US3828712A

US3828712A - Sail launching device

Info

Publication number: US3828712A
Application number: US00360395A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Mintey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-14
Filing date: 1973-05-14
Publication date: 1974-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-13

Abstract

A sail launching device for initially-furled sails, such as a spinnaker or other sails. The device includes a panel which is initially encircled about the furled sail. The edges of the panel are provided with readily disengageable Velcro fasteners. When the panel is raised, the Velcro fasteners are disengaged by the pressure of the sail as the latter is unfurled.

Description

nited States Patent [191 Mintey [111 3,828,712 1 Aug. 13, 1974 SAIL LAUNCHING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Montague R. Mintey, 10580 Arnwood Rd, Lake View Terrace, Calif. 91342 [22] Filed: May 14, 1973 21 Appl. No; 360,395

[52] US. Cl. 114/104 [51] Int. Cl B63h 9/04 [58] Field of Search 114/39, 102, 103, 104,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,595,110 4/1952 Steube 114/104 3,157,149 11/1964 Manchester ..l14/l04 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fulwider Patton Rieber Lee & Utecht [57] ABSTRACT A sail launching device for initially-furled sails, such as a spinnaker or other sails. The device includes a panel which is initially encircled about the furled sail. The edges of the panel are provided with readily disengageable Velcro fasteners. When the panel is raised, the Velcro fasteners are disengaged by the pressure of the sail as the latter is unfurled.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 1 31974 SHEEIv 2 OF 3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to the art of sailing.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

It has been heretofore proposed to retain a spinnaker or other sails in a furled condition as such sail is raised to its working position by means of a plurality of longitudinally spaced stops. Such stops generally take the form of weak thread. Considerable difficulty is experienced with this arrangement however, since if the thread is too weak, the sail will become unfurled before it is completely raised. On the other hand, if the stops are too strong, the sail cannot be unfurled and it is then necessary to lower the sail and re-apply stops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the present invention to provide a launching device for an initially-furled sail which will positively retain the sail in its furled condition as such sail is raised to its working position, with such launching device then being readily openable so as to permit the sail to be quickly unfurled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sail launching device of the aforedescribed nature which is foolproof in operation.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a sail launching device of the aforedescribed nature utilizing an elongated panel of lightweight flexible material provided with readily disengageable fastening means extendingalong the longitudinal edges of such panel, with such fastening means being readily disengageable by the exertion of a sideward pull on the longitudinal edges of the panel.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a sail launching device of the aforedescribed nature which will positively retain the sail in its furled condition even under rough sea and high wind conditrons.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken elevational view of a preferred form of sail launching device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing such device before it is encircled about a furled sail;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing said device encircled about a furled sail;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken in enlarged scale along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing said launching device being hoistedthrough the hatch of a sailboat;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing said launching device in its raised position; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 showing the launching device as it is being opened to release the furled sail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and particularly FIGS. l-5 thereof, a preferred form of sail launching device embodying the present invention includes an elongated panel P of a lightweight flexible material such as nylon. The main body 10 of panel P is seamed to be of a generally elongated trapezoidal configuration tapering inwardly from its lower portion. The bottom 12 of panel P is of arcuate shape. The longitudinal edges of panel P are provided with first and second readily disengageable fastening means 14 and 16, preferably taking the form of an easily releasable tape such as that sold under the trademark Velcro, and disclosed in U.S. Letters Pat. Nos. 3,417,528; 3,154,837; and 3,192,589, such tapes l4 and 16 being complementary. When the tapes are pressed together, they will remain interlocked together until a sideward pull thereon. It will be noted that the

tapes

14 and 16 are interrupted between the lower end of panel body 12 and panel bottom 12. It will also be noted that short auxiliary Velcro tapes 20 and 22 are positioned upwardly of the

open portions

24 and 26 of panel P between the upper and lower lengths of tape. Snap shackles 28 and 30 are secured to the edges of panel P at

open portions

24 and 26, respectively.

In the use of the sail launching device of the present invention, a furled sail S, such as a spinnaker, is placed upon the open panel P in the manner indicated in FIG. 2. It will be observed that the length of sail S is somewhat greater than the length of panel P. It will also be noted that the tack 42 and the clew 40 of sail S are aligned with the

open portions

26 and 24 of panel P. Further, that the head 44 of sail S extends beyond the top of panel P.

Referring next additionally to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, panel P is manually encircled about the furled sail S and Velcro

pads

14 and 16 and auxiliary pads 20 and 22 are pressed together so as to be complementarily engaged thereby retaining the panel P encircled about furled sail S. In this position the

open portions

26 and 24 of the panel define aligned side openings for the tack 42 and clew 40 of the sail. Additionally, the head 44 of sail S extends through the open upper end of the encircled panel. If desired, an auxiliary tie 48 may be tied around the lower portion of panel P, the bight of such tie being secured to the panel.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, the operation of the said launching device of the present invention in setting a sail is shown. Thus, there is depicted the forward portion of a sailboat B having a mast 52. A spinnaker pole 53 is shown attached to the lower front portion of mast 52. Sailboat B is provided with a hatch 54 within which the panel P and its encircled sail S may be stored until such sail is ready to be raised.

In FIG. 6, the panel P is shown in the process of being raised out of hatch 54 by means of the boats spinnaker halyard 51. Referring next to FIG. 7, the panel P is shown after it has been raised to the proper elevation for launching the sail. At this time, the spinnaker guy 56 and spinnaker sheet 58 will have been secured to the tack 42 and clew 40 of sail S. It should also be noted that the snap shackle 28 has been engaged with the spinnaker sheet 58. Referring next to FIG. 8, the auxiliary tie 48 has been disengaged, and a rearward pull has been exerted on the spinnaker sheet 58. Such pull serves to release the lower ends of the Velcro

tapes

14 and 16 and 20 and 22. Further pulling on the spinnaker sheet 58 serves to progressively release the Velcro tapes upwardly along their lengths thereby exposing the lower portion of the spinnaker S. Finally referring to FIG. 9, as the wind fills the spinnaker S, the force thereof applied by the spinnaker to the edges of the panel P will complete the opening operation of the Velcro tapes.

When the edges of panel P have been completely disengaged from one another, the spinnaker S will have been filled with wind and the opened panel will drop towards the deck of boat B. The panel may be readily retrieved since its snap shackle 28 remains affixed to the spinnaker sheet 58. After being retrieved, the panel may be encircled about a second spinnaker (not shown) so that such spinnaker will be available for immediate use. It should also be noted that where the spinnaker is set on the side of the boat opposite that shown, the spinnaker guy 56 then becomes the spinnaker sheet while spinnaker sheet 58 becomes the spinnaker guy. Under these circumstances, the new spinnaker sheet would be engaged with the snap shackle 30 when the launcher is employed.

Various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 claim: 1. A launching device for a furled sail, said device comprising:

an elongated panel of a lightweight flexible material of a length approximately that of said sail, said pane] being separate from said sail; and

first and second readily disengageable fastening means along the longitudinal edges of said panel, said fastening means being pressed together to be complementarily engaged and said fastening means being disengaged by a sideward pull exerted thereon whereby said panel may be encircled about said furled sail whereafter said fastening means are engaged and said panel and said encircled sail are raised to said sail s working position, with said fastening means then being disengaged to release said panel from around said sail.

2. A launching device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fastening means consist of Velcro tapes.

3. A launching device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sail is a spinnaker having its head extending beyond the top of the sail-encircling panel, and said fastening means are interrupted to define open portions at the bottom of said sail-encircling panel through which extend the tack and the clew of said spinnaker.

4. A launching device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said fastening means consist of Velcro tapes.

5. A launching device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the edges of said panel are provided with shackles at said open portions.

6. A launching device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fastening means consists of Velcro tapes.

Claims

1. A launching device for a furled sail, said device comprising: an elongated panel of a lightweight flexible material of a length approximately that of said sail, said panel being separate from said sail; and first and second readily disengageable fastening means along the longitudinal edges of said panel, said fastening means being pressed together to be complementarily engaged and said fastening means being disengaged by a sideward pull exerted thereon whereby said panel may be encircled about said furled sail whereafter said fastening means are engaged and said panel and said encircled sail are raised to said sail''s working position, with said fastening means then being disengaged to release said panel from around said sail.