Magnet-assisted automatic locking mechanisms

A single rotating flipper locking mechanism for maintaining tension on a halyard, the single rotating flipper locking mechanism comprising:

• a housing having an internal space and configured to receive a slug that moves along a path through the housing, the slug being operably connected to the halyard, the housing including a first housing side and a second housing side coupled to one another;
• a flipper rotatably disposed in the housing, the flipper configured to rotate between at least a cocked position in which the slug is inserted into the housing, a locked position in which a surface of the flipper receives the slug and impedes the slug from exiting the housing along the path, wherein the halyard is tensioned in the locked position, and a neutral position in which the flipper allows movement of the slug;
• and
• a magnet assembly configured to effect rotation of the flipper, the magnet assembly including at least:
• a first housing magnet disposed within the first housing side, a second housing magnet disposed within the second housing side, and first and second flipper magnets disposed within the flipper.

An alternating direction flipper locking mechanism for locking a headboard device of a sailing vessel, the alternating direction flipper locking mechanism comprising:

• a housing having at least one track along which the headboard device travels in an upward and downward direction;
• a flipper rotatably disposed in the housing, the flipper having a notch formed therein, the flipper configured to rotate between at least a neutral position in which the flipper allows movement of the headboard device, a cocked position in which the headboard device travels upward past the flipper, and a locked position in which the notch of the flipper receives the headboard device and impedes the headboard device from downwardly exiting the housing;
• and
• a magnet assembly configured to effect rotation of the flipper, the magnet assembly including at least four housing magnets disposed within the housing and a first flipper magnet disposed within the flipper, three of the at least four housing magnets having a polarity that is opposite a polarity of the first flipper magnet, and one of the at least four housing magnets having a polarity that is the same as the polarity of the first flipper magnet.

A magnetic unlock prevention mechanism for preventing a halyard lock from unlocking, the magnetic unlock prevention mechanism comprising:

• a housing having at least one track along which a headboard device of a sailing vessel travels in an upward and downward direction;
• first and second flippers rotatably disposed in the housing, the first and second flippers in continuous contact with each other such that rotation of the first flipper effects rotation of the second flipper, the first and second flippers configured to rotate between at least an a stowed position in which the first and second flippers are stowed, an unlock preventing position in which the halyard lock travels upward past the first and second flippers, such that unlocking of the halyard lock is prevented, and a disengaged position in which the first and second flippers allow the unlocking of the halyard lock;
• and
• a magnet assembly configured to effect rotation of the flipper, the magnet assembly including at least a first housing magnet disposed within the housing, a first flipper magnet disposed within the first flipper, and a second flipper magnet disposed within the second flipper, the first and second flipper magnets having a polarity that is opposite a polarity of the first housing magnet.

An automatic upstop locking mechanism for locking a headboard device of a sailing vessel, the automatic upstop locking mechanism comprising:

• a housing having at least one track along which the headboard device travels in an upward and downward direction;
• a flipper rotatably disposed in the housing, the flipper configured to rotate between at least a neutral position in which upward and downward movement of the headboard device is permitted, an unlocked position in which upward movement of the headboard device is prevented to unlock a halyard, and a locked position in which upward movement of the headboard device is prevented to lock the halyard;
• and
• a magnet assembly configured to effect rotation of the flipper, the magnet assembly including at least five housing magnets disposed within the housing and a first flipper magnet disposed within the flipper, three of the five housing magnets having a polarity that is opposite a polarity of the first flipper magnet, and two of the five housing magnets having a polarity that is the same as the polarity of the first flipper magnet.