US4385579A — Sailing craft

Claim 1

Independent Claim 244 words

Sailing craft of the type including a floating hull, a mast secured on the hull, a sail mounted on the mast, and a rudder means, comprising: said mast being pivotally mounted with an articulation near but spaced from its base with respect to a substantially horizontal axis wherein when the mast pivotally oscillates around its axis of articulation, the base of the mast moves substantially transversely from port to starboard, a pair of mobile fins having variable lift movably mounted, each on a respective one of the port and starboard sides of the hull, and means interconnecting said mast and the mobile fins for actuation of the mobile fins, such that the fins act in the water in such a way as to tend under dynamic action of water on the fins to right the hull in a direction opposite to the direction in which the mast pivots, and in which the craft would normally heel under the action of just the wind to which it is exposed, said actuation means comprising a transverse bar in which the base of the mast is entrained, at each end of which there is articulated one end of a connecting rod, whereof the end of the connecting rod opposite the articulation on the said transverse bar is integral with a substantially vertical pivot articulated in a structural element fixed to the hull and around which one said fin, on the port or starboard side, respectively, can rotate.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 244 words

Sailing craft of the type including a floating hull, a mast secured on the hull, a sail mounted on the mast, and a rudder means, comprising: said mast being pivotally mounted with an articulation near but spaced from its base with respect to a substantially horizontal axis wherein when the mast pivotally oscillates around its axis of articulation, the base of the mast moves substantially transversely from port to starboard, a pair of mobile fins having variable lift movably mounted, each on a respective one of the port and starboard sides of the hull, and means interconnecting said mast and the mobile fins for actuation of the mobile fins, such that the fins act in the water in such a way as to tend under dynamic action of water on the fins to right the hull in a direction opposite to the direction in which the mast pivots, and in which the craft would normally heel under the action of just the wind to which it is exposed, said actuation means comprising a transverse bar in which the base of the mast is entrained, at each end of which there is articulated one end of a connecting rod, whereof the end of the connecting rod opposite the articulation on the said transverse bar is integral with a substantially vertical pivot articulated in a structural element fixed to the hull and around which one said fin, on the port or starboard side, respectively, can rotate.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

Craft according to claim 1, characterized in that in a substantially vertical position of the mast, the said port and starboard fins have a substantially zero, and preferably slightly positive, lift.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

Craft according to claim 1 wherein a position of the mast inclined to port, the said port fin has a substantially positive lift while the said starboard fin has a substantially negative lift, and likewise, in a position of the mast inclined to starboard, the said port fin has a substantially negative lift while the said starboard fin has a substantially positive lift.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

Craft according to claim 3 wherein the angle of rotational swing of each of the said port or starboard fins is in the range of about 15° to 45°.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 42 words

Craft according to claim 4, wherein the angle of swing is limited by elastic means supported and rotated like the said fins, on said pivots on which said fins are supported, and swinging between two stops fixed to structures of the hull.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 66 words

Craft according to claim 5, wherein said elastic means are constituted by inflatable tires and the said fins are each articulated around a second substantially horizontal pivot, passing through the said substantially vertical pivot, thereby permitting, in position of transportation over the ground, the said fins to be raised and using the said tires as means to support the craft and run it along the ground.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 200 words

Sailing craft of the type including a floating hull, a mast secured on the hull, a sail mounted on the mast, and a rudder means, comprising: said sail comprises two substantially symmetrical, triangular parts fixed to said mast with a sheet for holding each sail, attached to the lower free end of the sail not fixed to the mast, each sheet passing over a pulley fixed at the end of an arm that can be oriented to port or to starboard, said mast being pivotally mounted with an articulation near but spaced from its base with respect to a substantially horizontal axis, a pair of mobile fins having variable lift movably mounted, each on a respective one of the port and starboard sides of the hull, and means interconnecting said mast and the mobile fins for actuation of the mobile fins such that the fins act in the water in such a way as to tend under dynamic action of water on the fins to right the hull in a direction opposite to the direction in which the mast pivots, and in which the craft would normally heel under the action of just the wind to which it is exposed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 200 words

Sailing craft of the type including a floating hull, a mast secured on the hull, a sail mounted on the mast, and a rudder means, comprising: said sail comprises two substantially symmetrical, triangular parts fixed to said mast with a sheet for holding each sail, attached to the lower free end of the sail not fixed to the mast, each sheet passing over a pulley fixed at the end of an arm that can be oriented to port or to starboard, said mast being pivotally mounted with an articulation near but spaced from its base with respect to a substantially horizontal axis, a pair of mobile fins having variable lift movably mounted, each on a respective one of the port and starboard sides of the hull, and means interconnecting said mast and the mobile fins for actuation of the mobile fins such that the fins act in the water in such a way as to tend under dynamic action of water on the fins to right the hull in a direction opposite to the direction in which the mast pivots, and in which the craft would normally heel under the action of just the wind to which it is exposed.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

Craft according to claim 7 wherein said arms are fixed at the end opposite the one bearing the sheet guide pulley, onto a sleeve in which said lever is rotatably mounted.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 94 words

Craft according to claim 7 wherein each sail part is attached to the mast over short lengths alternating with one another, without leaving substantially free attachment space on the mast, and defining, when the two parts are spread out, one to port, the other to starboard, vent channels for the wind between each sail part and the mast, between two consecutive attachment parts of a given sail part, and not leaving any vent between the mast and the two sail parts when the latter are folded on one another to port or to starboard.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 208 words

Sailing craft of the type including a floating hull, a mast secured on the hull, a sail mounted on the mast, and a rudder means, comprising: said mast being pivotally mounted with an articulation near but spaced from its base with respect to a substantially horizontal axis, a pair of mobile fins having variable lift movably mounted, each on a respective one of the port and starboard sides of the hull, and means interconnecting said mast and the mobile fins for actuation of the mobile fins such that the fins act in the water in such a way as to tend under dynamic action of water on the fins to right the hull in a direction opposite to the direction in which the mast pivots, and in which the craft would normally heel under the action of just the wind to which it is exposed, and further including a lever articulated around a horizontal axis in the median longitudinal plane of the craft and toward its stern part, and which can rotate on itself, the said lever terminating at its upper end above the hull in an operating handle, and at its lower end, below the hull, in a plane in the general shape of a dolphin's tail.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 208 words

Sailing craft of the type including a floating hull, a mast secured on the hull, a sail mounted on the mast, and a rudder means, comprising: said mast being pivotally mounted with an articulation near but spaced from its base with respect to a substantially horizontal axis, a pair of mobile fins having variable lift movably mounted, each on a respective one of the port and starboard sides of the hull, and means interconnecting said mast and the mobile fins for actuation of the mobile fins such that the fins act in the water in such a way as to tend under dynamic action of water on the fins to right the hull in a direction opposite to the direction in which the mast pivots, and in which the craft would normally heel under the action of just the wind to which it is exposed, and further including a lever articulated around a horizontal axis in the median longitudinal plane of the craft and toward its stern part, and which can rotate on itself, the said lever terminating at its upper end above the hull in an operating handle, and at its lower end, below the hull, in a plane in the general shape of a dolphin's tail.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 77 words

Craft according to claim 10 wherein the said plane in the general shape of a dolphin's tail is mounted at the end of the said operating lever articulated around an axis perpendicular to the axis of the lever, and locking means are provided to lock the said plane around the said axis, or to unlock it and permit a limited swinging movement of the said plane around the said axis perpendicular to the axis of the lever.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-05-30	1986-11-29	1987-05-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-05-30	1990-11-29	1991-05-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-05-30	1994-11-29	1995-05-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sailing craft

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