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US 9,783,276 B2Granted
Sailing furler and method
OwnerStephen Colgan Clementinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sail furler for a sail boat and method for furling a sail for reefing or storage and for unfurling a sail for use. Furling and unfurling of the sail may be accomplished from the cockpit of the sailboat. A mandrel is mounted to the mast extending generally parallel to the boom and attached to the aft end of boom by an aft plate. The mandrel is mounted in bearings and provided with a removable crank for rotation. The mandrel is connected to the mast by a universal joint and bearing structure over which is provided an outer cylinder. A cylinder and resilient sleeve may be provided on the mandrel. A reef brake extends from the mandrel into contact with the boom to prevent rotation for reefing the sail. A slide guard may be mounted at the mast end of the mandrel.
Claims21
A sail furler, comprising:
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end, the mandrel being configured for attaching to a sail of a sailboat;
- an aft plate at the first end of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting the mandrel in parallel to a boom or spar of a sailboat;
- a bearing at the second end of the mandrel, the bearing being configured for mounting the second end of the mandrel to a mast of the sailboat in parallel to the boom or spar, the mandrel being rotatable in the bearing;
- a rotating apparatus connected to the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel, the rotating apparatus being operable to rotate the mandrel so as to selectively furl the sail onto the mandrel or unfurl the sail from the mandrel.
1 more element
A sail furler, comprising:
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end, the mandrel being configured for attaching to a sail of a sailboat;
- an aft plate at the first end of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting to a boom or spar of a sailboat;
- a bearing at the second end of the mandrel, the bearing being configured for mounting to a mast of the sailboat, the mandrel being rotatable in the bearing;
- a rotating apparatus connected to the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel, the rotating apparatus being operable to rotate the mandrel so as to selectively furl the sail onto the mandrel or unfurl the sail from the mandrel;
- and
- a cylinder on the mandrel, the sail being attached to the mandrel by being attached to the cylinder.
3 more elements
A sail furler, comprising:
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end, the mandrel being configured for attaching to a sail of a sailboat;
- an aft plate at the first end of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting to a boom or spar of a sailboat;
- a bearing at the second end of the mandrel, the bearing being configured for mounting to a mast of the sailboat, the mandrel being rotatable in the bearing;
- and
- a rotating apparatus connected to the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel, the rotating apparatus being operable to rotate the mandrel so as to selectively furl the sail onto the mandrel or unfurl the sail from the mandrel,
- the rotating apparatus including a crank removably attached to the first end of the mandrel.
3 more elements
A sail furler, comprising:
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end, the mandrel being configured for attaching to a sail of a sailboat;
- an aft plate at the first end of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting to a boom or spar of a sailboat;
- a bearing at the second end of the mandrel, the bearing being configured for mounting to a mast of the sailboat, the mandrel being rotatable in the bearing;
- a rotating apparatus connected to the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel, the rotating apparatus being operable to rotate the mandrel so as to selectively furl the sail onto the mandrel or unfurl the sail from the mandrel, the rotating apparatus includes a furling line selectively wound around the mandrel;
- a plurality of guides configured for mounting along the boom of the sailboats so that the furling line extends through the plurality of guides and along the boom;
- and
- a line gripper configured for mounting on the boom of the sailboat and for receiving the furling line, the line gripper being selectively operable to grip the furling line.
4 more elements
A sail furler, comprising:
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end, the mandrel being configured for attaching to a sail of a sailboat;
- an aft plate at the first end of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting to a boom or spar of a sailboat;
- a bearing at the second end of the mandrel, the bearing being configured for mounting to a mast of the sailboat, the mandrel being rotatable in the bearing;
- a rotating apparatus connected to the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel, the rotating apparatus being operable to rotate the mandrel so as to selectively furl the sail onto the mandrel or unfurl the sail from the mandrel,
- a spherical bearing mounted in the aft plate, the mandrel extending though the spherical bearing;
- and
- a hinge in the aft plate disposed for selective pivoting of a first portion of the aft plate relative to a second portion of the aft plate.
4 more elements
A sail furler, comprising:
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end, the mandrel being configured for attaching to a sail of a sailboat;
- an aft plate at the first end of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting to a boom or spar of a sailboat;
- a bearing at the second end of the mandrel, the bearing being configured for mounting to a mast of the sailboat, the mandrel being rotatable in the bearing;
- a rotating apparatus connected to the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel, the rotating apparatus being operable to rotate the mandrel so as to selectively furl the sail onto the mandrel or unfurl the sail from the mandrel,
- a universal joint connected to the second end of the mandrel;
- and
- a mast plate connected to the universal joint, the mast plate being configured for mounting to the mast of the sailboat.
4 more elements
A sail furler, comprising:
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end, the mandrel being configured for attaching to a sail of a sailboat;
- an aft plate at the first end of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting to a boom or spar of a sailboat;
- a bearing at the second end of the mandrel, the bearing being configured for mounting to a mast of the sailboat, the mandrel being rotatable in the bearing;
- a rotating apparatus connected to the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel, the rotating apparatus being operable to rotate the mandrel so as to selectively furl the sail onto the mandrel or unfurl the sail from the mandrel;
- and
- a reefing brake mounted to the mandrel, the reefing brake being operable to selectively inhibit unfurling of the sail by inhibiting rotation of the mandrel, the reefing brake including:
- a reef brake lever mounted for pivoting movement between a first position and a second position, the reef brake lever being disposed parallel to the mandrel in the first position, the reef brake lever extending radially from the mandrel in the second position.
4 more elements
A sail furler, comprising:
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end, the mandrel being configured for attaching to a sail of a sailboat;
- an aft plate at the first end of the mandrel, the mandrel being rotatable relative to the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting to a boom or spar of a sailboat;
- a bearing at the second end of the mandrel, the bearing being configured for mounting to a mast of the sailboat, the mandrel being rotatable in the bearing;
- a rotating apparatus connected to the mandrel at the first end of the mandrel, the rotating apparatus being operable to rotate the mandrel so as to selectively furl the sail onto the mandrel or unfurl the sail from the mandrel;
- and
- a slide guard mounted at the second end of the mandrel, the slide guard extending radially from the mandrel, the slide guard being configured for mounting to the mast.
3 more elements
A sail furler for use on a sailboat having a mast and a boom and a sail, comprising
- a mandrel having a first end and a second opposite end;
- a cylinder mounted coaxially with the mandrel so that the first end of the mandrel extends from the cylinder;
- an aft plate having an aft plate bearing, the first end of the mandrel extending through the aft plate bearing, the aft plate bearing being constructed to permit rotation of the mandrel in the aft plate, the aft plate being configured for mounting to a boom of a sailboat;
- a crank selectively connectable to the first end of the mandrel;
- a universal joint connected to the second end of the mandrel, the universal joint including a bearing constructed to permit rotation of the mandrel relative to the mast of the sailboat;
- a mast plate configured for mounting to the mast of the sailboat, the universal joint being connected to the mast plate;
- a sleeve mounted on the cylinder and extending over the universal joint;
- and
- a sail connecting apparatus on the sleeve.
6 more elements
An apparatus for controlling a foot of a sail, comprising:
- a first elongated member mounted connected to the foot of the sail at a plurality of connection locations along the first elongated member, the first elongated member being rotatable so that the foot of the sail wraps around the first elongated member, the first elongated member having a first end;
- a second elongated member disposed parallel to and spaced from the first elongated member, the second elongated member having a first end;
- a connector connecting the first end of the first elongated member to the first end of the second elongated member;
- at least one line connected to the second elongated member to control a vertical and horizontal position of the second elongated member;
- and
- the second elongated member controlling a vertical and horizontal position of the first elongated member.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.