Aeronautics and astronautics – Kites – Accessories
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2001-08-14
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Kites
Accessories
C244S15300R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273369
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to traction kites generally. In particular, this invention describes an improved kite control bar having a quick release mechanism intended to facilitate kite related sports such as the new sport of kitesurfing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, new designs of kites and related equipment have helped make feasible a new sport called, alternatively, kitesurfing, kiteboarding, or flysurfing. The sport, illustrated in
FIG. 1
, involves a sailor manipulating a large kite to power a surfboard style flotation device. The kites being used for this sport are capable of generating large forces making it desirable for the kite sailor to have a means to quickly de-power, or release, the kite under specific circumstances, for convenience and well as sailor safety.
Because the kites employ a plurality of long lines, the tasks of breaking down, stowage, and setting up the kites tend to be long and tedious. Methods for facilitating the winding and stowage of kite lines are therefore also desirable and sought after by kitesurfers.
There are available a number of known systems for controlling and de-powering kites and for stowage of kite lines. Two prior art systems best known and most widely used by kitesurfers are described in detail below. All such prior art control and quick release systems, and the functional aspects of the control bars used by kite sailors to control and de-power kites, have specific known limitations. Such limitations include, but are not limited to, long tether lines that can become entangled and/or cause injury, risk of hand injury due to proximity of hands to kite leads and lines, inadequate hardware for efficient kite lead and line stowage, quick release systems which are difficult to activate and/or perform in an unreliable manner, and quick release systems which require extensive time and effort to re-assemble prior to kite reIs
5
deployment.
Presently available control bars, for example, connect directly to kite leads exposing the sailor's hands to risk of injury. These control bars also lack utilitarian winding surfaces that promote quick and reliable stowage of kite leads and kite lines, avoiding problematic tangling of lines between uses. Other available quick release systems, like those employing snap shackles, are unreliable, inefficient, and require the sailor to swim some distance after release to re-engage the kite lead with the control bar and resume sailing.
Moreover, prior art systems that attempt to address some of these limitations do so by combining a number of separate components, rendering the completed article complex and expensive to manufacture.
Accordingly, among the primary objects of the present invention are to provide an improved control bar and quick release system which minimizes the risk of line entanglement and sailor injury; enhances the sailor's ability to control the kite; facilitates quick release and de-powering of the kite as well as easy re-deployment of the kite after release; promotes the efficient winding and stowage of kite leads and lines; and is easy and inexpensive to manufacture relative to presently available kite control and quick release systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are accomplished in the present invention, an improved control and quick release system to be employed with traction kites including kites used to power surfboarders, skiers, skateboarders and other mobile craft. According to a preferred embodiment, the improved control bar is comprised of a light weight hollow tube capped at each end by symmetrical, elongated end fittings. The end fittings project kiteward, away from the sailor and each includes ridges and a concave winding surface to accommodate wound and stored kite leads and lines. A kite lead is secured to the distal aspect of each kite fitting which leads are, in turn, secured to kite lines that connect to the kite.
Also according to the system of the present invention is an improved quick release means comprising an aperture formed within one of the end fittings or otherwise mounted at one end of the control bar, a stop, and a release tether with handle. One of the two kite leads is by passed through the aperture before being attached to the tether. The stop, secured to the lead and/or tether at a point between the aperture and release handle, serves to secure the lead to the control bar and prevents the tether from being pulled through the aperture while the kite is underway. The sailor can quickly release the force of the kite, i.e. de-power the kite, by releasing the control bar while restraining the tethered handle. The kite lead opposite the tethered lead flies free, rotating the control bar and allowing the bar to slide along the tethered lead towards the kite. The kite rotates, spills its wind, and drifts downward to the water surface. Once depowered, the sailor can easily regain control of the bar, and redeploy the kite, with minimal effort.
The present invention may be employed with kites having two or more lines and with variously shaped control bars, as for example, control bars configured to exhibit a handlebar shape. The end fittings may also be varied to provide alternatively configured concave winding surfaces having different advantages.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
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patent: 5054718 (1991-10-01), Hull et al.
patent: 5064150 (1991-11-01), Prouty
patent: 5127612 (1992-07-01), Onstott
patent: 5180123 (1993-01-01), Lin
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Nishimura Edwin T.
Nishimura Thomas G.
Eldred J. Woodrow
Nishimura Edwin T.
Reiss Seth M.
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