Patent US3791330A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3791330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stay cleaning device having a foldable sponge
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-12-06
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A sponge is mounted on base members in such a manner that it may be folded into a V-shape. A sailboat stay or guy wire can be received between the opposing surfaces of the sponge when folded into a V-shape so that movement of the sponge along the stay or guy wire will clean the same. The base members supporting the sponge are coupled to a halyard line at one end and a tether line at the other end in such a manner that pulling on the halyard tends to close the base members and sponge into the V-shape to apply a wiping force against the stay. By using the halyard to pull the device along the stay over the length of the stay, the necessity of a person climbing up the mast of the sailboat to clean the stay is avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 R Haddad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:09
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B59/00; B08; B08B; B08B1/00; B08B1/30; B63B15/00; B63B15/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A stay cleaning device comprising, in combination: a. a sponge; b. base means supporting the sponge for folding about a center fold line into a general V shape; and, c. means for attaching a halyard line to one end of the base means and a tether line to the opposite end of the base means in such a manner that applying pulling force on the halyard and tether lines in opposite directions acts on the base means to fold the sponge into said general V-shape whereby a stay line positioned within the V-shape may be cleaned by sliding the sponge therealong while maintaining tension in the halyard and tether lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A stay cleaning device comprising, in combination: a. a sponge; b. base means supporting the sponge for folding about a center fold line into a general V shape; and, c. means for attaching a halyard line to one end of the base means and a tether line to the opposite end of the base means in such a manner that applying pulling force on the halyard and tether lines in opposite directions acts on the base means to fold the sponge into said general V-shape whereby a stay line positioned within the V-shape may be cleaned by sliding the sponge therealong while maintaining tension in the halyard and tether lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 1, including means coupling said sponge to said base means in such a manner that said sponge may be removed from said base means for replacement with a fresh sponge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 1, including biasing means on said base means biasing the V-shape into an open configuration in opposition to the pulling force on the halyard and tether lines.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
267 words
A device for cleaning the stays on a sailboat comprising, in combination: a. first and second base members hinged together for folding movement into a V-shape; b. a sponge having bottom portions secured to the base member so that the sponge is folded with the members to bring top surface portions of the sponge into opposing relationship in such a manner as to sandwich the stay line therebetween; c. first and second line sections secured at first ends to points along a first end edge of the members intermediate the fold line and sides of the members respectively, the other ends of the line sections connecting together and including attaching means for coupling to the end of a halyard, the sections defining an inverted Y shape with the end of the halyard; and d. a single line secured at a first point along an opposite end edge of the first base member, intermediate the fold line and side of the member, said single line passing in sliding relationship through an opening in the opposite end edge of the seCond base member intermediate the fold line and side of the member and thence extending away from the members in a direction generally parallel to the fold line for connection to a tether line whereby pulling on the halyard to apply tension exerts a closing force on the base members by said line sections and single lines sliding through said opening to increase the grip of the sponge on said stay line while said device is moved along the stay line by said halyard to clean the stay line.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
267 words
A device for cleaning the stays on a sailboat comprising, in combination: a. first and second base members hinged together for folding movement into a V-shape; b. a sponge having bottom portions secured to the base member so that the sponge is folded with the members to bring top surface portions of the sponge into opposing relationship in such a manner as to sandwich the stay line therebetween; c. first and second line sections secured at first ends to points along a first end edge of the members intermediate the fold line and sides of the members respectively, the other ends of the line sections connecting together and including attaching means for coupling to the end of a halyard, the sections defining an inverted Y shape with the end of the halyard; and d. a single line secured at a first point along an opposite end edge of the first base member, intermediate the fold line and side of the member, said single line passing in sliding relationship through an opening in the opposite end edge of the seCond base member intermediate the fold line and side of the member and thence extending away from the members in a direction generally parallel to the fold line for connection to a tether line whereby pulling on the halyard to apply tension exerts a closing force on the base members by said line sections and single lines sliding through said opening to increase the grip of the sponge on said stay line while said device is moved along the stay line by said halyard to clean the stay line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 4, in which said sponge includes a relieved portion on its underside to accomodate the hinged portion of the members, and the connections of the line sections and single line portions to the members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device according to claim 5, in which the bottom portions of the sponge are defined on either side of the relieved portion; and thin plates secured to the bottom portions, said base members including channel means for receiving the marginal sides of the plates to hold the sponge to the base members in such a manner that the sponge and plates may be slid free of the channels for replacement by a fresh sponge with plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 6, including spring means secured to the under side of the base members biasing them towards a flat configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |