US4563969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sail having variable propelling and lifting effects
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-03-05
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Granted: 1986-01-14
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Expires: 2002-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A sail is provided having variable propelling and lifting effects. The sail can be used with a sailboard, snow skis, ice and roller skates and more generally any sliding or gliding sports. The sail (1), which has a stable convex profile in the shape of gull wings, is constituted by a fabric in the shape of a sector of a circle provided with two transparent windows (2) and held taut on a framework of light alloy tubes comprising two edge tubes (3) fitted in a curved front tube (4), slightly bent central tube (7) serving to form a "V" by the action of two strut tubes (5) on the connection (12) and a curved support tube (6). The sail is held taut by a "Velcro" device at the wing ends (9) and by pre-bent slats (8) also held in position by a "Velcro" device (10). Because the forces are presented on a single windward side, the sail can be constructed from rigid material so as to still further increase the aerodynamic efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 Roland C. Le Bail
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:18
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H8/00; B63H8/20; B63H8/10; B63H8/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A navigational sail device comprising: an elongate front member; a sail secured to said front member along the length thereof; a plurality of prebent slats incorporated in the sail at laterally spaced locations and extending transversely to said front member, said slats being curved in the region of the front member so as to permanently support the sail in a windwardly concave shape in the region of the front member along the length of the front member; a generally triangular manipulation device for manual control of said sail device during operation comprising a pair of elongate members connected together at one end and spaced apart at the other end thereof by an elongate connecting member forming the base of the triangle, said manipulation device being secured, at the apex of the triangle formed at said one end of said pair of elongate members, to the trailing edge of the sail centrally thereof, and said pair of elongate members being connected to the front member at the said other ends thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A navigational sail device comprising: an elongate front member; a sail secured to said front member along the length thereof; a plurality of prebent slats incorporated in the sail at laterally spaced locations and extending transversely to said front member, said slats being curved in the region of the front member so as to permanently support the sail in a windwardly concave shape in the region of the front member along the length of the front member; a generally triangular manipulation device for manual control of said sail device during operation comprising a pair of elongate members connected together at one end and spaced apart at the other end thereof by an elongate connecting member forming the base of the triangle, said manipulation device being secured, at the apex of the triangle formed at said one end of said pair of elongate members, to the trailing edge of the sail centrally thereof, and said pair of elongate members being connected to the front member at the said other ends thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said front member is of three piece construction including a central portion and two lateral portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said portions of said front member comprise elongate tubular elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said central portion of said front member is curved.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said central and lateral portions of said front member are detachably fitted together to form said front member and rapid closure means are used in connecting the sail to the front member so as to provide rapid assembly and disassembly of the sail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sail includes windows therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongate members of said navigational device comprise tubular elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an elongate centrally located member of windwardly concave shape in the region of said front member and of slightly convex shape at the trailing end thereof so as to be of an overall assymetrical "s" shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said front member comprises a three part member comprising a central curved tube and a pair of substantially straight laterally extending tubes fitted together with said central tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the angle defined between the ends of said central curved tube is between approximately 110° and approximately 130°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A navigational sail device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongate members of said navigation device form an isosceles triangle wherein the equal sides are substantially straight.
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) | 1989-01-13 | 1989-07-15 | 1990-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-13 | 1993-07-15 | 1994-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-13 | 1997-07-15 | 1998-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |