U.S. patent number 3,705,708 [Application Number 05/163,568] was granted by the patent office on 1972-12-12 for pulley block.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Blockits, Inc.. Invention is credited to Gerald A. Cunningham.
United States Patent |
3,705,708 |
Cunningham |
December 12, 1972 |
PULLEY BLOCK
Abstract
Rope or line block characterized by an intermediate connector
disposed between ends of sheave side plates or cheeks and a shackle
which, by choice of its position, relative to the cheeks, permits
the connector to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the pulley
axis or be secured against such rotation in alternative angular
positions such as 90.degree. apart, to thereby orient the shackle
carried by same in alternative positions. Two shackles of
alternative form may be provided, one of which permits the shackle
to rotate about a transverse axis of the connector and the other
which prevents such rotation.
Inventors: |
Cunningham; Gerald A. (Ward,
CO) |
Assignee: |
Blockits, Inc. (Ward,
CO)
|
Family
ID: |
22590594 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/163,568 |
Filed: |
July 19, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
254/409; 403/4;
403/344; 294/82.11; 403/164 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B66D
3/04 (20130101); Y10T 403/32975 (20150115); B66D
2700/028 (20130101); Y10T 403/125 (20150115); Y10T
403/69 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B66D
3/00 (20060101); B66D 3/04 (20060101); B66d
001/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;254/190-196 ;287/91
;294/82 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hornsby; Harvey C.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a pulley block of the type having spaced cheeks with at least
one sheave rotatably supported therebetween, the cheeks having
terminal portions between which an intermediate connector is
affixed, said connector having a rigging fitting, such as a
shackle, affixed thereto, the improvements, in combination,
comprising:
a. a spacer disposed between said terminal portions, said spacer
being formed of two members abutting at a separation plane
therebetween,
b. an aperture extending through said members with substantially
equal portions thereof in each member, the axis of the aperture
being disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
sheave axis,
c. said connector having a shank adapted to be disposed within said
aperture in alternative axially spaced positions therein,
d. said connector having an enlarged non-circular head on one end
thereof adapted to engage abutment surfaces on said members,
e. first and second abutment surfaces on said members, each
surrounding said aperture and spaced axially therealong,
f. the first of said abutment surfaces being of a shape to receive
said head and prevent rotation thereof relative to said
members,
g. the second abutment surface being of a shape to permit said head
to rotate relative to said members, and
h. means for detachably securing said members between said
cheeks,
i. the construction and arrangement being such that when said
members are separated, said head may be selectively disposed
adjacent either of said abutments, said head having a number of
equally spaced sides which is a multiple of four, whereby said
head, when disposed adjacent the first abutment surface, may be
disposed in angular relative positions which are 90.degree.
apart.
2. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said head is square
in cross section.
3. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for
detachably securing said members between said cheeks includes bolts
disposed at opposite sides of said aperture.
4. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rigging fitting
is a shackle secured to said connector by a pivot pin.
5. A block in accordance with claim 4 wherein the shackle is so
constructed to rotate about the pivot pin.
6. A block in accordance with claim 4 wherein the shackle is so
constructed to be non-rotatable about the pivot pin.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the art or sport of sailboating it is common practice to employ
a myriad of rope or line fittings including blocks which rotatably
support one or more sheaves around which the line is trained. The
blocks are constructed in many forms, each of which serves a
particular purpose in the sail rigging. Various fittings, blocks,
and rigging arrangements are disclosed in the catalogue of Seaboard
Marine Supply Co., Inc., 214 Montauk Highway, Islip, N.Y.
Such blocks comprise, in general, two or more spaced side plates or
cheeks between which a sheave or sheaves are rotatably supported,
the cheeks terminating at one side of the sheave, and to which a
suitable intermediate connector is secured. The connector,
aforesaid, may carry a terminal fitting in the form of an eye or
shackle. In one form, for example, identified as style SQ, an
intermediate connector is pivotally secured to the cheeks for
rotation about an axis parallel to the sheave axis which carries a
shackle rotatable about a parallel axis which may be optionally
secured to the connector for rotation about an axis 90.degree. to
said parallel axis. In another form, identified as style SS, the
shackle is similarly mounted but may also rotate about an axis
perpendicular to the sheave axis, thus providing a universal
joint.
Each of the two types referred to is designed to serve a specific
purpose in the rigging and normally are not interchangeable for
such purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention provides a block which may serve the
purpose of both types referred to by an alternative relative
positioning of its parts. As an example of this versatility, the
boat rigger may employ a single block type which serves each of the
two purposes, as heretofore referred to, or serves both of the
purposes. Thus, if the boat rigger at some time during a rerigging,
requires two blocks of the same type, rather than different types,
the blocks available in his rigging may be readily converted to
serve all of the desired purposes, thus obviating discarding an
unneeded block. This is also of advantage in the original rigging
since the rigger, with only one type of block, may make it serve
different purposes.
The end result referred to is attained by providing a connector
member, intermediate the block cheeks and shackle, which may be
secured to the cheeks in two different positions. In a first
position such member may rotate relatively about an axis
perpendicular to the sheave axis. In its second position it is
restrained against the rotation just referred to. Also, when in the
second position it may be optionally secured in two angular
positions 90.degree. apart so that the shackle carried by same may
be disposed in alternative positions. By an alternative choice of
the shackle, the shackle may pivot in the same manner as in the
prior art referred to or be non-rotatably affixed to the
intermediate connector member, the foregoing being the general
objects of the invention.
Further objects, advantages, and salient features will become more
apparent from the detailed description to follow, the appended
claims, and the accompanying drawing to now be briefly
described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevation and section, as viewed in the direction
of line 1, FIG. 2, illustrating one position of assembly of the
parts;
FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2, FIG. 1, illustrating
another position of assembly of the parts;
FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3, FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 2 illustrating an
alternative construction;
FIG. 5 is a like section of FIG. 2 illustrating another alternative
construction, and
FIG. 6 is a side elevation of an alternative clevis construction
which may be employed in any of the previous figures.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawing, and first to FIGS. 1-3, block 10
comprises a pair of side plates or cheeks 12,12 a between which
sheave 14 is disposed and mounted for rotation on a pin 16 which
also maintains the cheeks in fixed spaced relationship. The cheeks
terminate in ends 18, 18a between which are disposed a spacer 20, a
pair of screws 22,22 extending through the cheeks and spacer to
maintain the cheeks in fixed spaced relation at the cheek ends. The
spacer halves, to be described, may be molded directly to the
cheeks.
Spacer 20 is formed of two halves 20a, 20b which abut along a
central plane 24 and a circular aperture 26 extends through the
spacer halves with a semi-circular aperture in each. A recess 28,
square in cross section, surrounds aperture 26. Intermediate
connector 30 comprises a circular shank 32 having an enlarged head
34, square in cross section, disposed at one end thereof and a
square head 36 disposed at the other end, head 36 being of a size
to fit square recess 28. FIG. 1 illustrates one position of the
intermediate connector wherein head 36 abuts the lower faces of the
spacers, in which position the intermediate connector is free to
swivel or rotate about the axis of shank 32. FIG. 2 illustrates an
alternative position in which square head 36 is disposed within
square recess 28, in which position it is locked to the spacers
against swiveling movement relative thereto.
In the assembly of the parts, pin 16 and screws 22 are removed,
separating the spacers along their central abutting plane and the
intermediate connector is disposed in the selected position (FIG. 1
or FIG. 2) to obtain either swivelling or locked relationship. As
will also be apparent, when in locked position, head 36 may be
disposed within recess 28 in selected angular position 90.degree.
apart. This orients shackle 38, pivotally carried by head 36 on pin
40, in selective positions 90.degree. about the axis of the
intermediate connector shank.
FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative form of spacers in which their
lower faces are provided with a square recess 28a, which fits head
36, recess 42 being circular and of a diameter to permit square
head 36 to swivel therein (as shown). As will be apparent, when in
its other position (not shown), the intermediate connector is
locked against rotation. An advantage which accrues to this
construction, as compared to that of FIGS. 1-3, is that by suitable
choice of the length of shank 32, head 36 may be disengaged from
recess 28a by axial movement and re-engaged in a 90.degree.
position, thus permitting the latter selection without disassembly
of the block.
FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative form of the invention
wherein recess 28b is closed at the lower side thereof, rather than
open as illustrated in the previously described figures. In this
construction, which requires disassembly to reposition the parts,
recess 22b may be square and the other recess may be circular, to
permit swiveling action, or the square and circular recesses may be
reversed.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative form of shackle 38a, provided
with offset shoulders 44, which prevent the shackle from rotating
about pin 40.
As illustrated and so far described, head 36 and its cooperating
recess are square which permits a choice of 90.degree. shackle
orientation which provides a selection which fits the needs of
major rigging arrangements. As will be apparent, however, the
90.degree. selection may also be retained with a connector head and
cooperating recess having a number of sides which are a multiple of
four. For example, an octagonal head and recess provides not only
the 90.degree. orientation, but also, intermediate positions
45.degree. therebetween.
Also, while a single sheave block has been illustrated, it will be
apparent that it is within the purview of the invention to employ
more than one sheave when greater force multiplication is
required.
* * * * *