Patents by Inventor Richard I. Stearns, IV

Richard I. Stearns, IV has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Vortex generators for sails
    Patent number: 5074234
    Abstract: A vortex generator for attachment to the surface of a sail of a sailboat made from a strip of foldable material such as sail cloth or film that has a central member formed of two panels of the strip joined together by pressure sensitive adhesive and a foot panel extending from each side of the central member and having pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface thereof by which each foot panel is adhered to a surface of the sail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: Richard I. Stearns, IV
  • Sail construction
    Patent number: 5031560
    Abstract: A panel construction for bleeding high pressure air from the windward side of a sail to the leeward side of the sail to improve air flow over the leeward side and thereby reduce the heeling component and enhance the thrust component of the aerodynamic force developed by the sail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Inventor: Richard I. Stearns, IV