US6732670B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sailing craft
Assignee: BARKER CLIFTON ELLIOTT
•
Filing: 2001-05-29
•
Granted: 2004-05-11
•
Expires: 2021-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A sailing craft including a hull assembly ( 1,2 ), keel ( 3 ) and turret assembly ( 5 ) connected to the hull assembly ( 1, 2 ), for rotation about an axis. Turret assembly ( 5 ) is adapted to carry the craft's crew. The craft further includes mast ( 7 ) connected to and projecting from turret assembly ( 5 ) and sail assembly ( 8, 9, 10 ) connected to mast ( 7 ) in spaced relation to turret assembly ( 5 ). Sail assembly ( 8, 9, 10 ) includes sail member ( 8 ) which is movable relative to mast ( 7 ) for propelling the craft. Sail assembly ( 8, 9, 10 ) further includes wind vane ( 10 ) operable to position sail member ( 8 ) with respect to the wind direction. Sail member ( 8 ) may comprise an aerofoil shaped body. The combined center of mass of turret assembly ( 5 ), sail assembly ( 8, 9, 10 ) and the crew is designed to lie close to the rotational axis of turret bearing ( 6 ) while sailing.
Inventors
- 👤 William Richards Rayner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:46
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H9/00; B63H9/04; B63H9/06; B63H9/061; B63B; B63B32/00; B63B32/70; B63H9/068; B63H9/069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A sailing craft including a hull assembly, a keel operatively connected to said hull assembly, the hull member having a generally horizontal plane which is generally parallel to the water upon which it floats when in a normal sailing mode, a turret assembly operatively connected to said hull assembly for at least partial rotation relative thereto about a rotation axis, the turret assembly when in use being adapted to carry the craft's crew, a mast operatively connected to and projecting from the turret assembly, said mast having a longitudinal axis which is inclined to the horizontal plane of the hull assembly when in the normal sailing mode, a sail assembly operatively connected to the mast in spaced relation from the turret assembly, said sail assembly including a sail member which includes a generally aerofoil shaped body which is pivotally movable relative to the mast and which is adapted to catch the wind so as to provide a force for propelling the craft, the sail assembly further including wind responsive means which is operable to position the sail member with respect to the wind direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A sailing craft including a hull assembly, a keel operatively connected to said hull assembly, the hull member having a generally horizontal plane which is generally parallel to the water upon which it floats when in a normal sailing mode, a turret assembly operatively connected to said hull assembly for at least partial rotation relative thereto about a rotation axis, the turret assembly when in use being adapted to carry the craft's crew, a mast operatively connected to and projecting from the turret assembly, said mast having a longitudinal axis which is inclined to the horizontal plane of the hull assembly when in the normal sailing mode, a sail assembly operatively connected to the mast in spaced relation from the turret assembly, said sail assembly including a sail member which includes a generally aerofoil shaped body which is pivotally movable relative to the mast and which is adapted to catch the wind so as to provide a force for propelling the craft, the sail assembly further including wind responsive means which is operable to position the sail member with respect to the wind direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein when the sailing craft is in its normal sailing mode the major forces acting on the craft when it is being sailed are substantially directed through a region of a single point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the sail assembly, mast, turret and crew have a centre of mass which is at or in the vicinity of said region of the single point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the rotation axis of the turret assembly is generally vertical to the horizontal plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the centre of mass is in the region the rotation axis of the turret assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the hull assembly has a centre of buoyancy and the keel is operatively connected to the hull assembly in the region of the centre of buoyancy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of the mast is inclined from 15° to 75° from the horizontal plane of the hull assembly and when in the normal sailing mode passes through the region of the centre of mass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the sail member is operatively connected to the mast for movement relative thereto about 3 axes of rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 further including a rudder for steering the craft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the sail member includes a frame member with the aerofoil shaped body attached thereto and the wind responsive means being operatively connected thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the sail member includes regulating means controlled by the crew, which is adapted to change the angle of attack of the aerofoil shaped body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the turret assembly includes a main body having opposed end portions, the axis of rotation being disposed between the end portions, the mast being operatively connected at one end portion and the crew support section being disposed towards the other end portion with the axis of rotation being between the mast and the crew support section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 further including means for controlling movement of the sail member at the turret assembly.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein the turret assembly is temporarily prevented from rotation so that the craft is substantially steered by the wind.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sailing craft according to claim 1 wherein said wind responsive means is a vane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sailing craft according to claim 11 wherein said regulating means is an elevator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-05-11 | 2007-11-10 | 2008-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-05-11 | 2011-11-10 | 2012-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-05-11 | 2015-11-10 | 2016-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |