Patent Publication Number: US-8973512-B2

Title: Wind gust dampening system for sailing vessel

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/590,077, filed Jan. 24, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to sailing systems, and more particularly, to sail securement systems for securing sails to vessels. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Sails on sailing vessels are typically supported by a vertically extending mast and a horizontally extending boom, such as a main boom or a jib boom. The sail may also be supported by a back stay extending from the mast head to the stern of the sailing vessel. The main boom may be controlled with a main sheet attached to a deck of the sailing vessel. The main sheet may be taken up or let out while sailing to account for wind speed and heading of the vessel relative to the wind direction. The main sheet is typically releasably fastened to the deck of the sailing vessel and is typically a line having little stretch. While sailing, wind strikes the sail and imparts a force on the sail causing forward motion when the sailing vessel is pointed generally orthogonal to a direction in which the wind is blowing. The main sheet is adjusted based on the wind speed of the day. In gusty conditions, the wind gusts cause the sailing vessel to roll or heel. The keel of the vessel counteracts the wind gust but does not prevent the sailing vessel from heeling. In conditions with heavy wind gusts, the sailing vessel is subject to sever heeling and possibly capsizing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A wind gust dampening system for a sailing vessel for absorbing the forces generated by a wind gust upon a sail is disclosed. The wind gust dampening system may be adjustable such that the system may be used on a variety of different size and types of sailing vessels to absorb forces from wind gusts to prevent sailing vessels from capsizing or from damage occurring to equipment, or both. The configuration of the wind gust dampening system provides for a plurality of adjustments enabling the system to be uniquely adapted to each sailing vessel for increased efficiency. The wind gust dampening system may include one or more shock cords for absorbing the forces generated by wind gusts and may extend between a deck of a vessel and a sail. 
     The wind gust dampening system may be used with any sailing vessel that uses a line, which is known as a sheet, to control the sail. One end of the wind gust dampening system may be attached to the sheet by a deflection guide and a cam cleat. The other end of the wind gust dampening system may be attached to a fixed point on the sailing vessel through use of a line, such as, but not limited to, a rope, that is attached at the other end to aspects of the wind gust dampening system. The wind gust dampening system may include various sized shock cords attached to one of two bodies forming the wind dampening system. The shock cords can be easily engaged or disengaged, which enables the amount of tension to be changed. The wind gust dampening system thus provides an adjustable shock absorbing capability between the sheet and the sailboat itself. 
     The wind gust dampening system does not require any additional hardware to be installed on a vessel. The wind gust dampening system may be ready to use out of the box. Additionally, the wind gust dampening system may be attached to a sheet even while the sheet is under load. 
     The size of the wind gust dampening system may be varied depending on the diameter of the sheet and the surface area of the sail to which the wind gust dampening system is attached. The wind gust dampening system may be formed from materials, such as, but not limited to, plastic and metal. 
     These and other embodiments are described in more detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the presently disclosed invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wind gust dampening system installed on a sailing vessel. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the first body of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the second body of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the wind gust dampening system with multiple shock cords. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a deflection guide of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the second body of the wind gust dampening system shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the second body of the wind gust dampening system shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of an end of a shock cord of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of an alternative configuration of the end of the shock cord shown in  FIG. 11  expanded to fit onto the hook. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the first body of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the second body of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the first body of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the first body taken along section line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom view of the alternative embodiment of the first body shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the first body taken along section line  18 - 18  in  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the second body of the wind gust dampening system. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the first body taken along section line  20 - 20  in  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-20 , a wind gust dampening system  10  for a sailing vessel for absorbing the forces generated by a wind gust upon a sail  12  is disclosed. The wind gust dampening system  10  may be adjustable such that the system  10  may be used on a variety of different size and types of sailing vessels  18  to absorb forces from wind gusts to prevent sailing vessels  18  from capsizing or from damage occurring to equipment, or both. The configuration of the wind gust dampening system  10  provides for a plurality of adjustments enabling the system  10  to be uniquely adapted to each sailing vessel  18  for increased efficiency. The wind gust dampening system  10  may include one or more shock cords  14  for absorbing the forces generated by wind gusts and may extend between a deck  16  of a vessel  18  and a sail  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5 ,  7 ,  9  and  13 , the wind gust dampening system  10  may be formed from a first body  20  having a first end  22  and a second end  24  positioned on an opposite side of the first body  20 . The first end  22  of the first body  20  may be configured to be secured to a support structure  26  for a sail  12 . The support structure  26  may be, but is not limited to being, a boom. The wind gust dampening system  10  may include a second body  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  9 ,  10  and  14 , having a first end  30  and a second end  32  positioned on an opposite side of the second body  28 , wherein the first end  30  of the second body  28  is configured to be secured to a vessel  18 , such as, but not limited to, a deck  16  of a vessel  18 . The wind gust dampening system  10  may include one or more shock cords  14  extending between the first and second bodies  20 ,  28 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5 ,  7 ,  9  and  13 , the first body  20  may include a first line  34  extending from the first end  22  of the first body  20 . The first line  34  may be, but is not limited to being, a nylon rope having a diameter between about one quarter of an inch and about two inches. The first line  34  may be releasably coupled to the first end  22  of the first body  20  via a releasable clamp  36  on the first body  20 . The releasable clamp  36  may be, but is not limited to being, a cam cleat. The opposite end of the first line  34  may be attached to the support structure  26  for the sail  12 , to the sail, or both. The first line may be permanently or releasably attached thereto. 
     The first body  20  may also include one or more deflection guides  38 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , formed from a base  40  attached to the first body  20  and having an arm  42  extending from the base  40  and terminating proximate to the first body  20 , thereby forming a line containing chamber  44  and an opening  46  into the chamber  44  between the arm  42  and the first body  20 . The opening  46  may be positioned on an opposite side of the arm  42  from the base  40 . The arm  42  may have any appropriate shape, such as, but not limited to, an S shape. The line containing chamber  44  may be sized to house a line extending therethrough. 
     In one embodiment, the deflection guide  38  may be positioned adjacent to the first end  22 . The cam cleat  36  may also be positioned between the deflection guide  38  at the first end  22  and the orifice  50  at the second end  24 . The first body  20  may also include one or more retainers  52  having one or more load bearing surfaces  54  configured to retain the shock cord  14  extending from a first side  56  of the elongated body  62 , a second retainer  58  extending from a second side  60  of the elongated body  62  in a direction generally opposite to a direction in which the first end  22  extends from the elongated body  62 . 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the first body  20  may include a plurality of orifices  50  at the second end  24  to which a plurality of shock cords  14  are releasably attached. The first body  20  may be generally rectangular or have another appropriate configuration. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  9 ,  10  and  14 , the second body  28  may have any configuration for coupling the shock cords  14  to a second line  64  that is attachable to a deck  16  of a vessel  18 . The second body  28  may be formed from any configuration enabling the shock cords  14  to be coupled to the second line  64  that is attachable to a deck  16  of a vessel  18 . In one embodiment, the second body  28  may be formed from an elongated body  74  wherein the first end  30  includes an orifice  68 , a first retainer  70  extending from a first side  72  of the elongated body  74 , a second retainer  76  extending from a second side  78  of the elongated body  74  in a direction generally opposite to a direction in which the first end  30  extends from the elongated body  74 , and an orifice  68  in the elongated body  74  at the second end  32 . A second line  64  may extend from the first end  30  of the second body  28 . 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the second body  28  may be generally triangular. The first end  30  of the second body  28  may be configured to be secured to a deck  16  of a vessel  18 , and a side opposite to the first end  30  may include a plurality of orifices  82 . 
     The wind gust dampening system  10  may have one or more shock cords  14  for absorbing the forces generated by wind gusts. In one embodiment, one or more shock cords  14  may be releasably coupled to the first or second bodies  20 ,  28 , or both. In another embodiment, one or more shock cords  14  may be permanently attached to the first or second bodies  20 ,  28 , or both. In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a shock cord  14  may be attached via a permanent loop to an orifice  50  in the first body  20 , and the shock cord  14  may be attached via a permanent loop to an orifice  82  in the second body  28 . Additional shock cords  14  may be is releasably attached to the first and second bodies  20 ,  28 . The shock cords  14  may be sized, diameter and length, based upon the anticipated loads. The number of shock cords  14  used may be based upon the anticipated loads. 
     The first body  20  may include one or more retainers  52  having one or more load bearing surfaces  54  configured to retain the shock cord  14 . The retainer  52  may be, but is not limited to being, a hook  84 . The hook  84  may or may not include a loop retaining protrusion  86  to prevent the shock cord  14  from inadvertently being removed from the retainer  52 . 
     The shock cord  14  may be releasably attached to the second body  28 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the shock cord  14  may be releasably attached with one or more loops  88 ,  90 . The second body  28  may include one or more retainers  52  having one or more load bearing surfaces  54  configured to retain one or more shock cords  14 . In at least one embodiment, the retainer  52  on the second body  28  may be, but is not limited to being, a hook  84 . The hook  84  may include a loop retaining protrusion  86 . The retainer  52  in the second body  28  may be formed from a plurality of orifices  68  at an end to which a plurality of shock cords  14  are releasably attached. The system  10  may include use of a plurality of shock cords  14 . The shock cords  14  may have the same size and length or may have different sizes or lengths, or both. 
     In another embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the second body  28  may include one or more retainers  52  configured to hold one or more shock cords  14  such that first and second ends  88 ,  90  of the shock cords  14  are coupled to the first body  20  and midsections  92  of the shock cords  14  extend through the retainer  52  in the second body  28 . Thus, the shock cords  14  may be looped through the retainers  52 , thereby reducing the effective length of the shock cords  14  by about one half. The retainers  52  may be formed from at least one orifice  82  in the second body  28 , a hook or other appropriate device. In yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , first and second bodies  20 ,  28 , include retainers  52  without a loop retaining protrusion  86 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 16-20 , the first body  20  may include a retainer  52  formed from a single hook  120 . The hook  120  may have any appropriate configuration shaped to retain one or more shock cords  14 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , aspects of the first body  20  forming the hook  120  may be hollow and may include one or more exterior channels  122  to reduce weight and increase strength. The second body  28  may include a retainer  52  formed from a single hook  120 . As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , aspects of the first body  20  forming the hook  120  may be hollow and may include one or more exterior channels  122  to reduce weight and increase strength. In addition, one or more connecters  124 , such as but not limited to, nuts and bolts, may be used to couple the releasable clamp  36  to the first body  20 . The nuts  126  may be contained within a recess  128  in the first body  20 . The second body  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , may include aspects forming a retainer  52 , which may be, but is not limited to being, one or more hooks  120  that may be hollow and may include one or more exterior channels  122  to reduce weight and increase strength. 
     During use, the wind gust dampening system  10  may be attached before a sheet is placed under load or while a sheet is under load. A line extending from the second body  28  may secured to the vessel  18  such as by being attached to a cleat. If a sheet is not available, a line may be attached to the sail  12  or to the support structure  26  that is supporting the sail  12 . The line may be inserted through the opening  46  into the line containing chamber  44  of the deflection guide  38  and inserted into the releasably clamp  36 , which may be a cam cleat. The line may be adjusted as needed. For instance, when waves increase and wind conditions become strong and gusty, the wind gust dampening system  10  creates a controllable elastic shock-absorber between the vessel  18  and the sails  12 . The wind gust dampening system  10  may be adjustable by adjusting the number and diameter of the shock cords  14 , and by hauling in or easing off the sheet that is attached by the releasable clamp  36 . 
     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.