Partially restrained arrangement for the mast and sail of a craft possessing inherent stability

Claim 2

In a wind propelled boat of the sailboard type, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured on the deck of the boat, a portion of said generally cone-shaped member being designed to receive the base of a mast such that it will be movable only for a limited angular extent around interior portions of said generally cone-shaped member, means for securing a lower part of the mast in the apex of said generally cone-shaped member, the front interior of said generally cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, with said front interior merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions to each side of said front portion, thereby to define preestablished locations therein, such that the mast can be moved to a preestablished location that is forward and to the left, or to a preestablished location that is forward and to the right, the interior of said generally cone-shaped member also presenting a rounded location in the aft center such that the mast can be supported and restrained by an interior surface of said generally cone-shaped member when the mast has been moved into any of a plurality of selected positions.

Claim 3

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 1 in which said cone-shaped member is secured apex down on the deck of the boat.

Claim 4

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 1 in which said cone-shaped member is secured apex up on the deck of the boat.

Claim 5

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 1 in which said securing means permits rotation of the mast such that the sail can be reefed.

Claim 6

In a wind propelled boat of the sailboard type, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured on the deck of the boat, a mast step tube designed to receive the base of a mast, and being movably disposed in said cone-shaped member, a connector of a swivel type securing a part of said mast step tube in the apex of said cone-shaped member, the height of said mast step tube being similar to the height of the sidewalls of said cone-shaped member, the front interior of said generally cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, with said front interior merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions to each side of said front portion, thereby to define preestablished locations therein, such that the mast step tube can be moved to a preestablished location that is forward and to the left, or to a preestablished location that is forward and to the right, the interior of said cone-shaped member also presenting a rounded location in the aft center such that the mast step tube can be supported and restrained by an interior surface of said generally cone-shaped member when the mast and mast step tube have been moved into any of a plurality of selected positions.

Claim 7

In a wind propelled boat of the sailboard type, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured on the deck of the boat, a mast step tube designed to receive the base of a mast, and being movably disposed in said cone-shaped member, a connector of a swivel type securing a part of said mast step tube in the apex of said cone-shaped member, the height of said mast step tube being similar to the height of the sidewalls of said cone-shaped member, the front interior of said generally cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, with said front interior merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions to each side of said front portion, thereby to define preestablished locations therein, such that the mast step tube can be moved to a preestablished location that is forward and to the left, or to a preestablished location that is forward and to the right, the interior of said cone-shaped member also presenting a rounded location in the aft center such that the mast step tube can be supported and restrained by an interior surface of said generally cone-shaped member when the mast and mast step tube have been moved into any of a plurality of selected positions.

Claim 8

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 5 in which said cone-shaped member is secured apex down on the deck of the boat.

Claim 9

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 5 in which said cone-shaped member is secured apex up on the deck of the boat.

Claim 10

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 5 in which said securing means permits rotation of said mast step tube such that the sail can be reefed.

Claim 11

The sail mounting member as defined in claim 5 wherein a collar is mounted on said mast step tube, said collar being slidable to selected positions on said mast step tube, such that the angle of mast deflection can be selected and controlled within certain limits.

Claim 12

In a wind propelled boat of the sailboard type, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured on the deck of the boat, a portion of said cone-shaped member being designed to receive the base of a mast such that it will be movable only for a limited angular extent in said cone-shaped member, means for securing a lower part of the mast in the apex of said cone-shaped member, said securing means permitting a swivel type motion such that a portion of the mast can approach, during mast motions, one or another of certain interior portions of said cone-shaped member, such that angular deflections of the mast will be effectively limited by said cone-shaped member, the front interior portion of said cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, and merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions on each side of said front interior portion, said side interior portions of said cone-shaped member extending aft and merging at the aft center in a rounded contour of greater radius than those of the aforementioned rounded contours, the interior portions of said cone-shaped member thus creating a plurality of preestablished locations in which, during mast motions, the mast can be restrained, including positions forwardly and to the left, forwardly and to the right, and center aft.

Claim 13

In a wind propelled boat of the sailboard type, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured on the deck of the boat, a portion of said cone-shaped member being designed to receive the base of a mast such that it will be movable only for a limited angular extent in said cone-shaped member, means for securing a lower part of the mast in the apex of said cone-shaped member, said securing means permitting a swivel type motion such that a portion of the mast can approach, during mast motions, one or another of certain interior portions of said cone-shaped member, such that angular deflections of the mast will be effectively limited by said cone-shaped member, the front interior portion of said cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, and merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions on each side of said front interior portion, said side interior portions of said cone-shaped member extending aft and merging at the aft center in a rounded contour of greater radius than those of the aforementioned rounded contours, the interior portions of said cone-shaped member thus creating a plurality of preestablished locations in which, during mast motions, the mast can be restrained, including positions forwardly and to the left, forwardly and to the right, and center aft.

Claim 14

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as recited in claim 10 in which said cone-shaped member is secured apex down on the deck of the boat.

Claim 15

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as recited in claim 10 in which said cone-shaped member is secured apex up on the deck of the boat.

Claim 16

The cone-shaped sail mounting member as recited in claim 10 in which said means for securing the lower part of the mast in the apex of said cone-shaped member is a mast step tube whose height is similar to the height of the sidewalls of said cone-shaped member.

Claim 17

The cone-shaped sail mounting member as recited in claim 13 in which a collar is mounted on said mast step tube, said collar being slidable to selected positions on said mast step tube, such that the angle of mast deflection can be selected and controlled within certain limits.

Claim 18

The cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 13 in which said mast step tube is rotatable to permit the mast to be rotated such that the sail can be reefed.

Claim 19

In a wind propelled boat of the sailboard type, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured apex down in the deck of the boat, a mast step tube designed to receive the base of a mast and movably disposed in said cone-shaped member, a connector of a swivel type securing the lowest portion of said mast step tube in the apex of said cone-shaped member, the height of said mast step tube being similar to the height of the sidewalls of said cone-shaped member, said connector permitting a swivel type motion such that the mast step tube can approach, during mast motions, any of a number of interior surfaces of said cone-shaped member, the upper interior portion of said cone-shaped member being generally triangular when viewed from above, with the front interior of said cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, with said front interior merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions to each side of said front portion, thereby to define preestablished locations therein, such that the mast step tube and mast can be moved to a preestablished location that is forward and to the left, or to a preestablished location forward and to the right, the interior of said generally cone-shaped member also presenting a rounded location in the aft center such that the mast step tube and mast can be supported and restrained by interior surfaces of said generally cone-shaped member when moved into any of a plurality of selected positions.

Claim 20

In a wind propelled boat of the sailboard type, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured apex down in the deck of the boat, a mast step tube designed to receive the base of a mast and movably disposed in said cone-shaped member, a connector of a swivel type securing the lowest portion of said mast step tube in the apex of said cone-shaped member, the height of said mast step tube being similar to the height of the sidewalls of said cone-shaped member, said connector permitting a swivel type motion such that the mast step tube can approach, during mast motions, any of a number of interior surfaces of said cone-shaped member, the upper interior portion of said cone-shaped member being generally triangular when viewed from above, with the front interior of said cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, with said front interior merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions to each side of said front portion, thereby to define preestablished locations therein, such that the mast step tube and mast can be moved to a preestablished location that is forward and to the left, or to a preestablished location forward and to the right, the interior of said generally cone-shaped member also presenting a rounded location in the aft center such that the mast step tube and mast can be supported and restrained by interior surfaces of said generally cone-shaped member when moved into any of a plurality of selected positions.

Claim 21

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 16 wherein a collar is mounted on said mast step tube, said collar being slidable to selected positions on said mast step tube, such that the angle of mast deflection can be selected and controlled within certain limits.

Claim 22

The generally cone-shaped sail mounting member as defined in claim 16 in which said mast step tube is rotatable to permit the mast to be rotated such that the sail can be reefed.

Claim 23

In a catamaran having a pair of pontoons joined by a cross arm, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured apex down on the cross arm, a mast step tube designed to receive the base of a mast and movably disposed in said cone-shaped member, a connector of a swivel type securing the lowest portion of said mast step tube in the apex of the cone-shaped member, the height of said mast step tube being similar to the height of the sidewalls of said cone-shaped member, said connector permitting a swivel type motion such that the mast step tube can approach, during mast motions, one or another of several locations preestablished in the interior of said cone-shaped member, the front interior portion of said cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, and merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions on each side of said front interior portion, said side interior portions of said cone-shaped member extending aft and merging at the aft center in a rounded contour of somewhat greater radius than those of the aforesaid rounded contours, the interior portions of said cone-shaped member thus creating said several preestablished locations in which, during mast motions, the mast can be restrained, including positions forwardly and to the left, forwardly and to the right, and center aft.

Claim 24

In a catamaran having a pair of pontoons joined by a cross arm, a generally cone-shaped sail mounting member secured apex down on the cross arm, a mast step tube designed to receive the base of a mast and movably disposed in said cone-shaped member, a connector of a swivel type securing the lowest portion of said mast step tube in the apex of the cone-shaped member, the height of said mast step tube being similar to the height of the sidewalls of said cone-shaped member, said connector permitting a swivel type motion such that the mast step tube can approach, during mast motions, one or another of several locations preestablished in the interior of said cone-shaped member, the front interior portion of said cone-shaped member being relatively straight across, and merging by the use of rounded contours with interior portions on each side of said front interior portion, said side interior portions of said cone-shaped member extending aft and merging at the aft center in a rounded contour of somewhat greater radius than those of the aforesaid rounded contours, the interior portions of said cone-shaped member thus creating said several preestablished locations in which, during mast motions, the mast can be restrained, including positions forwardly and to the left, forwardly and to the right, and center aft.

Claim 25

The sail mounting member as defined in claim 19 wherein a collar is mounted on said mast step tube, said collar being slidable to selected positions on said mast step tube, such that the angle of mast deflection can be selected and controlled within certain limits.

Claim 26

The sail mounting member as defined in claim 19 in which said mast step tube is rotatable to permit the mast to be rotated such that the sail can be reefed.