Patent ID: 6615758
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: B63B,B63H

Abstract:
A portable sailing kit for wind propulsion of vessels and vehicles said kit comprising:a. a V-shaped sail for mounting to vessels and vehicles; b. a flexible sail frame comprising two flexible elongated tubular framing members wherein each of said two flexible elongated tubular framing members is parallel to and attached along the length of a respective side of the V-shaped sail so that during operation, the V-shaped sail and said flexible sail frame act in combination to permit, by flexure of the two elongate tubular framing members by up to ninety degrees from the vertical, automatic adjustment of the effective area and centre of effort of the V-shaped sail upwards and downwards as a function of wind speed and without operator involvement; c. a locking base mountable to vessels and vehicles in a vertical or horizontal orientation said locking base having a first bore from a top surface of the locking base to a bottom surface of the locking base and a second bore from a front surface of the locking base to a back surface of the locking base wherein said first and second bores intersect in the centre of the locking base and wherein there is disposed a key member at the intersection of said first and second bores so that said key member is located in the middle of each bore; d. further wherein the top surface of the locking base includes a collar rising there from and surrounding the top end of the first bore and wherein said collar has a vertical inner surface comprising a plurality of splines disposed equidistantly and radially about said vertical inner surface and further wherein the length of said splines is substantially the height of the collar and further wherein said splines have rounded upper ends; e. a molded â€œYâ€  shaped body adapted to hold the flexible sail frame in a vertical and freestanding orientation, said â€œYâ€  shaped body having: i. a cylindrical stem portion adapted to be received by a said bore of said locking base; ii. a furcated top portion comprising internally reinforced tubes inserted into each bifurcation and adapted to connect to and support a said flexible elongated tubular framing member; iii. a middle portion adapted to transmit forces from the flexible sail frame to the locking base; and, iv. wherein said cylindrical stem portion includes a split ring located at its distal end, said split ring having two gaps therein disposed opposite to each other, said split ring having a flat upper surface and further wherein the top portion of said cylindrical stem includes a plurality of splines disposed radially around the top portion of the said cylindrical stem.