US 12,331,477 B2
Ground anchoring apparatus and method
James David Frost, Atlanta, GA (US); John A. Huntoon, Atlanta, GA (US); and Seth D. Mallett, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION, Atlanta, GA (US)
Appl. No. 17/915,900
Filed by GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION, Atlanta, GA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 2, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/025490
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 29, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/202944, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 7, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/004,783, filed on Apr. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0151576 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. E02D 5/80 (2006.01)
CPC E02D 5/803 (2013.01) [E02D 2600/30 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ground anchoring apparatus comprising:
a first longitudinal body having a central axis;
a first retaining member rigidly coupled to a portion of the first longitudinal body and comprising (i) a first annular body defining an opening sized such that the first longitudinal body is disposable within the opening and (ii) one or more flanges each extending radially outward from the first annular body, the one or more flanges each defining one or more hinge openings extending therethrough;
a second retaining member movably coupled to the first longitudinal body and comprising (i) a second annular body defining an opening sized such that the first longitudinal body is disposable within the opening and (ii) one or more flanges each extending radially outward from the second annular body, the one or more flanges each defining one or more hinge openings extending therethrough; and
a first set of one or more expanding linkage assemblies, each of the one or more expanding linkage assemblies including:
a first linkage member having a first portion and a second portion opposite and spaced apart from the first portion, wherein the first portion of the first linkage member is rotatably coupled to the first retaining member via the one or more hinge openings of the first retaining member, and
a second linkage member having a third portion and a fourth portion opposite and spaced apart from the third portion, wherein the fourth portion of the second linkage member is rotatably coupled to the second retaining member, and wherein the third portion of the second linkage member is rotatably coupled to the second portion of the first linkage member via the one or more hinge openings of the second retaining member,
wherein the first set of one or more expanding linkage assemblies is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the second retaining member is closer to the first retaining member and the third portion of the second linkage member is further from the central axis in the expanded configuration than in the collapsed configuration,
wherein the one or more hinge openings defined in one of the second retaining member and the first retaining member is disposed further radially outward from the central axis than the one or more hinge openings defined in the other of the first retaining member and the second retaining member.