Appeal No. 97-0275
Application 08/373,192
the problem known as “luffing” by preserving the desired contour
of the sail under different conditions. In the embodiment
illustrated in Figure 4, the forward edge 28 of the inflatable
chamber carries a bolt rope 30 which is received within a slot 31
in a mast 29. As conceded by the examiner (see page 4 in the
answer, Paper No. 18), the Birchill sail does not meet the
limitations in claim 23 pertaining to the means for reefing the
sail and to the hose-pocket construction of the luff chamber.
Ljungstrom discloses a sail 4 which is adapted to be reefed
by rotating the mast 3 to which it is mounted. To this end, the
mast is operatively associated with means for effectuating the
rotation (see Figures 6 and 7).
Schmidt discloses a sail 1 having a pocket 5 at its leading
edge. The pocket envelopes the mast 2 to which the sail is
mounted and three inflatable tubes 7, 8 and 9. The tubes are
configured to define an aerodynamic profile which provides a
laminar air flow along the surface of the sail in the area of the
mast.
According to the examiner, it would have been obvious to one
of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made
to use the mast 29 of BIRCHILL to reef the sail 12 of
BIRCHILL by providing a reefing means similar to that
shown in figures 6 and 7 of LJUNGSTROM. As such the
luff chamber 27 [sic, 14] at its forward end defined by
-3-
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