Patent EP0471902A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0471902A1
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EP
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Apparatus coupling a sail to a mast
Assignee: GAASTRA SAILS INTERNATIONAL Ltd
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Filing: 1990-08-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-08-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is provided which permits a sail (2) to be switched from non-camber induced mode to camber induced mode simply and effectively. To achieve this a coupling (7) is provided on a mast, the coupling including a pair of arms (14, 15) extending towards the rear of the sail and converging to define an area (16) within which a forward end of a sail and respective batten (6) can move freely. Anchor means in the form of a plate (8) is disposed within the area (16) and receives a forward edge (4) of the sail and respective batten. The plate (8) can be selectively adjustable, by means of a strap (10) between a forward position proximate either side of the mast, at which forward position the sail is in its non-camber induced mode, and a rearward position away from the mast, at which rearward position the sail is in its camber induced mode. In a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus including a sail having one or more battens and one or more couplings (7) of the type described.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher c/o Gaastra Int. Ltd. Campion
- 👤 Mica c/o Gaastra Sails Int. Ltd. Pavlovich
- 👤 Roger c/o Gaastra Sails Int. Ltd. Davies
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:14
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H8/00; B63H8/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for coupling a sail, of the type requiring or including one or more battens, to a mast, the apparatus comprising a collar at least partially surrounding the mast and adapted to be rotatable thereon, a pair of relatively rigid arms extending from either side of the collar proximate the mast in a direction generally towards the rear of the sail, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the arms converge to define an area within which a forward end of the sail and respective batten can move freely, anchor means are provided for receiving said forward edge of the sail and respective batten within said area, the position of said anchor means being selectively adjustable between a forward position proximate either side of the mast at which forward position the batten is relatively uncompressed such that the sail can essentially assume a non-camber induced mode, and a rearward position away from the mast, at which rearward position the batten is relatively compressed such that the sail can essentially assume a camber induced mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for coupling a sail, of the type requiring or including one or more battens, to a mast, the apparatus comprising a collar at least partially surrounding the mast and adapted to be rotatable thereon, a pair of relatively rigid arms extending from either side of the collar proximate the mast in a direction generally towards the rear of the sail, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the arms converge to define an area within which a forward end of the sail and respective batten can move freely, anchor means are provided for receiving said forward edge of the sail and respective batten within said area, the position of said anchor means being selectively adjustable between a forward position proximate either side of the mast at which forward position the batten is relatively uncompressed such that the sail can essentially assume a non-camber induced mode, and a rearward position away from the mast, at which rearward position the batten is relatively compressed such that the sail can essentially assume a camber induced mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 further characterized in that the anchor means is adapted to be fixed to the forward edge of the sail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 further characterized in that said anchor means comprises a relatively rigid plate including a slot for receiving the forward edge of a sail and a further slot for receiving the forward edge of a batten.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to Claim 3 further characterized in that said plate also includes a recess portion of a width greater than the width of each of the arms such that the forward edge of the sail mast take up a position on either side of the mast forward of the arm thereof when the anchor means is in its forward position either side of the mast.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim further characterized in that said anchor means is adjustable between said forward and rearward positions by means of a strap fixed to one arm and releasably securable to the other arm, the anchor means being trapped by the strap such that when the strap is fully tightened the anchor means assumes the rearward position and when the web is fully released, the anchor means assumes the forward position on either side of the mast.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to Claim 5 further characterized in that it includes a spring-biassed switch adapted to trap part of the strap to thus secure the anchor means in any desired position at or between the rearward position and the forward position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 further characterized in that the switch comprises a toggle adjacent to a rib on an arm, with one end of the toggle being biassed against the rib to thus trap part of the strap such that upon pressure being applied to the other side of the toggle, the strap is released.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim further characterized in that it includes a roller at the end of each arm adapted to bear against the batten and/or that part of a sail adjacent the batten to reduce friction therewith during forward or rearward movement of the anchor means and hence sail and batten.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim further characterized in that it includes a rotatable tube within the collar adapted to be slideably received on a mast, the outside of the tube acting, at least in part, as a bearing for the mast to facilitate or improve rotation of the coupling thereon and to reduce friction therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to Claim 9 further characterized in that the tube includes ribs on the inside thereof, the ribs being adapted to bear against the outside of the mast and the space is between the ribs facilitating egress of sand or other unwanted materials.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus comprising a sail of the type requiring or including one or more battens, the sail being connectable to a mast by one or more couplings, each coupling comprising a collar for at least partially surrounding the mast and being adapted to be rotatable thereon, a pair of relatively rigid arms extending from either side of the collar proximate the mast in a direction generally towards the rear of the sail, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the arms converge to define an area within which a forward end of the sail and respective batten can move freely, anchor means are provided for receiving said forward edge of the sail and respective batten within said area, the position of said anchor means being selectively adjustable between a forward position proximate either side of the mast at which forward position the batten is relatively uncompressed such that the sail can essentially assume a non-cambered mode, and a rearward position away from the mast, at which rearward position the batten is relatively compressed such that the sail can essentially assume a camber induced mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
Apparatus comprising a sail of the type requiring or including one or more battens, the sail being connectable to a mast by one or more couplings, each coupling comprising a collar for at least partially surrounding the mast and being adapted to be rotatable thereon, a pair of relatively rigid arms extending from either side of the collar proximate the mast in a direction generally towards the rear of the sail, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the arms converge to define an area within which a forward end of the sail and respective batten can move freely, anchor means are provided for receiving said forward edge of the sail and respective batten within said area, the position of said anchor means being selectively adjustable between a forward position proximate either side of the mast at which forward position the batten is relatively uncompressed such that the sail can essentially assume a non-cambered mode, and a rearward position away from the mast, at which rearward position the batten is relatively compressed such that the sail can essentially assume a camber induced mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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