Patent ID: 7621078

Claim:
A mast erection system comprising at least two chain assemblies, said chain assemblies able to cooperatively interact to form a generally rigid column, wherein a first of the chain assemblies comprises a plurality of first links and a plurality of first plates, each first plate connecting a respective adjacent pair of the first plurality of links, each first plate having a face from which protrudes a pedestal; wherein a second of the chain assemblies comprises a plurality of second links and a plurality of second plates, each second plate directly connecting a respective adjacent pair of the second plurality of links end to end, each second plate having a notch therein at the circumference thereof and wherein, when said first and second chain assemblies are brought into alignment to form said generally rigid column, the pedestal of a respective first plate of the first chain assembly is positioned via an edge of one of the second plates of the second chain assembly into the notch of another of the second plates adjacent to the one second plate so that the pedestal is generally constrained between the one and the adjacent other of the second plates in the general direction of said rigid column.