Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Separable-fastener or required component thereof – Including member having distinct formations and mating...
Patent
1984-08-01
1987-02-24
Dorner, Kenneth J.
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Separable-fastener or required component thereof
Including member having distinct formations and mating...
241145, 24609, 24643, 2483547, 403105, 403330, 411 21, 411342, 411344, E04G 2504
Patent
active
046446176
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a releasable locking coupling or support device for use particularly, but not exclusively, in latching a load, e.g. in a raised position, so that tension in a hauling line can be relaxed, or releasably coupling together two parts or releasably securing one part in or to another part or structure, or forming a rotary coupling between two parts, or providing a releasable load support.
A sail is generally held in its raised position by maintaining tension in the halyard associated with the sail. However the compression force normally exerted on the mast by the tension in the halyard and the weight of the sail can be substantially reduced if, in its raised position, the sail can be latched at its upper end with respect to the mast so that the tension in the halyard can be relaxed. In British Patent Specification No. 2096957 (81.12106) there is described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 of the drawings thereof one possible system for suspending a sail in its raised position from a mast head allowing the tension in the associated halyard to be relaxed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a device which is applicable to systems for suspending sails in their raised positions and also to a variety of other types of coupling systems.
The invention provides a releasable locking coupling or support device comprising two parts which are or can be brought into a relatively slidable disposition, and interengageable latching means on the parts which latching means are adapted to be engageable automatically when said parts are in said disposition and one of said parts is moved in a first direction relative to the other part by a predetermined amount so as to restrict subsequent movement in the same or the opposite direction, respectively, of said first part relative to said other part, and are disengageable automatically on sufficient movement of said first part relative to said other part, from the latched position thereof in said opposite direction or said first direction respectively, followed by movement thereof in said first direction or said opposite direction respectively.
In some embodiments said first part may be a shuttle device and said other part may be a generally tubular housing in at least one end of which said shuttle device is engageable. The expression "generally tubular housing" is used herein to include a housing having a longitudinal slot or other aperture in its wall to allow the passage through the housing of elements associated in use with the shuttle device and projecting laterally thereof. The term "shuttle device" is used herein to include generally devices slidable relative to another part or structure to which they can be releasably latched in accordance with the invention, without necessarily engaging in that part or structure, as well as including devices which are plugged into apertures in parts or structures to be releasably secured therein by a latching mechanism in accordance with the invention.
In other embodiments said first part may be a shuttle device for slidably mounting on an elongate track, e.g. a shuttle slidably mounted for movement along a mast of a marine vessel, said other part being an abutment for location on, or provided by a part of, said track adjacent the path of movement of the shuttle device therealong.
A device according to the invention can for example, be associated with a halyard or other hauling rope or line, with said housing fixed with respect to an upper portion of a mast or said track provided by the mast and the shuttle device fastened at one end of the halyard or other hauling line and also with respect to the luff of a sail so that when the sail is raised the shuttle device becomes latched with respect to the mast to support the sail when the tension in the halyard or other hauling line is removed. It would also be possible to incorporate further latching devices at spaced locations along the mast to allow latching to take place at positions when the sail is not fully raised whic
REFERENCES:
patent: 2124658 (1938-07-01), Smith
patent: 2892647 (1959-06-01), O'Neill
patent: 3161395 (1964-12-01), Cartar
patent: 3697103 (1972-10-01), Mostyn
patent: 3793682 (1974-02-01), Nelson
patent: 4348790 (1982-09-01), Kuramoto et al.
patent: 4451084 (1984-05-01), Seeley
Flux Peter R.
Tupper Alan W.
Brittain James R.
Dorner Kenneth J.
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