GB2151559A - Accessory to fit yacht winches - Google Patents

Abstract

An accessory for a yacht comprises a device 4 which spans a pair of spaced winches 2 and 3 on a yacht. The device has a pair of support members 5 and 6 having legs 8 which locate in handle receiving sockets of the winches 2 and 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Accessories for Yachts This invention relates to accessories for yachts.

According to the invention an accessory for a yacht comprises a device which spans a pair of spaced winches on a yacht and which has a pair of support members each adapted to locate in the handle receiving socket of a respective one of the winches, whereby the device can be supported in a desired orientation on the yacht.

Thus the device may comprise a work bench, a bench type seat or a framework of, for example, a canopy or a hammock type seat.

Advantageously said support members incorporate some form of pivotal joint or ball joint to accommodate variations in angle between the axes of the handle receiving sockets of different pairs of winches.

The support members themselves may each have the basic form of the accessories described in my British Patent Application No.

8207122 and my European Patent Application No. 82306818.4 in that they may comprise a supporting leg which is adapted to locate in the handle receiving socket of the winch and to be releasably locked to the winch.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a side elevation partly in section of an accessory in the form of a work bench in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing the deck of a yacht is shown diagrammatically at 1 and shown mounted on the deck 1 are two winches 2 and 3. The work bench comprises a board 4 providing the work top and spanning the spacing between the two winches, and support members 5 and 6. The support members 5 and 6 locate in the winches 2 and 3 respectively and the board 4 is clamped at its ends to the support members 5 and 6. The winches 2 and 3 have in conventional manner winch-handle-receiving star sockets in which the support members 5 and 6 locate. Both the support members 5 and 6 incorporate a poivotal joint 7 to enable the work bench to be mounted in winches which are at an angle to each other as shown.

For fullness of description, but by way of example only, the support members 5 and 6 are of different form, that shown at the left of the drawing being substantially similar to Fig.

10 of the aforesaid European Application and that shown at the right being substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 7 and 8 of the aforesaid European Application.

Both of the support members 5 and 6 have a square sectioned leg 8 which locates in the star socket of its associated winch. The support member 5 is shown with a short leg 8 and the support member 6 with a long leg 8.

The legs 8 are provided at their lower end with a square plate 9 of the same crosssectional dimensions as the legs 8. The plates 9 are rotatable about their centre relatively to the legs 8. Thus the legs 8 can be inserted into the star sockets with the plate edges aligned with the sides of the legs 8 until the plates 9 have passed through the sockets. The plates 9 are then rotated so that their edges are misaligned with the sides of the legs 8 and becomes trapped in the winch. In the case of the support member 5 the plate 9 is trapped immediately behind the star socket. In the case of the support member 6 the plate 9 is trapped within the base of the winch.

Suitable mechanisms for rotating the plates 9 are fully described in the aforesaid European and British Applications. In the case of both support members 5 and 6 threaded clamping rings 11 and 1 2 can be screwed down on to the winches 2 and 3 to take up any slackness in the mounting of the support members 5 and 6 in the winches 2 and 3.

The support member 5 has a bore 1 3 in which locates a downwardly extending pin 1 4 formed integrally with the lower part of the pivotal joint 7, the pin 14 having a circumferential groove for engagement by a grub screw 15 to lock the pin 14 in the bore 13. The support member 6 has a block 1 6 integrally formed with it and is provided with a bore 1 7 in which the pin 14 of its associated pivot joint 7 locates. A grub screw 1 5 similarly locks the pin 14 in the bore 1 7.

The upper part of each pivotal joint 7 comprises a threaded post 18 which passes through a hole in the board 4 and has knurled rings 1 9 and 20 which threadedly locate on the post 1 8 and are tightened towards each other to clamp the board 4 between them at a desired position.

Although the support members 5 and 6 advantageously lock in the winches 2 and 3 it is not necessary for them to do so in the case of a work bench or similar accessories where the main external force acting on the accessories is not vertically upwards.

Advantageously the pivotal joints 7 are provided with locking mechanisms to lock them in a set position.

1. An accessory for a yacht comprising a device which spans a pair of spaced winches on a yacht and which has a pair of supporting members each adapted to locate in the handle receiving socket of a respective one of the winches.

2. An accessory according to Claim 1, wherein said support members incorporate a joint to accommodate variations in angle between the axes of the handle receiving sockets

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Accessories for Yachts This invention relates to accessories for yachts. According to the invention an accessory for a yacht comprises a device which spans a pair of spaced winches on a yacht and which has a pair of support members each adapted to locate in the handle receiving socket of a respective one of the winches, whereby the device can be supported in a desired orientation on the yacht. Thus the device may comprise a work bench, a bench type seat or a framework of, for example, a canopy or a hammock type seat. Advantageously said support members incorporate some form of pivotal joint or ball joint to accommodate variations in angle between the axes of the handle receiving sockets of different pairs of winches. The support members themselves may each have the basic form of the accessories described in my British Patent Application No. 8207122 and my European Patent Application No. 82306818.4 in that they may comprise a supporting leg which is adapted to locate in the handle receiving socket of the winch and to be releasably locked to the winch. The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a side elevation partly in section of an accessory in the form of a work bench in accordance with the invention. Referring to the drawing the deck of a yacht is shown diagrammatically at 1 and shown mounted on the deck 1 are two winches 2 and 3. The work bench comprises a board 4 providing the work top and spanning the spacing between the two winches, and support members 5 and 6. The support members 5 and 6 locate in the winches 2 and 3 respectively and the board 4 is clamped at its ends to the support members 5 and 6. The winches 2 and 3 have in conventional manner winch-handle-receiving star sockets in which the support members 5 and 6 locate. Both the support members 5 and 6 incorporate a poivotal joint 7 to enable the work bench to be mounted in winches which are at an angle to each other as shown. For fullness of description, but by way of example only, the support members 5 and 6 are of different form, that shown at the left of the drawing being substantially similar to Fig. 10 of the aforesaid European Application and that shown at the right being substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 7 and 8 of the aforesaid European Application. Both of the support members 5 and 6 have a square sectioned leg 8 which locates in the star socket of its associated winch. The support member 5 is shown with a short leg 8 and the support member 6 with a long leg 8. The legs 8 are provided at their lower end with a square plate 9 of the same crosssectional dimensions as the legs 8. The plates 9 are rotatable about their centre relatively to the legs 8. Thus the legs 8 can be inserted into the star sockets with the plate edges aligned with the sides of the legs 8 until the plates 9 have passed through the sockets. The plates 9 are then rotated so that their edges are misaligned with the sides of the legs 8 and becomes trapped in the winch. In the case of the support member 5 the plate 9 is trapped immediately behind the star socket. In the case of the support member 6 the plate 9 is trapped within the base of the winch. Suitable mechanisms for rotating the plates 9 are fully described in the aforesaid European and British Applications. In the case of both support members 5 and 6 threaded clamping rings 11 and 1 2 can be screwed down on to the winches 2 and 3 to take up any slackness in the mounting of the support members 5 and 6 in the winches 2 and 3. The support member 5 has a bore 1 3 in which locates a downwardly extending pin 1 4 formed integrally with the lower part of the pivotal joint 7, the pin 14 having a circumferential groove for engagement by a grub screw 15 to lock the pin 14 in the bore 13. The support member 6 has a block 1 6 integrally formed with it and is provided with a bore 1 7 in which the pin 14 of its associated pivot joint 7 locates. A grub screw 1 5 similarly locks the pin 14 in the bore 1 7. The upper part of each pivotal joint 7 comprises a threaded post 18 which passes through a hole in the board 4 and has knurled rings 1 9 and 20 which threadedly locate on the post 1 8 and are tightened towards each other to clamp the board 4 between them at a desired position. Although the support members 5 and 6 advantageously lock in the winches 2 and 3 it is not necessary for them to do so in the case of a work bench or similar accessories where the main external force acting on the accessories is not vertically upwards. Advantageously the pivotal joints 7 are provided with locking mechanisms to lock them in a set position. CLAIMS

1. An accessory for a yacht comprising a device which spans a pair of spaced winches on a yacht and which has a pair of supporting members each adapted to locate in the handle receiving socket of a respective one of the winches.

2. An accessory according to Claim 1, wherein said support members incorporate a joint to accommodate variations in angle between the axes of the handle receiving sockets of different pairs of winches.

3. An accessory for a yacht substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.