Global Patent Index - EP 0271215 A1

EP 0271215 A1 19880615 - Fore and aft sails.

Title (en)

Fore and aft sails.

Title (de)

Vor- und Grosssegel.

Title (fr)

Socs et grandes voiles.

Publication

EP 0271215 A1 19880615 (EN)

Application

EP 87309915 A 19871110

Priority

NZ 21825986 A 19861111

Abstract (en)

A fore and aft sail (10) (e.g. a headsail or mainsail) is constructed with a fore portion (18) and an aft portion (19) in such a way as to have a cross-sectional shape which can vary in response to varying wind conditions, similar to a bird's wing in nature. The sail (10) has lines of directional stability (20) in the luff area (18) extending between the head (12) and the tack (13) to provide a stable fore portion (18). The sail (10) also has lines of directional stability (21,16) which radiate from the clew (14) towards the aft edge (20) of the fore portion (18) of the sail (10). In use the aft edge (20) of this fore portion (18) becomes the collector for the majority of the stresses at the clew (14). Where the aft portion (19) is formed from woven material the aft portion (19) can be made up of a series of substantially triangular panels (19A-19E) with the lines of directional stability formed by the warp or the weft of the fabric being aligned along one long edge (21,16) of each substantially triangular panel (19A-19E). Alternatively, the lines of directional stability may be formed from strips of material (60,61), e.g. tapes or the like, superimposed on the surface of a sail (50).

IPC 1-7

B63H 9/06

IPC 8 full level

B63H 9/06 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

B63H 9/067 (2020.02); B63H 9/0671 (2020.02); B63H 9/0678 (2020.02)

Citation (search report)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0271215 A1 19880615; AU 8094987 A 19880512; DK 588387 A 19880512; DK 588387 D0 19871110; JP H01301490 A 19891205; ZA 878418 B 19880505

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 87309915 A 19871110; AU 8094987 A 19871110; DK 588387 A 19871110; JP 28513387 A 19871111; ZA 878418 A 19871110