Nautical line pad and method

A pad for protecting nautical sails from the rigging including a material having a soft outer surface and an inner surface with hook and loop material attached to the material. The pad also includes a restraint attached to the inner surface of the material and a strap engaged by the restraint. A method of using the described pad to protect sails and other fabrics is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein pertains to cable covers and particularly pertains to a sheath for protecting sails and other fabrics from repeated contact with nautical cables and lines.

A baggywrinkle is a nautical term often used for a soft covering for rope or cable to reduce sail chafe. Typically made from short pieces of yarn, baggywrinkles have been used for years to protect sails from wearing holes where the sail contacts cable or rope rigging. The baggywrinkle usually has a long, shaggy fringe which, when wound around the offending cable, provides a soft, plush cylinder that substantially reduces wear on the sail fabric.

One problem with the traditional baggywrinkle is that it is fashioned from marline, a light rope formed from two twisted strands, that is no longer in use aboard the vessel. While it is suitable for protecting sails from wear, worn marline may be structurally compromised and deteriorate rapidly from its own contact with the cable. Further, while the conventional baggywrinkle is moderately effective at protecting sails, it is unattractive to affix large, shaggy baggywrinkles to the rigging of large and often expensive yachts. Not only is the conventional baggywrinkle unsightly, it may also carry dirt and other particulates that may soil the deck or hull.

Thus, in view of the problems and disadvantages associated with prior chafe pads, the present invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to provide a baggywrinkle comprising a pad that engages nautical cables or rope and has a soft outer surface to prevent wear on sails.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a baggywrinkle acting as a protective shroud with an inner surface having hook material attached and an outer surface with corresponding loop material.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a baggywrinkle for covering cable with a restraint affixed to the inner surface.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a cable pad with a strap engaged to the restraint.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a baggywrinkle with an elastomeric tube defining a slit sized to receive a nautical cable or rope.

It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a baggywrinkle pad that affixes zip ties to nautical cable encased in tubing.

It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a pad acting as a cable shield with a soft outer covering including white lamb's wool.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a method for protecting boat sails from cable chafe with a baggywrinkle.

It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a method of encasing a nautical cable or rope in rubber tubing and attaching white lamb's wool thereto.

It is yet a further objective to use zip ties to attach a soft pad to a nautical line and then engage hook and loop material to secure the pad to the line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a pad for engaging nautical lines, the pad having a material with a soft outer surface and an inner surface. The pad also includes hook and loop materials attached to the material. The pad further includes a restraint attached to the inner surface with a strap connected to the restraint. Flexible tubing is also included that defines a slit for engaging a nautical line and is engaged by the strap.

A method of enclosing a nautical line to protect sails and other nearby fabric from chaffing is also provided. The method includes the step of providing a pad with a material having a soft outer surface with loop material attached and an inner surface with hook material connected, a restraint attached to the inner surface, a strap affixed to the restraint, and a tube defining slit. The method also includes the steps of inserting the nautical line into the tube, securing the tube with the strap, and enclosing the nautical line with the pad.

For a better understanding of the invention and its operation, turning now to the drawings,FIG. 1shows a perspective view of nautical line chafe pad10having material12with soft outer surface14engaged with conventional nautical line11. For the purpose of this application, the term nautical line is defined as any material used in the rigging of a nautical vessel, including, but not limited to metal cable and rope. As seen inFIGS. 2-5, preferred pad10also includes restraint22attached to inner surface16, strap20affixed to restraint22, and tubing24engaged by strap20. Preferred pad10also includes loop material18and corresponding hook material19affixed to opposing sides of material12.

InFIG. 1, chafe pad10is shown wrapped completely around nautical line11. Although the greatest sail chaffing occurs when line11is a typical steel cable, pad10also prevents chaffing from rope and other conventional rigging materials as well. Preferred material12is represented inFIGS. 1-5as a woven polymeric fabric but material12could also be formed from metal, fabric, or any other appropriate material.

In use, nautical line11would be encased in tubing24as shown inFIG. 3by manually opening slit26to deform tubing24for inserting line11therein whereby tubing24would wrap around line11upon release of slit26. After encasing with tubing24, line11would be positioned down the longitudinal axis of pad10as seen inFIG. 4A, straps20placed around line11and fastened tight as seen inFIG. 4B. Preferably, strap20is a conventional uni-directional plastic zip tie but any member that is capable of securing line11encased in tubing24to pad10such as a rachet, clamp, or cleat would also suffice. After line11is secured with strap20, loop material18is manually engaged to hook material19(seeFIG. 4C).

Soft outer material14may be formed with any material that reduces chaffing from nautical line11but lamb's wool is preferred. The previously described engagement provides a continuous surface of soft outer material14. Further, although any lamb's wool will reduce chaffing, white lamb's wool is preferred because there are no dyes included which have a propensity to “bleed” when wet and discolor expensive boat surfaces.

FIG. 3depicts a perspective view of nautical line11encased in tubing24. Preferred tubing24is a flexible elastomeric polymer tubing capable of engaging line11without tearing or cracking for an extended period of time. Preferred tubing24also has slit26extending the longitudinal length of tubing24. Slit26allows line11to be quickly and easily positioned within tubing without additional tools or substantial nautical knowledge. Without tubing24, pad10slides up and down line11and does not remain firmly in place to protect nearby fabric from chaffing.

FIGS. 4A,4B, and4C demonstrate an elevated side view of the components of chafe pad10in various stages of engagement. Strap20passes through and engages restraint22which is affixed to inner surface16of pad10. Restraint22may be adhesively attached or formed integrally with inner surface16, but preferred restraint22is sewn to inner surface16.FIG. 4Billustrates chafe pad10ofFIG. 4Awith strap20engaged to line11and tubing24. In this configuration, pad10is securely attached to line11but a substantial gap exists between the two outer covering sides14. Without curling material12over upon itself as featured inFIG. 4C, line11and tubing24remain exposed to the elements. Prolonged friction between tubing24and nearby fabric, for example a sail during high winds (not shown) could create substantial friction and heat that could damage24and expose line11for additional chaffing. In this configuration, line11is securely confined within tubing24via strap20and removed from potential exposure. Loop material18is positioned beneath and engaged with hook material19, making it highly unlikely that pad10will displace due to physical forces such as wind or rain. Further, soft outer surface14and loop material18are the only surfaces that are exposed to nearby fabric such as a sail, and either surface is much less abrasive and less lively to cause chaffing damage than nautical line11. Loop material18and corresponding hook material19are displayed inFIGS. 4A-Cin only one cooperative position but it should be understood that their respective positions could be reversed or inverted while maintaining the functionality of chafe pad10.

FIG. 5shows a perspective rear view of the chafe pad10when not engaged with nautical line11. When not in use, chafe pad10is generally flat unless the materials that make up material12have a slight memory and retain a slightly cylindrical shape. This makes storing pad10relatively easy because several pads may be stacked on one another when straps20are removed from restraints22. This is particularly important on boats where storage space is critical, especially for long journeys.

A method of enclosing a nautical line to protect sails and other nearby fabric from chaffing is also provided. The method includes the step of providing pad10with material12having soft outer surface14with loop material18attached and inner surface16with hook material19connected, restraint22attached to inner surface16, strap20affixed to restraint22, and tube24defining slit26. The method also includes the steps of inserting nautical line11into tube24, securing tube24strap20, and enclosing nautical line11with pad10. The preferred method further includes providing loop material18and hook material19the longitudinal length of pad10, tightening straps20around tube24to prevent displacement of pad10, and providing outer surface14of white lamb's wool. The preferred method also includes the steps of wrapping pad10around nautical line11and affixing loop material18to hook material19.