Patent US2644980A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3693571A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3693571A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sail rig
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-14
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1990-12-14
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a sail rig adapted for use with any sail propelled vehicle which permits both the tack and the clew of the sail to be positioned independently relative to the body of the vehicle (i.e. the hull). This arrangement permits the vehicle to be sailed much closer into the true wind than has heretofore been possible. In the preferred embodiment, the head or peak of a generally symmetrical generally triangular sail is rotatably fastened to a mast structure which mast structure is otherwise out-of-contact with the sail and the tack is fastened to a thrust spar which in turn is pivotally attached to the deck of the vehicle. Preferably the luff of the sail is provided with a stiffening member which may be a curved luff spar where the luff itself is curved and the foot of the sail with a boom. Manipulation of the thrust boom permits the leading edge or luff of the sail to be positioned at any angle of arc up to 90* or beyond on either side of the fore and aft centerline of the hull. The position of the clew is manipulated in the normal manner for a fore and aft rig by a main sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Earle F Hiscock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:17
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B15/00; B63B15/0083; B63H; B63H9/00; B63H9/04; B63H9/06; B63H9/068; B63B2015/0016; B63B2015/0025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A sail rig for a sail propelled vehicle comprising a sail, means for supporting the head of said sail in an elevated position to pivot freely about a single point above said vehicle, which point is substantially fixed relative to said vehicle, means independent of said supporting means for positioning the tack of said sail Relative to said vehicle along an arc centered at a fixed point on said vehicle substantially below said pivot point and separate means for positioning the clew of said sail relative to said vehicle along an arc centered approximately on said tack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A sail rig for a sail propelled vehicle comprising a sail, means for supporting the head of said sail in an elevated position to pivot freely about a single point above said vehicle, which point is substantially fixed relative to said vehicle, means independent of said supporting means for positioning the tack of said sail Relative to said vehicle along an arc centered at a fixed point on said vehicle substantially below said pivot point and separate means for positioning the clew of said sail relative to said vehicle along an arc centered approximately on said tack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 1 wherein the foot of the sail is provided with a boom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 1 where the luff of said sail is provided with stiffening means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 3 wherein the luff stiffening means comprises a luff spar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for positioning the tack includes a thrust boom, one end of which is pivotally attached to said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pivot to which the thrust boom is attached is substantially axially aligned with the pivot to which the head of the sail is attached.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 5 wherein means are provided to rotatably position said thrust boom relative to said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 7 wherein said thrust boom positioning means includes a pair of fore sheets running between said thrust boom and said vehicle one on each side of said thrust boom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 7 wherein retraction means are provided to return said thrust boom toward a fore and aft position if said positioning means are released.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting the head of the sail includes a mast structure mounted on said vehicle which mast structure except for the point about which the head of said sail pivots is entirely out of contact with said sail.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foot of the sail is provided with a boom, the luff is provided with stiffening means comprising a luff spar, and said boom is pivotally mounted at one end of said luff spar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A sail rig for a sail propelled vehicle which comprises a sail, means including a mast structure mounted on said vehicle for pivotally supporting the head of said sail to pivot freely about a single substantially fixed point, said point being substantially above the centerline of said vehicle at a suitable position fore and aft, a boom at the foot of said sail to which at opposite ends the tack and the clew of said sail are attached, a thrust boom which at one end is pivotally attached to said vehicle and to which at the other end the tack end of said boom is pivotally attached, means for rotatably positioning said thrust boom relative to said vehicle and means including a main sheet for positioning the clew end of said boom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A sail rig for a sail propelled vehicle which comprises a sail, means including a mast structure mounted on said vehicle for pivotally supporting the head of said sail to pivot freely about a single substantially fixed point, said point being substantially above the centerline of said vehicle at a suitable position fore and aft, a boom at the foot of said sail to which at opposite ends the tack and the clew of said sail are attached, a thrust boom which at one end is pivotally attached to said vehicle and to which at the other end the tack end of said boom is pivotally attached, means for rotatably positioning said thrust boom relative to said vehicle and means including a main sheet for positioning the clew end of said boom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 12 wherein the luff of the sail is provided with a stiffening member which extends between the pivot at the head of the sail and the free end of the thrust boom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 12 wherein the pivot at the head of the sail and the pivot at which the thrust boom is attached to the vehicle are substantially axially aligned one vertically above the other relative to said vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 14 wherein means are provided at the junction between said thrust boom and said luff stiffening member to prevent the twisting of said stiffening member relative to said thrust boom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sail is symmetrical and wherein the effective length of the thrust boom is substantially one-half the length of the boom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 15 wherein the sail has substantially the shape of a isosceles triangle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for rotatably positioning said thrust boom includes a pair of fore sheets arranged between the thrust boom and the vehicle, one on each side of the thrust boom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sail rig as claimed in claim 18 wherein retractor means are provided between said thrust boom and the front of said vehicle to retain the thrust boom toward the fore and aft position whenever both fore sheets are released.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3195494A
Cited
US3396689A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |