Forestay connector
AssigneeHyde Products, Inc.
InventorPaul Blonski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved stay includes an aluminum rod member. A terminal fitting located at each end of the rod member connects the rod member with the sailboat. The connection between the rod member and the terminal fitting is made by deforming a stainless steel sleeve member into the aluminum forestay rod member. The sleeve member is provided with internal grooves or recesses. The sleeve member is deformed radially inward and cold forms the aluminum into tight engagement with the grooves. The stay may be used as a forestay. In this case, the rod member has an axially extending slot in which the bead of a sail is received. Further the terminal fittings may include a swivel which permits the rod member to be rotated to furl the sail.
Claims8
A stay unit for coupling into a stay assembly of a sailboat, said unit comprising an axially extending stay rod member for supporting a mast of the sailboat, a deformed sleeve member circumscribing one end portion of said rod member and having a load-bearing surface against which an axial load may be applied, one of said sleeve and rod members having different inside dimensions defining recessed and ridge portions and said rod and sleeve members being interlocked by cold formed metal of the other of said rod and sleeve members between and in said ridge and recessed portions, and a collar fitting for use in coupling the unit into a stay assembly, said collar extending outwardly of said end portion and disposed about said rod and sleeve and having an abutment engaging said load-bearing surface to prevent movement of said collar off said rod over said sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.