Abstract:
A frame system suitable for use on a boat and capable of supporting one or more tarpaulins to protect the boat from the elements, comprising one or more sets of couplers and angle elements adapted to be used with off-the-shelf connecting members, such as PVC pipes, such that when assembled the frame system provides a canopy frame arching over the top side of the boat, with the lateral sides of the frame system sloping upward and meeting over the longitudinal midline of the boat.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to marine accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to a frame system for use on boats capable of supporting one or more tarpaulins to protect the boat when not in use. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Boats in general, and sailboats in particular, are typically removed from the water at the end of the boating season and stored on dry land. Many boats are stored outside, and thus are exposed to the weather. To prevent excess environmental exposure, boats may be covered by one or more tarpaulins, or they may be shrink-wrapped with a polyvinyl or other suitable material. Both methods have their deficiencies. Because the top sides of boats tend to have an irregular configuration extending upward from their decks, with various rails, stanchions, cockpits, seating areas, and in the case of sailboats, masts, spars, rigging, and the like, placing tarpaulins thereupon is difficult, with coverage often incomplete because of the irregularities. While shrink-wrapping boats tends to overcome some of the issues arising with the irregular top sides of boats, it creates its own problems. First, shrink-wrapping is substantially more expensive than using tarpaulins, and removal of a shrink-wrap cover to begin the boating season tends to destroy the cover, thus necessitating a new, expensive cover at the end of each season. Additionally, shrink-wrap covers limit the amount of airflow under the cover, which could increase the chance for the growth of mold and mildew. A shrink-wrap cover may also limit access to the boat under the cover. The use of tarpaulins is also compromised by the irregular topsides of the boat. In most instances, both in the use of tarpaulins and shrink-wrap, in an effort to compensate for this irregularity an ad hoc frame is constructed of lumber or other materials which are found at hand for this purpose. In most instances these frames do not provide a sufficiently uniform surface to adequately compensate for the irregular structure of the boat&#39;s topsides. Additionally, most of these frames are not reusable and may used for only a single season. 
     There is thus demonstrated the need for a system that may be reused for multiple seasons and that overcomes the difficulties associated with the irregularities of the upper decks of boats, while allowing for the use of relatively inexpensive, reusable, and breathable tarpaulins. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to present a frame system to be placed onto the deck of a boat capable of supporting one or more tarpaulins or shrink-wrap. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to present a frame system to be placed onto the deck of a boat that can be easily assembled and disassembled. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to present a frame system to be placed onto the deck of a boat that is easily customizable to the size and configuration of the boat. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to present a frame system to be placed onto the deck of a boat that is comprised of multiple standard components. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to present a frame system to be placed onto the deck of a boat that is sturdy. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to present a frame system to be placed onto the deck of a boat that does not mar the deck surface. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to present a frame system to be placed onto the deck of a boat that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to present a frame system to be placed onto the deck of a boat that is simple to use. 
     Other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the description that follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a frame system suitable for use on a marine vessel and capable of supporting one or more tarpaulins or shrink-wrap to protect the marine vessel from the elements. The frame system comprises several standard components which can be coupled with readily available, inexpensive off-the-shelf connecting members. When assembled, the frame system provides a canopy frame arching over the top side of the boat, with lateral sides of the frame system sloping upward and meeting over the longitudinal midline of the boat. 
     In its most basic form, the frame system comprises a pair of five-arm couplers, a pair of front and rear angle elements, and two pairs of left and right angle elements. Each five-arm coupler has associated with it one left angle element and one right angle element. The front-most five-arm coupler also has associated with it the front angle element and the rear-most five-arm coupler has associated with it the rear angle coupler. These components are suitably adapted to be connected to each other by use of standard PVC pipes or other long, rigid, pole-like members, such as wooden dowels or metal rods. In the preferred embodiments, each of the couplers and angle elements has connection elements that are configured to receive internally the ends of standard PVC pipes or other connecting members (e.g., female ends adapted to receive the male ends of the connecting members). The lengths of the connecting members and the number of couplers and angle elements dictate the ultimate configuration of the frame system. Longer lengths of lateral connecting members inserted into the couplers and angle elements allow for a frame system to fit over a wider vessel; additional couplers and angle elements are added in series, front to rear, to accommodate longer vessels. 
     In alternate embodiments, the couplers and angle elements project connection stubs which are adapted to fit into the end openings of PVC pipes (e.g., male ends adapted to fit into the female ends of the connecting members). In yet other embodiments, the couplers and angle elements may comprise a mix of male and female ends, as described above. In yet other embodiments, the connection elements of the couplers and angle elements may be threaded, and accommodate threaded connecting members. The threads may be internal to the connection elements, to accommodate externally threaded connecting members, or the threads may be external to the connection elements, to accommodate internally threaded connecting members, or a mix of internally and externally threaded connecting members. Threaded adapters may be used with standard non-threaded connecting members. 
     In yet other embodiments, a sailboat mast bracket may be included to connect portions of the frame system on either side of a sailboat mast. In such embodiments three-arm couplers and ninety degree angle couplers are used, joined together by connecting members, to form a substantially rectangular frame that surrounds the mast and is connected front and rear to the front and rear portions of the frame system. 
     In all embodiments, the bottom ends of the base members of the frame system may be finished with protective caps to prevent marring of the deck or bright work. 
     It is to be understood that the foregoing and following description of the invention is intended to be illustrative and exemplary rather than restrictive of the invention as claimed. These and other aspects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after review of the entire specification, accompanying figures, and claims incorporated herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective side view of the five-arm coupler of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a top view of the five-arm coupler depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is a rear view of the five-arm coupler depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of the left angle element and the right angle element of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of the front angle element and the rear angle element of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective side view of one embodiment of a connecting member that may be used with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective side view of an alternative embodiment of a connecting member that may be used with the present invention, whereby the connecting member has outside threads which may be inserted into the threaded end of a connection element of a coupler or angle element. 
         FIG. 4C  is a perspective side view of another alternative embodiment of a connecting member that may be used with the present invention, whereby the connecting member has inside threads which may be placed over the threaded end of a connection element of a coupler or angle element. 
         FIG. 4D  is a perspective side view of yet another alternative embodiment of a connecting member that may be used with the present invention, whereby a threaded adapter is used with the connecting member such that, once the adapter is affixed to the connecting member, the outside threads of the adapter may be inserted into the threaded end of a connection element of a coupler or angle element. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the of the connection interface between a connection element and a connecting member, whereby the configuration having a connection element with inside threads and a connecting member with outside threads is shown. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the of the connection interface between a connection element and a connecting member, whereby the configuration having a connection element with outside threads and a connecting member with inside threads is shown. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the of the frame system of the present invention having two five-arm couplers. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the of the frame system of the present invention having three five-arm couplers. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the of the frame system of the present invention having two five-arm couplers joined by a mast bracket. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of the of the frame system of the present invention having two five-arm couplers and a mast bracket, placed onto the deck of a boat, with a pair of tarpaulins placed over the frame system (elements behind the tarpaulins are showed grayed out). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The five-arm coupler  110  of the frame system  1  comprises five connection elements, with four connection elements being substantially coplanar and oriented substantially horizontally, forming a cross, and the fifth connection element extending downward and oriented substantially perpendicular to the other connection elements. See  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  1 C. The connection elements are rigid and fixedly attached to each other such that their relative orientations to each other remain constant. Alternatively, the five-arm coupler  110  may be formed of a single piece of material, such as injection molded plastic. Any suitable material may be used for the five-arm coupler  110 . 
     The front connection element  160  of the five-arm coupler  110  is oriented substantially collinear with the rear connection element  170 . Together, the front and rear connection elements  160 , 170  form a substantially cylindrical cross member  194  having openings at opposite ends. The cross member  194  is oriented substantially horizontally. The left connection element  140  of the five-arm coupler  110  is located at a midsection  196  of the cross member  194  formed by the front and rear connection elements  160 , 170  and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the cross member  194 . Further, the left connection element  140  is oriented at an angle  142  of between twenty and seventy degrees to the plane of the cross member  194 . Preferably, the left connection element  140  is oriented at an angle  142  of about thirty degrees to the plane of the cross member  194 . The right connection element  150  is located opposite the cross member  194  from the left connection element  140  and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the cross member  194 . It is also oriented at an angle  152  to the plane of the cross member  194  of substantially the same angle as that of the left connection element  140 , on the same side of the plane of the cross member  194  as the left connection element  140 . The vertical connection element  180  is located at the midsection  196  of the cross member  194  between the left and right connection elements  140 , 150  and oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cross member  194  on the same side of the plane of the cross member  194  as the left connection element  140 . 
     The five-arm coupler  110  is adapted to be used with connecting members  300 , each of which is an elongate, substantially rigid rod or pole. See  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C, and  4 D. Each connecting member  300  has an end  302  that is adapted to be attached to a connection element. Connecting members  300  are preferably lengths of PVC pipe. PVC pipe can be readily obtained from common suppliers and cut to the exact length needed to create a custom fitted frame system  1 . However, other materials may also be appropriate for connecting members  300 , such as wooden dowels or metal rods. 
     Each of the connection elements of the five-arm coupler  110  is substantially elongate and substantially cylindrical. In the preferred embodiment each connection element has an outer end  102  and a hollow interior  104 , an opening  106  through the outer end  102  allowing access into the interior  104 , and a substantially uniform inside diameter  108 . In the preferred configuration, each connection element has substantially the same inside diameter  108  as each other connection element. This configuration allows an end  302  of a connecting member  300  to be inserted into the hollow interior  104  of the connection element, and secured thereto. The connecting member  300  may be secured to the connection element by mechanical fasteners, such as screws, bolts, clips, or the like, or by the use of adhesives, or simply by friction fittings, whereby the inside diameter  108  of the connection element is substantially equivalent to the outside diameter  306  of the end  302  of the connecting member  300 . Where the frame system  1  is intended to be disassembled when not in use, mechanical fasteners or friction fittings are used. Alternatively, a combination of mechanical fasteners, adhesives, and/or friction fittings may be used. 
     In an alternative embodiment each connection element has an outer end  102  having a substantially uniform outside diameter  109 . In the preferred configuration, each connection element has substantially the same outside diameter  109  as each other connection element. This configuration allows a connecting member  300  to be placed over the outer end  102  of the connection element, and secured thereto. The connecting member  300  may be secured to the connection element by mechanical fasteners, such as screws, bolts, clips, or the like, of by the use of adhesives, or simply by friction fittings, whereby the outside diameter  109  of the connection element is substantially equivalent to the inside diameter  307  of the end  302  of the connecting member  300 . 
     In yet other alternative embodiments each connection element is threaded, as are the ends  302 , 304  of the connecting members  300 . In one configuration the inside of each connection element has threads  192 , and the ends  302 , 304  of the connecting members  300  have matching outer threads  308 . See  FIGS. 4B and 5 . The connecting members  300  are attached to the connection elements by threading the ends  302 , 304  of the connecting members  300  into the interiors  104  of the connection elements. In another configuration the outside of each connection element is threaded, and the ends  302 , 304  of the connecting members  300  have matching inner threads  308 . See  FIGS. 4C and 6 . The connecting members  300  are attached to the connection elements by threading the ends  302 , 304  of the connecting members  300  into the interiors  104  of the connection elements. In either configuration, an adapter  390  may be used to create the threads  392  on the ends  302 , 304  of the connecting members  300 . See  FIG. 4D . The adapter  390  may be permanently or temporarily affixed to the end  302  of the connecting member  300  using any of the means discussed herein. The placement of the threads  192  on the connection elements and threads  392  on the ends  302 , 304  of the connecting members  300  may be mixed between internal and external threads, as desired. In all of these configurations, the threaded connection elements and connecting members  300  allow frame system  1  to be easily assembled and disassembled. 
     The frame system  1  also includes a left angle element  210 , a right angle element  214 , a front angle element  240 , and a rear angle element  244 . See  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Each of the angle elements of the frame system  1  has a first end  252  and a second end  272 . Each of the angle elements is substantially elongate and substantially cylindrical. The angle elements are rigid and may be formed from injection molded plastic. Any suitable material may be used for the angle elements. In the preferred embodiments the first end  252  of each angle element has a hollow interior  254 , a substantially uniform inside diameter  256 , and an opening  258  allowing access into the interior  254 . Likewise, the second end  272  of each angle element has a hollow interior  274 , a substantially uniform inside diameter, and an opening allowing access into the interior. The first and second ends  252 , 272  of each angle element are oriented at an angle  212 , 216  to each other. This configuration allows an end  302  of a connecting member  300  to be inserted into the hollow interior  254 , 274  of an angle element, and secured thereto as described above. In an alternative embodiment the first and second ends  252 , 272  of each angle element have a substantially uniform outside diameter. This configuration allows an end  302  of a connecting member  300  to be placed over an end  252  of an angle element, and secured thereto as described above. In yet another embodiment, the ends  252 , 272  of the angle elements may be threaded, as described above, to accommodate the threaded ends of connecting members  300 . 
     With regard to the left and right angle elements  210 , 214 , the angle  212 , 216  between the first and second ends  252 , 272  is delta degrees, whereby delta is the difference between ninety degrees and the degree of the angle  142  between the outer end  102  of the left connection element  140  of the five-arm coupler  110  and the plane of the cross member  194 . Thus, for example, where the angle  142  between the outer end  102  of the left connection element  140  of the five-arm coupler  110  and the plane of the cross member  194  is forty-five degrees, the angle  212 , 216  (delta) between the first and second ends  252 , 272  of the left and right angle elements  210 , 214  is also forty-five degrees. In the preferred embodiment the angle  142  between the outer end  102  of the left connection element  140  of the five-arm coupler  110  and the plane of the cross member  194  is thirty degrees and the angle  212  (delta) between the first and second ends  252 , 272  of the left angle element  210  is sixty degrees. The right angle element  214  is similarly configured with respect to the right connection element  150  of the five-arm coupler  110 . With regard to the front and rear angle elements  240 , 244 , the angle  242 , 246  between the first and second ends  252 , 272  is between twenty and seventy degrees. In the preferred embodiment the angle  242 , 246  between the first and second ends  252 , 272  is sixty degrees. 
     The angle elements of the frame system  1  are connected to the five-arm coupler  110  as follows: a left connecting member  312  is interposed between the left connection element  140  of the five-arm coupler  110  and the left angle element  210  and attached to each at each end; a right connecting member  314  is interposed between the right connection element  150  of the five-arm coupler  110  and the right angle element  214  and attached to each at each end; a front connecting member  340  is interposed between the front connection element  160  of the five-arm coupler  110  and the front angle element  240  and attached to each at each end; and a rear connecting member  350  is interposed between the rear connection element  170  of the five-arm coupler  110  and the rear angle element  244  and attached to each at each end. In addition, a vertical connecting member  316  is attached to the vertical connection element  180  of the five-arm coupler  110 . See  FIG. 7 . Each angle element further may be connected to a base member. A base member is essentially the same item as a connecting member  300 , having a first (proximate) end  402  and a second (distal) end  404 , cut down to an appropriate length. The base members are connected to the angle elements as follows: a left base member  412  is attached to the left angle element  210 ; a right base member  414  is attached to the right angle element  214 ; a front base member  440  is attached to the front angle element  240 ; and a rear base member  450  is attached to the rear angle element  244 . The base members are attached to the angle elements in the same manner as the connecting members  300  are attached to the five-arm coupler  110  and to the angle elements. So configured, with couplers, angle elements, connecting members, and base members, the frame system  1  may be placed on the deck  12  of a boat  10  and one or more tarpaulins  20  may be placed over the frame system  1 . See  FIG. 10 . 
     The frame system  1  may further comprise a set of end caps to be placed onto the distal ends  404  of the base members. These include a left end cap  510 , a right end cap  520 , a center end cap  550 , a front end cap  530 , and a rear end cap  540 . See  FIG. 7 . The end caps are adapted to provide a protective interface between the base members of the frame system  1  and the portions of the boat  10  onto which the frame system  1  is placed. In one embodiment the end caps have a cup-like configuration into which the distal ends  404  of the base members are placed. In other embodiments the end caps fit into the distal ends  404  of the base members. In such embodiments the end cap has an inverted mushroom configuration whereby the stem (male fitting) is inserted into an opening at the distal end (female fitting)  404  of the base member. In these embodiments the end caps are secured to the distal ends  404  of the base members with mechanical fasteners, adhesives, or friction fittings, as described above. In yet another embodiment the end caps may be threaded, as described above, and are attached to the base members by being threaded onto the threaded distal ends  404  of the base members. In yet another embodiment whereby the end caps have an inverted mushroom configuration, as described above, the stem may have external threads and may be threaded into the internally threaded distal ends  404  of the base members. A mix of internally threaded and externally threaded end caps is also contemplated. 
     In the preferred embodiments the end caps have a bottom side  562  located opposite the attachment point between the base member and the end cap. The bottom side  562  of the end cap has attached to it a cushioning substance  564  to protect the surface of the boat  10 . The cushioning substance  564  may be made of rubber, felt, or any other malleable material. In one configuration the cushioning substance  564  may be a cushioned pad covering substantially all of the bottom side  562  of the end cap. In another embodiment it may be a standard crutch tip, fitted over a projection extending from the bottom side  562  of the end cap. In yet another embodiment the end cap may comprise a cushioned circumferential ring. In yet another embodiment there may be a plurality of small cushioned pads attached to the bottom side  562  of the end cap. There may further be a central aperture passing through the bottom side  562  of the end cap so that the base member to which the end cap is fitted can be placed over a stanchion or other items projecting upwards from the boat  10 . 
     Where a larger frame system  1  is required, the frame system  1  may further comprise a second five-arm coupler  120  and a second pair of left and right angle elements  220 , 224 . See  FIG. 7 . The second five-arm coupler  120  may be configured substantially the same as the first five-arm coupler  110  as described above, in all of its variations. Similarly, the second left angle element  220  may be configured substantially the same as the first left angle element  210  as described above, and the second right angle element  224  may be configured substantially the same as the first right angle element  214  as described above. These additional components will have associated with them a second left connecting member  322 , a second right connecting member  324 , and a second vertical connecting member  326 , as well as a second left base member  422  and a second right base member  424 . To connect the second five-arm coupler  120  to the first five-arm coupler  110 , an intermediate connecting member  360 , configured substantially the same as the other connecting members  300  as described above, is interposed between the two five-arm couplers  110 , 120  and attached at one end to the rear connection element  170  of the first five-arm coupler  110  and attached at its other end to the front connection element  160  of the second five-arm coupler  120 . The rear connecting member  350  is connected to the rear connection element  170  of the second five-arm coupler  120 . 
     Where even larger frame systems  1  are required, one or more additional five-arm couplers  130  may be added between the first and second five-arm couplers  110 , 120 , each configured as described above, together with associated left and right angle elements  230 , 234 . See  FIG. 8 . To connect the additional five-arm couplers  130  to the first and second five-arm couplers  110 , 120 , additional intermediate connecting members, configured substantially the same as the other connecting members  300  as described above, are interposed between the five-arm couplers  110 , 120 , 130  and attached thereto. Thus, for example, a completed frame system  1  may have four five-arm couplers, each with an associated left and right angle element, joined together by three intermediate connecting members, with the front-most (first) five-arm coupler  110  having the front connecting member  340  attached to its front connection element  160  and the rear-most (fourth) five-arm coupler having the rear connecting member  350  attached to its rear connection element  170 . Where multiple five-arm couplers are used, the associated connecting members and base members may be of different length. This allows for customization of the frame system  1 . For example, if the boat  10  has a closed forward deck  12  but an open rear cockpit, the left and right base members  412 , 414  and vertical connecting member  316  associated with the forward five-arm coupler  110  may be of shorter length than the left and right base members  422 , 424  and vertical connecting member  326  associated with the rearward five-arm coupler  120 . Similarly, where there is structure located on one side of the boat  10  but not on the other, the associated left and right connecting and base members may be of different lengths. 
     One embodiment of the frame system  1  further comprises a mast bracket  600  suitably adapted to accommodate a sailboat mast  14 . See  FIG. 9 . The mast bracket  600  allows a front portion of the frame system  1  to be connected to a rear portion of the frame system  1  located on opposite sides of the sailboat mast  14 . The mast bracket  600  is comprised of a front three-arm coupler  610 , a rear three-arm coupler  612 , and four ninety degree angle couplers  700 . 
     Each three-arm coupler  600 , 612  of the mast bracket  600  has a left connection element, a right connection element, and a horizontal connection element. The connection elements are substantially elongate and substantially cylindrical and have an outer end and a hollow interior. An opening through the outer end of each connection element allows access into the interior. In one embodiment the connection elements have a substantially uniform inside diameter. The connection elements are rigid and fixedly attached to each other such that their relative orientations to each other remain constant. Alternatively, each three-arm coupler  610 , 612  may be formed of a single piece of material, such as injection molded plastic. Any suitable material may be used for the three-arm couplers  610 , 612 . In an alternative embodiment, the left, right, and horizontal connection elements of each three-arm coupler  610 , 612  have a substantially uniform outside diameter. In yet another alternative embodiment, the left, right, and horizontal connection elements of each three-arm coupler  610 , 612  have threaded ends, either having inside threads or outside threads, as described above. 
     The left connection element of each three-arm coupler  610 , 612  is oriented substantially collinear with the right connection element. Together, the front and rear connection elements form a substantially cylindrical cross member having openings at opposite ends. The horizontal connection element is located at a midsection of the cross member between the left and right connection elements and oriented substantially perpendicular to the cross member. 
     Each ninety degree angle coupler  700  of the mast bracket  600  has a first end and a second end, and is substantially elongate and substantially cylindrical. The ninety degree angle couplers  700  are rigid and may be formed from injection molded plastic. Any suitable material may be used for the ninety degree angle couplers  700 . In the preferred embodiments the first end of each ninety degree angle coupler  700  has a hollow interior, a substantially uniform inside diameter, and an opening allowing access into the interior. Likewise, the second end of each ninety degree angle coupler  700  has a hollow interior, a substantially uniform inside diameter, and an opening allowing access into the interior. The first and second ends of each ninety degree angle coupler  700  are oriented at a ninety degree angle to each other. This configuration allows an end  302  of a connecting member  300  to be inserted into the hollow interior of the ninety degree angle coupler  700 , and secured thereto as described above. In an alternative embodiment the first and second ends of each ninety degree angle coupler  700  have a substantially uniform outside diameter. This configuration allows an end  302  of a connecting member  300  to be placed over an end of the ninety degree angle coupler  700 , and secured thereto as described above. In yet another embodiment, the ends of the ninety degree angle couplers  700  may be threaded, as described above, to accommodate the threaded ends  302 , 304  of connecting members  300 . 
     Six horizontal connecting members are used to connect the couplers  610 , 612 , 700  of the mast bracket  600 . Each horizontal connecting member is an elongate, substantially rigid rod or pole. Each horizontal connecting member has an end that is adapted to be attached to a connection element of the three-arm couplers  610 , 612  or to an end of the ninety degree angle couplers  700 . Horizontal connection elements are preferably lengths of PVC pipe cut to the exact length needed to create a custom fitted mast bracket  600 . However, other materials may also be appropriate for horizontal connection members, such as wooden dowels or metal rods. The horizontal connecting members may be secured to the connection elements of the three-arm couplers  610 , 612  or to the ends of the ninety degree angle couplers  700  by mechanical fasteners, such as screws, bolts, clips, or the like, or by the use of adhesives, or by friction fittings. 
     The ninety degree angle couplers  700  are connected to the three-arm couplers  610 , 612  as follows: a first horizontal connecting member  810  is interposed between the left connection element of the front three-arm coupler  610  and one of the ninety degree angle couplers  700  and attached to each at each end; a second horizontal connecting member  820  is interposed between the right connection element of the front three-arm coupler  610  and the second ninety degree angle coupler  700  and attached to each at each end; a third horizontal connecting member  830  is interposed between the left connection element of the rear three-arm coupler  612  and the third ninety degree angle coupler  700  and attached to each at each end; a fourth horizontal connecting member  840  is interposed between the right connection element of the rear three-arm coupler  612  and the fourth ninety degree angle coupler  700  and attached to each at each end; a fifth horizontal connecting member  850  is interposed between the first ninety degree coupler  700  and the third ninety degree coupler  700  and attached to each at its ends; and a sixth horizontal connecting member  860  is interposed between the second ninety degree coupler  700  and the fourth ninety degree coupler  700  and attached to each at its ends. The three-arm couplers  610 , 612 , the ninety degree angle couplers  700 , and the horizontal connecting members  810 , 820 , 830 , 840 , 850 , 860  are assembled around the sailboat mast  14 . At least a pair of the connections between the components of the mast bracket  600  should be capable of being disassembled, to permit the mast bracket  600  to be removed from around the sailboat mast  14  when its use is not needed. 
     The mast bracket  600 , assembled as described above, is connected to a forward portion of the frame system  1  and to a rear portion of the frame system  1  as follows: a first intermediate connecting member  360  is interposed between the horizontal connection element of the front three-arm coupler  610  and the rear connection element  170  of the five-arm coupler  110  located just forward of the mast bracket  600 , and attached to each at its ends; and a second intermediate connecting member  370  is interposed between the horizontal connection element of the rear three-arm coupler  612  and the front connection element  160  of the five-arm coupler  120  located just rearward of the mast bracket  600 , and attached to each at its ends. 
     In yet another embodiment, the frame system  1  further comprises a plurality of stickers  900 . See  FIG. 5 . The stickers  900  are suitable for being affixed to the ends of the connection elements of the five-arm couplers  110 , the ends of the connection elements of the three-arm couplers  610 , the ends of the left and right angle elements  210 , 214 , the ends of the front and rear angle elements  240 , 244 , and the ends of the ninety degree angle couplers  700 . Pairs of stickers  900  are visually complementary, such that each of a complementary pair can be affixed to the ends of connecting components. Thus, after disassembly, the frame system  1  can be reassembled by aligning the complementary pairs of stickers  900 , to help keep track of which components fit together with which others. The complementary identifications of the pairs of stickers  900  can be by color, or shape, or text, or a combination of same. For example, the stickers  900  to be placed on the port (left) side of the frame system  1  might be green, the stickers  900  to be placed on the starboard (right) side of the frame system  1  might be red, and the stickers  900  to be placed on the center components might be yellow, with each pair numbered “1-1”, “2-2”, etc., for each color scheme. Other complementary identifications are also contemplated. 
     Modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments of the present invention without departing from the subject or spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.