Ships – Sail or control means therefor – Having means to tension or stretch sail
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-11
2001-06-26
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Ships
Sail or control means therefor
Having means to tension or stretch sail
C114S109000, C114S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250242
ABSTRACT:
The mainstay rig is an improved standing rig for sailboats and other wind powered vehicles that travel on water, snow, ice, land, or rail.
BACKGROUND
The mainstay rig is an improvement of standing rig contained in claim 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,015,000 to Beringer issued Sep. 17, 1935. In mainstay rig, the mainmast of Beringer patent is replaced with a mainstay, and backstay of Beringer patent is eliminated.
The mainstay rig retains auxiliary mast and forestay of Beringer patent. Mainstay rig can be distinguished from other rigs in that mainstay rig has an aftmost stay which is upright or nearly upright, and a sloping mast. Mainstay rig has broader application and is not limited to proportions, sail number, nor sail placements contained in Beringer's claims. Mainstay rig can be further distinguished by additional elements recited below and in the appended claims.
Herein, longitudinal means a fore and aft direction, or nominal direction of vehicle travel; specifically a direction along or parallel to vehicle centerline.
Herein, lateral means a sideways direction, specifically a direction perpendicular to both vehicle centerline and upright.
Herein, upright, when used in regard to water vehicles coincides with vertical when vehicle is at normal trim in still water and calm air; and in regard to other vehicles coincides with vertical when vehicle is normally loaded at rest on a firm, horizontal surface.
Herein, vehicle means, but is not limited to: a boat, sailboat, catboat, lugboat, sloop, cutter, ketch, schooner, yawl, multihull, catamaran, trimaran, proa, iceboat, landsailer, sandsailer, railcar, and sled; including any part which is permanently or temporarily attached in a fixed or moveable manner to vehicle; and which part may be, but is not limited to: backstay tensioner, beam, block, bobkin, bow, bowsprit, bulkhead, car, chainplate, clamp, crosspiece, deck, doghouse, foot, frame, fuselage, gear, gusset, hull, hydraulic tensioning device, keel, partner, plank, plate, post, sheet, spar, sprit, step, strapping, tab, tabernacle, terminal, timber, track, transom, truck, trunk, tube, turnbuckle, or yard.
SUMMARY
Several objects and advantages of mainstay rig are: a mast is replaced by a stay; less disturbance of airflow at mainsail luff; fewer parts; greater choice of mainsail shape; ability to be used with various masts; ability to be used with sails of every type; ability to use internal or external blocks and halyards.
Mainmast, a major compressive element in Beringer patent, is changed in my mainstay rig to a mainstay, a tensile element. This change reduces size, weight, and cost of mainstay rig.
Less disturbance of airflow across mainsail luff is another advantage of mainstay rig. A sail generates a larger forward component and functions more efficiently in clear, undisturbed air. Mainsail luff used with mainstay rig is supported by a stay well clear of mast. Mainsail luff used with mainstay rig is in clear, undisturbed air. Because of these and other factors, there are more advantages than just relocation of airflow disturbance from one place to another when mast is relocated in mainstay rig. Conversely, in Beringer's patent airflow across mainsail luff is adversely disturbed on all headings by mainmast located at leading edge of mainsail.
Fewer parts is an advantage of mainstay rig. Backstay is eliminated in mainstay rig. This elimination advantageously reduces number of parts in mainstay rig and reduces windage.
Greater choice of mainsail shape is an additional advantage of mainstay rig. Shape of mainsail used with mainstay rig is free of restrictions of a backstay. This advantage allows more efficient energy extraction from wind because sails used with mainstay rig can be shaped with larger roach, larger head, full battens, or any combination of them, or can be shaped closer to an ideal elliptical shape. Whereas, on Beringer patent mainsail is adversely limited to a shape able to pass through triangular opening formed by mainmast, backstay, and deck.
An ability to be used with masts of every section, shape, design, and material is one advantage of mainstay rig. Such sections include but are not limited to: open, hollow, and solid; rectangular, octagonal, circular, oval, and strawberry. Such shapes include but are not limited to: straight, simple curved, compound curved, and tapered. Such designs include but are not limited to: single spreader, double spreader, triple spreader, diamond spreader, and no spreader. Such materials include but are not limited to: wood, metal, fiber, plastic, layered, and cored. Any mast able to carry applicable loads is usable with mainstay rig.
An ability to be used with sails of every type, shape, and material is an advantage of mainstay rig. Such types include but are not limited to: lug, gaff, bermuda, boomless, boomed, club-footed, fully-battened, roller-furled, hanked-on, and one, two, three, or more foresails which include but are not limited to jib, genoa, staysail, and spinnaker. Such shapes include but are not limited to: quadrilateral, triangular, full-roached, and batwing. Such materials include but are not limited to: flax, cotton, Nylon, Dacron, Mylar, Kevlar, and layered.
For offshore, coastal, inland, or hard surface racing vehicles an advantage of mainstay rig is ability to use internal blocks and halyards, and to measure base of foretriangle between forestay and mainstay. For coastal and inland cruising sailboats, and rail vehicles an advantage of mainstay rig is ability to use aligned intermediate stay, mast step, and shroud to steady a self-lowering mast. The mechanism of a self-lowering mast is not part of this application. For world cruising sailboats and other vehicles an advantage of mainstay rig is ability to use external blocks and halyards, and roller furled mainsail similar to roller-furled jib.
Further objects and advantages of mainstay rig will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2015000 (1935-09-01), Beringer
patent: 4672908 (1987-06-01), Goulooze
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