SAILBOAT
A sailboat is provided, which could use left and right jibs alternately to operate the sailboat without using mainsail. The advantages of sailboat are the shorter route to the destination, and more efficiently and economically in production. The mast of the sailboat is set on the centerline of the sailboat. A function of helm that turns the sailboat towards the windward can be substituted by hanging the jib on the mast set from midship to stern in the centerline of the sailboat. In addition, when the sailboat sails downwind, one end of each jib on the starboard side and the port side could be untied to make jibs become spinnakers. If sailor wants to use a traditional spinnaker, it also could be rigged by connecting the traditional spinnaker to the mast-end and the starboard side and the port side.
The present invention relates to a sailboat, and more particularly, to a sailboat with left and right jibs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAt present, a great number of sailboat-types may be distinguished. Apart from size, sailboats may be distinguished by the number of masts being established and thus can be divided into two categroies, i.e. single-masted sailboats and multi-masted sailboats. It is noted that the multi-masted sailboats includes double-masted sailboats and three-masted sailboats, but are not limited thereby. Moreover, traditional sailboats are monohulls, but multi-hull catamarans and trimarans are gaining popularity.
If a monohull sailboat has only one mast, it is a single-masted monohull sailboat; and if there is more than one mast on a sailboat, it can be a multi-masted monohull sailboat. In this embodiment, the sailboat is a single-masted sailboat, but it is not limited thereby. Please refer to
It is noted that the maneuvering and movement of a conventional single-masted monohull sailboat is dependent upon the ability to adjust the windward angles of its jib 14 and mainsail 16. Please refer to
It is noted that traditional sailboats are mostly monohulls, but multi-hull catamarans and trimarans are gaining popularity; and if a catamaran, i.e. a double-hull sailboat, has only one mast, it is a single-masted catamaran, and if there is more than one mast on a catamaran, it is a multi-masted catamaran. In the embodiment shown in
It is noted that the maneuvering and movement of a conventional single-masted catamaran 3 is dependent upon the ability to adjust the windward angles of its jib 34 and mainsail 36. Please refer to
In addition, not only as the establishing and fabricating of the boom and mainsail on a sailboat can be a very complex task, the building of a conventional sailboat can be very costly; but also as the smooth sailing of a conventional sailboat depends upon the ability to adjust and control its jib and mainsail, it may require more manpower to operate.
Therefore, it is in need of a less-expensive, easy-to-operate sailboat with high sailing efficiency that can overcome the aforesaid shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the disadvantages of prior art, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a less-expensive, easy-to-operate sailboat with high sailing efficiency that is designed to operate its left jib and right jib in an alternating manner and is capable of shorting its voyage distance to a destination effectively.
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a sailboat, comprising: a hull module, configured with at least one hull; a mast, configured with a first end and a second end at positions thereof opposite to each other while coupling the first end to a position on a center line of the hull module as the center line is defined to be a line connecting the center of a line passing through each bow of the at least one hull and the center of a line passing through each stern of the at least one hull; a first fixing element, disposed at position on the left to the center line of the hull module; a first winch, disposed at position on the left to the center line of the hull module; a first pulley, coupled to a position at the port side of the hull module; a first jib, configured with a first end, a second end and a third end in a manner that the first end of the first jib is connected to the second end of the mast, the second end of the first jib is connected to the first fixing element, and the third end of the first jib is connected to the first winch by way of the first pulley; a second fixing element, disposed at position on the right to the center line of the hull module; a second winch, disposed at position on the right to the center line of the hull module; a second pulley, coupled to a position at the starboard side of the hull module; a second jib, configured with a first end, a second end and a third end in a manner that the first end of the second jib is connected to the second end of the mast, the second end of the second jib is connected to the second fixing element, and the third end of the second jib is connected to the second winch by way of the second pulley.
Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein:
For your esteemed members of reviewing committee to further understand and recognize the fulfilled functions and structural characteristics of the invention, several exemplary embodiments cooperating with detailed description are presented as the follows.
Please refer to
Generally, the first jib 56 and the second jib 57 will not be used simultaneously unless the sailboat 5 is sailing with a tailwind, but are used alternatively and selectively according to the direction of wind. That is, when the air heading is blowing toward the sailboat 5 from its starboard side 505, the first jib 56 is expanded and used; otherwise, when the air heading is blowing toward the sailboat 5 from its port side 504, the second jib 57 is expanded and used. Accordingly, when the first jib 56 is expanded, the second jib 57 can be roll up and furled by the rig connecting the first end 570 and the second end 571 of the second jib 57 for pulling and receiving the third end 572 of the second jib 57 to a position between the first and the second ends 570, 571. On the other hand, in response to the wind direction change that it is intended to expand the second jib 57, the first jib 56 should be furled and roll up similarly while rigging the third end 572 of the second jib 57 to the second winch 55 by way of the second pulley 550.
Please refer to
Generally, the first jib 56 and the second jib 57 will not be used simultaneously unless the sailboat 5 is sailing with a tailwind, but are used alternatively and selectively according to the direction of wind. That is, when the air heading is blowing toward the sailboat 5 from its starboard side 505, the first jib 56 is expanded and used; otherwise, when the air heading is blowing toward the sailboat 5 from its port side 504, the second jib 57 is expanded and used. Accordingly, when the first jib 56 is expanded, the second jib 57 can be roll up and furled by the rig connecting the first end 570 and the second end 571 of the second jib 57 for pulling and receiving the third end 572 of the second jib 57 to a position between the first and the second ends 570, 571. On the other hand, in response to the wind direction change that it is intended to expand the second jib 57, the first jib 56 should be furled and roll up similarly while rigging the third end 572 of the second jib 57 to the second winch 55 by way of the second pulley 550.
Moreover, the boom 58 is configured with a first end 580 and a second end 581 at positions opposite to each other while enabling the first end 580 to coupled with the mast 51; and the mainsail 59 is configured with a plurality of ends including a first end 590, a second end 591 and a third end 592 in a manner that the first end 591 of the mainsail 59 is coupled to the second end 511 of the mast 51, the second end 591 of the mainsail 59 is coupled to the first end 580 of the boom 58, and the third end 592 of the mainsail 59 is coupled to the second end 581 of the boom 58.
Please refer to
The monohull sailboat of the present invention is different from those conventional monohull sailboat in that:
-
- (1) The monohull sailboat of the present invention is designed to operate its left jib and right jib in an alternating manner so that is able to operate without the mainsail and boom that are expensive and difficult to build;
- (2) There are different amount of fixing elements being arranged on the monohull sailboat of the present invention as well as their positions, that is, the monohull sailboat of the present invention is configured with two fixing elements respectively at its port side and starboard side with respect to the left jib and the right jib of the monohull sailboat, so that, comparing with those conventional monohull sailboat, the included angle between the sail and the center line is increased and thus the monohull sailboat of the present invention is able to sail under a wind blowing in a wind direction 010 with smaller included angle comparing with those conventional monohull sailboat, as the top view of a single-masted monohull sailboat shown in
FIG. 3D that the sailboat can be driven by the wind coming from a direction 010 at an included angle not smaller than 17 degrees with respect to the center line, that is, if the included angle between the wind direction 010 and the center line is no smaller than 17 degrees, the wind can be used by sailboat efficiently for driving the sailboat to move accordingly, and also as another top view of a single-masted monohull sailboat shown inFIG. 4C that the sailboat can be driven by the wind coming from a direction 010 at an included angle not smaller than 4 degrees with respect to the center line, that is, if the included angle between the wind direction 010 and the center line is no smaller than 4 degrees, the wind can be used by sailboat efficiently for driving the sailboat to move accordingly; and - (3) Different from the conventional sailboat that the mast is erected at a position on its fore-aft center line between the bow and the midship, the mast of the monohull sailboat of the invention can be disposed on the center line at any position. As the single-masted monohull sailboats shown in
FIG. 3A andFIG. 3B , the mast is erected at a position on the center line between the midship and the stern so that the portion of the jib that are being positioned behind the midship is increased, and thus according to a principle that the larger the portion of the jib being positioned behind the midship, the larger the torque generating from the enlarged portion of the jib, the portion of the jib will function as a rudder since the torque generated therefrom will force the sailboat to turn into windward direction automatically.
Please refer to
It is noted that traditional sailboats are mostly monohulls, but multi-hull catamarans and trimarans are gaining popularity; and if a catamaran, i.e. a double-hull sailboat, has only one mast, it is a single-masted catamaran, and if there is more than one mast on a catamaran, it is a multi-masted catamaran. The sailboat shown in the embodiment of
Generally, the first jib 76 and the second jib 77 will not be used simultaneously unless the sailboat 7 is sailing with a tailwind, but are used alternatively and selectively according to the direction of wind. That is, when the air heading is blowing toward the sailboat 7 from its starboard side 707, the first jib 76 is expanded and used; otherwise, when the air heading is blowing toward the sailboat 7 from its port side 706, the second jib 77 is expanded and used. Accordingly, when the first jib 76 is expanded, the second jib 77 can be roll up and furled by the rig connecting the first end 770 and the second end 771 of the second jib 77 for pulling and receiving the third end 772 of the second jib 77 to a position between the first and the second ends 770, 771. On the other hand, in response to the wind direction change that it is intended to expand the second jib 77, the first jib 76 should be furled and roll up similarly while rigging the third end 772 of the second jib 77 to the second winch 75 by way of the second pulley 750.
Please refer to
Generally, the first jib 76 and the second jib 77 will not be used simultaneously unless the sailboat 7 is sailing with a tailwind, but are used alternatively and selectively according to the direction of wind. That is, when the air heading is blowing toward the sailboat 7 from its starboard side 707, the first jib 76 is expanded and used; otherwise, when the air heading is blowing toward the sailboat 7 from its port side 706, the second jib 77 is expanded and used. Accordingly, when the first jib 76 is expanded, the second jib 77 can be roll up and furled by the rig connecting the first end 770 and the second end 771 of the second jib 77 for pulling and receiving the third end 772 of the second jib 77 to a position between the first and the second ends 770, 771. On the other hand, in response to the wind direction change that it is intended to expand the second jib 77, the first jib 76 should be furled and roll up similarly while rigging the third end 772 of the second jib 77 to the second winch 75 by way of the second pulley 750.
Moreover, the boom 78 is configured with a first end 780 and a second end 781 at positions opposite to each other while enabling the first end 780 to coupled with the mast 71; and the mainsail 79 is configured with a plurality of ends including a first end 790, a second end 791 and a third end 792 in a manner that the first end 791 of the mainsail 79 is coupled to the second end 711 of the mast 71, the second end 791 of the mainsail 79 is coupled to the first end 780 of the boom 78, and the third end 792 of the mainsail 79 is coupled to the second end 781 of the boom 78.
Please refer to
The multi-hull sailboat of the present invention is different from those conventional multi-hull sailboat in that:
-
- (1) The multi-hull sailboat of the present invention is designed to operate its left jib and right jib in an alternating manner so that is able to operate without the mainsail and boom that are expensive and difficult to build;
- (2) There are different amount of fixing elements being arranged on the multi-hull sailboat of the present invention as well as their positions, that is, the multi-hull sailboat of the present invention is configured with two fixing elements respectively at its port side and starboard side with respect to the left jib and the right jib of the multi-hull sailboat, so that, comparing with those conventional multi-hull sailboat where there is only one fixing element being arranged at the starting end of its center line, the included angle between the sail and the center line is increased and thus the multi-hull sailboat of the present invention is able to sail under a wind blowing in a wind direction 010 with smaller included angle comparing with those conventional multi-hull sailboat, as the top view of a single-masted catamaran shown in
FIG. 5D that the catamaran can be driven by the wind coming from a direction 010 at an included angle not smaller than 25 degrees with respect to the center line, that is, if the included angle between the wind direction 010 and the center line is no smaller than 25 degrees, the wind can be used by catamaran efficiently for driving the catamaran to move accordingly, and also as another top view of a single-masted catamaran shown inFIG. 6C that the catamaran can be driven by the wind coming from a direction 010 at an included angle not smaller than 13 degrees with respect to the center line, that is, if the included angle between the wind direction 010 and the center line is no smaller than 13 degrees, the wind can be used by sailboat efficiently for driving the catamaran to move accordingly; and - (3) Different from the conventional multi-hull sailboat that the mast is erected at a position on its center line between the bow and the midship, the mast of the multi-hull sailboat of the invention can be disposed on the center line at any position. As the single-masted catamarans shown in
FIG. 5A andFIG. 5B , the mast is erected at a position on the center line between the midship and the stern so that the portion of the jib that are being positioned behind the midship is increased, and thus according to a principle that the larger the portion of the jib being positioned behind the midship, the larger the torque generating from the enlarged portion of the jib, the portion of the jib will function as a rudder since the torque generated therefrom will force the sailboat to turn into windward direction automatically.
Please refer to
Except for the aforesaid advantages, the left and right jibs in the present invention can be expanded and used as spinnakers while sailing with a tailwind by releasing the rigging of their connection to the port side and the starboard side in respective and connecting the released ends of those jibs to either the ends connecting to the fixing elements or the ends connecting to the winches. Please refer to
Please refer to
The sailboat of the invention is designed to meet with user's demands by enabling the left and right jibs of the sailboat to operate in an alternating manner so as to enable the sailboat to be operable without the mainsail and boom, and thus not only the construction cost relating to the mainsail and boom can be save, but also the operation procedure as well as the man power for the mainsail and boom can be forgotten. In addition, by the addition of the fixing element on the sailboat of the invention and their positions as well, the voyage distance can be shortened. Furthermore, by arranging its mast on the center line at a position between the midship and the stern, the jib on the sailboat of the invention is able to function as the rudder for forcing the sailboat to turn into windward direction automatically. While sailing with a tail wind, the sailboat of the invention can simply release its left and right jibs from their corresponding fixing elements for enabling the two jibs to expand and thus to be used as spinnakers. If it is intended to use a spinnaker on a sailboat of the invention, the spinnaker 9 can be rigged and connected by the use of the two fixing elements disposed respective on the post side and starboard side thereof. Moreover, the expanding of the left and right jibs can be enabled simultaneously with the use of spinnaker, by that the sailboat can be propelled by more wind and thus the sailing speed is increased.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Claims
1. A sailboat, comprising:
- a hull module, configured with at least one hull;
- a mast, configured with a first end and a second end at positions thereof opposite to each other while coupling the first end to a position on a center line of the hull module as the center line is defined to be a line connecting the center of a line passing through each bow of the at least one hull and the center of a line passing through each stern of the at least one hull;
- a first fixing element, disposed at position on the left to the center line of the hull module;
- a first winch, disposed at position on the left to the center line of the hul module;
- a first jib, configured with a plurality of ends including a first end, a second end and a third end in a manner that the first end of the first jib is connected to the second end of the mast, the second end of the first jib is connected to the first fixing element, and the third end of the first jib is connected to the first winch;
- a second fixing element, disposed at position on the right to the center line of the hull module;
- a second winch, disposed at position on the right to the center line of the hul module; and
- a second jib, configured with a plurality of ends including a first end, a second end and a third end in a manner that the first end of the second jib is connected to the second end of the mast, the second end of the second jib is connected to the second fixing element, and the third end of the second jib is connected to the second winch.
2. The sailboat of claim 1, further comprising:
- a boom, configured with a first end and a second end at positions opposite to each other while enabling the first end thereof to coupled with the mast;
- a mainsail, being configured with a plurality of ends including a first end, a second end and a third end in a manner that the first end of the mainsail is coupled to the second end of the mast, the second end of the mainsail is coupled to the first end of the boom, and the third end of the mainsail is coupled to the second end of the boom.
3. The sailboat of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first pulley, disposed at the port side of the hull module to be used for enabling the third end of the first jib to pass therethrough before being connected to the first winch; and
- a second pulley, disposed at the starboard side of the hull module to be used for enabling the third end of the second jib to pass therethrough before being connected to the second winch.
4. The sailboat of claim 2, further comprising:
- a first pulley, disposed at the port side of the hull module to be used for enabling the third end of the first jib to pass therethrough before being connected to the first winch; and
- a second pulley, disposed at the starboard side of the hull module to be used for enabling the third end of the second jib to pass therethrough before being connected to the second winch.
5. The sailboat of claim 1, wherein the hull module is formed as a monohull structure; and the first fixing element is disposed at the gunwale of the port side of the monohull structure while the second fixing element is disposed at the gunwale of the starboard side of the monohull structure.
6. The sailboat of claim 1, wherein the hull module is formed as a multi-hull structure; and the first fixing element is disposed at the bow of the most left hull in the multi-hull structure or the gunwale of the port side of the most left hull in the multi-hull structure while the second fixing element is disposed at the bow of the most right hull in the multi-hull structure or the gunwale of the starboard side of the most right hull in the multi-hull structure.
7. The sailboat of claim 1, wherein the first end of the mast is coupled to a position on a center line of the hull module and the center line is defined to be line connecting the midship of the hull module to the stern of the same.
8. The sailboat of claim 1, further comprising:
- a spinnaker, configured with a plurality of ends including a first end, a second end and a third end in a manner that the first end of the spinnaker is connected to the second end of the mast, the second end of the spinnaker is connected to a position at the left of the center line of the hull module, and the third end of the spinnaker is connected to a position at the right of the center line of the hull module.
9. The sailboat of claim 8, wherein the second end of the spinnaker is connected to a device selected from the group consisting of a first fixing element and the first winch; while the third end of the spinnaker is connected to a device selected from the group consisting of a second fixing element and the second winch.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 20, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2012
Inventor: WEN-YUN CHEN (Hualien County)
Application Number: 12/885,655
International Classification: B63H 9/04 (20060101);