FR2628060A1 - Wind surfer esp. for children or novices - has rigging which replaces wishbone with flexible straps and sail stiffening struts - Google Patents

Abstract

The wind-surfer has a mast (3) attached to a sail board (2) by a flexible cardan joint. The sail (5) is attached to the mast by loops (6), and its height can be readily adjusted (7). The shape of the sail is maintained by three rigid struts (8,9,10), the lower two (9,10) being positioned either side of the lower sail corner (12). The user holds a flexible strap (15) which passes around the leading edge of the sail and is attached to a vertical flexible strap (13) which extends from the centre to the lower struts. These flexible straps may be stitched into pockets or a flexible rod may be used instead. ADVANTAGE - The wind surfer does not use a fixed wishbone for the user to hold thus making it simpler and easier for children and novices to lift the sail from the water and for steering.

Description

(6i) FRENCH REPUBLIC Publication no. 2,628,060 (to be used only

  for NATIONAL INSTITUTE reproduction orders)

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

  OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY National registration number 88 03739 PARIS

    Int CI4 B 63 H 9/06; B 63 B 35/82.

  A1 PATENT APPLICATION

  Filing date: March 4, 1988. (Applicant (s): Dominique MENGUAL. - FR.

( Priority

@ Inventor (s): Dominique Mengual.

  4 Date of public availability of the

  application: BOPI "Patents" n 36 of September 8, 1989.

  (i References to other national documents appearing

rented (Holder (s)

    Agent (s) Cabinet Germain and Maureau.

  () Windsurfing rigging without a boom.

  () This rigging is of the type comprising a mast 3 mounted by a cardan joint on the float 2 of the board, and

  used to fix the span 4 of the sail 5.

  According to the invention it comprises at least two forced slats 9,, that is to say two slats extending over the entire length of the sail, arranged respectively above and below the

4 <

  listening point 12, the gussets containing the two slats being connected to each other, on each side of the sail by two

  -y straps 13 substantially parallel to the span, located more -

  near the fall 14 than the span 4, these two straps 13 being connected to each other by a flexible element 15 and

  I inextensible substantially perpendicular to the straps, passing

in front of the sail. -

  O Application to the equipment of windsurfers for the initia- -

tion or for children.

  O [O CN I "Windsurfing rigging" The subject of the present invention is a windsurfing rigging. A windsurf board comprises a float on which a mast is mounted by means of a link: cross link with cardan. On the mast is fixed the span of the sail which is mounted inside a piece in the shape of a double arch, called wishbone, whose front end is fixed on the mast. The rear end of the wishbone is used for fixing: the listening point of the sail, with the possibility of adjusting its tension. The board is driven by the user who, by holding one of the branches of the wishbone, must ensure that the rigging is held

  out of the water, in an orientation corresponding to the chosen pace.

  The rigging currently on the market presents

  coming, especially for beginners and children, as well as for inexperienced users, as soon as the strength of the

wind increases.

  Indeed, the rigging is difficult to handle, in particular because of the presence of the wishbone. In addition, it is difficult to raise the sail from the water in moderate to strong winds, on the one hand due to the fact that the sheath of the sail engaged on the mast is filled with water, and on the other hand reason of the fact that the end of the wishbone forming point of listening is supported on water, as soon as one begins to raise the mast, which artificially borders the sail, and obliges the user to provide a big effort, which may result in low back pain. On the other hand, during navigation a beginner who is afraid of falling forward, that is to say on the side of the sail, tends to spread the wishbone from his body, which results in a bad position. tiring for

  the user and by an incorrect sail adjustment.

  Finally the shape of the sail, often triangular, does not provide excellent aerodynamic conditions, and the window of the sheath of the sail does not allow a significant latitude of adjustment of the point of

fixing of the boom on the mast.

  The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

  To this end, the windsurfing rigging to which it relates, of the type comprising a mast mounted by a cardan joint on the board's float, and serving to fix the span of the sail, is characterized in that that it comprises at least two forced battens, that is to say two battens extending over the entire length of the sail,

  arranged respectively above and below the listening point, the-

  gussets containing the two slats being connected to each other, on each side of the sail. by two straps substantially parallel to the span, located closer to the fall than the span, these two straps being connected to each other by a flexible and inextensible element substantially perpendicular to the straps, passing in front of the sailing, bypassing

or not the mast.

  According to a first embodiment, the flexible element passing

  in front of the sail is constituted by a strap.

  According to another embodiment, the flexible element passing

  in front of the sail is constituted by a flexible tube.

  The main feature of this rig is not to

  have a wishbone, which significantly reduces its weight.

  In addition, the listening point being free, between two forced slats, this point does not rest on the water, when lifting the rigging, not bordering the sail, and therefore facilitating the handling thereof. It is therefore possible for a child to practice windsurfing, and for an inexperienced user to sail in stronger winds than with traditional rigging. In addition, a beginner easily finds the vertical position on the float, since he is not bothered by the curvature of the wishbone, and that he does not have the possibility of leaning on it and

  push the rig against the wind when the sail deflates, operate

  tion which usually results in a fall. In addition, the structure of this rig imposes a natural dissociation of the functions of the two hands of the user, the front hand holding the mast and controlling the longitudinal tilting of the latter ensuring the direction of the board, while the rear hand holding the flexible element controls the propulsion by more or less bordering the sail. Finally the falls on the side of the sail 'are not dangerous because the user cannot be injured against

the wishbone.

  According to another characteristic of this rigging, the sail is fixed to the mast by means of rings mounted sliding on it. This avoids any accumulation of water, as is the case with a sheath, and promotes the aerodynamics of the sail by allowing the sail to pivot relative to the mast, limiting disturbances.

on the upper surface.

  Advantageously, the headrest of the sail is mounted in an adjustable manner on the mast. It is thus possible to adjust the height of the sail according to the size of the user, so that the flexible element that

  holds with the back hand at a good height.

  In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, the point of attachment of the standby puller to the mast is adjustable. This makes it possible to fix the standby puller at a point on the high mast of the foot thereof, which favors the righting torque. Advantageously, the attachment point

  of the stand-by puller on the mast is removably attached to solid eyelets

  of the rings for fixing the sail to the mast.

  According to one possibility, the straps mounted between the forced slats are detachably fixed, which makes it possible to dismantle them as well as the flexible element which is associated with them, if the sail is to be used with

a traditional wishbone.

  In any case, the invention will be well understood using the

  description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing, representing

  as a non-limiting example of an embodiment of this rig-

  Windsurfing ment: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a windsurfing board equipped with this rigging, during navigation;

  Figure 2 is a flat view of this rig.

  Figure I represents a windsurfing board during a sailing period.

  tion whose float, designated by reference 2, is fitted with a mast

  3 mounted via a known type cardan link. Send it

  gure 4 of the sail 5 is associated with the mast 3 via several

  6 rings integral with the sail, engaged on the mast. The upper end

  re of the sail is equipped with a headrest 7 mounted in an adjustable manner at the upper end of the mast, which makes it possible to adjust the height positioning of the sail to adapt it as best as possible

to the size of the user.

  In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the sail 5 is equipped with three forced battens, that is to say extending over the entire length of the sail, an upper batt 8, an intermediate batt 9 and a batt lower 10. It should be noted that the forced slats

  9 and 10 are arranged on either side of the listening point 12.

  As shown in the drawing, the gussets containing the slats form-

  cées 9 and 10 are connected to each other, on each side of the sail, by an inextensible strap 13 substantially parallel to the span, and disposed closer to the fall 14 of the sail than to the span. On each of the straps 13 is fixed the end of a flexible and inextensible element,

  such as a strap 15 passing in front of the mast.

  It should be noted that the straps 13 can be permanently fixed to the sail 5 by sewing for example, or can be fixed to the latter by removable connection means, such as snap buttons.

  or hook and loop system known by the trade name VEL-

  CRO. As shown in the drawing, this rigging is equipped in a manner known per se with a standby puller 16 allowing the user to raise the rigging from the water. To facilitate the handling of the rigging, the rigging screw can be fixed, on the one hand, to the base of the mast and, on the other hand, at a point thereof situated higher than the strap 15 to promote the righting torque of the mast. This fixing can be achieved by means of eyelets 17 integral with the rings 6 for mounting the

sailing on the mast.

  - In practice, when the user takes the rigging out of the water, the latter is not retained in the water as is usually the case under the action of the wishbone, the listening point being free allowing the sail to deform on contact with water, which prevents it from swelling

under the action of the wind.

  In addition, given the absence of a wishbone, handling of the rigging is considerably facilitated since the weight of the latter is reduced by a value of the order of 30%. It should also be noted that the absence of a sheath engaged on the mast prevents the accumulation of a large mass of water which should usually be handled when

the rigging is straightened.

  When the rigging is in the upright position, the user grasps the mast using his front hand, and the strap 15, located on the "windward" side of the sail, using his rear hand. It is thus possible to very clearly dissociate the functions of the front hand which is used to orient the mast and consequently to ensure the control of the board in combination with the positioning of the weight of the body on the float and of the hand. rear which is used to more or less border the sail to ensure

the propulsion of the whole.

  It should be noted that in the absence of rigid elements, the user naturally finds a vertical position on the board and cannot lean on the element which he holds with his rear hand, which is flexible,

  unlike a traditional wishbone.

  In addition, in the event of a fall on the sail, the user cannot be injured.

  It is a rigging which therefore considerably facilitates

  ble, learning to windsurf, and that allows considering

  the fact that the physical effort to be exerted is reduced compared to a rig-

  traditional way of having young people practice windsurfing

  children under the age of ten.

  Insofar as the straps 13 and 15 are removably mounted on the sail, the latter has a versatile character which can be used just as well in the context of the rigging according to

  the invention than with a traditional wishbone.

  It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this rigging, described above by way of example; she

  on the contrary, embraces all the variant embodiments thereof. -

  In particular, the number of slats in the sail can-

  could be different or that the strap 15 could be replaced by a similar member such as a flexible tubular element or that this strap could not bypass the mast, but only pass in front of

  sailing, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

  1. Windsurfing rigging of the type comprising a mast (3) mounted by a cardan joint on the float (2) of the board, and serving for fixing the span (4) of the sail (5), characterized in that it comprises at least two forced slats (9,10), that is to say   two slats extending over the entire length of the sail, arranged respectively   tively above and below the listening point (12), the gussets containing the two slats being connected to each other, on each side of the sail by two straps (13) substantially parallel to the span, located closer to the fall (14) than to the span (4), these two straps (13) being connected to each other by a flexible and inextensible element (15) substantially perpendicular to the straps, passing in front of the sail whether or not bypassing the mast.   2. Rigging according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible element passing in front of the sail is constituted by a strap (15). 3. Rigging according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible element passing in front of the sail is constituted by a flexible tube.   4. Rigging according to any one of claims I to 3,   characterized in that the sail (5) is fixed to the mast (3) by means of   diary of rings (6) slidably mounted thereon.   5. Rigging according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the faceplate (7) of the sail (5) is mounted so adjustable on the mast (3).   6. Rigging according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the point of attachment of the standby puller (16) to the mast (3) is adjustable.   7. Rigging according to all of claims 4 and 6, character-   risé in that the point of attachment of the standby puller on the mast is removably fixed on eyelets (17) integral with the mounting rings (6) sailing on the mast.   8. Rigging according to any one of claims I to 7,   characterized in that the straps (13) mounted between the forced slats   (9,10) are removably attached. .9i Id 9 / t / VL O9Ogt-