Abstract:
A bowsprit for a sailing vessel having a deck and a hull. A supporting member of the bowsprit has first and second opposing ends and is pivotably attachable to the deck such that the opposing ends of the supporting member extend outwardly past the hull. First and second movable members of the bowsprit are joined at an apex. First and second movable members are for disposition substantially adjacent to respective outer sides of the sailing vessel such that the apex is forward of the vessel and the first and second movable members are supported by and are slidable over the supporting member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/993,511, filed 11 Sep. 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a retractable bowsprit for use with a sailboat. 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional sailboat  2 , more specifically a yacht having a Bermudan sloop sail plan. A Bermuda rigged sloop is a common configuration of sailboat and is characterized by a single hull  4 , a single mast  6  and two fore-and-aft rigged sails: a triangular mainsail  10  and one of several possible types of interchangeable foresail. A Bermuda sloop commonly carries at least two types of foresail to be used depending on the desired point of sail. A staysail  12 , such as a jib or a genoa, is used when reaching (sailing across or into the wind) and a downwind sail ( FIG. 2 ), such as a symmetric or asymmetric spinnaker, is used when running (sailing within approximately 30° of directly downwind). The mast  6  may be stabilized by a forestay  16 , running from the bow  18  to the mast head  22  and a back stay (not shown), running from the stern  28  to the mast head. A pivotable horizontal spar (boom)  40  for orienting the mainsail  10  extends aft from the mast  6 . The mainsail  10  helps to propel the sailboat  2  and also acts as a rudder for controlling the boat&#39;s direction of travel 
         [0004]    The greater the surface area of the sails, the more wind power can be harnessed. The surface area of both sails is limited by the height of the mast  6 . The surface area of the mainsail is further limited by the length of the boom  40  whereas the surface area of the foresail is further limited by how far forward of the mast the foresail&#39;s tack  30  can be fixed. 
         [0005]    When reaching the sails act as wings, redirecting air blowing in from the side of the boat towards the stern, thereby creating lift that moves the boat forward. The staysail&#39;s luff is attached to the forestay  16  and the tack  30  is fixed to a point forward of the mast, such as the bow  18 . The clew  54  is movable relative to the sailboat  2 . The trim of the staysail is controlled by adjusting the position of the clew  54 . When transitioning from reaching to running, the staysail is lowered and a downwind sail, such as an asymmetric spinnaker, is run up in its place. 
         [0006]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , when running, both sails trap air as it flows by, essentially causing the wind to drag the boat along with it. Like a staysail, the tack  59  of an asymmetric spinnaker  63  is attached to a fixed point forward of the mast, such as the bow or to a bowsprit  61 , and the clew  65  is attached to a spinnaker sheet  67 . The bowsprit  61  is a spar positioned to extend forward from the bow, essentially increasing the effective length of the boat and, consequently, increasing the maximum size of foresail that can be used. Unlike a staysail or the mainsail, the asymmetric spinnaker is not attached to the boat along any of the sail&#39;s edges. This allows the asymmetric spinnaker  63  to fill with wind and balloon out in front of the sailboat  2  when deployed. 
         [0007]    A bowsprit is advantageous for use in sailing because it increases the effective length of the boat, allowing for a larger sail and therefore greater surface area. However, this increase in effective length can be a hindrance when performing precise maneuvering, such as when docking. Therefore sailboats may utilize a retractable bowsprit which can be extended when needed and stored when not in use. One type of conventional retractable bowsprit is a single spar that extends outwardly from the bow. When not in use, the retractable bowsprit is stored either just above or just below the level of the deck. However, such retractable bowsprits take up valuable space when not they are in use. They also pose a safety concern: if the bowsprit comes loose it will most likely be projected violently backwards from the bow towards the crew. Also, such a retractable bowsprit is not easily installable on a pre-existing sailboat. Thus, what is needed is a retractable bowsprit that does not take up unnecessary space on the sailboat, maximizes the safety of the boat&#39;s crew, and which can be easily installed on a variety of sailing vessels. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a conventional sailboat having a first sail plan. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a conventional sailboat having a second sail plan. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of a sailboat having an extendable and retractable bowsprit apparatus installed thereon, the bowsprit apparatus being in a retracted position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates the sailboat and bowsprit apparatus of  FIG. 3 , but with the bowsprit apparatus shown in an extended position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    A retractable bowsprit is described with reference to the conventional Bermuda sloop shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the bowsprit described herein can be easily adapted to any type of sailing vessel and any use of a conventional bowsprit. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a retractable bowsprit assembly  75  is mounted on a conventional sailboat  2  and is shown in a retracted position. Bowsprit assembly  75  includes a support member  79  attached to the deck  32  forward of the mast  6 . Support member  79  has port and starboard outer ends  81 ,  83  and is secured to the deck  32  via a centrally positioned pivot mount  85  allowing the support member to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the deck. A moveable spar  87  lies substantially along the port side of the outer hull  4 , supported by the port end  81  of support member  79  and a similar moveable spar  89  lies substantially along the starboard side of the outer hull, supported by the starboard end  83  of the support member. In the retracted position, bowsprit  75  is positioned as far aft as possible relative to the sailboat  2 , any further rearward movement being restricted by interference with the bow  18 . Bowsprit  75  is moveable between the retracted position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and an extended position (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0014]    Support member  79  is centered over the keel line and is of sufficient length to allow both outer ends  81 ,  83  to extend past the port and starboard sides of the hull  4  respectively. The dimensions of a particular support member will depend on the size of the boat to which it is mounted. The underside of support member  79  has a connector (not shown) for connecting to pivot mount  85 . The connection between the pivot mount  85  and the connector (not shown) is of any type allowing the support member to be securely and rotatably attached to pivot mount  85 . The support member may include channels, guides, clamps, bars, or other means (indicated generally by  88 ) to limit the range of motion of the moveable spars. 
         [0015]    Moveable spars  87 ,  89  each have respective forward ends and aft ends  91 ,  93 . The forward ends are joined to one another to form a single forward end  95  of bowsprit  75 . The spars may have any cross-sectional shape. The spars  87 ,  89  may be substantially straight, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , or may be at least partially curved, for instance to conform to the shape of the hull  4 . 
         [0016]    Support member  79  can be made of any material of sufficient strength and durability to withstand the intended use while preferably also being relatively lightweight and buoyant. The moveable spars can be made of any suitable rigid material. 
         [0017]    A port extension line  101  is affixed to the port spar&#39;s aft end  91  and runs through pulley  103  on port outer end  81  to a bracket  105  in the center of the support member  79 . A starboard extension line  107  is affixed to the starboard spar&#39;s aft end  93  and runs through pulley  109  on starboard outer end  83  to the bracket  105 . To move bowsprit  75  from the retracted position to an extended position, an operator (not shown) in the vicinity of support member  79  pulls evenly on both extension lines from the bracket  105  towards the stern, causing the line to pull spars  83 ,  87  forward. A retraction line  106  is secured between the bow  18  and the bowsprit&#39;s forward end  95 . The retraction line  106  prevents the bowsprit  95  from being extended too far forward and allows for the bowsprit&#39;s retraction from the extended position. Prior to extension, the tack of a downwind sail can be affixed to the forward end  95 . Extension of the bowsprit  95  thus allows for use of a larger sail to be used than would otherwise be possible. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , when in the extended position, the orientation of bowsprit  75  relative to the bow  18  is controlled by port and starboard orientation lines  110 ,  111  and corresponding port and starboard orientation pulley systems. By cooperatively manipulating the orientation lines  110 ,  111 , an operator (not shown) causes support member  79  to pivot through a range of rotation. In an embodiment of the extendable bowsprit  75 , the port orientation pulley system includes port support member pulleys  115 ,  117  attached to the support member&#39;s port outer end  81 , bow pulleys  119 ,  121  attached on the port side of the bow  18 , and a starboard support member pulley  123  attached at the starboard outer end  83 . Port orientation line  110  is affixed to the support member&#39;s port outer end  81  and runs from the port outer end through the bow pulley  119 , port support member pulley  115 , bow pulley  121 , port support member pulley  117 , across support member  79  to starboard support member pulley  123  and then aft. Where port orientation line  110  is available for manipulation. The port pulley system is mirrored by a starboard pulley system, the starboard orientation line  111  running from the support member&#39;s starboard outer end  83 , through the starboard pulley system to sail boats aft. 
         [0019]    When the downwind sail is no longer required, an operator (not shown) may move bowsprit  75  from the extended position to the retracted position by pulling on the retraction line  106 . The downwind sail can then be safely retrieved. 
         [0020]    An embodiment of the bowsprit described herein can be provided in kit form for installation on a conventional sailboat. A non-limiting example of the contents of such a kit includes a support member, first and second spars, and a pivot assembly for mounting the support member to the deck of the conventional sailboat. The kit versions of the support member and spars may be provided in such dimensions that a single kit is installable on a wide variety of sailboats, intentionally oversized such that an installer may trim off any excess to fit the kit&#39;s components to a specific sailboat, or custom sized and shaped to fit a specific sailboat design. Ancillary hardware such as lines, pulleys, etc. may either be provided with the kit or separately supplied, for instance by the purchaser or installer. 
         [0021]    The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.