Modular Boat Anchoring System

Abstract

An anchoring system comprises a shaft adapted for attachment to an anchor line and adapted to hold one or more anchoring components or combinations of components which may include a sand anchor, a reef pick, a rock anchor, a plow anchor or a sea anchor. A second shaft is also provided which is adapted for attachment to the first shaft and adapted to hold one or more of the above anchoring components.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to boat anchors and in particular to an anchoring system which has a number of interchangeable components to suit different sea bed conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different anchors have been designed to suit different sea bed conditions. A range of such anchors can be seen in the Higwood Anchors catalog at Appendix A which includes sand anchors, plough anchors, reef picks, admiralty anchors, grapnel anchors, dreadnought anchors, anti-snag anchors, porcupine reef anchors, a mooloolaba reef pick, a securb and a PVC sea anchor.

There have also been many patents granted on different variations on these individual types of anchors such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,261, U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,123, AU600218, DE10033622, U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,758, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,618, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,619, CA2167737, U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,023, U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,055, GB190213703, U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,721, U.S. Pat. No. 4,596,202 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,584. However we have been unable to find any modular boat anchoring system which can be adapted to suit different sea bed conditions.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a modular boat anchoring system which can be adapted to suit different sea bed conditions or at least to provide a useful alternative to prior art anchors.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, an anchoring system is provided with a range of modular components which can be assembled in various combinations to constitute a boat anchor which is suitable for various sea bed conditions.

Preferably the anchoring system comprises a shaft adapted for attachment to an anchor line and adapted to hold one or more anchoring components or combinations of components which may include a sand anchor, a reef pick, a rock anchor, a plow anchor or a sea anchor.

According to an alternative form of the invention a second shaft is provided which is adapted for attachment to the first shaft and adapted to hold one or more anchoring components which may include a sand anchor, a reef pick, a rock anchor, a plow anchor or a sea anchor.

Preferably the shafts are formed from rods which have holes drilled radially/cross axis through them at their ends to receive shackles.

Preferably the rod shaped shafts also have one or more holes drilled radially/cross axis through them in between their ends to secure anchoring components having matching holes which receive securing fasteners.

Preferably the anchoring components are formed by mounting fins or flukes or plates or plough heads depending on the type of component, on a hollow tube which slides over the rod shaped shafts and is secured to the shafts by fasteners passing through both the shaft and the tube.

Preferably the sea anchor is shackled to the end of the shaft furtherest from the anchor line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a short shaft

FIG. 2 is a side view of a long shaft

FIG. 3 is an end view of both the short and long shaft

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rock anchor component

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the rock anchor component of FIG. 4

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the rock anchor component of FIG. 4

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a long shaft with two rock anchor components mounted

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a short shaft with a reef pick component mounted

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a long shaft with a rock anchor and a reef pick component mounted

FIG. 10 is an illustration of an emergency anchor

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a long shaft with a sand anchor component mounted

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the sand anchor of FIG. 11

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of FIG. 12

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a long shaft with a fixed head plow anchor component mounted

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a long shaft with a swivel plow anchor component mounted and

FIG. 16 is a view of a sailing boat anchored by a modular anchor system comprising a long shaft coupled to a short shaft both of which have rock anchor components mounted and a sea anchor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shafts 1 and 2 of the modular anchoring system of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and are formed from stainless steel cylindrical bar the ends of which have machined parallel facets 3,4,5 and 6 with holes drilled through them to accommodate shackles. Shaft 1 also has hole 7 drilled through its mid section and shaft 2 has two holes 8 and 9 drilled through it. Hole 8 in shaft 2 is the same distance from end 5 as hole 7 is from end 3 in shaft 1 and hole 9 is midway between hole 8 and end 6.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a rock anchor component 10 of the system formed by welding three fins 11 onto tube 12 with hole 13 towards its free end. Tube 12 is of slightly larger diameter than shafts 1 and 2 so that it slides easily on shafts 1 and 2. FIG. 7 shows two rock anchor components 10 located on shaft 2 and secured by bolts 14. Rock anchors are suitable for a rocky bottom and can be located on a short 1 or long 2 shaft, depending on conditions.

FIG. 8 shows a reef pick 15 formed by welding prongs 16 onto tube 17 located on shaft 1 over which it slides and is secured by bolt 19 passing through matching holes in tube 17 and shaft 1. Prongs 16 quickly dig into hard surfaces such as reefs and can only be withdrawn by drawing the anchor line backwards or forwards and upwards. FIG. 9 shows a combination of reef pick 15 and rock anchor 14 components mounted on long shaft 2 and secured by bolts 17. The modular anchor is secured to the anchor line by D shackle 18.

An emergency anchor is illustrated in FIG. 10 comprising two rock anchor components 10 mounted with fins 11 opposed on long shaft 2 with reef pick 15 shackled to its end furtherest from the anchor line. Rock anchor components 10 may also be mounted on long shaft 2 with fins 11 aligned (not shown). These configurations are designed to provide an emergency anchor which is suitable for a wide range of uncertain sea bed and weather conditions.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show sand anchor 20 attached to tube 21 and secured to shaft 2 by bolts 22 and 23. Plates 24 and 25 are mounted on bar 26 which is free to rotate within restricted arc 27. Anchor chain 28 is shackled to shaft 2 by shackles 29. Accordingly modular anchor 20 is suitable for use on sand or mud since plates 24 and 25 rotate and spear into soft surfaces.

Fixed head plow anchor 31 and swivel plow anchor 32 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 respectively are suitable for boats anchoring on sand and mud since plow shaped head 33 penetrates deeply into soft surfaces and provides strong holding power. Swivel 34 also provides excellent stability since the boat and anchor line can move from side to side without dislodging plow head 33.

FIG. 16 illustrates a sailing boat using a combination of a rock anchor 35 mounted on long shaft 2, shackled to another rock anchor 36 mounted on short shaft 1 which in turn is shackled to sea anchor 37. The purpose of this combination is not to anchor the boat to the sea bed but to stabilize the boat in heavy weather by providing a drag force on the motion of the boat. This improves the ability to steer the boat and so minimizes the chance of running aground.

It will be obvious that many other combinations of anchor components can be assembled on shafts 1 and 2 and shackled together to constitute the most suitable anchor for the particular sea bed and prevailing sea conditions.

Variations

It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth. For example various mechanical equivalents could be substituted for the shafts and modular anchor components without departing from the inventive concept.

Throughout the description and claims to this specification the word “comprise” and variation of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising” are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps.

Claims

1. An anchoring system comprising a range of modular components which can be assembled in various combinations to constitute a boat anchor which is suitable for various sea bed conditions.

2. An anchoring system comprising a shaft adapted for attachment to an anchor line and adapted to hold one or more anchoring components or combinations of components which may include a sand anchor, a reef pick, a rock anchor, a plow anchor or a sea anchor.

3. The anchoring system of claim 2 in which a second shaft is also provided which is adapted for attachment to the first shaft and adapted to hold one or more anchoring components which may include a sand anchor, a reef pick, a rock anchor, a plow anchor or a sea anchor.

4. The anchoring system of claim 3 in which the shafts are formed from rods which have holes drilled radially/cross axis through them at their ends to receive shackles.

5. The anchoring system of claim 3 in which the rod shaped shafts also have one or more holes drilled radially/cross axis through them in between their ends to secure anchoring components having matching holes which receive securing fasteners.

6. The anchoring system of claim 5 in which the anchoring components are formed by mounting fins or flukes or plates or plough heads depending on the type of component, on a hollow tube which slides over the rod shaped shafts and is secured to the shafts by fasteners passing through both the shaft and the tube.

7. The anchoring system of claim 2 in which the sea anchor is shackled to the end of the shaft furtherest from the anchor line.

8. The anchoring system of claim 3 in which the sea anchor is shackled to the end of the shaft furtherest from the anchor line.