Self-locking covering device for standing rigging

Claim 1

A self-locking shroud roller for standing rigging of boats consisting of, in combination: (1) first and second elements consisting of extruded plastic elements each having an axially-extending central channel of uniform diameter for receiving standing rigging and a pair of axially-extending end walls, one disposed along each side of the central channel, (2) a pair of axially-extending tongues projecting from two of the end walls and a pair of axially-extending grooves extending inwardly of the other two end walls of the first and second elements, (a) each tongue having a narrow neck portion connecting it to an end wall and an enlarged head portion, (b) each groove having a narrow entrance portion adapted to receive the neck portion of a tongue and an enlarged main portion adapted to receive the head portion of a tongue, and (3) an axially-extending slit communicating with each groove of the first and second elements and defining an edge portion capable of slight outward movement to facilitate entry of a tongue into a groove upon overlapping of a portion of the first and second elements, the first and second elements being held about standing rigging and restrained against radially-outward disengaging movement upon engagement of the tongues with the grooves.