US3623445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sailboat traveler apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-04-06
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1990-04-06
Abstract
Abstract Traveler apparatus including an extruded track having a top groove and oppositely opening side grooves, and a traveler of Ushaped cross section overlying the track with two sets of side rollers in the side grooves and a set of top rollers on the top groove. Each side set comprises three rollers, the center roller of each set being offset downwardly to increase the effective width of the set. The track is attached by bolts through the bottom of the top groove, and a short section of the same shape as the traveler is bolted to each end of the track.
Inventors
- 👤 Tracy S Holmes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:18
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H9/00; B63H9/04; B63H9/08; B63H9/10; B63H2009/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, and including first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface, each of said grooves having spaced sidewalls forming ways in said track; a traveler movable back and forth along said track, said traveler comprising a car having a wall overlying the top wall of said track, sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces of said track, first and second sets of rollers journaled on said sidewalls and disposed, respectively, in said first and second grooves, and a third set of rollers journaled on said overlying wall and disposed in said third groove, each of said sets of rollers including at least two rollers spaced apart longitudinally of said track and disposed between the sidewalls of the associated groove in closely spaced relation therewith; said first and second sets comprising three rollers each, the middle roller of each set being offset away from the other two rollers of the set, and the widths of said first and second grooves being greater than the spacing between remote sides of the rollers therein; and means on said car for connecting the car to a movable portion of a sail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, and including first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface, each of said grooves having spaced sidewalls forming ways in said track; a traveler movable back and forth along said track, said traveler comprising a car having a wall overlying the top wall of said track, sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces of said track, first and second sets of rollers journaled on said sidewalls and disposed, respectively, in said first and second grooves, and a third set of rollers journaled on said overlying wall and disposed in said third groove, each of said sets of rollers including at least two rollers spaced apart longitudinally of said track and disposed between the sidewalls of the associated groove in closely spaced relation therewith; said first and second sets comprising three rollers each, the middle roller of each set being offset away from the other two rollers of the set, and the widths of said first and second grooves being greater than the spacing between remote sides of the rollers therein; and means on said car for connecting the car to a movable portion of a sail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
195 words
For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, and including first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces having horizontal top and bottom sidewalls, and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface having vertical front and rear sidewalls, the sidewalls of each of said grooves forming a way in said track; a traveler movable back and forth along said track, said traveler comprising a car having a wall overlying the top wall of said track, sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces of said track, first and second sets of rollers journaled on said car sidewalls and disposed, respectively, in said first and second grooves, and a third set of rollers journaled on said overlying wall and disposed in said third groove, each of said sets of rollers including at least two cylindrical rollers spaced apart longitudinally of said track and disposed between the sidewalls of the associated groove in closely spaced relation therewith; and means on said car for connecting the car to a movable portion of a sail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
195 words
For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, and including first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces having horizontal top and bottom sidewalls, and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface having vertical front and rear sidewalls, the sidewalls of each of said grooves forming a way in said track; a traveler movable back and forth along said track, said traveler comprising a car having a wall overlying the top wall of said track, sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces of said track, first and second sets of rollers journaled on said car sidewalls and disposed, respectively, in said first and second grooves, and a third set of rollers journaled on said overlying wall and disposed in said third groove, each of said sets of rollers including at least two cylindrical rollers spaced apart longitudinally of said track and disposed between the sidewalls of the associated groove in closely spaced relation therewith; and means on said car for connecting the car to a movable portion of a sail.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which car is of U-shaped cross section including a crosspiece overlying said top surface, and depending flanges forming said sidewalls of said car, said first and second sets of rollers projecting into said first and second grooves in a longitudinal plane generally parallel to said crosspiece and said third set of rollers projecting into said third groove in a longitudinal plane perpendicular to said crosspiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said track has a bottom flat base wall and two longitudinal walls of inverted L-shaped cross section upstanding from said base wall and defining said grooves, said base wall having a series of holes therein between said upstanding longitudinal walls for attachment of the track to a support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said car is of U-shaped cross section with depending flanges forming said sidewalls, and further including a stop fastened to each end of said track having the same cross-sectional shape as said car.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
206 words
For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces, and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface having upright sidewalls; a traveler movable back and forth along said track and comprising a car of inverted U-shaped cross section with a top wall and depending flanges overhanging the side surfaces of said track, said car having first and second sets of rollers journaled on said flanges and riding in the grooves in said side surfaces, and a third set of generally cylindrical rollers journaled on said top wall and riding in the groove in said top surface; stops at the ends of said track comprising short pieces having the same U-shaped cross-sectional shape as said car, said stops having a crosspiece extending across the ends of said track, and flanges extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of the adjacent end portion of said track; and fasteners connecting the flanges of said stops to the ends of said tracks, said car and said flanges being constructed of different lengths of the same manufactured part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
206 words
For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces, and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface having upright sidewalls; a traveler movable back and forth along said track and comprising a car of inverted U-shaped cross section with a top wall and depending flanges overhanging the side surfaces of said track, said car having first and second sets of rollers journaled on said flanges and riding in the grooves in said side surfaces, and a third set of generally cylindrical rollers journaled on said top wall and riding in the groove in said top surface; stops at the ends of said track comprising short pieces having the same U-shaped cross-sectional shape as said car, said stops having a crosspiece extending across the ends of said track, and flanges extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of the adjacent end portion of said track; and fasteners connecting the flanges of said stops to the ends of said tracks, said car and said flanges being constructed of different lengths of the same manufactured part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said track has a flat base wall and two longitudinal walls of inverted L-shaped cross section upstanding from said base wall and cooperating therewith to define the two grooves in said side surfaces between said base wall and overhanging portions of said L-shaped walls and defining the groove in said top surface between upstanding portions of said L-shaped walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said base wall has a series of holes therein between said L-shaped walls and along the bottom of the groove in said top surface, for connection of said track to a support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |