US3774781A

US3774781A - Mast hoist

Info

Publication number: US3774781A
Application number: US00257577A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Merkley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-05-30
Filing date: 1972-05-30
Publication date: 1973-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-27

Abstract

Apparatus for swinging a pole, such as a mast for a boat, between horizontal and upright positions, and for raising and lowering the pole while in its upright position. The apparatus includes a mount, an elongated support arm connected to the mount for vertical swinging, and a shorter operating arm connected to the mount above the support for vertical swinging. An elongated guide is pivotally connected to the opposite set of ends of the operating arm and support in such manner that when the support and operating arm are swung vertically the guide is swung between horizontal and upright positions. A securing member for holding a pole parallel to the guide is mounted for movement longitudinally along the guide. A line, secured at one of its ends to the securing means, is trained over a pulley on the support, and extends in a reach above the support to a winch on the mount. With the guide in its horizontal position, taking up of the line draws the securing means to a stop position where it can move no farther along the guide. Further taking up the line swings the support, operating arm, and guide to their raised positions. Holding means is provided for securing these members in their raised positions. Paying out of line from the winch then permits the securing means and pole to move downwardly along the guide.

Description

United States Patent Merkley MAST HOIST.

Inventor: V Darrell P. Merkley, 13621 SE. Mill Street, Portland, Oreg. 97233 Filed: May 30, 1972 Appl. No.2 257,577

Primary Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney-John W. Stuart ABSTRACT Apparatus for swinging a pole, such as a mast for a [45] Nov. 27, 1973 boat, between horizontal and upright positions, and for raising and lowering the pole while in its upright position. The apparatus includes a mount, an elongated support arm connected to the mount for vertical swinging, and a shorter operating arm connected to the mount above the support for vertical swinging. An elongated guide is pivotally connected to the opposite set of ends of the operating arm and support in such manner that when the support and operating arm are swung vertically the guide is swung between horizontal and upright positions. A securing member for holding a pole parallel to the guide is mounted for movement longitudinally along the guide. A line, secured at one of its ends to the securing means, is trained over a pulley on the support, and extends in a reach above the support to a winch on the mount. With the guide in its horizontal position, taking up of the line draws the securing means to a stop position where it can move no farther along the guide. Further taking up the line swings the support, operating arm, and guide to their raised positions. Holding means is provided for securing these members in their raised positions. Paying out of line from the winch then permits the securing means and pole to move downwardly along the guide.

17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MAST norsr This invention relates to apparatus for swinging an elongated pole, such as a mast for a boat, between horizontal and upright positions and for shifting the same vertically when in an upright position.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION to as stepping the mast. The masts on such boats may be of such size that they require several men to handle them if they must be stepped manually.

A general object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus for rapidly and easily stepping the mast of a sailboat.

Another object is to provide novel apparatus which is operable to support and swing an elongated pole,

such as a mast, between horizontal and upright positions and when in its upright position to raise or lower the same.

More specifically, an object is to provide such novel apparatus for raising or lowering the pole which includes a mount, a pair of nonparallel arms of different lengths pivotally connected at one set of their ends to the mount, and pivotally connected at another set of theirends to an elongated guide. A securing member, which is slidable longitudinally along the guide, is operable to secure a pole'in a selected orientation relative to the guide. An abutment on the securing member prevents movement of the securing member beyond a preselected point in one direction along the guide. A flexible line is secured at one of its ends to the securing member, extends over training means adjacent the outer end of the support, and extends in a reach above the support to a line take-up means on the mount. With the arms and guide in lowered positions, the guide is substantially horizontal. The take-up means may be operated to tense the line which, with the abutment stopping movement of the securing member along the guide, raises the arms and guide. As they are raised, the guide and a pole secured thereto are swung to upright positions. When they reach their upright positions, holding means may be operated to lock the arms and guide in their raised and upright positions. Paying out of the line from the take-up means then permits the securing means and pole held thereby'to lower along the uide. g The invention is described herein as used to step a mast for a boat. It should be understood, however, that it may be used with any object which it is desired to swing between horizontal and upright positions and thereafter shifted vertically, such as may be required in the setting of utility poles, or other such objects.

DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevation view of the forward end of a boat and trailer with apparatus according to the invention mounted on the trailer and in a raised, operative position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, somewhat similar to FIG. 1, with the apparatus in a lowered position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view, with portions broken away, of a modified form of interconnection between an operating arm and support column in the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and first more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, at 10 is indicated generally a wheel-supported boat trailer 10. A sailboat 12 is sup ported on the trailer. In the broken-away portion of FIG. 1, are illustrated a mounting socket 14 secured within the boat for receiving the butt end of a mast 16 and a collar 18 spaced above the socket which supports a midportion of the mast which extends therethrough.

At 22 is indicated generally apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus includes an upright support column, or mounting, 24 secured to and extending upwardly from the trailer. Guy wires, such as that indicated generally at 26, provide lateral support for the column. The upper endof the column hasa U-shaped yoke thereon adapted to receive and supporta portion of mast 16 when the same is carried horizontally, as illustrated in FIG. 2. I

An elongated arm, or support, 34 is pivotally con nected at 36 to a midregion of column 24. The pivot connection provides an axis about whicharm'34 may be swung vertically between a lowered position, as shown in FIG. 2, and a raised position, as shown in FIG.

Another elongated arm 40, also referred to herein as an operating arm, is pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to column 24 at 42, in a region spaced a dis-' tance above pivot connection 36. Pivot connection 41 permits vertical swinging of arm about a substantially horizontal axis between a lowered position, shown in FIG. 2, and a raised'position, shown in FIG.

A pair of elongated

spaced plates

42, 44 are secured, as by welding, to the opposite, or outer, end of M34 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). A portion ofan' elongated guide member 48 is interposed between

plates

42, 44 and is pivotally connected thereto by a pin 50 adjacent one end of guide 48. As is best seen in FIG. 4, guide 48 includes a pair of opposed, laterally'projecting flanges 48a, 48b which extend longitudinally of the member. The forward longitudinal side of member 48 forms a ridge 48c and has sides which diverge on progressing rearwardly therefrom toward flanges 48a, 48b.

The outer end of arm 40 is pivotally connected, through a pin 54, adjacent the opposite end of guide 48.

Pivots

50, 54 provide substantially horizontal axes about which guide member 48 may be swung during operation. The distance between the pivot connections provided by

pivot pins

50, 54 is less than the distance between

pivot connections

36, 41 at the opposite end of

arms

34, 40 and thus

arms

34, 40 are disposed generally in nonparallel relationship to each other.

An elongated member is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally along guide 48. As is best seen in FIG. 4, where member 60 is illustrated in cross section, it includes a pair of diverging legs 60a, 60b which conform to forward ridge 480 of the guide member. Further, member 60 includes a pair of inwardly turned flanges 60c, 60d extending longitudinally of member 60, which wrap around flanges 48a, 48b to slidably hold the member 60 thereon.

A pair of opposed clarnp members 64, 66 are hingedly connected at one set of their ends, at 68, 70, respectively, adjacent one end of member 60. The clamp members are formed to fit snugly about opposite sides of mast 16, as shown in FIG. 4. The forwardmost ends of clamp members 64, 66 are notched to receive an eye-bolt 72 which is swingably connected to clamp member 66 through a pivot pin 74. A net 76 is screwed onto the opposite end of the eye-bolt to tightly clamp members 64, 66 against opposite sides of the mast. The clamping members, eye-bolt, and nut act as securing means for holding the mast substantially parallel to guide member 48. Member 60, in turn, mounts the mast for sliding movement longitudinally along the guide member.

A winch 80, also referred to herein as line take-up means, is secured on column 24 between

pivot connections

36, 41. An elongated, flexible line 84 extends outwardly in a reach from the winch above arm 34. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pulley 86, also referred to herein as training means, is joumaled between

plates

42, 44. Line 84 is trained over pulley 86 and its end, as seen in FIG. 3, is secured to a plate 88 secured to one end of member 60 adjacent clamp members 64, 66.

Operation of winch 80 with the apparatus in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to take up line 84 is operable to raise member 60 and mast 16 until plate 88 comes into abutting contact with the lower end of guide 48. Plate 88 thus acts as a stop means to limit the movement of slide member 60 longitudinally along guide 48. Conversely, paying out of line from the winch allows member 60 and the mast to lower by gravity.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an elongated cable 90 is secured at one of its ends to guide 48. The end of cable 90 may be secured to arm 34 adjacent its outer end instead of to guide 48, in certain applications of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a modified mounting for the end of arm 40 on column 24 is illustrated. Column 24 includes a pair of upright, elongated laterally spaced members 24a, 24b. In FIG. 5, a portion of plate 24a, near the viewer in the figure, has been broken away to show such, modified mounting for the end of arm 40.

A shaft 100 is journaled adjacent its opposite ends in, and extends horizontally between, plates 24a, 2412. A spur gear 102 is secured on shaft 100 for rotation therewith. An elongated rack gear 104 is secured to and extends in a direction longitudinally of arm 40. The teeth on

gears

102, 104 are positioned in mating operative contact. A mounting bracket 106 for holding

gears

102, 104 in operative engagement during operation includes a pair of mounting plates, such as that indicated generally at 108 disposed on opposite sides of

gears

102, 104, and journaled for rotation-about shaft 100. A hold-down plate 110 closely overlies the upper surface of rack gear 104 with the rack gear being slidable thereunder. Opposite edge margins of plate 1 are secured to mounting plates 108 on opposite sides of the gears and serves to hold the rack gear in engagement with the spur gear. With such mounting arm 40, rack gear 104, spur gear 102, and bracket 106 all are pivotally mounted for rotation about the center of shaft 100.

A crank arm (not shown) is secured to shaft 100 for rotating the spur gear to effect adjustable movement of rack gear 104 and arm 40 longitudinally of the arm. A pair of spring-biased locking dogs 112 releasably engage the teeth of the spur gear to lock the spur gear and rack gear in a selected adjusted position.

With such rack and pinion adjustment provided for arm 40, the operating length of the arm may be adjusted as required to produce proper positioning of the guide member and mast. Explaining further, operation of spur gear 102 to move rack gear 104 and arm 40 iongitudinally of the arm changes the distance between the pivots connecting opposite ends of arm 40 with support column 24 and guide member 48. With such, the operating length of arm 40 being variable, the guide member may be caused to swing from its horizontal to its vertical position at different degrees of raising of support arm 34, dependent upon the selected adjusted operating length for arm 40.

The operation of the apparatus will now be explained, beginning with the apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 2, with

arms

34, 40 lowered; guide 48,

' slide member 60, and mast 16 substantially horizontal,

with a portion of the mast resting in yoke 30; and plate 88 on member 60 abutting the end of guide 48. To raise the mast and swing it to an upright position, winch is operated to take up line 84. As line 84 is taken up, plate 88 abutting guide 48 prevents movement of member 60 longitudinally along the guide and the cable and winch act to swing

arms

34, 40 upwardly through the position shown in dashed outline in FIG. 2 to their raised positions shown in FIG. 1. As the arms are swung toward their raised positions, guide 48, member 60 and mast 16 are swung through the positions shown in dotdashed outline in FIG. 2 to their upright positions shown in FIG. 1. When the apparatus initially reaches the position shown in FIG. ll, member 60 and clamp members '64, 66 are in the generally raised positions shown in dashed outline in FIGS. 1 and 3 at 60A, 66A. In this position, the butt end of the mast, if properly clamped in the clamping member, should be above collar 18. While the winch holds the members in the positions shown in FIG. 1, cable 90 and chain 92 are drawn taut and hooked onto hook 94 to hold

arms

34, 40 in their raised positions.

Line 84 then may be payed out from winch 80, with member 60 and the mast held thereon being lowered by gravity and the butt end of the mast lowering through collar 18 and into socket 14. Once the mast is fully set in its mount, bolt 76 may be unscrewed and the clamping members released from the mast.

Operation of the apparatus to remove the mast from the boat is merely the reverse of that just explained. Clamping members 64, are clamped onto the mast as shown in FIG. 1 and winch 1 is operated to take up line until plate 88 comes into abutting contact with the bottom end of guide 48 to stop raising of the mast relative to the guide. The winch may be operated furthe! to raise the arms slightly to take the tension off cable 90 and chain 92. Chain 92 then is unhooked from hook 94 and line 84 is payed out from winch 80 to lower the apparatus to the position shown in FIG. 2 once again, with the mast lying horizontally and supported partially in yoke 30.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent: 1. Apparatus for supporting and swinging a pole between substantially horizontal' and upright positions and for shifting the same vertically while in an upright position; comprising i a mounting, an elongated support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting for swinging vertically relative to the mounting about a substantially horizontal axis,

an elongated guide pivotally connected adjacent the other end of said support for vertical movement with said support and for swinging relative to said support between substantially horizontal and upright positions,

securing means for holding a pole substantially parallel to said guide,

means mounting said securing means on said guide for movement longitudinally along the guide,

stop means operable to limit movement of the securing means in one direction along the guide, operating means operatively connected to said securing means operable to produce vertical swinging of said support and to produce movement of the securing means vertically along the guide when said guide is in its upright position including an elongated, flexible line connected adjacent one of its ends to said means mounting the securing means, training means adjacent said other end of the support training said line thereover with a portion of said line extending in a reach from said training means above said support, and take-up means for taking up said reach of line, and

means for holding said support in a selected raised position and said guidein an upright position, with said take-up means being operable ,to pay out line to lower said securing means along said guide when the support and guide are so held.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises means operatively connected to said guide for swinging the same betweenits horizontal and upright positions when said support is swung vertically.

3. Apparatus for setting a pole comprising a mounting,

an elongated support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting for swinging vertically relative to the mounting, an elongated guide pivotally connected adjacent the other end of said support for vertical movement with said support and for swinging relative to said support about a substantially horizontal axis,

means for swinging said guide between substantially horizontal and upright positions as said support is swung vertically including an elongated operating arm which is shorter than said support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting in a region spaced a distance vertically from the pivot connection between the mounting and support, and pivotally connected adjacent its opposite end to said guide in a region spaced a distance along said guide from the pivot connection between the support and guide, said secondmentioned distance being less than said firstmentioned distance,

securing means for holding a pole in a selected orientation relative to said guide,

stop means operable to limit movement of said securing means in one direction along said guide, and operating means operatively connected to said securing means operable to move the securing means along the guide when the guide is in an upright position and to produce vertical swinging of said support when said stop means operates to prevent movement of the securing means along the guide.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said operating means comprises an elongated, flexible line connected adjacent one of its ends to said securing means, training means adjacent'said other end of the support training a midregion of the line thereover with a portion of said line extending from said training means in a reach above said support, and means for taking up and paying out said reach of line.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, which further comprises holding means operatively connected to said support for holding the same in a selected vertically adjusted position.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said operating means comprises an elongated, flexible line secured adjacent one of its ends to said securing means, training means adjacent said other end of the support training said line thereover with a portion of said line extending in a reach from said training means above said support, and take-up means for taking up said reach of line, and which further comprises holding means for holding said support, operating arm, and guide in raised positions, said takeup means being operable to pay out said line to lower the securing means along the guide when the support and guide are so held.

7. Apparatus for supporting and swinging a pole between substantially horizontal and upright positions and for shifting the same vertically while in an upright position comprising a mounting,

an elongated support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting for vertical swing ing relative to the mounting,

an elongated guide pivotally connected adjacent the other end of said support for vertical movement with said support and for swinging relative to said support above a substantially horizontal axis between substantially horizontal and upright positions,

an elongated operating arm which is shorter than said support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting for vertical swinging relative thereto, said pivot connection between the operating arm and mounting being spaced a distance vertically from the pivot connection between the mounting and support, said operating arm further being pivotally connected adjacent its opposite end to said guide in a region spaced a distance along the guide from said support, the distance between the pivot connections of the support and operating arm, respectively, with the guide being less than the distance between their respective pivot connections with said mounting,

securing means for holding a pole substantially parallel to said guide, and

means mounting said securing means on said guide for movement longitudinally along the guide.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, which further comprises operating means operatively connected to said support and operating arm for swinging the same vertically between lowered and raised positions, with said guide at the same time being swung between its horizontal and upright positions.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, which further comprises stop means operable to limit movement of said securing means upwardly along said guide when the guide is in an upright position, and said operating means comprises an elongated, flexible line secured adjacent one of its ends to said securing means, training means adjacent said other end of the support training said line thereover with a portion of said line extending in a reach from said training means above said support, and take-up means for taking up said reach of line.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, which further comprises holding means for holding said support, operating arm, and guide in their raised positions, and said take-up means is operable to pay out said line to lower said securing means along said guide when the support, operating arm, and guide are so held.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, which further comprises adjusting means connected to said operating arm operable to vary the operating length of said operating arm.

12. Apparatus for setting a pole comprising a mounting,

a first elongated arm,

a second elongated arm which is shorter than said first arm,

an elongated guide,

means pivotally connecting one set of ends of said arms to said mounting for vertical swinging relative to the mounting, said pivot means being spaced apart vertically on said mounting, means pivotally connecting the opposite set of ends of the arms to the guide with said opposite ends spaced apart along said guide, said arms being disposed in nonparallel relation to each other,

securing means for holding a pole in a selected orientation relative to said guide, and

13. The apparatus of claim 11, which further comprises means operatively connected to said securing means operable to move the same along the guide.

14. Apparatus for setting a pole comprising a mounting,

a first elongated arm,

a second elongated arm,

an elongated guide,

a first pair of pivot means pivotally connecting one set of ends of said arms to said mounting for vertical swinging relative to the mounting, said pivot means being spaced a distance apart vertically on said mounting,

a second pair of pivot means pivotally connecting the opposite set of ends of the arms to the guide with said opposite ends spaced a distance apart along said guide, with the distance between the pivot means in said second pair being less than the distance between the pivot means in said first pair;

means mounting said securing means on said guide for movement longitudinally along the guide, and

operating means operable to produce vertical swinging of said first and second arms, with said guide being swung between different angular positions relative to a horizontal plane during vertical swinging of the first and second arms.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, which further comprises means operatively connected 'to said securing means operable to move the same along the guide.

'16. The apparatus of claim 14, which further comprises stop means operable to limit movement of said securing means in one direction along the guide, and said operating means comprises an elongated, flexible line connected adjacent one of its ends to said securing means, training means adjacent said opposite end of the first arm over which said line is trained with remainder portions of the line extending in a reach from said training means above said first arm, and take-up means for taking up and paying out said reach of line, which on taking up line urges said securing means toward said stop means.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein taking up of said line when said stop means prevents further movement of said securing means along said guide produces raising of said first and second arms with said guide swinging toward an upright position, and which further comprises means for holding said arms in a selected raised position with said guide in a substantially upright position, whereby on paying out of line with the arms so held the securing means is permitted to move along said guide under the influence of gravity.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supporting and swinging a pole between substantially horizontal and upright positions and for shifting the same vertically while in an upright position comprising a mounting, an elongated support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting for swinging vertically relative to the mounting about a substantially horizontal axis, an elongated guide pivotally connected adjacent the other end of said support for vertical movement with said support and for swinging relative to said support between substantiallY horizontal and upright positions, securing means for holding a pole substantially parallel to said guide, means mounting said securing means on said guide for movement longitudinally along the guide, stop means operable to limit movement of the securing means in one direction along the guide, operating means operatively connected to said securing means operable to produce vertical swinging of said support and to produce movement of the securing means vertically along the guide when said guide is in its upright position including an elongated, flexible line connected adjacent one of its ends to said means mounting the securing means, training means adjacent said other end of the support training said line thereover with a portion of said line extending in a reach from said training means above said support, and take-up means for taking up said reach of line, and means for holding said support in a selected raised position and said guide in an upright position, with said take-up means being operable to pay out line to lower said securing means along said guide when the support and guide are so held.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises means operatively connected to said guide for swinging the same between its horizontal and upright positions when said support is swung vertically.

3. Apparatus for setting a pole comprising a mounting, an elongated support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting for swinging vertically relative to the mounting, an elongated guide pivotally connected adjacent the other end of said support for vertical movement with said support and for swinging relative to said support about a substantially horizontal axis, means for swinging said guide between substantially horizontal and upright positions as said support is swung vertically including an elongated operating arm which is shorter than said support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting in a region spaced a distance vertically from the pivot connection between the mounting and support, and pivotally connected adjacent its opposite end to said guide in a region spaced a distance along said guide from the pivot connection between the support and guide, said second-mentioned distance being less than said first-mentioned distance, securing means for holding a pole in a selected orientation relative to said guide, means mounting said securing means on said guide for movement longitudinally along the guide, stop means operable to limit movement of said securing means in one direction along said guide, and operating means operatively connected to said securing means operable to move the securing means along the guide when the guide is in an upright position and to produce vertical swinging of said support when said stop means operates to prevent movement of the securing means along the guide.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said operating means comprises an elongated, flexible line connected adjacent one of its ends to said securing means, training means adjacent said other end of the support training a midregion of the line thereover with a portion of said line extending from said training means in a reach above said support, and means for taking up and paying out said reach of line.

7. Apparatus for supporting and swinging a pole between substantially horizontal and upright positions and for shifting the same vertically while in an upright position comprising a mounting, an elongated support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting for vertical swinging relative to the mounting, an elongated guide pivotally connected adjacent the other end of said support for vertical movement with said support and for swinging relative to said support above a substantially horizontal axis between substantially horizontal and upright positions, an elongated operating arm which is shorter than said support pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to said mounting for vertical swinging relative thereto, said pivot connection between the operating arm and mounting being spaced a distance vertically from the pivot connection between the mounting and support, said operating arm further being pivotally connected adjacent its opposite end to said guide in a region spaced a distance along the guide from said support, the distance between the pivot connections of the support and operating arm, respectively, with the guide being less than the distance between their respective pivot connections with said mounting, securing means for holding a pole substantially parallel to said guide, and means mounting said securing means on said guide for movement longitudinally along the guide.

12. Apparatus for setting a pole comprising a mounting, a first elongated arm, a second elongated arm which is shorter than said first arm, an elongated guide, means pivotally connecting one set of ends of said arms to said mounting for vertical swinging relative to the mounting, said pivot means being spaced apart vertically on said mounting, means pivotally connecting the opposite set of ends of the arms to the guide with said opposite ends spaced apart along said guide, said arms being disposed in nonparallel relation to each other, securing means for holding a pole in a selected orientation relative to said guide, and means mounting said securing means on said guide for movement longitudinally along the guide.

14. Apparatus for setting a pole comprising a mounting, a first elongated arm, a second elongated arm, an elongated guide, a first pair of pivot means pivotally connecting one set of ends of said arms to said mounting For vertical swinging relative to the mounting, said pivot means being spaced a distance apart vertically on said mounting, a second pair of pivot means pivotally connecting the opposite set of ends of the arms to the guide with said opposite ends spaced a distance apart along said guide, with the distance between the pivot means in said second pair being less than the distance between the pivot means in said first pair; securing means for holding a pole in a selected orientation relative to said guide, means mounting said securing means on said guide for movement longitudinally along the guide, and operating means operable to produce vertical swinging of said first and second arms, with said guide being swung between different angular positions relative to a horizontal plane during vertical swinging of the first and second arms.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, which further comprises means operatively connected to said securing means operable to move the same along the guide.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, which further comprises stop means operable to limit movement of said securing means in one direction along the guide, and said operating means comprises an elongated, flexible line connected adjacent one of its ends to said securing means, training means adjacent said opposite end of the first arm over which said line is trained with remainder portions of the line extending in a reach from said training means above said first arm, and take-up means for taking up and paying out said reach of line, which on taking up line urges said securing means toward said stop means.