Patents by Inventor David R Dion

David R Dion has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7275491
    Abstract: A sail furler with a recirculating halyard includes a foil having a longitudinal halyard channel and a longitudinal recirculating halyard channel formed within; and a halyard, having a first and second end, the halyard affixed at its first end to a slider, the slider affixed to head of the sail, the halyard rising to an upper end of the foil, leading through a top cap, and then descending downwards through the halyard channel to an exit of the halyard channel in proximity to a lower end of the foil, then ascending through the recirculating halyard channel, and terminating at its second end to the slider, so that the distance between the second halyard end and the head of the sail remains constant whether the sail is raised or lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffer Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Cook, David R. Dion
  • Patent number: 7096812
    Abstract: A foil for the headsail of a sailboat for use with a headstay has an aerodynamic shape. It includes a headstay channel for containing the headstay, which may be snapped into place in the channel. The foil has a first and second sidewall, a forward wall, and two or more tabs on the back of the forward wall, which engage the headstay. A forward luff channel is bounded one side by the first side wall and on an other side by a forward channel inner wall. An aft luff channel isbounded on one side by the second side wall and on an other side by an aft channel inner wall. Fairing tabs are affixed to an end of the first side wall, to an end of the second side wall, and to an end of an aft channel inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventors: Fred C Cook, David R Dion, Paul Bogotaj
  • Patent number: 6371037
    Abstract: A roller furling system for sailing yachts contains a rotating mandrel mounted within a boom of the vessel, and furls or reefs the sail within the boom. The furler includes the hollow boom which has a slot on the upper surface to permit the sail to enter, foot first. A rotating mandrel is mounted within the boom and a drum, attached to the after end of the boom and concentric with the mandrel, provides means to rotate the mandrel. A winding line is wound around the drum and is redirected by a series of pulleys out of the forward end of the boom. The boom is mounted on, and above a gooseneck fitting attached to the mast, thereby providing full access to the mast end of the boom slot. A sail feeder provides easy entry of the sail into the boom slot, and prevents jamming, particularly jamming caused by the forward end of the sail battens. The feeder has two sides along the boom slot, and an end piece, which prevents the batten ends from jamming above the end of the boom slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventors: Fred C. Cook, David R Dion