Ships – Sail or control means therefor – Specific sail structure or arrangement
Patent
1983-12-23
1987-03-03
Barefoot, Galen
Ships
Sail or control means therefor
Specific sail structure or arrangement
114 98, 114 39, 16115, 74546, B63H 908
Patent
active
046466703
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD, AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus and method disclosed in said U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,570 represent a major advance in the boardsailing art. ("Boardsailing", "sailboard", etc., comprehend, as employed in this specification and claims, all types of single-person sailing craft in which (a) the operator stands at all times, and (b) the thus-standing operator steers the craft by tilting the mast in various directions. The sailing may occur on water, on land, or on ice or snow. The "board" or other hull means on which the operator stands may float or may be wheeled, have runners or skis, etc.
There are, however, important problems and goals not solved or achieved by the prior art, which art includes (for example) German Utility Model No. 7421380, issued Dec. 12, 1974. (Such Utility Model shows a form of curved single boom that rotates about a generally horizontal axis.) The important problems include, among others, the following: fine coral sand present on many beaches. Boardsailers often drag portions of sailboard rigs across beaches, which can cause sand infiltration into the bearings. Such infiltration is, frequently, not obviated even after the rig is immersed in the water. boom must not seize or bind. Furthermore, and very importantly, the rotation of the boom must not twist or wrap the outer ends of the sail elements about the outer end of the boom. outhauled relationship, relative to each other, in order to achieve the most effective lapped sealing relationship described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,570. Furthermore, it is extremely desirable that the operator be able to achieve a precise desired outhaul adjustment of both sails while he is actually sailing along, and even while leaning back in the balanced condition so characteristic of the sailboarding art, because such adjustment increases the efficiency and speed of sailing on various tacks and with variable wind speeds. sailboarder, or even create pain in, or injury to, his wrist while he hangs on the boom hour after hour, and so that the boom may rotate between close-hauled sail components. without requirement for tools, and without interference with boom rotation or boom angle. relationship whereby the outer boom end sticks out an excessive distance past the sails. and its hardware. The achievement of these major goals is crucial, especially where a drastically novel sail rig must compete commercially with long-known booms (and hardware) of non-rotating construction. (everything except board and mast) can be shipped, stored, and stowed in a relatively small space.
The present invention solves all of the above problems and achieves all of the above goals. Particularly when employed in conjunction with the apparatus and method of said U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,570, there is attained an entire highly-advanced generation of sailboards and rigs therefor.
PRELIMINARY DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one important aspect of the present invention, the boom is provided with an infinitely variable camber (sail curvature along the length of the boom) control located at the forward end of the boom. The forward end of the boom is where the sailor's forward hand grips the boom, to support his weight. (The sailor'aft hand is used not only to support his weight, but to act in controlling the angle between the sail and the wind, and hence has an additional task.) Applicant provides an internal jackscrew having an external tube which acts both as handgrip and as a handle for rotating the jackscrew and thereby changing the length of the boom. The sailor may thus adjust sail camber during either lulls or gusts, without having to let go the boom first or to spill wind from the sail. The jackscrew provides a mechanical advantage far in excess of that of a conventional rope tackle outhaul. Therefore, even a small or weak sailor may easily change camber in the strongest winds in which he can sail.
The boom has a small angle (and is straight) at the forward portion thereof, so that no discomfort will be felt in the sailor
REFERENCES:
patent: 337488 (1886-03-01), Evers
patent: 3285215 (1966-11-01), Potter
patent: 3626886 (1971-12-01), Cafiero
patent: 4044702 (1977-08-01), Jamieson
patent: 4253209 (1981-03-01), Carn
patent: 4448142 (1984-05-01), Pollard
Barefoot Galen
Brahan Thomas J.
LandOfFree
Sail system for sailboards, and boardsailing apparatus and metho does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Sail system for sailboards, and boardsailing apparatus and metho, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sail system for sailboards, and boardsailing apparatus and metho will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1010812