AU2005270408B2

AU2005270408B2 - Grape stake

Info

Publication number: AU2005270408B2
Application number: AU2005270408A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raimund Reisacher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-09
Filing date: 2005-08-02
Publication date: 2010-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-08-02
Also published as: ATE392141T1; EP1788860A1; AU2005270408A1; EP1788860B1; ES2306189T3; WO2006015767A1; DE102004038750A1; DE502005003773D1

Abstract

The invention relates to a stake (1) comprising at least one hook (6) for holding a wire (8) in viniculture and pomiculture. Said stake comprises a base body (2) provided with at least one sheet metal limb (4) on which the hook (6) is produced by stamping and bending a stamping pattern corresponding to the shape of the hook, from an essentially flat region (10) of the limb (4). Said hook (6) comprises a first partial section extending from the flat region (10) and spatially formed by deep-drawing the sheet metal, and an adjacent partial section defining a receiving region for the wire (8). Said stake is characterised in that the first and second partial sections are embodied in a ridge-type manner, the second partial section comprising a first wing and a second wing extending on both sides of the ridge in the direction of the outer surface of the limb (4) to the receiving region, and the stamping pattern comprises at least one flat stamped section defining the receiving region for the wire (8), said stamped section being removed from the flat region (10) before the deep-drawing of the sheet metal, as stamping waste. The invention also relates to a method for producing one such stake.

Description

VINEYARD STAKE 5 The invention comprises a vineyard stake with a sheet metal limb and a hook formed by punching and deep-drawing the sheet metal as in the preamble of claim 1, as well as a method for manufacturing such a stake as in the 10 preamble of claim 15. Stakes with open or closed metal profiles are used for wire frames in viniculture and pomiculture, which have exterior hooks on their limbs, which are formed by 15 stamping and bending tongues from a flat region of the limb of the metal profile. Alternatively, metal profiles with interior hooks are used, on which the hooks are profiled as stamped holes. 20 This type of metal profile, which are referred to below as vineyard stakes, has previously been proposed, for example in DE 44 36 936 C2 (exterior braced hooks) , DE 192 52 597 Al (S-shaped exterior hooks), DE 196 29 023 C1 (waisted S-shaped exterior hooks) , and DE 299 11 927 U1 25 (profiled interior hooks). In the metal profiles listed above with exterior hooks, the hook shapes are pressed out of the sheet metal as waste-free stamped forms. 30 This often results in the problem that the metal tongues of the hooks are opposite the associated stamped opening and, when using harvester machines, can be pressed back 2 into the stamped openings by their striking bars, which means that the wire can no longer be hung on the affected hook afterward without additional effort. In addition, the sliding surfaces formed on the hooks for the wires 5 have stamping burrs on the insides of the eyes, which is technically unavoidable, so that dull stamping tools often significantly reduce the ability of the wire to slide. 10 For exterior hooks with reinforcements, such as are described in DE 44 36 936 C2, the problem arises that the hook can only be reinforced relatively weakly, and that ultimately only the hook boss is strengthened against impact. The hook tongues themselves are always bent 15 closed by the harvester strikes, and must then be manually or mechanically opened again. A solid reinforcement of the hook boss and the tongue to prevent impact closure is not possible in this arrangement, since with the large deformations of the cutout required, the 20 hook tongue would tear into the hook boss. For the metal profiles with interior hooks, which are usually made by means of cutout forms with stamping waste and subsequent profiling, complete reinforcement of the 25 hook is indeed possible, but the profiling requires an enormous amount of material, and the profile is greatly weakened by the associated large stamping holes required. Accordingly, it is desirable to 30 create a vineyard stake of the type described above with an exterior hook, in which the insertion opening of the hook cannot be closed by impacts from a harvester.

C:\NRPonbl\DCOGA'V\l 122571 DOC-1609/210 -3 It is also desirable to create a method for manufacturing such a stake. According to the present invention there is provided a. stake with at least one hook for holding a wire in viniculture and 5 pomiculture, which features a base body with at least one sheet metal limb, on which the hook is produced by stamping and bending a stamping pattern corresponding to the shape of the hook from an essentially flat region of the limb, where the hook includes a first partial segment extending from the 10 flat region, spatially formed by deep-drawing the sheet metal, and an adjacent second partial segment, defining a receiving region for the wire, characterised in that the first and second partial segments are shaped as a ridge, where the second partial segment comprises a first and 15 second wing on both sides of the ridge, extending in the direction towards the exterior surface of the limb out to the receiving region and that the stamping pattern features at least one flat stamping cutout that defines a receiving region for the wire, which is removed from the flat region 20 as stamping waste before the sheet metal is deep-drawn. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a stake as in one of the preceding claims, characterised by the following processing steps: preparation of sheet metal with an essentially flat 25 region; stamping out an M, H, or U-shaped stamping pattern with at least one flat stamping cutout from the flat region of the sheet metal; removal of the flat stamping cutout from the sheet 30 metal; deep-drawing of a hook with a spatially formed first partial C:NRPnbhDCCGAV\I3112257 DOC-IfOW9/2010 -4 segment extending from the flat region and an adjacent second partial segment, defining a receiving region for the hook, using a forming die that acts on both sides of the sheet metal in the flat region; forming the sheet metal into 5 a profile with at least one limb, such that the flat region is in the area of the limb. According to one embodiment of the invention, a stake with at least one hook for holding a wire in viniculture and pomiculture has a base body with at least one sheet metal 10 limb, on which the hook is formed by stamping and bending a stamping pattern associated with the hook shape from a essentially flat region of the limb, which is preferably flat, but according to type can also be stiffened with a corrugation. The hook features a first partial 15 section protruding from the flat region, which features a geometric shape comparable to a nose, and is spatially formed by deep drawing the sheet metal. On the first partial section, the ridge region or ridge line of which extends at an angle, such as 450, to the flat region 20 or the exterior surface of the limb, connects to a second partial section, also ridge-shaped, which includes a first and second wing that extend from the ridge of the second partial section to the receiving region for the wire, and define it. The shape of the first and second wing 25 is obtained by stamping out a flat stamping section from each wing, which has the shape of the edge of the receiving region in the second partial section, and that is removed as stamping waste from the flat region prior to deep drawing the sheet metal. 30 A particular advantage of the vineyard stake according to embodiments of the invention is that the hooks can be drawn C\NRPonb\DCC\GAV\31l2257 1.DOC-16/912010 -5 out, after stamping out the stamping pattern, using a deep draw stamping process, from a flat region of the sheet metal. Due to the defined rounding radii of the stamped out pattern, which is removed as waste, the notch stresses are 5 minimised, which results in exceptional material flow in the area of the hook base or hook foot - hereafter also referred to as the first partial section - which then leads to the hook ridges being able to be drawn out at least 4 mm the from the mainly flat region of the limb, with a 10 material thickness of 1 to 3 mm, without causing tears in the material. As the applicant has discovered, a receiving region for the wire can be obtained in the completed hook via a flat stamping cutout in the area of the receiving region for the 15 wire, in a manner according to the invention, with a cross section of, for example, 1.5 to 2 mm, in connectionwith the deep-draw process. This has, compared with the area of the stamping cutout removed, an open area that is enlarged by a factor of more than 1.5, which provides good mobility of 20 the wire in the receiving region. In other words, the stamping hole can be made much smaller, since the material is greatly stretched when forming the hook, and thus grows in a way, whereas when profiling the known hook using profiling rollers, deformation takes place mainly in the elastic 25 range, with minimal strain. In addition, the hook can be pressed very deeply out of the material, which allows very deep hook openings for inserting the wires, as well as large, eye-shaped receiving regions, without additional material usage, and thus without 30 additional cost.

C\NRPorbl\DCOGAV012237_1 DOC-Ih9/2010 -5A A further advantage of the stake according to embodiments of the invention is that, in comparison to stakes with interior hooks, in which the insertion opening and the receiving 5 region for the wire are formed in a fold made in the sheet metal itself, material savings of about 15% are realised, since no additional material is needed for the fold. 10 A further advantage of the vineyard stake according to embodiments of the invention is that, if desired, it can be combined with simple exterior hooks of the state of the art. In the lower area of the stake, narrower hooks of the state of the art are preferably used, so that the profile is 15 not weakened unnecessarily, and the maximum torque arising there can be supported optimally. At the head of the stake, simple exterior hooks can also be used, since this area is generally not processed by harvesters, and the stake head is not unnecessarily weakened when it is driven 20 in. Furthermore, the design of the hook according to embodiments of the invention also opens up the advantage that different bend radii and bend angles can be selected for forming the 25 hook ridge in the area of the first, second, and third partial segments, which can be made via deep-drawing using the same deep draw die. In contrast, when profiling the above hook of the state of the art using profiling rollers, only one ridge geometry can be used, determined by the 30 profiling rollers.

6 According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is particularly suitable for use with sheet metal with a thickness in the range of 1 to 3 mm, the first partial segment is pressed out of the flat region of the 5 limb material so far that the ridge of the first partial segment, which preferably runs in a straight line at an angle extends at least 4 mm, but preferably 6 to 10 mm, past the flat region. This provides a very large opening height for insertion of the wire, and sufficient size of 10 the receiving region for standard wires with a wire diameter of, for instance, 2 to 3 mm. Simultaneously, however, despite the thinning of the material in the area of the first partial segment caused by the deep-draw process, sufficient strength is achieved. 15 According to a further embodiment of the invention, the ridge of the second partial segment, which is continuously connected to the first partial segment, extends mainly parallel to the outer surface of the limb, 20 and preferably features a mainly V or U-shaped cross section, which results in an advantageously strong geometry that is resistant to the effects of harvester striking bars, and which can also be efficiently and cost-effectively obtained using simply shaped bending 25 tools or deep-draw dies. The opening angle of the V-shaped cross-section, or in other words, the angle made by the side edges or side surfaces extending from the ridge of the first partial 30 segment to the exterior surface of the limb, is preferably less than 1200, in particular 70 to 80*. This allows a high degree of reinforcement for the first 7 partial segment under optimal material flow during the deep-draw process. In this embodiment of the invention, the opening angle of 5 the second partial segment is preferably not the same opening angle as that of the first partial segment; rather, the first and second wings that define the V shape of the second partial segment extend at a smaller angle than that in the area of the first partial segment 10 in the direction toward the exterior surface of the limb. The selection of different angles provides the advantage that the hook ridge in the second partial segment has greater stiffness, due to the corrugation-like function that is associated with the smaller angle, and is thus 15 more resistant to harvester impacts, although the hook is made weaker in the area of the second partial segment, relative to the first partial segment, by the receiving region in the area of the second partial segment. Although, in the simplest case, the hook can be made as a 20 simple hook, it is preferable that it be made in the shape of a double hook, in combination with a hook designed as a mirror image, hereafter referred to as a counter-hook. 25 It has been found to be advantageous, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, if the hook features a third partial segment extending from the second partial segment as a barb toward the flat region, which prevents the wire from freely sliding out of the 30 receiving region, both in the case of a single hook and in the case of a double or counter-hook.

8 The third partial segment can, for example, be designed as a point or tongue extending from the second partial segment at an angle toward the exterior surface of the limb, which can be asymmetrically shaped if desired, 5 which ensures sufficient mobility of the wire in the receiving region when the stake according to the invention is used on hillsides, even if the hillside slope is very steep. 10 According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the third partial segment features a first and a second additional wing that extend from the ridge of the third partial segment, which is preferably in a straight line with the ridge of the second partial segment, to the 15 side in the direction of the exterior surface of the limb, where at least one of the additional wings features a greater length than the associated wing, or both wings, of the second partial segment. 20 This ensures that the wire is prevented from sliding out of the receiving region by the edges of the first and second additional wings, which bound the receiving region in the direction of the insertion opening for the wire. 25 The first and second additional wings are preferably integral with the first and second wings of the second partial segment, and preferably transition smoothly into one another. This results in the advantage that the hook according to the invention can be manufactured by deep 30 drawing in a simple manner, by stamping out only a very small, contiguous flat stamping section, where the stamping waste, and thus the material usage, can be kept to a minimum for a specified strength of the hook.

9 In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second additional wings are also arranged in a V shape relative to one another, so that the third partial segment has a V-shaped cross-section, where the point of 5 the "V" forms the continuous hook ridge in the same manner as the other two partial segments. In this embodiment of the invention, as well, it is intended that the angle formed by the two additional 10 wings is preferably smaller still than the angle between the two wings of the second partial segment. The angle between the two additional wings can be less than 60*. The selection of a smaller included angle for the third partial segment has the advantage that the effective 15 projection of the first and second additional wings, to capture or retain the wire, is greater than it would be with a larger included angle. In addition, if desired, the first and second additional 20 wings can be bent closer to each other in order to further reduce the penetration opening of the guide section, which extends between the first and the second additional wings and the opposite face or edge of the guide section, which is essentially parallel to the 25 exterior surface of the limb, in order to additionally prevent the wire from coming out. The contact edge of the guide section for the wire can advantageously be obtained by raising or bulging out the sheet metal during deep drawing, or by a surface of the limb that does not run 30 completely at a 90* angle to the base surface of the hook according to the invention, but rather slightly inclined to it. This results in the advantage that the exterior 10 surface of the limb presses the wire against the barb, which allows it to be slightly captured. The first and second additional wings, in the preferred 5 embodiment of the invention, have the shape of a shoe or a trapezoid when viewed from the side, such that the surface of the first and/or second additional wing gets wider, starting from the hook ridge in the direction of the exterior surface of the limb. 10 Although the first and second additional wings have essentially the same length, especially when using the stake according to the invention in flat vineyard areas, the first additional wing, in a further embodiment of the 15 invention particularly suited for hillside use, has a greater length that the second additional wing. In this embodiment of the hook, the stake that features it is erected such that the longer first additional wing is on the downhill side, and the second shorter additional wing 20 is on the uphill side of the slope. This asymmetrical arrangement of the two additional wings of the third partial segment results in a very short and compact shape of the hook, which nevertheless allows good 25 capturability of the wire in sloped locations, and thus also its use on relatively steep hillsides. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the previously described hook is made with first, second, 30 and third partial segments, preferably as a double hook with a counter-hook featuring at least a first and second partial segment, the stamping waste preferably has a generally H, M or U shape, where the contours of the "H", 11 the "M", or the "U" are smoothly rounded, which greatly reduces the risk of cracking during deep-drawing. As the applicant has discovered, the area of the stamping 5 cutout removed can be kept to a minimum with this shape of the stamping waste and maximum strain of the material, in particular in the area of the first partial segment, so that minimal material usage is required for maximum strength. 10 According to a further embodiment of the idea behind the invention, a process for manufacturing the stake described above is characterised in that a sheet metal part is first prepared with a mainly flat region, in 15 which a preferably M or H shaped stamping pattern is cut, with at least one flat stamping section, where the flat region of the stamping pattern is removed from the sheet metal after stamping. Subsequently the sheet metal is plastically deformed in the flat region by deep-drawing 20 the material, using a forming die on both sides of the flat region, in such a manner that the result is a very strong, essentially closed, preferably essentially triangular spatially formed first partial segment and, connected to it, a second partial segment featuring a 25 first and second wing, which border the receiving region for the hook. Preferably simultaneously, a counter-hook that is essentially a mirror image of the previously described hook is formed from the same flat region, which is advantageously done with the same forming die or deep 30 draw die, where the sheet metal is stationary during the stamping and drawing process, in contrast to forming by a rotating profiling roller.

12 According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the sheet metal is preferably profiled prior to deep-drawing the material, in order to give it the open U or V shaped profile of the stake. This 5 results in the advantage that, even for stakes with relatively narrow limb surfaces, exterior hooks can be made in a width that is nearly same as that of the limb. The invention is described in the following with 10 reference to the drawings, using preferred embodiments. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic spatial representation of a 15 vineyard stake according to the invention with hooks according to the invention, which are made as single hooks, Fig. 2 a section view through a profile according to 20 the invention with a hook according to the invention with an asymmetrically shaped third partial segment and a schematically drawn wire, Fig. 3a, 3b a section and side view through a first 25 embodiment of a double hook according to the invention, in which the hook and the barb feature only a first and second partial segment, Fig. 3c, 3d the stamping pattern associated with the 30 hook from Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b, for a hook with a generally horizontal insertion opening and a diagonal insertion opening, 13 Fig. 4a, 4b a further embodiment of a hook according to the invention, designed as a double hook with a third partial segment functioning as a barb and a counter-hook featuring a first and second partial segment, 5 Fig. 4c, 4d examples of stamping patterns for the hook shown in Fig. 4a and 4b, in which the first and second additional wings are symmetrical, 10 Fig. 5a, 5b a further embodiment of a hook according to the invention, in which the first and second additional wings are trapezoidal or shoe-shaped, in order to generate a larger guiding or contact surface of the wire, 15 Fig. 5c a section view through a further embodiment of the hook shown in Fig. 5b, in which the first and second additional wings are asymmetrical, and 20 Fig. 5d the stamping pattern associated with Fig. 5c. As is shown in Fig. 1, a vineyard stake 1 according to the invention comprises a base body 2 made of sheet metal, which is made as a profile with a generally U 25 shaped cross-section, and that has a least one limb 4 on which at least one hook 6 is provided for holding a wire 8. The hook 6 is formed by deep-drawing by stamping and 30 bending a stamping pattern associated with the hook shape out of a flat region indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3c, 3d, 4c, and 4d, from the limb 4.

14 As can be seen from the representations in Figures 2, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, and 5a, 5b, 5c, the hook 6 according to the invention features a first partial segment 12 that is mainly triangular in shape when seen from the side, and 5 features a ridge 16 that is preferably in a straight line at an angle of about 450 rising from the exterior surface of the limb 4, or outward from the mainly flat region 10. As can be seen from the section view of the first partial 10 segment in Fig. 3a, 4a, and 5a, the first partial segment 12 features a generally V-shaped cross-section, where the included angle of the two flanks 18 of the first partial segment 12, in which the sheet metal is greatly plastically deformed by the deep-drawing process, is in 15 the range <1200, preferably <900, and particularly preferably in the range between 70* and 800. The first partial segment 12 preferably features a base area that is largely triangular in shape, which tapers 20 down, starting at the wire receiving region 20 adjacent to the first partial segment 12, toward the right side in the figures. A second partial segment 22 is adjacent to the first 25 partial segment 12, which according to the representation in Fig. 3a comprises a first wing 24 and a second wing 26, which extend in the cross-section from the ridge 28 of the second partial segment, out toward the exterior surface of the limb 4, where the angle included by the 30 wings 24, 26, according to the embodiment in Fig. 3a, 3b, is the same size as the included angle of the flanks 18 of the first partial segment 12.

15 As can further be seen in the representation of Fig. 3a, Fig. 3b, the hook 6 works together with an identically shaped but mirror-image counter-hook 106 to form a double hook. 5 An insertion opening 30 is bounded between the second partial segments of the two hooks 6 and 106, or between their end faces, through which the wire can be inserted into the receiving region 20, which in this case has an 10 open oval cross-sectional shape, the side of which that is nearest the limb acts as a guide section 32 for the wire 8. According to the example shown in Fig. 3c of a stamping 15 pattern 34a associated with the hook from Fig. 3a and 3b, which is removed from the sheet metal of the limb 4 as stamping waste during the manufacture of the hook or double hook according to the invention, the insertion opening 30 is at a right angle to the longitudinal axis 20 of the hooks 6, 106. In addition, it is possible to allow the insertion opening 30 to be at an angle of, for example, 200 diagonally to the longitudinal axis of the hook or double hook, in order to make it more difficult for the inserted wire to escape. An example of an 25 associated stamping pattern 34b is shown in Fig. 3d. As can be seen in the representation in Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b, the hook 6 according to the invention features, according to a further embodiment of the invention, a 30 third partial segment 36 that comprises a first and second additional wing 38, 40, which each extend from the ridge 28 of the third partial segment down toward the exterior surface of the limb 4, where the included angle 16 between the two additional wings 38, 40 is preferably still smaller than the included angle of the wings 24, 26 of the second partial segment 22. 5 According to the representation in Fig. 4a, 4b, and 5a, 5b, the end faces 42 of the first and second additional wings 38, 40 extend past the end faces of the first and second wings 24, 26 that serve as the contact edges 43 of the receiving region 20, and bound a penetration opening 10 44 of the guide section 32, through which the wire 8 is inserted into the receiving region 20. As can be seen in the representation of the example of a stamping pattern 34c and 34d in Fig. 4c and 4d for the 15 previously described embodiment with a third partial segment 36, the first and the second additional wings 38, 40 preferably have the same length, and are at the same angle as the first and second wings 24, 26 of the second partial segment 22. 20 According to a further embodiment of the invention, shown in Fig. 5b and 5c, the first additional wing 38 is longer than the second additional wing 40, where this embodiment of the stake is preferred for use on hillsides, and the 25 stake is oriented such that the longer additional first wing 38 is located on the downhill side. This enlarges the available space in the receiving region 20 for the wire 8 so that the wire can also slide over 30 that part of the receiving region 20 that would be covered by the uphill side wing if the design were symmetrical.

C:NRPonbF\DCOGAWI 2257 EDOC.1M19/2l10 17 In the embodiment of the invention shown further in Fig. 5b, 5c, and 5d, the first additional wing 38 and preferably the second additional wing 40 as well is made in the shape of a shoe, such that the end face 42 of the corresponding 5 additional wing that bounds the guide section 32 is longer than the wing in the area of the ridge 28, which increases the overall length of the end of face 42 and thus the length of the guide section 32 for guiding the wire 8. The associated stamping pattern 34e for an asymmetrically 10 shaped third partial segment 36 with the shoe-shaped additional wings 38, 40 is shown in Fig. 5d. From the stamping pattern 34e it can be seen that the plastic deformation of the material during the deep-draw process leads to the size of the receiving region 20 being 15 increased, according to the invention, relative to the area corresponding to the receiving region 20 in the stamping pattern. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", 20 and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication 25 (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of 30 endeavour to which this specification relates.

18 List of Symbols 1 Vineyard stake 2 Base body 5 4 Limb 6 Hook 8 Wire 10 Flat region 12 First partial segment 10 14 Exterior surface 16 Ridge 18 Flank of the first partial segment 20 Receiving region for wire 22 Second partial segment 15 24 First wing 26 Second wing 28 Ridge of the second/third partial segment 30 Insertion opening 32 Guide section 20 34 Flat stamping pattern 36 Third partial segment 38 First additional wing 40 Second additional wing 42 End face of the additional wing 25 43 Exterior contact edge/end face 44 Penetration opening 106 Counter-hook

Claims

1. Stake with at least one hook for holding a wire in viniculture and pomiculture, which features a base body with 5 at least one sheet metal limb, on which the hook is produced by stamping and bending a stamping pattern corresponding to the shape of the hook from an essentially flat region of the limb, where the hook includes a first partial segment extending from the flat region, spatially formed by deep 10 drawing the sheet metal, and an adjacent second partial segment, defining a receiving region for the wire, characterised in that the first and second partial segments are shaped as a ridge, where the second partial segment comprises a first and second wing on both sides of the 15 ridge, extending in the direction towards the exterior surface of the limb out to the receiving region and that the stamping pattern features at least one flat stamping cutout that defines a receiving region for the wire, which is removed from the flat region as stamping waste before the 20 sheet metal is deep-drawn.

2. Stake as in claim 1, characterised in that the ridge of the first partial segment extends at least 4 mm, in particular 6 to 10 mm, out from the flat region. 25

3. Stake as in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ridge in the area of the second partial Segment is essentially parallel to the exterior surface of the limb. 30

4. Stake as in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first partial segment and the second partial C:NRPorbl\DCC\CAV1 V l12257_1 DOC.16/W9/2010 20 segment embody an essentially V or U-shaped cross-sectional shape.

5. Stake as in claim 4, characterised in that the included 5 angle of the V or U-shaped cross-section of the first partial segment is less than 1200, and that the opening angle of the second partial segment is less than the opening angle of the first partial segment. 10

6. Stake as in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hook features a third partial segment extending from the second partial segment in the manner of a barb toward the exterior surface of the limb. 15

7. Stake as in claim 6, characterised in that the third partial segment includes a first and second additional wing extending in the direction of the exterior surface of the limb. 20

8. Stake as in claim 7, characterised in that the first wing and the first additional wing as well as the second wing and the second additional wing are contiguous along the ridge of the second partial segment. 25

9. Stake as in one of the claims 5 to 8, characterfsed in that the third partial segment features an essentially V or U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and that the included angle of the third partial segment is smaller than the included angle of the second partial segment. 30

10. Stake as in one of the claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the area of the first and/or second additional wing, as C\NRPonbl\DCC\GAV\3112257_1 DOC-IN1M9/200 21 seen from the ridge of the third partial segment expands in the direction of the limb in a essentially shoe-shaped or trapezoidal manner. 5

11. Stake as in one of the claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the first additional wing has the same length as the second additional wing.

12. Stake as in one of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in 10 that the first additional wing is longer than the second additional wing.

13. Stake as in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hook works together with an opposing additional 15 hook to form a double hook.

14. Stake as in claim 13, characterised in that the flat stamping pattern has an essentially H, M, or U-shaped form with rounded corners. 20

15. Method for manufacturing a stake as in one of the preceding claims, characterised by the following processing steps: preparation of sheet metal with an essentially flat 25 region; stamping out an M, H, or U-shaped stamping pattern with at least one flat stamping cutout from the flat region of the sheet metal; removal of the flat stamping cutout from the sheet 30 metal; deep-drawing of a hook with a spatially formed first partial segment extending from the flat region and an C.\NRPonb\DNCC\GAVWI 12257 I.DOC-I )/2(110 22 adjacent second partial segment, defining a receiving region for the hook, using a forming die that acts on both sides of the sheet metal in the flat region; forming the sheet metal into a profile with at least one limb, such that the flat 5 region is in the area of the limb.

16. A stake substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or Examples. 10

17. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or Examples.