US2608172A - Sail batten - Google Patents

Description

Patented Aug. 26, 1952 Application October 6, 1947 Serial Ida-778,175

In Sweden October 11, 1946 4 Claims. (Cl.'1 14--1 03) Triangular sails having a convexly curvedaft bolt-rope (Bermuda rig) are, as is wellknown, provided with battens insertedjin-pockets in the sail and serving to'compelthe aft bolt-rope to followv the desired curve. Such battens must be made sufficiently strong to beable to hold the sail in a spread-out positionalso in a strong wind but must at the same time have a suitable flexibility which increases from the aftend towards the middle of the sail in order that the batten shall not unduly prevent the sail, particularly in a light wind,-from following the wind so as to set in an even bunt, the curvature of which increases from the aft bolt-rope towards the middle of the sail without forming abrupt bends at the inner end of the batten. For said purpose it has been proposed to decrease the thickness of the batten from the aft bolt-rope towards the middle of the sail, yet without success in that it has not been possible to obtain in this manner sufiicient flexibility while maintaining the required strength.

The present invention has for its object to provide a sail-batten which combines with sufflcient strength a flexibility not hitherto obtained in sail-battens. A sail batten according to the invention having the properties set forth is characterized substantially in that it is composed of two or more blades or laminae of wood or other elastic material, said blades being arranged side by side, fixedly united to each other at one end and so dimensioned as to cause the flexibility of the composite batten to increase from the jointin end towards the other end.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments by reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the usual positioning of the battens in a triangular sail having a convexly curved aft bolt-rope.

Figures 2 and 3 show in side view and plan View respectively a first embodiment of the sailbatten according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows the said sail-batten inserted in a flexible protective cover.

Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment in side view and plan view, and

Figure '7 illustrates a further embodiment in side view.

The triangular sail I shown in Figure 1 is provided with four pockets 3, l, 5 and 6, each serving to receive a corresponding sail-batten, the said pockets extending transversely t the aft boltrope 2. The batten inserted in the pocket 6,

which is positioned nearest to the boom, may-fibepracti'cal-lystiff, whereasth'e other battens should be the more flexible the nearer to'thetop they arepositioned. The top-batten which -isitobe insertedin thejuppermo'stpocket 3, should thus have thegre'atest flexibility. g-Eaeh battenshould be most flexible at its innermost end/whereas at the endturned towards the aft bolt-rope 2 thefbatten may be comparatively stiff, g 1

The'sail-batten shown in Figures 2 and dis composed of three rectangular and comparatively thin blades or laminae l0, H and I2 of wood, Bakelite or other suitable elastic material. The two outermost blades l0 and II are approximately of equal length, whereas the intermediate blade I2 is shorter and so positioned that one end thereof will be substantially flush with the corresponding ends of the outer blades. All three blades are held together at said end by a rivet 13. The batten has its greatest stiffness within the right hand portion, when referring to the drawing, which portion consists of three blades, whereas the left hand portion of the batten, which consists of only two blades, has a greater flexibility. At its stiffer end the batten is provided with two holes it for cords, not shown, by

means of which the batten may be secured to the sail.

To reduce the wear on the sail, the batten ac cording to the invention may be inserted into a protective cover or tube l5 of sail-cloth or other suitable material, as shown in Figure 4.

In the embodiment according to Figures 5 and 6, the batten is also composed of two outer blades l6 and ll of equal length and of a shorter intermediate blade l8. Said intermediate blade, however, is relatively shorter than the intermediate blade according to Figures 2 and 3 and is glued to the outer blades along its entire length, whereby increased stiffness is obtained at the jointing end. The blades I 6 to Hi, which suitably are made of wood, taper towards their free ends, where they are rounded off, as will be seen from Figure 6.

The embodiment according to Figure 7 differs from the one just described only in that it has been obtained by sawing a longitudinally extending slit I9 in a wooden batten of ordinary con--. struction, so that at one end two blades or laminae 20 and 2| are obtained whichgive to the sail-batten increased flexibility at said end.

The invention is, of course, not limited to the embodiments shown on the drawings and described above but modifications of various kind are conceivable without departing from the spirit 3 of the invention. Thus, the batten may be made with more than two, three or four blades or laminae and/or with blades shaped otherwise than shown on the drawings. Furthermore, other relative dimensions may be selected to suit the construction of the sail in question.

I claim:

1. A said batten comprising a, plurality of rectangular and relatively thin laminae arranged side by side in generally parallel relationship and which are of substantially co-extensive width, one of said laminae being interposed be-' tween said plurality of laminae and of shorter length, said interposed lamina having one end substantially flush with the corresponding ends of said plurality of laminae, said laminae being v formed of flexible, elastic material and i'astenedf together providing a composite batten for "securing said sail whereby the sail is held relatively stiflf throughout the length of said interposed lamina. p

' -2. A sail batten comprising three rectangular and relatively thin laminae arranged side by side in generally parallel relationship and which are of substantially co-extensive width, two of said laminae being 'of substantiallyv the same length, an intermediate lamina of shorter length than said two laminae and therebetween forming a spacer lamina, said spacer lamina having one end generally flush with the corresponding ends of said two laminae, said laminae being formed of flexible, elastic material, said laminae being fastened together adjacent their flush ends thereby forming a composite batten which is relativey stiil throughout said intermediate lamina and relatively flexible throughout the remaining portion thereof.

3. A sail batten as claimed in claim 1 wherein said composite batten is enclosed in a fabric cover.

4. A sail batten as claimed in claim 2 wherein I said laminae adjacent said spacer lamina taper toward their free ends thereby providing a batten having varying degrees oi flexibility.

CARL OSCAR ERIC BIUW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oiE this patent:

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