US3801052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sailplane
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-30
•
Granted: 1974-04-02
•
Expires: 1992-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A sailplane wherein a flexible sail is loosely connected at its corners to the ends of a rigid framework comprising a central longitudinal rod and a pair of oblique rods directed laterally and backwards, whereby during flight the sail assumes, under the air pressure, a conformation including forward portions of general positive incidence and rearward portions of general negative incidence.
Inventors
- 👤 A Quercetti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:17
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H27/00; A63H27/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
In a sailplane comprising a substantially rigid framework and a flexible sail, said framework comprising a central rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the sailplane, along said central rod in the forward portion thereof, a rigid connection member, and a pair of oblique rods fixedly connected to said connection member and extending towarDs the rear portion of the sailplane forming an acute angle with respect to said central longitudinal rod, said sail comprising a sheet of a flexible material having corners connected to the ends of said rods of the framework; the improvement in which said sheet has front edges which are substantially longer than the distances between the forward end of said central rod and the free ends of said oblique rods, and has rear edges which are substantially longer than the distances between the rear end of said central rod and the free ends of said oblique rods whereby said sail is loose on said framework at rest and assumes during flight, due to the effect of air pressure, a configuration including two forward portions located in front of said oblique rods and on the right and the left respectively of the forward portion of said central rod, said forward portions of the sail having a positive aerodynamical incidence, and two rear portions located behind said oblique rods and on the right and the left respectively of the rear portion of said central rod, said rear portions of the sail having a negative aerodynamical incidence, and forming a pair of channels which diverge with respect to said central longitudinal rod of the framework of the sailplane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
In a sailplane comprising a substantially rigid framework and a flexible sail, said framework comprising a central rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the sailplane, along said central rod in the forward portion thereof, a rigid connection member, and a pair of oblique rods fixedly connected to said connection member and extending towarDs the rear portion of the sailplane forming an acute angle with respect to said central longitudinal rod, said sail comprising a sheet of a flexible material having corners connected to the ends of said rods of the framework; the improvement in which said sheet has front edges which are substantially longer than the distances between the forward end of said central rod and the free ends of said oblique rods, and has rear edges which are substantially longer than the distances between the rear end of said central rod and the free ends of said oblique rods whereby said sail is loose on said framework at rest and assumes during flight, due to the effect of air pressure, a configuration including two forward portions located in front of said oblique rods and on the right and the left respectively of the forward portion of said central rod, said forward portions of the sail having a positive aerodynamical incidence, and two rear portions located behind said oblique rods and on the right and the left respectively of the rear portion of said central rod, said rear portions of the sail having a negative aerodynamical incidence, and forming a pair of channels which diverge with respect to said central longitudinal rod of the framework of the sailplane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a sailplane as set forth in claim 1, a pair of connecting caps, each connecting cap having a sleeve portion and an extension integral with said sleeve portion, the extensions of said connecting caps being joined to the flexible sheet forming the sail in vicinity of the corners thereof which are more remote from said central rod of the framework, and the sleeve portions of said connecting caps being inserted rotatably upon the ends of said oblique rods, opposite said connection member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a sailplane as set forth in claim 1, a rear connecting cap having a sleeve portion and an extension integral with said sleeve portion, said extension being resiliently flexible and being joined to the flexible sheet forming the sail at the rear end thereof, and the sleeve portion of said rear connecting cap being inserted upon the rear end of said central rod of the framework.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sailplane as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible sheet forming the sail has a shape derived from a quadrilateral with at least approximately equal sides, located with two opposite corners aligned with said central rod of the framework, and a triangular rear portion of which is cut off along a line transverse to said central rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A sailplane as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a coupling member fixedly connected to said central rod of the framework, said coupling member having a number of coupling pins located side by side on said coupling member along a direction transverse to said central rod, said coupling pins selectively receiving the coupling of a traction cable for the sailplane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A sailplane as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a coupling member fixedly connected to said central rod of the framework behind said rigid connection member, said coupling member having a number of coupling pins located side by side on said coupling member along a direction transverse to said central rod, and said central rod comprising three separate portions, namely a front portion located in front of said connection member, an intermediate portion located between said connection member and coupling member, and a rear portion located behind said coupling member, said intermediate portion of the central rod being formed by a short non circular structural shape of a synthetic material and being connected non-rotatably to said connection member and coupling member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A sailplane as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pair of stiffening rods, each stiffening rod being fixedly joined to the flexible sheet forming the sail, and extending from a rear and lateral point of said sheet towards a point of the forward portion of said central rod of the framework, without however attaining said central rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A sailplane As set forth in claim 1, wherein the length of the flexible sheet forming the sail is comprised between 65% and 90% of the maximum width of said sheet, the distance from the forward end of said central rod of the framework and said connection member is comprised between 10% and 25% of said maximum width, the angle formed by said oblique rods with respect to said central rod is comprised between 40* and 75* and the flexible sheet forming the sail has a rear transverse side whose length is comprised between 25% and 50% of said maximum width.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sailplane as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first-mentioned length is about 82%, said distance is about 15%, said angle is about 55*, and the second-mentioned length is about 38%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |