Ships – Sail or control means therefor – Specific sail structure or arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-24
2001-03-20
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Ships
Sail or control means therefor
Specific sail structure or arrangement
C114S039260
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202582
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to monohull and multihull sailboats, and more particularly relates to sailboats of the general type of sailboat known as a proa.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Proa type sailboats are well known in the related art. A proa sailboat typically has two hulls with bows or water cutting pointed ends on each end of the hulls. The hulls are substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal transverse center line, so that the sailboat can move in either direction with equal facility. Typically, there is a larger size main hull and a smaller size outrigger hull outwardly attached from the main hull. Also, the outrigger hull is attached on the windward side of the main hull, which is the side of the main hull that the wind first passes over. A platform can cover the area between the two hulls. Also, the mast and sail are mounted on the main hull, with one corner of the essentially isosceles triangular shaped sail attached to the top of the mast. Normally, the proa sailboat does not include a boom, and the bottom edge of the sail remains essentially parallel to the water surface, for all directions of sailing. Normally the main hull includes a rudder at each end to steer or change the direction of the sailboat. During sailing, the operator normally sits over the outrigger hull or on the platform located between the main hull and the outrigger hull.
In operation, a proa can be maneuvered to sail downwind, across the wind or upwind by tacking. In sailing upwind, the procedure differs from that which is practiced by a conventional sailboat having a pointed bow and a flat stern. In a conventional sailboat, during tacking, the bow is always the leading end of the boat. Also, in a conventional sailboat, in order to sail upwind the sailboat must change directions (tack) so that the wind blows over first one side of the sailboat and then when the sailboat direction changes, the wind then blows over the other side of the boat. When the boat changes its direction, the sail and the boom swing over to the other side of the sailboat. Since the boat changes directions, and the wind comes over first one side and then over the other side of the sailboat, a conventional sailboat is designed to be symmetrical in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hull.
For a proa, in moving upwind, the wind will always blow over the same one side of the sailboat. In tacking, the sail is adjusted and the rudder is moved such that the sailboat changes directions where the leading end going forwards before a tack becomes the trailing end going backwards after the tack. The side of the sailboat that the wind passes over first is known as the windward side, and the opposite side of the sailboat is known as the leeward side. Therefore in a proa, the windward side is always the same side of the sailboat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides many improvements over a conventional proa type sailboat. One object of the present invention is to provide a sailboat with a main hull that will have an optimum shape for the sailboat at rest, under way with light winds and under way in heavy winds. Attached to the main hull is an outrigger hull. The outrigger hull is attached to the main hull with telescoping arms that are resiliently mounted to the main hull. Being unlike a typical proa, in the present invention, the operator sits in the main hull and the outrigger hull extends outwardly from the main hull from the leeward side rather than from the windward side of the main hull.
Taken in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main hull, the sailboat of the present invention is asymmetrically shaped. Hereafter, in the present invention, the side of the main hull that has the extendable outrigger hull will be referred to the “leeward” side of the sailboat, and the side of the main hull that does not have the outrigger hull will be referred to as the “windward” side of the sailboat. When the sailboat is at rest and not moving, the main hull includes an essentially flat portion of the main hull that lies essentially parallel to the water surface. A keel is rigidly attached to the main hull and traverses down the longitudinal underwater length of the main hull. The keel can be mounted so that the bottom of the keel leans toward the leeward side of the main hull. This mounting allows the keel to lie essentially in a perpendicular direction to the water surface when the sailboat is in heavy winds that cause the sailboat to tip toward the leeward side of the sailboat. The keel helps prevent the sailboat from being pushed sideways by the wind force, and by being perpendicular to the water surface, the keel presents a greater surface area to counteract the sideways wind force. The flat portion of the main hull, extends outwardly from the keel to the windward side of the main hull. In addition, a sponson protrudes from the flat portion of the main hull and forms a portion of the windward side of the main hull. In combination, when the sailboat is at rest, the flat portion of the main hull and the sponson provide buoyancy to support the weight of the sailboat and of an operator. At a dock, when the operator steps onto the windward side of the sailboat, the sailboat tips and causes the sponson to further enter the water providing additional buoyancy to support the weight of the operator. Therefore, the sponson can prevent the sailboat from tipping over when an operator is stepping onto the sailboat. Also, when the sailboat is at rest, the outrigger hull can be fully extended away from the main hull to prevent the sailboat from tipping over in the leeward direction, if the operator moves to the leeward side of the main hull. Also, the sailboat can be propelled with paddles or oars.
When the sailboat is moving under light wind conditions, a different portion of the main hull is in contact with the water. Since the wind is tipping the sailboat toward the leeward side, the sponson is now removed from the water, thereby eliminating the water drag that would be created by the sponson. In a light wind, the sailboat operator can move toward the windward side of the main hull, and can counteract the tipping force of the wind, so that the sailboat can sail in an upright position. In this upright position, the sponson and the outrigger hull are removed for the water. This results in minimal drag with only a portion of the main hull in contact with the water. The portion of the main hull in contact with the water includes a portion of the flat portion of the main hull along with a portion of the main hull referred to as the light wind portion of the main hull. Also, the keel attached to the main hull, helps prevent the sailboat from being pushed toward the leeward side. The light wind portion of the main hull extends upwardly from the keel to the leeward side of the main hull. In light winds, the sailboat main hull is not planing across the water surface but is acting as a displacement hull. With a displacement hull, the maximum speed of the hull is determined by the ratio of the hull length to the hull width, so that for a given hull length, the speed will increase as the width of the hull decreases. In the present invention, the hull shape in contact with the water in light wind conditions provides a configuration with a reduced width for a given main hull length and total weight being supported. In addition, when the sailboat is essentially in an upright position, the combination of the light wind portion of the main hull and the flat portion of the main hull form a V shape when viewed from the front of the sailboat. This V shape forms a long keel that extends down the length of the sailboat and helps prevent sideways motion toward the leeward side of the sailboat. Since this long main hull shape serves as a keel, the additional keel surface extending into the water can be reduced thereby reducing the water drag created by the keel.
When sailing in heavy winds, different portions of the sailboat are in contact with the water. The portio
Morano S. Joseph
Schmeiser Olsen & Watts
Wright Andrew D.
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