FR2822998A1 - Back pack kite comprises fabric tube and mast with banner worn in sporting or leisure activities - Google Patents

Abstract

The back pack kite, worn during sporting or leisure activities, consists of a waistcoat or back pack (1, 2) supporting a circular frame (6) carrying a tube of fabric (10) and a telescopic mast (5) with a banner (7), designed to be deployed as the wearer moves along. The fabric tube can be fastened to the circular frame by rings of hook and loop fabric or a clip-on ring, and the banner has rings (8) for setting is at different heights. The back pack can be in the form of a mesh bag decorated with eyes and amouth, and the fabric tube can be made, for instance, in the shape of an elephant's head.

Description

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 The present invention is intended for a leisure activity, or for various applications in the sports environment and in the advertising field.

It includes: a support element such as a backpack or life jacket, on which are fixed: a vertical pole which supports a banner, and a rigid circle in which a tubular fabric is wound, which floats in the wind behind the user, when traveling. The device thus constitutes a "dorsal kite".

The technique uses the elements used in the construction of kites, windsurfers and fishing rod structures: Carbon rods or composite materials, rigid plastics, aluminum elements and assembly parts, as well as foams and fabrics for flexible elements.

 This "back kite" device is intended to be worn by people on the move (adults or children) during various sports activities: Skiing, water skiing, cycling, skating, rollerblading, horse riding, etc. . which all involve a search for speed: The device thus makes it possible to float the banner above you, which can also represent a distinctive sign, group sign, team formation, advertising sign, and a safety element. by its location vis-à-vis other users, when used on public roads.

With speed, it also makes it possible to float the circle of dorsal tissue, a little like wind indicator tubes, on aerodromes, but with very variable fabrics and shapes, coming from the most free inventiveness: air rushing into the circle swells the fabric, more or less closed at its end, which can also lead to advertising forms (bottles of drink, animal head, bottles, etc ...)
We can also conceive groups of users for an aesthetic or spectacle purpose, notably in skiing, skating or horse riding, when the movements in a large and reserved space, allow a play of moving forms between the banners and the tubes of fabric which float back.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Practical realization:
The device includes:
1) A backpack or vest element, which allows the subject to fix the elements of the device on his back. It will vary in size, depending on the size and age of the subject, and adjustable according to whether he wears clothes wherever he is shirtless.

Figure 1 attached shows different possible forms:
Form (A) is of the windsurfing harness type,
The backpack type (B),
Form (C) type life jacket.

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All these forms include common elements ensuring good support: (figure 1) Padded straps (1), - A back element (2) in foam and fabric, on which a net (in (15) can be fixed on the figure 3), thus ensuring a backpack function.

 - Lugs with adjustable straps in length, in (3) at the pelvis and in (4) at the chest.

 In form (A), harness type, the V-shaped fixing (4) goes under the fixing (3), so that once adjusted, there is only one loop to tighten to ensure a good maintenance of the device.

 In the form (B), type backpack, the fixing (3) would be theoretically sufficient, but the straps may move in the movements of the arms, and a joining of the straps in (4), even by simple strip scratch, seems preferable; (or crossing straps on the chest).

 In form (C), type of life jacket, two to three fastenings with adjustable tightening loops are required, depending on the size of the life jacket.

 Additional foam padding can be provided, when used in a nautical environment, to improve buoyancy.

 All these elements use foam covered with fabric, adjustable plastic straps and loops and scratch bands already widely available on the market.

2) The clean part of the device comprises, as seen in Figures (2) and (3), back views, and in Figure (4), front view: - The association of a pole, if telescopic, fishing rod type (5) - which is fixed in (a) and (b) on the circular frame (6)
The pole (5) forms the support for the fabric banner (7), which is threaded along the stem. We can foresee the piercing of rings (8) which allow the fixing of the fabric on the frame (6) using Velcro strips or small bungee cords (9). Intermediate rings allow to make "reef turns", as in navigation, and to reduce the canvas by retracting the mast (5) when the wind resistance seems too strong, or when it is necessary to reduce its length because obstacles.

 The fixing of the pole (5) in (a) and (b) on the frame (6) can be done by welding, by a tab forming 2 nested 8 rings, or any other method of fixing two rigid tubular elements at 900.

 The frame (6) will preferably be circular or oval, which represents the simplest form to put into practice, but any other form, more fanciful, is also possible.

 The circular shape allows the wind to rush in, especially at the top and on the sides and to inflate the fabric (10), which is fixed by winding around its periphery using Velcro strips, except at the points (a ), (b) and (c) where

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 it will be notched.

These scratch strips allow you to remove this fabric so that you can replace it with another pattern or another shape.

 The fabric tube (10) can also be wound on a second rigid ring, which will be clipped onto the frame (6), always for the purpose of easy fabric change.

 The oval shape of the element (6) may be preferable in the event of strong wind resistance, or in nautical use, to limit the water absorption in the event of a fall.

 This element (6), supporting the mast (5) and the fabric (10), will be fixed by fasteners (11), on the backpack part (1 & 2), at the points (c).

Four fixing points (Figure 2) or three (Figure 3) can be provided.

Any method of attachment can be used, by direct sewing, by sewn strap, riveting, etc.

However, it may be useful to provide a pad (12) to raise the binding, especially if the mast (5) is fixed to the frame (6) in an internal situation, in which case it would risk pressing on the back. This does not happen if the mast (5) is fixed in an external position relative to the frame (6).

 In the same spirit, the use for the fasteners (11) of fabric bands or straps encircling the frame (6) and sewn to the "backpack" allows a certain degree of spacing of this frame and therefore a better possibility for air to rush into the fabric tube (10).

 In Figure (3) the device is completed by a net (15), stretched over the "backpack" and which allows transport use, and in particular to store the fabrics of the oriflamme (7) and the circular tube (10), when they cause, for example, too much wind resistance.

 The figure (5) describes the possibilities of shape of the fabric tube (10) fixed to the frame (6): - This fabric tube can have a more open end, in case of movement at high speed (drawing A ).

 - Conversely, a lighter fabric and a more closed shape, like that of the elephant head shown in drawing (B), with an orifice at the end of the proboscis, allows a faster swelling of the structure, and a proboscis which oscillates with the breath of the wind.

 * The proboscis may have a zipper (13) along its length which allows it to be opened in the event of too strong wind resistance.

 * Conversely, it may include a rope (14), passing over the shoulder of the user, and which, in the event of traction, closes the end of the proboscis, which constitutes an airbrake.

 Figure (5) also shows in (C) a variant of the device in which several masts (5) can be fixed to the frame (6) so as to modify the visual effect.

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 Figure (5) shows in (D) the possibility of fixing eyes and a mouth on the net (15), to constitute a decorative element when using a tubular fabric (10) of open shape and a vision of the "back kite" from the rear.

Claims (9)

 1) The dorsal kite is a device which, attached to the back of a person on the move, by means of a vest or backpack (1 & 2), makes it possible to float fabric elements in the wind : it is characterized in that are fixed to the backpack: a circular frame (6) supporting a fabric tube (10) and a mast (telescopic) (5) supporting a banner (7).  2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fabric tube (10) is fixed to the frame (6) by rings of Velcro fabric or a ringed circular frame. allowing easy tissue change.  3) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that one (or more) masts (5), which can be telescopic, are fixed on the frame (6) and support one (or more) flags in the form of a banner (7).  4) Device according to claims 1 & 3, characterized in that each oriflamme (7) is pierced with rings (8), allowing it to be adjusted to different heights, using the fixing by strip of scratch or bungee cords (9) 5) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that on the backpack (1 & 2) can be fixed a transport net (15) decorated with two eyes and a mouth.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fabric tube (10) can adopt the shape of an elephant, the trunk of which constitutes the element for evacuating the air.  7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fabric tube (10) may include a zipper (13), the opening of which makes it possible to increase the evacuation of air.  8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fabric tube (10) may include a return cord (14), joining the front of the backpack (1 & 2 ) over the shoulder and the traction of which closes the end of the tube (10) and makes airbrake. <Desc / Clms Page number 6>  11) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fabric tube (10) may include a return cord (14), joining the front of the backpack (1 & 2) by over the shoulder and the traction of which closes the end of the tube (10) and makes airbrake.