Bi-directional boat anchor
This invention relates to marine anchors and more particularly to bi-directional boat anchors with a shank which is pivotable relative to at least one fluke. The invention also relates to bi-directional anchors that have two or more flukes positioned at opposite ends of the anchor.
This invention relates to marine anchors and more particularly to bi-directional boat anchors with a shank which is pivotable relative to at least one fluke. The invention also relates to bi-directional anchors that have two or more flukes positioned at opposite ends of the anchor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBoat anchors are conventionally carried at the end of an anchor line, chain or cable and comprise one or more flukes which are employed to embed in the sea floor to temporarily anchor the vessel.
It is well-known in the art that various problems plague such anchors, for example, (i) they become entangled on the sea floor or are otherwise difficult to retrieve when they are embedded on the sea floor, and (ii) they are inefficient or provide insufficient holding power.
Though there has been a constant effort to improve the efficiency, design and manufacture of such boat anchors, there has not been an anchor that satisfactorily addressed these two issues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention addresses some of the difficulties and problems discussed above by the discovery of anchors which include a pivotable shank such that the anchor may be reversible or bi-directional and may be more easily disengaged from the sea floor and other obstructions.
Accordingly, in one exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a bidirectional boat anchor comprising: an anchor lower portion having a first fluke at one end and a second fluke at a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween, a shank having a shank first end and a shank second end with a longitudinal axis therebetween, a channel located within the shank and having a shank first end and a shank second end, and wherein the shank is pivotally connected to the fluke to allow the shank to pivot about a pivot axis.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a boat anchor comprising: a fluke plate, a first fluke and a second fluke positioned at opposite ends of the fluke plate, a shank having a shank first end proximate the first fluke and a shank second end proximate the second fluke, a channel positioned within the shank; wherein the shank is pivotably connected to the fluke plate at a pivot point wherein the pivot point is approximately equidistant from the shank first end and the shank second end.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.
To promote an understanding of the principles of the present invention, descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention follow and specific language is used to describe the specific embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by the use of specific language. Alterations, further modifications, and such further applications of the principles of the present invention discussed are contemplated as would normally occur to one ordinarily skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.
The present invention is directed to boat anchors that have one or more flukes. One exemplary anchor 10 of the present invention is shown in
As further described below and with reference to
Spacer 20 may be rigidly or flexibly attached to fluke plate 24. In another embodiment, spacer 20 may be attached to one or more other components of anchor 10 including, but not limited to, fluke side panel(s) 22. Spacer 20 may be comprised of any suitable materials including, but not limited to, rigid materials such as metals, alloys, ceramics, plastics, etc. or of flexible or bendable materials including, but not limited to, rope, chain, cable, plastics, etc. If support 20 is comprised of a flexible material, note that pin 20 may not be necessary as a flexible support 20 may permit shank 14 to pivot relative to anchor lower portion 11 without need of pins or other pivot means. Further, spacer 20 may also be pivotally connected to fluke plate 24 (or another anchor component) such that spacer 20 may be pivoted to be in a position other than perpendicular to fluke plate 20 as illustrated (see e.g.,
In
In transitioning anchor 10 to the configuration shown in
Such an orientation change can be accomplished by causing anchor line 49 to move from the position illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, fluke 52, 54 can be of varied shape.
According to the present invention, fluke plate 24 can be of varied shape.
As discussed above, fluke plate 24 can be of any suitable configuration.
As discussed above, spacer 20 can be of any suitable material and geometry.
Methods of Making an Anchor
The present invention is also directed to a method of making an anchor. Any conventional metal shaping step may be used to form one or more of the various components of an anchor and/or the entire anchor according to the present invention. Suitable methods for making these components of the present invention include, but are not limited to, die casting, molded, extrusion, machining, or any combination thereof.
Anchor 10 may be molded or shaped out of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, metal, steel, aluminum, plastic, wood, or any combination thereof as would be evident to one skilled in the art. In one exemplary embodiment, anchor 10 comprises steel. In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of anchor 10 comprises a material that is rust resistant such as plastic, stainless steel, aluminum or rubber.
In the embodiment illustrated in
While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto.
Claims
1. A bi-directional boat anchor comprising:
- an anchor lower portion having a first fluke at one end and a second fluke at a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween;
- a shank having a shank first end and a shank second end with a longitudinal axis therebetween;
- a channel located within said shank and having a shank first end and a shank second end; and
- wherein said shank is pivotally connected to said fluke to allow said shank to pivot about a pivot axis.
2. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said channel extends over a majority of a length of said shank portion.
3. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said channel extends from a channel first end which is proximate said shank first end to a channel second end which is proximate said shank second end.
4. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said pivot axis is positioned at least thirty percent of a distance between said shank first end and said shank second end.
5. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said channel is slidably engageable by an anchor line and allowing said anchor line to slide between said channel first end and said channel second end.
6. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said pivot axis is positioned at an approximate midpoint between said shank first end and said shank second end.
7. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said at least one fluke includes a first fluke and a second fluke.
8. The anchor of claim 1 wherein said anchor is manufactured by a method selected from the following group: die casting, molded, extrusion, machining, or any combination thereof.
9. The anchor of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said anchor is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, wood, concrete, steel, stainless steel, ceramic, and lead.
10. A boat anchor comprising:
- a fluke plate;
- a first fluke and a second fluke positioned at opposite ends of said fluke plate;
- a shank have a shank first end proximate said first fluke and a shank second end proximate said second fluke;
- a channel positioned within said shank;
- wherein said shank is pivotably connected to said fluke plate at a pivot point wherein said pivot point is approximately equidistant from said shank first end and said shank second end.
11. The anchor of claim 10 wherein said channel extends over a majority of a length of said shank portion.
12. The anchor of claim 10 wherein said channel extends from a channel first end which is proximate said shank first end to a channel second end which is proximate said shank second end.
13. The anchor of claim 10 wherein said pivot axis is positioned at least thirty percent of a distance between said shank first end and said shank second end.
14. The anchor of claim 10 wherein said channel is slidably engageable by an anchor line and allowing said anchor line to slide between said channel first end and said channel second end.
15. The anchor of claim 10 wherein said pivot axis is positioned at an approximate midpoint between said shank first end and said shank second end.
16. The anchor of claim 10 wherein said at least one fluke includes a first fluke and a second fluke.
17. The anchor of claim 10 wherein said anchor is manufactured by a method selected from the following group: die casting, molded, extrusion, machining, or any combination thereof.
18. The anchor of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of said anchor is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, wood, concrete, steel, stainless steel, ceramic, and lead.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 25, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 25, 2008
Inventor: Rhett Kenneth Bryant (Covington, GA)
Application Number: 11/821,688