GB2100213A - Accessory for yachts - Google Patents

Abstract

An accessory for a yacht has a supporting leg (6) which is adapted to locate and key with the socket (4) of a yacht winch. The accessory has a locking device (8) which releasably locks the leg (6) in the socket (4). Advantageously the accessory comprises a platform on which a selection of supplementary accessories can be mounted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Accessory for yachts This invention relates to an accessory for yachts.

According to the invention an accessory for a yacht has a supporting leg which is adapted to locate in the handle receiving socket of a winch and be releasably locked to the winch.

Preferably the supporting leg keys with the handle receiving socket.

The majority of handle receiving sockets of winches are international size star sockets, and so a single size and design of supporting leg will be suitable for most yachts.

In its simplest form an accessory according to the invention comprises a platform to which other items may be bolted or otherwise secured as supplementary accessories.

One particular advantageous accessory or supplementary accessory in accordance with the invention is a vice which can be used for carrying out repairs and other work. Up to the present it has been a problem to find a suitable and stable mounting for a vice of the conventional type. By simply adapting a vice so that it can be mounted in the handle receiving socket of a winch this problem is overcome.

If desired a simple locking arrangement can be provided on the winch so that the winch is prevented from rotating during use of an accessory mounted on the winch.

The invention will now be further explained by way of example with reference tq the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a part-sectional side elevation of a winch with an accessory in the form of a vice mounted on it in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a view similar to Figure 1 but with a modified mounting arrangement for the vice, Figures 3 and 4 shows respectively a plan view from below and a sectional elevation of an accessory platform.

Figures 5 and 6 show sectional elevations of further accessories in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 , the winch 1 is provided with a winch handle receiving star socket 4 and a vice 5 has a downwardly extending leg 6 of square cross-section so that it locates in and keys with the star socket 4. The vice 5 is advantageously provided as a standard item which is simply bolted to a platform 7 from the underside of which leg 6 depends. Thus the platform 7 can be used as a universal platform for mounting a whole range of accessories.

A locking arrangement is provided which releasably locks the leg 6 in the socket 4. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the leg 6 is provided with a square plate 8 at its lower end of the same cross-sectional area as the leg 6. As the leg 6 is inserted into the socket with the plate edges aligned with the sides of the leg 6, the plate 8 passes right through the socket 4. Then by rotating the plate 8 so that its edges are misaligned with the sides of the leg 6 it becomes trapped behind the star socket and can not be pulled back through the socket. A clamping ring 13 as will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 3 and 4 enables any slackness in the mounting of the platform 7 to be taken up.

In the platform construction shown in Figures 3 and 4, the platform 7 is formed by plate 12 having the integral leg 6. Plate 20 represents the general form of the bases of the various accessories that may be attached to plate 12. The plate 8 is rotatably keyed into the lower end of the leg 6. To effect this the plate 8 is provided with a cylindrical post 9 which locates in a bore in the leg 6 and which at its upper end has a pair of diametrically opposite lugs 10 which rotatably locate in an annular groove. Diametrically opposite longitudinal grooves are provided along the bore in the leg 6 along which the lugs can pass when the post 9 is pushed into the bore. It is arranged that the lugs 10 align with the grooves in the bore when the plate edges align with the sides of the leg.Hence when the edges of the plate 8 do not align with the sides of the leg the plate 8 is locked in the leg 7 by the lugs 10. The rotation of the plate is effected by a cranked wire 11 which passes down through the leg 6 and is secured to the plate 8. At its outer end the wire passes through the plate 12 and is movable through an angle defined by a slot in the plate 12 to effect rotation between aligned and misaligned positions of the plate 8 and leg 6.

To take up any slackness of the platform 7 a ring 13 is threadedly mounted on plate 12. Thus after the leg 6 has been locked in position in the winch, the ring 13 can be screwed downwardly hard on to the top of the winch.

It is customary in winches to have a ratchet mechanism which allows rotation of the winch handle in one direction relative to the winch barrel.

Therefore if an accessory such as a vice is fitted to the winch it will rotate in one direction. In some circumstances this is acceptable, but advantageously a locking device is provided to prevent this rotation. Such a locking device may take the form of a grub screw which locates in the winch barrel and engages the pawl to lock it against the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

A similar locking device could be provided in relation to the ratchet mechanism which permits rotation of the winch barrel relative to its mounting base.

In some types of winch a hole aligning with the handle receiving socket of the winch extends downwards right through the winch including the base plate through which the winch is secured to a boat.

An arrangement for locating an accessory platform in this type of winch and for locking the accessory against rotation is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 the base plate 1 5 of the winch 1 is shown. For mounting the platform 7 carrying vice 5 an additional plate 1 6 is fitted below the base plate 1 5 and is secured to a boat by the same fixing means used for the plate 1 5. The plate 1 6 has an upstanding annular boss 1 8 which locates in the central hole in the base plate 1 5. The hole through the boss 18 is square and receives in a close fit the leg 6, which in this arrangement is sufficiently long to extend into the boss. Thus the leg 6 and hence the platform 7 and vice 5 is held against rotation.To lock the leg 6 against being pulled upwardly out of the winch, a rotatable plate 8 identical to the plate 8 of Figures 3 and 4, locates in an undercut groove in the boss 1 8.

To facilitate the use of a standard length of leg 6 for several types and makes of winch a series of plates 1 6 having different height bosses can be provided. Further, several grooves at different heights can be provided in each boss.

As an alternative, to providing a separate boss carrying plate 1 6, boss 1 8 can be incorporated in the base plate 1 5 of the winch or elsewhere within the winch.

In addition to mounting the accessories in the winch socket, a socket device may also be provided for locating the winch handle when not in use and into which the accessories therefore locate in the same or similar manner as in the winch.

Although only a vice is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The invention relates to a range of accessories including for example a search light, a general purpose anchorage point for fenders and safety harnesses, a table, a camera support, and a seat.

In Figures 5 and 6 are shown by way of example two accessories for providing anchorage points for safety harnesses but due to their general construction can be readily adapted to other forms of accessory. As far as possible in Figures 5 and 6 the same reference numerals have been used in the previously described Figures to designate corresponding parts.

Referring to Figure 5, the equivalent 26 of the platform 12 is in the form of a ball which is screwed on to the leg 6. The supplementary accessory in the form of a harness anchorage 25 threadedly engages in threaded bore 24 in the ball 26.

To vary the effective length of the leg 6 a collar 22 is provided which can slide up and down leg 6 to adjust it. It is locked in position by screw 23 engaging in groove 27. Thus the accessory can be locked in position either behind the standard star socket or in a boss as in Figure 2. in both cases the plate 8 is used for locking and the collar 22 is positioned to locate on top of the winch, the ring 13 providing final tight clamping as in the accessory of Figure 2.

The accessory of Figure 6 is somewhat similar to that of Figure 5 in that the equivalent of the platform 12 is generally of ball shape, the ball shape being completed by the clamping ring 13.

In both Figures 5 and 6 angular movement of the wire 11 is effected by a ring 21 to which the free end of the wire is attached and which is located on the ball 26 so that it can be moved around it.

As can be readily appreciated the supplementary accessory 25 can take other forms.

For example it could take the form of a camera mounting platform which screws into bore 24.

Claims (14)

1. An accessory for a yacht, comprising a device having a supporting leg which is adapted to locate in the handle receiving socket of a winch and be releasably locked to the winch.

2. An accessory according to Claim 1 and comprising a platform on which supplementary accessories can be mounted.

3. An accessory according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said leg is adapted to key with said socket.

4. An accessory according to any preceding Claim, wherein said leg is provided with a locking device which can be displaced from a first position in which it does not extend beyond the crosssection of the leg and so permits insertion of the leg into said socket, to a second position in which it projects laterally from said cross-section to effect locking of said leg in said socket.

An accessory according to Claim 4, wherein saiu locking device comprises a plate of the same cross-section as said leg and which is mounted at one end of said leg and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the leg.

6. An accessory according to Claim 5, wherein said plate has an integral post extending into said leg, said post having projecting lugs which locate in an internal grooving in said leg to locate the plate in the leg.

7. An accessory according to any of Claims 4 to 6, wherein said locking device is operable by a cranked arm one limb portion of which extends along the inside of the leg and the other limb portion of which extends through a slot in said accessory, the ends of which slot define the limits of displacement of said locking device and so define said first and second positions.

8. An accessory according to any preceding Claim and further comprising a plate adapted to be fixedly mounted beneath the winch and to which said leg is adapted to be releasably locked.

9. An accessory according to Claim 8, when dependent upon any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein said plate has an upstanding boss with an internal groove adapted to receive said locking device when in said second position.

10. An accessory according to Claim 9, wherein said boss has a plurality of said internal grooves in which said locking device when in said second position can be selectively located.

11. An accessory according to any preceding Claim, and having a threaded ring which after said accessory has been locked to a winch can be screwed down on to a winch to take up any slackness in the mounting.

12. The combination of an accessory according to any preceding Claim and a winch, wherein said leg is releasably locked to the winch at a position beyond the inner end of said socket.

1 3. The combination of a winch and an accessory according to any of Claims 4 to 7, wherein said locking device in said second position locates in the mounting base of the winch.

14. An accessory according to Claim 1 and comprising a device into which a supplementary accessory can be screwed.

1 5. An accessory according to any of Claims 4 to 11, wherein a collar is slidably mounted for adjustment on said leg and can be locked in an adjusted position in order to set its distance along said leg from said plate.

1 6. An accessory for a yacht substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.