IHIIIHIIIHIIIHIHIIII USOO5279241A

United States Patent (19) 11) Patent Number: 5,279,241

Aguilera (45) Date of Patent: Jan. 18, 1994
(54) INFLATABLE SAIL 4,766,831 8/1988 Johnston ............................. 114/102
4,879,961 11/1989 Aguilera .............................. 114/102
76 Inventor: Angel R. Aguilera, P.O. Box 3298, 5,095,837 3/1992 Baird ................................... 114/103
Dana Point, Calif. 92629
(21) Appl. No.: 21,893
pp. No.: Z, FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
2658772 12/1976 Fed. Rep. of Germany ...... 14/102
(22) Filed: Feb. 24, 1993 3211641 3/1982 Fed. Rep. of Germany ...... 14/103
51) Int. Cl. ............................................... B63H 9/04 3:3:13, Sandm:A:
(52) U.S. C. - so a seaso a a 8 e o 0 to wou o or a to a 0-0 do o or a had a 0 - w w 114/103 1553056 5/1969 United Kingdom

58 Field of Search ....................... 114/39.1, 102, 103 P

rinary Examiner-Jesus D. Sotelo
(56) References Cited Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gordon L. Peterson
U.S.A PATENT DOCUMENTS N
57 ABSTRACT
2,984, 199 5/1961 Giewald .............................. 114/102
3,598,075 8/1971 Kenney ... ... 114/02 An inflatable sail comprising an inflatable enclosure
4,296,704 10/1981 Bridge ...... ... 114/03 having opposed flexible walls. The enclosure has a sail
4,401,284 8/1983 Austin ...... ... 4/103 shape when the enclosure is inflated with an inflation
4,463,699 8/1984 Lineback. ... 114/39. medium. The walls are movable toward each other
4,530,301 7/1985 Lathan ... ... 114/102 when the enclosure is deflated. A porous conduit is
4,562,784 1/1986 Lineback ..... ... 14/39.1 -
4,593,638 6/1986 Cochran et al. . ... 114/103 within the enclosure between the walls and is communi
4,624,203 11/1986 Ferguson ..... ... 114/102 cable with the exterior of the enclosure so that inflation
4,637,331 1/1987 Jackson ........ ... 114/103 medium can be removed from the enclosure through
4,649,848 3/1987 Belvedere 4/103 the conduit. The opposed walls are joined together at a
4,699,073 10/1987 Farneti ................ 1/92 plurality of regions to form a plurality of spaced batten
4,708,078 11/1987 Legaignoux et al. ...
4,708,079 11/1987 Magnan ............... A: pockets which extend from the leech of the sail across
4,733,624 3/1988 Belvedere ... / the roach.
4,753,186 6/1988 Paras ........ ... 114/103
4,757,779 7/1988 Graveline ............................ 114/103 19 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Jan. 18, 1994 Sheet 1 of 4 5,279,241
U.S. Patent Jan. 18, 1994 Sheet 2 of 4 5,279,241
U.S. Patent Jan. 18, 1994 Sheet 3 of 4 5,279,241
U.S. Patent Jan. 18, 1994 Sheet 4 of 4 5,279,241
 1.
5,279,241
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NFLATABLE SAL
least movement when tacking. On the other hand, for a
roller furling sail, the conduit preferably extends along
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
the leech for a major length of the leech. This enables
the conduit to be used in removing inflation medium to
My patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,961 discloses an inflat allow reefing of the sail. Finally, for a spinnaker sail, it
able sail which provides many advantages. Generally, is preferred to utilize two of the conduits, one extending
an inflatable sail includes an inflatable enclosure having along each of the luffs of the sail. This position is pre
opposed flexible walls. The enclosure has a sail shape ferred because at the center of the spinnaker there is
when the enclosure is inflated with an inflation medium. typically no inflation.
The walls are movable toward each other when the O
enclosure is deflated. An inflatable sail is believed to These features of the invention are also applicable to
provide more power than conventional fabric sails. sails which can be reefed. This can be accomplished, for
An air pump is used to inflate and deflate the inflat example, with the inflatable enclosure including first
able sail. During deflation, the walls of the sail tend to and second inflatable compartments and with first and
come together and seal off the opening through which 15 second porous conduits which extend into the first and
the inflation medium is being evacuated thereby trap second compartments, respectively. By placing the first
ping air in the sail. Kinks or folds in the sail can also compartment above the second compartment, the sec
inhibit evacuation of inflation medium from the sail. ond or lower compartment can be deflated to allow the
To increase the area of a noninflatable sail, it is sail to be reefed. In a preferred construction, the first
known to provide the sail with a roach. To stabilize the porous conduit extends through the second or lower
roach, it is desirable to utilize battens which extend compartment into the first or upper compartment and
from the leech of the sail across the roach. It would also the inflatable sail includes a spring within the portion of
be desirable to increase the area of an inflatable sail. the first porous conduit that is in the second compart
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 25
ment. The spring prevents the portion of the first po
rous conduit that is in the second compartment from
This invention provides an inflatable sail with a fea collapsing when the sail is reefed. In a preferred con
ture that substantially prevents trapping of air and facili struction, a baffle is provided within the inflatable en
tates rapid deflation of the sail even though the walls of closure for sealing the first compartment from the sec
the sail collapse toward each other and even if there are ond compartment. Multiple compartments and multiple
folds or kinks in the sail. In addition, this invention 30
provides novel batten pockets which extend across the porous conduits can be used for purposes other than
roach and which do not allow for any significant escape reefing, and may be located in side-by-side or other
of inflation medium from the inflatable sail. These fea orientations.
tures can be used together or independently. In order to extend the area of the inflatable sail, an
According to one feature of this invention, a porous 35 other feature of this invention provides for novel batten
conduit is provided within the inflatable enclosure be pockets which extend from the leech across the roach.
tween the walls of the enclosure. The conduit is con This accomplished by joining together a plurality of
municable with the exterior of the enclosure so that regions of the opposed walls to form a plurality of
inflation medium can be removed from the enclosure spaced batten pockets. The opposed walls are prefera
through the conduit. bly sealed together at such regions to substantially pre
The conduit may be made porous in various different vent inflation medium from escaping from the enclosure
ways. For example, the entire conduit or portions by passing into the batten pockets. The batten pockets
thereof may be permeable to the inflation medium, are preferably open adjacent the leech and are close
which is typically air. Alternatively, the conduit may able.
include a plurality of openings along its length. In any 45 The invention, together with additional features and
event, the conduit allows the inflation medium to enter advantages thereof may best be understood by refer
through the pores or openings and travel through the ence to the following description taken in connection
conduit to the exterior of the inflatable sail during the with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
deflation process. -
To obtain greater benefit from the conduit, it prefera SO BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
bly extends over a major portion of a major dimension FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with portions broken
of the inflatable enclosure. To retain the conduit in this
position, an appropriate attachment device is utilized. away of an inflatable sail, a mast and a boom with the
Preferably, this attachment device couples the conduit inflation-deflation valve removed and with portions of
to at least one of the walls so that the conduit is retained 55 the gussets and baffle being shown in perspective.
in a position in which the conduit extends over the FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view
major portion of the major dimension. illustrating a portion of the sail and one of the battens
The conduit is preferably flexible. The inflatable sail about to be inserted into a batten pocket.
also preferably includes a valve coupled to the conduit FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational
for selectively blocking the removal of inflation me view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
dium from the enclosure through the conduit. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view partially in section taken
These features of the invention are applicable to vari generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.
ous different kinds of sails including a mainsail, jib, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line
roller furling sail and spinnaker. For example, when the 5-5 of FIG. 1.
sail is in the shape of a mainsail or jib sail, the conduit 65 FIG. 5A is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view
preferably extends along the luff for a major length of taken generally along line 5A-5A.
the luff. It is preferred to locate the conduit in the luff FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 illus
region of these sails because this region undergoes the trating a roller furling sail.
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4.
FIGS. 6a and 6b are enlarged fragmentary views imaginary straight line 53 extending between the head
taken generally along line 6a-6a and 6b-6b, respec grommet 19 and the clew grommet 37. In order to prop
tively. erly utilize this extra area or roach 51, the batten pock
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a spinnaker sail con ets 47 and associated battens 55 are provided. The bat
structed in accordance with the teachings of this inven ten pockets 47 are provided by joining together regions
tion. 57 of the walls 43. As shown in FIG. 1, the batten pock
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ets 47 are parallel and spaced from each other, and they
EMBODIMENT extend from the leech 33 entirely across the roach 51
and into that portion of the sail forward of the imagi
FIG. 1 shows an inflatable mainsail 11 coupled to a O nary line 53. The walls 43 are sealed together along the
mast 13 and a boom 15 in a conventional manner utiliz region 57 so as to substantially prevent inflation medium
ing conventional rigging and hardware. Thus, a halyard from escaping from the chamber 49 of the enclosure 41
17 is coupled to a head grommet 19 and a bolt rope 21 by passing into the batten pockets 47. The sealing of the
is attached as by sewing to a luff 25 of the inflatable sail walls 43 along the region 57 may be accomplished with
11. The luff 25 is received in a groove 27 of the mast 13 15 stitching, tape, adhesive or any combination of these.
and a bolt rope 28 is attached to a foot 29 which is Stitching alone is unlikely to suffice.
received in a sail groove 31 of the boom 15. For masts
having double grooves, double luffs may be provided as The batten pockets 47 are elongated and rectangular
viewed in side elevation and sized to receive the
on the sail. A tackgrommet 23 is used to attach a lower battens 55, respectively. The batten pockets 47 are of
forward region of the sail 11 to the boom 15. The sail 11 20 different lengths and each of them extends across and
also has a leech 33 and an outhaul 35 extends through a beyond the roach 51.
clew grommet 37 and over a pulley 39 on the boom 15 The batten pockets 47 are open adjacent the leech 33
in a conventional manner. The boom 15 is coupled to and are closeable. Although the batten pockets 47 may
the mast 13 in the usual manner by a goose neck 40 for be closed in various different ways, in this embodiment,
pivotal movement of the boom relative to the mast. this is accomplished using a suitable quick release fas
The inflatable sail 11 includes an inflatable enclosure tener such as hook and eye material 59 (FIG. 3) affixed
41 having opposed flexible walls 43 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and to the interior of the walls 43. A common form of hook
a sail shape when the enclosure 41 is inflated with an and eye material is available under the trademark Vel
inflation medium, such as air. In this embodiment, the CO.
enclosure has a generally triangular configuration as 30 When inflated, the enclosure 41 has an airfoil configu
viewed in side elevation and is in the shape of a mainsail. ration as best seen in FIG. 5. To assist in shaping the
However, the features of this invention discussed in enclosure into an airfoil configuration, the walls 43 are
connection with the mainsail 11 of FIG. 1 apply equally of an appropriate size and configuration and a plurality
to a jib sail.
Generally, the sail shape of the enclosure 41 may be 35 of gussets 61 are fixed to the opposite walls 43 in any
suitable manner such as by an adhesive or tape. Each of
any configuration usable to generate a force from the the gussets is of airfoil configuration and has apertures
wind to propel a vehicle, such as a sail boat or sail
board, and as such may be generally in the form of a 63 for the passage of inflation medium. Each of the
gussets 61 is generally in the form of an airfoil of a
mainsail, jib, roller furling sail or spinnaker. In terms of flexible sail material and terminates in a forward edge 65
the cross section of the sail, a "sail shape' has reference 40 spaced slightly aft of the luff 25. The gussets 61 are
to a configuration useful for converting the force of the spaced vertically as desired to provide the airfoil con
wind into a driving force for the vehicle to which it is figuration. The gussets 61 serve to hold or restrain the
attached. As such, the sail preferably has an aerody walls 43 in an airfoil shape when the enclosure 41 is
namic cross section and preferably has an airfoil config inflated.
uration. 45
Although various constructions are possible, the theAenclosure porous conduit 71 is provided in the chamber 49 of
41 between the walls 43. The conduit 71
walls 43 are joined together along the full length of the extends upwardly
periphery 45 thereof except at batten pockets 47 as forward edge 65 ofineach the enclosure 41 forwardly of the
described herein below. The walls 43 may be joined FIG. 5. The conduit 71 is of the gussets 61 as shown in
communicable with the exte
together in any suitable manner that will provide the 50 rior of the enclosure 41 via an inflation-deflation valve
periphery 45 with a joint or seam that is substantially 73 (FIG. 4) which is coupled to the conduit for selec
impervious to the inflation medium. For example, the tively blocking the removal of inflation medium from
periphery 45 may be joined together by stitching, tape, the chamber 49 to the conduit. In this embodiment, the
adhesive or any combination of these that will provide valve 73 is a manual
a joint which is impervious to the inflation medium at 55 to allow inflation andshutoff valve which can be opened
deflation of the sail. The conduit
the pressures being utilized. Stitching alone ordinarily 71 is preferably a flexible polymeric tube which has
will not suffice. many openings 75 along its length. As shown in FIG. 4,
The walls 43 may be made of any material which is the openings 75 are preferably offset circumferentially
substantially impervious to the inflation medium at the and axially so that it is less likely that all of the openings
pressures being utilized. For example, the walls 43 may 75 would be blocked by the collapsing of the walls 43
be constructed of conventional sail fabric with a suitable during deflation.
polymeric coating such as polyester, polyurethane, An attachment device is provided for coupling the
Mylar or the like. When constructed in this fashion, the conduit 71 to one of the walls 43. In this embodiment,
enclosure 41 has an interior chamber 49 (FIG. 2) there are a plurality of individual elements that are used
adapted to receive the inflation medium to inflate the 65 to accomplish this function. With reference to FIG. 4,
inflatable enclosure 41. the lower end of the conduit 71 is coupled to an interior
The inflatable sail 11 has an enlarged area or roach fitting 77 which is in turn coupled to an exterior fitting
51. The roach 51 is that portion of the sail aft of an 79 by an externally threaded sleeve 81 (FIG. 4). With
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this arrangement, the fittings 77 and 79 clamp a region the baffle 86, the conduit 71 need not include the con
of the wall 43 and layers 82 of a reinforcing fabric be struction of FIG. 5A.
tween them and both of the fittings are securely As shown in FIG. 5A, the porous conduit 71 includes
mounted on the wall and may also be adhesively an imperforate or nonporous lower conduit section 87
bonded to the layers 82. Of course, the fittings 77 and 79 in the lower compartment 85 and a perforate or porous
may be considered as part of the conduit 71 if desired. upper conduit section 88 in the upper compartment 84.
In addition, the attachment device also includes a The nonporous conduit section 87 allows the upper
plurality of spaced apart segments of tape 83 (FIG. 1) compartment 84 to be inflated and deflated. The lower
for taping the conduit 71 to the wall 43 to which the conduit section 87 is coupled at its lower end to the
interior fitting 77 is mounted. Of course, mechanical 10 interior fitting 77 (FIG. 4) and at its upper end to a
fasteners, adhesive and the like may be used in lieu of, or fitting 89 which is bonded to the baffle 86. The upper
in addition to, the tape 83 to accomplish the attaching end of the lower conduit section 87 is bonded by a
function. suitable bonding material 90 to the fitting 89.
It is desirable that the conduit 71 have sufficient Similarly, the lower end of the upper conduit section
length to enable it to be useful in removing the inflation 15 88 is bonded with bonding material 90' to a fitting 89
medium from the enclosure even if the enclosure is which is in turn suitably bonded to the baffle 86. The
kinked or folded. To achieve this, the conduit 71 prefer baffle 86 and the fittings 89 and 89' have an opening to
ably extends over a major portion of a major dimension provide communication between the interiors of the
of the enclosure 41. In addition, the conduit 71 is lo conduit sections 87 and 88. A spring 91 is provided
cated so it will have negligible or minimal effect on the 20 within the lower conduit section 87 to prevent collapse
operation of the sail. of the passage through the conduit section 87 when the
With reference to FIG. 1, which illustrates a mainsail, sail 11 is reefed.
it can be seen that the conduit 71 extends generally A reefing strip 96 of flexible sail cloth material is
along the luff 25 for almost the full length of the luff. By attached, as by an adhesive, to one of the walls 43 and
locating the conduit 71 along the luff 25, the conduit 25 reefing ties 97 are suitably coupled to the reefing strip.
undergoes the least movement when tacking. More A similar reefing strip 96 with reefing ties 97 is provided
specifically, in this embodiment the conduit 71 extends on the side of the sail 11 which is not shown in FIG. 1.
from a lower location close to or adjacent the boom 15 The sail 11 also has reefing grommets 98 and 99.
to an upper location near the head grommet 19. When In use, the inflatable sail 11 can be inflated through
applied to a jib sail, which may have the same general 30 the conduits 71 and 71' and the openings 75 and 75' by
shape as the mainsail of FIG. 1, the conduit 71 may also opening of the valve 73 and the corresponding valve
extend along the luff substantially as shown in FIG. 1. (not shown) for the conduit 71' and coupling them to a
The segments of tape 83 retain the conduit 71 in a posi source of inflation medium under pressure, such as air.
tion in which it extends over the desired major portion Conversely, the inflatable sail 11 can be deflated
of the major dimension of the sail 11. 35 through the openings 75 and 75' and the conduits 71 and
An optional feature of the invention which adapts the 71" by opening of these valves. To reef the sail 11, the
inflatable sail 11 to be reefed includes providing the compartment 85 is deflated utilizing the conduit 71" and
inflatable enclosure 41 with an upper inflatable com the sail is lowered. The resulting loose sail material,
partment 84 and a lower inflatable compartment 85. which forms the compartment 85, is rolled into a roll
The upper compartment 84 is above the lower compart and tied with the reefing ties 97. The reefing grommets
ment 85, and a baffle 86 (FIG. 1) may be used to divide 98 and 99 are used in the usual manner to secure the
the enclosure 41 into the compartments 84 and 85. The reefed sail to the boom 15.
baffle 86 seals the compartments 84 and 85 from each FIG. 6 shows an inflatable sail 11a in the form of a
other. For this purpose, the baffle 86 may be con roller furling sail. The sail 11a is identical to the sail 11
structed of any suitable flexible, air impervious material 45 in all respects not shown or described herein. Except
such as sail cloth covered with a suitable air impervious for the inflatable nature of the sail 11a and the conduit
polymeric film. The baffle 86 is attached to the walls 43 71a, the roller furling sail of FIG. 6 may be conven
in any suitable airtight manner, such as by an adhesive tional. Portions of the sail 11a corresponding to portions
and/or tape 86' (FIG. 5A) and the gussets 61 may be of the sail 11 are designated by corresponding reference
attached to the walls 43 in the same manner. The baffle 50 numerals followed by the letter a.
86, like the gusset 61, has an airfoil configuration. The sail 11a has a conventional furling line 92 and
A second porous conduit 71 extends into the lower furling system 93 such that a shaft 95 of the furling
compartment 85 and terminates in the compartment 85 system can be rotated about its longitudinal axis to reef
below the baffle 86. The conduit 71" may be similar to a the sail in a known manner. The sail 11a does not em
length of the conduit 71, and it includes a plurality of 55 ploy battens and the gussets employed in the sail 11a
longitudinally and circumferentially spaced openings (which may be accordance with FIG. 6) are sufficiently
75'. The conduit 71" may be mounted within the enclo
sure 41 in the same manner as the conduit 71, i.e. by tape flexible to allow them to collapse and roll up about the
shaft 95.
83' and by an external fitting 79'. A separate manual The conduit 71a with its openings 75a may be identi
valve (not shown) which may be identical to the valve cal to the conduit 71 except that the conduit 71a has
73 may be used to allow inflation and deflation of the only a single conduit section and it extends generally
compartment 85. Similarly, when the enclosure 41 com along the leech 33a for a major length of the leech.
prises the two compartments 84 and 85, the manual Specifically, the conduit 71a may extend from a loca
valve 73 is openable to allow inflation and deflation of tion closely adjacent the head grommet 19a along the
only the compartment 84. 65 leech 33a and out the bottom of the sail near the clew
FIGS. 1 and 5A show a preferred construction for grommet 37a as shown in FIG. 6. Tape segments 83a
the conduit 71 adjacent the baffle 86. Of course, for may be employed as with the sail 11 to retain the con
those inflatable sail constructions which do not employ duit 71a in the desired position. The sail 11a is inflatable
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as shown in FIG. 6b and may be made inflatable in the dium can be removed from the enclosure through
same manner as the sail 11. the conduit.
Another difference between the sails 11a and 11 is 2. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 1 wherein the
that the conduit 71a exits through the bottom of the sail porous conduit extends over a major portion of a major
between the walls 43a and is appropriately sealed as by 5 dimension of the enclosure.
an adhesive and tape to the walls 43a at the location 3. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 2 including an
where the conduit exits from the enclosure 41a. The
conduit may be connected to a valve (not shown) just one of said walls soforthat
attachment device coupling the conduit to at least
the conduit is retained in a
outside of the enclosure 41a. By locating the conduit position in which the conduit
71a along the leech 33a, the conduit can be used in portion of said major dimension.extends over said major
10
removing inflation medium to enable reefing the sail. 4. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 2 wherein the
The sail 11a has only a single compartment and does not conduit includes a flexible tube having a plurality of
include a porous conduit corresponding to the conduit
71' of FIG. 1 or a baffle corresponding to the baffle 86 openings
pled to
along the length of the tube and a valve cou
the conduit for selectively blocking the removal
of FIG. 1. s
The sail 11a can be inflated and deflated as described of inflation medium from the enclosure through the
conduit.
above for the sail 11. In addition, the rolling furling sail 5. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 1 wherein the
of FIG. 6 can be partially deflated to allow the sail to be enclosure has at least one luff and when inflated is in the
reefed.
FIG. 7 shows an inflatable sail 11b in the form of an 20 shape of a mainsail or jib sail and the conduit extends
inflatable spinnaker sail. The sail 11b is identical to the generally
6. An
along the luff for a major length of the luff.
inflatable sail as defined in claim 1 wherein the
sail 11 in all respects not shown or described herein.
Portions of the sail 11b corresponding to portions of the enclosure has a leech and is adapted for use as a roller
sail 11 are designated by corresponding reference nu furling sail and the conduit extends generally along the
merals followed by the letter b. 25 leech for a major length of the leech.
The primary differences between the sails 11 and 11b 7. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 1 wherein the
is that the latter has a sail shape in the form of a spinna enclosure when inflated is in the shape of a spinnaker
ker sail and has two of the conduits 71b with openings having first and second luffs, said conduit is a first po
75b extending along the luffs 25b of the sail. The sail 11b rous conduit, the inflatable sail includes a second porous
can be constructed by employing spinnaker shaped sail 30 conduit, and said first and second conduits extend gen
material and two sets of gussets 61b bonded to the inte erally along the first and second luffs, respectively, for
rior of the enclosure 41b as described in connection a major length of the associated luff.
with the sail 11. A central region 101 extending verti 8. An inflatable sail as defined in claim wherein
cally through the sail 11b is noninflatable, i.e. the oppo enclosure has a roach and a leech and the opposing
site walls of the sail are sealed together in this region. 35 walls are joined together at a plurality of regions to
Thus, there are two inflatable chambers or compart form a plurality of spaced batten pockets which extend
ments on the opposite sides of the central region 101. from the leech across the roach.
The conduits 71b extend generally along the luffs 25b, 9. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 8 wherein
respectively, for a major length of the associated luff, opposed walls are sealed together at said plurality of
and thus may be positioned with respect to the airfoil regions to substantially prevent inflation medium from
configuration substantially as shown in FIG. 5. Tape escaping from the enclosure by passing into the batten
segments 83b hold each of the conduits 71b in the posi pockets.
tion shown in FIG. 7, and each of the conduits 71b may 10. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 1 wherein
be coupled to a wall of the sail 11b in the manner shown said inflatable enclosure includes a second inflatable
in FIG. 4 and be coupled to a manual valve (not 45 compartment, said porous conduit is a first porous con
shown). The spinnaker 11b can be inflated and deflated duit and the inflatable sail includes a second porous
in the same manner as the sail 11 except that two of the conduit, said first and second porous conduits extend
valves 73b must be operated to inflate and deflate both into the first and second compartments, respectively
sides of the sail 11b, which can be opened to allow and the first porous conduit extends through the second
inflation and deflation of the sail 11b. compartment into the first compartment.
Although exemplary embodiments of the invention 11. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 10 wherein
have been shown and described, many changes, modifi said first compartment is above the second compart
cations and substitutions may be made by one having ment when the inflatable sail is in use.
ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing . 12. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 11 wherein
from the spirit and scope of this invention. 55 the inflatable sail includes a spring within a portion of
I claim: the first porous conduit that is in the second compart
1. An inflatable sail comprising: ment.
an inflatable enclosure having opposed flexible walls 13. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 11 including
and at least a first inflatable compartment, said a flexible baffle within the inflatable enclosure for seal
enclosure having a sail shape when the enclosure is ing the first compartment from the second compart
inflated with an inflation medium, said walls being ment.
movable toward each other when the enclosure is 14. An inflatable sail comprising:
deflated; and an inflatable enclosure having opposed flexible walls,
a porous conduit within the enclosure between said said inflatable enclosure having a sail shape when
walls and communicable with the exterior of the 65 inflated with an inflation medium and a roach and
enclosure, the porous conduit having a plurality of a leech; and
openings along the length of the conduit in said said opposed walls being joined together at a plurality
first inflatable compartment whereby inflation me of regions to form a plurality of spaced batten
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pockets which extend from the leech across the movable toward each other when the enclosure is
roach.
15. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 14 wherein
deflated;
the opposed walls are sealed together at said plurality of a flexible conduit having a plurality of openings along
regions to substantially prevent inflation medium from 5 the length of the conduit in said one inflatable com
escaping from the enclosure by passing into the batten partment, said conduit being within the enclosure
pockets. between said walls and communicable with the
16. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 14 wherein exterior of the enclosure whereby inflation medium
the batten pockets open adjacent the leech and are clos can be removed from the enclosure through the
able. 10 conduit to substantially prevent trapping of air
17. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 14 including within said one inflatable compartment, the con
a batten in each of said pockets. duit extending over a major portion of a major
18. An inflatable sail as defined in claim 14 wherein dimension of the enclosure;
said batten pockets are generally parallel and some of an attachment device for coupling the conduit to at
the batten pockets are larger than other of the batten 15 least one of said walls so that the conduit is retained
pockets. in a position in which the conduit extends over said
19. An inflatable sail comprising: major portion of said major dimension; and
an inflatable enclosure having opposed flexible walls a valve coupled to the conduit for selectively block
and at least one inflatable compartment, said enclo ing the removal of inflation medium from the en
sure having an airfoil shape when the enclosure is 20 closure throughk the conduit. k
inflated with an inflation medium, said walls being

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