Furling sail system
AssigneeHarken, Inc.
InventorsGreg Hartlmeier, Thomas Omohundro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A furling sail system for rotatably dispensing and retrieving a furling sail has a rotating swivel and drum for attachment to the sail. Each of the drum and swivel have a body with a perimeter, with cordage attachment means on the body for attaching the furling sail with a length of cordage. The cordage attachment means have a pair of cooperating passages for guiding a length of cordage about at least 40% of the respective body perimeter.
Claims24
A furling sail system for deploying and storing a furling sail;
- the system for connecting to a sail with a length of cordage;
- the system comprising:
- a) at least a rotating member for attachment to the furling sail;
- said rotating member having a body with a perimeter;
- and
- b) cordage attachment means on said rotating member;
- said cordage attachment means for guiding the length of cordage about at least a portion of said rotating member perimeter.
A furling sail swivel for attachment to a furling sail head with a length of cordage;
- the system comprising:
- a) a top body element;
- b) a bottom body element rotatably connected to said top body element, having a perimeter, having a central centrifugal plane;
- and
- c) a pair of channels on said bottom body element for attaching the length of cordage to the swivel, each of said pair of channels cooperating with one another whereby the length of cordage may be passed through one of said pair of channels, around a portion of said bottom body element perimeter, and through the other of said pair of channels;
- each said pair of channels having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis oriented at an angle downward from said bottom body element central centrifugal plane.
A furling sail drum for attachment to a furling sail tack with a length of cordage;
- the system comprising:
- a) a spool;
- b) a body connected to said spool having a perimeter, having a central centrifugal plane;
- and
- c) cordage attachment means comprising a pair of channels on said body for attaching the length of cordage to the drum, each of said pair of channels cooperating with one another whereby the length of cordage may be passed through one of said pair of channels, around a portion of said body perimeter, and through the other of said pair of channels;
- each of said pair of channels having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis oriented at an angle outward from said body central centrifugal plane.
A furling sail system for connection to a furling sail head with a first length of cordage and for connection to a furling sail tack with a second length of cordage;
- the system comprising:
- a) a furling swivel for attaching the furling sail head, said swivel having:
- i) a top body element;
- ii) a bottom body element rotatably connected to said top body element;
- said bottom body element having a perimeter;
- iii) first cordage attachment means on said bottom body element, said first cordage attachment means for guiding the first length of cordage about a portion of said bottom body element perimeter;
- and
- b) a rotating drum for attaching the furling sail tack, said drum connected to said swivel by the furling sail;
- said drum having:
- i) a spool and a body, said body connected to said spool;
- said body having a perimeter;
- ii) second cordage attachment means on said drum body;
- said second cordage attachment means for guiding the second length of cordage about a portion of said body perimeter.
A method for attaching a furling sail to a furling sail system rotating member with a length of cordage, the sail having an eyelet;
- the rotating member having a perimeter;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- a) passing the length of cordage through the sail eyelet;
- passing the length of cordage through cordage attachment means on the furling sail system rotating member, and closing the length of cordage by attaching its two ends to one another.
A method for attaching a furling sail to a furling sail system rotating member with a length of cordage, the sail having an eyelet, the rotating member having a perimeter;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- a) passing the length of cordage through the sail eyelet;
- passing the length of cordage through a first channel on the furling sail system rotating member, passing the length of cordage about a portion of the rotating member perimeter, passing the length of cordage through a second channel on the rotating member;
- and
- b) closing the length of cordage by attaching its two ends to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.