US3554153A

US3554153A - Weight for boat anchor

Info

Publication number: US3554153A
Application number: US767595A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-08-27
Filing date: 1968-08-27
Publication date: 1971-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-12

Abstract

A compact anchor hoist is mounted on the bow of a boat and provides for unique cooperation between an anchor socket, a spring-tensioned shaft and pressure member arranged for extension between spaced-apart support members so that from a remote position the boat anchor can be retrieved and automatically launched to and from an inboard position on the boat.

Description

United States Patent Charles F. Davis Portland Trailer Court 9000 Northeast Union, Portland, Oreg. 97211 767,595 1 l Aug. 27, 1968 Jan. 12, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented WEIGHT FOR BOAT ANCHOR '14 Claims, 21 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 114/210 Int. Cl. 1363b 21/22 Field of Search 114/210 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,071,097 1/ 1963 Dowrelio 114/210 3,074,370 1/1963 Seiger 114/210 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Attorney-John E. Reilly i ABSTRACT: A compact anchor hoist is mounted on the bow of a boat and provides for unique cooperation between an anchor socket, a spring-tensioned shaft and pressure member arranged for extension between spaced-apart support members so that from a remote position the boat anchor can be retrieved and automatically launched to and from an inboard position on the boat.

PATENT'EDJIAN'IZIQYI S 3 554153 I SHEETZVUFS INVENTOR c ar/es F. Dow's .ATTOR Ev mm JANI2I97i m; or 5 INVENTOR.

(nor/es F. Dav/s A ORNEY I "PATENTEflJmwn KHZ - mvsmoa. CHARLES E DAVIS I ATT%EY 1 WEIGHT ron BOAT ANCHOR This invention generally relates tonovel and improved anchor hoists, commonly referred to as anchor davits, and

more particularly relates to an anchor davit to facilitate the retrieval and automatic launching of a boat anchor in a dependable, simplified manner. r I

It is customary to employ anchor davits positioned at some point on the boat deck, usually adjacent to the bow of the boat, to enable launching and retrieval of the boat anchor from some point inwardlyof the bow so as to avoid the difficulties and attendant risks of a person going near the edge of the boat either to withdraw the anchor from the water or to launch it, and devices of this type are especially useful in smaller, pleasure-type boats which generally possess less stability than the Iargercraft. For this'reason, it is highly desirable that the hoist or davit unit occupy a minimum of space and afford optimum leverage to facilitate manual retrieval; and further it be-capableof mounting in such a way as not to present a bulkylobstructionl'on, or' projection from, the boat and will permit retrieval of a boat anchor by swinging over a relatively short radius from an outboard to an inboard position as well as topermit-autornatic launching when the anchor rope is released. 7 y

It is therefore an 'object of the present .inventionto provide fora novel and. improved anchor davit which can be con- I v trolled from a point removed-inwardly of the bow or edge of a FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the davit as illustrated in 1 FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on a plane passing along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on a plane passing along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a plane passing along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view taken on a plane passing along line 8-8 in FIG. 7 with portions broken away.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on a plane passing along 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotatably adjustable mounting shaft and the keeper pin exploded therefrom.

FIG. 11 is a reduced elevational view of the davit with the anchor socket in an intermediate position.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the anchor socket in its inboard or stored position.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on a plane passing along line 13-13 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the keeper pin and tab.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of-an alternate form of davit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. '16 is a top-plan view of the alternate form shown in FIG. 15'.

FIG. I7 is a view partially in section of the alternate form of f davit and illustrating. the 'end limits of movement of the anchor socket.

its inboard stored position'to an' outboard position as a I preliminary to lowering'of an anchor and iscapable of being adjustable for automatic launching of different weight anchors. r f i I It is an additional object of thepresent invention to provide an anchor davit which is highlyefiective and substantially troublefree in use while beingreadily conformable for mounting on any size boat, is further comprised of a minimum number of parts to occupy a minimum space and is capable of launchingand retrieval of an anchor to and from an inboard position by turning of the anchor about a very short radius, and the anchor being oriented during retrieval so .that the flukes are aligned substantially parallel to the boat deck in the stored position. v

In accordance with the present-invention,- alternate forms of an anchor davit may be mounted on the bow of the boat to effect retrieval and automatic release of a boat anchor, and in each form the davit unit-is essentially comprised of an anchor socket which is secured for rotation on a shaft journaled between compact mounting portions, and "spring means is adjustably secured to the ends of the shaft to regulate the tension of the shaft for automatic launching of different weight anchors. The'anchor rope is guided through the anchor davit for upward insertion of the anchor into the anchor socket, and the anchor socket maintains proper alignment of the flukes on the anchor as the socket is caused to rotate about the supporting shaft to advance the anchor to the inboard stored position while building up the desired tension in the spring means. When the anchor is released, the tension force applied by the spring to one or both ends of the shaft is sufficient to advance the anchor from the inboard position to an outboard downwardly depending position where it is free to fall by gravity into the water.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the alternate .forms of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

FIG. I is an elevational view of the bow of a boat illustrating one form of davit of the present invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of one of the housing members fonning a part ofthe alternate form of davit;

FIG. -19 is aside elevational view of the inner side of one of the housing members shown in FIG. 18

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 20-20 of FIG. 15; and 7 FIG. 21 is a front view of the alternate form of davit, in accordance with the present invention.

Now referring in more detail to the drawings, one form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 14, being adaptable for mounting on the deck of a boat. As best seen from FIGS. 1, 3

- and 5, a davit 10 is mounted on the bow 12 of a boat, and ineludes an elongated flat, rectangularbase member 14 fastened to the boat deck by suitable means such as bolts 16. Vertically extending plates or supports 18 are positioned along opposite longitudinal edges of the base 14 and adjacent to the forward edge of the base so as to project slightly beyond the base in 20 in a plurality of rotatable positions with respect to the plate, the shaft is provided with an enlarged turning head 24 at one end and an inwardly extending slot 26 at the opposite end, the latter releasably receiving a keeper pin 28. In turn, the plate or support 18 adjacent the slotted end 26 includes pairs of diametrically opposed slots 30 extending radially from the edge of the aperture together with an enlarged cavity 32 at the inside of each slot 30. To assemble the keeper pin 28 on the shaft 20, the keeper pin is provided with a tab 34 which can be grasped for insertion of the pin through a pair of aligned slots 30 and slots 26 on the end of the shaft until the pin is aligned with the cavities bordering the aligned slots, and then by turning the tab the pin will be advanced into the cavity so as to prevent its accidental withdrawal through the slots 30. As shown in FIG. 14, the keeper pin 28 may be formed with a reduced central portion 29 and the tab 34', being of nylon or plastic, may suitably include a tubular portion 35 of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the reduced central portion 29 and capable of being expanded slightly for positioning on the central portion 29. In addition, an undercut portion 36 is formed within the sidewalls of the slot 26 to permit limited twisting of the keeper pin 28 relative to slot 26.

In order to guide and align the anchor for movement between the outboard and inboard positions, an anchor socket 38 is mounted for rotation on the shaft 20. The rear end 40 of the socket is reduced in width and provided with an aperture 42 for transverse insertion of the shaft therethrough. As seen from FIG. 5, the anchor socket 38 includes a forwardly opening chamber 44 at one sidewall of the socket which terminates at its entrance in an outwardly curved lower lip 46 with the opposite sidewall provided with a longitudinally extending, upper grooved portion 48, the reduced upper groove portion 38 converging rearwardly and cooperating with the chamber 44 for the reception of the anchor shank in a manner to be hereinafter described. In order to provide for the passage of the anchor rope 50 through the socket, a rope opening 52 is formed through the upper closed portion of the socket and communicates with the rear of the chamber 44, the edges 54 of the opening being outwardly curved to minimize fraying or wearing of the rope 50.

A pressure arm 56 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 20 with the inner end of the arm 56 including a pair of spaced lugs 58 for insertion of the shaft 20 and flanking opposite sides of the inner end 40 of the socket 38 so as to permit rotational movement of the pressure arm 56 in the same plane as the anchor socket 38. In turn, the outer free end of the pressure arm 56 is provided with a rotatably mounted roller guide 60, and the anchor rope 50 extends over the guide 60 and rearwardly between a stationary roller guide 62 which is mounted at the rearward extremity of the base 14.

Referring to FIG. 10, it will be observed that the slot 26 further includes an inner reduced extension 66 for reception of the inner end 70 of a coiled spring biasing element 72. The spring is coiled about the shaft 20 with the outer end of the spring engaging a stub 74 rigidly affixed to and projecting outwardly from the side of the pressure arm 56, and the spring is oriented to urge the pressure arm from an inboard position parallel to the boat to an outboard position substantially past a plane perpendicular to the plane of the boat deck. A stop 76 is rigidly affixed to the adjoining support 18 so as to engage the stub 74 and limit the outward movement of the pressure arm 56. In order to regulate the tension exerted by the spring on the shaft, the shaft may be turned or rotated in a direction winding up the spring to increase its spring tension prior to insertion of the keeper pin into assembled relation wllfi the slot 26 and aligned slots on the mounting plate.

In use, when the anchor is to be withdrawn from an outboard to an inboard position, the inner end of the anchor rope is pulled to raise the anchor until the anchor shank is introduced into the socket chamber 44, and the continued pulling on the rope will cause the entire socket to be rotated upwardly with the inserted anchor until contact is made with the pressure arm 56. Further retraction of the rope 60 serves to effect a rearward rotation both of the socket 38 and pressure arm 56 against the force of the spring 72 thus enabling a slow and controlled rearward rotation of the anchor into a position parallel with the bae 14, and at which time the rope 50 may be tied down to maintain the anchor and davit in the retracted position. It will be noted that the portion 48 of the socket serves to align the anchor flukes parallel to the boat deck, since the flukes upon rotation of the socket past the perpendicular will tend to assume a horizontal orientation as the anchor shaft enters the reduced portion 48. If desired, a pad 80 of rubber or rubberlike material may be attached to the base 14 rearwardly of the mounting plates to support the anchor in its inboard position and minimize any noise or vibration of the anchor flukes.

In order to lower the anchor, the anchor rope 50 is untied and released whereupon the spring 70 is operative to urge both the pressure arm 56 and the anchor socket 33 forwardly until the pressure arm contacts the stop 76, the anchor and anchor socket 38 at this point continuing the outboard movement under the influence of gravity.

In the alternate form of invention shown in FIGS. 15 to 21, the anchor davit is made up of a base plate 88 which is similarly attached to the boat deck preferably adjacent to the bow of the boat, and upstanding

shallow housings

82 and 83 are mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another along the opposite longitudinal edges of the base and toward the forward edge thereof. Each housing is correspondingly provided with inner and outer spaced

vertical plates

84 and 85 with a bottom interconnecting strip 86 affixed by suitable bolt members 86 to the base plate. In addition, the inner and outer spaced

plates

84 and 85 of each housing are joined by a front vertical connecting strip 87, the latter verging into an upper curved connecting portion 88 and a rearward, downwardly inclined portion 89 which terminates at the base of each housing. In this form it will be noted that the front vertical edge section 87 is flush with the forward edge of the base plate and with the edge of the boat 50 as not to overhand or project beyond the end.

A supporting shaft 92 is journaled at opposite ends and centrally wheel

apertures

93 and 94 provided in the

housings

82 and 83 respectively. In order to adjustably position the shaft with respect to the housings, a ratchet wheel 96 has an inwardly projecting stub shaft 97 afiixed to one end of the shaft. the ratchet teeth along the outer peripheral surface of the wheel being engaged by a keeper in the form of a latch or dog 98 pivotally connected to the outer plate of the housing member 83 in spaced relation forwardly and slightly above the wheel with a lower catch element 99 at its free end which, as shown in FIG. 15, is movable downwardly into intermeshing engagement with one of the teeth on the ratchet wheel 96 to lock the wheel against rotation in the counterclockwise direction.

A spring biasing element 100 is enclosed within each

housing

82 and 83 and has an inner end 10] inserted in a slot 102 at each respective end of the shaft 92; and in turn the outer end 104 of the spring biasing element is folded over and behind an end of a movable roller bearing 105. In a manner to be described the roller bearing serves as a guide for the anchor rope as well as to control the spring tension as the anchor socket and anchor are withdrawn from the outboard to inboard position, and to this end the roller bearing has opposite ends inserted in arcuate slots 106, the slots being formed in the upper peripheral edge surfaces of the inner plates 85 so as to permit free translatory movement of the roller hearing from the forward and upper curved edge of the housing rearwardly through substantially 180 to a lower position adjacent to the base. It will be noted from FIG. 17 that the arcuate slots form arcs about the axis of the supporting shaft 92 so that the movable roller bearing will clear and be movable past a stationary roller bearing 108 which extends transversely between the lower, rear edges of the housing members. Each of the

roller bearings

105 and 108 is freely rotatable about its own axis so that an anchor rope can be easily payed in and out in effecting the launching and retrieval of the anchor.

In the alternate form, an anchor socket 110 is of relatively flat, open construction having opposed, inwardly facing longitudinally extending channel members 112 which are interconnected at their lower ends by an upper cross brace 113 of limited width and a lower relatively broad connecting plate 114. The brace member 113 is provided with an intermediate raised portion 115 which serves to align or to orient the anchor in the manner described with reference to the guide portion 48 in the first form of invention. In turn, the lower connecting plate includes a rope guide 116 formed centrally of its inner terminal end by upwardly curved sides 117, the latter being formed by bending portions of the connecting plate upwardly and inwardly toward one another from opposite sides of the plate. Opposite ends of the channel members 112 are interconnected by a generally U-shaped yoke 118 which is similarly provided with a centrally located rope guide opening 119 and in cooperation-withthe guide 116 permits upward rearwardexten sion of the anchor rope through the anchor socket, over the'guide roller'l and beneath the sta tionary roller 'l08,*as' best seen fromjFI'G. 17. The anchor socket 110 is rotatably mounted'on the shaft 92 by a rearwardly directed tongue 122 whichterminates ina transverse sleeve 124 surrounding the central part of the shaft and is freely rotatable" about the shaft while the shaft is held infixed relation by the'keeper 98; Further it will be seen that the tongue 122 is directed downwardly at a slight angle away from the longitudinal-axis of the anchor socket sothat in the extended outboard position the 'socketi's' directed downwardly more nearly in a'vertical'direction without necessity of mounting the supporting shaft 92' and housing members. in overhanging relation' to the edge of the'boat and alsoto afi'ord better leverage in withdrawing the anchor v socketand'anchor'rearwardly to the-inbtr dP iti n.

In operationyit will beobserved'that the anchor rope will spring elements-100', since-the inner ends of the springs are a held in fixed relation on the' shaft-QZ 'by the 'keeper 98 and ratchet wlieelt flfi ln other 'wordsas shown inFlGl 1a the p g l ment- 190baltorque spring which is wound outwardly in 'a clockwise' direction-about the shaft so that 'rearward movement ofthe outer end of the springs under the urgingot the'roller bearing-will develop increased tension in the springs asthey yieldingly resist the rotation of thef'anchor socket position. Again the *anchorbolt may be secured or tied to retainthe anchor-socket and anchor in the inactive, inboard position.v Subsequently; to weigh anchor; the rope is releasedEand the tension buildupin-the In the alternate formit-will ,be observed that the shaft and roller guide membersliave opposite ends encased or enclosed within the housing members 8 2and 83 and the spring elementslflt) are:fullyencased:within the shells'so as to be fully protectedflagainst foreign elements; 'if des ire'd,'the housing members 82 and 83ymay be composedof a clear durable plastic material arid serve as'covers for boat lights which for While alternate forms of the invention have been herein set forth anddescribed, it is to be understood that various modif cations and changes maybe made in the construction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. r

I claim:

1. An anchor davit for effecting the retrieval and automatic release of an anchor into and from in inboard position on a boat deck adjacent to an edge of the boat, comprising:

a pair of upright support members mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another on the boat deck;

a supporting shafl arranged for horizontal extension between said support members in spaced relation above the boatdeck; V

anchor rope guide means being supported for horizontal extension between said support members; 21

an anchorsocket disposed for rotation about said shaft for movement between an outboard position depending downwardly and outwardly away-from said shaft and an inboard position extending inwardly from said shaft through an angle of rotation greater than 180;

I 7 said anchor'including an anchor line extending through said socket and, said rope, guide means for rearward extension toa control point inwardly of said davit; and

biasing means including apressure-rmember engageable with said anchor socket beginningwhen said anchor socket reaches an intermediate position projecting upwardly and outwardly-awayfrom said shah at an angle inclined slightly outwardly from a vertical line through the shaft to move against thepressure member over a limited path of travel approaching the inboard position of the anchor socket between its inboard andoutboard positions with said anchor: socket having tree' travel. between said outboard and intermediate positions; said biasing means being operative to yieldingly resist. movement of said anchor socket in a rearward direction while storing up tension in a direction to urge said socket forwardly i toward the outboard position upon releasing said anchor control lines.

2. Ari anchor davit according to claim 1 said support members each being in the form of a housing; and biasing means being disposed in at leastone of said housings with the inner v end of said biasing means secured to said supporting shaft, the opposite ends of said shah being joumaled in central apertures provided in each of said housings, and-means releasably engaging one end-of said shaft to fix said shaft against rotation with respect to said housings;

example may be positioned on the base-plate somewhat forwardly of and below'the' spring elements. Practical advantages and features of the alternate form of davit disclosedare that the spring force necessary to automatically launch'the anchor can be developedover a relatively short movement so that the r anchor socket can freely rotate upwardly and not move into engagement with the pressure element for the spring until it reaches a substantially vertical position, and the spring eleticularly in the alternate forms shown in FIGS; 15 to 21 spring tension may be readily adjustedby releasing the keeper and winding the inner end of the spring is a counterclockwise direction until the desired pressure is established. In this connection, it is-is desired to release all spring tension on the anchor in the stored position, the keeperv pin may be released from the ratchet wheel toperrnit the springs to unwind and remove all tension from the pressure guide 105,

3. An anchor davit for effecting the retrieval and automatic release of an anchor into and from an inboard position on a boat deck adjacent to an edge of the boat, comprising:

' a pair of upright support members mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another on the boat deck;

a supporting shaft arranged for horizontal extension between said support members in spaced relation above the boat deck;

anchor rope guide means being supported for horizontal extension between said support means; an anchor-socket disposed for rotation about said shah for movement between an outboard position depending downwardly and outwardly away from said shaft and an inboard position extending inwardly from said shaft; said anchor including an anchor line extending through said socket and said rope guide means for rearward extension to a control point inwardly of said davit; biasing means including a pressure member engageable with said anchor socket over a limited path of travel of the anchor socket between its inboard and outboard positions, said biasing means being operative to yieldingly resist "movement "of said anchor socket in a rearward directionwhile storing up tension in a direction to urge said socket forwardly toward the outboard position upon releasing said anchor control lines;

said support members each being in the form of a housing, and biasing means being disposed in at least one of said housings with the inner end of said biasing means secured to said supporting shaft, the opposite ends of said shaft being journaled in central apertures provided in each of said housings, and means releasably engaging one end of said shaft to fix said shaft against rotation with respect to said housings, and

said pressure member being in the form of a transverse bearing member having opposite ends disposed in arcuate slots formed in each of said housings to guide the movement of said pressure member as said anchor socket is advanced between the inboard and outboard positions.

4. An anchor david according to claim 3, said biasing means being provided in each of said housings, each of said biasing means being defined by a torque spring extending spirally between one end of said shaft and an end of said pressure member in each of said housings.

5. An anchor davit according to claim 4 wherein said releasable control means for fixing said shaft against rotation is defined by a ratchet wheel at one end of said shaft and a pivotal keeper connected to one of said housings for movement into engagement with said ratchet wheel to lock said shaft against rotation in a direction tending to release the tension of said biasing means.

6. An anchor davit according to claim 2, further including a common base plate fastened to the boat deck, and each of said housing members having inner and outer sidewall portions joined in spaced parallel relation to one another, each of said housing portions having a front substantially vertical peripheral edge and an upper peripheral edge curving rearwardly and downwardly away from the upper extremity of said front vertical edge.

7. An anchor davit according to claim 6, in which the inner sidewalls of each of said housings are provided with aligned arcuate slots formed adjacent the upper peripheral edges of said housings in a circular path about said supporting shaft, and said pressure member having opposite ends guided for movement through said arcuate slots.

8. An anchor davit according to claim 7, said guide slots being operative to determine the forward and rearward end limits of movement of said pressure member.

9. An anchor davit according to claim 1, said anchor socket including an open ended socket portion at its outer free end and an inner connecting end freely rotatable on said supporting shaft, said inner connecting end being inclined at an angle downwardly and away from the longitudinal axis of said socket portion when said socket portion is in its outboard position.

10. An anchor davit for effecting retrieval and automatic launching of a boat anchor from the bow of a boat, said davit comprising:

a base plate mounted on the deck of the boat and a pair of upright support members mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another along opposite longitudinal edges of said base plate and normal to the edge of the boat;

a supporting shaft extending horizontally between said support members in spaced relation above the boat deck with opposite ends of said shaft joumaled in central apertures provided in said support members;

means on one of said support members being releasably engageable with one end of said shaft to fix said shaft in a plurality of rotationally adjusted positions;

an anchor socket being freely rotatable on said shaft for movement from an outboard position depending outwardly and downwardly away from said shaft and an inboard position extending inwardly from said shaft substantially parallel to the boat deck through an angle of rotation greater than 180; and

inclined slightly outwardly from a vertical line through the shaft to move against the pressure member over a limited path of travel approaching the inboard position of the socket between the inboard and outboard positions. and at least one torque spring having its inner end secured to said shaft and its outer end secured to said pressure member to yieldingly resist movement of said anchor socket in the rearward direction while storing tension to urge said socket forwardly toward the outboard position with said anchor socket having free travel between said outboard and intermediate positions.

11. An anchor davit according to claim 10, said shaft con trol means being releasable to permit rotation of said shaft to vary the tension in said spring.

12. An anchor davit for effecting retrieval and automatic launching of a boat anchor from the bow of a boat, said davit comprising:

an anchor socket being freely rotatable on said shaft for movement from an outboard position depending outwardly and downwardly away from said shaft and an inboard position extending inwardly from said shaft substantially parallel to the boat deck;

resilient biasing means including a pressure member engageable with said socket over a limited path of travel between the inboard and outboard positions, and at least one torque spring having its inner end secured to said shaft and its outer end secured to said pressure member to yieldingly resist movement of said anchor socket in the rearward direction while storing tension to urge said socket forwardly toward the outboard position;

said shaft control means being releasable to permit rotation of said shaft to very the tension in said spring; and

said shaft control means consisting of a slot through one end of said shaft, a keeper pin insertable within said slot with the ends of said pin extending transversely beyond the shaft, and at least one pair of diametrically opposed slots communicating with the support aperture of said shaft adjacent the slotted end of the shaft, said slots being of a size to receive the transversely extending ends of the pin, said pair of slots communicating with a pair of laterally en larged interior cavities and the ends of said pin being oriented within the enlarged cavities to releasably fix said shaft against rotation.

13. An anchor davit according to claim 10, said shaft control means being defined by a ratchet wheel fixed to one end of said shaft, and a latch member pivotal on one of said support members for releasable locking engagement with said ratchet wheel.

14. An anchor davit according to claim 1 wherein said pressure member has a rope guide portion disposed above the socket in the outboard position and movable with the pressure member to a location under the socket in the inboard position.

Claims

1. An anchor davit for effecting the retrieval and automatic release of an anchor into and from in inboard position on a boat deck adjacent to an edge of the boat, comprising: a pair of upright support members mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another on the boat deck; a supporting shaft arranged for horizontal extension between said support members in spaced relation above the boat deck; anchor rope guide means being supported for horizontal extension between said support members; an anchor socket disposed for rotation about said shaft for movement between an outboard position depending downwardly and outwardly away from said shaft and an inboard position extending inwardly from said shaft through an angle of rotation greater than 180*; said anchor including an anchor line extending through said socket and said rope guide means for rearward extension to a control point inwardly of said davit; and biasing means including a pressure member engageable with said anchor socket beginning when said anchor socket reaches an intermediate position projecting upwardly and outwardly away from said shaft at an angle inclined slightly outwardly from a vertical line through the shaft to move against the pressure member over a limited path of travel approaching the inboard position of the anchor socket between its inboard and outboard positions with said anchor socket having free travel between said outboard and intermediate positions, said biasing means being operative to yieldingly resist movement of said anchor socket in a rearward direction while storing up tension in a direction to urge said socket forwardly toward the outboard position upon releasing said anchor control lines.

2. An anchor davit according to claim 1, said support members each being in the form of a housing, and biasing Means being disposed in at least one of said housings with the inner end of said biasing means secured to said supporting shaft, the opposite ends of said shaft being journaled in central apertures provided in each of said housings, and means releasably engaging one end of said shaft to fix said shaft against rotation with respect to said housings.

3. An anchor davit for effecting the retrieval and automatic release of an anchor into and from an inboard position on a boat deck adjacent to an edge of the boat, comprising: a pair of upright support members mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another on the boat deck; a supporting shaft arranged for horizontal extension between said support members in spaced relation above the boat deck; anchor rope guide means being supported for horizontal extension between said support means; an anchor socket disposed for rotation about said shaft for movement between an outboard position depending downwardly and outwardly away from said shaft and an inboard position extending inwardly from said shaft; said anchor including an anchor line extending through said socket and said rope guide means for rearward extension to a control point inwardly of said davit; biasing means including a pressure member engageable with said anchor socket over a limited path of travel of the anchor socket between its inboard and outboard positions, said biasing means being operative to yieldingly resist movement of said anchor socket in a rearward direction while storing up tension in a direction to urge said socket forwardly toward the outboard position upon releasing said anchor control lines; said support members each being in the form of a housing, and biasing means being disposed in at least one of said housings with the inner end of said biasing means secured to said supporting shaft, the opposite ends of said shaft being journaled in central apertures provided in each of said housings, and means releasably engaging one end of said shaft to fix said shaft against rotation with respect to said housings, and said pressure member being in the form of a transverse bearing member having opposite ends disposed in arcuate slots formed in each of said housings to guide the movement of said pressure member as said anchor socket is advanced between the inboard and outboard positions.

10. An anchor davit for effecting retrieval and automatic launching of a boat anchor from the bow of a boat, said davit comprising: a base plate mounted on the deck of the boat and a pair of upright support members mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another along opposite longitudinal edges of said base plate and normal to the edge of the boat; a supporting shaft extending horizontally between said support members in spaced relation above the boat deck with opposite ends of said shaft journaled in central apertures provided in said support members; means on one of said support members being releasably engageable with one end of said shaft to fix said shaft in a plurality of rotationally adjusted positions; an anchor socket being freely rotatable on said shaft for movement from an outboard position depending outwardly and downwardly away from said shaft and an inboard position extending inwardly from said shaft substantially parallel to the boat deck through an angle of rotation greater than 180*; and resilient biasing means including a pressure member engageable with said socket beginning when said anchor socket reaches an intermediate position projecting upwardly and outwardly away from said shaft at an angle inclined slightly outwardly from a vertical line through the shaft to move against the pressure member over a limited path of travel approaching the inboard position of the socket between the inboard and outboard positions, and at least one torque spring having its inner end secured to said shaft and its outer end secured to said pressure member to yieldingly resist movement of said anchor socket in the rearward direction while storing tension to urge said socket forwardly toward the outboard position with said anchor socket having free travel between said outboard and intermediate positions.

11. An anchor davit according to claim 10, said shaft control means being releasable to permit rotation of said shaft to vary the tension in said spring.

12. An anchor davit for effecting retrieval and automatic launching of a boat anchor from the bow of a boat, said davit comprising: a base plate mounted on the deck of the boat and a pair of upright support members mounted in spaced parallel relation to one another along opposite longitudinal edges of said base plate and normal to the edge of the boat; a supporting shaft extending horizontally between said support members in spaced relation above the boat deck with opposite ends of said shaft journaled in central apertures provided in said support members; means on one of said support members being releasably engageable with one end of said shaft to fix said shaft in a plurality of rotationally adjusted positions; an anchor socket being freely rotatable on said shaft for movement from an outboard position depending outwardly and downwardly away from said shaft and an inboard position extending inwardly from said shaft substantially parallel to the boat deck; resilient biasing means including a pressure member engageable with said socket over a limited path of travel between the inboard and outboard positions, and at least one torque spring having its inner end secured to said shaft and its outer end secured to said pressure member to yieldingly resist movement of said anchor socket in the rearward direction while storing tension to urge said socket forwardly toward the outboard position; said shaft control means being releasable to permit rotation of said shaft to very the tension in said spring; and said shaft control means consisting of a slot through one end of said shaft, a keeper pin insertable within said slot with the ends of said piN extending transversely beyond the shaft, and at least one pair of diametrically opposed slots communicating with the support aperture of said shaft adjacent the slotted end of the shaft, said slots being of a size to receive the transversely extending ends of the pin, said pair of slots communicating with a pair of laterally enlarged interior cavities and the ends of said pin being oriented within the enlarged cavities to releasably fix said shaft against rotation.