Improvements in Sail Grommets and Washers Used for the same.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1888
Specification Accepted, 15th June, 1888
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM WALTER WILCOX, of Middletown,
Conn., United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Sail Grommets and Washers Used for the same.
I, ALEXANDER HENRY REED, of Suffolk House, Laurence Pountney Hill, Cannon
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a sail-grommet composed of an eyelet and two washers
having roughened surfaces or teeth as fully described in the following specification
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,
Fig. 1 represents a central section of the grommet when secured to a piece of sail
cloth.
Fig. 2 is a plan or face view of the same, partly in section.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the washers detached.
Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modification of the same.
Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modification.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same.
Fig. 7 is a plan or face view of the blank used in the construction of the same.
Fig. S is a perspective view of the eyelet detached.
Fig. 9 is a central section of the eyelet and the washers as applied to a piece of sail
cloth before the eyelet is clinched.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.
In this drawing the letter A designates an eyelet, which is by preference made of
sheet brass, or sheet steel, but which may also be made of cast metal. B B are two
washers which fit the barrel of the eyelet loosely and one surface of each of which is
roughened by forming thereon projections or teeth b, figs. 3, 4, and 5.
The washer illustrated in fig. 3 is provided with sharp-edged projections which are
cast integral with the body of the washer; the washer illustrated in fig. 4 is provided
with pointed teeth which are also cast integral with the body of the washer, but the
washer illustrated in fig. 5 is made of sheet metal by cutting out a blank B* fig. 7,
with inwardly extending radial projections &* which are turned back upon the body of
1

page_text: the washer and then up, so as to form the teeth b, fig. 5. The washers illustrated in
figs. 3 and 4 are by preference made of cast or inalleable iron or steel but they may
also be struck up of sheet metal. The washer illustrated in fig. 5 however has certain
advantages since it involves no waste of stock and by bending back the radial
projections * upon the body of the washer, said body is strengthened.
In order to apply the sail-grommet to a sail, a hole is formed in the sail, just large
enough to admit the barrel of the eyelet and upon the eyelet is placed one of the
washers B with its barbed or roughened face upward as shown in figs. 1 and 6; the
barrel of the eyelet is then passed through the hole in the sail cloth, and on its
projecting end is placed a second washer B' with its barbed or roughened face
downward, see fig. 6, and finally the eyelet is clinched in the usual manner.
By
these means, the barbed or roughened surfaces of the washers B B become firmly
embedded in the sail cloth, and furthermore the inner surface of the hole of the
grommet is convex or bulging inward, see fig. 1, so that the grommet is firmly
retained in position, and at the same time the convex inner surface of the hole
produces the least possible chafing action upon the rope which passes through the
grommet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I'
claim is;
1. A sail grommet composed of an eyelet A and two washers B B' adapted to
surround the eyelet barrel loosely on opposite sides of the cloth, the opposing faces of
said washers being roughened or barbed, substantially as shown and described.
2. A grommet, washer formed of a sheet metal blank B* provided with inwardly
extending radial projections 6* which are turned back upon the body of the washer
and then upward to form the teeth b, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this Wiftannth day 1888