IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN KINDS OF SALES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Summers, of the firm of James and
Joseph Summers, of West Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, in
the County of Southampton, Sail Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN KINDS OF SALES"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN WINDS
DE OR SATTO "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Summers
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th March 1853.
I, JAMES SUMMERS, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN KINDS OF SAILS" to be as
follows, viz.
This Invention has reference to improvements in certain kinds of
sails, viz.-main sails for cutters, sloops, schooners, and vessels of that
class, and trysails for other vessels.

page_text: The sail is so constructed that there is a diagonal line of junction of
the parts thereof, from the "throat" (at the head) of the sail to the
"clew" (at the foot), the lengths of cloth being placed on one side
such junction-line, in lines proceeding direct from the mast, and on the
other side of such junction-line, in lines proceeding direct therefrom
to the "letch" of the sail, instead of forming such sails of lengths of
cloth extending in direct lines from the head to the foot of the sail,
as hitherto practised; by which improvements the bagging or leeward
pressure on above sails is avoided, thus giving greater command to the
sailor over the sail..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Summers, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 10th September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES SUMMERS, of the firm of James and Joseph Summers, of West
Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, in the County; of Southampton, Sail
Maker, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing, date the Eleventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand-eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Jamies. Summers.. Her special licence, that I,
the said James Summers, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others, as: "I, the said James Sunimers, my exccutors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others; from
time to time and at all times thereafter "during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN
KINDS OF SAILS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Summers, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and, ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
13

page_text: cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within: six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said. Letters
Patent.
T
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Summers, do hereby de-
clare the nature of my said Invention; and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:
My Invention consists in and has reference to improvements in cer-
tain kinds of sails, that is, main sails for cutters, sloops, schooners, and
vessels of that class, and "fore and aft sails" generally. -Such'sails are to
be so constructed that there shall be a. diagonal line of junction of the
parts, thereof from the " throat (at the head of the sail) to the clew"
(at the foot thereof), the lengths of cloth running from each side of
said line of junction, that is, the lengths of cloth are placed on one side
such junction line, in lines proceeding direct from the mast, and on the
other side in lines proceeding from the junction-line to the "leetch" of
the sail, instead of direct lines from the head to the foot of the sail,
as hitherto practised. And in order to the better exemplification of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, I have annexed a Sheet of Drawings, in which a sail constructed
as aforesaid is shewn as a mainsail.
In the said Drawing, A, denotes the "throat" (at the head of the sail);
B, the "clew" (at the foot of the sail); C, the aforesaid junction-line,
being a line terminating at A, and B, respectively; D, is placed on some
of the lengths of cloth running from the mast to the said junction-line;
and E, is placed on some of the lengths of cloth running from the
junction-line to the "leetch" of the sail.
The junctions, whether at C, or of the parts D, and E, are effected by
stitching, as well known, or in any other convenient manner; and
further, a narrow band is stitched or attached to the junction C. At a,
and b, are reefs for taking in the sail. The other parts exhibited by the
Drawing will be readily understood by inspection thereof, and need no
comment.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the im-

page_text: provements in the construction of the certain kinds of sails herein-
before mentioned as herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Summers, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fifth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
GEORGE CARD, Witness.
JAMES SUMMERS. (L.s.)