^A The present invention relates to a boom arrangement which ^' is designed to be used on a boat which has a boom projecting out from a mast and designed to be connected to a sail, especially on a sailing boat. 5 The main object of the present invention is primarily to provide an arrangement of the above-mentioned kind whic effectively and reliably prevents the boom from swinging around the mast too rapidly on occasions when this is not desired, and thus to reduce the risk of personal injury 0 occasioned by the boom.

The said object is achieved by an arrangement accord¬ ing to the present invention, the characteristics of which may be found in the Patent Claims.

The invention is described in the following by way of 15 an ambodiment example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on whieh

Figure shows a schematic side view of a sailing boa with the mast and boom appertaining thereto, with a boom arrangement according to the invention connected to the 20 boom and held in an intermediate position with the boom brought into a plane extending in the longitudinal direc- stion of the boat,

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the sailing boat with the boom swung out into a maximum sailing position, . ^" 25 Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the boat with the arrangement held in a position in which it prevents the boom from swinging backwards too rapidly, and ■t Figure is a perspective view of a mast with the pivotable boom appertaining to it, with a boom arrangement 30 designed according to the invention acting on the boom, and with a stern rope connected to the said boom arrange¬ ment.

On the drawings the sailing boat is designated with the numeral 1, while a mast and the boom appertaining there 35 to are designated with the mumerals 2 and 3 respectively. A boom arrangement 5 according to the invention is

designed to extend between the boom 3 and the mast 2 or between the boom 3 and the deck - of the sailing boat 1, for example. As shown in the present embodiment, the said boom arrangement 5 may consist of a telescopic piston 5 which operates with a spring _y effect.

The piston 5 is turnable connected via one 5A of its ends to the mast 2 or the deck 4 via a mounting 6. The said mounting 6 may be supported on a bracket 7 extending out from the mast 2 so that the mounting 6 is located at a specific distance 8 from the mast 2 in the region behind a -plane which extends transversely across the boat 1 through the mast 2.

The opposite end 5B of the piston is connected rota- tably via a joint 9 to the boom 3, some way from the boom mounting 10 acting between the mast 2 and the boom 3 _ι so that an angle 11 is formed between the arrangement 5 and .the boom 3-

Optionally, a kick"12 is provided, which being dis¬ posed 'at a distance from the piston 5 _» and behind the lat- - ter, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the boat. The boom arrangement 5 is constructed so that it • strives to extend itself, i.e. so that it urges the boom 3 with a certain force in the direction away from the fixing point -6 on the mast 2 or the deck forthe arrangement, as shown with the arrow 13.

The arrangement 5 may consist of a pneumatic spring of a known kind or the like, or it may be designed to act by means of a mechanical spring element.

The arrangement operates so that when the boat is being sailed with the wind direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction 15 of the boat, straight from astern, i.e. what is known as running before the wind, as shown in Figure 2, the arrangement 5 urges the boom 3 in the direction of the arrow 13 as shown in Figure 2. If the wind veers suddenly and if the boat is being sailed in rough seas with large waves, for example, the boom 3 normally strives to swing rapϊdlj- around the mast ° and

the mounting 10, in over the boat deck . The crew and passengers thereby risk being hit by the boom on the head resulting in serious injury. The arrangement 5 prevents the boom 3 _. from swinging round too rapidly on these occa- sions, as described above, and the crewman,who is sometim detailed to stand by the mast and prevent the said undes¬ ired swinging of the boom 3 may be put to more effective use, carrying out the normal tasks of the crew on board, especially during competitive sailing. The arrangement 5 operates even when the boat is -reaching or sailing free, without obstructing the normal movements of the boom.

Preferably, the force which acts in the direction of the arrow 3 is strongest when the boom 3 is swung out furthest from the boat 1, and decreases progressively as the boom is swung in over the boat 1, due to the construc tion of the arrangement.

In order to warn the crew and passengers that the boom 3' is swinging in towards the boat deck 4, the arrange ment may be equipped with a gas outlet or some other suit- able device which produces noise and/or light signals when the boom 3 is swinging. The said device may be designed, for example, to let gas escape from inside the arrangement thereby producing a whistling signal. Preferably, it will be possible to disconnect the said device manually when it is not required to operate, for example, when beating.

The arrangement also operates as a boom holding de¬ vice when the boom 3 is brought into a position extending along the centre line 1 of the boat. A further effect which is obtained by means of the arrangement 5 is that the boom 3 strives to rise up in the direction away from the boat deck 4- in a curve which dis¬ plays greater height in the region above the deck 4 than when the boom 3 is held in a swung-out position. The said effect enables the so-called automatic regulating of the shape of the sail to take place, so that the sail is en¬ dowed with a maximum wind receiging form, i.e. it billows

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out.

The benefits gained by means of the invention with regard to sailing are that the arrangement moves the boom 3 rapidly out into the wind, that it holds the boom out when running, that it makes it possible to sail on a so-called "wrong tack" when running free - which auto¬ matically allows the Genoa and the foresa-il to fill, that it can replace the Dirk and thereby keep the boom 3 away from the cockpit when moored up, and that the boom is locked by the effect of the arrangement when motoring.

With regard to the question of safety, the said boon- arrangement makes it possible to prevent sudden violent gybes, ^' it -prevents the boom from breaking when it swings, the boom is held up when reefing, the boom is locked with the aid of the main sheet, in all lateral positions and with the aid of the kicking strap in the vertical direc¬ tion, and it replaces a Preventer rope.

Figure 4 shows how a stern rope 16 which is accommo¬ dated. _, inside the boom, for example, is deflected via a block or 18 respectively, located on the boom 3 or on the bracket 7 respectively, so that it extends in the direction- of the said boom arrangement 5 and is connected to a part thereof. ? The halyard on the boat,-may also be deflected round the block 18 which is mounted on the brac ket 7 _» and attached to the arrangement 5. When the boom swings out, the stern rope shown on the drawing is made t extend, compared with when.the boom 3 is pointing straigh astern, so that the sail is thereby endowed with a greate billow which is desirable when the boom 3 is swung out to the side. Effective automatic adjustment of the rope and or halyard is therefore also made possible by means of th present invention.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment examp shown on the drawings and described above, but its detail may be modified within the framework of the following Patent Claims.

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