Unitary Plastic Ground Anchor With Tapered Blades
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional metal delineator anchors are costly, labor-intensive to manufacture, prone to failure under high stress, and heavy, while wooden markers are brittle and deteriorate quickly, lacking the flexibility and durability needed for high-traffic areas.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, unitary plastic ground anchor with a receptacle for delineator posts and a ground-engaging portion featuring tapered blades with barbs, allowing for easy installation and high stability in various soils, and designed to accommodate flexible delineator poles that can yield and return to a vertical position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal anchors are used, then strength and durability are improved, but manufacturing cost and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple anchor components into a single unitary plastic body that is injection molded as one piece. This eliminates the need for separate machining, forming, or welding operations required for metal anchors, while maintaining structural strength through the integrated design with interconnected blades and barbs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic (specifically polyethylene or similar polymers), which fundamentally alters the manufacturing process from subtractive (machining/welding) to additive (injection molding). This parameter change enables mass production with lower labor intensity while preserving the mechanical properties needed for anchor strength.
2Strength
If metal anchors are used, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from dense metal to lighter plastic material, directly reducing the weight of the anchor while maintaining sufficient strength through optimized geometry. The unitary plastic construction with strategically placed blades and barbs provides adequate holding power at a fraction of the weight of traditional metal anchors.
3Ease of manufacture
If wood markers are used, then cost is reduced, but durability and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from organic wood to synthetic plastic polymer, which eliminates the deterioration issues (rot, splintering, cracking) associated with wood while maintaining cost-effectiveness through injection molding manufacturing. The plastic material also provides the necessary flexibility to return to vertical position after vehicle impact, unlike rigid wood markers.
4Strength
If complex metal anchor assemblies are used, then strength is improved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple anchor components (blades, barbs, connecting elements) into a single unitary plastic body that is pre-assembled through injection molding. This eliminates the need for on-site assembly of multiple metal parts, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining the structural strength provided by the interconnected blade and barb configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A ground anchor for a delineator includes a unitary plastic body having a receptacle shaped and configured for connection to a delineator post and a ground engaging portion extending from the receptacle along a longitudinal axis. The ground engaging portion includes a plurality of tapered blades. Delineator assemblies using the ground anchor, and methods of installing the ground anchor, are also provided.