# US 4,344,377 A · Sail craft

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- Number: US 4,344,377 A
- Document ID: US4344377A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/190,868
- Filed: 1980-01-16
- Granted: 1982-08-17
- Earliest claimed: 1978-05-16
- Inventors: Knud F. Gram
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4344377A

## CPC

- B63H 9/06: Types of sail; Constructional features of sails; Arrangements thereof on vessels
- B63B 43/12: using inboard air containers {or inboard floating members}
- B63H 9/067: Sails characterised by their construction or manufacturing process
- B63B 2043/123: {using floaters mounted to the tip of a mast, e.g. inflatable}
- B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00)
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

A device for increasing the motive force of a sail acting on a sail craft and at the same time decrease the risk of having the craft turned bottom up after a capsizing are obtained by fastening to the uppermost portion of the sail (3) a certain amount of flexible buoyancy foam (8) which is shaped such as to form together with the mast (1) and the sail (3) an efficient airfoil profile having a smooth contour. On account of its thickness, this airfoil profile will further counteract the short circuit flow of air from the pressure side to the suction side of the sail. The buoyancy foam (8) has at the same time a volume which is large enough to keep the sail (3) and the mast (1) floating at the water surface after a capsizing of the craft. In order to make the folding of the sail (3) easier prior to putting it into a sail bag, the buoyancy foam may be split up into a plurality of buoyancy zones separated by folding zones.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sail craft having a mast and a thin flat sail attached thereto, a buoyancy body fastened to as least the upper portion of said sail, the buoyancy body being made of flexible foam material attached to both sides of the sail with the foam material being flush with the mast but having no connection with the mast, the foam material being shaped such as to form together with the sail and the mast an air foil profile having a smooth uninterrupted surface, with the foam material tapering from the mast towards the aft end of the sail.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sail craft as claimed in claim 1 having the foam material made up of a number of vertically oriented, thin, flexible plastic foam sheets being laid flat against each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sail craft as claimed in claim 1 having the buoyancy material split up into horizontal sections preferably extending from the mast to the aft edge of the sail and being separated from each other by a folding zone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sail craft as claimed in claim 1 wherein said foam material is formed on its lower edge to present a downwardly facing surface being substantially horizontal and at right angles to the sail surface, which acts as an end plate at the upper portion of the sail to appreciably reduce the flow of air from the pressure side to the suction side of the sail and thereby improve the aerodynamic effectiveness of the main portion of the sail below the buoyancy body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sail craft as claimed in claim 1 including additional buoyancy material along the forward end of the sail below said buoyancy body, said additional buoyancy material conforming to the profile of the rear of said mast and tapering towards the sail to form a smooth uninterrupted profile on each side of the sail.