WO2008004267A2

WO2008004267A2 - Furling group

Info

Publication number: WO2008004267A2
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000484
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vladimiro Zattini; Luciano Rienzo
Original assignee: A.R.Te S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-07-07
Filing date: 2007-07-05
Publication date: 2008-01-10
Also published as: ITFO20060010A1; WO2008004267A3; EP2040976A2

Abstract

A furling group (1) usable for furling a flexible membrane body (50), presenting a given perimeter (51) comprising a first edge (52) delimited by a pair of coupling members (54) and able to be furled about an elongated member (55) coupled to the first edge (52) itself; the furling group (1) comprising a third base (10) designed for being coupled stably to a given surface (3) and a furling device (40) carried by the third base (10) and presenting at least a first hooking member (31) usable for coupling to the elongated member (55); the furling group (1) also comprising a turnbuckle device (30) designed for varying substantially at will an axial position of the first hooking member (31) along a given longitudinal direction (D) in order to adjust a longitudinal tension of the first edge (52).

Description

FURLING GROUP

The present invention relates to a furling group for flexible membrane bodies. In particular, the present invention relates to a furling group effectively usable for furling a foresail of a boat. In more detail, the present invention relates to a furling group able, in use, to perform a plurality of steering functions for handling a foresail of a boat.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In the field of sailboats it is well-known to fit out the foresails by coupling them in a sliding manner to the stay by means of an its own front edge and through the interposition of a profile carried slidable by the same stay and normally called luff-stay. These sails are hoisted by making the front- edge slide inside the luff-stay by means of a cable called halyard passed through the masthead, and this cable can be used also to adjust the tension of the front edge itself. Alternatively, it should be specified that other types of sails are known, which do not require the use of the luff-stay, as the leading edge of such sails is provided with a fc>abystay, which can be used as a constraint of the edge itself. Examples of these sails are -the so-called drifter, in v>/hich_t the babystay is a sort of extension of the respective halyard.

In the last years the tendency has increasingly been to simplify the operation of onboard manoeuvres in such a way that a single person, or a crew comprising a reduced number of persons, even if not very experienced, can operate a boat in complete safety. In particular, adjusting the tension of the stay and/or of the babystay can be done by the use of a mechanical or hydraulic turnbuckle, together with an emergency brake, generally installed under deck in order to vary, respectively, the rake and/or the height of _ the tack of the foresail with respect to the deck. This imposes to provide, even in the smallest boats, a seat for the turnbuckle already starting from the design of the boat, or to modify the bow portion of the boat, with costs that can be very high. Furthermore, lowering the foresails is increasingly being replaced by furling of these sails around their stay/babystay; therefore, a furler, generally called by extension "roller furler", is often associated with this stay/babystay. This furler may be manually or electrically operated based upon the application required.

Purely by way of example, it may be advisable to mention some models of manually operated furlers currently on the market, such as the series MKIII and MKIV of the US firm HARKEN or the "captive Furler" of the Italian firm CARIBONI or, lastly, the "wonder furl" of the Italian firm Nemo Industrie.

At this point, it should be specify that coupling the turnbuckle devices and the furler in series to the stay is well known, even if this solution presents a plurality of disadvantages that will be better described hereunder.

A furler for a foresail generally comprises a tube carrying a drum in a freely rotating manner and presents two hooking portions, the first of which is provided with a fork for coupling to the stay/babystay, whilst the second presents a eyelet or a further fork for coupling to the deck. Naturally, each of these forks/eyelets can be used for series coupling to a turnbuckle device positioned above or below the furler itself. As it can be_^ easily imagined, the upper fork is rigidly connected to the drum, whilst the lower fork/eyelet is rigidly connected to the tube, in such a way as to enable furling or, alternatively, unfurling the foresail about the stay/babystay. The drum presents a cylindrical central portion designed to house a rope wound in spiral, usable to command the rotation of the tube, and hence the furling of the foresail. This furling is carried out in order to reduce the surface area of the sail exposed to the wind in proportion to one's requirements, to the point of eliminating it altogether if conditions so require, and usually during the phases preceding the mooring. Unfurling of the foresail can be done by means of one of the respective sheets usable for the respective adjusting, and entails a contextual rewinding of the rope about the drum; this operation allow to rearm the furler for the subsequent use of the sail. Clearly, in electrically operated furlers, the use of a rope wound about a drum is replaced by an electric motor operated from the cockpit.

Naturally, during the furling phase, the foresail shall be maintained under tension in proportion to the pull produced by the action of the wind, to prevent the foresail from furling in a disorderly manner, hence risking to be over-stretched or torn due to an excessive tension acting during the furling or unfurling operations, or also due to the residual static load once it is furled. Therefore, during the furling phase, the traction to be exerted on the foresail through a respective sheet will be the more intense, the more the furling phase is carried out with the foresail flattened in and hence in operation. It is known that, in order to minimise the stress imparted by the sheet on the sail, these furling and unfurling operations are usually performed with the bow of the boat oriented into the wind; on the other hand, it should be specified that this condition is not always feasible, since at times the change in atmospheric and sea conditions can be so sudden as to make it impossible to proceed in this way.

In view of the above description, in the case in which it is necessary to operate with the foresail flattened and hence able to exert lift to make the respective boat advance under critical weather conditions or when racing, in which case there is a known requirement to minimise the time to sail a given route, it will be necessary to keep the foresail under tension by exerting a high traction on the respective clew. This tractive force may be progressively reduced by reducing the active sail surface area and hence as the foresail itself is wound about the stay or the babystay. On the other hand, it should be noted that the use of the devices described above imposes a furling procedure that preserves the original geometric shape of the sail until the operation is completed. Therefore, it should be noted that at the start of the furling operation, when the lift acting on the foresail is the strongest, the furler will have to ex_pert a particularly intense initial force in order to be adequate to the tension exerted on the foresail by the action of the wind and by the traction of the sheet. For this reason, the use of manual furlers may be critical when the sail is flattened, while the electrically operated furlers must be provided with rotary actuators able to exert a particularly intense initial force to work correctly under any atmospheric condition or on any point of sailing.

Furthermore, in view of the above description, it should be noted that the use of two devices coupled in series between them imposes to maintain the tack of the foresails very high over the deck, and thus to present a reduced free length of the stay, thus hoisting sails whose leading edge is markedly smaller than the extension of the corresponding stay. Therefore, in this configuration, the foresails presents smaller surface areas than those of sails that can be hoisted on boats without a furler, whose leading edge length substantially matches the extension of the distance between the bow and the masthead. Furthermore, it should be specified that the use of two distinct devices to handle the jib entails a bulk and purcha^'se and installation costs that should be minimised. Therefore, in view of the situation described above, the technical problem of having available a furler which allows alternatively to furl and unfurl foresails about the respective stay/babystay whilst minimising the forces acting on the foresails used, and hence also the energy needed to carry out these operations, currently seems to be solved in unsatisfactory manner. In more particular, it would be desiderable to have available a furler which, in addition to present the characteristics described above, also enables to maximise the longitudinal extension of the lifting surface area of a respective foresail.

This technical problem represents an interesting challenge for the Applicant, which set itself the objective to realise a group comprising a furling device and a turnbuckle device and to minimise the extension of the respective components able to perform the corresponding functions. Therefore, such a group shall be suitable to represent a new and original source of economic interest and capable of modifying the current market of the devices for adjusting the sails and the related manoeuvres. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a furling group for flexible membrane bodies. In particular, the present invention relates to a furling group effectively usable for furling a foresail of a boat. In more detail, the present invention relates to a furling group able, in use, to perform a plurality of steering functions for handling a foresail of a boat. _%

The object of the present invention is to construct a furling group provided with a respective swinging support and able, in use, to furl flexible membrane bodies presenting a thickness in the order of few millimetres.

According to the present invention, a furling group is provided, whose main characteristics are described in at least one of the appended claims. A further object of the present invention is to provide a swinging support effectively usable to support a furling group.

According to the present invention, a swinging support is provided, whose main characteristics are described in at least one of the appended claims.

A further object of the present invention is to illustrate a plurality of uses in the nautical and architectural fields and in the furnishing field for a furling group for furling flexible membrane bodies:

According to the present invention, a plurality of uses are illustrated in the nautical and architectural fields and in the furnishing field for a furler or thin membrane bodies. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the furling group according to the present invention will be more apparent from the description below, set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate non-limiting examples of embodiment, in which identical or corresponding parts are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

- Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of a furling group according to the present invention in a first operative configuration;

- figure 2 is a view in enlarged scale of a detail extracted from figure 1 and illustrated in a second and a third operative positions;

-^•figure 3 is a side elevation _% view of figure 2 illustrated in the third operative position;

- figure 4 illustrates a longitudinal section of figure 3 according to the line IV-IV;

- figure 5 illustrates a longitudinal section of figure 1 in a fourth operative position; - figure 6 is an exploded view of a detail extracted from figure 5 with details cut-away for the sake of clarity; and

- figure 7 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of figure 2 illustrated with details cut-away for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In figure 1, number 1 indicates, in its entirety, a furling group 1 for furling flexible membrane bodies 50 preferably presenting a thickness in the order of few millimetres. Each of these membrane bodies 50 is delimited by a respective given perimeter 51 comprising a first edge

52, which, in use, is associated with an elongated member

55 in such a way that each membrane body 50 can be furled about the respective elongated member 55 itself. At this point, it should be noted that each membrane body 50 may comprise a respective sail which will be indicated, for the sake of practicality, with the same number 50; therefore, here and hereunder, the terms membrane body 50 and sail 50 will be used indifferently according to the context, without limiting the generality of the present invention.

In particular, always in the hypothesis that the membrane body 50 comprises a sail 50, the elongated member 55 may comprise a luff-stay 55' or a babystay 55' ' depending on the model of the sail 50 and on the respective manner of employment during navigation. It is clear that, depending on the conformation of the sail 50, the first edge 52 will be kept under tension in a different manner; in particular, in the presence of a luff-stay 55' , the sail 50 will present eyelets 54 positioned in clews in correspondence of the ends "of the first edge 52 itself and these eyelets 54 may be used to couple the sail 50 superiorly to the halyard and inferiorly to a hooking member, which, as will be better described hereunder, is associated with the furling group 1. Alternatively, the sails that are not associated with a luff-stay 55' present the eyelets 54 carried at the ends of the babystay 55' ' and hence substantially along an ideal extension of the first edge 52.

At this point, with particular reference to figure 1, it is possible to note that the furling group 1 comprises a first base 10 provided with a respective first flange 11 to couple integrally to a respective surface 3, for example a flooring 3 or a deck 3 of a boat. To this end, the first flange 11 presents a plurality of holes 14 able to house anchor bolts and/or anchor screws, known and therefore not illustrated. With particular reference to figures 2-4, the first base 10 is provided with a first through seat 15 presenting a pair of circular apertures 17 facing each other; this first seat 15 stably houses a support body 20 presenting a connecting portion 21 delimited by a convex spherical surface which engages the first seat 15 in a substantially matching manner. In more detail, the first seat 15 is delimited laterally by a surface 16 shaped as a spherical area substantially symmetric with respect to a median plane substantially coinciding with the surface 3, and presenting a diameter which approximates in excess each diameter of the connecting portion 21. Therefore, the coupling between the first base 10 and the support body 20 is substantially an articulated coupling 18 which can be interpreted as a spherical articulation 18 able, in.use, to allow the free orientation of the support body 20 relative to the first base 10 and therefore to the surface 3.

For the sake of clarity, it may be advisable to indicate with the letter V a symmetry axis of the first seat 15, illustrated in figures 1 and 4 in a substantially vertical position; this axis V is a fixed reference axis, integral ^• with the first base 10_v and positioned perpendicularly to the surface 3. Similarly, it is possible to associate with the support body 20 a given longitudinal axis D, which, as shown in figure 4, serves as an axis of symmetry for the support body 20 itself and for the respective connecting portion 21. It is clear that the given longitudinal axis D is integral with the support body 20 and therefore it is a movable axis, the operative position .thereof relative to the axis V will change contextually with movements of the support body 20 itself with respect to the first base 10.

At this point it should be noted that the connecting portion 21 may present at least a longitudinal slot 22 designed to house an abutment 12 that projects from the lateral surface 16 inside the first seat 15. In particular, each abutment 12 can be produced economically by means of a cylindrical pin 12, which engages in a selectively stable manner a respective slot 22 to define a first axis R' of rotation for the support body 20. Furthermore, it is clear that this pin 12 serves as a constraint for the support body 20, because it prevents rotations of the support body 20 itself about the respective longitudinal given longitudinal axis D. In more detail, with reference to figure 4, the first base 10 presents preferably two pins 12 reciprocally aligned along the first axis R' of rotation and positioned opposite each other relative to the axis V to engage bilaterally the connecting portion 21. Clearly, in presence of two distinct pins 12 mutually aligned the respective slots 22 will be obtained at the opposite ends from each other in the spherical connecting portion. 21 and will present substantially identical longitudinal extension so that the respective pins 12 are able to abut simultaneously against longitudinal edges of the slots 22.

At this point, again with particular reference to figure 4, it is clear that the support body 20 is free to rotate about the first axis R' of rotation and, simultaneously, to oscillate about a second axis R' ' of rotation, which is perpendicular both to the first axis R' of rotation and to the given longitudinal axis D, and therefore it is also integral with the support body 20 itself. In other words, always with particular reference to figure 4, the given longitudinal axis D integral with the support body 20 is able, in use, both to rotate about the first axis R' of rotation and to oscillate in a given plan M of oscillation identified by the combination of the given longitudinal axis D and the first axis R' of rotation. Observing figure 4, it is also clear that the maximum amplitude α of the oscillations of the given longitudinal axis D in the given respective plan M of oscillation is defined by the longitudinal extension of the of the slot(s) 22 and therefore modulating said extension in the design stage it is possible to define substantially at will the value of the maximum amplitude α of oscillation of the given longitudinal axis D. Therefore, as shown in figure 4, the given longitudinal axis D can be oriented freely, in use, along any direction within a cone C with two slopes having a circular or elliptical base whose conformation depends both on the size of the circular apertures 17 and on the maximum oscillation angle α. _% At this point it should be noted that, in view of the above description, the set of each pin 12 and the respective slot 22 can be interpreted both as a regulating device 25 for adjusting the inclination of the support body 20, and hence of the given longitudinal axis D, relative to the axis V, and as a restraining device 24 able to prevent rotations of the support body 20 about the respective given longitudinal axis D.

With reference to figures 2-4, the support body 20 presents a second preferably, although without limitation, cylindrical seat 26 to house stably a turnbuckle device 30 provided with at least a respective first hooking member 31 prepared, according to requirements, for coupling in a stable and selectively releasable manner to a respective stay or babystay 55' ' . Furthermore, again with reference to figures 2-4, the second seat 26 may present a collar 23 provided with screws, known and therefore not shown, to engage peripherally an outer casing 33 associated with the turnbuckle device 30. Therefore, the set of the first base 10 and the spherical support body 20 can be interpreted as a swinging support 5 provided with a respective spherical articulation 18 and effectively usable for supporting the turnbuckle device 30 in such a way that, in use, it can be oriented freely according to a direction of traction exerted by the sail 50 through the elongated body 55. Alternatively, as shown in figures 1 and 5, the support body 20 can be produced in a single piece with the casing 33, without however departing from the protective scope of the present invention.

It is furthermore clear that the swinging support 5 can be effectively used also to support a generic device, different from the turnbuckle device 30 described below, but that in any case has the need to be oriented autonomously during a respective use.

At this point, with reference to figures 1, 5 and 6, it is possible to note that the turnbuςkle device 30, in addition to presenting the casing 33 integrally coupled to the support body 20, also comprises a movable equipment 34 supporting the first hooking member 31 in a rotatably free manner about the given longitudinal axis D. In particular, without however reducing the scope of the present invention, both the casing 33 and the movable equipment 34 are coaxial to the given longitudinal axis D to vary, in use, a longitudinal operative position of the first hooking member 31. In more detail, the casing 33 is preferably cylindrical, and houses inside a guiding cylinder 334 coaxial thereto; this guiding cylinder 334 is coupled integrally to the casing 33 through a second base 331 shaped as a circle or a ring in such a way as to define a first body 33' substantially cylindrical, which houses a second body 34' associated with the movable equipment 34 and also substantially cylindrical and coaxial to the first body 33' .

With particular reference to figures 5 and 6, the first body 33' presents a first chamber 333 positioned between the casing 33' and the guiding cylinder 334 and delimited at the opposite side from the second base 331 by an annular portion 332, rigidly carried _»by the casing 33, and peripherally envelopes in fluid-tight manner the second body 34'. In more detail, the second body 34' comprises a first outer hollow cylinder 345 which engages the chamber 333 in a freely sliding manner in order to be able, in use, to translate longitudinally along the guiding cylinder 334. Again with reference to figures 5 and 6, this second body 34' also comprises a second hollow cylinder 347 positioned internally and coaxially to the first hollow cylinder 345 and integrally coupled to it at the opposite side from the second base 331. It is therefore clear that the first and the second bodies 33' and 34' are able, in use, to slide longitudinally with respect to one another, with the second body 34' bilaterally engaging the guiding cylinder 334, and therefore the turnbuckle device 30 can be interpreted as a telescopic device. With particular reference to figures 5 and 6, the first hollow cylinder 345 is delimited inferiorly by a second circular flange 345' which engages in fluid-tight manner the casing 33 and the guiding cylinder 334 and is able to abut against the second base 331 or against the annular portion 332 that engages in fluid-tight manner the first hollow cylinder 345 itself. Therefore, always with reference to figure 5, the first chamber 333 is a closed, fluid-tight space and it is divided by the second flange 345' into a first upper portion 333' and a second lower portion 333' ' insulated from each other in fluid-tight manner.

At this point, it should be noted that the first portion 333' is provided with a first fitting 336 positioned near the annular portion 332 and usable ^"to feed the first portion 333' with a fluid maintained under pressure, by means of a compressor, known and therefore not shown, in order to exercise a given pressure on the second flange 345' to command, in use, a translation of the first hollow cylinder 345 towards the second base 331. It is clear that a contextual reduction in the volume of the second portion 333' ' and a contextual compression of the quantity of air contained in this portion of the chamber 333 are associated with each displacement of the hollow cylinder 345 towards the second base 331. Therefore, to command an inverse displacement of the hollow cylinder 345 oriented towards the annular portion 332 it is sufficient to reduce or eliminate the pressure exercised by the compressor on the fluid in such a way that the compressed air inside the second portion 333' ' expands and thrusts the flange 345' towards the annular portion 332. Alternatively, also with the second portion 333' ' can be associated a second fitting 335 positioned at the opposite side from the first fitting 336 and usable to feed the second portion 333' ' itself with pressurised fluid to cause a respective expansion thereof subsequent to a reduction in volume of the first portion 333' . In other words, by connecting the first and the second feed fittings 336 and 337 by means of a fluid-dynamic circuit, known and therefore not shown, provided with a respective compressor, it is possible to interpret the set of the first and the second bodies 33' and 34' and of the respective feed fittings as a fluid- dynamic actuating device 340 able to be activated by pressure, in which the second flange 345' is able- to serve as movable dividing baffle of the chamber 333. It is, in any case, clear that the turnbuckle device 30 may comprise any other kind of actuating device 340 able, in use, to adjust the longitudinal operative position of the movable equipment.34, without however departing from the protective scope of the present invention; in particular, the actuating device 340 may comprise an electrically operated actuator, for example a linear motor or a gear rack device.

Again with reference to figure 5, it should be noted that the second hollow cylinder 347 presents at least a longitudinal projection 338 that projects radially from the respective outer surface, while the guiding cylinder 334 presents internally at least a guiding groove 337 positioned and shaped to couple to a respective longitudinal projection 338 in a freely sliding manner in order to constrain the second body 34' to move exclusively with longitudinal translating motion relative to the first body 33' . Therefore, the set of each projection 338 and the respective groove 337 can be interpreted as a guiding device 339 for guiding the movement of the hollow cylinder 345; this guiding device 339 is able, in use, to maintain the second body 34' and the first body 33' coupled to each other in a axially sliding and angularly fixed manner and, hence, it is able to prevent rotations of the movable equipment 334 about the given longitudinal axis D.

At this point, with particular reference to figures 1 and 5, it should be noted that the movable equipment 34 supports a turret 346 carried by the second body 34' at the opposite side from the second base 331 and in a freely rotating manner about the given longitudinal axis D. This turret 346, in turn, rigidly supports the first hooking member 31 and carries a second hooking member 32 in rotatably free manner about the given longitudinal axis D; this second hooking member 32 is able, in use,_ to be coupled in a stable and selectively releasable manner to the eyelet 54 carried by an clew of the sail 50 in correspondence of the respective tack. It should be noted that in the case of sails provided with babystay 55' ' , such as for example the drifters, the use of the second hooking member is not required, as the eyelet 54 is carried by the babystay 55' ' itself and is coupled directly to the first hooking member 31.

Again with reference to figure 5, the second hollow cylinder 347 presents an inner space 344 housing _ a rotary actuator 35 rigidly connected to the second hollow cylinder 347 by means of at least a bracket, known and therefore not shown. Furthermore, the space 344 can house an emergency brake 36 associated with the rotary actuator 35 and able, in use, to oppose twisting moments exerted on the drive shaft 35' of the rotary actuator 35 i*tself. This drive shaft 35' is stably coupled to the turret 346 by means of a fitting tube, known and therefore not shown, in such a way as to command axial rotations of the first hooking member 31, and hence of each possible respective elongated member 55, for alternatively furling or unfurling the membrane body 50. In addition, the brake 36 allow to selectively constrain axial rotations of the first hooking member 31 in such a way that the first hooking member 31 can exert a resisting moment against substantially twisting actions exercised by the sail 50 through the respective elongated member 55. Therefore, the set of the second hollow cylinder 347, the turret 346, the rotary actuator 35, and of the respective emergency brake 36 can be interpreted as a furling device 40 able, in use, to furl/unfurl a foresail 50. In particular, both the furling device 40 and the turnbuckle device 30 are coaxial to the given longitudinal axis D and are positioned "in parallel", preferably one inside the other, to minimise the bulk of the furling group 1 and facilitate its installation in each respective site of employment, e.g. on small boats.

At this point, with reference to figures 1 and 5, it should be specified that the first and the second hooking members 31 and 32 comprise preferably, but without limitation, respective fork members provided with transverse pins to engage respective eyelets 54 in a stable and selectively releasable manner.

The use of the furling group 1 is easily understood from the description above and requires no further explanation; however, it may be useful to specify some advantages deriving from the use of the group 1 itself. First of all, the furling group 1 presents an extremely reduced bulk, which facilitates its installation in any- kind of boat and reduces its aesthetic impact. Furthermore, the furling group 1 allows to perform, with a single apparatus, the functions commonly performed by two distinct devices, mutually coupled in series: a furler and a turnbuckle device.

In addition, the furling group 1 can be oriented to follow the direction of the traction that the sail 50 exercises on the first hooking member 31 through the respective elongated body 55 in such a way as to minimise the traction and torsion stresses exercised by the .sail 50 itself against the resistance ultimately offered by the coupling between the first base 10 and the deck/flooring 3. Furthermore, the use of the emergency brake 36 able to cooperate with the restraining device 24 allows to prevent axial rotations of the first hooking member 31 and hence to prevent undesired kinks of the stay/babystay coupled to the furling group 1. The furling group is also extremely versatile because it enables both to adjust the tension applied to the ends of a sail 50, and selectively to vary a respective operative surface thereof by furling or unfurling a portion thereof whose extension can be determined substantially at will. In addition, the lift of the sail can be adjusted by longitudinally translating the first hooking member 31 so as to vary selectively the distance between the deck 3 and the tack of the sail 50. It should be noted that said operations of handling the sail are made possible by the fact that the operative position of the first hooking member 31 can be varied according to four distinct degrees of freedom and, more precisely, this hooking member can rotate about the first and second axes R' and R' ' of rotation, translate along the given longitudinal axis D and axially rotate about the longitudinal axis D itself.

Finally, it should be noted that the second hooking member 32 is freely rotatable in such a way as to be set in rotation by the sail 50 during a respective furling/unfurling operation and hence the second hooking member 32 will present a rotation velocity that is lower or at most equal to the rotation velocity of the sail 50 itself. Furthermore, during these furling/unfurling operations, the second hooking member 32 exercises no moment on the sail 55, but simply follows its motion, exercising a substantially constant traction on the respective tack to allow a correct furling of the sail 50 itself and prevent the formation of folds which could modify its profile. In particular, if a sail associated with a respective luff-stay 55' is used, the presence of a second hooking member 32 able to rotate independently of the first hooking member 31 allows to start furling the sail 50 about the hollow stay 55' starting from the respective portion positioned at the opposite side from the furling group 1, i.e. starting from the upper portion proximate- to the head of the respective mast. In other words, the upper and the lower portion of the sail 50 will be furled at different speeds and, in particular, the upper portion will present a rotation velocity substantially equal to the rotation velocity of the first hooking member 31, while the lower portion will be wound with a velocity substantially equal to the rotation velocity of the second hooking member 32, which, in view of the above description, is lower than that of the first hooking member 31. Therefore, during its respective furling, the sail 50 will not maintain its profile unaltered, and the clew couplet to the boom sheet will tend to move away from the deck and to approach the luff-stay 55' as the furling operation proceeds. This operation thus entails a gradual and progressive change in the lift of the sail starting from the respective peak, i.e. from the portion in which the wind acts most energetically. Furthermore, it should be noted that in this way, the portion corresponding to the peak being the one that presents the smallest extension measured parallel to the deck of the respective boat, the rotary actuator 35 is required to exert a particularly reduced starting force in the initial phases of the winding and also- proceeding progressively until the complete furling of the sail about the respective stay. The use of the second hooking member 32 thus allows to avoid the use of a more powerful, bulky and expensive rotary actuator 35, necessary to exert an extremely intense initial force. This rotary actuator 35 may also be used for easily furling sails 50 provided with babystay 55' ' because, although they do not exploit the advantages linked to the use • of the second hooking member 32, these sails generally present surfaces with reduced extension relative to the sails provided with luff-stay 55' and therefore they oppose a smaller resisting moment during the furling operations.

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variants can be made to the furling group 1 and to the respective swinging support 5 here described and illustrated without however departing from the protective scope of the present invention. For example, with reference to figure 7, the connecting portion 21 can present a plurality of pairs of slots 22 positioned substantially in dial-like fashion around the given longitudinal axis D. The slots 22 of each pair present given longitudinal extension, in such a way that by engaging with the respective pins 12 a specific pair of slots 22, it will be possible to define selectively a given plan M of oscillation and a respective maximum amplitude α of oscillation for the given longitudinal axis D. Therefore, depending on the selected pair of slots 22, it will be possible to vary the conformation and the dimensions of the cone 5 within which the given longitudinal axis is free to orient itself. Clearly, to be able to freely select a specific pair of slots 22, the pins 12 must be axially movable to selectively engaged and disengage the first seat 15. For this reason, the first base 10 can preferably carry each respective pin 12 in an axially sliding and selectively lockable manner along a hole 13 parallel to the given surface 3.

Finally, it should be noted that the problem of tensioning, furling and unfurling a thin flexible membrane body or a cable is present not only in the nautical field, but also in the architecture and furnishing industry. Consider, for example, the tensioned structures produced by- means of a network of semi-rigid wires coupled to the ground by appropriate traction/torsion devices, or to the orientable curtains used in terraces, in arbours and in gardens to protect plants and persons against sun exposure. Therefore, the furler 1 of the invention can be validly used not only to handle a sail 50 on a boat, but also for a plurality of other applications in the field of architecture and furnishing.

Claims

1. A furling group (1) usable for furling a flexible membrane body (50) delimited by a given perimeter (51) , comprising a first edge (52) delimited by a pair of coupling members (54) and able to be furled about an elongated member (55) coupled to said first edge (52); said furling group (1) comprising a first base (10) able to be stably coupled to a given surface (3) and furling means (40) carried by said first base (10) and presenting at least a first hooking member (31) usable for coupling to said elongated member (55); said furling group (1) being characterised by comprising a turnbuckle device (30) able to vary substantially at will an axial position of said first hooking member (31) along a given longitudinal direction (D) in order to adjust a longitudinal tension of said first edge (52) .

2. A group according to claim 1, characterised in that said furling means (40) and said turnbuckle device (30) are positioned "in parallel" one to each other in order to minimise the total dimensions along said given longitudinal direction (D) .

3. A group according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said turnbuckle device (30) comprises a casing (33) and a movable equipment (34) positioned coaxially to each other and to said given longitudinal direction (D) ; said casing (33) being stably coupled to said first base (10) by means of an articulation (18) to be freely orientable, in use, according to a direction of traction exercised by said elongated body (55) on said movable equipment (34) .

4. A group according to claim 3, characterised in that said movable equipment (34) supports a turret (346) in a freely rotating manner about said given longitudinal direction (D); said first hooking member (31) being rigidly coupled to said turret (34) to be able, in use, to rotate axially.

5. A group according to claim 4, characterised in that said furling means (40) comprise at least a second hooking member (32) able, in use, to couple to said coupling member

(54) to maintain under tension said membrane body (50); each said second hooking member (32) being carried by said turret (346) in a freely rotating manner to be able, in use, to follow movements of said membrane body (50) and to facilitate its respective furling starting from a respective portion positioned at the opposite side from said second hooking member (32).

6. A group according to any one of claims 3-5, characterised in that said furling means comprise a rotary actuator (35) rigidly carried by said movable equipment (34) to actuate rotatably said first hooking member (31) and, in use, set in rotation said elongated body (55) .

7. A group according to any one of claims 3-6, characterised in that said turnbuckle device (30) comprises a first outer body (33') and a second inner body (34'); said first and second bodies (33') (34') being coaxial to each other and presenting transverse sections similar to each other to mutually couple in a freely sliding manner along said given longitudinal direction (D) .

8. A group according to claim 7, characterised in that said turnbuckle device (30) comprises actuating means (340) positioned between said first and second bodies (33') (34') to command respective translations thereof along said given longitudinal direction (D) .

9. A group according to claim 8, characterised in that said actuating means (340) can be activated by pressure.

10. A group according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that said first body (33' ) comprises an inner guiding cylinder (334), coaxial to said casing (33) and integrally coupled to the latter by means of a second base (331) positioned at the opposite side from said first hooking member (31); fluid-dynamic sealing means (332) being carried internally by said casing (33) at the opposite side from said second base (331) to define a longitudinal chamber (333) associated with said actuating means (340) ; said sealing means (332) comprising an annular portion (332) that externally envelops said second fluid-tight body (34') .

11. A group according to claim 10, characterised by that said second body (34') comprises at least a first hollow cylinder (345) that engages in fluid-tight manner said chamber (333) and externally carries a projecting baffle (345' ) positioned at the opposite side from said first hooking member (31) and able to subdivide said chamber (333) into a first and a second longitudinal portions (333' ) (333' ' ) isolated from each other in fluid-tight manner; at least one among said first and/or second portions _ (333', 333'') being provided with a respective first fitting (336) usable to feed said respective portion

(333', 333'') with a pressurised fluid able, in use, to exercise a pressure on said baffle (345' ) from the side of one of said first or second portions (333' , 333' ' ) , in order to move said respective first hollow cylinder (345).

12. A group according to claim 11, characterised in that both said first and second portions (333') (333'') are provided with respective first and second feeding fittings (336) (335) connected to each other by means of ^■ a fluid- dynamic circuit able, in use, to command each longitudinal translation of said first hollow cylinder (345) by means of a pressure difference acting on said baffle (345' ) .

13. A group according to claim 8, characterised in that said actuating means (340) comprise an electrically operated linear actuator.

14. A group according to any one of claims 7-13, characterised in that said turnbuckle device (30) comprises longitudinal guiding means (339) positioned between said first and second bodies (33' ) (34' ) .

15. A group according to claim 14, characterised in that said guiding means (339) comprise at least a second hollow cylinder (347) associated with said second body (34') and presenting on its own outer surface at least a longitudinal projection (338); said first body (33') presenting on an inner surface at least a groove (337) housing a respective longitudinal projection (338) to maintain said second body (34') and said first body (33') coupled to each other in an axially sliding and angularly fixed manner.

16. A group according to any one of claims 3-15, characterised in that said articulation (18) comprises a spherical articulation (18) provided with a spherical connecting portion (21) associated with said casing (33) and a first seat (15) housing stably said connecting portion (21) and laterally delimited by a substantially spherical second surface (16).

17. A group according to claim 16, characterised in that said spherical articulation (18) comprises regulating means (25) for adjusting the inclination of said turnbuckle device (30) , and hence of said given longitudinal direction (D), relative to an axis (V) substantially vertical to said first surface (3).

18. A group according to claim 17, characterised in that said regulating means (25) comprise at least a longitudinal slot (22) radially obtained on said connecting portion (21) and at least an abutment (12) carried by said first base (10) inside said first seat (15) so as to engage said respective slot (22) in a selectively stable manner to prevent rotations of said connecting portion (21) about said longitudinal direction (D) .

19. A group according to claim 18, characterised in that each said abutment (12) comprises a cylindrical pin (12) to define a first axis (R' ) of rotation of said turnbuckle device (30) ; each said slot (22) presenting a given longitudinal extension to define a maximum oscillation amplitude (α) of said turnbuckle device (30) about a second axis (R' ' ) of rotation perpendicular both to said first axis (R' ) of rotation and to said given longitudinal direction (D) .

20. A group according to claim 19, characterised in that said connecting portion (21) comprises a plurality of said slots (22), each of which is associated with a given plan (M) of oscillation of said given longitudinal direction (D); each said pin (12) being able, in use, to engage selectively one of said slots (22) to select the respective said given plan (M) of oscillation.

21. A group according to claim 19 o 20, characterised in that said given longitudinal direction (D) can be oriented, in use, along each operative direction enclosed in a cone (C) with two slopes, whose vertex is positioned substantially at the centre of said first base (10) and whose opening is a function of said maximum oscillation amplitude (α) .

22. A group according to claims 6 and 7, or according to any one of claims 8-21 depending on claims 6 and 7, characterised in that said rotatory actuator (35) is housed inside said second hollow cylinder (347) and it is associated with an emergency brake (36) to exercise, in use, a resisting moment able to prevent rotations of said first hooking member (31).

23. A group according to claims 6 and 7, or according to any one of claims 8-22 depending on claims 6 and 7, characterised in that said rotatory actuator (35) comprises alternatively an electric, hydraulic or air motor.

24. A swinging support (5) to couple stably a furling group (1), provided according to any one of claims 1-23, to a respective given third surface (3) : said swinging support (5) comprising a third base (10) provided with a respective anchor flange (11) for anchoring to said given surface (3), and a support body (20) housed inside said third base (10) and presenting a second seat (26) for housing integrally said furling group (1); characterised in that said third base (10) and said support body (20) are coupled in substantially articulated manner in such a way that said furling group (1) is able, in use, to be freely oriented along a plurality of given operative directions.

25. A swinging support (5) to couple stably a furling group (1) to a respective given third surface (3) : said swinging support (5) comprising a third base (10) provided with a respective anchor flange (11) for anchoring to said given surface (3) , and a support body (20) housed inside said third base (10) and presenting a second seat (26) to house integrally said furling group (1); characterised in that said third base (10) and said support body (20) are coupled in substantially articulated manner in such a way that said furling group (1) is able, in use, to be freely oriented along a plurality of given operative directions.

26. A swinging support according to claim 24 or 25, characterised in that said third base (10) presents a third seat (15) housing stably said support body (20) and delimited laterally by a fourth substantially spherical surface (16) ; said second support body (20) presenting a connecting portion (21) also substantially spherical to engage said fourth surface (16) in such a way that the set of said third seat (15) and said connecting portion (21) define a spherical articulation (18).

27. A swinging support according to claim 26, characterised in that said spherical articulation (18) comprises regulating means (25) for adjusting the inclination of said furling group (1) relative to an axis (V) substantially vertical to said third surface (3) .

28. A swinging support according to claim 27, characterised in that said regulating means (25) comprise at least a longitudinal slot (22) obtained radially on said connecting portion (21) and at least an abutment (12) carried by said third base (10) inside said third seat (15) in such a way as to engage said respective third slot (22) in a selectively stable manner to prevent rotations of said connecting portion (21) about said axis (V).

29. A swinging support according to claim 28, characterised in that each said abutment (12) comprises a cylindrical pin (12) to define a third axis (R') of rotation of said support member (20); each said slot (22) presenting a given longitudinal extension to define a maximum oscillation amplitude (α) of said support member (20) about a fourth axis (R' ' ) of rotation perpendicular both to said third axis (R' ) of rotation and to a longitudinal axis (D) of symmetry of said support member (20).

30. A swinging support according to claim 29, characterised in that said connecting portion (21) comprises a plurality of said slots (22), each of which is associated with a given plan (M) of oscillation of said longitudinal axis (D); each said pin (12) being able, in use, to engage selectively one of said slots (22) to select the respective said given plan (M) of oscillation.

31. A swinging support according to claim 29 or 30, characterised in that said given longitudinal axis (D) can be oriented, in use, along each operative direction enclosed in a cone (C) with two slopes, whose vertex is positioned substantially at the centre of said third base (10) and whose opening is a function of said maximum amplitude (α) of oscillation.

32. A swinging support according to any one of claims 24- 31, characterised in that said support body (20) is provided with connecting means (23) to couple integrally to each said furling group (1); said connecting means comprising at least a collar (23) which engages peripherally each said furling group (1) .

33. Use in the nautical, architectural^* and/or furnishing field of a furling group (1) constructed with reference to any one of claims 1-23 to produce a device able to control operations of tensioning and/or furling of flexible membrane bodies or cables.

34. Use in the nautical, architectural and/or furnishing field of a swinging support (5) constructed with reference to any one of claims 24-32 to couple integrally a first given surface (3) to a device able to coηtrol operations of handling and/or furling of flexible membrane bodies or cables.