Device for protecting furling extrusion
OwnerAnthony B Tumasinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A silencing device for an in-mast furling system is used to prevent contact between the furling extrusion and the interior wall of the hollow mast when a mainsail has been removed (such as for winter storage). The silencing device is hoisted onto the hollow mast and furled (or placed) onto the extrusion after the mainsail has been removed. In one configuration, the silencing device comprises a padding of several feet in length that is wrapped in sailcloth. The padding thus covers the extrusion and functions to limit the movement of the extrusion within the mast, eliminating contact between a “bare” extrusion and the interior of the mast, and significantly reducing the potential of fatigue failure for the extrusion itself.
Claims9
A device for protecting an empty furling extrusion within a sailboat mast during times when a mainsail has been removed, the device comprising
- a padded element hoisted along the mast so as to surround at least a portion of the empty furling extrusion, the padded element having a diameter sufficient to reduce a gap between an interior surface of the mast and the empty furling extrusion, preventing physical contact between the furling extrusion and the mast when the mainsail is removed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.