Carbon fiber spar and method of making
AssigneeIsomat
InventorsDavid J. Hulse, John G. Heinemann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spar is provided comprising an inner layer of fiber, an outer layer of fiber, a hollow between the inner and outer layers of fiber with the inner fiber layer forming a surface of the hollow such that it is integral in one piece with the spar. The spar preferably includes a cut through the outer fiber layer into the hollow to form a groove for attaching a sail. The invention also provides a method of making spars including the steps of forming a first layer, pressing the layer inwardly along a line to form a groove, applying a second layer over the first, and combining the layers together except along the line. The method preferably also includes the step of cutting through the second layer along the line into the groove.
Claims27
A sailboat spar comprising:
- a first sleeve of resin and fiber having a circumference greater than a circumference of the spar;
- a second sleeve of resin and fiber having a circumference substantially equal to the spar circumference;
- a hollow between said first and second sleeves formed by a longitudinal portion of the first sleeve circumference which extends beyond the spar circumference, said hollow formed when said first and second sleeves are combined together with said first sleeve within said second sleeve to form the spar with a one piece circumference;
- and
- an elongate cut in said second sleeve intersecting said hollow to form a sail-attaching groove integral in one piece with the spar.
In a fiber-reinforced spar having inner and outer surfaces and a sail-attaching groove, the improvement comprising:
- an inner layer forming the inner surface of the spar;
- an outer seamless sleeve forming the outer surface of the spar;
- the groove formed between said inner layer and outer seamless sleeve of fiber such that said inner layer also forms a surface of said groove to form the groove integrally in one piece with the spar;
- and
- said groove being hollow for receiving a sail edge.
A method of making a sailboat spar comprising the steps of:
- forming a first fiber layer;
- pressing the first layer inwardly along a line to form a longitudinal groove therein;
- applying a second fiber layer over the first layer;
- combining the first and second layers together except along the line;
- and
- cutting through the second layer along the line to provide the spar with an integral sail attaching groove.
A method of making a spar comprising the steps of:
- providing a mandrel having a longitudinal slot;
- weaving a first layer of fiber around the mandrel surface and over the mandrel slot;
- reducing a circumference of the mandrel;
- weaving a second layer of fiber around the reduced circumference mandrel surface and over the mandrel slot;
- and
- combining the fiber layers together in the region of the mandrel surface to provide the spar with a one piece circumference and an integral longitudinal hollow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.