Guy rope device

Abstract

A guy rope device 10 for arranging a guy rope comprising a ground member 60 configured to be fixed to the ground and a rope post (20, fig 1) provided with a plurality of apertures (25, fig 1) to accom

Description

Field of the disclosure The present disclosure relates to a guy rope device and especially a guy rope device that provides an improved way of securing temporary structures to the ground. Background Securing temporary structures such as tents, marquees and gazebos usually involve extending a plurality of so-called “guy ropes” between a portion of the temporary structure and the ground. In certain conditions it can be challenging to satisfactorily secure the temporary structure. For example, where the ground is soft, the positioning of the structure is awkward, the guy rope is overly long and / or the structure exerts a considerable force on the guy rope due to its size and ambient conditions such as wind the current guy rope solutions can be difficult to safely or convenient secure or can work themselves loose. There is a need for an improved system that provides a secure and convenient solution to overcome the drawbacks of existing arrangements. It is clear that existing systems have multiple disadvantages associated with them and the current disclosure is aimed at overcoming at least some of these disadvantages. Summary According to a first aspect there is provided a guy rope device for arranging a guy rope comprising a ground member configured to be fixed to the ground, a rope post provided with a plurality of apertures to accommodate a guy rope, a pivot arrangement connecting the ground plate with the rope post and a restraining mechanism for limiting the pivoting movement of the pivot arrangement. According to a second aspect there is provided a method of using a guy rope device in accordance with the current disclosure, the method comprising the steps of: fixing the ground member to the ground; threading the guy rope extending from a structure through at least some of the apertures in the rope post; securing the trailing end of the guy rope to the ground; and limiting the movement of the rope post relative to the ground member by engaging the restraining mechanism. Brief description of the drawings Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the Figures, in which: Fig. 1 is a exemplary diagrammatic representation of a front view of a guy rope device in accordance with the current disclosure; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a side view of the guy rope device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a side view of the guy rope device of Fig. 1; Fig. 4. a diagrammatic representation of the guy rope device of Fig. 1 in use; Detailed description Aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a guy rope device 10 to arrange a guy rope 15 in accordance with the current disclosure. The guy rope device 10 may be sized to suit the application, i.e. a camping tent version could be of a generally lighter and smaller construction then one used for securing a large marquee. The guy rope device 10 may generally be made from metal, plastic, wood or any suitable combination thereof. If metal is being used suitable materials could for example be galvanised steel, stainless steel, aluminium and alloys. The guy rope device 10 comprises a rope post 20. The rope post 20 is a generally rectangular component provided with a plurality of apertures 25 extending though the rope post 20. The plurality of apertures 25 may be configured as a series of apertures extending along the length of the rope post 20. An aperture 25 may be configured as a hole 30 or as a slot 40. A slot 40 may for example be a lateral slit in the rope post extending from one of the sides of the rope post 20. In one embodiment there is a combination of at least one hole 30 and at least one slot 40. Some or all of the apertures 25 may be provided with at least one grommet 50. In an embodiment an aperture m25 ay be provided with an entry grommet 50 and exit grommet 50 The grommets 50 may be made of material suitable for allowing a guy rope 15 to pass through the aperture whilst reducing the risk of damage to the guy rope 15. In an embodiment the grommets are made of a hard plastic such as polyethylene or acetal. In an embodiment the grommet 50 may have luminescent characteristics to enhance its visibility during reduced light conditions. The guy rope device 10 further comprises a ground member 60. The ground member 60 may generally be formed as a relatively flat member 70. The ground member 60 may for example be generally formed as a strip 80 or plate 90. The strip 80 may be generally straight, curved or include angled sections. The plate 90 may be of any suitable shape such as for example square, rectangular, triangular or curved. The ground member 60 may be provided with at least one aperture 100 extending through the ground member 60. In an embodiment the at least one aperture 100 is a series of apertures 100 extending along the length of the strip 100. In an embodiment the at least one aperture 100 is a plurality of apertures 100 distributed over the plate 90. An aperture 100 may be configured as a hole or as a slot. The guy rope device 10 further comprises a pivot arrangement 110 pivotably connecting the rope post 20 with the ground member 60. In an embodiment the pivot arrangement 110 may include a hinge. In other embodiments the pivot arrangement 110 may include a ball-and-socket joint or a swivel arrangement. The guy rope device 10 further comprises a restraining mechanism 120. The restraining mechanism may be a tension member 130 extending between the rope post 20 and the ground. The tension member 130 may for example be a rope or extendable / retractable link such as a turnbuckle. In another embodiment the restraining mechanism 120 may be incorporated in the pivot arrangement 110. In an embodiment the restraining mechanism 120 may for example be incorporated into the pivot arrangement 110 in the form of spring-loaded configuration 140 (not shown) such as a self-locking hinge. Industrial applicability In use, the guy rope device 10 may be used to safely and conveniently arrange a guy rope 15 between a structure and the ground to secure the structure to the ground. An exemplary method of using the guy rope device 10 is set out below. Not all steps in the method have to be executed in a particular order. The structure to be secured is put in place and a guy rope 15 may be suitably attached to the structure. The guy rope device 10 is positioned relative to the structure and suitable fixings such as ground spikes 150 are extended through the apertures 100 in the ground member 60 to secure the guy rope device 10 to the ground. The guy rope 15 is threaded through multiple apertures 25 in the rope post 20. The guy rope 15 may for example enter the rope post 20 from the front (i.e. that side of the rope post facing the structure to be secured), exit at the rear of the rope post 20, be threaded through a second aperture 25 to return to the front of the rope post 20 and once again be threaded through a third aperture 25 to exit once more at the rear of the rope post 25. The threading sequence may end here or may be repeated in whole or in part as desired, utilising the same or other apertures 25. The trailing end of the guy rope 15 may be secured to the ground with for example a ground spike. The guy rope device 10 may be securely locked into its position using the restraining mechanism 120. Where the restraining mechanism comprises a tension member 130 the tension member 130 may be connected between the rope post 20 and the ground and tightened. Where the restraining mechanism 120 is incorporated in the pivot arrangement 110, the restraining mechanism can now engage to lock the rope post 20 in the desired position relative to the ground member 60 It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.

Claims

1. A guy rope device for arranging a guy rope comprising:a ground member configured to be fixed to the ground;a rope post provided with a plurality of apertures to accommodate a guy rope;a pivot arrangement connecting said ground plate with said rope posta restraining mechanism for limiting the pivoting movement of the pivot arrangement.

2. A guy rope device according to claim 1 wherein said pivot arrangement comprises a hinge.

3. A guy rope device according to claim 1 wherein said pivot arrangement comprises a ball joint.

4. A guy rope device according to claim 1 wherein said pivot arrangement comprises a swivel.

5. A guy rope device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the restraining mechanism is incorporated in the pivot arrangement.

6. A guy rope device according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the restraining mechanism is a tension member connecting the rope post to the ground.

7. A guy rope device according to any preceding claim, wherein said ground member is substantially a flat plate.

8. A guy rope device according to any preceding claim, wherein said ground member is provided with a plurality of apertures configured to enable the ground member to be fixed to the ground with ground spikes.

9. A guy rope device according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of apertures in said rope post comprises a series of through-holes.

10. A guy rope device according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of apertures in said rope post comprises a series of slots.

11. A guy rope device according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of apertures in said rope post comprises a combination of at least one through-hole and at least one slot.

12. A guy rope device according to any preceding claim wherein the plurality of apertures in said rope post are at least partially lined with luminescent line protectors.

13. A method of using a guy rope device according to any of the preceding claims comprising the steps of:fixing the ground member to the ground;threading the guy rope extending from a structure through at least some of the apertures in the rope post;securing the trailing end of the guy rope to the ground;limiting the movement of the rope post relative to the ground member by engaging the restraining mechanism.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of threading the guy rope comprises the sequence of the guy rope passing through a first aperture from the front to the rear of the rope post, followed by passing through a second aperture from the rear to the front of the rope post, followed by passing through a third aperture from the front to the rear of the rope post.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of threading the guy rope is at least partially repeated.

16. A method according to any of claims 13 to 15 wherein the step of threading the guy rope through at least some of the apertures in the rope post precedes the step of fixing of the ground member to the ground.

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