Ships – Sail or control means therefor – Specific sail structure or arrangement
Patent
1997-01-31
1998-09-15
Basinger, Sherman
Ships
Sail or control means therefor
Specific sail structure or arrangement
280213, 280810, B63H 908
Patent
active
058064516
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to symmetrical rigging having improved aerodynamic qualities and simplified handling enabling its user to retain great freedom of movement, in particular for a bicycle while maintaining the bicycle's intrinsic qualities of pedalling, steering, and size, and in particular while leaving the hands free to hold the handlebar under any conditions of use or of transporting the rigging when not in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Numerous wind-driven propulsion systems for application to bicycles have already been proposed. They are difficult to operate or they are unsuitable for riding close to the wind.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to remedy those drawbacks by taking the best points of existing embodiments, and in particular the improvements to rigging constituting the subject matter of the following patents: EP-A-0 151 591, FR-A-1 156 952, and DE-A 3208340.
FR-A-1 156 952 describes an elliptical or circular sail that is positioned relative to the boat by rods, wires, or cables. DE-A 3 208 340 describes a sail frame made up of horizontal and vertical elements. Finally, EP-A-0 151 591 describes a dismountable elliptical frame constituted by two flexible uprights united at their ends which are themselves interconnected by a tension member enabling the curvature of the uprights, and hence the belly of the sail, to be modified, the tension member passing outside a horizontal spar fixed to the uprights.
According to the present invention, the rigging is made asymmetrical by lateral deformation of the frame which is constituted by two vertical uprights and two horizontal bars uniting the ends of the uprights, said deformation being obtained by applying transverse stress to the tension member uniting the vertical bars, which tension member is itself secured to a horizontal spar uniting the uprights by means of a boom pivoted from the middle of the spar.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the rigging is associated with a bicycle by means of two angled bars fixed by hinges to the sides of the rigging, engaged in two parallel tubes situated on either side of the bicycle frame, and capable of pivoting about a horizontal pin secured to the frame. The two tubes also support elements of a "bowsprit" or jib surrounding the steering column and including at one end a control for controlling the position and the profile of the rigging. This control may be a cord passing through a pulley fixed to the jib and connected to a portion of the rigging, in particular the tension member of the rigging.
According to another characteristic of the rigging, the sail is provided around its periphery with lacing which, on being tightened, makes it possible to envelop the uprights and the bars of the rigging in the fold of the sail so that the surface of the sail presents an aerodynamic suction surface relative to the uprights.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear from the following description of particular embodiments, given solely as non-limiting examples, and with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of rigging of the invention fitted to a bicycle;
FIG. 2 is a section view showing how the sail is mounted on the uprights of the rigging;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rigging after being made asymmetrical by laterally displacing its tension member, the rigging being shown immediately above the level of its horizontal spar;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support for the rigging on a bicycle;
FIG. 5 is a profile view of the rigging in a horizontal position above a bicycle; and
FIG. 6 is a profile view of a cyclist transporting the rigging in the folded and wrapped-up condition, and held on the rods which are engaged in the support on the bicycle.
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In FIGS. 1 and 2, the sail 1 is tensioned over the uprights 2 and the bars 3 by enveloping them in a fold tightened by lacing 1 bis (FIG. 2) which serves to control envelopment by the exten
Basinger Sherman
Carn Tanguy
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