Patent? Kite wing has been patented 1982 by Jim Drake afaik seen by other (skimbat) source. Also when Skimbat wings have been with booms for 30 years..
To patent you need to have something new. They'll take your patent money but when patent is challenged you realize wasting money. At patents don't look application pictures but "claims". What is claimed to be innovated.
Claim 1:
1. A hand-sail for propelling land vehicles and watercraft, in particular sailboards, with little drag in the direction of motion and relatively great drag perpendicularly thereto, characterized by two identical wings (24, 26), the main planes of which are disposed at an obtuse angle to each other symmetrically to a median plane, the wings forming a V shape open at the top under the influence of wind forces and having an airfoil profile, and in that a rigid middle boom (12) extending substantially over the length of the airfoil profile for grasping or holding the hand-sail is disposed on the median plane beneath the wings, whereby the wings and the middle boom constitute a substantially self-supporting structure.
Last edited by joriws on Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
But if the carbon rod has a good boom grip, it will feel and work good.
Some will like the superlight efficient without grip, others will like a more grippy boom.
Looks like the carbon mini boom is mostly naked carbon. So think I’m now leaning towards aluminum, which has full length grip material.
If it was me I'd go aluminium and wear the weight penalty. I've read some horror stories about fractured carbon fibres from kite control bars getting embedded in the hands. I wouldn't assume there's any kevlar to keep it together either.
But if the carbon rod has a good boom grip, it will feel and work good.
Some will like the superlight efficient without grip, others will like a more grippy boom.
Looks like the carbon mini boom is mostly naked carbon. So think I’m now leaning towards aluminum, which has full length grip material.
If it was me I'd go aluminium and wear the weight penalty. I've read some horror stories about fractured carbon fibres from kite control bars getting embedded in the hands. I wouldn't assume there's any kevlar to keep it together either.
I'd rather go for carbon/innegra or carbon/Dyneema. Both lighter than 100% carbon and there is not a ton of strain on that short boom affixed to a soft construction.
But let's leave it for Slick SLS next year