A SPACER

Abstract: A spacer (1) which is intended to be fitted to a rigging element (2) of a sail-equipped vessel, preferably a wire-like or cord-like rigging element, such as a shroud or guard rail, so as to prevent direct contact between a sail, or like device, and the rigging element, and also, when applicable, with other rigging components, and which spacer has an essentially wheel-like configuration with a substantially centrally located and axially extending hole (13) for accommodating the rigging element. The spacer is mainly characterized in that it preferably consists of a single-piece structure; in that a slot (4) for introduction of the rigging element into the hole (3) extends from the hole to the extremities of the periphery of the spacer; and in that the slot is arranged such as to widen essentially in the circumferential direction of the spacer against a spring bias so that the slot will return to its non-widened state.

Description: A spacer . The present invention relates to a spacer which is essen¬ tially in the form of a wheel and which is intended to be fitted to a wire-like or cord-like rigging element of a sail-rigged vessel, such as to a shroud, a guard rail or manrope, and to prevent direct contact between a sail and the like and said rigging, and also between the sail and other rigging details. Such spacers are known to the art. Thus, there is known a spacer construction which includes two disc-shaped com¬ ponents which are intended to be joined together while em¬ bracing a rigging element of the aforesaid kind. This kind of spacer, however, is encumbered with a plurality of drawbacks. For instance, it is necessary to manipulate separately several parts of the spacer when fitting the spacer to a piece of rigging. Furthermore, a spacer of this known kind must be manufactured to high tolerances and with great precision, which results in relatively high manufacturing costs and high material consumption. The present invention provides a spacer which is not en¬ cumbered with the drawbacks inherent with known spacers of the kind intended. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a spacer which is intended to be fitted to a preferably wire-like or cord-like rigging element of a sail-rigged vessel, such as a shroud, guard rail, manrope, such as to prevent di¬ rect contact between a sail or like device and said rig¬ ging element and, when applicable, also with other rigging details, and which has essentially the form of a wheel which incorporates a substantially centrally located hole which extends axially through the spacer and which is in- tended to receive said rigging element. The inventive spacer is mainly characterized in that it consists of a single-piece structure, and in that it has 5 provided therein a slot which extends from said hole to the outer peripheral surface of the spacer and which en¬ ables the rigging element to be passed into said centrally located hole, the arrangement being such as to enable the slot to widen ' essentially in the circumferential direction 0 of the spacer against the action of a spring bias, such that the slot returns to its non-widened state. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and with 5 reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a spacer con¬ structed in accordance with the invention, seen in the di¬ rection of the spacer axis; G Figure 2 is a view of the spacer of Figure 1, seen from below in said Figure; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line A-A in Fig- 5 ure 1; and Figure 4 illustrates closure parts located adjacent one peripheral part of the spacer and intended for closing the mouth of the slot in its relaxed state. 0- Figure 1 illustrates a spacer 1 which is preferably made of a plastics material and which is intended for use pre¬ ferably with a wire-like or cord-like element 2, such as a shroud 2 or a guard rail 2. The spacer 1 has essentially the form of a wheel and has located substantially in the centre thereof a hole or a bore 3 which extends axially through the spacer and which is intended to accommodate the rigging element 2. .5 The spacer is preferably a single-piece structure and is intended to be produced in one single molding operation. Extending from the periphery 5 of the spacer 1 to the 10 centrally located hole 3 is a slot 4 by means of which the rigging element 2 is inserted into the hole 3. To facili¬ tate this insertion of the rigging element, the spacer is constructed in a manner which will enable the slot to be widened in the directions of arrows 6 in Figure 1. Widen- 15 ing of the slot 4 is intended to occur essentially in the circumferential direction of the spacer against the force of a spring bias, so that the slot will return to its original non-widened state, shown in Figure 1, in the absence of the rigging element 2. The slot 4 will prefer- 20 ably extend radially across and axially through the spacer 1, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment. In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the illus¬ trated spacer has a peripheral annulus 7 of rectangular 25 cross-section which is joined to a central hub part 8 in¬ corporating the hole 3, through the medium of mutually spaced spoke-like parts 9, the spaces between mutually ad¬ jacent spokes being referenced 10 in Figure 1. 0 The slot 4 is preferably formed in one of the spokes 9, as shown in Figure 1, which Figure illustrates a preferred embodiment in which the spokes are substantially in the * form of the sector of a circle and in which the spacer has a symmetrical configuration. The illustrated spacer has 5 three sector-shaped spokes 9 which are essentially equal to one another and which include a centre angle of ca 60 The central, hub part 8 of the illustrated spacer com¬ prises a substantially cylindrical sleeve which extends axially therethrough. The reference 11 identifies stiffen¬ ing members which adjoin the hub part 8 and also that part 9' of the slot-embodying spoke 9 which adjoins the hub part 8, these stiffening members having a radial and an axial extension. The provision of a stiffening member on the upper side of the slot and the under side thereof can be beneficial. Figure 4 illustrates a preferred form of the slot 4, where each of the portions of the spoke 9 that define the outer peripheral end 4 1 of the slot has formed thereon a promon¬ tory 12, said promontories facing towards one another and having extensions such as to essentially close the entrance to the slot in its non-widened state. Located on mutually, opposite sides of the slot 4 of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 are two substantially axial¬ ly extending holes 13 which are intended to co-act with a bifurcate locking device 14 such as to prevent the slot 4 from widening subsequent to fitting the spacer 1 to a rigging element 2. The manner in which the inventive spacer functions will be apparent in all essential aspects from the aforegoing. The spacer is thus fitted to a rigging element, such as a shroud of a sailing vessel, by passing the cable element along the widenable slot 4, which returns to its non- widened state when the rigging element enters the hub part 8 of the spacer, said spacer therewith preventing contact of a sail with the rigging element 2 and, when applicable, with devices used in conjunction with said rigging element. such as a stretcher fitted to the ends of adjacent shrouds or like rigging lines. It will be understood from this that the inventive spacer can be fitted readily to rigging elements which have no free ends over which a spacer can be fitted. It will be seen from the aforegoing that the inventive spacer affords essential advantages over prior art spacers. One of these advantages resides in the fact that the spacer can be manufactured at relatively low costs, and also that it can be fitted and manipulated easily. Although the invention has been described with reference to one exemplifying embodiment thereof, it will be appre- ciated that other embodiments are conceivable and that minor modifications can be made to the illustrated embodi¬ ment without departing from the concept of the invention. For example, the number of spokes 9 incorporated in the spacer may be greater or fewer than three. Furthermore, the annulus 7 may have a cross-sectional shape other than a substantially rectangular shape, e.g. a circular shape. Although not shown, the slot 4 need not extend axially through the spacer 1, but may form an angle of, e.g., 45° with said axial direction, in which case the slot may be opened by displacing the slot-defining spoke portion axially away from one another. According to another variant the wall of the central hub part 8 may be given, during manufacture, a thickness which will enable the hole 3 to be enlargened or modified in some other way, so as to enable the spacer to be fitted to coarser or thicker rigging. Although the spacer is preferably made from a plastics ma- terial, more specifically a hard plastics material, the spacer may of course, also be made of other materials, - such as aluminium for instance. Other forms of locking devices are also conceivable, with special reference here to the illustrated locking device 14. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the free end of each limb 15 of the bifurcate locking device 14 had a widening 16 which is compressed somewhat when forced through respective hole 13, and which subsequently expands so as to form a stop. The positions of the holes 13 may also be vaired. When the stresses created by the rigging for which the spacer is intended are expected to be high, it may be more beneficial to position the holes 13 closer to the outer periphery of the spacer. The locking devices 14, in the illustrated case the bifurcate device 14, are preferably one-piece structures which are produced simul¬ taneously with respective spacers, such as to provide a connecting piece 17. The promontories 12 may also be placed at other locations than shown. The invention shall not therefore be considered limited to the described and illustrated embodiments, since modifica¬ tions can be made thereto within the scope of the follow¬ ing claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A spacer which is intended to be fitted to a rigging element of a sail-equipped vessel, preferably a wire-like ;• 5 or cord-like rigging element, such as a shroud or guard rail, so as to prevent direct contact between said sail, or like device, and said rigging element, and also, when applicable, with other rigging components, and which spacer has an essentially wheel-like configuration with a 10 substantially centrally located and axially extending hole for accommodating said rigging element, characterized in that the spacer (1) preferably consists of a single-piece structure; in that a slot (4) for introduction of the rig¬ ging element into said hole (3) extends from said hole to 15 the extremities of the periphery of the spacer; and in that the slot is arranged such as to widen essentially in the circumferential direction of the spacer against a spring bias so that the slot returns to its non-widened state. 20 2. A spacer according to Claim 1, characterized in that the slot (4) extends radially across the spacer. 3. A spacer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a 25 peripherally located annulus (7) which is connected to a central hub part (8) incorporating said hole (3), through the medium of spoke-like parts (9) which are mutually spaced such as to present empty spaces (10) therebetween. 30 4. A spacer according to claim 3, characterized in that the slot (4) is formed in one of said spoke-like parts (9). ϊ 5. A spacer according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the spoke-like parts (9) have essentially the shape 35 of the sector of a circle. 6. A spacer according to Claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the central hub part (8) has essentially the form of a substantially cylindrical axially extending sleeve. 7. A spacer according to claim 3, 4, 5 or 6, character¬ ized by axially and radially extending stiffening parts (11) which connect with the central hub part (8) and with that part (9') of the slot-incorporating spoke-part (9) which adjoins said hub part. 8. A spacer according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that located at a given location along the slot (4) are mutually opposing closure parts (12), preferably two such parts, which are effective in substan- tially closing-off said slot when the slot is in its non- widened state. 9. A spacer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the defining walls of said slot form a given angle, e.g.- ca 45 , to the direction of the spacer axis. 10. A spacer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by means, such as holes (13), on mutually opposite sides of the slot (4) and by locking devices (14) for co-action with said holes (13) in a manner to prevent widening of the slot (4).

Inventors: ARONOWITSCH MIKAEL EVERT GUNNA, ARONOWITSCH STEFAN EVERT MARTI, LYTH KARL, ARONOWITSCH, MIKAEL, EVERT, GUNNAR, ARONOWITSCH, STEFAN, EVERT, MARTIN, LYTH, KARL
Applicants: ARONOWITSCH MIKAEL EVERT G, ARONOWITSCH STEFAN EVERT M, LYTH KARL
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B63B15
IPC codes: B63B15, B63B17, E04C5, E04H15