Method and apparatus for compacting sail cars
AssigneeHarken, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Luedtke, Dane Blackburn, Michael Piontek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to method and apparatus for compactly stacking a sail having a tack, clew and head, said sail being mounted to batten or sail cars above a boom when a sail is stowed, furled or fully lowered. More specifically, most of the cars are compacted or stacked by diverting cars onto several lower tracks, such that the height of the stacked cars is approximately halved. Cars adjacent the boom and tack of the sail may be slidably mounted on at least two of said lower tracks, and carrying said sail between said at least two of said lower tracks. If more than two lower storage tracks are used, the height reduction of the stacked cars can be greater.
Claims41
An apparatus for stacking cars carrying the sail of a sail boat, comprising a track along which said cars ride, the track comprising a first, generally straight, vertical upper section having one track rail, said first vertical upper section carrying most of the sail when said sail propels the sailboat and a second lower section including at least a port and a starboard generally straight, vertical storage track rail, said second lower section at least port and starboard storage track rails being below said first section and carrying the sail on said port and starboard tracks storage track rails storing most of said sail when the sail is not propelling the sailboat but is stowed, and guide structure means thereon for guiding cars to opposite tracks rails of the at least port and starboard storage track rails of said lower section, said guide means requiring no user input produce the stacking of said cars on said at least port and starboard track rails of said lower section when said sail is lowered, said guide means requiring no user input to return the cars to a single file on said first generally straight vertical upper section one track rail, when raising said sail and said cars from said at least port and starboard track rails of said lower section said cars being stored on said at least port and starboard storage track rails effectively reducing the at least about one half in vertical height of the stacked cars to their lowest positions when the sail is stowed.
A method for stacking sail cars to effectively reduce a vertical height of the sail cars when stacked upon stowage of the sail, the method comprising the steps of:
- creating a track for engaging the sail cars, the track having an upper, generally straight vertical track centerline section and a lower section including at least a port
- and starboard sail storage tracks below said upper section;
- creating guide means for guiding cars to opposite at least said port and starboard storage tracks of the lower section;
- and
- stowing most of the sail by lowering same along the upper track section until most of the cars are received on said at least port and starboard storage tracks, serving as stowage tracks for the sail when stowed.
An apparatus for compacting sail cars comprising a mast track along which cars of the sail ride and are carried when the sail is raised, the track comprising a single, generally straight vertical upper section and a lower section, for stowing the sail including generally straight, vertical at least a port and a starboard storage track;
- the cars and tracks having switch means for alternately switching cars to opposite port and starboard tracks of the lower section, effectively reducing the vertical height of the stacked cars when the sail is stowed, the track also incorporating structure for maintaining at least the bottom cars of the sail along a centerline of the mast rather than to either side thereof.
An apparatus for stacking cars carrying the sail of a sailboat, comprising a track along which said cars ride, the track comprising a first, vertical upper section having one track rail and a second lower section including at least a port and a starboard track rails, guide structure means thereon for guiding cars to opposite tracks rails of the lower section, effectively reducing the vertical height of the stacked cars when the sail is stowed, switch means between said upper and lower section for transferring cars from between said upper section and said at least port and starboard track rails of said lower section, wherein said cars carry means to stagger said cars on said port and starboard track rails of said lower section, and said means to stagger includes a guide pin that rides in said track.
An apparatus for stacking cars carrying the sail of a sailboat having a boom for the sail, comprising a track along which said cars ride, the track comprising a first, vertical upper section having one track rail and a second lower section including at least a port and a starboard track rails, guide structure means thereon for guiding cars to opposite tracks rails of the lower section, effectively reducing the vertical height of the stacked cars when the sail is stowed, switch means between said upper and lower section for transferring cars from between said upper section and said at least port and starboard track rails of said lower section, wherein one or more cars adjacent said boom are carried by both said port and starboard track rails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.