AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR ATTACHING A SAIL TO THE HEAD OF A MAST

Abstract

The invention proposes a system (10) for automatically attaching a sail to the head of a mast, comprising two complementary coaxial elements (12, 14) including a first element (14) comprising a locking head (18) and a second element (12) comprising at least one locking member (100) in the assembled position of the two elements (12, 14) which can occupy a retracted position then a locked position in which it cooperates with the locking head (18), system (10) in which the second element (12) is a device comprising a body (24) carrying a guide finger (52-54) and a slider (60) mounted to slide and rotate inside the body (24) and comprising a series (64) of successive grooves cooperating with the guide finger (52-54) to guide the slider axially and in rotation relative to the body (24),in which said at least one locking member is a jaw (100) axially secured to the slide (60) one end (104) of which is shaped into a hook and each guide finger (52-54) is mounted to slide radially. Abstract figure: Fig. 1C,

Description

Title of the invention: SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY ATTACHING A SAIL TO THE HEAD OF A MAST Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an automatic hooking system.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a system for attaching and detaching, remotely and by simple traction, a releasable structure, such as a sail, to a support structure, such as the head of a mast of a sailboat. Technical background of the invention

[0003] Generally and in a known manner, and as can be seen in the attached [Fig. 10], such a fastening system comprises a “fixed” part 14 and a “mobile” part 12. The fixed part 14 is intended to be permanently attached to the top of a mast 3, at the final attachment point of a sail 5.

[0004] The movable part 12 is intended to be attached to the upper end 4 of the sail 5 to be rigged. This movable part 12 is made movable by means of a halyard 6 of small diameter.

[0005] When the sail 5 is not yet rigged, the movable part 12 is lowered to the bottom of the mast 3, to be handled by a crew member 7.

[0006] When the sail 5 is being rigged, the movable part 12 is hoisted (with the sail 5 attached to it) towards the fixed part 14.

[0007] The movable part 12 then hooks and locks onto the fixed part 14, this locking being adapted to support the tension of the sail 5, which allows the halyard to be released.

[0008] When the sail 5 is no longer to be used, a slight pull exerted on the halyard 6 is then sufficient to unlock the movable part 12.

[0009] It is then sufficient to let the halyard 6 go to lower the sail 5.

[0010] For the implementation of this design principle, we know for example of document FR2057079A1 an automatic hooking device allowing an object to be hooked and unhooked remotely, by a simple pull, in a hard-to-reach place, such as the end of a sailing boat mast.

[0011] The automatic hooking device described and shown therein comprises a cylindrical slide sliding and rotating in a cylindrical casing bearing on its inner wall at least one stop or guide, this slide comprising a succession of ramps or grooves cooperating with the stop and oriented alternately in one direction then in the other, in such a way that during a first movement of the slide, it hooks onto the stop and is detached during a second movement. consecutive placement.

[0012] According to such a design, each stop thus ensures a dual function, on the one hand of control / indexing and, on the other hand, of stop itself having to absorb the forces associated in particular with the tension of the sail. As a result, it is impossible to reliably guarantee the locked or unlocked states, nor to avoid significant phenomena of wear and / or fatigue and / or jamming of the device.

[0013] The aim of the invention is to propose a design making it possible to overcome these drawbacks. Summary of the invention

[0014] The invention proposes an automatic attachment system for attaching and detaching, remotely and by simple traction, a releasable structure, such as a sail, to a support structure, such as the head of a mast of a sailboat, the attachment system comprising two complementary coaxial elements, which are mounted axially movable relative to each other along an axis to occupy an assembled position or a disassembled position, and among which: - a first element comprising a locking head; - and a second element comprising at least one locking member in the assembled position of the two elements which can successively occupy: — a retracted position allowing the assembly and disassembly of the two elements; — then a locked position in which the locking member cooperates with the locking head to lock the assembly of the two elements in the assembled position, hanging system in which: * the assembly and automatic locking of the two elements in the assembled position is carried out by a relative axial movement in a first direction of the two elements according to a locking stroke; * then the unlocking for the purpose of disassembling the two elements is carried out by another relative axial displacement, in the same first direction, of the two elements according to an unlocking stroke, and wherein the second element is a device comprising: ** a tubular body carrying an internal radial guide finger; ** and a coaxial cylindrical slide mounted to slide and rotate inside the body and comprising a series of successive grooves cooperating with said guide finger to guide the slide axially and in rotation relative to the body and which are oriented in such a way that: *** during a first axial stroke of the slider relative to the body in said first direction, the slider locks axially relative to the body to cause the assembly and automatic locking of the two elements in the assembled position then; *** during a second axial stroke of the slide relative to the body in the same first direction, the slide unlocks axially relative to the body to allow unlocking and disassembly of the two elements, and in which the series of grooves traveled by the associated guide finger successively comprises a first axially oriented groove allowing a relative axial movement of the slide relative to the body which is traveled during the locking stroke, then a first inclined groove causing a relative rotation of the slide relative to the body, then a second axially oriented groove allowing a relative axial movement of the slide relative to the body which is traveled during the unlocking stroke, then a second inclined groove causing a relative rotation of the slide relative to the body and which is connected to the first axial groove.

[0015] According to another characteristic of the attachment system: - the first axial groove has a non-return wall which directs the guide finger towards the first inclined groove; - the first inclined groove has a non-return wall arranged at its end connected to the second axial groove; - the second axial groove has a non-return wall which directs the guide finger towards the second inclined groove; - the second inclined groove has a non-return wall arranged at its end connected to the first axial groove.

[0016] According to further characteristics of the attachment system: - each guide finger is mounted to slide in a radial direction orthogonal to said axis, and is permanently elastically returned towards this axis in the direction of the bottom of the groove which it travels; - said at least one locking member is a jaw which is axially secured to the slide, one free end of which is shaped into a hook and the other end of which is pivotally mounted relative to the slide between: (i) a retracted angular position; ii) and an angular locking position in which the hook-shaped end cooperates with a complementary part of the locking head to lock the assembly of the two elements in the assembled position; - the second element comprises a series of locking members in the assembled position of the two elements which are identical, which are distributed angularly around the axis of the second element and each of which can successively occupy: — a retracted position allowing the assembly and disassembly of the two elements; — then a locked position in which it cooperates with the locking head to lock the assembly of the two elements in the assembled position; - to lock the assembly of the two elements in the assembled position, each hook-shaped end has a truncated cone arc surface which cooperates with a complementary part of the locking head; - to cause an axial stroke of the slide relative to the body in said first direction, the locking head comprises a free end surface which cooperates with a complementary surface which is axially integral with the slide; - the attachment system comprises an elastic member which is interposed between the slider and the body and which axially stresses the slider in a second direction opposite to said first direction; - said other end of each jaw is pivotally mounted relative to the slide around a horizontal pivot rod which is axially secured to the slide; - said other end of each jaw comprises a convex pivoting guide surface which cooperates with a complementary concave surface which is axially secured to the slide by means of which this other end is pivotally mounted relative to the slide around a horizontal pivoting axis (Al) Brief description of the figures

[0017] [Fig.lA] - [Fig.lA] is a sectional view through an axial plane of a first example of embodiment of a hooking assembly according to the invention which is shown in position before hooking or locking of the two elements;

[0018] [Fig.lB] - [Fig.lB] is a view similar to that of [Fig.lA] which partially represents the attachment assembly in a maximum high position of the lower element, before attachment of the two elements;

[0019] [Fig.lC] - figure [Fig.lB] is a view similar to that of [Fig.lA] which represents the attachment assembly in a position attached to the two elements;

[0020] [Fig.lD] - [Fig.lD] is a view similar to that of [Fig.lC] which represents the attachment assembly in a maximum high position of the lower element before unhooking or unlocking of the two elements;

[0021] [Fig.lE] - [Fig.lE] is a view similar to that of [Fig.lD] which represents the attachment assembly in a position detached from the two elements;

[0022] [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the attachment system shown in Figures 1A to 1E;

[0023] [Fig.3] - [Fig.3] is an exploded perspective view in section through an axial plane which represents the slide and the jaws of the attachment system shown in [Fig.lE];

[0024] [Fig.4] - [Fig.4] is a perspective view illustrating the slider and fingers guiding the hanging system shown in [Fig.lC];

[0025] [Fig.5] - [Fig.5] is a partial detailed view, in perspective and in axial section, of the hanging system shown in [Fig.lC];

[0026] [Fig.6] - [Fig.6] is a larger scale view of detail D6 of [Fig.lC];

[0027] [Fig.7] - [Fig.7] is a developed schematic view of the grooves of the slide;

[0028] [Fig.8A] - [Fig.8A] is a sectional view through an axial plane of a second example of an embodiment of a hooking assembly according to the invention in a maximum high position of the lower element before hooking the two elements;

[0029] [Fig.8B] - [Fig.8B] is a view similar to that of [Fig.8A] which represents the attachment assembly which is shown in a attached position of the two elements;

[0030] [Fig.8C] - [Fig.8C] is a view similar to that of [Fig.8B] which represents the attachment assembly in a maximum high position of the lower element before detachment of the two elements;

[0031] [Fig.8D] - [Fig.8D] is a view similar to that of [Fig.8C] which represents the attachment assembly in a position detached from the two elements;

[0032] [Fig.9] - [Fig.9] is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the slider and jaws of the attachment system shown in Figures 8A to 8D;

[0033] [Fig. 10] - [Fig. 10] is a schematic view which illustrates the implementation of a hanging system according to the invention. Detailed Description of Figures

[0034] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0035] First example of realization By convention, figures 1 to 7 indicate a main axis V of vertical orientation, from bottom to top, which corresponds to the main axis of the second element 12 according to the invention which, without limitation, is arranged in the lower part and is capable of being connected to a releasable structure such as a sail, while the first element 14, arranged in the upper part, is capable of being fixed to a support structure such as the head of a mast of a sailboat.

[0036] The two lower 12 and upper 14 elements constitute the automatic attachment system 10 according to the invention and they are mounted axially movable, along the vertical axis V, relative to each other to occupy different functional relative axial positions which will be described in more detail later.

[0037] By convention and without limitation, the second element 12 is here axially movable. upwards relative to the first element 14 in a first direction SI indicated in the figures.

[0038] The first element 14 is in the form of a tubular tenon 16 also called a “bullet” whose lower end is shaped into a locking head 18 and which, at its upper end in the form of a yoke 15, has an axis 20 allowing it to be attached and has another axis 22 for the passage and guidance of a halyard 8 which passes axially through the tenon 16 then the second element 12.

[0039] The locking head 18 has a rounded, convex profile in the form of a truncated sphere 17 and is delimited axially upwards by a truncated cone-shaped shoulder 19.

[0040] The tenon 16 shown in the figures is substantially coaxial, along the vertical axis V, with the axis of the second element 12 which is of generally cylindrical design and shape.

[0041] The second element 12 comprises a tubular main body 24 and a coaxial slide 60. At its upper end 26, the body 24 delimits an opening or mouth 28 allowing the axial introduction and extraction of at least the locking head 18 into and out of the upper part close to the opening 28 of the internal housing 30 delimited by the body 24.

[0042] At its opposite lower end 32, the body 24 comprises an external radial collar 34 whose upper annular face 36 is shaped into a ball bearing track (See figures 1B).

[0043] The lower end 32 and the collar 34 are surrounded by an annular cup 38 which comprises an inner radial collar 40 whose lower annular face 42 is shaped into a ball bearing track.

[0044] A set of balls 44 is interposed between the tracks 36 and 42 by means of which the cup 38 is mounted to rotate freely around the vertical axis V relative to the body 24.

[0045] The cup 38 extends axially downwards by a yoke 46 comprising an axis 48 allowing for example the fixing of the upper end point of a sail.

[0046] The cup 38 thus constitutes a swivel mounted freely in rotation relative to the lower element 14.

[0047] Above the cup 38, the body 24 is surrounded by a tubular support 50 which is axially and rotationally secured to the body 24.

[0048] The support 50 has the function of supporting and guiding a series, here 3 in number, of guide fingers 52.

[0049] Each finger 52 is a cylindrical finger which is mounted to slide in a horizontal plane in a radial direction R orthogonal to the vertical axis V.

[0050] Each finger 52 comprises a free, radially inner end section 54 which extends through an associated hole 55, integral with the support 50, formed in the body 24 and inside the internal housing 30.

[0051] The radially outer section 55 of each finger 52 is guided in sliding in a ferrule 56 with the interposition of a return spring (not shown in the figures) which acts on a shoulder 58 to permanently elastically urge each finger 52 radially inwards.

[0052] The slide 60 is delimited axially downwards by an annular shoulder 61.

[0053] The function of the fingers 52 is to cooperate with grooves 64 belonging to a slide 60 which is a part of generally cylindrical tubular shape which is guided inside the body 24 so as to be able to move axially and in rotation in the housing 30.

[0054] The radially outer side wall 62 of the slide 60 comprises a series 64 of grooves which will be described in detail later and which are capable of receiving and being traversed by the free end sections 54 of the fingers 52.

[0055] The body 24 secured to the tubular support 50, the slide 60, and the guide fingers 52 make it possible to introduce a third dimension into the principle of indexing the “Hooking” and “Unhooking” positions, i.e. the radial displacement of the guide fingers of the slide cooperating with the ramps 64 of the latter.

[0056] The slide 60 comprises an internal radial shoulder 66 which delimits an internal bore 68 in which a tubular-shaped sleeve 70 is mounted.

[0057] At its axially lower end, the sleeve 70 is equipped with a ring 72 which is fixed to it by screws 74 and which comprises a radially external collar 76 which, with the shoulder 66, delimits a housing in which an O-ring 78 made of elastically deformable material is mounted compressed.

[0058] The lower face of the collar 76 delimits an annular support surface for a main spring 80 which is interposed axially between the collar 76 which is integral with the slide 60 and an annular housing 81 formed at the base of the body 24, in a centrally perforated lower plate 82 so as to permanently elastically stress the slide 60 axially upwards relative to the body 24.

[0059] By way of non-limiting example, the spring 80 is here a helical compression spring.

[0060] At its upper end, the sleeve 70 comprises a radially external collar 84 which is shaped to bear, axially downwards, on a complementary shoulder 86 of the slide 60 (See [Fig. 1D]). The collar 84 is elastically urged to bear on the shoulder 86 by the O-ring 78 which acts as an elastic return member.

[0061] The upper face 85 of the collar 84 is shaped with a concave profile complementary to the convex profile 17 of the locking head 18.

[0062] As can be seen in particular in [Fig.3], above its lower part cy lindic comprising the grooves 64, the slide 60 extends axially upwards by a series of axial teeth 90, here six in number, which are distributed angularly in a regular manner.

[0063] Each tooth 90 is delimited radially towards the axis V by a concave axial surface 92 in the form of a truncated cylinder which opens axially upwards and which, axially downwards, is extended by an angular section of the upper face 85 of the collar 84 and is shaped with a concave profile.

[0064] Two by two, the teeth 90 delimit between them a series of six housings 94 which are open axially upwards.

[0065] Without limitation, each housing 94 is here open radially towards the outside.

[0066] Each housing 94 is delimited axially downwards by a bottom 96 which is an angular section of a concave surface in the form of a torus section, the function of which is in particular to guide a hooking jaw 100 in pivoting.

[0067] Each section 96 is offset vertically upwards relative to the angular sections of the concave upper face 85 of the collar 84.

[0068] Each hooking jaw 100 is axially secured to the slide 60 with which it moves, and it is mounted to pivot relative to the slide around a horizontal pivot axis Al.

[0069] For this purpose, each hooking jaw 100 is sized to be received in an associated housing 94. It comprises a rectilinear body 102 of axial orientation which, at its free upper end, is extended by an upper arm 104 oriented radially inwards in the direction of the axis V which is shaped into a hook.

[0070] Axially downwards, each upper arm 104 is delimited by a frustoconical bearing surface 106 which is oriented axially downwards and whose profile is complementary to the frustoconical shoulder 19 of the locking head 18.

[0071] At its lower free end, the body 102 is extended by a lower arm 108 oriented radially inwards in the direction of the axis V which is shaped into an articulation arm.

[0072] Axially downwards, the lower end of the body 102 extended by a lower arm 108 is shaped with a convex external surface 110 in an angular section of a torus which is complementary to the concave surface in a section of a torus 96.

[0073] Each lower articulation arm 108 is dimensioned and is internally delimited by a concave surface portion 112 in such a way that it circumferentially extends the angular sections of the concave upper face 85 of the collar 84 which are adjacent to it.

[0074] As can be seen for example in [Fig. 1B], each lower articulation arm is received and held in position between the housing bottom 96 and a portion facing the lower face 83 of the collar 84 of the sleeve 70.

[0075] The free end of the arm 104 forming a hook comprises a facet 105 forming a ramp to cooperate with the profile 17 of the locking head 18 so that, when it enters the opening 28, it causes, if necessary, the pivoting and retraction of the jaw 100 into its housing 94.

[0076] Each jaw 100 is capable of pivoting around its axis Al: - between a locking position as illustrated in [Fig.lB] in which the rectilinear body 102 extends substantially parallel to the axis V, and in which the frustoconical bearing surface 106 of its upper arm 104 forming a hook is in contact with the frustoconical shoulder 19 of the locking head 18; - and an unlocking position illustrated in [Fig.lE] in which the upper arm 104 is moved radially outwards to allow the passage of the locking head 18.

[0077] Each jaw 100 is elastically returned to its locking position by the axial positioning of the lower articulation arm 108 between the shoulder 66 of the slide 60 and the collar of the sleeve 70.

[0078] The elastic return is ensured by the O-ring 78 which, when the lower arm 108 pivots in the “unlocking” direction, is elastically compressed due to the relative movement of the sleeve 70 relative to the slide 60-66. After the locking head 18 has passed the end of the upper arm 104, in one direction or the other, the elastically compressed O-ring elastically returns the sleeve 70 in axial translation (downwards, relative to the slide 60-66) and causes the jaw 100 to return to its rest position ([Fig.lA]) or to its locking position ([Fig.lE]).

[0079] For the control of locking and unlocking, the slider 60 moves in rotation and axial sliding relative to the body 24, while the fingers 52-54, while, in a third dimension or orientation, the guide fingers move radially relative to the body 24, to the slider 60 and to the axis V

[0080] Starting from the position illustrated in [Fig. 1 A], the lower element 12 - on which a tensile force is applied by means of the halyard 6 - moves axially upwards - in the first direction SI - relative to the locking head 18 which penetrates through the opening 28 into the upper part of the housing 30 then spreads the six upper arms 104 radially outwards until it comes into axial support - by its profile 17 - against the upper face 85 of the collar 84.

[0081] The continuation of the axial locking stroke causes the relative axial displacement of the slide 60 with respect to the body 24 and to the guide fingers 52-54 which simultaneously travel along the ramps 64, until reaching the maximum high position of the lower element 12, and of the slide 60 with respect to the tenon 16.

[0082] When the traction force is released, and under the action of the return spring 80 prea lably compressed, the lower element 12 with the slider 60 moves axially downwards - in the second direction S2 - relative to the tenon 16 until reaching the locked position illustrated in [Fig.lC] in which each upper arm 104 is axially wedged between the internal face 27 of the upper part 26 of the body 24 and the frustoconical shoulder 19 of the locking head 18.

[0083] Starting from the locked position illustrated in [Fig.lC], to unlock the system 10, a tensile force is again applied to the halyard 6 to cause an axially upward movement in the first direction S1 to reach the maximum high position illustrated in [Fig.lD], then the tensile force applied to the halyard 6 is released.

[0084] Under the action of the return spring 80, the slider moves axially upwards relative to the body 24 and the locking head 18 “comes out” axially from the upper part of the slider 60 by radially spreading outwards the upper hook-forming arms 104 to the position illustrated in [Fig.lE] in which the locking head 18 is free to come out of the housing 30 and out of the body 24 through the opening 28.

[0085] With reference in particular to [Fig. 7], the path of a free end section 54 of a guide finger 52 will now be described, in the series of grooves 64, corresponding to the successive passage through the different functional positions illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1E during the relative axial movements of the body 24 relative to the slide 60 and the tenon 16 which have just been explained.

[0086] The position PO of the free end 54 corresponds to the locked position of [Fig.lC] (Also called the hooked position or “Hooked” position).

[0087] In order to carry out the unlocking or unhooking (“Unhooking”), by pulling the body 26 axially upwards in the first direction SI against the force exerted by the spring 80, a locking stroke is caused, vertically upwards, of the free end 54 in the vertical axial section TOI (belonging to a first axial groove GAI) up to an intermediate position PI in which the free end 54 abuts against an inclined wall M1 which forces the free end 54 to enter the inclined section T12 (belonging to a first inclined groove GI1) which it travels until it crosses a vertical wall M2 to enter the upper part T231 of a vertical axial section (belonging to a second axial groove GA2) in the position P2 which corresponds to the maximum high position of the body 26 and of the free end 54 of [Fig. 1D] before unlocking or unhooking.

[0088] By then releasing the tensile force applied to the body 26, and under the action of the spring 80, the free end 54 moves, according to an unlocking stroke, downwards in the upper part T231 (belonging to a second axial groove GA2) until crossing an inclined wall M3, then continuing its course in the lower part T232 of the same vertical axial section to reach the low position P3 in which the free end 54 is in abutment against the lower end of the lower part T232. This position P3 corresponds to the unhooked or unlocked position (“Unhooked”) of [Fig.lE]. This position is maintained by the action of spring 80.

[0089] Starting from position P3 to carry out locking or hooking, by pulling again on the body 26 axially upwards in the first direction SI against the force exerted by the spring 80, a locking stroke is caused, vertically upwards, of the free end 54 in the lower part T232 of the vertical axial section up to an intermediate position in which the free end 54 abuts against the inclined wall M3 which forces the free end 54 to continue its stroke by penetrating into the inclined section T34 (belonging to a second inclined groove G21) which it travels entirely upwards until crossing a vertical wall M4 to enter the upper part T41 of a vertical axial section in position P4 which corresponds to the maximum high position of the body 26 and of the free end 54 of [Fig.lB] before locking or hooking ("Hooking").

[0090] By then releasing the tensile force applied to the body 26, and under the action of the spring 80, the free end 54 moves downwards in the upper part T41 along the locking stroke until it crosses the inclined wall M1, then continues its downward stroke in the lower part TO1 of the same vertical axial section to again reach a position PO which corresponds to the locked position of [Fig.lC] (Also called the hooked position or “Hooked” position).

[0091] Each “wall” M1, M2, M3, M4 is produced by a conformation of each section or group of sections which comprises, upstream of the wall to be crossed, a portion of gorge of “great” depth, then a portion of gorge forming a ramp whose depth decreases progressively up to a point corresponding to the wall itself beyond which the following portion is again of “great depth”.

[0092] This is illustrated in detail in [Fig.6] with regard to the wall M1 arranged between the sections T41 comprising the ramp-forming portion and the section TOI.

[0093] Climbing the ramp portion and crossing a wall Mi is made possible by the ability of the guide finger 52-54 to move radially inside the associated sleeve 56, while being permanently elastically stressed with its free end 54 bearing against the bottom of the groove.

[0094] Each wall acts as a “non-return” wall and ensures that, once crossed, there can be no accidental return.

[0095] Thanks to the invention, complete functional decoupling, or independence, is achieved. between the control and indexing functions provided by the assembly 24-60 and the guide fingers 52-54, and the mechanical locking function which is provided by the hooking jaws 100.

[0096] Thus, the guide fingers for the control do not absorb the actual locking forces.

[0097] Second example of realization By convention, figures 8A to ? have indicated a main axis V of vertical orientation, from bottom to top, which corresponds to the main axis of the second element 12 according to the invention which, here, is arranged in the upper part and is capable of being connected to a support structure such as the head of a mast of a sailboat, while the first element 14, arranged in the lower part, is capable of being fixed to a releasable structure such as a sail.

[0098] Thus, in the design and arrangement of the system and compared to the first embodiment, the positions and roles of the two elements are reversed.

[0099] However, with regard to their relative axial displacements in the two directions S1 and S2 and the changes of state and position which result from this for the different elements and components during its operation, they are identical to what has been described previously with reference to figures 1A to 7.

[0100] We will therefore essentially describe the main structural differences by comparison with the first embodiment example.

[0101] For its attachment to a fixed structure, and for example its attachment to a masthead, the body 24 is extended by a cup 38 which is screwed to it and which is associated with two loops 115 which perform the same role as the clevis 15 with its axis 20.

[0102] The general design of the slide 60 with its grooves 64 and of the body 24 with in particular its guide fingers 52-54 is generally identical to that which has been described in detail with reference to the first example of embodiment.

[0103] The main difference concerns the design of the jaws 100 and more particularly the design of the articulation of each jaw 100 relative to the slide 60 allowing it to pivot around its pivot axis A1.

[0104] As can be seen in the figures, and in particular in [Fig.9], the axial end 108 of the rectilinear body 102 which is opposite that which is extended by the radial arm forming a hook 104 is shaped into an articulation end which comprises a hole 114 which, in the assembled position, is crossed with play by a pivot rod 116 whose opposite ends are received in two holes 118 formed in the opposite vertical walls 93 of the corresponding housing 94.

[0105] Thus, the end 108 of each jaw 100 is pivotally mounted relative to the slide 60 around a horizontal pivot rod 1116 which is axially secured to the slide 60.

[0106] Each housing 94 is delimited radially inwards by a convex cylindrical wall 95 against which the associated jaw 100 bears when its body 102 is parallel to the axis V.

[0107] Near its opening 28, in its concave internal cylindrical wall 25, the body 104 comprises a series of six recesses 23, each of which is sized so as to allow a jaw 100, positioned angularly and axially opposite, to pivot around its axis A1 and to partially retract inside the recess 23, in particular to allow the locking head 18 to be released and removed as illustrated in [Fig.8D].

[0108] With respect to the body 24, the slide 60, and therefore each jaw 100, can occupy either an angular position (Figures 8C, 8D) in which it is axially aligned with a recess 23, or another angular position (Figures 8A, 8B) in which it is angularly offset with respect to a recess 23.

[0109] The free end of the arm 104 forming a hook comprises a facet 105 forming a ramp to cooperate with the profile 17 of the locking head 18 so that, when it enters the opening 28, it causes the jaw 100 to pivot and retract into its housing 94.

Claims

Claims

1. Automatic attachment system (10) for attaching and detaching, remotely and by simple traction, a releasable structure, such as a sail (5), to a support structure, such as the head of a mast (3) of a sailboat, the attachment system (10) comprising two complementary coaxial elements (12, 14), which are mounted axially movable relative to each other along an axis (V) to occupy an assembled position or a disassembled position, and among which: - a first element (14) comprising a locking head (18); - and a second element (12) comprising at least one locking member (100) in the assembled position of the two elements (12, 14) which can successively occupy: — a retracted position allowing the assembly and disassembly of the two elements (12, 14); — then a locked position in which the locking member cooperates with the locking head (18) to lock the assembly of the two elements (12, 14) in the assembled position, attachment system (10) in which: * the assembly and automatic locking of the two elements (12, 14) in the assembled position is carried out by a relative axial movement in a first direction (SI) of the two elements (12, 14) according to a locking stroke; * then the unlocking for the purpose of disassembling the two elements (12, 14) is carried out by another relative axial displacement, in the same first direction (SI), of the two elements (12, 14) according to an unlocking stroke, and in which the second element (12) is a device comprising: ** a tubular body (24) carrying an internal radial guide finger (52-54); ** and a coaxial cylindrical slide (60) mounted to slide and rotate inside the body (24) and comprising a series (64) of successive grooves (GAI, GI1, GA2, GI2) cooperating with said guide finger (52-54) to guide the slide axially and in rotation relative to the body (24) and which are oriented in such a way that: *** during a first axial stroke of the slide (60) relative to the body (24) in said first direction (SI), the slide (60) locks axially relative to the body (24) to cause the assembly and automatic locking of the two elements (12, 14) in the assembled position then; *** during a second axial stroke of the slide (60) relative to the body (24) in the same first direction (SI), the slide (60) unlocks axially relative to the body (24) to allow unlocking and disassembly of the two elements (12, 14), and in which the series (64) of grooves traveled by the associated guide finger (52-54) successively comprises a first axially oriented groove (GA1-T41-T01) allowing a relative axial movement of the slide (60) relative to the body (24) which is traveled during the locking stroke, then a first inclined groove (GA1-T12) causing a relative rotation of the slide (60) relative to the body (24), then a second axially oriented groove (GA2-T231-T232) allowing a relative axial movement of the slide (60) relative to the body (24) which is traveled during the unlocking stroke, then a second inclined throat (GI2,T34) causing a relative rotation of the slide (60) with respect to the body (24) and which is connected to the first axial groove (GAI).,

2. Hanging system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: - the first axial groove (GA1-T41-T01) has a non-return wall (Ml) which directs the guide finger (52-54) towards the first inclined groove (T 12); - the first inclined groove (GI1-T12) comprises a non-return wall (M2) arranged at its end connected to the second axial groove (GA2-T231-T232); - the second axial groove (GA2-T231-T232) has a non-return wall (M3) which directs the guide finger (52-54) towards the second inclined groove (GI2-T34); - the second inclined groove (GI2-T34) has a non-return wall (M4) arranged at its end connected to the first axial groove (GA1-T41-T01).

3. Attachment system (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each guide finger (52-54) is mounted to slide in a radial direction (R) orthogonal to said axis (V), and is permanently elastically returned towards this axis (V) in the direction of the bottom of the throat he travels through.

4. Attachment system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one locking member is a jaw (100) which is axially secured to the slide (60), one free end (104) of which is shaped into a hook and the other end (108) of which is pivotally mounted relative to the slide (60) between: i) a retracted angular position; ii) and an angular locking position in which the hook-shaped end (108) cooperates with a complementary part (106) of the locking head (18) to lock the assembly of the two elements (12, 14) in the assembled position.

5. Attachment system (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the second element (12) comprises a series of members (100) for locking the two elements (12, 14) in the assembled position, which are identical, which are distributed angularly around the axis (V) of the second element (12) and each of which (100) can successively occupy: — a retracted position allowing the assembly and disassembly of the two elements (12, 14); — then a locked position in which it cooperates with the locking head (18) to lock the assembly of the two elements in the assembled position.

6. Attachment system (10) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that, to lock the assembly of the two elements (12, 14) in the assembled position, each end (104) shaped as a hook comprises a surface in the shape of a truncated cone arc which cooperates with a complementary part (17) of the locking head (18).

7. Attachment system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, to cause an axial stroke of the slide (60) relative to the body (24) in said first direction (SI), the locking head (18) comprises a free end surface (17) which cooperates with a complementary surface (85) which is axially integral with the slide (60).

8. Attachment system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an elastic member (80) which is interposed between the slider (60) and the body (24) and which axially stresses the slider (60) in a second direction (S2) opposite to said first direction (SI).

9. Attachment system (10) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said other end (108) of each jaw (100) is pivotally mounted relative to the slide (60) around a horizontal pivot rod (116) which is axially secured to the slide (60).

10. Attachment system (10) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said other end of each jaw (100) comprises a convex pivoting guide surface (110) which cooperates with a complementary concave surface (96) which is axially secured to the slide (60) by means of which this other end (108) is pivotally mounted relative to the slide (60) around a horizontal pivoting axis (Al).

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