A two piece shank structure releasably retains a single central shank tube detachable from the shanks. The shanks are affixed in position on the surface of two double edged flukes. The double edged flukes are attached to a main fluke shaft. The anchor line extends from the boat through the central shank tube where it attaches to a U-shaped bracket. The U-shaped bracket is attached centrally to the main fluke shaft by a rotatable collar. Both shanks are manufactured with an inherent spring biasing in the material, allowing them to be slightly separated for snap in connection of the central shank tube, and also maintains pressure against the central shank tube retaining it in position under normal use. Once the anchor has become snagged under a log or similar underwater snag it may be retrieved by pulling the anchor line at an angle relative to the shanks with the pull needing to be generally opposite in direction to which the anchor is suspected of sliding under a snag. With sufficient tension sometimes coupled with a jerk of the anchor line, the central shank tube will pop-out from between the two spring biased shanks allowing the anchor line to pivot with the U-shaped bracket. The anchor line through the middle of the shank tube and attaching to the rotatable U-shaped bracket allows the anchor to be pulled back out from underneath a snag in the opposite direction from which it was moving when snagged.
A simple, easily affordable and portable, yet rugged and reliable, collapsible anchor is disclosed for use with small water craft, particularly those susceptible to damage by sharp edges or protuberances of a conventional non-collapsible anchor stower aboard. When snagged, the anchor is self-tripped by a force exerted in a direction upstream from where the craft was anchored. The force trips a release mechanism which allows a pair of flukes to rotate in an "A"-shaped spring yoke in which they are held, and unsnag the anchor. The flukes are nonrotatably disposed on a fluke shaft which is journalled in the lower terminal portions of the yoke's two spring arms. The upper terminal portions (apex) of the yoke are held together by a fulcrum pivot (shoulder bolt) means. The release mechanism comprises, a spreader bar having a clevis in its upper terminal portion and a release pin in its lower terminal portion, the release pin being biased against the spring arms; and, a line lever having a through-bore in its lower terminal portion and a cam end, the anchor line being attached to the other end. The line lever is pivotable about the fulcrum pivot member, and held in the clevis so that the spreader bar is rotatably disposed on the same fulcrum pivot.
An apparatus and method for anchoring a buoyant device are provided. The apparatus preferably includes first and second plates adjoined along a common line. An end of the second plate is transversely connected to an end of the first plate along the common line and extends inwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that the first and second plates in combination define an angled plate member. A shank is pivotally connected to a medial portion of the angled plate member and extends outwardly therefrom. At least one prong member is connected to and extends outwardly from the outer surface of each of the first and second plates of the angled plate member.
A marine anchor release mechanism that can be utilized on several pre-manufactured claw, plow or fluke type anchors for unsnagging the anchors from underwater obstructions. The release mechanism consists of two blade type brackets that run parallel to the shank of an anchor and connected to a rear portion of the anchor. A shear pin is installed through the parallel blade type brackets and the shank or an upper extension of the anchor that is sandwiched there between. The release mechanism is designed to release a snagged anchor by applying a sufficient force when powering the boat over the anchor, the shear pin will give way and the anchor assembly will rotate freely from an angle of substantially 180.degree. with respect to the shackle end of the anchor, thus allowing the anchor to pull free from the obstruction.
An apparatus and method for anchoring a buoyant device are provided. The apparatus preferably includes first, second, and third plates adjoined along a common line. An end of the second plate is transversely connected to an end of the first plate along the common line and extends inwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle so that the first and second plates in combination define an angled plate member. A third plate is adjoined along the common line and extends outwardly therefrom in a different direction from the angled plate member. A shank is pivotally connected to a medial portion of the angled plate member and extends outwardly therefrom. At least one prong member is connected to and extends outwardly from the outer surface of each of the first and second plates of the angled plate member.
A marine anchor for recreational boats comprising a rotating hub, with a plurality of flukes extending outward, and a substantially right-angle shaped bail member including five bail positions for receiving a slidable shackle of an anchor chain. The first bail to shakle position is the anchored position. The second bail to shackle position allows for a conventional retrieval of the anchor from above the location of the set anchor. An alternate retrieval can result in a third bail to shackle position from an anchored boat position further away from the set anchor. In the second and third positions the flukes are free to rotate enabling the marine anchor to be retrieved. A fourth position of the bail to shackle position is pulling the anchor chain and shackle from the opposite end of the anchor. A fifth position of the bail is a resting position on the bed of the sea floor by releasing the tension of the anchor chain such as during a slack tide to minimize entanglement with other loose anchors or debris.
