Mast Displacement Mechanism

This invention relates to sailboats and, more particularly, to a mast displacement mechanism for sailboats.

In the past there have been numerous types of mechanisms for displacing a mast, that is, tilting it with respect to the deck. Representative patents in the prior art are U.S. Pat. Nos. 241,037; 273,529, 641,321, 1,039,122. The present invention is of an improvement generally speaking in the art of moving a mast to tilt it about a pivot point high on the mast with the low end being guided to the left and right by a track means through a carriage interconnection which includes lock means to lock it in a selected position. Other prior art patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,323,480, 3,099,976; 3,085,539; 2,353,007; 830,720, 559,983, 457,323, and 236,037. This invention is of a sailboat which does not pivot the mast around a point at or near the deck level which is typical of prior art mechanisms some of which are self-centering, some of which are counter-balanced, and some of which are adjustable while "underway."

A distinguishing feature of the instant invention is that the pivot for the tilt of the mast is located at the upper end zone of the mast, as a pendulum, and the lower deck end of the mast is moved through an arc, guided by the track means along a radius of curvature between the pivot and the track means and the invention also provides as described hereinafter means for positioning the mast and means for clamping or holding the position once selected. This invention provides simplicity of the rigging which does not alter in length with movement of the mast and is suitable for installation in light inexpensive recreational boats of various types as well as being adaptable for use with heavy cruising and racing type craft.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a mast displacement mechanism to provide an ability for a sailboat to point closer to the wind, to better utilize hull forms and to minimize list under varying wind conditions. It is also an object to provide a sailboat which is provided with a mast displacement mechanism to more effectively utilize wind forces relative to the sail position under varying wind intensities and which is safe due to controllable balance of the vessel with the mast and sail, when tilted to a correct position, acting as an adjustable ballast.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mast mechanism which provides for movement of a mast in the process of "coming about," or changing direction in a turn. Generally speaking it is an object to provide a mast displacement mechanism which provides for simplicity of rigging and the ability to use the mast itself as a type of stabilizer or ballast for more effective utilization of wind under varying conditions.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a sailboat provided with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the boat shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view partly in cross section of the lower end of the mast and the deck of the boat;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in cross section taken on the plane indicated by the line 5--5 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a view in cross section taken on the plane indicated by the line 6--6 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a boat equipped with the instant invention and showing an operator for the mast displacement mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing an alternative operator means for the mast displacement mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is a view in cross section similar to a portion of FIG. 3 and illustrating a mechanical operator means in the form of a rack and pinion for displacing the lower end of the mast.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views there is shown a hull 12, which may be in the form of a catamaran, as suggested by the dotted line portion of FIG. 1 and indicated by the numeral 14. In any event extending upwardly from the hull means a mast 16 is provided which, at its lower end 18, is connected to a track means 20 which in the embodiment shown is transverse or athwart. The boat is equipped with a conventional rudder means 22 and operator 24. For purposes to be described hereinafter a pivot point 26 is located in the upper zone 28 of the mast 16 from which cables 30 and 32 extend downwardly to a pulley 34. The track means is of channel form as seen in FIG. 2 at 36 including side flanges 38 and 40 and a lower web or floor 42. Referring to FIG. 1 there is also provided a forestay cable 44.

Referring to FIG. 6 the lower end 18 of the mast is provided with a recess 46 which is sized to receive an upstanding stem 48 of a carriage 50 which is movable within the channel of the track means being captivated therein by inturned upper portions 52 and 54 on the flanges 38 and 40. Aligned pin and hole means indicated by the numeral 60 are provided to connect the stem in the recess of the lower end of the mast and stop means are provided to limit penetration of the stem such as that designated by the numeral 62. A step 64 may be provided on the lower end of the mast. In the preferred embodiment the carriage comprises a body 70 with a first and a second pair of wheels 72 and 74 each pair having a common axle 76 and 78. It is thus seen that the lower end of the mast as seen in FIG. 3 may be travelled through its connection with the carriage along the path of the track means which is effective to constrain the carriage to a path of movement of a radius of curvature equal to the distance between the pivot point 26 of the mast and the web 42 of the track means. Means are provided for moving the carriage and in a first embodiment these means comprise a cable actuated system, see FIG. 7 with a wheel and drum 100 at the stern of the cockpit or other suitable position withith the boat. It is thus seen that by operating the hand wheel and drum mechanism 100 the forces will be transmitted to the carriage through the cables 104 and 106 to move it with respect to the track means to a desired location for tilting the mast.

Alternative means such as that shown in FIG. 8 may be provided in which a pump reservoir unit 100' with an operator 101.degree. is connected through piping 102' and 103' to a hydraulic cable cylinder 104' which operates the cable as at 106' and 108' to transmit forces to move an extension 109' on the carriage and, hence, to move it along the track means to a predetermined location.

As a preferred embodiment a rack and pinion gear mechanism may be provided as shown in FIG. 9 in which the web of the track means supports a rack 202 the teeth of which are in engagement with a pinion gear 204 carried by an operator shaft 206 fixed to the body 70' so that by turning the gear 204 by means of the operator shaft 206 the mast will be displaced.

It is thus seen that there is provided a sailboat with a mast displacement mechanism in which the mast is displacable or tiltable about a point in the upper ends, as would a pendulum, to swing the deck end of the mast or lower end of the mast along an arc, guided by a track means, and in which the lower end may be either mechanically or manually positioned and which includes some means for clamping or holding the lower end when the position has been achieved, which may be in the form of the plurality of holes 208 along the flanges in opposition to one another to receive the pin 210 of the lock means 212 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.