Rail fitting for marine applications

A rail fitting which comprises first and second rail fitting parts designed to slide together on opposite sides of a rail and thereby interlock, and fastening means for fastening the two rail fitting parts together around a rail;

• each rail fitting part being provided with a concavity designed to fit around a rail, a first end on one side of the concavity designed to interlock with a first end of the other rail fitting part in hinged connection, and a second end on an opposite side of the concavity designed to be fastened to a second end of the other rail fitting part by said fastening means;
• the first end of said first rail fitting part having a hinge receiving means providing a semicylindrical arcuate cavity having a degree of wrap of at least 180.degree., said arcuate cavity extending transversely through the first end of said first fitting part;
• the first end of said second rail fitting part having hinge arm means providing an arcuate end formed to fit and rotate within the arcuate cavity in the first end of said first rail fitting part, said arcuate end being semicylindrical and extending transversely across the first end of said second rail fitting part;
• said hinge arm means being so constructed and arranged with respect to said hinge receiving means that the arcuate end of said hinge arm means may be longitudinally inserted into said arcuate cavity whereby the first and second rail fitting parts are interlocked in said hinged connection.