, it is ensured that the vertical leg 16b is prevented from projecting upwards beyond the lumber product, on one hand, and the lumber product 1 is fully placed upon the leg 16a of the angle 15 and thus in full contact with the leg 16a, on the other hand. Examples of typical values of leg sizes include H=65 mm and L=90 mm. In this case, standard lumber products 1 between the sizes of 70×70 mm and 90×90 mm can be mounted.
Securement of the lumber product 1 can be realized in the constellation of FIG. 2 via the four screw holes 17 and/or the central screw hole 18.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative application which involves the support of two lumber products 1 in end-to-end disposition upon the ground anchor 10. When the butt joint between the lumber products 1 is in approximate midsection, two pairs of superimposed screw holes 17 are provided in the leg 16b of the angle 15 for secure connection of the two lumber products 1 to the angle 15.
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown an exemplified application of the ground anchor 10 for making a wooden deck. For example, groups of three ground anchors 10 are respectively screwed in one line into the ground 3 so as to allow placement of a lumber product 1, such as a joist, on their angles 15. In this way, several (here five) lumber products 1 can be placed in parallel side-by-side relationship. Mounted across the lumber products 1 are wooden boards or panels 2 to produce the flooring for the deck.
FIG. 5 shows a top and side perspective view of a second embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 20. The ground anchor 20 includes an L-shaped angle 25 of a configuration resembling the angle 15 of the ground anchor 10, and a rod-like concrete anchoring post 21 whose lower end is slightly bent. The ground anchor 20 is especially suitable for insertion in a concrete floor.
FIG. 6 shows a top and side perspective view of a third embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 30. The ground anchor 30 has an anchoring post 31 in the form of a screw anchor similar to the configuration of the ground anchor 10. The difference to the ground anchor 10 resides in the provision of a U-shaped angle 35 for connection to the upper end of the anchoring post 31. The angle 35 includes a center leg 36a as well as two vertically upwardly extending side legs 36b, 36c respectively connected to opposite ends of the center leg 36a. The side legs 36b, 36c are each formed with screw holes similar to the screw holes 17 in the leg 16b of the angle 15 of the ground anchor 10.
FIG. 7 shows a top and side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 40. The ground anchor 40 resembles the ground anchor 20 and includes a rod-like concrete anchoring post 41 whose lower end is slightly bent. In this embodiment, provision is made for attachment of a U-shaped angle 45 (corresponding to the angle 35 of the ground anchor 30) upon the upper end of the anchoring post 41. The angle 45 of the ground anchor 40 thus includes a center leg 46a as well as two vertically upwardly extending side legs 46b, 46c respectively connected to opposite ends of the center leg 46a. The side legs 46b, 46c are each formed with screw holes similar to the screw holes 17 in the leg 16b of the angle 15 of the ground anchor 10.
FIG. 8 shows a top and side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 50. The ground anchor 50 has an anchoring post 51 in the form of a screw anchor 11 similar to the configuration of the ground anchor 10. Disposed on the upper end of the screw anchor 51 is a U-shaped angle 55 having two vertically upwardly extending side legs 56b, 56c which are each formed with screw holes similar to the screw holes 17 in the leg 16b of the angle 15 of the ground anchor 10. In addition, the vertical legs 56b, 56c are constructed for relative movement to adjust their distance from one another. The adjustability of the distance between the legs 56b, 56c is realized by providing each of the legs 56b, 56c with a retention plate 56a of smaller width which extends perpendicular from the leg 56b or 56c toward the other leg 56c or 56b and is formed with an oblong hole 58. The side legs 56b, 56c are suitably formed with a cutout 56d for passage of the retention plates 56a, if necessary. These retention plates 56a can be adjusted relative to one another via screws 59 which engage through the oblong holes 58 and are insertable in respective screw holes in a backing plate 57 mounted at the upper end of the screw anchor 51. The horizontal position can thus be modified in accordance with the dimension of the oblong holes 58.
FIG. 9 shows a top and side perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a ground anchor according to the present invention, generally designated by reference numeral 60. The ground anchor 60 includes a U-shaped angle 65 similar to the angle 55 of the ground anchor 50 and thus has two vertically upwardly extending side legs 66b, 66c which are each formed with screw holes similar to the screw holes 17 in the leg 16b of the angle 15 of the ground anchor 10. In addition, the vertical legs 66b, 66c are constructed for relative movement to adjust their distance from one another through provision of retention plates 66a, as afore-described in connection with the angle 55. The angle 65 is connected to a three-part anchoring post 61 having a lower portion formed with flutes for secure fixation of the ground anchor 60 in a concrete floor. In an upper area, the anchoring post 61 is constructed with a mechanism for length adjustment. The mechanism includes a sleeve 63 having opposite end formed with a hexagon for attachment of a wrench. The sleeve 63 is formed interiorly with a left-handed thread and from the other side with a right-handed thread for threaded engagement of the lower and upper parts of the anchoring post 61, respectively. A rotation of the sleeve 63 in a certain rotation direction causes the parts of the anchoring post 61 to move out or to move in.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein:
Patent Application
20050188627
