Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to sail craft.

Background

Mast holders are known for sailing craft, such as for sailing dinghys. Such holders receive and locate a mast heel. However, known mast holders can to prone to various drawbacks, such as being prone to breakage which can cause significant damage to the boat.

We have realised that it would be desirable to devise an improved mast holder

Summary

According to the invention there is provided a mast holder preferably comprising a carriage to receive a mast heel, the carriage may be arranged for translational movement on a base of the holder, and the holder preferably comprising a latch arrangement to releasably secure the mast heel in the carriage, wherein the latch arrangement may be arranged to releasably lock the mast heel to the carriage.

The latch arrangement may comprise a part attached to the mast and a part attached to the carriage, at least one of the parts being resiliently biased, urging towards a locked condition.

The latch arrangement preferably comprises an upstand part extending upwardly from the carriage and into the mast heel, and a resiliently biased release pin extending through the side of the mast. The holder may be arranged to automatically lock the mast heel when said mast heel is urged into the carriage. This may preferably be a quick-connect fitting. When in the locked condition, the latch arrangement preferably allows rotation of the mast (about the longitudinal axis of the mast).

The carriage preferably comprises a cup arranged to receive the mast heel.

The holder may comprise an adjuster to allow the (translational) position of the carriage to be adjusted to a required position. The adjuster may comprise a threaded shank connected to the carriage, and a captive knob, threadably engaged with the threaded shank such that rotation of the knob causes translation of the carriage on the base.

The holder may comprise a calibration sleeve which receives a distal portion of the threaded shank, and the sleeve provided with calibration indicia. The calibration sleeve may comprise a slot arranged to extend parallel with the axis of the threaded shank. The slot may be arranged to allow a calibration marker, attached to the shank to extend therethrough.

The threaded shank may comprise a through-hole at a distal end thereof.

The calibration sleeve may comprise a formation which is arranged to be received in an aperture in the adjuster limb and thereby lock the knob in a desired position. The adjuster knob may comprise a plurality of apertures or through-holes spaced around a circumference thereof.

Other aspects of the invention may include one or more of the features above and/or features of the description and/or drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side-elevation cross-section of a mast holder, and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sleeve of the mast holder.

Detailed Description

A mast holder, or mast step, 1 is shown in Figure 1 for removably receiving a mast 20 therein. The holder 1 is arranged to be secured to a base portion or other suitable support surface of a sailing craft, such as a sailing dinghy.

The holder 1 comprises a carriage 3 which is arranged to be translationally positionable along a base 4. The carriage 3 comprises a cup-like formation 4a which comprises a sidewall wall which defines a cylindrical space into which the mast heel is received. As will be described below, the mast heel is removably secured within the cylindrical space. The carriage 3 further comprises an upstanding portion 4b located centrally of the cylindrical space. The upstand 4b comprises a headed shaft, with a head portion provided at an uppermost end thereof. The head portion comprises an underlying annular surface 4c which, in use, serves as a locking formation.

Provided in a radially-extending aperture in a wall of the mast there is provided a spring-loaded pin assembly 6 which comprises a pin, which extends parallel with the aperture and a spring which serves to urge the pin towards a central space of the mast. An internal end of the pin is arranged to contact with the headed shank to thereby ensure that the mast is retained in the holder. An opposite (and outwardly directed) end of the pin is arranged to be gripped by a user, against the force of the spring, and to thereby release the pin from the locking condition with the headed shank. Secured to the carriage 3 there is provided a threaded rod 7, a distal end of which is secured to a wall of the carriage. The threaded rod 7 threadably engages with a thread formation 8a of an adjustment knob 8, whereby, manual rotation of the knob 8 causes translational movement of the rod and thereby adjusts the translational position of the carriage 3. The user can thereby easily adjust the rake of the mast 20.

The mast holder 1 further comprises a sleeve 10 which is arranged to fit around the distal end portion of the threaded rod. The sleeve 10 comprises two spaced- apart limbs 1 1 which are spaced apart to fit around the distal end portion of the threaded rod 7. The sleeve 10 comprises two spaced-apart limbs which are arranged to be capable of being moved relatively apart to thereby receive a positional marker to indicate the position of the carriage (and thereby the mast). An internal space of the sleeve 10 is arranged to receive the threaded rod longitudinally therethrough, an aperture towards a forward end of the sleeve allows the rod to pass therethrough and between the limbs 1 1. Calibration indicia 12 are conveniently provided on an upper surface of the limbs 1 1.

A forward end of the sleeve is provided with a peg 13 which is dimensioned to be received in one of a plurality of recesses or holes, equally angularly-spaced around the knob, and to thereby lock the knob 8 into position and prevent rotation thereof. The sleeve 12 is resiliently biased towards being received in the adjuster knob. In use, the heel of the mast 20 is urged downwardly into the carriage 3. In so doing the internal end of the pin of the pin assembly 6 is deflected outwardly by the head of the headed shank 4b as it passes thereover. When the mast heel is pushed fully home, the pin sits under the annular surface 4c, thereby automatically locking the mast to the carriage 3, simply and easily.

The user can easily adjust the rake of the mast 20 by pulling the sleeve 10 rearwardly so as to disengage the peg 13 and manually rotate the knob 8 and adjust the mast to a desired position. Advantageously, the threaded rod 7 is provided with a through-hole which receives a ring 25. The ring 25 serves as a positional marker whose position can be measured relative to calibration indicia 12.

In an alternative embodiment, the outer surface of the mast may be rebated, and a spring-loaded pin arrangement provided on the carriage, so as to effect securing of the mast in the holder.

The holder may be provided in highly visible colourations.

The above described mast holder has numerous significant advantages, including:

Automated, user-friendly mast locking system;

Ability of the mast to rotate, but whilst retained the mast in the holder; Retrofittable;

Easily calibrated mast rake, which is readily viewable from behind mast thwart;

Low-friction system allowing user to easily adjust mast rake with gloves on;

A locking peg to prevent rake from changing when underway.