A CAPALABA man frustrated with gazebos flying off in wind has invented feet to secure the shade’s legs into place.
Creig Adams said the GazeboGuard helped to secure each leg into the ground, increasing the amount of lift required to blow a gazebo over.
Bulky weights already exist to keep shades in place but Mr Adams said he had patented a slimmer foot design created by himself that weighed only 600 grams each.
Mr Adams said the plates could be slotted onto the gazebo’s legs, with up to four large tent pegs able to secure each foot to the ground.
“The GazeboGuard features a ... triple locking process which prevents the gazebo foot from disengaging,” he said.
“(It) results in a massive increase in ground holding area and a corresponding increase in the lift required to effect take-off.”
Mr Adams said the feet could help secure gazebos into the ground or at the beach.
Each leg of the shade could be buried into wet and compacted sand, holding the gazebo more securely in place.
“Water can then be used to compact the sand around it and this results in the lifting force required for takeoff jumping from 15-kilograms to 65-kilograms,” he said.
“It does this by using science rather than gravity.”
Mr Adams, who has also invented a cage to keep fishing line sinkers in place, said he decided to invent the feet for shades after losing five gazebos in the past two years at home and work.
“I sat down on the beach after losing a group of three gazebos in one gust and drew up a design in the sand that would stop it happening,” he said.
“When I got back from my holiday in January I made up a prototype in wood in my garage and began my testing process.
“The testing was so successful as I progressed that I felt I had to patent it. I have now completed the initial stages of the patent and have ordered my first shipment.”
For more information, visit gazeboguards.com.au.
