Patent ID: 7093803

Claim:
Wind powered apparatus for transportation modes selected from the group consisting of watercraft, marine structures, skis, sail boards, land vehicles, dirigibles, aircraft, satellites, space craft, and nano-scale vehicles, the apparatus comprising: a single layer aerodynamic wing capable of flying with variable wind direction and angle of attack, without surface discontinuity, without stabilizing lines, without bridles, and without rigid structure, and comprising a centerline, wingtips, and a tail corner; and further comprising a light weight, three dimensional wing consisting of a plurality of gores of predetermined geometries, defining a large diameter self-supporting rolled-over leading edge of an airfoil, a trailing edge, a nose, an inside windward surface, and an outside leeward surface, whereby all stresses within the wing resulting from aerodynamic forces, gravity, and transient forces due to inertia are converted into tensile stress within the wing and into pure tension transferred to the attachment means, and whereby the wing profile of the wing approaching the trailing edge exhibits increasing convexity; and attachment means linking at least one aerodynamic wing to a transportation mode whereby wing function and transportation mode motion are controlled.