Personal sail assembly and method for use in conjunction with a mobile device
OwnerDavid Guillotinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A user supported portable sail assembly and method uses the force of the wind to help propel a user on a mobile device such as skis, snowboards, skateboards, in-line or ice skates, for example, in a controlled and safe manner. A sail is attached to the ends of a pair of parallel, flexible poles which the user holds onto, usually one pole in each hand. The user orients the sail to optimize direction and speed. As the sail catches wind currents, the poles flex and form an optimal airfoil. Should the user wish to stop using the sail assembly, the user simply brings the poles together and brakes or glides to a gentle stop. The poles may be constructed of multiple interlocking segments for easy and quick disassembly and compact stowing.
Claims26
A hand-held sail assembly, comprising:
- a) a sail of flexible material having front and back surfaces surrounded by a peripheral edge, said sail including first and second pairs of pole attachment locations located adjacent said peripheral edge;
- b) first and second flexible poles each having first and second ends, said first and second ends attached to said first and second pairs of pole attachment locations of said sail, respectively, with said first and second poles extending in substantially parallel relationship, the portions of said peripheral edge of said sail between said first and second ends of each of said poles being unattached to a respective said pole.
A hand-held sail assembly, comprising:
- a) a sail of flexible material having front and back surfaces surrounded by a peripheral edge, said sail including first and second pairs of pole attachment points located adjacent said peripheral edge;
- b) first and second flexible poles each having first and second ends;
- and
- c) a sliding stop assembly mounted adjacent each of said first and second ends of each of said first and second poles, each of said sliding stop assemblies having first and second stop elements mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on a respective pole, said sail attached to said first and second poles with said sail pole attachment points positioned and captured between said first and second stop elements of a respective sliding sail stop assembly;
- whereby said sail is freely slidable between each of said first and second stop elements.
A method of providing sail power to a person on a mobile device, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a sail of flexible material having front and back surfaces surrounded by a peripheral edge, said sail including first and second pairs of pole attachment locations located adjacent said peripheral edge;
- b) providing first and second flexible poles each having first and second ends;
- and
- c) providing a sliding stop assembly mounted adjacent each of said first and second ends of each of said first and second poles, each of said sliding stop assemblies having first and second stop elements mounted in longitudinally spaced relation on a respective pole, said sail attached to said first and second poles with said sail pole attachment points positioned and captured between said first and second stop elements of a respective sliding sail stop assembly such that said sail is freely slidable between each of said first and second stop elements;
- whereby a person may use said sail to capture wind currents and thereby move said mobile device while said person is in physical contact with said mobile device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.