Abstract: A self-sealing gasket is suitable for sealing a curved object to a surface. The gasket includes a pair of side rails and a support panel between the side rails. Respective top portions of the side rails extend above the support panel to define an object receiving channel on an upper side of the gasket. Respective bottom portions of the side rails extend below the support panel to define a deflection cavity on a lower side of the gasket. The gasket is formed of a flexible material such that when the curved object is received in the object receiving channel and the curved object and gasket are fixed to the surface, the top portions of the side rails deflect inward to seal the curved object. By virtue of material deflection, a dense material may be used for the gasket while maintaining flexibility.

Abstract: A connector facilitates securing a boat canvas to a boat frame. One portion of a conventional snap is attached to a boat surface in a known manner. The complementary portion of the snap forms part of a two-sided connector, including a surrounding component with one half of a repositionable fastener facing away from the boat surface. In this manner, a boat canvas including the other half of the repositionable fastener can be readily secured to the boat. Preferably, a connecting force between the first and second halves of the repositionable fastener is greater than a connecting force of the first and second halves of the snap connector so that the two-sided connectors remain attached to the canvas when the canvas is removed. With this structure, the boat company can install the snaps in the windshield earlier in the boat assembly process, and the connector allows for adjustment in the field to compensate for shrinkage, stretching, etc. of the boat canvas.

Abstract: A self-contained closure and closure frame assembly are easily mounted in the cabin of a boat, requiring minimal disturbance of the boat structures. The closure requires a minimum of space during movement from a closed to a fully open position, the closure first being moved outwardly generally parallel to the cabin, by pivoted levers, to an initial open position, and then slid to a fully open position. Slide tracks are provided in the closure itself, and they cooperate with slide mechanisms pivotally connected to the closure frame. A series of levers and interlock elements insures proper and secure pivotal movement of the slide mechanisms between closed and initial opening positions, and does not allow sliding movement of the closure until it is substantially in the initial open position. Sliding movement is positively guided to substantially prevent skewing in any plane as the closure is slid open with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A boat windshield is assembled using a quick connect joint that combines the ease of assembly of conventional push together joints with the strength and aesthetics of conventional slip joints, and may be assembled without accessory fasteners. First and second substantially rigid frame members mount first and second transparent windshield panels, the first frame member having a first, female, side including a recess, and the second frame member having a first, male, side including a hollow projection which is shaped and dimensioned to mate with the recess, and has a first slot defined in it. The recess has a quick connect locking clip extending outwardly from it toward the projection, the locking clip including a channel which cooperates with the first slot to hold the first and second frame members together. Typically at least two first slots and clips are provided in the cooperating frame members, vertically spaced from each other, and the first sides are vertical and mounted to a boat deck.

Abstract: A boat fender is particularly constructed to provide protection where needed on low freeboard boats with a minimum of rolling. The fender includes a substantially cylindrical body portion having first and second ends and an axis of elongation, and an ear portion integral with the body portion at its first end and making an angle of about 45.degree.-100.degree. (e.g. 90.degree.) with respect to the axis of elongation. Both the body portion and the ear portion are of resilient material, such as resilient plastic, and are typically hollow. An opening is provided in the ear portion large enough to receive a line therein for tying the fender to a cleat or support on a boat or dock. The contour between the ear portion and the body portion roughly conforms to the gunwale of a low freeboard boat. The fender may be attached to a boat, or it may be attached to a dock, so as to protect the boat from impacting the dock.

Abstract: A boat windshield, and labor saving method of manufacturing the boat windshield, are provided. The conventional components of a generally polygonal configuration frame, a piece of boat windshield sheet material that is transparent, and a mechanism for connecting the frame to a boat so as to construct a boat windshield are utilized. However the flexible gasket material that is provided in an inwardly facing channel of the frame, instead of being a number of discrete pieces which are cut and fit together at the corners, comprises an integral single piece of flexible (preferably elastomeric) material having continuous and integral corners corresponding to and disposed within the channels of the frame, the corners between the frame sides. The integral gasket corners are preferably produced by transfer molding. Only a small amount of caulk is used at the frame corners.

Abstract: Sections for the windshield of a boat are provided with each section having a transparent material with a continuous frame about the section including a bottom rail, a sub-top and verticals along opposite side edges. The sections may be manufactured and shipped in their sectional configuration and assembled on the boat with the verticals joining adjacent sections. To simulate the appearance of a unitary windshield, a top rail overlies aligned sub-tops. Seals are provided along the front and rear portions of the joint between the top rail and the sub-tops.

Abstract: A traction bending apparatus bends workpieces (such as tubes and aluminum extrusions) with good thickness and wrinkling control, in circular arcs or in shapes clearly distinct from circular arcs, with cold forging of the workpieces for springback control, with smooth symmetric bending of symmetrical parts, and with smooth bending of non-symmetrical parts, without jaw marks. The apparatus can readily effect multi-point bending and can be used with workpieces of any length. A stationary die support mounts a die adjacent a first end of the support, and has first and second control arms pivotally mounted to the die support second end. The first and second linear actuators, preferably hydraulic cylinder assemblies with piggyback pneumatic cylinder assemblies, are connected to the control arms to provide powered pivoting movement thereof. First and second traction arms are pivotally mounted to the control arm and have first and second workpiece engaging rollers.

Abstract: A low drag buoy uses diameter reductions and spoilers of a buoyant body surface to reduce the drag. An end structure at one end of a buoyant body allows connection of that end to a line, and a number of different diameter portions are provided between the ends of the body, a step reduction in diameter being provided at a juncture between each of the different diameter portions. A spoiler is provided on the larger diameter portion at each juncture, the spoiler typically being a flipper extending circumferentially outwardly from the larger diameter portion at each juncture, with a ramp surface leading from the body to the flipper, and a substantially flat and radially extending surface of the flipper opposite the ramp. The flipper typically extends outwardly from the body about 0.04-0.08 inches, and the step reduction at each of the junctures (not counting the flipper) is about 0.1-0.125 inches. The body may have a generally ovoid, cylindrical, or other body of revolution configuration.

Abstract: A pinless hinge is provided for pivotally connecting panel assemblies (such as boat windshield components), comprising first and second elongated cooperating aluminum extrusion components. The first component has a first flange with a hooked termination of a first distal end, and including an interior arcuate surface having a radius of about 180.degree., and an exterior projecting surface opposite the interior arcuate surface. A second component includes a second body having a second flange extending outwardly and terminating in a second distal end, including a second arcuate surface having a second radius equal to or slightly less than the first radius and an interior opening of approximately the same size and shape as the hooked termination of the first distal end.

Abstract: The mount includes an elongated extrusion of aluminum having upper, intermediate and lower portions connected one to the other. The upper portion has a generally channel-shaped cross-section for receiving an edge of the curved windshield. The intermediate portion extends along one side of the member and connects to the lower portion. The lower portion is arcuate in cross-section, terminating in a free end spaced from the upper portion along the opposite side of the member. Indicia is provided along the inside of the arcuate portion for locating openings for receiving screws to secure the mounting member to a boat deck. The compound curvature of the windshield glass is accommodated while maintaining continuous flush line contact between the mount and the deck.

Abstract: Nun, can and danger buoys all have the same basic configuration. A central plastic pipe extends concentrically within an outer plastic shell. The outer plastic shell may be of one piece, or have a one piece bottom portion and a separable upper shell member. The outer plastic shell includes a first end portion which surrounds, and closes off, a first end of the pipe, and a counterweight is disposed interiorily of the pipe at its first end. The shell also includes an enlarged midportion which comprises a float and surrounds the pipe at a central portion of the pipe. When the outer plastic shell is of one piece construction, a second end portion extending opposite the first end portion may be shaped either as a tapered cone (and thus configures the buoy as a nun buoy) or may have a generally cylindrical configuration (and thus configured the buoy as a can or danger buoy).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for use in connection with a convertible table, seat structure whereby the back portion of the seat can be moved to a position relative to the seat portion of the seat such that the back portion functions as a table top and incorporates a locking device for securely locking the back portion of the seat when such back portion of the seat has been moved to its table top position.

Abstract: A mount for removably mounting a light to a base member comprising a pair of clevis members. One clevis member is provided with a pair of upstanding spaced arms in which a stem is journaled for rotation and linear translation. A bushing having teeth thereon is mounted on the stem and translatable therewith. The second clevis is provided with a pair of depending arms defining a groove therebetween which fits over the stem within the upstanding arms of the first clevis. At least one face of the second clevis contains teeth which cooperate with the teeth on the bushing to secure one clevis to the other, the bushing being translatable away from the second clevis to permit repositioning and removal of the second clevis.