GB2508328A

GB2508328A - Clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2508328A
Application number: GB1206408.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Aubrey Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-11
Filing date: 2012-04-11
Publication date: 2014-06-04
Also published as: GB201206408D0

Abstract

A removable clamp for attaching to boat stanchions or guard rails or other vertical fixed object which can be used to support a lifting arm to aid the handling of heavy objects. The clamp includes two clamp plates each of which can sit on opposite sides of a rail. The clamp plates are secured by bolts which pass through corresponding holes in the clamp plates.

Description

Background and Description

Figure 1 shows the two inside faces of the Clamp Plates A & B. In particular it illustrates the spacer, the anti slip friction strips and the matching locating bolt holes.

Figure 2 shows the outside face of Clamp Plate A, including the configuration of the cleat.

Figure 3 shows the position and inside faces of Clamp Plates A & B ready to be to bolted and clamped in position around a stanchion. It also shows a davit like' Hoist Lifting Arm for illustrative purposes only.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which is removable, which can be used relatively easily and can be economically produced.

This invention relates to a removable clamp device which can support a davit like' lifting arm can be attached, and which can be attached to a fixed vertical pole such as a stanchion, in order to aid the lifting and lowering of a heavy object such as an outboard motor from the deck of a yacht to the transom of a dinghy.

The process of moving an outboard motor from its storage place, which would usually be in a locker or on a mounting bracket of a yacht, down and onto the transom of a dinghy is usually problematic.

Difficulties can be experienced because a outboard motor which can be lifted reasonably easily by hand in a vertical plane, causes many more problems when the lifter has to hold the weight whilst leaning at an angle over the guard rails for example. This is a common procedure when trying to lower an outboard engine down onto the transom of the dinghy below.

Crane like devices are available but because of the forces involved, almost all require some kind of permanent fixing and therefore damage to the integrity of the of the superstructure in some way. Because of their permanent nature cranes are also often difficult to relocate should an object need to be lifted from several different places.

The device is extremely simple to use and cheap to make and sell relative to the cost of the outboard motor itself. The top end of davit like' lifting arm can be attached via a conventional system of blocks or pulleys to a fixed horizontal guardrail or other strong point on deck using a rope or lanyard.

Once the outboard motor is attached to the top end of the davit it can be lowered under gravity down towards the transom of the dinghy. In reverse, depending on the number of pulleys or blocks used and apparent weight reduction gained, the operator can raise the engine up again after use easily and safely.

Under various different circumstances the person who is carrying out the manoeuvre may wish to accomplish it either from the deck or from within the dinghy and therefore a cleat has been located on the clamp at deck height. This means that the ropes within the pulley system used for the lifting or lowering process can be tied off at the cleat and which is equally accessible from the dinghy or the deck of the yacht.

Many people with yachts purchase outboard motors but tend to get less use from them than anticipated simply because moving them is so awkward and difficult. This device is simple to use and cheap relative to the cost of an outboard motor and requires no additional costs which would be associated with a different solution requiring some kind of permanent fixing.

Specifically the device operates as a removable clamp for securing a davit like' lifting arm ( not part of this application) to a vertical pole such as a stanchion on a boat. It comprises two separate vertical plates which can be connected by 2 or more ( particularly in this example 3) fixing bolts preferably of stainless steel. The primary function of the bolts B & C is to enable the plates to be tightened on to the vertical pole such that the clamp is unable to swivel horizontally or move up and down vertically. This is further aided by the two Anti Slip Friction Areas ( Fig 1) located opposite each other on the inside faces of the clamp plates.

The primary function of the Bolt A ( Fig 3)is to provide a pivot and support for a davit like' lifting arm (with a hole through the lower end -not part of this application) in order that it can freely move up and down in a vertical plane in order to aid the lowering and lifting of a heavy object such as an outboard motor.

The fixing bolts B & C, are separated from the davit' support Bolt A, by a fixed Spacer ( Fig 3). The upright pole is therefore secured between the Spacer ( Fig 3) and the fixing bolts B & C ( Fig 3) such that in use the upright pole cannot foul the davit' Hoist Lifting Arm ( Fig 3) hinging and located on Bolt A ( Fig 3).

The Spacer located permanently on Clamp Plate A is located towards the middle of the inside face ( Fig 1) The Spacer ( Fig 1) has a sloping edge to facilitate the flexing of the rear edges towards each other in order to provide a strong grip on the upright pole to which it is being clamped.

The plates may be made from any wood metal or plastic material capable of withstanding the stresses involved.

It will be appreciated that the Clamp Plates A & B can be of any shape consistent with their purpose.

The upper corners of the Clamp Plates are cut away at an angle of degrees, but the angle could be smaller or larger or even rounded. The angle is advantageous because it minimises the Horizontal Surface ( Fig 1) on which rain will tend to accumulate.

All edges involved are smooth to ensure safety in handling.

The edges and sides are coated with a recognised marine coating capable of standing up to the weather The clamp has a single hole towards the front edges of Clamp Plates A & B ( Fig 1) which are aligned with each other.

The item has a two holes vertically above each other towards the rear edges of Clamp Plates A & B ( Fig 1) which are aligned with each other.

The preferred material used to produce Clamp Faces A & B is 25mm marine ply but could be another suitable material capable of withstanding the weather.

Towards the rear inside edges of Clamp Plates A & B there are aligned two Anti Slip Friction Strips ( Fig 1) which serve to further grip on the pole to which it is being clamped.

The single holes towards the forward edges are larger in size than the connecting bolts allowing the rear edges to flex inward providing additional grip when in use onto the stanchion or similar vertical or near vertical pole.

The two holes on each rear edge are larger than the stainless steel bolts allowing the rear edge to flex inwards providing additional grip when in use onto the stanchion or similar vertical or near vertical pole.

The stainless steel Bolt A ( Fig 3) towards the forward edge is secured with a stainless steel nylock because in practice the clamp can be set up and taken down without ever needing to undo it.

The stainless steel Bolts B & C ( Fig 3) towards the rear edges are secured with stainless steel wing nuts because in practice they need to be loosened when the clamp is set up or taken down The Clamp Plate A has a Cleat ( Fig 2) on the outside face.

The upper edge of the Cleat ( Fig 2) protrudes above the upper edge of the outside of Clamp Plate A The lower edge of the Cleat ( Fig 2) is above the rower edge of the outside of Clamp Plate A The Cleat ( Fig 2) can be made from a hard wearing weatherproof hardwood or could also be made from metal or plastic.

The Cleat ( Hg 2) is glued to the outside of Clamp Plate A and further attached through side A and through the Spacer with a stainless steel bolt secured with a nylock.

A removable clampA removable clampA removable clampA removable clamp Figure 1 shows the two inside faces of the Clamp Plates A & 8. In particular it illustrates the spacer, the anti slip friction strips and the matching locating bolt holes, Figure 2 shows the outside face of Clamp Plate A, including the configuration of the cleat.

Figure 3 shows the position and inside faces of Damp Plates A & 8 ready to be to bolted and clamped in position around a stanchon. ft aso shows a davit Uke' Hoist Lfttng Arm for illustrative purposes only.

Claims eckon the Mannouver ring uvering an outboard motor Whereas The upper corners of the EL are cut away at 45 but could be smaller or larger.

The edges are lightly sanded to ensure no rough edges and therefore safety in handling.

The edges and sides are coated with a penetrating epoxy because although The edges and faces are further coated in a 2 pack clear acrylic polyurethane The sides and edges are further coated with an organic single pack varnish One side has a spacer down the middle The spacer has a sloping edge to facilitate the flexing of the rear edges towards each other The item has a single hole towards tte front edge of face A The item has a single hole towards the front edge of face B a The item has 2 holes towards the rear edge of face A The item has 2 holes towards the rear edge of face B The holes at the front are aligned with each other The holes at the front are aligned with each other The material used is was 25mm marine due but could be another suitable material capable of being weather proofed.

The inside forward edge has a thin strip of rubberised nonslip material The inside forward edge has a thin strip of rubberised non slip material The non slip rubberised slips are aligned with each other The single holes on each forward edge are larger in size to the stainless steel bolt allowing the rear edges to flex inward allowing the rear edges to clamp onto a stanchion or similar vertical or near vertical pole.

The two holes on each rear edge are larger than the stainless steel bolts allowing the rear edge to flex inwards.

The bolt at the forward edge is secured with a nylock Ditto stainless steel washers Ditto stainless steel spring washers The bolts at the rear edges are stainless steel secured using a wing nut Ditto stainless steel washers Ditto stainless steel spring washers The edge A has a cleat on the outside face The cleat is glued the the outside facom The upper edge of the cleat protrudes above the edge of the outside of side A The lower edge of the cleat is above the lower edge of the outside of side A The cleat is made from a hard wearing weatherproof hardwood The cleat is constructed from two pieces of equal width The outside section of the cleat is longer than the inner section the outside section is attached to the inner section with a weather proof 2 pack epoxy glue The inner section of the cleat is attached to the outer section of the side A using a weather proof 2 pack epoxy glue The inside section of the cleat has rounded edges so that the rope isn't damaged.

The cleat is further attached through side A and through space bar C with a stainless steel bolt secured with a nylock There is a larger hole on the inside face to allow a nylock nut to be tightened down onto the bolt without protruding above the sloping face of the spacer bar C A stainless steel tube with a hole at one end A stainless steel tube with an eye at the other end A rope passing through the eye with a tail long enough to tie a bowline or similar know Rope capable of supporting a minimum of SOOlbs The other end attached to a double blocy pulley system The other end attached to another double block The other end to a lanyard long enough to tie around a guard rail before Make the changes on memory sUck and save to documents on to a aptop Manual, hand operated devices, for the storage, movement and handling, of outboard motors in the marine leisure industry.

AppIicbliity Does your motor look like this ? Page Thread the cam shackle ( orange in picture) through loop A ( RED sleeve) then through both B & C ( GREEN sleeves)

HARN ESS

Harness Body -Blue 1 0mm Rope RED & GREEN sleeves Lifting Sling -Blue 1 0mm Rope YELLOW sleeves

HOIST

Lifting lanyard -Blue 1 0mm Rope WHITE sleeve Pulley system Blue 8mm Rope BLUE sleeves Guardrail Lanyard WHITE Rope RED sleeves All splices protected by heat shrink sleeves Red y Green y Blue y Yellow y White y

Claims

Claims 1 A removable clamp for attaching to boat stanchions or guard rails or other vertical fixed object, which can be used to support a tdavit like' hoist lifting arm, to aid the vertical handling of heavy objects such as but not restricted to, outboard motors, down from a higher level to a lower level or up from a lower level to a higher level.
2 A removable clamp which is easy to set up and use.
3 A removable clamp which can be economically produced relative to the cost of the object being lifted, for example an outboard motor.
4 A removable clamp which requires no permanent fixings or modification to the superstructure of the boat.A removable clamp where the forward and rear edges can be flexed inwards or outwards 6 A removable clamp which can tightened on to a vertical pole such that the clamp is unable to swivel horizontally or move up and down vertically.7 A removable clamp with anti-slip friction surfaces to prevent any horizontal swing movement.8 A removable clamp which provides a pivot and support for a davit like' lifting arm.9 A removable clamp with an inside spacer, to protect the davit like' hoist arm pivot bolt.A removable clamp with an inside spacer with a sloping edge to facilitate the flexing of the rear edges towards each other in order to provide a strong grip on the upright pole to which it is being clamped.11 A removable clamp which can be used in conjunction with a lifting arm and a conventional system of blocks or pulleys 1 2 A removable clamp with a cleat which is equally accessible either from the deck or from the dinghy.1 3 A removable clamp with a cleat which protrudes above the upper edge of the outside of clamp plates 14 A removable clamp with a cleat where the lower edge is above the lower edge of the outside of the clamp plates 1 5 A removable clamp which is preferably made from marine ply to fit aesthetically with other marine fittings, but which could equally any wood metal or plastic material capable of withstanding the stresses involved.16 A removable clamp shaped as illustrated but it could equally of any shape consistent with their purpose.1 7 A removable clamp where all sides and edges are coated using epoxy products 1 8 A removable clamp where all edges are smooth to ensure no safety in handling.19 A removable clamp where all the fixing bolts are a smaller diameter than the holes they are associated with in order to allow the flexing of the clamp plates to facilitate a firm grip.A removable clamp substantially as described herein 21 A removable clamp substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.