Patent Publication Number: US-4480567-A

Title: Pivotable rigid line for linking sailor to boom of surfboard sailboat

Description:
The invention relates to an arrangement for linking the sailor with the sail boom when surf sailing subject to wind pressure. 
     In the course of surf sailing subject to wind pressure the sailor is in certain cases provided with a so-called harness bearing a hook at the level of the sailor&#39;s chest. To this hook the sailor can connect one of the two lines, one on either side of the sail, which are secured to the sail boom. For surf sailing subject to wind pressure to be possible at all, the sailor engaged in this activity holds fast to the boom throughout, steering the craft inter alia by shifting the weight of his body. This can be difficult and can cause great fatigue during prolonged sailing. By making use of the said lines the sailor&#39;s arm muscles can be relieved. Owing to the sailing method, for instance when cruising, the lines must frequently be fixed to and removed from the hook. 
     In order to be able to secure or release the hook the sailor must in general let go of the boom with one hand. Holding the boom and the sail with only one hand reduces the steering ability and increases the danger of capsizing. 
     By the present invention as described in the characterising sections of the patent claims these disadvantages are entirely eliminated since the sailor is not compelled to let go of the boom with one hand, but can retain his two-handed grip on the boom throughout while releasing himself from or linking himself with the boom. 
    
    
     One embodiment of the invention is described below in detail with reference to the drawing, a schematic illustration of this embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     1 designates a section of the boom which the sailor is gripping with both hands 2. The sailor wears a harness provided with a hook 3 at chest level. Directly within the normal gripping positions of the sailor&#39;s hands are fixed the free ends of a yoke 4. This yoke is substantially rigid, &#34;self-supporting&#34;, along its entire curvature up to points close to its respective attachments to boom 1, the yoke being articulated at these attachment points in such a way that it can be swung upward and downward. 
     Without releasing his grip on boom 1 with his hands 2, the sailor can control the yoke 4 with his hands as indicated in the FIGURE, hooking on the yoke or releasing it from hook 3, thanks to the yoke&#39;s inherent rigidity. 
     Since the yoke shall normally be capable of being removed from and shifted along boom 1, the yoke may advantageously consist of a line part of which is covered with a plastic tube. The free ends of the line are placed around the boom 1 and attached to themselves in a suitable manner. Beyond the ends of the tube, where the line is attached to the boom, the line itself constitutes joints 5 contributing to the operation of the invention. The yoke can also consist of a line, coated or impregnated with a suitable stiffening agent along the stretch between the intended attachment points. 
     The linking device between the sailor and the boom can also consist of homogeneous material which is stiff but capable of being bent. In this case the device can be attached direct to the boom without joints or articulated sections. The capacity of swinging it up and down is due to the fact that the material as such is flexible. 
     The invention also extends to linking devices made of metal and provided with hinged joints attached to the boom with the aid of sleeves or screws.