US3954076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforcing patch for sails and method of making same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-03
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Granted: 1976-05-04
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Expires: 1995-03-03
Abstract
Abstract Reinforcing patch for corners of sails, particularly clews and tacks, comprised of substantially rectangular patch panels fanned outwardly from the grommets at the corners of a sail, the outer edges of the patch panels defining chords of a substantially circular arc centered on the point of strain at the sail corner. Patch formed by sewing overlapping edges of the formed patch panels to each other and the panel or panels of the sail's corner reinforced thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward P. Fracker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:23
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H9/00; B63H9/04; B63H9/06; B63H9/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A reinforcement for the corner of a sail fabricated from a plurality of substantially rectangular patch panels attached in an overlying position to each other and the sail adjacent the point of maximum strain at the reinforced corner thereof, said patch panels fanning outwardly from each other from said point so that, for at least the majority of the length of each panel, it overlaps an adjacent panel, the edges of said fanned out patch panels within the corner of the sail being sewn to said sail and the outwardly fanned-out ends thereof being substantially contiguous to form substantially successive chords of an arc substantially centered at said point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A reinforcement for the corner of a sail fabricated from a plurality of substantially rectangular patch panels attached in an overlying position to each other and the sail adjacent the point of maximum strain at the reinforced corner thereof, said patch panels fanning outwardly from each other from said point so that, for at least the majority of the length of each panel, it overlaps an adjacent panel, the edges of said fanned out patch panels within the corner of the sail being sewn to said sail and the outwardly fanned-out ends thereof being substantially contiguous to form substantially successive chords of an arc substantially centered at said point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A sail reinforcement as defined in claim 1 in which, from said area of maximum strain and point of attachment, said patch panels are of substantially equal length and the outer ends of said patch panels are contiguous to form successive and substantially equal approximations of chords of an arc centered adjacent said point of maximum strain and extending from one edge of said corner to the other edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sail reinforcement as defined in claim 2 in which, at the juncture of the outer ends of the panel patches there are formed the outer apices of at least three-ply areas extending toward said area of maximum strain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sail reinforcement as defined in claim 3 in which the number of sail patches are such that three or more plies are located at the area of maximum strain and all said plies are then secured together by a grommet means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sail reinforcement as defined in claim 4 in which the length (in inches) of a patch panel is numerically more than twice the square root of the length (in feet) of the luff of the sail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sail reinforcement as defined in claim 5 in which the reinforced corner is the clew of the sail.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sail reinforcement as defined in claim 5 in which the reinforced corner is the tack of the sail.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
134 words
The method of reinforcing the corner of a sail comprising stacking a plurality of patch panels comprised of substantially rectangular lengths of sail cloth cut substantially to the run-of-the-goods, securing said stack at one end to provide a pivot point for said lengths, fanning said lengths about said pivot point so that, for at least the majority of the length of each panel, it overlaps an adjacent panel and until the other ends are nearly contiguous at opposite sides to form successive chords of an arc substantially centered on said pivot point, locating said pivot point in the area of maximum strain at the corner of a sail, and joining together the edges of said fanned patch panel to each other and to at least one panel of said sail within the corners thereof.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
134 words
The method of reinforcing the corner of a sail comprising stacking a plurality of patch panels comprised of substantially rectangular lengths of sail cloth cut substantially to the run-of-the-goods, securing said stack at one end to provide a pivot point for said lengths, fanning said lengths about said pivot point so that, for at least the majority of the length of each panel, it overlaps an adjacent panel and until the other ends are nearly contiguous at opposite sides to form successive chords of an arc substantially centered on said pivot point, locating said pivot point in the area of maximum strain at the corner of a sail, and joining together the edges of said fanned patch panel to each other and to at least one panel of said sail within the corners thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of reinforcing the corner of a sail as defined in claim 8 including the step of trimming the fanned rectangular patch panels extending beyond the area intended for the sail corner and sufficiently within said area to permit the forming of tablings to the corner being reinforced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 9 including the step of providing a grommet extending through said sail and the fanned patch panels in the general area of maximum strain at the corner of the sail.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-04 | 1979-11-03 | 1980-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-04 | 1983-11-03 | 1984-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-04 | 1987-11-03 | 1988-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |