US2565365A - Kite construction - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1951 s. D. souLb ETAL KITE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25, 1950 FIG. I.

INVENTORS SHELDOIVD- GQULD ALBERT 60040 BY ATTbRNEY- Patented Aug. 21 195i FICE CONSTRUCTiON Sheldon D. Gould and Albert Gould,

Brooklyn, N. Y-

Application January 25, 1950, Serial No. 140,448

2 Claims;

7 This invention relates ta kites and to kite construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved form of kite and kite construe tion by means of which ii-ii-pr'oved strength, and

qualities are achieved;

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved term or kite construction in which the framework includes fiexime main frame-elements the ends of which are intercc'iii netted by tensile members, and in which the frame thus defined is overlaid by means of a filmy sheet material light in Weight, substantially impermeable to air, and of such nature that it is easily flexed and subjected to tensile strains across the same in any direction, Without being ruptured under such influences.

A further object of the invention is to prevlde a novel and improvedform-of kite construction in which the framework and tensile cables defining, the outline area of the kite, are covered with a film of sheet material which is of relatively small thickness on the order of less than about 0.003 inch'thick, and which is of such a nature that margina1 areas thereof, when folded over and brought into contact with contiguous portions thereof, may be caused t6 adhere together by means of theapplication ofheat thereto, or sealed electronically.-

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved kite construction whereby a kite is formed, which is simple in design, and inexpensive to manufacture,-. while retaining lightness ofweight and ruggedness in use.

other objects and advantages of the intention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a front face view of our novel and improved kite as assembled.

Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the kite shown in Fig. 1, as assembled.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the kite.

Kites as heretofore manufactured for use by the general public and by other, have been commonly characterized by a considerable degree of inherent fragility, so that, when subjected to even rather mild stresses, in shipping, in storage, and during assembly, they have been easily damaged. Such kite must usually be made at low cost, to keep the sellin price down, and yet must be sufficiently sturdy to withstand the rigors imposed upon them in use, and also prior 2 thereto. The present application discloses means for avoiding these and other well known disadvantages of other kite constructions.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, our improved kite I0 includes a frame formed of main frame elements such as the longitudinal rib member I6; which extends from top to the bottom of the kite, and the transverse rib member II which overlies the inter mediate portion of the longitudinal rib member l6, and extends across the same at substantially a right angle to delineate the breadth of the kite; These rib members may be made of any suitable light weight material, such as light wood strips, light metal rods, light tubing, plastic materials, or other suitable materials having sufiioient inherent strength for the purpose intended. A clamp member '8 may be secured around both rib members 5 and H at the loca-' tion where they cross over each other, as seen best in Fig. 2, to hold them together in the desired relationship. The clamp member 8 may be made of metal or other suitable material, of sufficient strength to hold the members together.

Notches are cut or formed in the outer ends 9' and 1 of the respective kite frame ribs l6 and I1, to receive the peripheral strut cords 25, which may be in one continuous length, and which interconnectthe outer ends 9 of the trans-- verse bow rib l1 with the top and bottom ends- I of the longitudinal main rib l 6. The strut cords 25 are'maintained under sufiicient tension so as to not only delineate the quadrilateral outline of the kite frame, but also to aid in maintaining the ribs l6 and I! in their relative angular position, for uniform flight.

A wing fabric II is then placed over the entire kite frame including the ribs l6 and I! and the peripheral strut cord 25, being folded inwardly as at its marginal portions l8, I9, 20 and 2| shown best in Fig. 2, to form elongated passageways for the strut cords 25 which are thereby contained in the passageways. We prefer to use for this wing fabric II, a plastic sheeting or film such as the type commonly known as Vinylite plastic, and which is capable of having overlying portions thereof joined or seamed together by the mere application of heat thereto while in mutual contact. Such material may be selected so that it is suihciently light in weight, yet suitably strong for the purpose intended, and has 'suiiicient elasticity so as to yield where necessary to take up the stresses and strains incident to a flying kite.

Having folded over the marginal areas [8, I9, 20, and 2| upon themselves, we then apply heat thereto to weld the resultant seam, allowing a small portion to remain unheated through which the cords 25 pass. These heated marginal areas remain permanently sealed as described, once the heat has been removed, and are quite strong, being capable of taking up a great many stresses to which the kite is subjected. At the same time, the plastic vinylite sheeting fabric H has sufficient flexibility and resilience for the purpose.

At those portions where the plastic sheeting fabric would overlie the corners 1 and 9 of the main frame ribs 16 and II, we cut it away as at l2, l3, l4 and i5, thecut out portions thus permitting the ends of each of the strut cord passageways to remain open. We may also provide reinforcing tabs 30 of the same plastic vinylite sheeting material as the main fabric H, which are placed against the under surface Ila of the main fabric H, as seen in Fig. 2, and sealed thereto by means of application of heat. These reinforcements are disposed above and below the intersection 8 of the main ribs.

Holes 32 are punched through the reinforcing tabs 30 and the underlying main fabric H, to receive the upper and lower ends 36 and 38 of the bridle cord 34, which extend through the holes 32 and encircle the underlying portions of the main longitudinal rib I6 as seen in Fig. 2, being secured thereto by knotting or otherwise. A bowstring, not shown, may be employed to additionally interconnect the ends 9 of the lateral rib I1, and it may be placed under tension suificient to bow the rib l1, and the intermediate portion of the kite fabric ll overlying the same. We have found it preferable to use plastic Vinylite fabric sheeting H having a thickness of less than about 0.003 inch, 2. thickness such for example as 0.002 inch being entirely suitable. This makes it light in weight, yet strong enough to take the stresses of heavy winds, and sudden gusts, and its inherent resilience enables it to stretch as needed. The use of heat sealing dispenses with the added weight of adhesives or pastes, and the weight of stitching cord when such might be used in enclosing the cords 25.

The kite string is of course tied to an intermediate portion of the bridle cord 34, as is well known, when flying the kite. When flying, the main fabric H can expand without tearing.

Although we have described our invention in specific terms, it will be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials 4 and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. Kite construction comprising a plurality of main frame ribs disposed in mutually intersecting arrangement, strut cord means interconnecting the outer ends of all said main frame ribs and thus delineating the main frame'outline, a main fabric formed of stretchable plastic vinylite sheeting having a thickness of less than about 0.003 inch, said main fabric material overlying said main frame ribs and extending across said strut cord means interconnecting said rib ends, marginal areas of said main fabric being folded back upon themselves to form strut cord passageways receiving said strut cords, said folded back portions of said fabric being fused to said main fabric area to maintain said strut cord captive in said passageways, the corners of said main fabric be ng cut away at the corners of said main frame, allowing the ends of said strut cord passageways to remain open near such corners, bridle cord receiving openings in said main fabric sheeting material above and below the intersection of said main frame ribs, reinforcing members surrounding said openings.

2. The kite construction according to claim 1, wherein said main fabric has a uniform thickness of about 0.002 inch, and in which the entire construction is free from use of adhesive materials or pastes.

' SHELDON D. GOULD.

ALBERT GOULD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,180,224 Ayling Apr. 18, 1916 1,452,956 Cash Apr. 24, 1923 1,465,040 Holtvoigt Aug. '14, 1923 1,912,808 Watson June 6, 1933 2,328,646 Izard Sept. 7, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES

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