IMPROVEMENTS IN SAIL HANKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Alexandre Bertrem, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAIL HANKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Alexandre Bertrem
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1877.
AUGUSTE ALEXANDRE BERTREM, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. “IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SAIL HANKS."
My Invention relates to certain improvements on a former Invention for an
improved sail hank, for which Letters Patent for Great Britain were granted to
Aimé Méhu, of St. Malo, France, on 5th October, 1875, No. 3502, of which Letters:
Patent I am the assignee. The said Invention related to an improved sail hank for
bending or attaching jib, stay, and other sails to their stays and masts, and this
improved hank consisted of a metal ring run upon the stay or gaff, and to the
outside of which ring is jointed a hook-shaped clasp, which is passed through an
eyelet in the sail, and encloses the bolt rope between it and the ring. The latter is
recessed on its outer circumference at this point, to form with the clasp in the closed
position a loop corresponding to the bolt rope in size and shape. The ring is also
made broader to give it a firmer bearing on the bolt rope, and prevent it from
working loosely thereon. The ring is also cut through at this point to give it
sufficient elasticity to yield in closing the clasp, and enable lugs on the latter to be
sprung into notches in the ring, whereby the clasp is securely held.
My Invention consists,-
Firstly. In constructing the ring or main portion of the hank in two pieces
hinged together, so that the hank will open and pass over "bent" stays, also masts
and other spars, when used as a mast hoop or otherwise.
Secondly. Of a peculiar construction of hinge, whereby the separate portions of
the bank or ring are enabled to be secured and locked after being placed in position
on the stay or snar.

page_text: Thirdly. In thickening or swelling out the portion of the hank or ring that
receives the locking lug of the clasp or arm that secures the bolt rope of the sail,
such thickening being for the purpose of strengthening that portion of the hank
that is cut away for locking purposes.
In carrying out my Invention I form the hank or ring in two pieces, which I
connect by a joint or hinge by preference, immediately behind the eye or link that
takes the bolt rope of the sail. I form the hinge by filling in the thimble section
of the ends of the pieces of the hank. On one piece I form a jaw, and on the other
piece a projection which fits such jaw, male and female. The connection is made
by a pin, which passes through round projections outside of the hank, and respec-
tively on the jaw and fitting piece. The jaw and fitting piece are provided with
holes, so that when in position such holes come in line, and the hinge can be
fastened by driving a wooden plug therethrough, or by a rivet or otherwise, the
utility being that the hank is free to open by means of its hinge and be placed in
position, after which the hinge can be securely locked, thus fastening the hank in
position.
I would remark that although the principle of forming a hank in two pieces and
securing by a hinge, such as that just described, is particularly applicable for
hanks constructed according to Aimé Méhu's Invention, such improvement is also
applicable to other hanks, and as such is embraced in my Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Auguste Alexandre Bertrem in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th January 1878.
AUGUSTE ALEXANDRE BERTREM, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SAIL HANKS."
My Invention relates to certain improvements on a former Invention for an
improved sail hank, for which Letters Patent for Great Britain were granted to
Aimé Méliu, of St. Malo, France, on 5th October, 1875, No. 3502, of which Letters
Patent I am the assignee. The said Invention related to an improved sail hank for
bending or attaching jib, stay, and other sails to their stays and masts, and this
improved sail hank consisted of a metal ring run upon the stay or gaff, and to the
outside of which ring is jointed a hook-shaped clasp, which is passed through an
eyelet in the sail, and encloses the bolt rope between it and the ring. The latter is
recessed on its outer circumference at this point, to form with the clasp in the closed
position a loop corresponding to the bolt rope in size and shape. The ring is also
inade broader to give it a firmer bearing on the bolt rope, and prevent it from
working loosely thereon. The ring is also cut through at this point to give.it
sufficient elasticity to yield in closing the clasp, and enable lugs on the latter to be
sprung into notches in the ring, whereby the clasp is securely held.
My Invention consists,―
Firstly. In constructing a ring or main portion of the hank in two pieces hinged
together, so that the lank will open and pass over "bent" stays, also masts and
other spars, when used as a mast hoop, or otherwise.

page_text: Secondly. Of a peculiar construction of hinge, whereby the separate portions of
the hank or ring are enabled to be secured and locked after being placed in position
on the stay or spar; the hinge is fastened or secured by a wood or other pin.
Thirdly. In thickening or swelling out the portion of the hank or ring that
receives the locking lug of the clasp or arm that secures the bolt rope of the sail,
such thickening being for the purpose of strengthening that portion of the hank
that is cut away for locking purposes.
In carrying out my Invention I form the hank or ring in two pieces, which I
connect by a joint or hinge, by preference immediately behind the eye or link that
takes the bolt rope of the sail. I form the hinge by filling in the thimble section
of the ends of the pieces of the hank. On one piece I form a jaw, and on the other
piece a projection which fits such jaw, male and female. The connection is inade
by a pin, which passes through round projections outside of the hank, and respec-
tively on the jaw and fitting piece. The jaw and fitting piece are provided with
holes, so that when in position such holes come in line, and the hinge can be
fastened by driving a wooden plug therethrough, or by a rivet or otherwise, the
utility being that the hank is free to open, by means of its hinge, and be placed in
position, after which the hinge can be securely locked, thus fastening the hank in.
position.
I would remark that although the principle of forming a hank in two pieces a
securing by a hinge, such as that just described, is particularly applicable for
hanks constructed according to Aimé Méhu's Invention, such improvement is also
applicable to other hanks, and as such is embraced in my Invention.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood, I have hereunto annexed
a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, marked with letters and figures of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation..
In all the Figures the same letters of reference where they occur indicate the
same or corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sail hank constructed according to my In-
vention; Figure 2 is a right-hand side view, and Figure 3 is a left-hand side view
of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 1 viewed from the top; Figure 5 is a
plan of Figure 1 viewed from the bottom.
Figure 6 is a section through the hank at A, B, Figures 1 or 7.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of the hank shown open.
The sail hank shown in the Drawings is mainly of the same contour as the sail
hank invented by Aimé Méhu, and patented in Great Britain, 5 October, 1875,
No. 3502, of which Letters Patent I am the assignee. The difference or improve-
ments thereon which constitute this present Invention consist,-
Firstly. In constructing the ring or main portion of the hank a in two pieces
hinged together at a', so that the ring of the hank will open, and can therefore be
passed over "bent" stays, also masts and other spars, when used as a mast hoop
or otherwise.
Secondly. Of a peculiar construction of hinge, whereby the separate portions of
the hank or ring a are enabled to be secured and locked together after being placed
in position on the stay or spar, or otherwise. The hinge a¹ is constructed with a
projecting lug a", and works on the pin 8. The separate parts of the hank when
closed are fastened or secured together by a wood or other pin at x.
Thirdly. In thickening or swelling out the portion of the hank or ring a at w
that receives the locking lug g of the clasp or arm b that secures the bolt rope of
the sail, such thickening being for the purpose of strengthening that portion of the
hank a which is cut away for locking purposes.
In carrying out my Invention I for the hank or ring a in two pieces, which I
connect by a joint or hinge a¹, by preference, immediately in line with the eye or
link d that takes the bolt rope of the sail. I form the hinge a¹ by filling in the
thimble section of the ends of the pieces of the lank at e. On one piece e¹ I form
a jaw, and on the other piece f a projection which fits such jaw, male and female.
The permanent connection is made by the pin 8, which passes through the pro-

page_text: jections a¹. The pin x is used for fastening or securing the hank when the ring is
closed, as in Figure 1. Upon removal of the pin x the hank is free to open, as in
Figure 7. c is the hinge of the bow-shaped clasp b; h are the notches which take
the lugs g; i is a hole in the end of the clasp b to receive a pin or rod, which also
takes into the hole k for closing, being used as a lever. For opening the same pin
or rod is inserted under the clasp b at m and used as a lever.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used or
practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
-
Firstly. Constructing the ring or main portion of a sail hank, such as shown in
the accompanying Drawings, in two pieces hinged together, so that the bank will
open and pass over "bent" stays, also masts and other spars or otherwise.
Secondly. The peculiar construction of hinge, such as shown in the accompanying
Drawings, whereby the separate portions of the ring of the sail hank are enabled
to be secured and locked together after being placed in position, as herein-before
described and shown, or any modification thereof.
Thirdly. Thickenning or swelling out the portion of the hank or ring that receives
the locking lug of the clasp or arm b, such as shown at w, Figure 1 of the accom-
panying Drawings, or any modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Alexandre Bertrem, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
100
AUGUSTE ALEXANDRE (L.S.) BERTREM.