Anchor system

Abstract

A push-pole anchor has a hollow housing securable on the stern of a boat and a plurality of anchor members telescopically extendable from the housing. A power source, which can be a hydraulic pump connected to an electric motor, supplies hydraulic fluid into the housing pushing the anchor members into an extended deployed position. Reverse activation of the pump causes the hydraulic fluid to be sucked from the housing, thereby retrieving the anchor members into a retracted position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to marine equipment, and more particularly to an anchor for use with shallow water boats.

Flat-bottom boats are typically used in shallow water areas by sporting enthusiasts and other recreational and scientific activities. The bed of a shallow body of water is often made of loose mud, and conventional anchors with flukes and other projections do not work as satisfactory as they would in a gravel or rocky bed. To solve the problem, many shallow water fishermen use the so-called “push pole” for anchoring the boat. Such push pole usually has a sharp point that facilitates penetration into the muddy bed and anchoring the boat in place.

Frequently, the push poles are stored on the main deck of a boat several blocks spaced apart over the length of the boat. The pole is secured to the blocks in a generally horizontal position parallel to the deck by elastic or other means attached to each block. However, the deck-mounted holders do not permit the pole to be readily accessed. The task of anchoring a boat becomes time consuming.

Additionally, when the push pole anchor is thrust into the water bed the boater needs to apply sufficient downward force to penetrate the layer of mud and properly anchor the boat. If the boater has physical limitations this task becomes impossible.

The present invention contemplates elimination of drawbacks associated with conventional push pole anchors and provision of a pole anchor that can be easily deployed and retracted and that can be easily operated from the deck of the boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a pole anchor system that can be easily deployed and retracted from the boat deck.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pole anchor system that can be mechanically operated using boat-mounted equipment.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of an anchor system for a watercraft having a hull with a stern portion, from which the anchor assembly is suspended. The anchor system comprises a push-pole anchor assembly having a hollow housing configured for securing to the stern of the watercraft and a plurality of telescopically engaged anchor members positioned in the housing. A power source, which can be a hydraulic pump delivers hydraulic fluid into the housing pushing the telescopically connected anchor members from the housing and into the water bed. Reverse action of the pump causes the hydraulic fluid to be suctioned out from the housing and retraction of the anchor members into the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein FIG. 1 illustrates the anchor of the present invention in a retracted position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the anchor of the present invention in a deployed position.

FIG. 3 illustrates the anchor of the present invention mounted on the stern of a boat.

FIG. 4 is a detail view illustrating the anchor switch.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the anchor system of the present invention using a hydraulic power source for operation of the anchor.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the anchor in a deployed position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the anchor.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in more detail, the anchor system of the present invention is generally designated by numeral 10. With a particular reference to FIG. 5, the system 10 is seen comprising an anchor assembly 12 coupled to a hydraulic power source, such as pump 14. A hydraulic line or hose 16 connects the anchor assembly 12 with the hydraulic power source 14.

An electric motor 18 is operationally connected to the pump 14 to provide energy for running the pump 14. An anchor switch 20, which can be a reverse polarity switch, is connected to the motor 18 to activate and de-activate the pump 14. The motor 18 may be powered by a battery pack 22 or other fuel source.

A hydraulic fluid reservoir 24 retains a pre-determined amount of fluid to be supplied to the pump 14 upon activation of the pump. Conventionally, a vent conduit 26 is provided in the cover of the hydraulic fluid reservoir 24. A hydraulic line 28 connects the fluid reservoir 24 with the pump 14.

The anchor assembly 12 comprises a hollow housing 30 configured to retain telescoping anchor members 32, 34, and 36. In one of the preferred embodiments, the anchor housing 30 as well as anchor member 32, 34 and 36 is each formed as cylindrical bodies with progressively smaller diameters, with the housing 30 having the largest diameter and the anchor member 36 having the smallest diameter. The housing 30 is provided with an opening 31 to allow admission of a hydraulic fluid. The opening 31 is fluidly connected with the hydraulic hose 16, which supplies the hydraulic fluid into the housing 30 during deployment of the anchor and removes (sucks out) the hydraulic fluid when the anchor assembly is retracted. The housing 30 has a proximate end 40 and a distant end 42. The anchor member 32 has a proximate end 46 and a distant end 48; the anchor member 34 has a proximate end 46 and a distant end 48; the anchor member 34 has a proximate end 50 and a distant end 52; the anchor member 36 has a proximate end 54 and a distant end 56. The distant end 56 of the anchor member 36 may be formed with a narrow or sharp tip 57 to facilitate penetration into the sea bed.

As can be seen in the drawings, the proximate end 46 of the anchor member 32 is engaged with the distant end of the housing 30; the proximate end 50 of the anchor member 34 is engaged with the distant end of the anchor member 32; and the proximate end 54 of the anchor member 36 is engaged with the distant end of the anchor member 34. Each of the proximate portions 46, 50 and 54 of the anchor members 32, 34, and 36, respectively, has an outwardly extending shoulder 47, 51, and 55, respectively. An O-ring seal 60, 62, and 64 is fitted between the shoulders 47, 51, 55 and distant ends 42, 48, and 52. The O-ring seals are formed from resilient flexible material such as rubber or neoprene. As a result, the hydraulic fluid admitted into the housing 30 and the anchor members 32, 34 and 36 does not leak when the anchor assembly is deployed in the body of water.

The anchor assembly 12 is attached to the stern 70 of the boat 72 extending vertically from the stern 70. In a retracted position (FIG. 1), the anchor assembly 12 is positioned above the waterline. In a deployed position (FIG. 2) the anchor assembly 12 has the anchor members 32, 34, and 36 telescopically extended such that the anchor member 36 penetrates below the mud line 74 (FIG. 2).

The switch 20 allows the operator to selectively extend the telescoping sections of the anchor assembly 12 to a depth dictated by the then current conditions. Release of the switch 20 will terminate supply of the hydraulic fluid into the anchor assembly 12 and stop extension of the anchor members at the desired vertical value. To retract the anchor assembly, the operator activates the pump 14 again, using the reverse polarity switch 20 and causes the hydraulic fluid to be sucked out of the anchor assembly.

The anchor assembly is suspended from the boat hull, while the electric motor, the pump and the fluid reservoir can be stationed on the boat deck. The housing 30 can be attached to the boat 72 by bolts or bracket with fasteners (screws, rivets, glue, or magnetic member) in a manner well know to those skilled in the art. The securing bracket may express up and down motion, or side-to-side motion using another bracket. It is envisioned that for small boats, the anchor assembly can be fixedly mounted on the boat stern, while medium and large vessels may have the anchor assembly detachably secured. In some applications, the anchor assembly may be adapted to move along both horizontal and vertical axes, with full flexibility of attachment to the boat hull.

The retractable anchoring assembly may be also driven by cable, springs, rods, racks with teeth, etc., or by means of pneumatic pressure, or by a screw shaft, electric solenoid or magnetic members. It is also possible to provide flexibility in the up-and-down motion for shock absorption at any point of the shaft. If desired, an emergency release switch may be provided in the system to disconnect any part of the mechanism from the vessel. It is also envisioned that the system of this invention may be provided with angular placement capability in order to strategize the best anchoring angle depending on currents or wind, or underwater obstacles. If desired, the deployment and retraction of the anchor assembly may be conducted manually.

Many other changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the amended claims.

Claims

1. An anchor system for a watercraft comprising an anchor assembly having a hollow housing configured for securing to watercraft and a plurality of telescopically engaged anchor members positioned in the housing, said anchor members being configured for moving between a retracted position in the housing and a deployed position extending from the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprising a means for selectively moving the anchor members between a deployed position and a retracted position coupled to the housing.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said means for selectively moving the anchor members between a deployed position and a retracted position comprises a power source operationally connected to the anchor assembly.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said power source is provided with a reverse polarity switch configured to activate and de-activate the power source.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said power source comprises an electric motor with a reverse polarity switch and a hydraulic pump coupled to the motor, said power source being configured to deliver and remove hydraulic fluid from interior of the housing.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising sealing members mounted between the housing and said anchor members.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said sealing members comprise O-rings.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said housing has a proximate end, and wherein an opening is formed in the proximate end to allow connection of the anchor assembly to the hydraulic pump.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said anchor assembly is suspended from a stern of the watercraft.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said anchor assembly is a push-pole anchor assembly.

11. An anchor system for a watercraft having a hull with a stern portion, the anchor system comprising:

a push-pole anchor assembly having a hollow housing configured for securing to the stern of the watercraft and a plurality of telescopically engaged anchor members positioned in the housing, said anchor members being configured for moving between a retracted position in the housing and a deployed position extending from the housing; and

a means for selectively moving the anchor members between a deployed position and a retracted position coupled to the housing.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said means for selectively moving the anchor members between a deployed position and a retracted position comprises a power source operationally connected to the anchor assembly, said power source comprising an electric motor with a reverse polarity switch configured to activate and de-activate the power source.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said power source further comprises a hydraulic pump coupled to the motor, said power source being configured to deliver and remove hydraulic fluid from interior of the housing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said housing has a proximate end, and wherein an opening is formed in the proximate end to allow connection of the anchor assembly to the hydraulic pump.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising sealing O-rings mounted between the housing and said anchor members.