Sailboat spinnaker bowsprit
OwnerBrad Robinsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable bowsprit for a sailboat is suitable for use with an asymmetrical spinnaker. A support element and a bowsprit positioner such as a track mounted within a hull of a sailboat allow the bowsprit to assume either an extended or retracted position. The bowsprit positioner is mounted to the bottom of the hull. The support element is positioned forward of and above a forward position of the positioner. The bowsprit can slide through the support element, to allow an aft end of the bowsprit to be attached to the positioner's forward point in the extended position. When the bowsprit is so positioned, the geometry causes the bowsprit to rotate, placing a forward end thereof substantially further above the waterline than is the deck, allowing the crew a view beneath an asymmetrical spinnaker attached to the bowsprit forward end.
Claims20
A bowsprit extending system for a bow of a sailboat hull having a deck above a waterline of the hull, said system placing an elongate bowsprit having a forward end and an aft end in either a retracted position with the bowsprit forward end near the forward end of the sailboat, or in an extended position with the bowsprit forward end forward of and substantially further above the waterline than is the sailboat deck, said system comprising:
- a) a bowsprit positioner having a forward position and an aft position and mounted generally fore and aft on the sailboat bottom at the bow, said bowsprit's aft end positionable at either of the forward and aft positions of the positioner;
- and
- b) a bowsprit support element mounted on the hull vertically above and forward of the positioner forward position, and in supportive connection to the bowsprit between the ends, said bowsprit having the retracted position when the bowsprit aft end is positioned at the positioner aft position and the extended position when positioned at the positioner forward position, thereby placing the bowsprit when in the extended position with the forward end thereof substantially farther above the waterline than is the deck.
A support system for an elongate bowsprit for a bow of a sailboat hull, said bowsprit having a forward end and an aft end, said system supporting the bowsprit in either a retracted position with the bowsprit forward end near the forward end of the sailboat, or in an extended position with the bowsprit forward end forward of and substantially further above the waterline than is the sailboat hull, said support system contained exclusively within the sailboat hull and supporting the bowsprit when extended, at a predetermined articulation angle about a substantially horizontal axis relative to the sailboat hull, said articulation angle at least 20° greater than the angle of the bowsprit in the retracted position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.