Airplane kites and method

Aeronautics and astronautics – Kites – Airplane type

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

active

06290179

ABSTRACT:

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to kites and methods of repairing kites and more particularly to scale model airplane kites, and more specifically, the kites in this invention are made of reinforced STYROFOAM, an expanded rigid polystyrene plastic foam material, are easy to repair, and are a substantially to-scale representation of the silhouette of the actual airplanes.
The making of kites in various shapes is well known and is disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,516 issued to Wheat et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,344 issued to Thomas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,816 issued to Acosta, U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,283 issued to DeYarman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,204 issued to Wheat et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,057 issued to Stratton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,354 issued to Sterba, U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,626 issued to Andrews, U.S. Pat. No. 2,779,553 issued to Troxell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,154 issued to Dauwe, U.S. Pat. No. 2,593,979 issued to Calhoun, U.S. Pat. No. 2,750,136 issued to Stracke, Jr., and U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,702 issued to Briggs.
More particularly, Wheat et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,204, and Wheat et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,516, disclose captive airfoil apparatus. The Wheat '204 patent discloses a captive airfoil preferably of a high lift, high drag design such as a vintage aircraft of the 1910-1930 era. The captive airfoil is tethered by two tether lines each attached to one of the wings at a point near the outer end thereof and spaced relative to one another at about 60-90 degrees. By tethering the airfoil in this manner, the need for a stabilizing kite tail is eliminated. The Wheat '516 patent discloses a method for using a high lift, high drag airfoil on both the lifting wings and the horizontal stabilizer of an airfoil in order to increase the stability of the aircraft at low airspeeds without the use of a stabilizing kite tail. This allows for the airfoil to be flown with a single tether line attached to the nose of the aircraft.
Thomas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,344, discloses an airplane kite shaped to generally resemble a jet powered airplane, formed of a lightweight plastic foam material, having a fuselage and vertical stabilizer shaped to resemble the side view of a jet airplane, and a wing and horizontal stabilizer shaped to represent the swept back wings of a jet airplane. The Thomas '344 kite is not a scale representation of an actual airplane because the horizontal and vertical stabilizers are enlarged relative to the normal dimensions of actual jet powered aircraft and the stabilizers and wing are repositioned from that of the original aircraft to provide lift and flight stability when flown from a tether line attached behind the wings of the kite.
Sterba, U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,354, discloses a non-scale toy airplane or glider made of balsa wood and including a U-shaped metal or plastic bracket with laterally projecting lugs on the upper ends of the bracket, an elongated lengthwise wing receiving slot, a spring wire bale for attaching a tether, adhesive tape for joining the wings and elevators, and a transparent plastic canopy. The bracket is used as a weight to stabilize the toy airplane and to provide a mounting area for the tether line.
Andrews, U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,626, Dauwe, U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,154, Acosta, U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,816, and Stratton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,057, disclose airplane kites or gliders including a skeletal frame or support frame covered at least in part by a lightweight, flexible sheet material such as paper or plastic. Andrews '626 is directed to a generally plane shaped traditional kite resembling but not modeling a swept wing aeroplane. Dauwe '154 is directed to a captive glider with a hingible wing connection to vary the direction of the flight. The Acosta '916 kite includes an arrow shaped body formed of styrene or air-inflated fuselage-shaped plastic cushion. Stratton '057 is directed to a non-scale kite designed to resemble a Nieuport biplane of World War I.
Briggs, U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,702, discloses a Pegasus shaped kite having a fuselage including a reinforcing wire. This wire is bent to extend throughout the fuselage and includes a loop for attaching the kite to a string or tethering line.
Calhoun, U.S. Pat. No. 2,593,979, discloses a tethered toy in the general shape of an airplane which has a plastic fuselage covered with a silver coating and a wing which rotates about a wire strut support.
Although prior art patents disclose various forms of kites, there exists the need for a flyable scale model airplane kite representing the horizontal and vertical silhouette of actual airplanes, which is easy to fly, sturdy in construction, and easily repairable, an inexpensive scale model kite with realistic markings, a kite which is easily repaired, a kite with reinforcing members, rods, dowels, pegs, pins, or skewers at stress points, a kite with a variable tether attachment point to adapt for varying wind conditions, and an improved airplane kite which is of scale form and is sufficiently rigid to withstand the normal wear and tear associated with the flying of kites in low to high wind conditions.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a flyable scale model kite representing the horizontal and vertical silhouette of an actual airplane, which is easy to fly, sturdy in construction, and easily repairable. Because it is more enjoyable to fly an actual scale rendition of a real airplane, there is provided an inexpensive scale model kite with realistic markings. Because airplane kites can be damaged when the kite crashes into another kite, the ground or other object, there is provided a kite which is easily repaired. Because kites flown in high winds are subjected to high stress forces, there is provided a kite with reinforcing members, rods, dowels, pegs, pins, or skewers at stress points. Furthermore, due to the variations in wind conditions on any particular day, there is provided a kite with a variable tether attachment point to adapt for the varying wind conditions. Also, there is provided an improved airplane kite which is of scale form and is sufficiently rigid to withstand the normal wear and tear associated with the flying of kites in low to high wind conditions.
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved scale model airplane kite is made of STYROFOAM, an expanded rigid polystyrene plastic foam, and has reinforcing members, rods, dowels, pegs, pins, skewers, or the like embedded in the foam at stress points and oriented to counteract stress forces. These kites are lightweight and can withstand a 15 mph wind. The kites are easy to repair by using more pegs and glue at the fracture site. The multiple tether attachment holes are reinforced with a plastic tube and balsa wood to prevent the string from coming through the foam and allow the flyer to adjust for different wind velocities. In accordance with one embodiment, the kite is formed of half-inch thick bead foam which is either substantially rectangular in cross-section, or the shape of an airfoil, and is cut in plan view to represent a scale rendition of an actual airplane such as a P-40, Zero, P-38, ME-109, FW190, Folker triplane, or the like. Also, the foam may be painted and plastic tails may be added to enhance the aesthetics thereof.
A principle object of the present invention is the provision of an airplane kite.
Another object of the present invention is a method of repairing an airplane kite.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved airplane kite and method.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a flyable scale model airplane kite representing the horizontal and vertical silhouette of actual airplanes.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a flyable scale model airplane kite which is easy to fly, sturdy in construction, easily repaired, relatively ine

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