Abstract:
A kit is provided which can be installed on a sailboat and used to selectively control the position of the tiller of the sailboat to allow the helmsman to leave the tiller unattended for a limited period of time. The kit is to be mounted on the transom of the sailboat and comprises:
       a mounting receiver adapted to be attached to the transom;   an arm having a rearward end adapted to be attached to said mounting receiver and to extend forwardly therefrom and a forward end; and   a saddle mount adapted to be attached to the forward end of said arm and having a u-shape adapted to receive a said tiller.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to tiller control devices for small boats, especially small sailboats, and more particularly to an add-on tiller control device kit which can be installed on a sailboat so that a helmsman can engage the tiller control device with the tiller to hold the tiller in a fixed position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Small sailboats generally have a rudder connected to a tiller which is manually controlled by the sailor to maintain a desired course. The tiller must be minded almost continuously, particularly in foul weather or windy conditions, or the rudder will swing to head the boat into the wind which may well lead to undesirable or even disastrous consequences. Since small sailboats often have a crew of only one or two sailors, it is quite a burden to require continuous minding of the tiller. There is often a need for a helmsman to leave the tiller to adjust sails or sheets or to attend to a critical task away from the tiller but the helmsman can leave the tiller unattended only for a brief moment or in a situation which does not require maintaining control of the tiller. 
     Of course, a tiller control device should be easily engaged to control the tiller and also easily disengaged from controlling the tiller so that the helmsman can quickly regain control when circumstances require such action. Also, many small sailboats have limited space at the tiller and it would be desirable to have a tiller control device which could be removed and stored out of the way either along a bulkhead or elsewhere in the sailboat. Small sailboats have limited space available and it is important to use available space as efficiently as possible. 
     The need for a device to control the tiller to allow the helmsman to leave the tiller unattended for a limited period of time has been recognized in the prior art. Examples of patents directed to such devices include: U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,410 Oct. 18, 1966 to R. O. Young for TILLER TENDER ACCESSORY FOR SMALL BOATS; U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,441 Mar. 19, 1974 to John Burnett for TILLER CONTROLS FOR SMALL BOATS; U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,918 Mar. 28, 1978 to Robert Bruce Bonhard for RUDDER CONTROL DEVICE; U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,869 Dec. 18, 1979 to Fred C. Turrentine for COMBINED REMOVABLE TILLER EXTENSION HOLDING AND CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR WATERCRAFT; U.S. Pat. No. 4,241,684 Dec. 30, 1980 to Dan B. Davis for TILLER STEERING LOCK; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,800, Oct. 16, 1984 to John W. Gage for RUDDER CONTROL DEVICE. 
     Although as set forth above, the need for a tiller control device has been recognized in the art and there are several devices known in the art for tiller control, there remains room for improvements. For example, it would be desirable to have a rudder control kit which is readily adaptable to different sailboat designs. Such a kit would be applicable to a greater number of sailboats than a kit designed for a specific sailboat and thus could be manufactured in greater quantities at and lower cost per kit. Also, it would be desirable to have a rudder control which can be readily engaged and disengaged and which has an optional storage feature when it is not in use. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a tiller control kit is readily adaptable for use with the two most common tiller types and with sailboats of different sizes and designs. The tiller control kit can be economically manufactured and easily installed. Furthermore, after installation on the sailboat, the tiller control device is readily engaged and disengaged by the helmsman and can be easily removed to be readily stored out of the way. 
     Further understanding of the present invention will be had from the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a tiller control kit of the present invention shown installed on a small sail boat, broken away, the sail boat having a tiller extending horizontally forward from its transom; 
         FIG. 2  is a another perspective view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is still another perspective view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a left side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is another exploded view of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating mounting the mounting plate of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1  into the mounting receiver of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating engagement of the tiller with the tiller control of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are perspective views of the preferred embodiment of a tiller control of  FIG. 1  installed on a sailboat, broken away, the sailboat having a tiller post extending vertically through the cockpit deck forward of the transom; and 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  are perspective views showing an alternative mounting plate and mounting receiver of a preferred embodiment of a tiller control of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a tiller control kit is provided, which kit can be installed on a sailboat having a tiller and a transom to provide a tiller control device of the present invention. The tiller control device can be selectively mounted on the transom of the sailboat and, when mounted, can be selectively engaged to hold the tiller of the sailboat to hold the rudder in a fixed, straight ahead, position. When engaged, the tiller control device will allow the helmsman to leave the tiller unattended for a limited period of time so long as the rudder&#39;s straight ahead position is acceptable. The tiller control device can be manufactured and provided to the consumer in the form of a kit or alternatively can be manufactured and installed by an original equipment manufacturer. The tiller control device is intended to be mounted on a sailboat and has a mounting receiver which is fixedly mounted on the transom of the sailboat and an extension arm, one end of which carries a mounting plate to interlock with the mounting receiver and the other end of which carries a U-shaped saddle to engage and hold the tiller. The mounting receiver has a slot and the mounting plate is adapted to slide into the slot to interlock with the mounting receiver. The mounting plate is selectively pivotally attached to the extension arm which is selectively extendible. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Broadly speaking, the present invention relates to a tiller control device which can be provided in kit form and can be installed on sailboats having a tiller and a transom. The tiller control device can be manipulated by a helmsman of the sailboat to hold the tiller and hence the rudder in a fixed, straight ahead, position. The device can be installed on sailboats having a rudder post in the transom with the tiller extending forwardly from the transom or can be installed on sailboats having a rudder post forward of the transom. Since the tiller control device can be provided in the form of a kit and is adaptable to sailboats of various sizes as well as tiller locations, the kit enjoys wide application. Hence, the kit can be manufactured in relatively large quantities to provide a tiller control for sailboats of many different sizes and designs. The tiller control device can be installed on older sailboats or installed by an original manufacturer. And while it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this invention is especially useful for sailboats, it may also be used with other watercraft having tillers. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 1-12 , a preferred embodiment of a tiller control device of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  10 .  FIG. 1  shows tiller control device  10  installed on sailboat  12 , broken away, having a tiller  14  pivotally connected to a rudder post  16  which extends upwardly through the top wall of transom  18 . Tiller  14  is operatively connected to a rudder (not shown in the Figures) in a conventional manner. Broadly speaking, tiller control device  10  comprises mounting receiver assembly  20  and extension arm  22  which carries mounting plate  24  and tiller saddle  26 . 
     Mounting receiver assembly  20  comprises backing plate  28  and mounting receiver  30 . Mounting receiver  30  has three vertical plates,  32 ,  34  and  36 , in sandwiched relationship. Rearward plate  32  has a generally square shape in front elevation and is oriented as shown in the figures with side edges  38  and  40  at about a 45 degree angle to the horizontal. Forward plate  34  has the general shape of an isosceles triangle in front elevation with notch  42  taken out of upwardly facing side edge  44  through which extension arm  22  extends. Sandwiched plate  36  has a generally L-shaped form in front elevation with legs  46  and  48 . Of course, plates  28 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  can have any alternative geometric shape consistent with their function as described in more detail below. 
     Sandwiched plate  36  serves to space apart the pair of spaced apart vertical plates  32  and  34  which are in spaced apart parallel relationship with respect to each other to provide upwardly facing open slot  50  for receiving mounting plate  24  which slidingly fits between plates  32  and  34 . Upwardly facing surfaces  52  and  54  of legs  46  and  48  of sandwiched plate  36  serve as stops to support mounting plate  24  when it is interlocked between vertical plates  32  and  34 . 
     Mounting receiver assembly  20  is installed onto transom  18  by a plurality of fasteners such as nuts and bolts  60  and  62  which extend through backing plate  28  and mounting receiver  30  and which clamp backing plate  28  and mounting receiver  30  together and to transom  18 . Washers, such as lock washers not shown in the figures, may also used. Of course, the type and number of fasteners may vary so long as they function satisfactorily to hold mounting receiver assembly  20  together and onto transom  18 . For example, where transom  18  is comprised of wood, screws may be used instead of nuts and bolts. 
     Extension arm  22  carries mounting plate  24  and tiller saddle  26 . Extension arm  22  has an elongated tubular structure, preferably square or rectangular in cross-section, although any alternative cross-sectional shapes may be used if functional the intended function of extension arm  22  which is to have selectively variable length and to carry mounting plate  24  at one end and tiller saddle  26  at its other end. To provide adjustable length to extension arm  22 , it is comprised of first and second telescopic arms  62  and  64  which are slidably disposed in telescopic relationship. Extension arm lock  66  has a knob with a shaft threadably disposed in a bore through one wall of telescopic arm  62  so that the internally disposed end of the shaft comes into contacting relationship with telescopic arm  64  when the knob is rotated in a direction to move the shaft inwardly to thereby lock telescopic arms  62  and  64 . Thus, extension arm lock  66  can be manipulated to lock or unlock the length of extension arm  22  to thereby provide an extension arm  22  which is selectively adjustable in length. 
     Mounting plate  24  is generally square in front elevation with an orientation corresponding to vertical plate  32  of mounting receiver  30 . Brackets  68  and  70  are welded or otherwise attached to mounting plate  24  and extend forwardly towards and in overlapping relationship to end  72  of telescoping arm  62 . Brackets  68  and  70  are pivotally attached to first end  72  of first telescopic arm  62  of extension arm  22  by bolt  74  which extends through axially aligned bores in telescopic arm  62  and brackets  68  and  70 . Nut  76  secures bolt  74  and can be tightened to lock the angle of extension arm  22  with respect to mounting plate  24  as described further below. 
     Tiller saddle  26  has a generally U-shaped body with sides  78  and  80  and web  82 . Welded or otherwise attached to web  82  are brackets  84  and  86 . Tiller saddle  26  is pivotally attached to second end  88  of telescopic arm  64  of extension arm  22  by bolt  90  which extends through aligned bores in end  88  and brackets  84  and  86 . Nut  92  secures bolt  90  and can be tightened to selectively lock the angle of tiller saddle  26  with respect to extension arm  22 . 
     In operation, it is intended that installation of tiller control device  10  a sailboat will be carried out by first mounting mounting receiver assembly  20  on the transom of the sailboat. This mounting is intended to be permanent. Then, and as best illustrated in  FIG. 11 , extension arm  22  is removably installed by placing reversible mounting plate  24  in slot  50  in mounting receiver assembly  20  as indicated by arrow  94 . Either before or after this step, the length of extension arm  22  is adjusted to an appropriate length and extension arm lock  66  is tightened to fix the length of extension arm  22 . When it is desired to hold the tiller in position, extension arm  22  is moved upwardly as illustrated by arrow  96  until tiller saddle  26  receives the tiller whereupon nuts  76  and  92  are tightened to hold extension arm  22  in operative configuration to lock the tiller in straight ahead, central position. When manipulation of the tiller by the helmsman is desired, the helmsman lifts up the forward end of the tiller as indicated by arrow  98  in  FIG. 12  to thereby disengage it from tiller saddle  26  and when it is desired to store extension arm  22  out of the way, one simply removes mounting plate  24  from slot  50  in mounting receiver  30  by lifting mounting plate  24  upwardly as indicated by arrow  100  in  FIG. 11  to thereby free extension arm  22  for storage elsewhere. Optionally, storage against transom  18  can be had by rotating mounting plate  24  so that bolt  74  is vertical, pivoting mounting plate  24  so that its plane extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of extension arm  22  and then inserting mounting plate  24  into slot  50  in mounting receiver assembly  20 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a preferred embodiment of a kit of the present invention is shown and indicated by the numeral  10  but is shown in use with a tiller having a tiller  102  connected to a rudder post  104  which extends upwardly through deck  106  forward of transom  108 . Tiller control device  10  of  FIGS. 13 and 14  comprises the same parts as set forth above but is positioned above rather than below tiller  102 . 
     In operation of the configuration shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , tiller  102  supports the forward end of extension arm  22  since tiller  102  is conventionally limited in downward movement to the position shown in the figures. Nut  76  secures bolt  74  but need not be tightened to prevent pivotal movement of extension arm  22 . Thus, when it is desired to disengage tiller control device  10  from tiller  102 , the helmsman can easily pivot extension arm  22  upwardly so that tiller  102  is clear of tiller saddle  26  and tiller  102  is free. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , an alternative mounting receiver assembly and mounting plate are shown and indicated generally by the numerals  220  and  224  respectively. Mounting receiver assembly  220  comprises backing plate  228  and mounting receiver  230 . Mounting receiver  230  has three vertical plates,  232 ,  234  and  236 , in sandwiched relationship. Plate  232  has a generally square shape in front elevation and is oriented as shown in the figures with side edge  238  which is horizontally disposed. Plate  234  has a generally U-shape in front elevation to provide notch  242  to accommodate extension arm  322 . Sandwiched plate  236  has a generally U-shaped form in front elevation and serves to space apart vertical plates  232  and  234  to provide slot  250  for receiving mounting plate  224 . Sandwiched plate  236  has an upwardly facing surface in the web of its U-shape which acts as a stop to support mounting plate  224  when it is interlocked between vertical plates  232  and  234 . 
     Mounting receiver assembly  220  is installed onto transom  218  by a plurality of fasteners which extend through backing plate  228  and mounting receiver  230  and which clamp backing plate  228  and mounting receiver  230  together and to transom  218 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a tiller control kit of the present invention should be made of marine quality materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, or engineered plastics. Also, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is subject to modification and variation. It is intended that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the following claims.