Method of detecting wind at a mid-point of a sail and means therefor

Claim 2

Wind indication means particularly adapted to be mOunted at a selected mid-point on the surface of a sail, said wind indication means comprising: a button member; said button member being adapted to extend partially through the surface of the sail; a reception member; connection means on said button member and said reception member selectively connecting said button member and said reception member for preventing said button member from withdrawing through the sail after said button member has been partially extended through the sail; and at least one relatively long flexible strip connected to said button member whereby the wind on the sail will cause said flexible strip to flow along the surface of the sail.

Claim 3

The wind indication means set forth in claim 1 wherein said button member comprises: a flange portion; a stem portion extending from a central portion of said flange portion; said stem portion being adapted to extend through the surface of the sail; and wherein said connection means comprises: an enlargement on said stem portion of predetermined diameter; and a wall on said reception member forming an opening extended from a first face to a second face of said reception member, said opening being of a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of said enlargement and adapted to receive said enlargement therethrough in an interference fit, said wall extending a minimum of over one-half way around said stem portion when said enlargement is received within said opening.

Claim 4

The wind indication means set forth in claim 2 wherein said reception member comprises: a body having a predetermined thickness through which said opening extends from a first face to a second face on said body; a first and a second counterbore around said opening forming an annular relief area around said opening at said first and second body faces, respectively, said first counterbore being deeper from said first body face than said second counterbore is from said second body face whereby said reception member may be connected to said button member with said first body face facing the sail when the sail is thin and said second body face facing the sail when the sail is thick.

Claim 5

The wind indication means set forth in claim 2 wherein said enlargement comprises: a conically shaped body projecting away from said flange portion, said conically shaped body having a pointed portion for facilitating the movement of said stem portion through a sail, said conically shaped body being of a plastic material and having a predetermined length in the direction which it extends away from said flange portion, said predetermined length being greater than the depth of either said first or said second counterbore, whereby said stem portion may be inserted through a sail and then said pointed portion can be easily removed substantially flush with the face of said reception member which is away from said button member.

Claim 6

The wind indication means set forth in claim 2 wherein: said wall on said reception member extends all the way around said opening.

Claim 7

The wind indication means set forth in claim 2 wherein said one flexible strip is adapted to be connected between said flange portion and the sail and wherein is included: a second flexible strip adapted to be connected between the sail and said reception member.

Claim 8

The wind indication means set forth in claim 2 wherein: said reception member is connected to said stem portion at a distance from said flange portion slightly greater than the thickness of the sail.

Claim 9

In combination with the wind indication means set forth in claim 2: a sail having first and second surfaces; said flange portion being on said first surface and said reception member being on said second surface; said one flexible strip having one end connected to said button member on said first side of said sail.

Claim 10

The combination recited in claim 8 wherein: said one flexible strip is folded over on itself at said one end, and sAid strip is connected to said button member by said stem portion being extended through said one end.

Claim 11

The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said reception member comprises: a body having a predetermined thickness through which said opening extends from a first face to a second face on said body; a first and a second counterbore around said opening forming an annular relief area round said opening at said first and second body faces, respectively, said first counterbore being deeper from said first body face than said second counterbore is from said second body face whereby said reception member may be connected to said button member with said first body face facing the sail when the sail is thin and said second body face facing the sail when the sail is thick.

Claim 12

The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said enlargement comprises: a conically shaped body projecting away from said flange portion, said conically shaped body having a pointed portion for facilitating the movement of said stem portion through a sail, said conically shaped body being of a plastic material and having a predetermined length in the direction which it extends away from said flange portion said predetermined length being greater than the depth of either said first or said second counterbore, whereby said stem portion may be inserted through a sail and then said pointed portion can be easily removed substantially flush with the face of said reception member which is away from said button member.

Claim 15

The method set forth in claim 12 including the steps of: forcing the end of said stem portion through one end of a second relatively long flexible strip, and locating said one end of said second strip in contact with the other side of the sail; placing a reception member, having an opening therethrough from a first face to a second face, around said stem portion, said opening having a smaller diameter than the diameter of said stem portion; and forcing said stem through said opening whereby said reception member is held to said button member by an interference fit.

Claim 16

The method set forth in claim 12 wherein said reception member has a counterbore around said opening at said second face of said reception member and said stem portion has a conically shaped body at its end which is larger than the main body of said stem portion, said conically shaped body being of greater length than the depth of said counterbore, including the steps of: inserting said conically shaped body through said opening and positioning said stem portion in said counterbore; removing the portion of said conically shaped body which extends out of said counterbore by virtue of said conically shaped body being longer than said counterbore is deep.

Claim 17

The method set forth in claim 12 wherein said reception member has a second counterbore around said opening at said first face which second counterbore is deeper than said first counterbore, including the steps of: observing the distance that said stem portion extends through the sail; determining which face of said reception member should be facing the sail depending upon the distance that said stem portion extends through the sail; and forcing said stem portion through the opening of said reception member with the determined face of said reception member facing the sail.

Claim 18

The method set forth in claim 12 including the steps of: placing one end of a second relatively long flexible strip in Proximity to the end of said stem portion and forcing said stem portion through one end of said second strip before said reception member is received onto said stem portion.

Claim 19

The method set forth in claim 12 including the steps of: forcing a hole in said sail with a separate pointed instrument at the selected location before forcing said stem through the sail.