Nimchuk, Allan;

Portable sail structures

The invention relates to folding sail assembly for utilization as propulsion for small water craft, and persons on ice or roller skates. The invention comprises a kite frame including a main mast, a pair of transversally extending boom sections releasably coupled to the main mast intermediate itslength, and a sail stretched about the frame and releasably attached to the mast and boom sections. Each boom section being adapted, through the coupling mechanism, to be folded to a position parallel with the mast for transportation purposes. The invention may include as part of the frame at least one tail member positioned as to extend normal to the mast and attached to the rearmost end thereof, the tail portion of the sail material being attachable to this rearmost extension of the frame. The invention can be further enhanced by the provision of a fail-safe mechanism which ensures that when the frame or sail material is subjected to high external forces likely to cause an accident or damage to the device the frame will automatically collapse.

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What is claimed is:

1. A folding sail assembly comprising:

(a) a supporting frame including:

(i) a main mast;

(ii) a pair of boom members attached to said mast intermediate its length by coupling means such that said boom members are pivotable about said coupling means between an inoperative position wherein said members lie adjacent and substantially parallel with said mast and an operative position wherein said members extend at an angle relative to said mast said coupling means being slidable along said mast for facilitating shifting of said boom members between said inoperative and operative positions;

(iii) spring loaded said retention members adjacent each distal end of said mast and said boom members, and attached thereto; and

(b) a sail member stretched about said frame and releasably secured to said mast and boom members by engagement with said retention members whereby when said sail assembly is subjected to external forces likely to cause injury, said sail member will be released from said retention members and said boom members will collapse to said inoperative position.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises:

(i) a first coupling portion adapted to be releasably attached to said mast;

(ii) means to lock said first portion to said mast;

(iii) second and third coupling portions being receptors for said boom members, pivotally attached on opposing sides of said first coupling portion; and

(iv) stop means, forming part of said first coupling portion, permitting pivotal movement of said boom members about said first coupling portion through an arc of 90.degree..

3. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes at least one tail member attached to said mast extending transversally an equal distance on either side thereof.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said sail member is provided with D-ring type connectors to facilitate attachment to said sail retention means.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said sail retention means comprises cap means, adapted for attachment to the distal ends of said mast and boom members, a portion of the outer surface of said cap means being formed into a projection which facilitates attachment of said sail member.