EP0070673A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wind-propelled craft
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1982-07-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A wind-propelled craft is disclosed which comprises a hull (1) supporting a pair of unstayed masts (43 and 44) arranged to pivot about an axis lying in an approximately horizontal plane between a first position, in which one mast (43 or 44) extends substantially vertically and the other (44 or 43) extends generally at right-angles thereto away from the hull (1), and a second position, in which the relative configuration of the masts (43 and 44) is reversed. Each mast (43,44) has a sail (41, 42) attached thereto; whereby, in use, one sail can be trimmed to the wind to provide forward propulsion, while the other sail simultaneously provides upward lift tending to counteract rolling or heeling force applied to the hull (1) by wind impinging on the first sail. A steering control system is also described in which a steering link passes from a control point through the region of the pivot point of a mast to a rudder (2).
Inventors
- 👤 Michael John Menear
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:28
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B32/00; B63B32/60; B63H; B63H8/00; B63H8/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A wind-propelled craft which comprises a hull supporting a pair of unstayed masts arranged to pivot about an axis lying in an approximately horizontal plane between a first position, in which one mast extends substantially vertically and the other extends generally at right-angles thereto away from the hull, and a second position in which the relative confuguration of the masts is reversed, each mast, in use, having a sail attached thereto or incorporating an aerofoil so that one sail or aerofluid can be trimmed to the wind to provide forward propulsion while the other sail or aerofoil simultaneously provides upward lift tending to counteract rolling or heeling force applied to the hull by wind impinging on the first sail or aerofoil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A wind-propelled craft which comprises a hull supporting a pair of unstayed masts arranged to pivot about an axis lying in an approximately horizontal plane between a first position, in which one mast extends substantially vertically and the other extends generally at right-angles thereto away from the hull, and a second position in which the relative confuguration of the masts is reversed, each mast, in use, having a sail attached thereto or incorporating an aerofoil so that one sail or aerofluid can be trimmed to the wind to provide forward propulsion while the other sail or aerofoil simultaneously provides upward lift tending to counteract rolling or heeling force applied to the hull by wind impinging on the first sail or aerofoil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two masts are linked together so that the angle included between the planes of the sails or aerofoils is from about 75° to 1050.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A craft as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the linkage between the masts is adjustable, thereby allowing the angle included therebetween to be varied.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A craft as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the masts are mounted on a common universal joint assembly which permits the masts to pivot about three mutually perpendicular axes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A craft as claimed in claim 4, wherein the common joint is adjustable in height above the deck of the hull.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A craft as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sails or aerofoils are connected by cross-struts at their leading and trailing edges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A craft as claimed in claim 6, wherein the effective length of one or both cross-strut(s) is adjustable so as to provide a means for varying the relative attitude of the sails or aerofoils.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A craft as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cross-strut which connectes the leading edges is shorter than the cross-strut which connects the trailing edges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A sailboard which comprises a hull and a joint assembly having an unstayed mast structure mounted thereon for pivoting movement about an axis lying in an approximately horizontal plane, said mast structure comprising a pair of masts each connected at one end to the joint assembly so as to include between them an angle from about 75° to 105°, each mast carrying a sail attached at one edge thereof to that mast, a first cross-strut linking the masts, a pair of booms each connected at one end to a mast and at the other end to a free end of its associated sail, and a second cross-strut which connects the ends of the booms remote from the masts so as to define, with the booms and first cross-strut,a quadrilateral frame which enables a single crew member to trim one sail to the wind to provide forward propulsion while simultaneously trimming the other sail to the wind to provide lift at the leeward side of the board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A sailboard which comprises a hull and a joint assembly having an unstayed mast structure mounted thereon for pivoting movement about an axis lying in an approximately horizontal plane, said mast structure comprising a pair of masts each connected at one end to the joint assembly so as to include between them an angle from about 75° to 105°, each mast carrying a sail attached at one edge thereof to that mast, a first cross-strut linking the masts, a pair of booms each connected at one end to a mast and at the other end to a free end of its associated sail, and a second cross-strut which connects the ends of the booms remote from the masts so as to define, with the booms and first cross-strut,a quadrilateral frame which enables a single crew member to trim one sail to the wind to provide forward propulsion while simultaneously trimming the other sail to the wind to provide lift at the leeward side of the board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sailboard as claimed in claim 9, wherein there is associated with each boom a steering control and means responsive to the movement of said control for transmitting said movement to a water rudder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sailboard as claimed in claim 10, wherein said steering control comprises a twist grip which is rotatably mounted on each said boom and is connected by at least one control line to said rudder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sailboard as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control line is constrained to follow a path which passes through said joint assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
-13. A sailboard which comprises a hull and a universal joint assembly having an unstayed single mast structure mounted thereon for pivoting movement about three mutually perpendicular axes, said mast structure including a mast having a sail attached at one side thereof to the mast and a frame comprising a pair of boom members connected at one end to the mast and at the other to a free end of the sail so that the sail extends between the booms, and steering means comprising a water rudder connected by at least one control line passing through the region of said universal joint assembly and actuatable by movement of said booms or a hand control associated therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
-13. A sailboard which comprises a hull and a universal joint assembly having an unstayed single mast structure mounted thereon for pivoting movement about three mutually perpendicular axes, said mast structure including a mast having a sail attached at one side thereof to the mast and a frame comprising a pair of boom members connected at one end to the mast and at the other to a free end of the sail so that the sail extends between the booms, and steering means comprising a water rudder connected by at least one control line passing through the region of said universal joint assembly and actuatable by movement of said booms or a hand control associated therewith.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A sailboard as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control line is connected to a rocker bar mounted on said mast and arranged to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the mast, said rocker bar being actuatable by contact with one of said booms when raised or lowered by a crew member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sailboard steering system wherein each boom includes or incorporates a rotatable steering control device and means responsive to rotational movement of said control for transmitting such movement,or a signal related thereto,to a rudder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sailboard steering system wherein each boom includes or incorporates a rotatable steering control device and means responsive to rotational movement of said control for transmitting such movement,or a signal related thereto,to a rudder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A steering system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means responsive to rotational movement comprises one or more lines or cables connected to the rudder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A steering system as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the means responsive to rotational movement of the steering control passes through the joint by which the mast is supported on the hull.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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