Folding Bowsprit
OwnerJindrich Dokonalinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The Folding Bowsprit permits deployment of sails from a point forward of the bow on sailing vessels. The folding function allows the sprit to rotate around an axis at ninety degrees to the vessels centerline and permits the end of the sprit to move vertically up or down. This unique ability to fold facilitates: compact stowage when not in use and reduces the overall length of the vessel; adjustment of tack position vertically while sailing; safer and simpler sail handling by accessing the tack point of said sprit within the deck footprint while sailing.
Claims4
The assembled bowsprit forms a structurally rigid triangle. It consists from two equal lengths tubes joined together at one end with head, forming “V”. The open ends are tied together with a tube. This tube is also a hinge along which bowsprit rotates up or down.
The hinge assembly consists from the above mentioned tube and sleeve with bushings. The sleeve is a tube bonded through the hull in a horizontal position, perpendicular to longitude axis with the ends protruding from the hull sides. The sleeve to hull joint shall be water tight, preventing water leaking to the boat.
Bobstay's main function is transferring forces generated by sail and head stay to the boat. Unlike a fixed bowsprit with a fixed length permanent bobstay, the length of the folding bowsprit bobstay is easily adjustable. The bobstay length adjustment allows bowsprit to rotate up or down which is main feature and improvement of the folding bowsprit. The bobstay end is attached to bowsprit head and then led at approximate 45° angle to a pulley attached to boats stem and up to deck level where it is secured at desired length. By loosening up the bobstay, the bowsprit end can rotate up and by tightening the bobstay (shorter length) the bowsprit end is pulled down.
If desired the bobstay tension could be finely adjusted under the load, this could be used for example on racing sailboats where every adjustment can improve boats performance. A good example of the adjustable length bobstay is a similar system used for a sailboat angle boom control called boom yang.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.