An anchor having an elongated hollow body with a plurality of flukes pivoted to the lower end thereof. A stem inside the body has an upper end projecting through the upper end of the body connected to an anchor line. A connecting member couples a slideable plug held within the body to the stem for movement between a first position, where the plug holds the flukes in an extended operative position, and a second position, where the flukes are released from engagement with a surface. The connecting member, of which there are two embodiments, includes a spring tensioned as the stem is raised to an elevated position by a pull on the anchor line, the spring biasing the plug to its second position. A holding element locks the stem in its elevated position whereby a release of the pull on the anchor line will cause the spring to move the plug to its second position to release the anchor flukes. In one embodiment, the flukes may be moved to a storage position parallel to the body.
A simple yet rugged and reliable collapsible anchor in an anchor assembly is disclosed for use with various small craft which are susceptible to damage by a conventional anchor stowed aboard or by the anchor being fouled when there is a swift current. The anchor is a stock anchor in which both the stock arms and the flukes are foldable alongside the anchor's hollow shank so as to be sheathed in a sheath from which the anchor is released when it is cast. A release mechanism is provided within the anchor's hollow shank which mechanism allows the anchor to be either self-tripped, or manually tripped, by exerting a pulling force of predetermined amount, which force required is adjustable; the mechanism obviates the use of shear pins. The anchor assembly is optionally protected by a cushioning means such as a resilient bumper or fender in which the sheathed anchor is removably inserted; or, a seat cushion in which the sheathed anchor is removably inserted, and thus may be stowed aboard the craft without occupying additional space.
An anchor device adapted to be buried in a bed of material and including an anchor head comprising a generally hollow cylindrical body having an upper portion adapted to be releasably secured to a hollow placement stem connected to a supply of fluid under pressure. A lower portion of the anchor head has a tapered nose and at least one downwardly oriented jet aperture is provided in the lower end of the nose and a plurality of upwardly-angled jet apertures are provided in the walls of the nose for transmitting fluid into the bed material surrounding the nose to fluidize the material and drive the head into the bed. A fin assembly is mounted on the anchor head intermediate the top and bottom portions and comprises a plurality of fins and a collar and bracket arrangement for mounting a foot portion of each of the fins for rotation between a folded position generally parallel to the axis of the anchor head and an unfolded position at a substantial acute angle to the axis. An anchor line assembly is provided including an anchor line and a ring and cable arrangement fastening the anchor line to the fin assembly to enable the anchor head and fin assembly to be partly retracted from the bed to unfold the fins and thereby set the anchor device in the bed. A placement stand assembly is provided for the anchor and includes a horizontal table with an aperture therethrough receiving the placement stem. The placement stand assembly is adapted to rest on the surface of the bed of material for holding the placement stem in a vertical position as the anchor assembly and placement stem are being driven into the bed. Cooperative screw threads are carried on the distal end of the placement stem and on an upper portion of the anchor assembly for releasably connecting the placement stem and anchor assembly. A stop plate is carried on the placement stem at a preselected distance from the distal end for stopping the burying of the anchor assembly when the stop plate encounters the table on the placement stand assembly. A spring powered turntable is carried on the table and is operable by the stop plate for separating the screw threads to separate the anchor assembly and the placement stem.
An anchor with collapsible flukes is provided with a spring tensioned latching mechanism which normally prevents the flukes from moving from a latched position to a collapsed position. The latching mechanism is unlatched and the flukes collapsed by a releasing mechanism including a compression spring and a firing pin. Tension on an anchor line draws the firing pin against the compression spring and, upon a sudden release of the tension in the anchor line, the firing pin is driven against the latching mechanism to unlatch it and permit collapse of the flukes.
Self-clearing anchor (10) having one or more arms (13) hinged to the stem (11), in the vicinity of the crown (12) of the anchor (10), cooperating with biassing member (17) to counteract the rotation of the arms (13), the arms being adapted, when subjected to a determined stress, to collapse beyond the crown (112) of the anchor (10). In the anchor, the biassing member (17) can be adjusted by appropriate regulation member (19).
A retractable grappling hook generally comprising a shaft having a longitnal extending axis and a plurality of hooks pivotally attached to the shaft. Each hook has a longitudinally extending axis and is pivotal to a retracted position such that the axis of each hook is substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft and to an extended position such that the axis of each hook is angulated with respect to the axis of the shaft. The retractable grappling hook further comprises a hook control system on the shaft for configuring and locking the hooks in either the extended or retracted positions, and an attachment member attached to the shaft for attaching the grappling hook to other devices.
