US2005252432A1PendingUtilityA1

Extendable sailboat mast

12
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 13, 2004Filed: May 13, 2004Published: Nov 17, 2005
Est. expiryMay 13, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Roman Pamula
B63B 15/0083
12
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
0
Claims

Abstract

An apparatus and method for use to raise and lower a sailboat mast are described. A channel ( 101 ) in a base ( 103 ) complements and is capable of receiving a guide ( 105 ) of a mast ( 107 ) that is slideably mounted inside the base ( 103 ). A gear ( 111 ) having a handle ( 113 ) is operably connected to a plurality of teeth ( 109 ) that run longitudinally down the length of guide ( 105 ). A bracket ( 115 ) attaches the gear ( 111 ) to the base ( 103 ). In an embodiment of the invention, a wheel ( 409 ) that is attached to bracket ( 413 ) engages a second guide ( 405 ) so as to support the mast ( 407 ) by acting to counter forces applied to and by the gear ( 111 ) during mast ( 407 ) raising and lowering.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a base attached to a surface and having at least one channel that extends longitudinally down the length of the base;    a mast slideably mounted inside the base and having at least one guide that complements and is capable of being accepted into at least one of the channels; and    a gear mechanism that is mounted to the base and operably connected to at least one of the guides.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of teeth attached along the longitudinal length of one of the guides.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the gear mechanism includes a gear that complements and operably engages the plurality of teeth on one of the guides.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one groove that extends longitudinally down the length of the mast.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a support member that is mounted to the base and movably supports the mast.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the support member is disposed near the gear mechanism.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the support member is operably connected at least one of the guides.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the support member is operably connected at least one of the grooves.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the gear mechanism is connected to a power source.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal mounted to an upper end of the base.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap mounted on an upper end of the mast.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a grommet attached to the cap.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a base attached to a surface and having a first channel that extends longitudinally down the length of the base;    a mast slideably mounted inside the base and having a first guide to which a plurality of teeth are attached, wherein the first guide is capable of being accepted into the first channel;    a support member that is mounted to the base and supports the mast; and    a gear mechanism that is mounted to the base and having a gear that is operably connected to the teeth on the first guide.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a second channel that extends longitudinally down the length of the base.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein circumferential positions of the first channel and the second channel on the base are approximately one hundred and eighty degrees apart.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a second guide attached to the mast, wherein the second guide complements and is capable of being accepted into the second channel.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a groove that extends longitudinally down the length of the mast.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the support member is disposed near the gear mechanism.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the support member is operably connected to the second guide.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the support member is operably connected to the groove.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the support member is a wheel.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the gear mechanism is connected to a power source.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a seal mounted to an upper end of the base.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a cap mounted on an upper end of the mast.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a grommet attached to the cap.  
   
   
       26 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a sail to a first end of a mast that has a guide and that is slideably mounted inside a base, wherein the guide complements and is accepted into a channel in the base, and is operably connected to a gear mechanism;    operating the gear mechanism that is operably attached to the guide so as to raise and lower the sail; and    when the mast is in a desired position, securing the mast with a latch mechanism.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of attaching the gear mechanism to the base by using a bracket that removably attaches to the base.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a pin that engages the mast and the base.

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