Foldable Mast Assembly for a Sailing Vessel
AssigneeSusquehanna Yacht Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsCharles W. Knisely, Henry M. Baylor, Matthew A. O'Rourke, Thomas C. Walker, Jacob C.D. Clark
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Abstract
As one non-limiting example, a foldable mast assembly for a sailing vessel is provided. The foldable mast assembly includes a lower mast section; an intermediate mast section having a lower end foldably coupled to an upper end of the lower mast section; an upper mast section having a lower end foldably coupled to an upper end of the intermediate mast section; and a boom coupled to the lower mast section. A locking device internal the mast assembly is also provided to inhibit folding of the mast assembly.
Claims20
A foldable mast assembly for a sailing vessel, comprising:
- a lower mast section;
- an intermediate mast section having a lower end foldably coupled to an upper end of the lower mast section;
- an upper mast section having a lower end foldably coupled to an upper end of the intermediate mast section;
- and
- a boom coupled to the lower mast section.
A foldable mast assembly for a sailing vessel, comprising:
- an upper mast section including a first track segment at a stern side of the upper mast section, the first track segment being adapted to guide a luff edge of a sail between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration of the sail;
- an intermediate mast section including a second track segment at a stern side of the intermediate mast section, the second track segment being adapted to guide the luff edge of the sail between the raised configuration and lowered configuration;
- a first hinge assembly foldably coupling a lower end of the upper mast section at a bow side of the upper mast section to an upper end of the intermediate mast section at a bow side of the intermediate mast section.
A foldable mast assembly for a sailing vessel providing at least an erected position and a folded position, comprising:
- a lower mast section;
- a stepping support fixedly coupling the lower mast section to a sailing vessel;
- an intermediate mast section having a lower end rotationally coupled to an upper end the lower mast section by a first hinge assembly that permits an upper end of the intermediate mast section to rotate from the erected position toward the stern of the sailing vessel and into the folded position without unstepping the lower mast section from the stepping support;
- and
- an upper mast section having a lower end rotationally coupled to an upper end of the intermediate mast section by a second hinge assembly that permits an upper end of the upper mast section to rotate from the erected position toward the bow of the sailing vessel and into the folded position without unstepping the lower mast section from the stepping support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.