Anchor device for trailers

Claim 1

An anchoring system for receiving and holding the ends of a belt to secure a trailer at a selected location and to protect it against damage, comprising: a belt consisting of an elongated web formed from a plurality of steel bands embedded in space side-by-side relationship in a wide, flat plastic covering, said plastic covering protecting said bands and providing a slip-resistant surface, said belt being adapted to pass over said trailer; first and second connecting means on respective first and second ends of said belt, said first connecting means comprising a plurality of apertures at said first end of said belt and including one aperture adjacent the end of and passing through a corresponding one of each of said steel bands; first and second ground anchor means for location on opposite sides of said trailer; fastening means on each said anchor to cooperate with a corresponding one of said first and second connecting means to secure the first end of said belt to said first anchor means and the second end of said belt to said second anchor means, whereby said belt may be secured to one anchor means, pass over said trailer and be secured to the other anchor means, at least one of said ground anchor means including a generally Y-shaped yoke having first and second upstanding, spaced arms secured to a depending leg, said fastening means on said at least one anchor means including a bar member spanning said yoke, the ends of said bar passing through and being rotatable in first and second apertures located in said first and second arm; pin means on said bar member for engaging said plurality of apertures on said first end of said belt to connect the end of said belt to said bar member; means including a shaped head on said bar member for rotating said bar to wind said belt around said bar and to place said belt in tension; locking means for said bar comprising a locking plate having a first opening shaped to receivE snugly and without rotation said shaped head and a second opening spaced from said first opening, a locking aperture in said first arm of said yoke positioned for alignment with said second opening in said locking plate when said locking plate is placed over said shaped head, and locking pin means adapted to pass through said second opening and said locking aperture when aligned to secure said locking plate and said bar member against rotation with respect to said yoke and to maintain the tension in said belt; and means secured to said depending leg of said yoke and serving to facilitate securing of said yoke in the ground and to prevent withdrawal thereof by forces directed axially along said leg.