Abstract:
A mounting apparatus for a radar unit by which the unit is mounted to the three ropes of a backstay of a yacht. There is a mounting plate having three connecting openings which connect to the free ends of a main line from the mast and two bow lines. The lines are tensioned to hold the mounting plate in a position above the deck. A mounting platform is connected by a rotary connection to the back plate, and the radar unit (by the force of gravity) remains level.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/096,633 filed Aug. 14, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system, apparatus and method for mounting equipment, such as radar unit, to a sailboat or the like. More particularly, the present invention is adapted to effectively utilizing the existing rigging in a sailboat for mounting such equipment. 
     2. Background Art 
     In recent years, boats of various kinds have been equipped with a variety of electronic equipment, and some of this equipment, such as transmitters, those having antennas, reflectors, radar units, etc. have particular requirements with regard to positioning and/or location of the same. Radar units have become less expensive and are now found in fairly large number of boats. Desirably, the radar unit should be mounted at a higher location in order to obtain a good range. Further, it&#39;s desirable that the radar unit should maintain a desired orientation regardless of the heeling or rolling motion of the boat. 
     Accordingly, in recent years, there have become a number of designs available for mounting radar units, antennas, and other equipment to the boat, and a number of these have appeared in patent literature: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,212 (DeSatnick et al.) discloses a device to mount a radar antennae to a sailboat. There is a bracket assembly that comprises a tube 39 which fits around the lower portion of the backstay 17. The lower end of the tube 39 and the bracket assembly 37 are prevented from rotating around the stay 17. Then the mounting assembly for the radar unit is mounted to the tube 39. The patent is directed mainly toward a device by which the radar antennae is mounted so that the radar unit remains level when the sailboat is heeling. The bracket provides a horizontal axis of rotation about which the unit is mounted so that the center of gravity is below the axis of rotation. Also, viscous fluid is provided in the device to dampen oscillations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,044 (Armstrong) shows a bracket secured to a mast or spar for holding a radar antenna in place. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,482 (Barker) shows a mast for mounting a radar antenna on the upper deck of a ship. This mast 10 is arranged so that it is hinge mounted to the deck. There is a spring mechanism utilizing an elastomeric material which urges the mast 10 toward an upright position. As shown in FIG. 1, in the upright position, it is held in place by a couple of cables 12. When it is desired to take the radar unit down, the mast is lowered so that it lays flat on the deck. 
     A fourth patent was also developed in this search, U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,385 (Jenkins). This shows an antennae that is used in radio communication. There are three flexible guy wires 24, 25 and 26 that connect to the perimeter of the dish and also connect at the forward end of the elongated hollow metal wave guide 14. This is to provide an example of the general principal of locating a member by plurality of tension members attached to an object and anchored at angularly spaced locations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The system, apparatus and method of the present invention was originated to provide an effective, user-friendly and economical way of mounting equipment, and more particularly electronic equipment such as a radar unit, in a boat or the like. More particularly the present invention was designed to be used in a sailboat or the like so that the existing rigging of the sailboat can be effectively utilized in the system. 
     In this system, there is a line connecting portion comprising first, second and third connecting lines, each having a first end which is connected to a respective one of three base connecting locations which are spaced from one another in a triangular configuration. 
     Also, there is a mounting assembly comprising a connecting section that comprises first, second and third connecting portions at first, second and third mounting locations, which are spaced from one another in a triangular configuration. The second ends of the first, second and third lines are connected to, respectively, the first, second and third connecting portions, in a manner that the three lines are in tension so as to locate the mounting assembly at a mounting location. 
     There is an equipment mounting section adapted to have equipment mounted thereto. 
     In a preferred form, the connecting section comprises an interconnecting portion by which the connecting section connects to the equipment mounting section in a manner to allow at least limited relative rotational movement between the connecting section and the equipment mounting section. Thus, the mounting section can remain in a desired angular position, so that the equipment mounted to the equipment mounting section would be properly positioned. 
     More specifically, the interconnecting section rotates about an axis having a substantial horizontal alignment component. The equipment mounting portion is located, relative to location of the interconnecting portion, so that equipment on the equipment mounting section is located sufficiently below the axis of rotation so that force of gravity tends to move the equipment mounting section to a location to maintain the desired position. 
     In the preferred configuration, the system is mounted to a boat, and the first line extends from an upper location on the boat downwardly toward a lower location of the boat. The connecting section connects to a lower end of the first line. The second and third lines are attached by upper ends thereof to the connecting section and connect at laterally spaced locations at the lower location of the boat. In a preferred embodiment shown herein, the first, second and third connecting lines comprise a backstay of a sailboat, and the first line connects to a mast to the sailboat. The first ends of the second and third lines are, in the preferred form, each connected to a tensioning member by which the second and third lines can be tensioned to be made taut. 
     The interconnecting portion comprises a first positioning member having a fixed angular orientation relative to the connecting section and a second positioning member having a fixed angular orientation relative to the equipment mounting section. The first and second positioning members are in operative engagement to move relative to one another so as to have a fixed angular orientation relative to one another as the equipment mounting section rotates relative to the connecting section. Thus, the proper angular orientation of the equipment mounting section is being maintained. In a preferred form, the first positioning member has a flat planar surface engaging bearing members of the connection portion to maintain the proper angular orientation. Also, there is a tightening device to put relatively rotating parts of the connection section in greater or lesser frictional engagement to control rotational movement of the mounting section. 
     In the method of the present invention the first, second and third connecting lines are provided, each connected to the base locations. The connecting section is connected to a mounting section to which equipment is mounted. Then the second ends of the first, second and third lines are connected to the connecting section in the manner described above. 
     The present invention is also directed to the mounting apparatus itself as it is used in being connected to the first, second and third, as described above. The structure for the construction and features of the apparatus are apparent from the above description. 
     Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sailboat incorporating the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view sailboat shown in FIG. 1, incorporating the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing the present invention installed on the sailboat shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the mounting assembly of the first embodiment of the present invention, with some of the components being spaced from one another for purposes of illustration; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the mounting assembly, again showing certain components spaced from one another, as in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the mounting assembly, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, with certain components spaced from one another; 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 is a view of a portion of the mounting pole of the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a mounting attachment by which the mounting structure is supported; and 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the attachment by which the mounting pole is connected to the stern of the boat. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a sailboat  10  on which a first embodiment of the radar mounting apparatus  12  of the present invention is mounted. This boat comprises a hull  14  having a bow  16 , a stem  18 , and a main mast  20 . For purposes of description, the boat  10  will be considered as having a forward to rear longitudinal axis  22  and a horizontal transverse axis  24 . 
     In many sailboats, the rigging at the aft end of the boat comprises what is called a backstay (generally designated  26 ). This backstay  26  comprises a pair of lower lines  28  which connect at their lower ends  30  to the rear side connecting locations  30  on the hull  14 . The upper end portions  32  of the lines  28  connect at a juncture location  34  to a single upper line  36  which extends from its lower connecting end upwardly and forwardly on a slant to connect at  38  to an upper end portion  40  of the mast  20 . 
     This first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated as part of this backstay  26  in a rather unique manner to mount the radar mounting apparatus  12 . The mounting apparatus  12  comprises a connecting portion  41  which in turn comprises a rigging plate  42  which has the overall configuration of an isosceles triangle having the apex  44  of the equal sides at an upper central location and the two lower juncture points  46  at laterally spaced locations. The rigging plate  42  has three connecting portions in the form of line connecting through openings, namely the upper apex opening  46  and the two lower side openings  48 . The apex opening  46  connects to the lower end of the upper line  36 , and the two side openings  48  connect, respectively, to the two upper end  32  of the lines  28 . 
     The lower lines  28  are normally connected to the hull  14  by means of a turn buckle or some other tightening device, indicated schematically at  49 , so that the proper tension is applied to the lines  28  and  36 . It can readily be recognized that with the  28  and  36  in tension, the rigging plate  42  is pulled by these lines  28  and  36  to maintain the rigging plate  42  in an upwardly and forwardly slanting plane which is defined by, and occupied by, the lines  36  and  28 . 
     The mounting apparatus  12  further comprises a mounting structure  50  and an interconnecting portion  52  by which the mounting structure  50  is connected to the rigging plate  42 , and which can be considered as part of the connecting portion  41 . The interconnecting portion  52  is arranged so that the mounting structure  50  is able to rotate along an axis of rotation (indicated at  54  in FIG. 4) that is substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied by the rigging plate  42 . 
     The mounting structure  50  comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms  56 , each arm  56  having a lower horizontally aligned portion  58 , an upwardly and forwardly slanting intermediate portion  60  and an upper end connecting portion  62 . Extending between the two horizontal arm portions  58  is a mounting platform  64  which connects along its side edges to the arm portions  58 . This platform  64  is provided with a number of openings  66  arranged to connect to the radar unit  68 . The radar unit  68  would normally be a commercially available radar unit, and the platform  64  and the openings or other attaching means  66  would be provided in the manner to make the connection to the radar unit  68  selected. 
     There is an aligning and connecting plate  70  which is connected by its edge portions to the end connecting portion  62  of the two arm  56 . This plate  70  is connected to the rigging plate  42  by means of the aforementioned interconnecting portion  52 . With reference to FIG. 4, the interconnecting portion  52  comprises the plate  70 , a bolt  72 , a metal washer  74 , a plastic washer  76 , a spacer (bushing)  78 , a plastic washer  80 , two more metal washers  82  which act as spacers, another metal washer  84  positioned behind the rigging plate  42 , and finally a nut  86 . These components  72 - 86  are joined to one another in the arrangement indicated in FIG.  4 . Thus, it can be seen that the two plastic washers are positioned on opposite sides of the connecting plate  70 . When the bolt  72  is tightened by the nut  86 , the head  88  of the bolt presses against the metal washer  74  and the plastic washer  76 , and the plastic washer  76  in turn presses against the plate  70 . The spacer fits in through opening  90  in the plate  70  and the bolt  72  extends through this spacer and the opening  90 . When the nut  86  is tightened to press the washer  76  against the plate  70 , the plastic washer  80  presses against the backside of the connecting plate  70 . The washers  76  and  80  are both of a low friction material (i.e. Delron), and the bearing pressure caused by tightening the nut is selected so that as the boat rocks from side to side, the force of gravity acting on the radar unit  68  and the apparatus  12  will cause the radar unit  68  and the apparatus  12  to be positioned so that the radar unit  68  is substantially horizontal at all times. 
     To describe the manner in which the mounting apparatus  12  is installed, one convenient way of accomplishing this is as follows. First, the lower ends of the two lower lines  28  are loosened from their anchoring locations at  49 , and the lower end of the upper line  36  is moved to a more forward location where it is closer to the deck. Then the lower end of the upper line  36  is connected through the apex opening  46  to the apex portion  44  of the rigging plate  42 , and the upper ends of the two lower lines are connected to the lower rigging plate openings  48 . 
     At that time the radar mounting apparatus  12  with the radar unit  68  mounted thereto is generally already connected to the rigging plate  42  by assembling the components of the interconnecting portion  52 , as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Then the two lower lines  28  are pulled rearwardly and the lower end portions of the two lines  28  are connected to the turn buckles or other connecting/tightening devices indicated schematically at  49 , on opposite sides of the stem. The turn buckle or other tightening means are operated to place the proper tension on the lower lines or cables  28  so that these have a sufficient tension load place thereon so as to properly position the mounting structure  50  with the radar unit  68  mounted thereto. 
     The nut  86  is adjusted so that the force exerted by the interconnecting assembly  52  is sufficient to maintain the mounting structure  50  and the radar unit  68  properly positioned, and yet is not so tight so that the mounting structure  50  is unable to rotate about the longitudinal axis  54  of the interconnecting portion  52 . Thus, when the boat is subjected to rocking back and forth or is placed in a heeling position, the mounting structure  50  with the radar unit will (by the force of gravity) remain in a substantially horizontal position. 
     It is apparent that the three end connecting locations (i.e. the two lower end connecting locations at  30  and the connection of the upper line  36  at  38  to the end portion  40  of the mast  20 ) are in a triangular configuration (i.e. not in a straight line), and this particular configuration is the configuration of an isosceles triangle. 
     Likewise, the connecting locations at the apex opening  46  in the two lower side openings  48  of the rigging plate  42  are in a triangular configuration (i.e. not in a straight line). Thus, as tension is applied through the two lower lines  28 , which in turn tensions the line  36 , the rigging plate  42  becomes positioned at a location within the triangle defined by the anchoring locations  30  and  38 , and the plane defined by the three connecting locations  48  and  46  and rigging plate  42  lie generally in a plane defined by the connecting locations  30  and  38 . However, there is some departure from being positioned in this plane, because of the weight of the radar unit  68  and the mounting apparatus  12 . However, this can be compensated for in the design of the mounting structure by anticipating the amount of deviation that would normally be expected. 
     As indicated previously, the interconnecting portion  52  is arranged so as to rotate along a longitudinal axis  54  which is coincident with the center line of the boat  72 . Also, as indicated previously, the nut  86  is tightened to position the connecting plate (that is rigidly attached to the arms  56  of the mounting structure  50 ) in alignment with the rigging plate  42  so that the mounting structure  50  remains in the proper angular position relative to the plane occupied by the rigging plate  42 . Thus, as the boat rolls from one side to another or is in a heeling position, the radar unit  68  can remain properly aligned with the horizontal, by having limited rotational movement relative to the rigging plate  42 . 
     To describe the second embodiment of the present invention, reference will now be made to FIGS. 7 through 11. This second embodiment was designed to mount the radar unit to a sailboat which has a single line extending from the mast to the aft part of the boat. In this second embodiment, there is a mounting structure and a connecting means which are substantially the same as the mounting structure  50  and connecting means  52  of the first embodiment. 
     Accordingly, the mounting structure and connecting means of this second embodiment will not be described in detail, and will simply be giving numerical designations  50   a  and  52   a  to distinguish them from the corresponding components of the first embodiment. 
     With reference to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the rigging at the aft end of the hull  14   a  is such that there is a single line  100  which is connected to a hydraulic tensioning member  102  that is in turn is connected through a pivot connection  104  to a bracket  106  that is fixedly connected to the back surface  108  to the hull  14   a . This line extends upwardly and forwardly to connect to the mast in somewhat the same manner as the line  36  of the boat shown in the first embodiment. 
     In this second embodiment, there is not a rigging plate, such as the rigging plate  42  of the first embodiment. Rather, there is a mounting device  110  which is connected to the line  100 , and is also connected to, and supported by, a pole  112  which is connected at its lower end  114  to the aforementioned bracket  106  and connects at its upper end  116  to the connecting device  110 . 
     The pole  112  is desirably made up of several sections  116  connected together by a conventional fitting such as shown at  118 . This particular fitting comprises upper and lower plug members  120  which fit inside the adjacent ends of the two adjacent sections  116  and an intermediate flange or collar section  122  which bears against adjacent edges of the pole sections  116 . 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the bottom pole section  116  has a hinge connection to the aforementioned mounting bracket  106 . The bottom pole section has a pair of ears  124  which fit on opposite sides of an upstanding member  126  mounted to a base  128  that is in turn bolted or otherwise fixedly connected to the hull  14   a . Two protruding members  130  on the member  126  fit in matching holes  132  in the ears  124  to provide the hinge connection. 
     The aforementioned connecting device  110  is best shown in FIG.  10 . This device  110  has a pole connecting portion  134  and line connection portion  136 . The rope connection portion  136  comprises forward and rear pulley type rollers  138  and  140 , each of which has a circumferential middle portion of reduced diameter to form a circumferential groove so that these pulley-like rollers  138  and  140  reliably contain the line  110  therebetween. Both of these pulley-like rollers  138  and  140  have a slot like mounting at  142  so that these can be adjusted fore and aft so that the pulley-like rollers  138  and  140  can be positioned to snugly engage the line  100 . 
     The pole connecting portion  134  of the mounting device  110  has a box-like configuration, and there is provided a generally vertically aligned cylindrical socket or recess  144  which receives the upper end of the pole  112 . The sides of pole mounting portion  134  have aligned upper transverse through opening  146 , and when the upper end of the pole  112  is inserted into the opening  140 , a bolt or other fastener is inserted through the matching holes  146  in the pole connecting portion  134  and also through matching holes (not shown) formed in the upper end of the pole  112  to secure the pole  112  to the mounting device  110 . 
     As part of the installation procedure for this second embodiment, a second pair of openings  148  are drilled into the pole mounting portion  138  and also a matching second set of holes are drilled through the upper end of the pole  112 . Then a fastener such as a bolt is inserted through this second pair of holes  148  and the second set of holes in the pole. 
     When the installation is completed, the mounting device  110  is fixedly connected to the pole  112 , thus insuring that the angular position of the mounting structure  50   a  is correct. Also, the two rollers  138  and  140  are spaced from one another so that these engage the line  110  snugly. 
     The connecting means  52   a  interconnects the mounting structure  50   a  with the rear end of the connecting device  110 , and it can be seen that there is an opening  150  drilled in a forward plate  152  of the device  110  to receive the bolt of the connecting means  52   a . The connecting means  52   a  and the mounting structure  50   a  function as described in the text relating to the first embodiment.