Claims
- 1. A steering mechanism for a sailboat comprising:
- an axial support fixed to a transom of the sailboat;
- a rotating rudder support attached to the axial support;
- a rudder support guide fixed to the sailboat above the axial support,
- a car member fixed to the rotating rudder support in sliding engagement with the rudder support guide;
- at least one rudder hinge located on the rotating rudder support;
- a rudder rotatably mounted on the at least one rudder hinge; and
- a tiller fixed to the rudder.
- 2. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 1, further comprising a spring loaded locking pin attached to the rotating rudder support extending into a hole located in the rudder support guide.
- 3. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 2, further comprising a first end of a remote release cable attached to the locking pin.
- 4. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 3, further comprising a remote handle release connected to a second end of the remote release cable.
- 5. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 4, wherein the handle release is attached to the tiller.
- 6. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 1, further comprising a rudder level detector attached to the rotating rudder support.
- 7. A method for steering a sailboat, the sailboat comprising:
- an axial support pin fixed to a transom of the sailboat;
- a rotating rudder support attached to the axial support;
- a rudder support guide fixed to the sailboat above the axial support;
- a car member fixed to the rotating rudder support in sliding engagement with the rudder support guide;
- at least one rudder hinge located on the rotating rudder support;
- a rudder rotatably mounted on the at least one rudder hinge; and
- a tiller fixed to the rudder; said method comprising the steps of:
- fixing the rotating rudder support in a first location along the rudder support guide;
- rotating the rudder on the at least one rudder hinge with the tiller;
- rotating the rotating rudder support around an axis defined by the axial support pin; and
- fixing the rotating rudder support in a second location along the rudder support guide.
- 8. The method of steering a sailboat of claim 7, wherein the step fixing the rotating rudder support in a first location comprises the additional step of inserting a spring loaded locking pin into a first hole located in the rudder support guide.
- 9. The method of steering a sailboat of claim 8, wherein the step fixing the rotating rudder support in a second location comprises the additional step of inserting the spring loaded locking pin into a second boise located in the rudder support guide.
- 10. The method of steering a sailboat of claim 9 comprising the additional step of examining a rudder level detector attached to the rotating rudder support prior to inserting the locking pin into the second hole.
- 11. The method of steering a sailboat of claim 7, wherein the step fixing the rotating rudder support in a first location comprises the additional step of inserting a spring loaded locking pin into a first hole located in the rudder support guide and support.
- 12. The method of steering a sailboat of claim 8, wherein the step fixing the rotating rudder support in a second location comprises the additional step of inserting the spring loaded locking pin into a second hole located in the rudder support guide and support.
- 13. The method of steering a sailboat of claim 9 comprising the additional step of examining a rudder level detector attached to the rotating rudder support prior to inserting the locking pin into the second hole.
- 14. A steering mechanism for a sailboat comprising:
- an axial support fixed to a transom of the sailboat;
- a rotating rudder support attached to the axial support;
- a rudder support guide and support fixed to the sailboat above the axial support,
- a car member fixed to the rotating rudder support in sliding engagement with the rudder support guide and support;
- at least one rudder hinge located on the rotating rudder support;
- a rudder rotatably mounted on the at least one rudder hinge; and
- a tiller fixed to the rudder.
- 15. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 14, further comprising a spring loaded locking pin attached to the rotating rudder support extending into a hole located in the rudder support guide and support.
- 16. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 15, further comprising a first end of a remote release cable attached to the locking pin.
- 17. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 16, further comprising a remote handle release connected to a second end of the remote release cable.
- 18. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 17, wherein the handle release is attached to the tiller.
- 19. The steering mechanism for a boat of claim 14, further comprising a rudder level detector attached to the rotating rudder support.
- 20. A method for steering a sailboat, the sailboat comprising:
- an axial support pin fixed to a transom of the sailboat;
- a rotating rudder support attached to the axial support;
- a rudder support guide and support fixed to the sailboat above the axial support; a car member fixed to the rotating rudder support in sliding engagement with the rudder support guide;
- at least one rudder hinge located on the rotating rudder support;
- a rudder rotatably mounted on the at least one rudder hinge; and
- a tiller fixed to the rudder; said method comprising the steps of:
- fixing the rotating rudder support in a first location along the rudder support guide and support;
- rotating the rudder on the at least one rudder hinge with the tiller;
- rotating the rotating rudder support around an axis defined by the axial support pin; and
- fixing the rotating rudder support in a second location along the rudder support guide and support.
- 21. A steering mechanism for a sailboat comprising:
- a rudder;
- a means for locking and unlocking the rudder in a plurality of positions which alter an angle of the rudder generally around an axis parallel to a bow to stern line; and
- a remote actuation means operable to actuate the means for locking and unlocking at a distance away from the means for locking and unlocking; and
- wherein the remote actuation means comprises a cable attached to a spring-loaded pin, said cable extending to a release mechanism.
- 22. The steering mechanism of claim 21, wherein said cable extends to a distal end of the tiller where the cable is secured to the release mechanism.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/426,816 filed Apr. 21, 1995 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1414411 |
Dec 1965 |
FRX |
4317520 |
Nov 1993 |
DEX |
0066096 |
Apr 1982 |
JPX |
16322 |
Jan 1891 |
GBX |
2086822 |
May 1982 |
GBX |
2209724 |
May 1989 |
GBX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
426816 |
Apr 1995 |
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