FASTENING ARRANGEMENT FOR FASTENING STAYS OR SHROUDS TO A BOAT MAST

Abstract: A fastening arrangement for fastening stays or shrouds (2) to a boat mast (4) comprises an elongated member (8) extending transversely to the mast (4) and being provided with a headed member (9, 11) in each end. Each headed member (9, 11) has a substantially spherical inner bearing surface (23) and a diametrically through-going slot extending axially from the bearing surface and to the outer end face of the headed member. A spherical body is arranged in each headed member (9, 11). The spherical body is arranged at the end of a stay and shroud (2) extending through the slot (21) and is adapted to abut the bearing surface (23). Each headed member (9, 11) is provided with an insertion opening (28) arranged opposite the bearing surface (23). The insertion opening allows for insertion of the spherical body (25) into the interior of the headed member (9, 11) to seat it on the bearing surface (23). A cap (32) is releasably arranged on an outer end portion (31) of each headed member (9, 11).

Description: Title: Fastening arrangement for fastening stays or shrouds to a boat mast- Technical Field The invention relates to a fastening arrangement for fastening stays or shrouds to a boat mast and comprising an elongated member extending transversely to the mast, a headed member fastened to one end of the elongated member and having a substantially spherical inner bearing surface and a slot extending through the headed member up to the bearing surface and having a width at least of the same size as the diameter of the stay or the shroud, and a body arranged in the headed member and provided with a head being at least partially spherical and adapted to abut the bearing surface, said body being arranged around the end of a stay or a shroud extending through the slot. Background Art Such a fastening arrangement is known from U.S. patent No 3,986,474 and is particularly advantageous in connection with hollow masts of light metal, such as aluminium, or of carbon-fibre-reinforced resin, the force acting on a stay being distributed on a comparatively large area of the mast cross-section. However, the fastening arrangement known from the above publication is quite difficult to mount. The fastening arrangement shown in the publication is mounted by attaching its spherical body to one end of the stay and subsequently passing the stay through the slot of a first headed member until the spherical body abuts the bearing surface. The elongated member is then screwed onto the said first headed member. The elongated member is passed through one of two diametrically opposed apertures drilled in the mast. When a spherical body attached to the end of a second stay has been made to abut a bearing surface of a second headed member, the second headed member is inserted into the other aperture in the mast and is screwed onto the other end of the elongated member. The latter screwing on of the second headed member is more difficult, as the second shroud projects from said member, whereby it is necessary to simultaneously wheel round said stay or continuously keep the stay co-axially with the second headed member when this member is to be screwed on. Brief Description of the Invention The object of the invention is to provide a fastening arrangement of the above type which is easy to mount and allows for an attachment of stays and shrouds after the majority of the members have been mounted on the mast. The fastening arrangement according to the invention is characterised in that the slot extends diametrically through the headed member and axially up to the outer end face of the headed member and has an insertion opening opposite the bearing surface, said insertion opening allowing for insertion of the body thereof into the interior of the headed member to seat the spherical head on the bearing surface, and that a bridging member is releasably attached to an outer end portion of the headed member and extends transversely to the slot. As a result the elongated member and the hollow member may initially be attached to the mast. While the bridging members are detached from the headed member, the shroud is inserted axially into the slot, whereafter the body is passed through the insertion opening and into abutment with the bearing surface. Finally the bridging member is attached to the headed member, said bridging member preventing the slot from being widened when the headed member is subjected to loads. According to the invention the bridging member may be provided with a protrusion extending into the slot and having a width substantially corresponding to the width of the slot. It is thus prevented that the width of the slot is reduced and thus that the body becomes jammed in the interior of the headed member. Furthermore, according to the invention the protrusion may extend substantially up to the spherical head of the body. Moreover according to the invention the insertion opening may be arranged axially displaced in outward direction in relation to the bearing surface, and that the protrusion of the bridging member may extend into the slot so as to prevent the body from leaving the headed member through the insertion opening, when the bridging member is arranged on the headed member. Furthermore according to the invention the attachment of the bridging member to the headed member may be secured by a releasable locking means, such as a screw, a lock pin or a spring pin. Moreover according to the invention the bridging member may be formed of a cap in enclosing engagement with the said end portion of the headed member. In the above embodiment of the invention the cap may have an internal thread engaging a corresponding external thread on the end portion of the headed member. The cap may advantageously be provided with a centrally arranged protrusion of a circular cross section. Furthermore according to the invention the centre of the spherical bearing surface of the headed member may be arranged adjacent the outer surface of the mast. As a result the forces acting on the shroud are transferred to the mast substantially as thrust forces. Moreover according to the invention the spherical head of the body may have substantially the same radius as the spherical bearing surface of the headed member, whereby an optimum abutment area is obtained between the spherical head of the body and the bearing surface. Furthermore according to the invention a second headed member may be attached to the other end of the elongated member, said headed member being identical to the first headed member which is attached to the first end of the elongated member and the two headed members may be attached to the elongated member by means of a threaded connection. Finally in connection with the above embodiment of the invention each headed member may have a head with a shoulder abutting the outer surface of the mast, and a shank of a smaller diameter than the head and extending therefrom, said shank fitting snugly into an aperture in the mast and being threadingly connected with the respective end of the elongated member in the interior of the mast. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatically perspective front view of a boat with a mast, on which the fastening arrangement according to the invention is used, Fig. 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a portion of a mast on which the fastening arrangement according to the invention is used, Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 A, B, C illustrate a headed member of the fastening arrangement according to the invention, when seen the directions IV A, IVB, IVC in Fig. 3, respectively. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1 denotes a fastening arrangement according to the invention for securing a starboard lower shroud 2 and a port lower shroud 2' to a mast 4 of a sailing boat 3. The starboard lower shroud 2 and the port lower shroud 2' are secured to the hull of the boat in a conventional manner by means of a turnbuckle (not shown). The fastening arrangement according to the invention may also be used for securing the shown diagonal shrouds 5, 5 ' ,6, 6' and the top stay 7,7' to the mast 4 and for securing additional shrouds or stays to the mast, as indicated on the drawing. Referring to Figs. 2-4, the fastening arrangement or fitting 1 is shown to comprise an elongated member 8 extending through the mast 4, which is hollow and made from light metal, such as aluminium, or from carbon-fibre-reinforced resin. A first headed member 9 is screwed onto a first end 10 of the elongated member 8. A corresponding second headed member 11 is screwed onto the other end 12 of the elongated member 8. Each of the headed members 9, 11 has an enlarged portion or head 13 and a shank 14. A shoulder 15 is defined between the shank 14 and the head 13. The shanks 14 of headed members 9, 11 have been inserted through respective apertures 16, 17 arranged diametrically opposite each other in the mast 4. The shanks 14 fit snugly in the apertures 16,17. The headed member 9 is screwed onto the first end 10 of the elongated member 8 by means of an internal thread 18 in a blind hole in the shank 14 and an external thread 19 on the first end 10 of the elongated member 8. The second headed member 11 is attached to the other end 12 of the elongated member 8 in a corresponding manner. The shoulder 15 of the headed member 9 engages outer surface 20 of the mast 4. The shoulder of the second headed member 11 engages the surface of the mast in a corresponding manner. As the headed members 9, 11 as mentioned are identical, only the headed member 9 will be described in the following. As most evident in Figs. 3 and 4, the head of the headed member 9 is slotted by means of a diametrically through-going slot 21 extending axially to the outer end face 22 of the head 13. The width of the slot 21 only slightly exceeds the diameter of the shroud 2. A spherical bearing surface 23 is formed in the interior of the head, said bearing surface being symmetrical about the centre plane of the slot. The spherical bearing surface 23 acts as bearing face for a spherical head 24 of a rotational-symmetrical body, ie a so-called stem ball, provided with a shank and an axially through-going bore. The stem ball 25 is connected to the outer end of the shroud 2 by said end being passed through the bore of the stem ball 25 and upset as shown by the reference numeral 26. It should be noted that said fastening method is used in connection with solid shrouds, ie so-called rod shrouds, and that a different fastening method is used for metal wire shrouds. In order to receive the shank of the stem ball 25 and to allow for different angular positions of the stay or shroud in relation to the mast, preferably in the range of 6 to 30° , the slot 23 is enlarged in the area at the bearing surface by means of aperture 27 elongated in axial direction and extending radially inwardly towards the bearing surface 23 from the outer surface of the head 13. Diametrically opposite the bearing surface 23 the head 13 is provided with an insertion opening 28 allowing the head 24 of the stem ball 25 to be brought into engagement with the bearing surface 23. In axial direction the insertion opening 28 has an elongate shape and comprises a first radial bore 29 extending to the bearing surface 23 and in the axial direction of the headed member 9 extending slightly down the shank 14 thereof. The insertion opening 28 further comprises a second radial bore 30 axially displaced in outward direction in relation to the first radial bore 29 and having a shorter radial depth than the first bore 29. The radial depth of the second radial bore 30 is such that - after axial insertion of the shroud 2 into the slot 21 - it is possible to bring the head 24 of the stem ball 25 into engagement with the bearing surface 23 by initially radially inserting the head 24 of the stem ball 25 into the second bore 30 of the insertion opening 28, then displacing the stem ball axially inwardly so as to bring the head thereof into the first bore and finally displacing the stem ball radially. With a view to preventing the stem ball 25 and thus the shroud 2 from being unintentionally disconnected from the headed member 9, the head 13 of the headed member 9 is provided with an outer threaded end portion 31 on which a cap 32 with an internal thread is screwed in an enclosing manner. The threaded connection between the cap 32 and the end portion 31 prevents the slot 21 from being widened. The cap 32 has a bottom wall in which a plurality of through-going concentric and interspaced apertures are formed. In the example shown six apertures 34 are formed. These apertures 34 serves two purposes, viz as engagement openings for a wrench with diametrically opposed pins for fastening the cap and as insertion openings for a lock pin 36. After the cap has been fastened onto the headed member 9, the lock pin 36 is inserted into an aperture opening into the slot 21 to prevent the cap from being unscrewed. The cap 32 is further provided with a centrally projecting cylindrical protrusion 35 having a diameter substantially corresponding to the width of the slot 21. The protrusion 35 thus prevents a compression of the slot. The protrusion 35 extends in inward direction substantially up to the head 24 of the stem ball 25, when the head is arranged on the bearing surface. The protrusion 35 thus also serves to prevent the stem ball 25 from being removed from the interior of the headed member 9 in reverse order to the insertion steps described above. The invention may be modified in many ways without thereby deviating from scope of the invention. Accordingly one of the headed members may be an integral part of or integrally formed with the elongated member instead of being connected therewith by means a threaded connection - as described above. Furthermore one of the headed members may be formed of a simple bolt or nut head, when only one single stay or shroud is to be secured to the mast by means of the fastening arrangement according to the invention. Finally instead of the described and shown stem ball a substantially spherical body with a diametric bore may be used for receiving the shroud.

Claims: Claims. 1. Fastening arrangement (1) for fastening stays or shrouds (2) to a boat mast (4) and comprising - an elongated member extending transversely to the mast, a headed member (9) fastened to one end (10) of the elongated member (8) and having a substantially spherical inner bearing surface (23) and a slot extending through the headed member (9) up to the bearing surface (23) and having a width of the same size as the diameter of the stay or the shroud, and a body (25) arranged in the headed member (9) and provided with a head (24) being at least partially spherical and adapted to abut the bearing surface (23), said body being arranged around the end of a stay or a shroud (2) extending through the slot, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the slot (21) extends diametrically through the headed member (9) and axially up to the outer end face (22) of the headed member and has an insertion opening (28) arranged opposite the bearing surface (23), said insertion opening (28) allowing for insertion of the body (25) thereof into the interior of the headed member (9) to seat the spherical head (24) on the bearing surface (23) and that a bridging member (32) is releasably attached to an outer end portion (31) of the headed member (9) and extends transversely to the slot. 2. Fastening arrangement according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the bridging member (32) is provided with a protrusion (35) extending into the slot and having a width substantially corresponding to the width of the slot. 3. Fastening arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the insertion opening is arranged axially displaced in outward direction in relation to the bearing surface (23), and that the protrusion (35) of the bridging member (32) extends into the slot (21) so as to prevent the body (25) from leaving the headed member (9) through the insertion opening (28), when the bridging member (32) is arranged on the headed member (9). 4. Fastening arrangement according one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bridging member (32) is secured to the headed member (9) by a releasable locking means, such as a screw, a lock pin or a spring pin (36). 5. Fastening arrangement according one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bridging member (32) is formed of a cap in enclosing engagement with the end portion (31) of the headed member (9). 6. Fastening arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that the cap has an internal thread engaging a corresponding external thread on the end portion (31) of the headed member (9). 7. Fastening arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the centre of the spherical bearing surface (23) of the headed member (9) is arranged adjacent the outer surface (20) of the mast (4). 8. Fastening arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, charac teri s ed in that the spherical head (24) of the body (25) has substantially the same radius as the spherical bearing surface (23) of the headed member (9). 9. Fastening arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a second headed member (11) is attached to the other end (12) of the elongated member (8), said second headed member being identical to the first headed member (9) , which is attached to the said first end of the elongated member (8) and that the two headed members (9,11) are attached to the elongated member (8) by means of a threaded connection. 10. Fastening arrangement according to claim 9, characterised in that each headed member (9, 11) is provided with a head (13) abutting the outer surface (20) of the mast (4), and a shank (14) of a smaller diameter than the head (13) and extending therefrom, said shank fitting snugly into an aperture (16,17) in the mast (4) and being threadingly connected with the respective end (10,12) of the elongated member (8) in the interior of the mast.

Inventors: LORENZEN JOHN, LORENZEN, JOHN
Applicants: BSI AS, LORENZEN JOHN, BSI. A/S, LORENZEN, JOHN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B63B15
IPC codes: B63B15