Tent and gazebo peg installation and removal device

Abstract

A device for installing and removing tent and / or gazebo pegs which is derived of an aluminium outer shaft which is a hollow tubed length with through openings at both ends and is the outer extrusi

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to devices which are used to install and remove tent and gazebo pegs in the ground and remove them. Background The use of pegs for holding tents or similar coverings such as gazebos is an age old practice and the pegs are driven into softer ground where possible and have ropes or tent guy lines attached to the pegs which support the tent or gazebo by tensioning them to toward the ground usually through eyelets through which the ropes or lines are passed and I or tied. This often involves having to drive the pegs into the ground with a mallet or other similar hand held tool, which involves having to kneel on the ground in sometimes dirty and wet conditions. Other factors include the ground sometimes being quite dense and difficult to drive the peg into, these combined issues can actually prevent certain people with back or other joint and health complaints from actually erecting a tent. Other larger pegs may involve driving them into the ground with a larger mallet or type of peg hammer with a much longer handle, which although being effective for the purpose in hand, can also by their very nature be difficult and restrictive tools to handle. When the tent pegs have been present in the ground for periods of time the earth around them can become solid or in some cases frozen, making the pegs very difficult indeed to remove, this leads to some users actually having the leave the longer type of pegs in the ground. The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective way of installing and removing tent and / or gazebo pegs into and out of the ground. The present invention aims to provide an improved easy and effortless installation of the tent / gazebo pegs using an ergonomically designed device that makes use of a sliding hammer to nail pegs into the ground and remove them with minimum effort. Summary of the invention According to the present invention there is provided a device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs while standing, with ease and less effort. The device is an arrangement which is held vertically during use and comprises an aluminium outer shaft which is a hollow tubed length with through openings at both ends and is the outer extrusion and main body through which a hammer shaft slides in and out and hammers tent pegs into the ground, being the exterior component of the main body of the device. To the upper end of this aluminium outer shaft is a textured grip and a hammer shaft stop, to be explained. The hammer shaft has a substantial textured handle grip for shock absorption and is a slightly more narrowed aluminium tubed length when compared to the diameter of the said outer shaft main body, enabling it to slide within the outer shaft main body’ creating a hammering movement. The tip of the hammer shaft is made of a high carbon steel, this high carbon steel tip gives the product greater strength &durability at the point of impact with the tent peg. An internal sliding hammer is provided inside the tube of the hammer shaft to further magnify the applied force, as an internal sliding weight. To the lower end of the outer shaft is a pointed high carbon steel head, this high carbon steel head is wrapped around the outer shaft lower end using a partially tubed slot on section, similar to a shovel head attachment, this further extends as a bevelled tip which is elongated as a convex length into which the hammer shafts lower end seats during use and has a tip where the end meets the ground and soil. The bevelled tip of the carbon steel head is specifically angled for placing through the tent / awning guy line and enabling the guy line to be drawn towards the user in order to pre tension the line before driving the tent peg. This steel head further has a sprung steel peg lever, with a peg holding end and its peg shaft groove, slotted over it and it is what holds the various tent pegs in-situ in the device before &during the hammering motions. The sprung steel peg lever may be held with bolts or metal rivet means which pass through it and through aligning holes in the aforementioned partially tubed slot on section of the carbon steel head, holding the two components on the main outer shafts lower end, via its own holes, as shown in the accompanying Figures. During use, the user prepares the device by pushing down the sprung steel peg lever sufficiently for its peg holding end and its peg shaft groove to raise sufficiently for a chosen tent peg to be inserted underneath it and onto the upper edges of the bevelled convex length of the carbon steel head, with the tent pegs hammer tabs laying on and across these outer upper edges and the tent peg shaft aligned with the peg shaft groove of the sprung steel peg lever, which is now lowered down and onto the tent peg for the peg to sit in, holding the peg in-situ releasably under tension from the sprung action of the lever. The user then holds the device horizontally, with the high carbon steel head point in the ground and the tent peg positioned as described, if a guy line of appropriate type is being used the bevelled tip of the carbon steel head is used to draw the guy line towards the user in order to pre tension the line before driving the tent peg. The hammer shaft may now be slid up inside the main body and raised out of the opening in its upper end, as shown in Figure 1, with the tent peg now in-situ and poised to be driven into the ground through the guy line or directly into the ground thereto. As the hammer shaft is hammered up and down, within the outer shaft main body, by the user holding the textured grip handle of the hammer shaft and the lower positioned grip of the main body tube to steady the device, the high carbon steel head of the hammer shaft forces the peg vertically into the ground, as shown in Figure 2 and 10. The device is then removed from the driven in peg and the process is repeated until all pegs are in the ground. Upon peg removal a peg removal attachment is attached to the hammer shaft. The hammer shaft tube is slid out of the outer shaft main body tube after being released by means of the hammer shaft stop. The peg removal attachment is comprised of a collar clamp on the end of the attachment which fastens it to the lower end of the hammer shaft tube. This is a quick way of attaching and removing the additional part as and when needed. As what may be a single moulded or shaped metal or alloy piece including the collar clamp, there is also a curved footplate, the rear curved footplate helps in giving the user leverage when it comes to removing the pegs from the ground and it can also be used to initially pry the peg from the ground before turning it around and using the designated spokes. The three peg removal spokes to the rear provide a channel for the peg to be slid into before then using the curved footplate to lever the pegs out of the ground. This process prevents the user from having to bend down to remove each peg but also makes it easier removing pegs from a variety of soiled surfaces. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs which has all the advantages of the prior art tent peg devices and none of the disadvantages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs which is of durable and reliable construction. An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public. Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. Brief description of figures Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs. Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs, showing the hammering action of the hammer shaft. Figure 3 shows a side view of the device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs, showing the stages of installing a tent peg. Figure 4 shows a dimensional view of the device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs, with a hammer shaft stop in a lever form. Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the components of the device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs. Figure 6 shows an end view of the peg removal attachment. Figure 7 shows a side view of the peg removal attachment. Figure 8 shows a side view of the peg removal attachment fitted to the hammer shaft and removing a peg from the ground. Figure 9 shows a dimensional view of the peg removal attachment. Figure 10 shows side view of the device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs being used. Figure 11 shows a side view of the device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs, with the hammer shaft stop lever in the closed position. Figure 12 shows a side view of the device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs, with the hammer shaft stop lever in the open position. Detailed description of figures A typical embodiment of the coupling device is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the multipartite device 1 which is held vertically during use and comprises an aluminium outer shaft 6 which is a hollow tubed length with through openings at both ends and is the outer extrusion and main body through which the hammer shaft 2 slides in and out, being the exterior component of the main body of the product. To the upper end of this aluminium outer shaft 6 is a textured grip 5 and a hammer shaft stop 4, which will be further explained. The hammer shaft 2 has a substantial textured handle grip 3 for shock absorption and is a slightly more narrowed aluminium tubed length when compared to the diameter of the said aluminium outer shaft 6 main body, enabling it to slide within it freely within the main body creating a hammering movement. The tip of the hammer shaft is made of a high carbon steel tip 9, this carbon steel tip gives the product greater strength &durability at the point of impact with the tent peg (not shown in this Figure). An internal sliding hammer is provided inside the tube of the hammer shaft 2 to further magnify the applied force, as an internal sliding weight. To the lower end of the aluminium outer shaft 6 is a pointed high carbon steel head 10, this high carbon steel head is wrapped around the main body using a partially tubed slot on section 8, this further extends as a bevelled tip which is elongated as a convex length into which the hammer shafts lower end seats during use and has a tip where the end meets the ground and soil. A sprung steel lever 7 with a peg holding end 11 is facilitated to hold the various tent pegs in-situ in the device before &during the hammering procedure of the sliding hammer shaft and may be held with bolts or metal rivet means which pass through it and through aligning holes in the aforementioned partially tubed slot on section 8 of the carbon steel head 10, holding the two components via the holes on the main outer shafts lower end, as shown in Figure 1. The device 1A is shown with the hammer shaft 2A being slid out of the outer shaft 6A by way of the user gripping the textured handle grip 3A. The hammer shaft 2A then forces the tent peg 12 movably held under the peg holding end 11A and seated on the carbon steel head 10A, into the ground by way of its high carbon steel tip 9A, as shown in Figure 2. During use, the user prepares the device as shown in Figure 3, (J) with the high carbon steel tip 9B and the peg holding end 11B seated into the convex length of the carbon steel head 10B. In Figure 3 (K) the user then pushes down the sprung steel peg lever 7B sufficiently for its peg holding end 11B to raise enough for a chosen tent peg to be inserted underneath it. In Figure 3 (L) The tent peg 12B is inserted onto the upper edges of the bevelled convex length of the carbon steel head, with the tent pegs hammer tabs 13 laying on these upper edges of the carbon steel heads convex length. Figure 3 (M) shows the tent peg 12B with its shaft aligned with the peg shaft groove 18 of the peg holding end 11B, which is now lowered down and onto the tent peg 12B for the peg to seat in, holding the peg in-situ prior to being hammered into the ground and holding the peg in place while the device is arranged vertically by the user ready for use. The tent pegs hammer tabs 13 lay across the upper edges of the carbon steel heads convex length 10B (as detailed in Figure 5) in line with the high carbon steel tip 9B, the peg 12B is now prepared and loaded into the device ready for use. The assembled device 1C is shown in Figure 4 with the hammer shaft stop 4C in the form of a lever, in this example, the hammer shaft stop 4C has a lever which is attached by through fittings such as threaded bolts or rivets 26 into the outer shaft 6D and has a stop arm and tip 28. When the device 1C has both the outer shaft 6D and the hammer shaft 2D not is use or with the hammer shaft inserted within the outer shaft, a small rectangular stop slot 27 in the outer and hammer shaft align and the stop arm and tip 28 are in the down position with the tip of the stop arm 28 (also shown in Figures 11 and 12) inserted into the two aligned stop slots 27, preventing the hammer shaft 2D from sliding from inside the hollow tube of the outer shaft 6D, as the stop arm tip is engaged in its hole. To release the hammer shaft, when using the device, the hammer shaft stop lever 4C is pressed inward by hand which flexes the stop arm and tip out of the rectangular holes in the hammer shaft and outer shaft allowing the hammer shaft to slide freely. (As shown in Figures 11 and 12). Figure 5 shows the device 1D with components as described, having aluminium outer shaft 6D with textured handle grip 3D and the high carbon steel tip 9D. This slides inside the hammer shaft 2D which is shown here with its hollow interior 17, textured grip 5D and hammer shaft stop 4D, which also holds 6D and 2D together when not in use, in this example, with a screw in knob with a threaded shaft which passes through a threaded hole in the outer shaft 6D and contacts with the outer surface of the inner hammer shaft, stopping the hammer shaft from sliding out when the knob is tightened. The pointed high carbon steel head 10D is shown with the opening 16 at its end which slides over and onto the lower end of the outer shaft 6D also having the convex length 15 into which the hammer shaft movably slides, with the upper edges 24 providing support for the tent peg hammer tabs, as previously described and the shaft of the peg seated under the peg shaft groove 18D located under the peg holding end 11D as part of the sprung steel lever 7D. The partially tubed slot section 8D has opening 14 which slides over high carbon steel head 10D to form the end of the device (which holds and prepares the tent peg to be driven into the ground) and is riveted or bolted onto the lower end of the aluminium outer shaft 6D, through corresponding aligned holes in the tubed section 25 of the high carbon steel head 10D and the lower end of the outer shaft 6D. Upon peg removal from the ground, a peg removal attachment is attached to the hammer shaft. The peg removal attachment is comprised of a collar clamp 20 and lever 19 located on the end of the attachments vertical stem 21 which is facilitated to fasten it to the lower end of the hammer shaft tube (to be shown). In what may be a single moulded or shaped metal or alloy piece including the collar clamp, there is also a curved footplate 22, as shown in Figure 6. The rear curved footplate 22F, as shown in Figure 7 helps in giving the user leverage when it comes to removing the tent pegs from the ground and it can also be used to initially pry the peg from the ground before turning it around and using the designated spokes. The three peg removal spokes 23 and their underside 24 to the rear of the attachment provide a channel for the peg to be slid into before then using the curved footplate to lever the pegs out of the ground. This process prevents the user from having to bend down to remove each peg but also makes it easier removing pegs from a variety of soiled surfaces. The collar clamp 20F and lever 19F in the vertical stem 21F are also shown in this Figure from a side view. The hammer shaft tube 2G is removed from the outer main body of the device and is attached to said removal attachment by insertion into the collar clamp 20G the tent peg 12G is then lifted by using the curved footplate 22G to pry it initially and the tent peg 12G may then be engaged and ‘hooked’ onto the removal tool by its shaft passing between the removal spokes 23G and the tent pegs hammer tabs 13G seating on top of the removal spokes, enabling the user to pull the tent peg 12G out of the ground by pulling the hammer shaft 2G up against the hammer tabs 13G, lifting the peg clear out of the ground, as shown in Figure 8. A dimensional view of the tent peg removal tool is shown in Figure 9 having the hammer shaft tube 2H inserted and held by the collar clamp 20H. With the removal spokes 23H shown to the rear of the vertical stem 21H and the opposing curved footplate 22H. Figure 10 shows a person using the device 11 in a typical stance. Figure 11 shows the device 1J with the hammer shaft 2J having been inserted into the outer shaft 6J, and the hammer shaft 2J being held inside the outer shaft 6J, as previously described by means of the hammer shaft stop 4J in the form of a lever, in this example, the hammer shaft stop 4C is attached by through fittings such as the threaded bolts or rivets 26J into the outer shaft 6J and has the stop arm and tip 28J. When the device 1J has both the outer shaft 6J and the hammer shaft 2J not is use or with the hammer shaft inserted within the outer shaft, a small rectangular stop slot 27J in the outer shaft and hammer shaft align and the stop arm and tip 28J are in the down position with the tip of the stop arm 28J inserted into the two aligned stop slots 27J, preventing the hammer shaft 2D from sliding from inside the hollow tube of the outer shaft 6J, as the stop arm tip is engaged in the stop slots. The device 1K in Figure 12 shows the hammer shaft 2K released to slide in and out of the outer shaft 6K, when using the device. The hammer shaft stop lever 4K is pressed inward by hand which flexes the stop arm and tip 28K out of the rectangular stop slot 27K in the hammer shaft 2K and outer shaft 6K allowing the hammer shaft to slide freely.

Claims

1) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs comprising; an aluminium outer shaft which is a hollow tubed length with through openings at both ends and is the outer extrusion and main body through which a hammer shaft tube which hammers in tent pegs slides in and out, having a high carbon steel tip and a substantial textured handle grip to its upper end, to the upper end of the alum inium outer shaft is a second textured grip and a hammer shaft stop, further to the lower end of the outer shaft is a pointed high carbon steel head, this high carbon steel head being wrapped around the main body; using a partially tubed slot on section, this further extending as a bevelled tip which is elongated as a convex length into which the hammer shafts lower end seats during use and has a tip where the end meets the ground and soil, a sprung steel lever arrangement with a peg holding end and peg shaft groove is slid over the carbon steel head via a tubed slot on section, and they attach together using aligned through fixture means to the outer shaft.2) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs further comprising; an internally disposed sliding hammer provided inside the tube of the hammer shaft to further magnify the applied force, as an internal sliding weight.3) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs further comprising; a peg removal tool attachment.4) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hammer shaft is a slightly more narrowed aluminium tubed length when compared to the diameter of the said outer shaft main body, enabling it to slide in and out freely.5) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hammer shaft has the substantial textured handle grip for shock absorption during use.6) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 5 wherein the aluminium outer shaft has a textured grip for holding the device upright in use and when sliding the hammer shaft in and out.7) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in use, the user prepares the device by pushing down the sprung steel lever sufficiently for its peg holding end which incorporates the peg shaft groove’ to raise enough for a chosen tent peg with hammer tabs toits upper end, to be inserted underneath it and laid onto the upper edges of the bevelled convex length of the carbon steel head.8) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 7 wherein, in use, the tent pegs hammer tabs lay on said upper edges of the bevelled convex length of the carbon steel head and the tent peg shaft aligns with the peg shaft groove of the sprung steel peg lever, which is lowered down and onto the tent peg for the peg to sit in, holding the peg in-situ.9) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 8 wherein, in use, the user holds the device horizontally, with the hammer shaft initially slid inside the outer shaft main body and with the tent peg now held vertically by the sprung steel levers downward pressure and under the peg holding end within the peg shaft groove, poised to be driven into the ground.10) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 9 wherein, in use, the specifically angled bevelled tip of the carbon steel head is placed through the tent / awning guy line, enabling the guy line to be drawn towards the user in order to pre tension the line before driving the tent peg.11) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 10 wherein, in use, the hammer shaft is then hammered up and down, within the outer shaft main body, by the user holding the textured grip handle of the hammer shaft and the lower positioned grip of the main body tube, to steady them, the high carbon steel head of the hammer shaft forces the tent peg into the ground, from its position on the high carbon steel head.12) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 1 wherein for peg removal the hammer shaft is slid out of the outer shaft main body by being released by the hammer shaft stop and the peg removal attachment tool is attached to the end of the hammer shaft.13) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 12 wherein the peg removal attachment tool is attached to the end of the hammer shaft by means of a collar clamp fixed onto a vertical stem of the peg removal attachment tool.14) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 13 wherein the peg removal attachment tool also has a curved footplate and three peg removal spokes, in use, the rear curved footplate helps in givingthe user leverage when it comes to removing the pegs from the ground and to initially pry the peg from the ground before turning it around and using the designated spokes.15) A device for installing and removing tent and I or gazebo pegs as claimed in claim 14 wherein the three peg removal spokes to the rear provide a channel for the peg to be slid into before then using the curved footplate to lever the pegs out of the ground, enabling peg removal while the user is standing.A

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