Abstract: Ground anchors are installed by drive rods or gads connected in end to end relation by sleeves or couplers which accommodate sliding of adjacent rod ends into abutting relation under impact or compression loads and which retain the rods in connected string relation under tension loads. The sleeves have smooth rolled internal rope type threads in their end portions separated by a slide chamber receiving mating threads on end portions of adjacent rods which are threaded through and beyond the internal threads into the slide chamber. The rods slide in the sleeves and ends of adjoining rods will abut under compression loads and separate under tension loads while still being retained in end to end relation. A string of drive rods is successively built up to be impacted successively from ground level.

Abstract: A ground rod driver is provided with a clamp mechanism which transmits impact blows from a driving tool such as a jackhammer to an intermediate portion of the rod at a convenient level above the ground to drive the clamped portion to ground level and which then releases the rod under the action of the same driving tool so that it may be raised above the ground and reclamped to the rod for driving the next increment of rod length into the ground. The driver receiving impact blows from the tool will automatically grip the rod when the impact tool is in a driving position and will automatically release the rod when the impact tool is in a releasing position. A ground plate surrounds the rod to bottom the driver for the release step. Specifically, the impact tool engages a wedge in the driver in its driving position to clamp the driver on the rod and is rotated 90.degree. to engage release blocks on the driver when the wedge is bottomed on the plate for releasing the rod.

Abstract: Rods, tubes, posts, and the like rod structures are driven into the ground by a device which is successively clamped to selected intermediate portions of the lengths of these rods to avoid heretofore involved awkwardness, instability, and unsafe driving conditions encountered when the top ends of long rods are engaged to force the rods into the ground. The device is easily and quickly clamped to the rod at a level close to the ground to be impacted by a driving tool such as a jackhammer at a convenient reachable height. When the device is driven to ground level, it is easily released from the rod and raised to a starting level and then reclamped for the next driving increment. The successive raising and driving steps are repeated until the rod is driven to a desired depth in the ground. When the top end of the rod approaches ground level, the device can be mounted over this end and impacted to drive the rod further into the ground.

Abstract: A plate or wing-type ground anchor for driving upright and into the ground to desired depth and pulled into flat anchoring position at the driven depth is provided with an extended cruciform shaped leg in advance of the plate wings to act as a star drill or chisel facilitating penetration of the ground. The plate anchor has an axial tubular body portion providing an elongated round bottom socket for mating with a round bottom drive rod for efficient transfer of impact energy from the rod to the anchor. A raised central rib on the tubular body portion has a sharp front cutting edge and a reduced thickness trailing end with a transverse hole therethrough. A pull member can include either a loop pivoted in the hole or a shackle straddling the reduced thickness end with a pin pivoted in the hole. Shoulders on the rib overlie the loop or shackle to divert earth therearound.

Abstract: A fencing system designed particularly for snow and sand fencing is disclosed. The fencing system consists of a framing structure for supporting a fence face between spaced upright members. The fence face is constructed of a strong flexible mesh such as a mesh formed of re-bar defining rectangular openings in horizontal and vertical rows. Plastic material slats are attached to the mesh extending longitudinally of the mesh from upright to upright, the slats lying parallel horizontal rows spaced from one another by a height approximately equal to the width of the slat. In this manner, approximately 50% of the fence face is open. The bottom of the fence face terminates above the ground by approximately 12" to 16" and the fence face is angled to the base surface approximately 15.degree..