Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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THIS INVENTION relates to a sea anchor, and in particular
to a sea anchor that is collapsible, requiring very little
stowage when not in use and expandable into a relatively
large size when in use.
Sea anchors have in the past been of a fixed configuration
requiring a large storage area on a boat and being cum-
bersome and awkward to handle both into and out of the
water. One of the objects of this invention is to provide
a sea anchor which is capable of overcoming the above men-
tioned disadvantages and provides the user with a large ex-
panded anchor when in use.
In one form the invention resides in a sea anchor comprising
a stem, a body of flexible material mounted on the stem so that
in the collapsed position it lies around the stem and in the
; operative position it assumes an umbrella like shape, the
central portion of the flexible body being connected to one
end of the stem, a first tow line connected to one end of the
stem and a second tow line connectéd to the other end of the
stem.
In another form the invention resides in a sea anchor as
described above wherein the stem is formed in two parts, one
slidable within the other so that when the body is in the
collapsed position the stem is in the retracted position and
when the body is in the operative position the stem is in the
extended position.
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In yet another form the invention may be constructed wherein
the second tow line passes through the outer part of the
stem and is connected to the inner end of the inner part
of the stem.
In use, the first tow line is secured to the vessel whilst
the second tow line is generally attached to a buoy or float,
although it may also be attached to vessel.
Preferably a small float is secured to one of the connectors
linking the periphery of the flexible body to the stem.
This assists to ensure that the sea anchor remains relatively
stable and does not rotate and twist the tow lines.
; The invention therefore contemplates a sea anchor comprising
a stem formed in two parts one slidable within the other, a
body of flexible sheet material mounted on the stem so that
in a collapsed position it lies around the stem and in an
operative position it assumes an umbrella like shape, a
central portion of the flexible body being connected to the
outer end of the inner part of the stem, a first tow line
directly connected at one of its ends to the outer part of
the stem and a second tow line connected to the inner part
of the stem,so that when the body i5 in the collapsed posi-
tion the stem is in a retracted position and when the body
is in the operative position the stem is in an extended
position.
The invention will be better understood by reference to the
following description of one specific embodiment and in
particular to the sea anchor wherein the stem is formed of
two parts and the second tow line passes through the outer
part of the stem and is connected to the inner end of the
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inner part of the stem.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows the sea anchor in a folded or collapsed
position;
Fig. 2 shows the sea anchor in use; and
Fig. 3 shows the sea anchor in an inverted collapsed
state.
In this particular embodiment a sea anchor is constructed
comprising a body of flexible material 11 such as plastic
sheeting, canvas or the like. A plurality of connectors
12 link the periphery of the flexible material 11 to the
` outer face of the outer stem member 13. An inner stem
member 14 is slidably mounted within the outer stem 13 and
adapted to project from the outer stem 13 when the sea
; anchor is in use as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
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The outer extremity of the inner stem member 14 is secured
to the flexible material 11. The opposite end of the
outer stem member 13 is fitted with an eye 15 to which may
~ be attached a first tow line 19. The other end of the tow
; 20 line 19 being secured to the vessel. A second line 16 passes
through the outer stem 13 and is secured to the inner end of
the inner part of the stem 14. The other end of line 16 is
attached to a buoy or float 17. Preferably, a small float
18 is secured to one of the connectors 12 to help stabilize
the sea anchor and prevent its rotational movement.
In use, tow line 19 is connected to eye 15 and the folded
sea anchor as shown in Fig. 1 is thrown into the water 20.
The inner stem member 14 freely slides from outer stem
member 13 until fully extended as shown in Fig. 2. The depth
that the sea anchor is allowed to sink is controlled by the
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length of line 16 and the size of float 17. When the sea
anchor is placed in the water and towed or pulled on, the
water enters it and automatically the pressure of water
causes the sea anchor to expand and open. In order to be
able to remove the sea anchor from the water it is firstly
necessary to expel the water which is contained within the
sea anchor. This is carried out by manoeuvring the vessel
into such a position that buoy or float 17 can be removed
from the water. Withdrawal of float 17 results in line 16
acting upon the inner stem member 14 and drawing the inner
stem back into stem 13. The effect is that the sea anchor
is virtually turned inside out and most of the water is
expelled therefrom enabling the sea anchor to be lifted
from the water.
The configuration taken by the sea anchor during such an
operation is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. For storage
purposes the flexible material 11 and connectors 12 are
folded to encase the outer stem member 13. The line 16 is
wound up or alternatively may be wound around the folded
flexible material to keep the device in as compact a package
as possible.
Due to its compactness the flexible material 11 of the sea
anchor may be of any desired size and generally would be gov-
erned by the size of the boat, raft or the like.
In one of the other embodiments described but not shown in
the drawings the inner and outerstem members 13 and 14 are
formed of one rigid length with the first tow line 19 being
secured to eye lS at one end of the stem and the second line
- 16 being secured to an eye (not shown) provided on the oppo-
site end of the stem. By drawing on line 16 the sea anchor
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is gradual]y reversed in the water 20 and the water is expel-
led therefrom causing the anchor to collapse. For storage
p~lrposes the flexible material 11 and the tow lines 16 and 19
may be wrapped around the stem.
Alternatively the sea anchor may be constructed as shown in
the drawings i.e. in two parts with one slidable within the
other. The second tow line 16 being attached to the outer
end of the inner stem member 14. With this method of con-
struction the sea anchor may be collapsed by operating line
16 from either direction.
.
Several variations of the invention have been described with
particular reference to one specific embodiment, however it
is not limited thereto and may be altered somewhat without
departing from the scope of the invention.
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