AU2007101101A4 - Sailboat mast raising and lowering device - Google Patents

Description

Australian Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT SAILBOAT MAST RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of using it known to me:

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Z SAILBOAT MAST RAISING o AND LOWERING DEVICE To raise and lower a sailboat mast safely and quickly by one or more people has inherent problems. This invention allows a person, on their own, to raise a sailboat mast easily safely and quickly.

The device is made from coils of rubber shock cord which incorporates a sewn tab 0 (Figurel. 1) encapsulated in an extremely strong outer sheath (Figure 1.2) which is made overlong (Figure l.3) to allow the extending medium to be stretched to a fixed O length of extension, and that when sewn provides a means by which the rubber coils cannot be overstretched and should anything untoward happen, like the rubber breaking, the sheath will not allow the mast to travel any futrther than the sheath's length. Figure 1.4 shows a cutaway section showing a representation of the coiled rubber and the sewn tab (Figure1.5) that acts as a means of attaching the coils to the activating medium. Breaking strain of this sheath including stitching exceeds the falling mass of the mast by a factor of 5:1 The device can be attached to the mast by means of the spinnaker halyard or the spinnaker downhaul at one end and to the trailer winch or deck winch, if it's capability is strong enough, at the other end of the device. With the mast stepped and raised to about 20 degrees the device once attached as above can be stretched by means of the trailer winch or deck winch, which eventually will cause the mast to lift off the support, by winching slightly more the mast will become more elevated. At this time the user of the device can position themselves at the lifting position for the mast and by pushing the mast down and then pulling up fluidly the mast will raise to the upright position quickly and without the huge effort normally required.

Use of baby stays is required to ensure that the mast does not deviate from the centre line of the boat during this procedure. (Figure 3).

Figure 2.1 shows the minimum distance from the mast centre-line to a turning block, Figure 2.2 shows the spinnaker pole ring. Figure 2.3 shows the mast in the upright position. Figure 2.4 shows a front on view of the "baby stays" with the mast in an upright position. Figure 2.5 Shows position of "Baby stays" relative to mast, they should be slightly forward of the mast when the mast is upright. Figure 2.6 shows the height from spinnaker pole ring above the stepping point of the mast being no less than 1.2 metres. Figure 2.7 shows an example of a cleating position for the "baby stays" Lowering of the mast using this device is accomplished by reversing the steps as above.

Claims (9)

1. A device to assist in the raising and lowering of the mast of a sailboat by a single person, the device is comprised of coiled multi-filament rubber oshock cord or a spring or traction gas filled spring to create stored energy, a limiting cable or outer sheath encapsulating the shock cord/spring/traction spring is created and is integrally attached to the odevice to ensure that the elasticity of the stored energy component cannot be over-tensioned and to create a safety line should the unlikely situation O occur where the stored energy component breaks. The stored energy 0created by applying a force to the stored energy component whilst attached to a line to the upper portion of the mast, enables the single person to raise the mast through the hardest part of mast raising. One person of average build does this efficiently and safely.

2. The device also allows for the lowering of the mast to be accomplished in a far safer and more efficient way by a single person than would otherwise be possible.

3. The device is comprised of several parts of which two provide the basis of the invention. The other parts are provided for the protection of the user and any persons standing in a position close to the device.

4. The device claimed in clauses 1, 2 and 3 is comprised of a stainless steel spring that can store energy when stretched; the amount of elongation is limited by the elasticised spectra. If using the rubber shock cord it is protected and the integrally attached sheath restricts elongation.

The device claimed in clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 has a covering of either an extendable material or two pipes one inside the other that telescope when the spring is elongated, both the above methods require a cap or flange which has a hole to allow the spring's helical ends to protrude through so that the covering(s) of the spring can travel with the elongation and conversely with the return to normal of the spring, or alternatively a sheath of extremely durable material which is longer than the unstretched stored energy component

6. The device claimed in clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4, in line with normal practice is employed for use when the mast is at 20 degrees to 25 degrees to the horizontal prior to initiating the raising procedure.

7. The device claimed in clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 requires that the rope from the means of applying the force to the stored energy component be above the pulpit or if a pulpit is not fitted to the sailboat then a means of accomplishing an equivalent increase in height be created by the end user.

8. The device claimed in clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 is not a permanent fixture of the sailboat and can be removed and re-used quickly and efficiently

9. The device claimed in clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 has safety and limiting factors built in. The device claimed in clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 can assist the lifting of trailerable yacht masts by a lone operator by taking the place of one other assistant.