DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] The co-axial tent stake as shown in FIG. 1 is typically comprised of two tent stakes, one nested coaxially inside the other, but can be three or more stakes co-axially nested. The most universal and lightest stake will have a hollow outer stake 11 with a shaft of carbon fiber composite and an inner stake of titanium rod as shown in FIG. 3 with a sharp point 32. The inner stake shaft 31 is fitted with an aluminum end cap 12. Alternatively, the end cap 12 can be made of carbon fiber composite material or another metal such as titanium or a high impact plastic. The end cap 12 can be one piece that, when removed with the attached inner stake 31, leaves no end cap remaining on the outer stake shaft 11, or the end cap 12 can be constructed in two pieces such that one piece is removable with the inner stake 31 and one piece remains behind bonded to the outer stake shaft 11. This would enable each component of the co-axial stake to be used independently as the outer stake will still have a wide top to retain the tie-down line from the tent or shelter. The end cap 12 can also be formed by molding the material used to manufacture stake 31 into a wider diameter, similar to the head of a common nail.

[0008] The inner stake 31 is typically made of solid titanium for bend resistance with light weight, but other metal alloys can be used. Or alternatively, the inner stake 31 can be made of hollow metallic tubing or carbon fiber composite tubing typically used to make hunting arrows. If a carbon fiber inner stake is utilized, the tip of the stake will be reinforced with a pointed metal tip bonded inside the carbon fiber tubing. The inner stake 31 of the prototypical stake is a solid titanium wire to enable it to withstand being hammered with a rock or hammer into tight soils, rock cracks, or tree roots The inner stake 31 is permanently bonded to the end cap 12 by force fitting it into a smaller hole in the aluminum end cap 12 or it can be bonded with high strength epoxy or other method of attachment. A co-axial stake of the invention must have an end cap 12 that is tightly fixed to the shaft of the outer stake 11 when the two stakes are nested and used in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, when the stake will most commonly be pushed by hand or boot into sand or soft soils. The line from the tent or shelter will be looped around and under the end cap 12 and this force must not pull the inner stake of FIG. 3 loose from the outer stake shaft 11. To accomplish this, the end cap 12 is attached to the stake shaft 11 by using a press-fit pin 21 inserted into the end cap 12 such that it slips into an ‘L’ shaped slot 22 in the wall of the outer tube shaft 11. By pushing and turning, the hiker can mate the inner stake of FIG. 3 with the stake shaft 11 such that they lock together. By twisting in the opposite direction and pulling, the two stakes can be easily separated. Alternatively, the end cap 12 and outer stake shaft 11 can have matching threads to allow screwing and unscrewing the two stakes; a spring loaded ball detent mechanism could be incorporated; a friction fit joint can be fitted, or another method of connection could be used.