Sail bearing

Abstract

A bearing for a sail furling apparatus includes a spherical body having a longitudinal axis and containing a cylindrical longitudinal through-opening for receiving a cable of the furling apparatus. The body is freely rotatable on the cable and protects the furled sail from abrasive contact with the cable. The body contains a plurality of spaced longitudinal channels in the outer surface to define a plurality of spaced flutes to further space the furled sail from the cable and to facilitate smooth furling and unfurling of the sail.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A bearing for a sail furling apparatus, comprising a body having a longitudinal axis, said body containing a cylindrical longitudinal through-opening for receiving a cable of the sail furling apparatus, said body being freely rotatable relative to the cable. 
     
     
         12 . A bearing as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said body has a generally spherical configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A bearing as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said bearing contains a plurality of spaced grooves in an outer surface, said grooves extending parallel to said longitudinal axis to define a plurality of flutes on said bearing outer surface. 
     
     
         14 . A bearing as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said grooves are equally spaced around the circumference of said bearing. 
     
     
         15 . A bearing as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said bearing includes flat top and bottom surfaces perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, whereby when a plurality of said bearings are arranged adjacent to each other on a cable of the sail furling apparatus, said top and bottom surfaces of adjacent bearings are in contiguous relation. 
     
     
         16 . A bearing as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said bearing is formed of a rigid material. 
     
     
         17 . A bearing as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said bearing is formed of synthetic plastic material.