US3505967A - Mastwell - Google Patents

Description

3,505,967 MASTWELL Herbert E. Peterson, 815 W. Northeast Shore Drive, McHenry, Ill. 60050 Filed Nov. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 776,491 Int. Cl. B63b 15/00 US. Cl. 11490 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mastwell that will accommodate a plurality of masts of different cross-sectional configuration. The mastwell is tubular, has a flange at the upper end and is received within the deckwell.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Prior to this invention there were a great variety of sailing vessels rigged with masts and sails of a given noninterchangeable type. As a result of the many classes of sailing craft to satisfy the varying tastes of the sailing public, it has been exceedingly diflicult for sailing boat agencies to stock all of the varieties of sails and masts to satisfy the requirements of the public. The different embodiments of mast sails have not, prior to this invention, been readily adaptable to a given sailing vessel. Normally, the vessel was equipped to receive a specific type of rigging at the time of manufacture and thereafter the sails and mast had to conform with the original manufacturing specifications.

THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the mastwell that enables an owner of a sailing vessel to change mast and sailing gear appendant thereto without making substantial changes in the deck structure of the sailing vessel. 9

Briefly described, the present invention is a mastwell adapted to receive masts of varying cross-sectional configuration, comprised of a socket having superposed tubular members therein of varying cross-sectional configuration. The socket is adapted to snugly receive a plurality of mast configurations without altering the deck structure while retaining the snugness of fit between the mast and the deck socket. The invention will be more clearly understood in view of the description set forth herein below in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sailing craft on which the present invention is normally installed;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a mastwell illustrative of the features of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the mastwell shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a circular type mast that may be used with this invention; and 1 FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the second elliptical type mast that may be utilized with this invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIG- URE 1 shows a sailboat 20 with a hull 22 provided with a mast 12 extending upwardly therefrom. The mast 12 is fitted in a mastwell 14 in hull 22 shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 3.

United States Patent 0 3 505,967 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 See The mastwell 14 is comprised of an outer peripheral flange 16 horizontally flush with the hull 22 of sailboat 20 and an inner tubular member 17 more clearly shown in FIGURE 3. The tubular member 17 has at least two superposed cross-sectional configurations 18 and 18. The inner peripheral tubular portion 17 as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3 is constructed as two separate segments 18 and 19 of different configuration. The circular portion 18 is adapted to receive a circular mast section 12 as shown in FIGURE 4 and the elliptical portion 19 is adapted to receive an elliptical mast portion 512 as shown in FIGURE 5. The mastwell 14 shown in the vertical crosssection of FIGURE 3 is in turn adapted to fit within a deckwell 10 forming a portion of the hull 22 of a ship 20.

The hull 22 may be constructed of fiber glass, plastic, wood, etc. and the well 14 may be of the same materials, however, is preferably made of a more rigid construction such as metal. The mast is generally constructed of wood or plastic and in some instances of a light metal such as aluminum.

The mastwell 14 is inserted Within deckwell 10 as in FIGURE 3. Well 14 is adapted to receive two distinctly different masts 412 and 512, i.e., one of a circular configuration and one of an elliptical configuration. The mast 412 of circular configuration is shown in a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 4 and the mast 512 elliptical configuration is shown in a cross-sectional view in FIGURE 5.

The invention has been described with respect to two distinctly different mast members 412 and 512 fitting within a single mastwell 14. However, other configurations of mast 12 are equally operable in the present invention. The invention is directed to the use of a plurality of different cross-sectional configuration mast members adapted to fit within a single mastwell that can retain and hold the different mast members.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof which are for the purposes of illustrating and not limiting the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A mastwell adapted to be received within a deckwell of a sailing vessel and receive any one of a plurality of mast members, said well comprised of a flange member connected to a tubular member, said tubular member having at least -two superposed cross-sectional configurations and adapted to receive mast members of substantially corresponding cross-sectional configurations.

2. The mastwell of claim 1 wherein configuration of the tubular member of the mast member adapted to fit therein is circular.

3. A mastwell of claim 1 wherein the configuration of the tubular member of the mast member adapted to fit therein is elliptical.

4. A mastwell of claim 1 wherein the flange member of the mastwell is horizontally flush with the deck of a said sailing vessel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,381,647 5/1968 Keeler 114-39X TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner

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