Patents by Inventor Fred C. Cook

Fred C. Cook 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: 8091497
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sectionalized mast track that solves problems associated with furling and reefing sails on yachts, particularly large yachts. The inventive mast track includes mast track sections that are secured to a mast with hinges. Securing pins connect the sections to each other such that all the sections pivot together along the centerline defined by hinges. The securing mechanisms also make it possible to remove a single mast track section at a time. Embodiments of the inventive mast track have a cross section that absorbs wind-generated compressive forces exerted by battens, reducing chafing, and eliminates the need for sail slides, which would otherwise lock the sail in place during furling and reefing. The inventive mast track may also be configured to couple to an articulating sail feeder that bends and rotates freely, but limits the axial twist of the sail as during furling and reefing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Schaefer Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Cook, William H. Donaldson
  • Patent number: 8091496
    Abstract: Disclosed are luff extrusions that solve problems of batten chafing and friction locking. The inventive luff extrusions provide batten end receptacles with channels for headboard cars. The luff extrusions absorb the wind-generated compressive forces exerted by the battens on the batten pockets and eliminate the need for sail slides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Schaefer Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Cook, William H. Donaldson
  • Patent number: 8001916
    Abstract: Disclosed is an articulating sail feeder that solves problems associated with furling and reefing sails on yachts, particularly large yachts. The inventive sail feeder includes hinge tracks arranged in articulating column that bends and rotates freely, but limits the axial twist of the sail as during furling and reefing. The inventive hinge tracks have a cross section that includes a batten end receptacle with channels for headboard cars. Hinge tracks with the inventive cross section absorb the wind-generated compressive forces exerted by the battens on the batten pockets, reducing chafing, and eliminate the need for sail slides, which would otherwise lock the sail in place during furling and reefing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Schaefer Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred C. Cook, William H. Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20100282152
    Abstract: Disclosed is an articulating sail feeder that solves problems associated with furling and reefing sails on yachts, particularly large yachts. The inventive sail feeder includes hinge tracks arranged in articulating column that bends and rotates freely, but limits the axial twist of the sail as during furling and reefing. The inventive hinge tracks have a cross section that includes a batten end receptacle with channels for headboard cars. Hinge tracks with the inventive cross section absorb the wind-generated compressive forces exerted by the battens on the batten pockets, reducing chafing, and eliminate the need for sail slides, which would otherwise lock the sail in place during furling and reefing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Fred C. Cook, William H. Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20100282154
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sectionalized mast track that solves problems associated with furling and reefing sails on yachts, particularly large yachts. The inventive mast track includes mast track sections that are secured to a mast with hinges. Securing pins connect the sections to each other such that all the sections pivot together along the centerline defined by hinges. The securing mechanisms also make it possible to remove a single mast track section at a time. Embodiments of the inventive mast track have a cross section that absorbs wind-generated compressive forces exerted by battens, reducing chafing, and eliminates the need for sail slides, which would otherwise lock the sail in place during furling and reefing. The inventive mast track may also be configured to couple to an articulating sail feeder that bends and rotates freely, but limits the axial twist of the sail as during furling and reefing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Fred C. Cook, William H. Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20100282151
    Abstract: Disclosed are luff extrusions that solve problems of batten chafing and friction locking. The inventive luff extrusions provide batten end receptacles with channels for headboard cars. The luff extrusions absorb the wind-generated compressive forces exerted by the battens on the batten pockets and eliminate the need for sail slides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFER MARINE, INC.
    Inventors: Fred C. Cook, William H. Donaldson
  • 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