Improvements in Sails. an.! the like
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 29th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
DE MULTIVATION.
Improvements in Sails.
We, ANDREW THOMAS HOOPEL and JOHN ENOCH HOOPEL, both of Vauxhall
Quay, Plymouth, Sail Makers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to ships' sails; more particularly to sails for yachts.
The invention is applicable to angular or diagonal sails, such as jibs, jib
topsails, gaff topsails, staysails, foresails, lugsails, "leg of mutton sails an.!
the like.
"
According to this invention the warp of the material of which the sails are
made extends at right angles to each boundary or edge of the sail, and, to this end,
the sail is made up of three or more sections united by mitre seams to which the
warp extends from the respective boundaries or edges of the sail.
The said mitre seams extend along the direct lines of the principal strains exerted
by the wind.
Sails thus pieced together and having, as aforesaid, the warp extending at right
angles to all the boundaries, are less liable to stretch and are capable of being made
to approximately full dimensions to fit their proper places without subsequent
extension or shrinking.
Topsails and other sails designed for attachment to yards are, as made in
accordance with this invention, of increased strength and are full or rounded
outward at the leech and are therefore more effective when acted upon by the
wind, the strain exerted by which is, as aforesaid, borne principally along the mitre
seams.
A further improvement comprised in this invention is the adoption, in conjunction
with sails made as above described, of steel wire ropes for the luffs, stays and mast
sections of the sails, as both the sails and the ropes on the boundaries are less liable
to stretch.
Dated this 29th day of May 1895.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
We, ANDREW THOMAS HOOPEL and JOHN ENOCH HOOPEL, both of Vauxhall
Quay, Plymouth, Sail Makers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to ships' sails; more particularly to sails for yachts.
The invention is applicable to angular or diagonal sails, such as jibs, jib
topsails, gaff topsails, staysails, foresails, lugsails, "leg-of-mutton sails and
the like.
"
According to this invention, the warp of the material of which sails are made

page_text: extends at right angles to each boundary, or edge of the sail, and, to this end, the
sail is made up of three or more sections united by mitre seams to which the warp
extends from the respective boundaries or edges of the sail.
The said mitre seams extend along the direct lines of the principal strains exerted
by the wind.
Sails thus pieced together and having, as aforesaid, the warp extending at right
angles to all the boundaries, are less liable to stretch and are capable of being
made to approximately full dimensions to fit their proper places without subsequent
extension or shrinking.
Topsails and other sails designed for attachment to yards are, as made in
accordance with this invention, of increased strength and are full or rounded
outward at the leech and are therefore more effective when acted upon by the wind,
the strain exerted by which is, as aforesaid, borne principally along the mitre
seams.
A further improvement comprised in this invention is the adoption, in conjunction
with sails, made as above described, of steel wire ropes for the luffs, stays and
masts sections of the sails, as both the sails and the ropes on the boundaries are
less liable to stretch.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Fig. 1 represents, diagrammatically, a yacht fitted with sails made in accordance
with this invention. I is the mainsail, 2 the jib head topsail, 3 the jib topsail,
4 the jib, and 5 the foresail.
Fig. 2 represents a "leg-of-mutton" sail; Fig. 3 a yard topsail, and Fig. 4, a gaff
tri-sail.
The invention is applicable to other sails like or analogous to those shown in the
drawings.
In sails made in accordance with this invention the warp of the flax or cotton
canvas, linen or silk cloth or other material of which the sails are made, is, as
nearly as practicable, at right angles to the boundaries (as indicated in the
drawings by lines thus projected) of the sails which, under this invention, are made
in three or more pieces united by mitre seams a which extend from the corners to
meeting points, as shown.
The said seams a run from head to centre and cross the direct line from tack to
centre, striking directly to the clues from the crossing points. The square thread
of the weft of the fabric is, in a triangular sail, parallel to the leech, foot or stay
of the sail; the warp being perpendicular to the same, and, in a trapezoidal sail,
which is of more than three parts, the weit in any one portion is made parallel to
the external boundary of such portion; the warp being made at right angles to
the same.
Sails thus constructed are capable of being made to fit their places on all the
boundaries when first applied. The gores or bevels are equal in the respective
sections of the sails, and, accordingly, subsequent stretching is obviated.
A further feature comprised in this invention and following on the foregoing,
consists in the adoption, in conjunction with sails made in accordance with this
invention, of steel wire ropes, instead of hempen "bolt" ropes, for attachment
to the luffs, stays and masts sections of the sails. The boundaries at which such
wire ropes are applied are indicated in the accompanying drawing by the letter b.
A combination is thus obtained of ropes and sails both possessing great resistance
to stretching and shrinking.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, aud in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Construction of diagonal, triangular, trapezoidal and other like sails, in
three or more sections united by mitre seams extending from the corners of the
sections to suitable meeting points; the weft or square thread of the fabric being,

page_text: in all the sections, made parallel to the external boundaries of the sections, and
the warp at right angles to the same, substantially as hereinabove described.
2. The combination with sails made as set forth in the preceding claim, of
ropes of steel or like wire employed for and attached to the sails at the luffs, stays
and masts sections thereof, substantially as hereinabove described with reference-
to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.
Dated this 27th day of February 1896.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.