Headsail roller-furling boom

Abstract

The present invention relates to a movable stay connected between a boom and the mast, capable of furling a sail, such as a headsail or jib. The furling and deployment movements should be proportional so the sail angle remains constant throughout use. By furling sails toward the mast and deck, the center of gravity for the sailboat is lowered. During a capsize or just harsh weather conditions, lower center of gravity helps in righting a ship or preventing it from capsizing in the first place. Other embodiments will allow for automatic detection of an anticipated capsize and an immediate automated furling of sails.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sailboat comprising:
 a mast;   a boom;   a stay connected to said mast at a mast point;   said stay in contact with said boom at a contact point;   a sail;   said sail connected to said stay;   said stay adapted to move the mast point vertically up and down the mast; and   said stay adapted to move the contact point horizontally along the boom.   
     
     
         2 . The sailboat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a sail angle formed between said stay and said boom; and 
 the stay adapted to maintain substantially the same sail angle as the sail is furled or deployed. 
 
     
     
         3 . The sailboat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a gear and pulley system to change the mast point height and to change the contact point along the boom. 
 
     
     
         4 . The sailboat of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a sail angle formed between said stay and said boom; and 
 the gear and pulley system adapted to proportionally adjust the mast point height and contact point boom location to maintain substantially the same sail angle throughout sail furling or sail deployment. 
 
     
     
         5 . The sailboat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a stay collection device; 
 said stay having an end at the mast point and an opposite end, said opposite end connected to said stay collection device; 
 said stay collection device adapted to collect an excess stay length as the sail furls; and 
 said stay collection device adapted to release collected stay length as the sail deploys. 
 
     
     
         6 . The sailboat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a sensor adapted to anticipate capsizing by measuring a tipping angle; 
 an electronic winch mechanically connected to a gear and pulley system; 
 said electronic winch in electrical communication with said sensor; and 
 said electronic winch adapted to automatically furl the sail using the gear and pulley system upon receiving a signal from said sensor when the tipping angle exceeds a predetermined threshold angle. 
 
     
     
         7 . A sailboat with a bow and a stern comprising:
 a mast;   a boom;   said boom comprising:
 a collar; and 
 a mandrel; 
   a movable stay;   a sail; and   said sail connected to said movable stay.   
     
     
         8 . The sailboat of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a rotating mechanism in connection with the mandrel to furl and deploy said sail; 
 said sail having a foot; 
 the foot of the sail attached to said mandrel; and 
 said sail adapted to wrap and unwrap around said mandrel as the sail furls or deploys. 
 
     
     
         9 . The sailboat of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a gear contained within the collar; 
 said sail having a luff; 
 said luff connected to said movable stay; 
 said luff having notches to engage said gear; 
 said gear adapted to rotate and disengage the connection between said luff and said movable stay as the sail furls; and 
 sail gear adapted to rotate and engage the connection between said luff and said movable stay as the sail deploys. 
 
     
     
         10 . The sailboat of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a mast collar; 
 said mast collar connected to said movable stay; 
 said mast collar connected to a halyard; and 
 said halyard adapted to incrementally raise and lower said mast collar. 
 
     
     
         11 . The sailboat of  claim 7  further comprising:
 said mast having forward located slots; 
 a sail angle between said movable stay and said boom; 
 a deck; 
 one end of said movable stay is connected to said deck at a fixed point; 
 a second end of said movable stay is connected to said forward located slots; 
 said forward located slots adapted to incrementally move up and down the mast; and 
 said collar adapted to incrementally and proportionally relocate the movable stay along the boom to maintain substantially the same sail angle as the forward located slots are moved up or down. 
 
     
     
         12 . The sailboat of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a pulley and halyard system connected to said collar and said forward located slots; and 
 said pulley and halyard system running below the deck. 
 
     
     
         13 . The sailboat of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a drum connected to an end of the boom; 
 a halyard in contact with at least one pully; 
 said halyard connected between said drum and said collar; 
 said halyard adapted to move the collar away from the mast resulting in a deploying sail by pulling the halyard toward the mast; and 
 said drum adapted to hold and lock any excess halyard. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of sailing a sailboat having a mast, a boom, and a sail comprising:
 connecting a stay to said mast at a mast point;   contacting said stay with said boom at a contact point;   connecting said sail to said stay;   moving the mast point vertically upward to increase sail surface area; and   moving the mast point vertically downward to decrease sail surface area and lower sailboat center of gravity.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 defining a sail angle between said stay and said boom; and 
 moving the mast point and the contact point simultaneously such that the sail angle remains substantially constant as the sail is furled or deployed. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 connecting a gear and pulley system to said mast point and said contact point; and 
 moving the mast point and contact point by actuating the gear and pulley system. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 connecting a rotating mechanism to a mandrel located within said boom; 
 connecting a foot of said sail to said mandrel; and 
 furling or deploying the sail by actuating the rotating mechanism. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 connecting said stay to forward located slots within said mast; and 
 incrementally moving said forward located slots to furl or deploy said sail. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 attaching a collar to said boom; 
 contacting said stay with said collar; and 
 moving said collar and said forward located slots such that tension in said stay remains substantially constant as the sail is furled or deployed. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 connecting a halyard to said forward located slots; and 
 moving said stay by actuating said halyard.