Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In combination in a sailboat having a mast and a hull a. a headsail; b. a luff wire running from the mast forwardly and downwardly to the hull and secured to the forward edge of the headsail; c. means rotatably connecting the lower end of the luff wire to the hull; d. means for rotating the lower end of the luff wire so as to furl, unfurl or reef the headsail; e. a halyard running forwardly and downwardly from the mast; and f. a clutch-and-swivel, said clutch having i. a proximal element connected to the upper end of the luff wire, ii. a distal element connected to the lower end of the halyard, iii. means attaching the elements to each other for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with the luff wire and the halyard, iv. means releasably locking the elements to each other, v. means biasing the locking means into a locked mode vi. selectively operable means for nullifying the biasing means so as to permit relative rotation of said elements in an unlocked mode, and vii. cageing means for fixing said elements to a nearby stationary reference point when the elements are in a locked mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In combination in a sailboat having a mast and a hull a. a headsail; b. a luff wire running from the mast forwardly and downwardly to the hull and secured to the forward edge of the headsail; c. means rotatably connecting the lower end of the luff wire to the hull; d. means for rotating the lower end of the luff wire so as to furl, unfurl or reef the headsail; e. a halyard running forwardly and downwardly from the mast; and f. a clutch-and-swivel, said clutch having i. a proximal element connected to the upper end of the luff wire, ii. a distal element connected to the lower end of the halyard, iii. means attaching the elements to each other for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with the luff wire and the halyard, iv. means releasably locking the elements to each other, v. means biasing the locking means into a locked mode vi. selectively operable means for nullifying the biasing means so as to permit relative rotation of said elements in an unlocked mode, and vii. cageing means for fixing said elements to a nearby stationary reference point when the elements are in a locked mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stationary reference point is the head stay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stationary reference point is the mast.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cageing means fixes the distal element to a nearby stationary reference point in both locked and unlocked modes of the elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the biasing means is a spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein the nullifying means is a clutch control lanyard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the clutch control lanyard runs alongside the head stay.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the clutch control lanyard runs alongside the mast.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein a clutch operating lanyard is provided and wherein a tension means is interposed bEtween the clutch control lanyard and the clutch operating lanyard for tensing the clutch control lanyard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein a clutch operating lanyard is provided and wherein a mechanical force advantage means in interposed between the clutch control lanyard and the clutch operating lanyard for reducing the force to be applied to the clutch operating lanyard for shifting said elements from the locked mode into which they are biased to the unlocked mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein the mechanical force advantage means is a pulley system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein a tension means is interposed between the clutch control lanyard and the mechanical force advantage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein the tension means is a rod attached to the clutch operating lanyard, a spring biasing the rod away from the clutch operating lanyard and a pulley system having one pulley carried by the rod, the clutch operating lanyard being trained about said pulley.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
A combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein a tube is provided in which the rod is slideable, the spring being contained in the tube, the one pulley being shiftable in the tube, one end of the clutch operating lanyard being anchored to the tube and the clutch operating lanyard being trained about a second pulley to form reaches that extend in the same direction from opposite segments of the one pulley to supply a two-to-one mechanical force advantage.