May 25, 1943. R. v. JENNINGs.

2,319,999
SAIL BOAT
Filed Dec. 13, 1939 . 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

A 67.2 672 v4.2.

%.
May 25, 1943. R. V. JENNINGs 2,319,999
SAIL, BOAT
Filed Dec. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

avara/2.45%
Cittornels
 Patented May 25, 1943 2,319,999

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,319,999
SAILBOAT
Richard v. Jennings, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Application December 13, 1939, serial No. 308,901
5. Claims. (C. 114-39)
This invention relates to sail boats and in par Another object is to provide a sail boat with
ticular to sail boats equipped with relatively rigid multiple, Spaced, substantially rigid sails as set
Sails. forth in the preceding object wherein this spac
One object of this invention is to provide a ing and arrangement of the sails results in an
sail boat with a substantially rigid sail which increased slot effect and gives a jib effect run
is movably supported in such a manner that the ning the entire length of the sails.
Sail may be placed at the most Suitable angle Another object is to provide a sail boat with
relatively to the wind for effecting the most effi multiple, overlapping, substantially rigid sails
cient propulsion of the boat. at least one of which is provided with a rela
Another object is to provide a sail boat hav O tively movable flap so that the slot effect can be
ing substantially rigid sails mounted upon a mast Varied and the lift of the rigid sail correspond
by means of a universal joint mechanism at an ingly varied. . . : " " '-'w': '... . . . . . ...

intermediate position on the sail So that the
mast does not interrupt or interfere with the
free flow of air to the leading edge of the sail.
Another object is to provide a sail boat hav
ing a substantially rigid Sail composed of a plu
rality of wing-like structures in multiple, over
lapping, spaced arrangement adjustably mount
ed upon a support, such as a mast, So that the
multiple wings may be presented at any desir
able angle to the wind or placed in a substan
tially horizontal plane in order to achieve a reef
ing effect as well as to obtain a lifting effect
which will tend to lift the craft and reduce its
draft.
Another object is to provide a sail boat hav
ing a substantially rigid, wing-like sail which, is
adjustably mounted near its center of effort upon
a mast at a point remote from the deck so that 30 arm with the assistance of an additional member
the deck is free from rigging or adjacent SWing secured to the sail remote from its pivotal . con
ing booms which in prior art sailing craft en nection with the arm.
danger the safety of the crew.
Another object of this invention is to provide
a sail boat having a rotatable vertical support,
such as a mast, upon which a Substantially rigid
sail is pivotally supported, preferably at a loca
tion spaced apart from its leading edge So that
the sail may be positioned and the rig properly
balanced by rotating the support and tilting the
sail with but a minimum of rudder action and
Without the serious heeling over of the hull which
occurs in prior art sailing craft with flexible
cloth sails.
Another object is to provide a sail boat having 45 of a preferred embodiment of a sail boat accord
a vertical support or mast with multiple, over
lapping, Spaced sails pivotally supported thereon
and of substantially rigid, wing-like construction,
the sails being supported at a location remote
from their leading edges and having a relatively
constant cross section so that the arch of both
surfaces, of each sail is substantially uniforn
along its entire length, in contrast with the Vary
ing camber and twisting of the flexible cloth
sails of the prior art.
Another object is to provide a sail boat With
a Substantially rigid sail having a Substantially
5 air foil cross section requiring no filling out by
the Wind, but responsive to the slightest breeze,
the rigid sail being pivotally mounted upon a
mast in such a manner as to enable its surfaces
to be most efficiently presented to the wind for
20 efficient propulsion of the boat, and particular
ly enabling the boat to be held closer to the wind,
without loss of efficiency, than sail boats with
ordinary flexible cloth sails. . . . .
Another object is to provide a sail boat having
25 multiple, overlapping, substantially rigid sails
mounted on a cross boom pivoted to an arm,
which in turn is pivotally mounted upon a mast
or other vertical support remote from the deck,
the sail being positioned by manipulating the
... .
Another object is to provide a sail boat hav.
ing a multiple overlapping substantially rigid sail
35 structure mounted as set forth in the preceding
object wherein an additional flap is movably se
Cured to one of the sails and adjustably posi
tioned by mechanism connected to the previous
ly mentioned sail adjusting member in order to
40 move the flap relatively to the sail so as to induce
air flow between the sails, or to close the spaces
between the sails as desired. - .. . .
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away,
ing to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the sail boat shown
in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the
50 line 3-3 in Fig. 1, abaft the mast and looking
forward; .. -
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view
of the top of the mast and the adjacent mecha
nism for pivotally supporting the rigid sail struc
55 ture and adjustable flap;
 al4.
2,319,999
Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic end elevation look oted to the cross boom 42 in the vicinity of the
ing forward from a position astern and showing center of effort of the sail.
the rigid sails moved into a horizontal position The end members 44 of the sail structure 43
to give a reefing effect or to bring the boat to are provided with brackets 45 from which run
rest; stays 46 extending to a pin 47 passing through
Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a portion of the arm 33.
the boat sailing high on the Wind; The sail Structure 43 consists of a plurality of
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing overlapping, spaced, rigid sails 48, 49 and 50,
the boat sailing with the wind abean; and and a cooperating movable flap 5. The latter
Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7, but 0. is pivotally supported by the pivot pins 52 mount
with the boat Sailing before the Wind with the ed on the end members 44, and upon the pivot
Wind astern. pin 53 mounted upon the cross boom 42. The
General arrangement latter also carries a bracket 54 which rotatably
supports a shaft 55, the upper end of which
In general, the sail boat of this invention con 5 carries a crank 56 pivotally connected to a link
sists of a hull having a Vertical mast with a 57 which, at its other end, is pivotally anchored
series of overlapping substantially rigid sails piv to a yoke 58 secured to the flap 5 at a loca
Otally supported upon the top of the mast. by tion spaced away from the pivot pin 53. The
means of a cross boom pivoted to an arm which, lower end of the shaft 55 carries a universal
in turn, is pivoted to a mast. The sails are pref 20 joint 59 to which is connected a control rod 60
erably of Wing-like construction with an air foil terminating at its lower end in a handle 6.
cross Section tapering from its point of maxi The control rod 60 thus serves the double pur
num, thickness for Wardly to its leading edge pose of controlling the tilting of the sail struc
and rearwardly a greater distance to its trailing ture 43 as a Whole, and also the tilting of the
edge. One of the sails preferably has a flap 25 movable flap 5 relatively to the sail 50. The
former may be achieved merely by pulling lon
movably mounted adjacent thereto in such a
manner as to permit the swinging of the flap gitudinally upon the rod 60, and the latter by
relatively to the sail, this swinging being effected merely rotating the rod 60 to turn the crank
by mechanism controllable from the cockpit. arm. 56, thereby shifting the flap 5 from its
The mast itself is preferably mounted for rota solid line to its dotted line position (Fig. 4) or
------tion. So-as-to-efiable the rigid sail to be swung vice versa. The positioning of the sail struc
into any desired position either vertical, horizon ture 43 is also, however, partially brought about
tal or oblique. by manipulating the hand wheel 29 to rotate the
Construction, mast 23, and by operating the tackle 36 so as
to raise or lower the adjacent end of the arm
Referring to the dra Wings in detail, Fig. 1 33 about its pivot 32. By these manipulations,
shows a preferred embodiment of the sail boat the sail structure 43 may be placed at any de
of this invention as having a hull 0 with a sired angle relatively to the hull 9, the wind
deck i? and cockpit 2, also a keel 3 and rud or the surface of the Water.
der 4 mounted on the rudder post 5 and con 40 Operation,
trolled by the tiller 6 upon the rudder head 7.
The hull is provided with the usual ribs f8 In the operation of the invention, when the
(Fig. 3) and crossbeams 9 upon which is mount boat is at rest, the sail structure 43 is placed
ed a base 20 having a bearing 2 for rotatably in a substantially horizontal position as shown
supporting the lower end 22 of the rotatable in Fig. 5. This is accomplished by hoisting upon
mast 23. The latter is also rotatably supported the tackle 36 to swing the arm 33 downward
in a bearing member 24 secured to the under and move the yoke portion 40 and pivot pin 4
side of the deck and having a collar 25 mount above the mast head 3. At the same time, the
ed on the mast adjacent thereto. Likewise, control rod 60 is pushed or pulled to properly
mounted on the mast 23 is a worm gear 26 50 position the sail structure 43 in its opposite
with which meshes a worm 27 (Fig. 3) mounted meridian.
upon a Worm shaft 28, the worm shaft 28 carry To propel the boat and so as to get under way,
ing a hand wheel 29. The worm shaft 28 is ro the sail structure 43 must be positioned accord
tatably mounted in the bracket 30 depending ing to the prevailing wind and the course. To
from the bearing member 24. By this means 5 5 sail a boat upon a course which is high on the
the mast 23 may be rotated by turning the hand wind, as in Fig. 6, the sail structure 43 is set as
Wheel 29. shown in Fig. 6. This is done by rotating the
The mast 23 may be of Solid or tubular con mast 23 by means of the hand Wheel 29, paying
struction if desired, a tubular mast being shown Out the tackle 36 so as to raise the arm 33 and,
for purposes of illustration. The upper end of 60 at the Same time, pulling upon the control rod
the mast 23 is provided with an Offset head 3 60 so as to swing the sail structure 43 until it lies
having a pivot portion 32 upon which an arm almost in a fore and aft position. In this man
33 is pivotally mounted. One end of the arm ner the boat may be sailed well into the wind
33 is provided with a yoke portion 34 to which without loss of efficiency.
is secured the upper pulley block 35, carrying 65 The sails 48, 49 and 50 and the movable flap
tackle 36 which also is threaded through the 5, being substantially rigid, possess unvarying
lower pulley block 3 (Fig. 1) and anchored to cambers so that the effect of the push given to
the cleat 33 upon the mast 23. The lower pull the wind to one side of the sail, and the pull
ley block is mounted upon a bracket 39 secured given by the suction on the other side of the sail,
to a portion of the mast 23 near the deck . . 70 does not vary in anything like the same degree as
The opposite end of the arm 33 is provided it does in the ordinary flexible cloth Sail. The
with a yoke portion 40 carrying a pivot pin 4 boat requires very little rudder action because
(Fig. 4), this arrangement Serving to pivotally the rig can always be balanced relatively to the
support the cross boom 42 of the sail structure, hull and, to the wind by revolving the mast with
generally designated 43. The portion 40 is piv- 75 the aid of the hand wheel 29. The arm 33 is
 2,319,999 3
pivoted to the cross boom 42 near the center of fect balance for the rig. To tack, the rudder
effort of the sail structure 43 and preferably at f4 and tiller-6 are placed hard over while the
a point slightly on the oppositeside thereof from tackle 36 is pulled so as to pull the arm 38 down
the leading edge of the sail 48. This arrange and the sail structure 43 up to the original po
ment facilitates the control of the sail structure sition. The tackle 36 is then released, letting
43 by means of the arm 33 and control rod 60. the sail structure 43 down on the opposite side
As the arch of each Sail in cross section is of the mast. This presents the concave side of
substantially uniform along its entire length, the the sail to the wind. . . . . - x . . . .
propelling effect of the sail does not vary widely The flap 5 f is provided with an arm 62 en
between different portions of its area, as is the O gaged by a spring 83 connected to one of the
case with flexible cloth sails. The present sail end members 44 (Fig. 2). By this means the
Structure, moreover, being mounted at a location flap 5 is urged substantially into alignment
away from its leading edge, is not hampered by With the sail 50, returning to that position when
the eddy currents set up by the mast as in the the handle 6 of the control rod 60 is released
ordinary Sail boat With a flexible cloth sail. In by the operator.
the latter, the mast by its eddy currents disrupts While a specific embodiment of the invention
the air flow along the edge of the sail and greatly has been described and illustrated, it will be
decreases its efficiency. The Substantial rigidity understood that various modifications may be
of the sails prevents the twisting thereof as in made Within the scope of the appended claims,
Ordinary cloth Sails and requires no preliminary 20 Without departing from the spirit of the inven
filling out before the sail can operate. The rigid tion.
Sails of the present invention are always set to What I claim is:
catch the slightest breeze and together form one 1. In a Sailing craft with a hull, a mast sup
unit which can be held very close to the wind ported by said hull, an arm pivotally mounted
Without loss of efficiency. 25 On Said mast at a location remote from said hull,
The Spacing of the rigid sails, moreover, gives a Substantially rigid main sail pivotally mount
an increased slot effect or jib effect running the ed. On Said arm, a flap Sail mounted adjacent
full length of the sails. This slot effect can be an edge of Said main Sail and hingedly mounted
varied by manipulating the fiap 5 through the On said Sail, rotary mechanism disposed remote
rotation of the control rod 60. By this means 30 from said arm for adjustably moving said flap
the lift of the sail can be greatly increased with sail relatively to said mait sail, and a control
a given Wind. member operatively connected to said mecha
The Sailing of a craft equipped with the sail nism, said control member being rotatable for
structure of this invention is also greatly facili positioning said flap sail relatively to said main
tated by reason of the fact that there are few :35 Sail and movable longitudinally for positioning
parts to endanger the crew. The boom 42 is lo Said main sail and flap sail relatively to said hull.
cated high above the deck f out of the danger 2. In a sailing craft with a hull, a mast sup
Zone in the vicinity of the cockpit f2, and there ported by said hull, an arm pivotally mounted
is very little rigging in which the crew may be
entangled. Moreover, the heeling over of the 40. On said mast at a location remote from said
hull, a Substantially rigid main sail pivotally
craft is greatly reduced by the present invention mounted on said arm, a movable flap sail hinged
as compared with ordinary flexible cloth sails, so ly mounted adjacent an edge of said main sail,
that the danger of capsizing is correspondingly
reduced. This danger, in the event of a sudden mechanism for adjustably moving said flap sail
squall, may be still further reduced by giving the relatively to said main sail, and a single sail con
sail structure a reefing effect by pulling it upward trol member connected to said main sail at a
toward a horizontal plane. At an intermediate location remote from said arm, said single sail
position, the sail may be arranged so that it for control member being rotatable in one direction
possesses a lifting effect as Well as a propelling operating said mechanism to swing the flap
effect, thereby intending to decrease the draft of sail relatively to said main sail and longitudi
the boat and consequently to increase its speed. nally novable in another direction to shift said
To sail the boat with the wind a beam, as shown main sail relatively to said hull.
in Fig. 6, the sail is positioned slightly at an angle 3. In a sailing craft with a hull, a mast Sup
to a transverse plane. The flap 5 is manipu ported by said hull, an arm pivotally mounted
lated at this time so as to give the maximum effi 55 on said mast at a location remote from said hull,
ciency to the sail structure 43. This adjustment, a substantially rigid main sail pivotally mount
as previously stated, is made by adjusting the ed. On Said arm, a movable flap sail hingedly
control rod 60. mounted adjacent an edge of said main sail, a
To sail before the wind, as shown in Fig. 8, the sail control mechanism disposed remote from
sail structure 43 is positioned also near a trans 30 Said arm and connected to the main Sail and
verse plane and the flap 5 again adjusted to give flap sail for adjustably moving said flap sail
the most beneficial effect. The sails 48, 4.9, 50 relative to said main sail, and a manual sail
and 5 are then held With their leading edges di control member operatively connected to said
rected toward the wind so that there arises a mechanism for operating said mechanism to
slot effect which enhances the sailing qualities manipulate Said flap sail and Said main sail,
of the rig. This slot effect is absent with a flex Said manual sail control member being rotatable
ible cloth rig under such circumstances because in one direction for operating said mechanism
the main sailblankets out the jib. to SWing the flap Sail relatively to said main sail
When the boat is sailing high on the Wind as and longitudinally movable in another direction
well as on any other relation of the Wind to to shift said main sail relatively to said hull.
the sails, the latter can be adjusted by manipu 4. In a Sailing craft With a hull, a mast sup
lating the hand wheel 29, tackle 36 and and the ported by said hull, a substantially rigid main
control rod 60 so as to keep the center of effort Sail, means for pivotally supporting said main
of the sails in the proper relationship of the Sail on said mast, a flap sail adjacent and
center of lateral resistance, thus insuring a pel 75 hingedly mounted relatively to said main sail,
4. 2,319,999
mechanism for adjustably moving said flap sail main sail on said rotatable mast, a flap sail ad
relatively to Said main sail disposed renote from jacent. and movably mounted relatively to said
said pivotal Supporting means, and a Sail con main sail, mechanism for adjustably moving said
trol member operatively connected to said flap sail relatively to said main Sail disposed
mechanism, said sail control member being rotat remote from said pivotal supporting means, and
able in one direction for Operating said mecha a Sail control member Operatively connected to
nism to swing said flap sail relatively to said said mechanism, Said Sail control member being
main sail and longitudinally movable in an rotatable in one direction for operating said
other direction to move said main sail relatively mechanism to SWing Said flap sail relatively to
to Said hull. O said main sail and longitudinally movable in
5. In a sailing craft with a hull, a rotatable another direction to move said main sail rela
mast supported by said hull, a substantially rigid tively to said hull.
main sail, means for pivotally supporting Said RICHARD W. JENNINGS