GB2129391A

GB2129391A - Arrangement for connecting the wishbone of a windsurfer to the mast

Info

Publication number: GB2129391A
Application number: GB08236541A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Wehrli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-09-04
Filing date: 1982-12-23
Publication date: 1984-05-16
Also published as: DE3248051A1; FR2532615A1; IT1212542B; IT8225031A0

Abstract

The connection between the mast (1) and the connecting element (4) on the end of the wishbone of a windsurfer is made by means of two endless, elastic connecting members (6), for example of rubber or the like. These connecting members, on one side, grip around the mast (1) and, on the other side, grip around holding members (19) on the connecting element (4). The holding members can comprise cylindrical, eccentrically mounted holding bodies (22) which are rotatable relative to the base plate (8) of the connecting element (4) and thus enable the pretension of the connection to be adjusted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Arrangement for connecting the wishbone of a windsurfer to the mast The present invention relates to an arrangement for connecting the wishbone of a windsurfer to the mast, with a connecting element which receives the two ends of the wishbone on the mast side.

As is known, windsurfers must be dismantled for transport, that is to say separated into the main components, namely the surfboard, the mast, the wishbone and the sail. Before this sports equipment is used, it must be appropriately assembled, that is to say the mast is placed onto the surfboard, the wishbone is fixed to the mast and the sail is hoisted. The insertion of the mast into the board and the hoisting of the sail are in general accomplished without effort, but the connection of the wishbone to the mast hitherto was a complicated and time-consuming procedure. In most cases, a thin rope is used here, which is knotted more or less artfully for the purpose of ensuring, on the one hand, a secure connection between the wishbone and the mast and, on the other hand, leaving sufficient freedom of movement for the wishbone, so that the sports equipment can be used properly.

Due to the movement of the wishbone relative to the mast, it can readily happen in use of the surfer that the connection becomes loose since the wishbone is swivelled vertically and horizontally in operation. Moreover, this connection should be readily adjustable, and this is unfortunately not always the case with the known types of connection, in particular if the rope used for the connection has become wet.

It is the object of the present invention to propose an arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset, for connecting the wishbone of a windsurfer to the mast, which arrangement makes it possible to connect these two elements in a few seconds, the connection being infinitely adjustable in height and ensuring the requisite freedom of movement of the wishbone relative to the mast in the horizontal and vertical directions.

According to the invention, this object in an arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset is achieved when the connection is made by means of two elastic, endless connecting members which, on one side, grip around the mast and, on the other side, grip around a holding member in each case, arranged on the connecting element on both sides thereof.

Further developments of the arrangement according to the invention and preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent Claims 2-11.

In the text which follows, some illustrative embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention for connecting the wishbone of a windsurfer to the mast are described in more detail, with reference to the attached drawings in which, in detail: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a section of a mast and a wishbone, which are to be mutually connected in a conventional manner, Figure 2 shows, partially in section, a plan view of a first illustrative embodiment of the connecting arrangement according to the invention, Figure 3 shows a section along the line A-A in Figure 2, Figure 4 shows a side view of a part of the mast with the positioning sleeve and connecting members, Figure 5 shows, partially in section, a plan view of a second illustrative embodiment of the connecting arrangement according to the invention, and Figure 6 shows a section along the line B-B in Figure 5.

Figure 1 shows a section of a conventional mast connection. The mast 1 must in principle be connected to the wishbone of the windsurfer, only the two ends 2 and 3 of the wishbone being shown in the drawing. These ends 2 and 3 on the mast side are received in a connecting element which must be anchored on the mast 1 in such a way that horizontal and vertical mobility of the wishbone relative to the mast is ensured. In the known manner, this is effected by means of a thin rope which is looped in a suitable manner around the connecting element 4 and around the mast 1 and is fixed by means of a clamping element 5. As already mentioned at the outset, this procedure is rather complicated.

Figure 2 shows a first illustrative embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention in a plan view, partially in section. The mast 1 of, for example, tubular shape is to be joined to the connecting element 4 which receives the two ends 2 and 3 of the wishbone. This is accomplished with the aid of connecting members 6 which can be designed as elastic, endless ring elements. Preferably, these elements 6 consist of tough-elastic rubber or of polyurethane and have a diameter of about 8-12 mm, preferably 10 mm.

Another possibility is to use a high-elasticity spring steel, for example in the form of a tightly wound helical spring, as the connecting elements.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, the two connecting members 6, on one side, grip around the mast 1 and, on the other side, grip around a holding member 7 which is fitted to or formed on the upper side and lower side of the connecting element 4.

The connecting element essentially consists of a base plate 8 which on both sides has two receiving sleeves, enclosing an angle between them, for receiving the ends 2 and 3 of the wishbone, and a holding grip 11 fitted on the end (Figure 2).

The abovementioned holding members 7 are located in the region of the middle of the base plate 8 of the connecting element 4 and can be moulded integrally with the connecting element 4, as shown in particular by Figure 3. Another possibility (not shown) is to fit these holding members releasably to the base plate 8, for example by screwing. This second possibility, in particular, enables even known connecting elements of windsurfers to be provided with the arrangement according to the invention.

As can be clearly seen from Figure 3, the holding members 7 each have a part 7' which projects beyond the plane of the base plate 8 and also beyond the surface of the sleeves 9 and 10 and which are each provided with an extension 7" extending radially towards the mast 1. The connecting members 6 which, on the other side, grip around the mast 1 grip around these two head parts 7' of the holding member 7. It is to be understood that the size of the annular connecting members 6 is selected in such a way that they are under tension when the connection has been made, and thus press the connecting element 4 against the mast 1. By a suitable selection of the elasticity, sufficient mobility of the wishbone in the vertical and horizontal directions can readily be achieved.

A seating surface 12 of the connecting element 4 rests on the mast 1. On either side of this seating surface 12, tapered zones of the connecting element 4 are formed. These make it possible to swivel the wishbone and hence the connecting element 4 in the direction of the arrow P; this reduces the tension at the lower connecting member 6, so that the latter can readily be displaced along the associated projection 7", in order to release the wishbone from the mast 1. The second connecting member 6, which is at the top in Figure 3, can then readily be detached from the connecting element 4, while swivelling the wishbone in the direction opposite to the arrow P.

As already mentioned, the connecting members 6 grip around the mast 1 of the windsurfer. To ensure a defined position of these connecting members 6 and hence of the connecting element 4, in particular with respect to the height on the mast, the mast 1 is provided with a positioning sleeve 1 5. This is pushed radially over the mast 1 and surrounds the latter over more than half its circumference, so that a self-jamming clamped connection is realised. The sleeve 1 5 has a wide middle part 16 and an upper and lower end part 17. An upper recess 18 is provided between the middle part 1 6 and the upper end part 17, whilst there is a lower recess 1 8 between the middle part 16 and the lower end part 17.The width of these two recesses 1 8 corresponds essentially to the diameter of the connecting members 6. As is clear especially from Figure 4, the connecting members 6 grip around the mast 1 in the region of these recesses 18, so that the connecting members rest directly on the surface of the mast, but are prevented from sliding in the axial direction. The shaping and the material nature of this sleeve 1 5 are here selected in such a way that it can be displaced along the mast 1 without the use of tools, in order to vary the height position of the wishbone relative to the mast. If necessary, separate locking elements (not shown) can also be provided, in order to secure the sleeve 1 5 against inadvertent displacement relative to the mast 1.

Figures 5 and 6 show a second illustrative embodiment of the connection arrangement according to the invention, Figure 5 representing a plan view partially in section and Figure 6 representing a section along the line B-B. In principle, the arrangement is similar to that explained in connection with Figures 2-4 and has a connecting element 4, receiving sleeves 9 and 10, a base plate 8 and a holding grip 11. By contrast, the connecting member 6, which likewise grips around the mast 1, if appropriate with the use of a positioning sleeve 15, is laid with its end on the wishbone side around holding members 1 9 which are designed to be adjustable.

It is clear from Figure 6 that each of the holding members 19 comprises a bearing body 20 which is anchored to the base plate 8, for example by means of a screw 21, and which has an essentially cylindrical shape and serves to mount a holding body 22 which is provided with an eccentric bore 23. The outer surface of the holding body 22 has an essentially cylindrical shape. The connecting member rests on this cylindrical outer surface of the holding body 22 which is rotatable relative to the bearing body 20. This makes it possible to vary the distance of the effective outer surface of the holding body 22 from the surface of the mast 1, and hence the pretension of the connecting element 6, by rotating the holding body 22 relative to the bearing body 20. This allows not only the elasticity of the fixing of the wishbone to the mast 1 to be adapted to individual requirements, but also to compensate for a possible slackening in the tension of the connecting member 6.

If desired, the holding body 22 can be secured against rotation relative to the bearing body 20.

This can be accomplished, for example, by means of a screw 24 which is turned into the space between the outer surface of the bearing body 20 and the inner surface of the holding body 22. For this purpose, a number of prefabricated bores can be provided.

Claims

1. Arrangement for connecting the wishbone of a windsurfer to the mast, with a connecting element which receives the two ends of the wishbone on the mast side, wherein the connection is made by means of two resilient, endless connecting members which, on one side, grip around the mast and, on the other side, grip around a holding member arranged on the connecting element on the both sides thereof.

2. Arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein, on the mast and in the region of the connection point, a positioning sleeve is provided in which the two connecting members engage.

3. Arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the positioning sleeve is displaceable along the mast and, if appropriate, lockable.

4. Arrangement according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein the connecting members are formed by annular bodies of rubber, polyurethane, spring steel or the like.

5. Arrangement according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein the holding members provided on the connecting element are formed by cams projecting in opposite directions from the plane of the connecting element.

6. Arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein the cams are releasably fastened to the connecting element.

7. Arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein the cams are integrally moulded to the connecting element.

8. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1-4, wherein the holding members provided on the connecting element are formed by rotatable cylindrical holding bodies which are mounted eccentrically on the connecting element.

9. Arrangement according to Claim 8, wherein cylindrical bearing bodies are fastened to the connecting element, and one holding body provided with an eccentrically arranged bore is rotatably and lockably mounted on each of the bearing bodies.

10. Arrangement according to Claim 9, wherein locking of the holding body relative to the bearing body is effected by a screw inserted between these two bodies.

11. Arrangement according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein the connecting element has tapered transition regions adjacent the contact face point towards the mast.

12. Means for connecting the wishbone of a windsurfer to a mast, the means being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 2 to 4 or Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.