Anti-tip anchor

Abstract

The anti-tip anchor has an elongate rod that is staked into ground for stabilizing an object in an upright position on the ground. The rod has a sharp lower portion for penetration into the ground, and a bent top portion forming a handle for a user to grab during staking and unstaking procedures. A fastening plate is attached to the object. The fastening plate includes a substantially vertically disposed sleeve through which the rod is slidably disposed, the sharp end of the rod slidably engaging the ground. A rod clamp is attached to a top portion of the object. When the rod is staked into the ground, the object is stabilized and cannot move regardless of disturbances, such as high winds. To store the rod stake a user slides the rod out of the ground and places top portion of the rod into the rod clamp.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/136,241, filed Aug. 21, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to device for anchoring receptacles, lawn furniture, and the like, and more particularly to an anti-tip anchor that is designed to be used with garbage cans, trash cans, and other objects that must be constrained from tipping over during inclement weather.

2. Description of the Related Art

Trash receptacles, lawn furniture, and the like are often left outdoors, either temporarily or permanently. Such articles are prone to being blown over by the wind, knocked over by animals, or otherwise moved or tipped over. At best, this results in the inconvenience of having to set the article upright again. At worst, the contents of a trash can may be strewn across one's lawn, creating an unsightly mess and often requiring the expenditure of considerable time and effort to clean up. It would be desirable to provide a device that will keep articles left outdoors standing upright. Thus an anti-tip anchor solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The anti-tip anchor comprises an elongate rod that can be staked into ground for stabilizing any object, such as a BBQ grill, planter box, flower pot, trash container, or the like, in an upright position on the ground. The rod has a sharp lower portion for penetration into the ground, and a bent top portion forming a handle for a user to grab during staking and unstaking procedures.

A fastening plate is attached to the container. The fastening plate includes a substantially vertically disposed sleeve through which the rod is slidably disposed, the rod being slidably engageable, allowing the sharp end to penetrate the ground. A rod clamp is attached to a top portion of an object to be stabilized, e.g., a container. When the rod is staked into the ground the container is stabilized and cannot move regardless of disturbances, such as high winds. To store the rod stake a user slides the rod out of the ground and places top portion of the rod into the rod clamp.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of an anti-tip anchor according to the present invention, shown attached to a container for staking to the ground.

FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view of an anti-tip anchor according to the present invention, shown with the stake in a stored position on the container.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of an anti-tip anchor according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The anti-tip anchor 10 comprises an elongate rod 35 that can be staked into ground for stabilizing any object, such as a BBQ grill, planter box, flower pot, trash container, or the like, keeping the object in an upright position on the ground. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rod 35 has a sharp point 44 for penetration into the ground, and a bent top portion forming a handle 42 for a user to grab during staking and unstaking procedures.

A fastening plate 30 is attached to a trash container 20. It should be understood that other objects such as BBQ grills, planters, plant pots, and the like, may be accommodated by fastening plate 30 being attached to the object so that anti-tip anchor 10 can be used with such objects. The fastening plate 30 includes a substantially vertically disposed sleeve 33 through which rod 35 is slidably disposed, the rod 35 being slidably engageable to allow the sharp end 44 to penetrate the ground.

The fastening plate 30 may be unitarily constructed with the object to be stabilized. A rod clamp 40 is attached to a top portion of container 20. When the rod 35 is staked into the ground, the container 20 is stabilized and cannot move regardless of disturbances, such as high winds or prying animals. To store the staking rod 35, a user slides the rod 35 out of the ground and places the top portion of rod 35 into the rod clamp 40.

The anti-tip anchor 10 can be made in many sizes, colors, and shapes, and either be molded into many items during manufacture, or installed as an easy after market kit. Preferably, the fastening plate 30 and rod clamp 40 of anti-tip anchor 10 is premolded on a manufactured container, BBQ grill, planter, plant pot, or other suitable object to be stabilized.

The anti-tip anchor 10 can be supplied as a kit or built into devices other than a container. The anti-tip anchor 10 can be attached many ways including, but not limited to, screws, nuts and bolts, push pins, rivets, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, an optional tube 300 can be disposed underground where the ground is a hard surface. The buried tubing 300 receives sharp lower portion 44 of stake 35 in lieu of penetration of the ground by sharp lower portion 44 of stake 35.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An anti-tip anchor, comprising:

an elongate rod having a sharp end for staking into the ground, a handle formed at the opposing end, and an upper portion adjacent the handle;

a fastening plate adapted for attachment to an object to be stabilized, the fastening plate having a sleeve, the rod being slidably disposed through the sleeve; and

a rod clamp, the rod clamp receiving the upper portion of the rod when the rod is not in use.

2. The anti-tip anchor according to claim 1, wherein the fastening plate sleeve is cylindrical.

3. The anti-tip anchor according to claim 1, further comprising a tube adapted for being buried underground, the sharp end of said elongate rod extending through the buried tube to further anchor the rod in the ground.

4. The anti-tip anchor according to claim 1, wherein the fastening plate is unitarily constructed with the object to be stabilized.

5. An anti-tip anchor, comprising:

an elongate rod having a sharp end for staking into the ground, a handle formed at the opposing end, and an upper portion adjacent the handle;

a fastening plate adapted for attachment to an object to be stabilized, the fastening plate having a sleeve, the rod being slidably disposed through the sleeve; and

means for securing the upper portion of the rod to the object to be stabilized when the rod is not in use.

6. The anti-tip anchor according to claim 5, wherein the fastening plate sleeve is cylindrical.

7. The anti-tip anchor according to claim 5, further comprising a tube adapted for being buried underground, the sharp end of said elongate rod extending through the buried tube to further anchor the rod in the ground.

8. The anti-tip anchor according to claim 5, wherein the fastening plate is unitarily constructed with the object to be stabilized.

9. The anti-tip anchor according to claim 5, wherein said means for securing comprises a rod clamp, the rod clamp receiving the upper portion of the rod when the rod is not in use.

10. A container, comprising:

a receptacle;

an elongate rod having a sharp end for staking into the ground, a handle formed at the opposing end, and an upper portion adjacent the handle;

a fastening plate attached to the receptacle, the fastening plate having a sleeve, the rod being slidably disposed through the sleeve; and

a rod clamp attached to the receptacle above the fastening plate, the rod clamp receiving the upper portion of the rod when the rod is not in use.

11. The container according to claim 10, wherein the fastening plate sleeve is cylindrical.

12. The container according to claim 10, further comprising a tube adapted for being buried underground, the sharp end of said elongate rod extending through the buried tube to further anchor the rod in the ground.

13. The container according to claim 10, wherein the fastening plate is unitarily constructed with the receptacle.

14. The container according to claim 10, wherein said rod has a bend top portion forming a handle.

15. The container according to claim 10, wherein said receptacle comprises a trash container.