US3045634A - Anchor line retainers - Google Patents

Description

July 24, 1962 c. T. DORSEITT ANCHOR LINE RETAINERS Filed Aug. 51. 1959 .TL l

INVENTOR. CLARENCE 7 0025577! ATTORNEY United States 3,045,634 ANCHOR LINE RETAJNERS Clarence T. Dorsett, 1029 Holly Ave, Arcadia, Calif. Filed Aug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,204 Claims. (Cl. 114-210) This invention pertains to new and improved anchor line retainers.

An anchor line is normally attached to either a deck of a boat, or a portion of a boat adjacent to the deck so as to extend therefrom directly away from the boat when an anchor is being used. When anchor lines extend from boats in this manner they present a hazard to other boats. This is important; it also is important that anchor hnes extending in this manner are apt to be cut by propellers or other parts of boats passing through an anchorage. When this happens a boat originally secured by such an anchor line is cast adrift. A number of consequences to a boat may, of course, follow from such an eventuality. Also a comparatively expensive anchor is usually lost when such an anchor line is severed.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improved anchor line retainers. A more specific object of this is providing anchor line retainers which are primarily intended to be used with relatively small boats, and which are designed so as to hold an anchor line with respect to such a boat so as to extend from the lower portion of the hull of such a boat when in use. It will be realized that an anchor line extending in this position is sufiiciently low so that it does not present a significant hazard to other boats and so that the chances of its being severed in the water are substantially reduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anchor line retainers as herein described which are adapted to be actuated from the interior or forepeak of a boat. A further object of the present invention is to provide anchor line retainers of this type which are comparatively simple to construct, which are very eflective in operation, and which may be easily and conveniently installed with a minimum of difiiculty. A related object of this invention is to provide anchor line retainers as herein described which may be easily and conveniently used.

Other objects and'advantages of this invention will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a part of a boat hull equipped with an anchor line retainer of this invention, this view' being partially in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the boat hull and the anchor line retainer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the use of this anchor line retainer;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified anchor line retainer of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view taken in the direction of line '5--5 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a further modified anchor line retainer of this invention.

The'accompanying drawing is primarily intended so as to clearly illustrate several presently preferred embodiments or forms of this invention. It will be realized from a consideration of'this drawing and of this specification that the basic features or principles of anchor line retainers as described in this specification can be embodied in a number of dilferently appearing structures through the use of or exercise of routine engineering skill.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be 3,645,634 Patented July 24, 1962 stated in essentially summary form that it concerns anchor line retainers which are used in combination with a boat hull. Each of these retainers includes a hook means adapted to be mounted upon such a boat hull, such hook means being capable of being actuated from the interior or forepeak of the boat hull so as to either hold or release an anchor rope when an anchor is in use. The anchor line retainer devices of this invention also include actuating means attached to each of these hook means so as to be used in controlling the operation of the hook means employed.

This invention is best more fully described by referring directly to the accompanying drawing. In FIG. 1 there is shown an anchor line retainer 10 of the present invention mounted upon a boat hull 12 adjacent to the water line 14 of this hull. The hull 12 includes topsides covered by means of a conventional deck 16. In securing the retainer 10 in position a circular hole 18 is formed in the hull 12 in the general vicinity of the water line 14. Preferably this hole 18 includes an internal shoulder 20 which faces the exterior of the hull 12.

The retainer 10 includes a collar 22 upon the exterior of which there is formed a flange 24. This collar 22 is located within the hole 18 so that the flange 24 is positioned adjacent to the shoulder 20. Preferably the flange 24 is separated from the shoulder 20 by means of a small sealing ring 26 in the nature of a common gasket or the like. The collar 22 may be held in place by means of a plurality of small bolts 28 or other equivalent means securing the flange 24 directly to the hull 12.

The interior of the collar 22 is provided With a series of serrations 30 which are bonded to the peripheral edge of a flexible disc 32 formed of rubber, polychloroprene or other equivalent material. This disc 32 is provided with a center opening 34 which is bonded to similar serrations 36 on the shank 38 of an elongated hook 40. This hook 40 carries a curved end 42 located on the exterior of the hull 12. The end 42 is located immediately adjacent to a rigid retainer 44 extending from the exterior of the hull 12 of the boat. Preferably this retainer 44 is formed integrally with the collar 22, but if desired, it may include a separate base plate (not shown) secured by screws or the equivalent (not shown) to the exterior of the hull 12.

The end of the shank 38 generally within the hull 12 is pivotally secured by means of a pin 46 to an elongated rod 48. This rod 48 extends through the hull 12 of the boat and through an opening 50 in the deck 16 and ter- (rininlgtes in a small knob-like handle 52 located on the The use of the retainer 10 is comparatively simple. When it is used an anchor rope (not shown) is attached to the deck 16 or the hull 12 as desired in the conventional manner so as to extend from this hull. Either before or after an anchor (not shown) secured to this anchor line is dropped from the hull 12 in a conventional manner the anchor line may be engaged by means of a boat hook or the like (not shown) so as to be forced Within the general vicinity of the curved end 42. At this point the handle 52 may be moved so as to cause deformation of the disc 32 so that the end 42 moves away from the retainer 44. Through appropriate manipulation of such a boat hook the anchor rope may be then inserted within this end 42. After this is accomplished the handle 52 may be released, and the inherent resiliency of the disc 32 to return to its initial configuration or position will allow the end 42 to come back adjacent to the retainer 44.

At this point such an anchor line (not shown) is held in position so as to extend from the hull 12 in the desired manner in order to prevent such a line from being a hazard, or being severed under the normal circumstances. When it is desired to retrieve an anchor, the

sequence of operations indicated may be essentially reversed so as to free the anchor line and allow it to be pulled from the water.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings there is shown a modified retainer 60 of the present invention which is mounted within a hole 18' having a shoulder 20' both located in a boat hull 12 substantially as previously described in conjunction with the retainer 10. This retainer 60 includes a plate 62, the outer periphery of which rests against the shoulder 20'. This plate is secured so as to enclose the hole 18' by means of bolts 28' as previously described which draw it against a sealing ring 26', corresponding to the ring 26 previously described.

Within the center part of the plate 62 there is located a cylindrical hole 64, around the periphery of which within the plate 62 there are located grooves 66 containing common elastomeric O-ring seals 68. In the retainer 60 a shank 70 of a hook 72 extends through the hole 64 so that a seal is formed by means of the O-rings 68. A curved end 74 of the book 72, within this construction, is located on the exterior of the hull 12'.

This curved end 74 is held with respect to the plate 62 by means of a small flange 76 on it bearing against this plate 62. The end of the shank 70 remote from the end 74 is threaded and carries a small washer 78 and a nut 80 which retain the hook 72 in place at all times.

The shank 70 includes within the hull 12' a small boss 82 which is secured by means of a screw 84 to a common crank or lever arm 86. The end of this crank arm 86 remote from the hook 72 is secured by means of a conventional ball and socket type joint 88 to an end of a rod 48' corresponding to the rod 48 previously described.

The use of the retainer 60 is very simple. When it is desired to hold an anchor line (not shown) with this retainer 60 on an anchor (not shown) attached to such an anchor line is dropped overboard from a boat in a conventional manner. This anchor line is engaged by a boat hook or the like (not shown) and is brought down toward the hull 12' so as to be held by the end 74 of the hook 72 when this end is in the position shown in FIG. 4. When it is desired to retrieve an anchor attached to a line held in this manner, the rod 48' is actuated so as to rotate the hook 72 in order to permit such an anchor line to be withdrawn or lifted from the end 74. After this is done the hook 72 may be rotated back to its initial position as shown in FIG. 4, or may be left in this final position until it is desired to use the retainer 60 again, at which time it may be rotated back to its initial position.

In FIG. 6 of the drawing there is shown a still further modified anchor line retainer 90 of the present invention which is installed within a hole 18" in a hull 12", both substantially as previously described. With the retainer 90 a hook 92 having a curved end 94 is located on the exterior of the hull 12" and is held so that an enlarged shank 96 extending from this end 94 goes through the hole 18". The end of the shank 96 generally within the hull 12" is threaded and carries a conventional nut 98 and a washer 104. In order to secure the hook 92 in place it is preferred to draw up the nut 98 so that a flange 102 extending around the shank 96 hits against the exterior of the hull 12", and so that the washer 104 hits against the interior of this hull. Preferably, but not necessarily, small sealing rings 26" are located between the hull 12" and the flange 102 and between the hull 12" and the washer 104 so as to aid in the maintenance of a seal.

The shank 96 includes an enlarged opening 106 leading from the end of the shank located within the interior of the hull 12". This opening 106 is connected to the exterior of the hull 12" by means of a small hole 108. A retainer rod 110 is slidably mounted so as to extend through both the opening 106 and the hole 108. A flange 112 on this retainer rod 110 limits the movement of the ,retainer 110 toward the curved end 92 so that the extremity of this retainer rod 110 is normally spaced a short distance from the extremity of the curved end 94. Preferably an enlarged, elongated elastomeric sealing cylinder 114 is located within the opening 106 around the retainer rod 110, and is held under pressure by means of a plug 116 threaded within the end of the opening 106 located generally within the hull 12".

With the retainer a small arm 118 extends from the washer 104 as shown in the drawing. This arm 118 carries a pin 120 acting as a fulcrum for a bell crank lever 122, one of the ends of which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 124- to an end of the retainer rod 110, the other of the ends of which is pivotally connected by means of another pin 126 to a rod 48" substantially as previously described.

The retainer 90 may be used in substantially the same manner as the retainer 10. The essential difference between the retainer 90 and the retainer 10 lies in the fact that in the retainer 10 a rotary type of motion of a hook element is used which results from the deflection or bending of a flexible, elastomeric disc 32, while in the retainer 90 linear motion is used so as to control the opening at the curved end of the hook employed. Such linear motion is caused by the flange 112 moving against the sealing cylinder 114 so as to compress this sealing cylinder when the rod 48" is pushed. When this rod 48" is released the inherent elasticity of the cylinder 114 acts against the flange 112 so as to move the retainer rod back to the initial position illustrated.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will realize that various anchor line retainers as herein described are very effective, eflicient devices for the purpose intended. They will further realize that these anchor line retainers may be constructed with a minimum amount of difliculty at a nominal expense. They will further realize that they may be installed upon the hull of the average boat without any trouble, and that when installed, they may be easily and conveniently used for the purposes intended.

Because of the nature of this invention it is to be considered as being limited only by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

1 claim:

1. In combination: a boat hull having a top; hook means capable of being actuated so as to hold and release a rope mounted on said hull below said top, said hook means being located so as to extend through said hull from the exterior thereof to the interior thereof; and actuating means secured to said hook means within the interior of said hull, said actuating means being capable of being actuated so as to cause said hook means to move from an anchor line holding position in which said hook means extends in a vertical plane upwardly away from said hull and then curves downwardly and terminates pointing generally towards said hull to an anchor line released position.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook means includes a shank, a retainer rigidly secured to said hull, a curved end secured to said shank, and a flexible elastomeric disc secured to said boat hull and wherein said disc is secured to said shank so as to be normally held thereby with said curved end located adjacent to said retainer.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook means includes: a shank, and wherein said shank is rotatably mounted on said boat hull so as to be capable of rotation about its axis.

4. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boat hull having an opening formed therein; a flexible elastomeric disc secured to said hull so as to cover said opening; a hook, said hook including a shank carried by the center portion of said disc and a curved end located on the exterior of said hull; a retainer secured to the exterior of said hull adjacent to the extremity of said culved end of said hook; and actuating means attached to said shank within said hull, said disc being capable of temporary deformation upon movement of said actuating means so as to cause said curved end to move away from said retainer, said disc being capable of moving said hook so that said curved end is located adjacent to said retainer when said actuating means is released.

5. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boat hull having a top and a water line; means defining an opening through said hull adjacent to said water line; a collar secured to said hull around the periphery of said opening; a flexible elastomeric disc secured to said collar so as to cover said opening; a hook, said book including a shank secured to the center of said disc so as to be carried thereby, saidhook also including a curved end located on the exterior of said hull; an actuating rod pivotally attached to said shank within said hull so as to extend from said shank; a retainer rigidly secured to the exterior of said hull so as to be located adjacent to the extremity of said curved end of said hook, said curved end of said hook being capable of being moved away irom said retainer by movement of said actuating rod, causing temporary deformation of said disc, and being capable of returning to its initial position adjacent to said retainer upon release of said actuating rod as a result of the elastomeric properties of said disc.

6. A boat anchor line retainer as defined in claim wherein said retainer and said collar are formed integrally with one another.

7. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boat hull having a top and water line; means defining an opening within said hull adjacent to said water line; plate means secured to said hull so as to cover said opening; a hook including a shank pivotally mounted on said plate means and a curved end located on the exterior of said hull, said curved end being attached to said shank, said shank extending through said plate means into the interior of said hull; means for rotating said hook attached to said shank within the interior of said hull.

8. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boat hull having a top and water line; means defining an opening within said hull adjacent to said water line; plate means secured to said hull so as to cover said opening; a hook including a shank pivotally mounted on said plate means and a curved end located on the exterior of said hull, said curved end being attached to said shank, said shank extending through said plate means into the interior of said hull; lever arm means attached to said shank within the interior of said hull; an actuating rod means attached to the extremity of said lever arm means remote from said hook, said hook being capable of being rotated by movement of said actuating rod means.

9. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boat hull having a top and a water line; a hook, said hook including a curved end extending trom said hull on the exterior thereof adjacent to said water line; retainer means slidably mounted so as to extend through said hull, said retainer means normally terminating adjacent to the extremity of said curved end of said hook; and actuating means for moving said retainer means away from said extremity of said curved end of said hook and toward said extremity of said curved end of said hook, said actuating means being located on the interior of said hull.

10. A boat anchor line retainer which comprises in combination: a boat hull having a top and a Water line; means defining an opening within said hull adjacent to said water line; a hook, said hook including a shank extending through said opening so as to seal said opening and a curved extremity located on the exterior of said hull, said shank including an opening leading into the interior of said hull, and a hole leading from said opening in said shank to the exterior of said hull; a retainer rod slidably mounted in said opening in said shank and said hole so as to extend to adjacent to the extremity of said curved end of said hook and so as to extend into the interior of said hull, said rod including a flange extending therefrom within said opening in said shank; an elastomeric sealing cylinder located within said opening in said shank around said retainer rod and against said flange; plug means located within said opening in said shank so as to hold said cylinder within said opening, said plug means extending around said retainer rod; and actuating means secured to said retainer rod within said boat hull, said actuating means being capable of being actuated so as to cause said retainer rod to move so that said flange compresses said cylinder, allowing a boat anchor line to be moved with respect to said curved end of said hook, the elasticity of said cylinder being capable of moving said retainer rod toward said extremity of said curved end of said hook upon release of said actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 112,635 Robinson Mar. 14, 1871 2,730,985 Wingate Jan. 17, 1956 2,860,908 Peterson Nov. 18, 1958 FQREIGN PATENTS 613,773 Great Britain Dec. 2, 1948

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