US3552690A

US3552690A - Kite control device

Info

Publication number: US3552690A
Application number: US733615A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd S Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-05-31
Filing date: 1968-05-31
Publication date: 1971-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-05

Abstract

A kite provided with a control device attached to the conventional vertical stick and horizontal cross bow of the kite by strings or cords. This device is provided with an elongated slot for receiving a ring slidable therein. The kite towline is attached to this ring. The kite may be maneuvered and the direction of movement or flight thereof may be changed by momentarily relaxing the tension on the towline so that the ring slides from one end of the slot to the other.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Lloyd S. Turner 15 E. Main St., Los Gatos, Calif. 95030 [21] App1 .No. 733,615 {22] Filed May 31,1968 [45] Patented Jan. 5, 1971 [54] KlTE CONTROL DEVICE 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

52 us. 01 244/155 [51] Int. Cl B64c 31/06, A63h 27/08 [50] Field of Search 244/155, 154, 153

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,613.894 10/1952 Howard 244/155 2,613,895 10/1952 Howard 244/155 3,079,116 2/1963 Trimble 244/154 3,366,354 1/1968 Sterba 244/154 FOREIGN PATENTS 629,587 8/1927 France 244/153 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer A!!0rney-Allen and Chromy ABSTRACT: A kite provided with a control device attached PATENTEUJAN 5m 3552.690

PIC-3.6

' INVENTOR, LLOYD S. TURNER KITE CONTROL DEVICE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to flying kites in general, and more particularly, to a device for attaching the towline to the kite whereby the flight thereof may be maneuvered and controlled.

An object of this invention is toprovide an improved kite control whereby the flight of the kite may be controlled by the use of a single towline.

Another object of this invention is'to provide an improved kite control that is simple and easy to manufacture and may be readily installed on a kite without using tools.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device attached to a kite which permits the operator of the kite to control the flight thereof from the ground I by use of only one towline and which allows the operator to, fly the kite through various maneuvers and also control the direction of flight thereof.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which'it'relates from the following specification, claims, and drawings. 7

In accordance with this invention there is provided an improved kite control device of simple construction which may be efficiently manufactured in quantity and which is readily adapted for use on various kites of conventional construction. This device comprises an elongated member of plastic, metal, wood or the like having a slot and-also having holes at the ends thereof to which the strings leading to the ends of the crossbow of the kite are adapted to be attached. This device also has a hole located about in the center thereof to which the plastic, metal or the like is slidable in the slot and the single other, after which the direction of flight of the kite may be changed upon resuming tension on the string.

Further details of this invention will. be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing in which, briefly:

FIG. 1 is a view of a kite employing this invention, said kite being shown flying in the direction to the right;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the position assumed by the kite after flying, as shown in FIG. 1, when tension on the towline is momentarily relaxed and the ring is shown changing position in the slot in preparation to changing the. direction of the kite;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the direction of flight of the .kite changed after normal tension is again applied to the kite towline following the kite maneuver shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the control device of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the control device showing inserts adapted to be positioned in the'slot thereof to modify the length or position thereof; and g FIG. 6 is a side view of the device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to the drawing in detaiLreference numeral 10 designates a kite which may be of conventional construction provided with a body 11 of sheet material such as paper, cloth, plastic or the like. The sheet material is held in extended position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of thedrawing by a pair of cross members (not shown) to which the strings or cards '12 v shown in FIG. 4, and cords 13 are attached substantially to the 75 upper center of the device 14 in thelioleprovidedthereto.'

The device 14 is also provided with an elongated slot 15 for receiving the ring 16 which may be made of metal, plastic or similar material, and to which the tow line 17 is attached. In order to align the control device and adjust its sensitivity, the length and relative position of the slot 15 may be changed. if desired, by providing the small bolts 18 which are clamped therein, as shown in broken outline in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The device 14 and ring 16 associated therewith are used to manipulate and maneuver the kite during flight, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The kite is made to fly to the right or left of the wind direction by changing the relationship between the point of pull of the towline and the center of resistance of the face of the kite. The kite is flying to the right, as shown in FIG. I and indicated by the arrow 19, when the ring 16 is in the right hand end of the slot 15 and towline 17 is under tension. When it is desired to have the kite fly to the left, as shown in FIG. 3 and indicated by the arrow 20, pull on the towline 17 is let up slightly so that the kite falls off to a somewhat horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 2. This permits the ring 16 to slide into the left hand end of the slot I5 and if, atthis time, pull is resumed onthe towline 17, then the kite will be flying in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow 20, as shown in FIG. 3, due tothe reversed relationship between the point of pull and the center of resistance of the kite.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be' understood that theinvention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that the scope thereof-should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

Iclaim:

1. In a kite'control device adaptedfor use with a single kite towline whereby the direction of flight of the kite and other maneuvers of the kite may be controlled and effected, the combination comprising a kite having crossmembers, a control device of generally elongated configurationhaving an elongated slot substantially aligned with the length thereof, means attaching said device to the crossmembers of said kite so that said slot is substantially aligned with one of said crossmembers, said control device including means slidable in said slot, 3 towlineattached to said slidable means, said slidable means being adapted to shift its position in said slot substantially in alignment with said one ofsa'id crossmembers when tension on said towline is relaxed a predetermined amount so that the relative position of said slidable means with the center of wind resistance of said kite is changed andthe direction of flight of said kite is thus changed whenapplica'tion of tension on said towline is resumed.

2. In a kite control device adapted for use with a single kite towline whereby the direction of flight of the kite and other" maneuversof the kite can be controlled and effected, the

combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in' that said means attaching said deviceto the crossmembers of the kite comprises cords attachingtherespective ends of said control deviceto opposite ends of one of said crossmembers,

and Cards attached substantially to the center of said control device, said last mentioned cords being attached to the other of the crossmembers of said kite.

that one of thecrossmembers of said kite is substantially shorter. than the other of said crossmembers and 'said'means attaching'said device to said shorter, crossmember comprises cords of equal length attached to therespective ends of said control device and to the respective ends of the shorter of said crossmembers whereby a tensionforce normal to said shorter crossmember applied at one end of said slot of said generally 7 elongated control device adjacent-saidrioint of attachment of one of said equal length cords has the effect of offsettingthe point of application'of said tension force relative to said shorter crossmember of said kite byefiectivelych'anging,the

7 length of the other of said cords by the addition of the length of said control device.

4. In a kite control device adapted for use with a single kite towline whereby the direction of flight of the kite and other maneuvers of the kite may be controlled and effected, the combination as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that said slidable means comprises a ring positioned in said elongated slot. 7

5. In a kite control device adapted for use with a single kite towline whereby the direction of flight of the kite and other maneuvers of the kite may be controlled and effected, the combination as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that said slidable means comprisesa ring positioned in said elongated slot and said slot is provided with means whereby the length of said slot is adjustable.

6. In a kite which is adaptedto be maneuvered, the combination comprising a kite body having horizontal and vertical members attached thereto, cords attached to said members. a towline, means attaching said towline to the cord which is attached to said horizontal member, said attaching means including a member that is slidably movable with respect to said last mentioned cord, said last mentioned member also being movable in a direction substantially aligned with said horizontal member, means limiting the slidable motion of said last mentioned member, said slidable member being adapted to shift its position with respect to said last mentioned cord in a direction substantially in alignment with said horizontal member when tension on said towline is relaxed to a predetermined amount so that the relative position of said slidable member with the center of wind resistance of said kite is changed and the direction of flight of said kite body is thus changed when application of tension on said towline is resumed.

Claims

1. In a kite control device adapted for use with a single kite towline whereby the direction of flight of the kite and other maneuvers of the kite may be controlled and effected, the combination comprising a kite having crossmembers, a control device of generally elongated configuration having an elongated slot substantially aligned with the length thereof, means attaching said device to the crossmembers of said kite so that said slot is substantially aligned with one of said crossmembers, said control device including means slidable in said slot, a towline attached to said slidable means, said slidable means being adapted to shift its position in said slot substantially in alignment with said one of said crossmembers when tension on said towline is relaxed a predetermined amount so that the relative position of said slidable means with the center of wind resistance of said kite is changed and the direction of flight of said kite is thus changed when application of tension on said towline is resumed.

2. In a kite control device adapted for use with a single kite towline whereby the direction Of flight of the kite and other maneuvers of the kite can be controlled and effected, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means attaching said device to the crossmembers of the kite comprises cords attaching the respective ends of said control device to opposite ends of one of said crossmembers, and cords attached substantially to the center of said control device, said last mentioned cords being attached to the other of the crossmembers of said kite.

3. In a kite control device adapted for use with a single kite towline whereby the direction of flight of the kite and other maneuvers of the kite may be controlled and effected, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that one of the crossmembers of said kite is substantially shorter than the other of said crossmembers and said means attaching said device to said shorter crossmember comprises cords of equal length attached to the respective ends of said control device and to the respective ends of the shorter of said crossmembers whereby a tension force normal to said shorter crossmember applied at one end of said slot of said generally elongated control device adjacent said point of attachment of one of said equal length cords has the effect of offsetting the point of application of said tension force relative to said shorter crossmember of said kite by effectively changing the length of the other of said cords by the addition of the length of said control device.

4. In a kite control device adapted for use with a single kite towline whereby the direction of flight of the kite and other maneuvers of the kite may be controlled and effected, the combination as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that said slidable means comprises a ring positioned in said elongated slot.

5. In a kite control device adapted for use with a single kite towline whereby the direction of flight of the kite and other maneuvers of the kite may be controlled and effected, the combination as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that said slidable means comprises a ring positioned in said elongated slot and said slot is provided with means whereby the length of said slot is adjustable.

6. In a kite which is adapted to be maneuvered, the combination comprising a kite body having horizontal and vertical members attached thereto, cords attached to said members, a towline, means attaching said towline to the cord which is attached to said horizontal member, said attaching means including a member that is slidably movable with respect to said last mentioned cord, said last mentioned member also being movable in a direction substantially aligned with said horizontal member, means limiting the slidable motion of said last mentioned member, said slidable member being adapted to shift its position with respect to said last mentioned cord in a direction substantially in alignment with said horizontal member when tension on said towline is relaxed to a predetermined amount so that the relative position of said slidable member with the center of wind resistance of said kite is changed and the direction of flight of said kite body is thus changed when application of tension on said towline is resumed.