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Title: Ground anchor for volleyball and like games
Claims: I claim: 1. A ground anchor and post-supporting member of generally Z-shaped construction having a depending part disposed on a vertical axis and including screw means for screwing into the ground, a leg part having a fixed junction with the top of the depending part and extending away and downwardly therefrom at an angle of slightly less than ninety degrees and adapted to overlie the ground, and an upright part having a fixed junction with and arising from the end of the leg remote from the depending part and disposed initially on a vertical axis, the junction of the upright part with the leg likewise forming an angle of slightly less than 90.degree., the leg being straight in its extent between the junctions so that, when the depending part is screwed vertically into the ground to the point where the junction of the leg and the upright part initially contacts the ground, the leg inclines downwardly from the top of the depending part to the bottom of the upright part and the axes of the two parts are parallel, said leg being flexible in bending to enable manual lifting of the leg for further screwing of the depending part into the ground to a position in which the leg lies flat on the ground and the upright part tilts toward the depending part axis extended, said upright part being constructed to receive and support a post, and the flexibility of the leg being such as to enable the post to be moved forcibly to a vertical position and beyond, the leg being resilient so as to recover its flat-wise position with the upright part tilted as aforesaid when the force is removed from the post, said leg being also torsionally resilient to enable the upright part to be rocked in a plane normal to the axis of the flat-wise leg. 2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the screw means is a helix formed about a vertical axis and depending from the leg at the aforesaid junction. 3. The invention defined in claim 2, in which the leg is integral with the helix and extends tangentially from the top turn thereof. 4. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the upright part is a helix formed about a vertical axis and rising from the aforesaid junction with the leg. 5. The invention defined in claim 4, in which the leg is integral with and extends tangentially from the lower turn of the upright helix. 6. The invention defined in claim 1, in which the member is of one-piece rod-like construction, the screw means is a helix formed about a vertical axis and depending from the aforesaid junction with the leg, the upright part is a helix formed about a vertical axis and rising from the aforesaid junction with the leg, and the leg extends tangentially to the respective upper and lower turns and is straight between said junctions. 7. The invention defined in claim 6, in which the top turn of the upright helix terminates in a plane normal to that helix axis. Other info: Inventors: Frye, Norman V. (Davenport, IA, US) Application Number: 689059 Filing Date: 1976-05-24 Publication_date: 1976-12-14 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 52/157 248/156 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Ridgill, Jr., James L. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: |
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