Stabilizer, flotation and mast mount mechanisms and methods

Abstract

The invention relates to mechanisms, devices and methods for providing increased stability and functionality to vessels through the use of one or more flotation device(s), leeboard(s), mast or sail mounting mechanisms, or associated mounting mechanisms or techniques.

1 . A vessel stabilizing mechanism comprising at least two elongated members and at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for securing at least one member to at least one other member such that at least one said hinge device or adjustable interface would be positioned within or above the vessel when the stabilizing mechanism is in use.  
   
   
       2 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of said at least two elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard.  
   
   
       3 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device.  
   
   
       4 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 2  further comprising at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device.  
   
   
       5 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 2  further comprising at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       6 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 3  further comprising at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       7 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 4  further comprising at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       8 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 2  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       9 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 3  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       10 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 4  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       11 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 5  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       12 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 6  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       13 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 7  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       14 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising said at least one of said at least two elongated members having one more apertures or other support structures incorporated therein and distinct from said at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for use in securing such one or more elongated members to the vessel and said vessel stabilizing mechanism also having one or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least two elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       15 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising said at least one hinge device or adjustable interface comprising one or more rounded, circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, pentangular, hexagonal, septangular, octagonal, crescent or semicircle shaped structure(s) affixed or affixable to or incorporated as part of one or more member(s) and having one or more aperture(s) therein such that one or more of said structure(s) of one member may be positioned next to one or more said structure(s) of one or more other member(s) and bolted, clipped or otherwise affixed together in a manner that secures or reversibly secures the relative position of the associated members and said vessel stabilizing mechanism also having one or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least two elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       16 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising said at least one hinge device or adjustable interface comprising one or more rounded, circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, pentangular, hexagonal, septangular, octagonal, crescent or semicircle shaped structure(s) affixed or affixable to or incorporated as part of one or more member(s) and having one or more aperture(s) therein such that one or more of said structure(s) of one member may be positioned next to one or more said structure(s) of one or more other member(s) and bolted, clipped or otherwise affixed together in a manner that secures or reversibly secures the relative position of the associated members and said vessel stabilizing mechanism also having twp or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least two elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       17 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 15  further comprising at least one of said at least two elongated members having one more apertures or other support structures incorporated therein and distinct from said at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for use in securing such elongated member(s) to the vessel.  
   
   
       18 . A vessel stabilizing method comprising securing to a vessel at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having at least two elongated members and at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for securing at least one member to at least one other member such that at least one said hinge device or adjustable interface would be positioned within or above the vessel when the stabilizing mechanism is in use and then operating said vessel.  
   
   
       19 . The vessel stabilizing method of  claim 18  further comprising said at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having one or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least two elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       20 . The vessel stabilizing method of  claim 18  further comprising said at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having two or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least two elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       21 . A method of moving a vessel comprising securing to a vessel one or more masts, one or more sails and at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having at least two elongated members and at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for securing at least one member to at least one other member such that at least one said hinge device or adjustable interface would be positioned within or above the vessel when the stabilizing mechanism is in use and then operating said vessel.  
   
   
       22 . The vessel stabilizing method of  claim 21  further comprising said at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having one or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least two elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       23 . The vessel stabilizing method of  claim 21  further comprising said at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having two or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least two elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least two elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       24 . A vessel stabilizing mechanism comprising at least three elongated members and at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for securing at least one member to at least one other member such that at least one said hinge device or adjustable interface would be positioned within or above the vessel when the stabilizing mechanism is in use.  
   
   
       25 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 24  further comprising at least one of said at least three elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard.  
   
   
       26 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 24  further comprising at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device.  
   
   
       27 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 25  further comprising at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device.  
   
   
       28 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 25  further comprising at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       29 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 26  further comprising at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       30 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 27  further comprising at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       31 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 25  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       32 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 26  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       33 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 27  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       34 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 28  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       35 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 29  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       36 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 30  further comprising at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.  
   
   
       37 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 24  further comprising at least one of said at least three elongated members having one more apertures or other support structures incorporated therein and distinct from said at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for use in securing such at least one of said at least three elongated members to the vessel and said vessel stabilizing mechanism also having one or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least three elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       38 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 24  further comprising said at least one hinge device or adjustable interface comprising one or more rounded, circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, pentangular, hexagonal, septangular, octagonal, crescent or semicircle shaped structures affixed or affixable to or incorporated as part of one or more member(s) and having one or more aperture(s) therein such that one or more of said structure(s) of one member may be positioned next to one or more said structure(s) of one or more other member(s) and bolted, clipped or otherwise affixed together in a manner that secures or reversibly secures the relative position of the associated members and said vessel stabilizing mechanism also having one or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least three elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       39 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 24  further comprising said at least one hinge device or adjustable interface comprising one or more rounded, circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, pentangular, hexagonal, septangular, octagonal, crescent or semicircle shaped structure(s) affixed or affixable to or incorporated as part of one or more member(s) and having one or more aperture(s) therein such that one or more of said structure(s) of one member may be positioned next to one or more said structure(s) of one or more other member(s) and bolted, clipped or otherwise affixed together in a manner that secures or reversibly secures the relative position of the associated members and said vessel stabilizing mechanism also having two or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least three elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       40 . The vessel stabilizing mechanism of  claim 38  further comprising at least one of said at least three elongated members having one more apertures or other support structures incorporated therein and distinct from said at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for use in securing such elongated member(s) to the vessel.  
   
   
       41 . A vessel stabilizing method comprising securing to a vessel at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having at least three elongated members and at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for securing at least one member to at least one other member such that at least one said hinge device or adjustable interface would be positioned within or above the vessel when the stabilizing mechanism is in use and then operating said vessel.  
   
   
       42 . The vessel stabilizing method of  claim 41  further comprising said at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having one or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least three elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       43 . The vessel stabilizing method of  claim 41  further comprising said at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having two or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least three elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       44 . A method of vessel propulsion comprising securing to a vessel one or more masts, one or more sails and at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having at least three elongated members and at least one hinge device or adjustable interface for securing at least one member to at least one other member such that at least one said hinge device or adjustable interface would be positioned within or above the vessel when the stabilizing mechanism is in use and then operating said vessel.  
   
   
       45 . The vessel stabilizing method of  claim 44  further comprising said at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having one or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least three elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.    
   
   
       46 . The vessel stabilizing method of  claim 44  further comprising said at least one vessel stabilizing mechanism having two or more of the following: 
 (a) at least one of said at least three elongated members having one end shaped like a leeboard,    (b) at least one of said at least three elongated members having secured thereto a flotation device,    (c) at least one mast mount device having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface or    (d) at least one mounting device secured or securable to a vessel and having at least one hinge device or adjustable interface secured or securable to at least one other hinge device or adjustable interface.