Articulating Bowsprit

Abstract

The articulating bowsprit permits deployment of sails from a point forward of the bow on sailing vessels. The unique characteristics include: simple installation and removal for stowage, high degree of flexibility for optimal point of attachment including deck or side mounting, ability for fixed length or telescoping configurations, horizontal support of bowsprit with deck mounting brackets, and pinned connections at each end which eliminates torque.

1 . An articulating bowsprit comprising two connector tubes wherein each connector tube has a front end and a rear end, the connector tubes attached by a hinged connection at their front ends and wherein each connector tube is attached at its rear end to the bow of a sailing vessel such that the connector tubes create a triangular truss, wherein the primary function of the triangular truss is to extend a tack of a foresail forward of the bow. 
     
     
         2 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 1 , wherein the rear ends of the connector tubes are attached to the bow by pinned connections, wherein the pinned connections prevent the connector tubes from being subjected to torsional loads. 
     
     
         3 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge connection at the front ends of the connector tubes, allows variability of an angle between the tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 1 , wherein the bowsprit can be placed at an optimal location for installation by altering the angle of the tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 1 , wherein the rear ends of the connector tubes of the bowsprit are attached to mounting brackets attached to the bow. 
     
     
         6 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 1 , wherein the bowsprit can be completely collapsed and folded for compact stowage. 
     
     
         7 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting brackets are deck mounting brackets and the rear ends of the connector tubes are pivotally attached to the deck mounting brackets. 
     
     
         8 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 1 , wherein the connector tubes are configured as fixed length tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 1 , wherein the connector tubes are configured as adjustable length tubes. 
     
     
         10 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 9 , wherein the adjustable length connector tubes are telescoping tubes. 
     
     
         11 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting brackets are side mounting brackets and the rear ends of the connector tubes are pivotally attached to the side mounting brackets. 
     
     
         12 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 1 , further including a bobstay attached to the hinged connection of the bowsprit and the bow of the sailing vessel. 
     
     
         13 . An articulating bowsprit comprising two connector tubes wherein each connector tube has a front end and a rear end, the connector tubes attached by a hinged connection at their front ends and wherein each connector tube is pivotally attached at its rear end to a mounting bracket attached to the bow of a sailing vessel such that the connector tubes create a triangular truss, wherein the primary function of the triangular truss is to extend a tack of a foresail forward of the bow. 
     
     
         14 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 13 , wherein the triangular truss is configured as an isosceles triangle. 
     
     
         15 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting brackets are deck mounting brackets and the rear ends of the connector tubes are removably attached to the deck mounting brackets via pins. 
     
     
         16 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting brackets are side mounting brackets and the rear ends of the connector tubes are removably attached to the side mounting brackets via pins. 
     
     
         17 . An articulating bowsprit comprising two connector tubes wherein each connector tube has a front end and a rear end, the connector tubes attached by a hinged connection at their front ends and wherein each connector tube is pivotally and removably attached at its rear end to a mounting bracket attached to the bow of a sailing vessel such that the connector tubes create a triangular truss, wherein the primary function of the triangular truss is to extend a tack of a foresail forward of the bow; and further wherein the bowsprit includes a bobstay attached at one end to the hinged connection at the front ends of the connector tubes and attached at another end to the bow of the sailing vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 17 , wherein the connector tubes are adjustable length, telescoping tubes. 
     
     
         19 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 17 , wherein the triangular truss is configured as an isosceles triangle. 
     
     
         20 . The articulating bowsprit of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting brackets are selected from the group comprising deck mounting brackets and side mounting brackets.