Shallow water anchor
A shallow water anchor system includes a motor, a four-bar linkage displaceable by the motor between a stowed position and a deployed position, and a ground spike coupled with the four-bar linkage. The four-bar linkage maintains an orientation of the ground spike regardless of a position of the four-bar linkage.
1 . A shallow water anchor system comprising:
a motor;
a four-bar linkage displaceable by the motor between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a ground spike coupled with the four-bar linkage, the four-bar linkage maintaining an orientation of the ground spike regardless of a position of the four-bar linkage; and
a strut operatively coupled to the motor and configured to extend and retract, the strut being pivotally connected to a drive arm of the four-bar linkage at a first intermediate pivot location spaced from proximal and distal ends of the drive arm and pivotally connected to a pivot arm of the four-bar linkage at a second intermediate pivot location spaced from proximal and distal ends of the pivot arm,
wherein the strut extends diagonally between the drive arm and the pivot arm to define a diagonal across the four-bar linkage, and wherein extension and retraction of the strut changes a distance between the first pivot location and the second pivot location to thereby displace the four-bar linkage between the stowed position and the deployed position.
2 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 1 , wherein the four-bar linkage comprises a link pivotally connected between distal ends of the drive arm and the pivot arm, and wherein the ground spike is connected to the link.
3 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 2 , further comprising a rack, wherein the motor is configured to reciprocate the rack between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein the drive arm is connected to a spur gear at a proximal end that engages the rack.
4 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 2 , wherein the ground spike is connected to the link via a ramped interlock mechanism that is configured to secure the ground spike at a user-defined angle relative to the four-bar linkage.
5 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 4 , wherein the ramped interlock mechanism comprises ramps and is configured such that when an excessive lateral load is applied to the ground spike, the ramped interlock mechanism will allow the ramps to skip.
6 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 1 , wherein the four-bar linkage is coupled to a frame member, the shallow water anchor system further comprising a clamp fixed to the frame member, wherein the clamp is configured to secure the shallow water anchor system to a boat.
7 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 6 , wherein the clamp comprises thumb screws.
8 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 1 , wherein the ground spike comprises an inline embedded gas shock.
9 . A shallow water anchor system comprising:
a motor;
a strut displaceable by the motor between an extended position and a retracted position;
a four-bar linkage displaceable via the strut between a stowed position and a deployed position; and
a ground spike coupled with the four-bar linkage, the four-bar linkage maintaining an orientation of the ground spike regardless of a position of the four-bar linkage,
wherein the four-bar linkage comprises a drive arm that pivots about a first pivot point and a pivot arm that pivots about a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point,
wherein a first end of the strut is pivotally connected to the drive arm at a third pivot point located between proximal and distal ends of the drive arm, and a second end of the strut is pivotally connected to the pivot arm at a fourth pivot point located between proximal and distal ends of the pivot arm,
wherein the strut extends diagonally between the drive arm and the pivot arm to define a diagonal across the four-bar linkage, and
wherein movement of the strut between the extended position and the retracted position changes a distance between the third pivot point and the fourth pivot point to thereby displace the four-bar linkage between the stowed position and the deployed position.
10 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 9 , wherein the four-bar linkage comprises a drive arm that pivots on a first pivot point, a pivot arm that pivots on a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point, and a link pivotally connected between distal ends of the drive arm and the pivot arm, and wherein the ground spike is connected to the link.
11 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 10 , wherein the ground spike is connected to the link via a ramped interlock mechanism that is configured to secure the ground spike at a user-defined angle relative to the four-bar linkage.
12 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 9 , wherein the four-bar linkage is coupled to a frame member, the shallow water anchor system further comprising a clamp fixed to the frame member, wherein the clamp is configured to secure the shallow water anchor system to a boat.
13 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 9 , wherein the ground spike comprises an inline embedded gas shock.
14 . A shallow water anchor system comprising:
a motor;
a four-bar linkage displaceable by the motor between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a ground spike coupled with the four-bar linkage, the four-bar linkage maintaining an orientation of the ground spike regardless of a position of the four-bar linkage; and
a shock absorber cooperable with the ground spike and configured to absorb external forces on the ground spike, wherein the shock absorber comprises a gas shock that is in line with and embedded in the ground spike.
15 . The shallow water anchor system according to claim 14 , wherein the gas shock is positioned between upper and lower portions of the ground spike.
16 . The shallow water anchor according to claim 14 , wherein the shock absorber comprises one of a hydraulic shock and a resilient material.