US4598885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Airplane airframe
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-03-05
•
Granted: 1986-07-08
•
Expires: 1999-03-05
Abstract
Abstract An airplane airframe having wings connected to the fuselage by spars of smaller cross section than the wings. Movable winglets may be provided at the outboard ends of the wings. The fuselage may be an airfoil shaped lifting body structure with longitudinal splines at its edges. The splines may be movable in flight, and may be provided with flaps which are also movable in flight so that the splines can be readjusted to alter the aerodynamic characteristics of the airframe during flight. The undersurface of the fuselage may include cambers symmetrical about the center plane of the fuselage.
Inventors
- 👤 Simon V. Waitzman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:55
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C23/00; B64C23/06; B64C23/065; B64C23/069; B64C23/072; B64C23/076; B64C3/00; B64C3/18; B64C3/185; B64C5/00; B64C5/08; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 78
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An airplane airframe designed for high subsonic, transonic or supersonic speeds comprising: (a) a fuselage structure; (b) wings, each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inboard end and an outboard end and being connected to said fuselage structure at said inboard end; (c) spars intervening between said fuselage structure and said inboard ends of said wings, each such spar having an airfoil configuration, the maximum height of which is substantially less than the maximum height of the wing at or about the inboard end thereof, only one such spar being associated with each of said wings, each such spar forming the only connection between said fuselage structure and the associated wing, each such spar remaining exposed during high speed horizontal flight, and (d) wing fences at about the inboard ends of said wings, said wing fences extending from the upper and lower surfaces of said wings over the entire forward to rearward extent thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
An airplane airframe designed for high subsonic, transonic or supersonic speeds comprising: (a) a fuselage structure; (b) wings, each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inboard end and an outboard end and being connected to said fuselage structure at said inboard end; (c) spars intervening between said fuselage structure and said inboard ends of said wings, each such spar having an airfoil configuration, the maximum height of which is substantially less than the maximum height of the wing at or about the inboard end thereof, only one such spar being associated with each of said wings, each such spar forming the only connection between said fuselage structure and the associated wing, each such spar remaining exposed during high speed horizontal flight, and (d) wing fences at about the inboard ends of said wings, said wing fences extending from the upper and lower surfaces of said wings over the entire forward to rearward extent thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The airplane airframe of claim 1 wherein each of said spars has a chord length substantially less than the chord length of the inboard end of the wing adjacent thereto, the leading edge of each such spar being recessed from the leading edge of the wing adjacent thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 2 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The airplane airframe of claim 2 further comprising winglets at the outboard ends of the wings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 4 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The airplane airframe of claim 4 wherein said winglets are comprised of primary winglets extending forwardly from said trailing edges of the wings and secondary winglets extending rearwardly from said leading edges of the wings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 6 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The airplane airframe of claim 6 wherein the primary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed above the respective wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the respective wings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 8 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The airplane airframe of claim 6 wherein said primary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed above the respective wings, a configuration wherein they are approximately parallel to the spans of the respective wings, and a configuration wherein they are disposed below the respective wings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 10 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The airplane airframe of claim 10 wherein the secondary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed below the respective wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the wings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 12 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The airplane airframe of claim 1 further comprising winglets at the outboard ends of said wings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
The airplane airframe of claim 14 wherein said winglets are moveable in flight with respect to said wings between planes forming angles of substantially less than 180° with the chord planes of the respective wings, and planes approximately parallel to or in the chord-planes of the respective wings, the range of movement of at least one winglet on each wing including a position in which such winglet makes an angle of approximately 90° with the chord plane of the wing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 15 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The airplane airframe of claim 14 wherein said winglets are moveable and wherein in one position they depend downwardly from the wings with zero angle of incidence.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The airplane airframe of claim 14 wherein said winglets are comprised of primary winglets extending forwardly from the trailing edges of the wings and secondary winglets extending rearwardly from the leading edges of the wings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The airplane airframe of claim 18 wherein said winglets are moveable and wherein said primary winglets can be aligned with said secondary winglets with zero angle of incidence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 19 where said aligned primary and secondary winglets depend downwardly from said wings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
The airplane airframe of claim 18 wherein said primary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed above the wings, a configuration wherein they are disposed approximately parallel to the span of the respective wings, and a configuration wherein they are disposed below the wings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The airplane airframe of claim 21 wherein the secondary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed below the wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the respective wings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The airplane airframe of claim 18 wherein the primary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed above the wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the respective wings.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The airplane airframe of claim 23 wherein the secondary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed below the respective wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the respective wings.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 14 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The airplane airframe of claim 1 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped, thereby forming a lifting body, having a leading edge and trailing edge and further characterized by having at least two longitudinal edges.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The airplane airframe of claim 26 further comprising longitudinal splines at about said longitudinal edges of said lifting body fusalage structure.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The airplane airframe of claim 27 further comprising longitudinal flaps connected to and extendable in flight from said longitudinal splines.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The airplane airframe of claim 27 wherein said longitudinal splines are pivotally attached to said fuselage structure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The airplane airframe of claim 29 wherein one or more of said splines can be pivoted independently of others of said splines.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 29 wherein said splines are also extendable in flight outwardly from said fuselage.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The airplane airframe of claim 29 further comprising longitudinal flaps connected to and extendable in flight from said longitudinal splines.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The airplane airframe of claim 29 wherein when pivoted to a first position said splines together with said spars form substantially continuous fences from about said leading edge to about said trailing edge of said fuselage.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The airplane airframe of claim 33 wherein when pivoted to a second position said splines form substantially continuous fences from about said leading edge to about said trailing edge of said fuselage.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The airplane airframe of claim 27 wherein said splines are extendable and retractable in flight.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The airplane airframe of claim 35 wherein one or more of said splines can be extended independently of others of said splines.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The airplane airframe of claim 35 further comprising longitudinal flaps connected to and extendable in flight from said longitudinal splines.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The airplane airframe of claim 35 wherein, when retracted, said splines together with said spars form substantially continuous fences from about said leading edge to about said trailing edge of said fuselage.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The airplane airframe of claim 38 wherein one or more of said splines can be extended independently of others of said splines.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
The airplane airframe of claim 38 wherein when extended said splines form substantially continuous fences from about said leading edge to about said trailing edge of said fuselage.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 40 wherein said splines are also extendable in flight outwardly from said fuselage.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
33 words
The airplane airframe of claim 35 wherein the angle between said splines and said fuselage structure is variable and can be changed while in flight from a first position, to a second, position.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The airplane airframe of claim 42 further comprising longitudinal flaps connected to and extendable in flight from said longitudinal splines.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
61 words
The airplane airframe of claim 42 wherein when in said first position said splines together with said spars form substantially continuous fences from about said leading edge to about said trailing edge of said fuselage, and wherein when in said second position said splines form substantially continuous fences from about said leading edge to about said trailing edge of said fuselage.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
148 words
An airplane airframe designed for high subsonic, transonic or supersonic speeds comprising: (a) a fuselage structure; (b) wings, each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inboard end and an outboard end and being connected to said fuselage structure at said inboard end; and (c) spars fixedly mounted to said fuselage intervening between said fuselage structure and said inboard ends of said wings, each such spar remaining exposed during high speed horizontal flight, each such spar having an airfoil configuration, the maximum chord length of which is substantially less than the chord length of the wing at or about the inboard end thereof, only one such spar being associated with each of said wings, each such spar forming the only connection between said fuselage structure and the associated wing, the leading edge of each such spar being recessed from the leading edge of the wing adjacent thereto.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
148 words
An airplane airframe designed for high subsonic, transonic or supersonic speeds comprising: (a) a fuselage structure; (b) wings, each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inboard end and an outboard end and being connected to said fuselage structure at said inboard end; and (c) spars fixedly mounted to said fuselage intervening between said fuselage structure and said inboard ends of said wings, each such spar remaining exposed during high speed horizontal flight, each such spar having an airfoil configuration, the maximum chord length of which is substantially less than the chord length of the wing at or about the inboard end thereof, only one such spar being associated with each of said wings, each such spar forming the only connection between said fuselage structure and the associated wing, the leading edge of each such spar being recessed from the leading edge of the wing adjacent thereto.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The airplane of claim 45 further comprising wing fences at about the inboard ends of said wings.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 46 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
The airplane airframe of claim 46 further comprising winglets at the outboard ends of the wings.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
35 words
The airplane airframe of claim 48 wherein said winglets are comprised of primary winglets extending forwardly from said trailing edges of the wings and secondary winglets extending rearwardly from said leading edges of the wings.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 49 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
41 words
The airplane airframe of claim 49 wherein the primary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed above the respective wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the respective wings.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 51 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
51 words
The airplane airframe of claim 49 wherein said primary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed above the respective wings, a configuration wherein they are disposed approximately parallel to the spans of the respective wings, and a configuration wherein they are disposed below the respective wings.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 53 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
41 words
The airplane airframe of claim 53 wherein the secondary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed below the respective wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the respective wings.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 55 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
16 words
The airplane airframe of claim 45 further comprising winglets at the outboard ends of the wings.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 57 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
35 words
The airplane airframe of claim 57 wherein said winglets are comprised of primary winglets extending forwardly from said trailing edges of the wings and secondary winglets extending rearwardly from said leading edges of the wings.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
51 words
The airplane airframe of claim 59 wherein said primary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed above the respective wings, a configuration wherein they are disposed approximately parallel to the spans of the respective wings, and a configuration wherein they are disposed below the respective wings.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 60 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
41 words
The airplane airframe of claim 59 wherein the secondary winglets are moveable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed below the respective wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the respective wings.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 62 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
41 words
The airplane airframe of claim 59 wherein the primary winglets are movable in flight between a configuration wherein they are disposed above the respective wings and a configuration wherein they are disposed substantially parallel to the spans of the respective wings.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 64 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 59 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
18 words
The airplane airframe of claim 45 wherein said fuselage structure is airfoil shaped thereby forming a lifting body.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
69 words
An airplane airframe comprising: (a) an airfoil shaped fuselage having two longitudinal edges and a leading edge and a trailing edge; (b) wings connected to said fuselage; (c) longitudinal splines extending outwardly from said fuselage at about said longitudinal edges, said longitudinal splines being moveable so that the angle between said splines and said fuselage can be varied in flight; and longitudinal flaps extendable in flight from said splines.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
69 words
An airplane airframe comprising: (a) an airfoil shaped fuselage having two longitudinal edges and a leading edge and a trailing edge; (b) wings connected to said fuselage; (c) longitudinal splines extending outwardly from said fuselage at about said longitudinal edges, said longitudinal splines being moveable so that the angle between said splines and said fuselage can be varied in flight; and longitudinal flaps extendable in flight from said splines.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
33 words
The airplane airframe of claim 68 wherein said splines and said flaps, when extended, form a substantially continuous fence from about the leading edge of the fuselage to about the trailing edge thereof.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
78 words
An airplane airframe comprising: (a) an airfoil shaped fuselage having two longitudinal edges and a leading edge and a trailing edge; (b) wings connected to said fuselage; (c) longitudinal splines extending outwardly from said fuselage at about said longitudinal edges, said longitudinal splines being moveable so that the angle between said splines and said fuselage can be varied in flight and being extendable in flight outwardly from said fuselage; and longitudinal flaps extendable in flight from said splines.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
78 words
An airplane airframe comprising: (a) an airfoil shaped fuselage having two longitudinal edges and a leading edge and a trailing edge; (b) wings connected to said fuselage; (c) longitudinal splines extending outwardly from said fuselage at about said longitudinal edges, said longitudinal splines being moveable so that the angle between said splines and said fuselage can be varied in flight and being extendable in flight outwardly from said fuselage; and longitudinal flaps extendable in flight from said splines.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
72 words
An airplane airframe comprising: (a) an airfoil shaped fuselage having an upper surface and a lower surface, having longitudinal edges and being substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal center plane; (b) wings connected to said fuselage wherein said fuselage is provided with two deep longitudinal cambers cut into said underside thereof symmetrically about said center line; (c) splines extentable in flight outwardly from said fuselage; and (d) longitudinal flaps extendable from said splines.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
72 words
An airplane airframe comprising: (a) an airfoil shaped fuselage having an upper surface and a lower surface, having longitudinal edges and being substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal center plane; (b) wings connected to said fuselage wherein said fuselage is provided with two deep longitudinal cambers cut into said underside thereof symmetrically about said center line; (c) splines extentable in flight outwardly from said fuselage; and (d) longitudinal flaps extendable from said splines.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
70 words
An airplane airframe comprising: (a) an airfoil shaped fuselage having an upper surface and a lower surface, having longitudinal edges and being substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal center plane; (b) wings connected to said fuselage wherein said fuselage is provided with two deep longitudinal cambers cut into said underside thereof symmetrically about said center line; (c) splines pivotally mounted on the fuselage; and (d) longitudinal flaps extendable from said splines.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
70 words
An airplane airframe comprising: (a) an airfoil shaped fuselage having an upper surface and a lower surface, having longitudinal edges and being substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal center plane; (b) wings connected to said fuselage wherein said fuselage is provided with two deep longitudinal cambers cut into said underside thereof symmetrically about said center line; (c) splines pivotally mounted on the fuselage; and (d) longitudinal flaps extendable from said splines.
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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) | 1989-07-07 | 1990-01-06 | 1990-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-07 | 1994-01-06 | 1994-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-07 | 1998-01-06 | 1998-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |