Improvements in Gaff-joints for Vessels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov.. 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gaff-joints for Vessels.
I, PETER ERIKSEN FROSTAD, of La Conner, in the County of Skagit, and State
of Washington, United States of America, Inventor, 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 gaff-joints, or joints for connecting the gaffs to masts of
vessels, and it has for its object to construct a joint of this class which shall adinit of
the gaff being easily raised or lowered and which shall be in the nature of a hinge to
permit the gaff to swing down to a vertical position alongside the mast, thus enabling
the sail to be furled more quickly and conveniently than heretofore, and which shall,
moreover, enable the sail to be furled in such a manner as to expose it to the least
possible amount of wear.
With these ends in view my invention consists in the improved construction of the
said joint, which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in
the claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a mast equipped with my improved
gaff-joint.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in both the figures of the drawings.
1, designates the mast, and 2, the gaff.
3 is a ring or yoke which encircles the mast and between the arms or jaws of which
is secured a block 4 having an inner curved surface 5, adapted to bear loosely against
the side of the mast so as to form a guide that enables the ring or joint to slide freely
upon the latter. To the sides of the gaff are secured the straps 6, the projecting ends
of which are connected by a pivotal bolt 7 to the ends of the arms 8 of the yoke that
extends beyond the guide-block 4. The latter is provided near its upper end with a
transverse perforation 9 from which smooth grooves 10 extend to the upper extremity
of said block. The transverse perforation 9 is for the attachment of the throat halyard,
by means of which the gaff may be raised or lowered in the usual manner.
peak-halyard is attached in the usual manner to the outer end of the gaff but is not
shown in the drawings hereto annexed, as it forms no part of the present invention, it
being arranged in the usual and well known manner and for its ordinary and well
known purposes.
The
The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood
from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto
annexed.
The guide-block 4 which forms a part of the joint will positively prevent the ring
or yoke 3 from binding at any point upon the mast, thus enabling the gaff to be
easily raised or lowered in the usual manner as the case may require. Should it be
desired to furl the sail very quickly, it may be accomplished by letting go the
peak-halyard, thus permitting the gaff to drop down alongside the mast, the throat-
halyard being left standing. The inain-sail and gaff may then be easily tied to the
mast.
This invention, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is exceedingly
simple in construction, and may be readily applied to vessels rigged in the usual
manner. Its advantages will also be readily understood, it enabling the sail to be
manipulated more quickly and efficiently than by the rigging of the ordinary
kind.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is
1. The combination of the yoke, the guide-block secured between the arms of the
same, the gaff, the straps secured to opposite sides of the latter and a pivotal bolt
connecting said straps with the arms of the yoke, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the yoke encircling the mast, the guide-block secured
between the arms of said yoke and having a curved inner surface bearing loosely
against the side of the mast, the gaff having straps secured to its opposite sides, a
pivotal bolt connecting the projecting ends of said straps with the arms of the yoke
that extend beyond the guide-block and the throat-halyard connected to the latter,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1900
W. P. THOMPSON & BOODT,
Agents for the Applicant.