US3612450A

US3612450A - Foldable kite

Info

Publication number: US3612450A
Application number: US857693A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Sinka
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-09-15
Filing date: 1969-09-15
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12

Abstract

Kite with demountable framework of radial frame members secured in slots of a center disc. Cap screwed on core of disc clamps inner ends of frame members in disc. Lifting element with pockets accepting outer ends of frame members; when frame members assembled tightening of cap stretches lifting element taut on demountable framework.

Description

United States Patent Inventor John Sinka 3823 East Hasting, North Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada App]. No 857,693 Filed Sept. 15, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 FOLDABLE KlTE 5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 244/153 Int. Cl B64c 31/06 Field of Search 244/ 153, 154, 155

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 274,340 3/1883 Kelly 244/153 2,484,096 10/1949 Kay 244/153 2,524,500 10/1950 Whitehurst 244/153 2,788,945 4/1957 Bedford 244/153 3,074,672 1/1963 l-lanrahan, Jr. 244/153 3,327,975 6/1967 Vaughan 244/153 FOREIGN PATENTS 126,195 12/1901 Germany 244/153 442,109 7/1925 Germany 244/153 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Sauberer Attorney-Lyle G. Trorey ABSTRACT: Kite with demountable framework of radial frame members secured in slots of a center disc. Cap screwed on core of disc clamps inner ends of frame members in disc. Lifting element with pockets accepting outer ends of frame members; when frame members assembled tightening of cap stretches lifting element taut on demountable framework.

PATENTEU 02mm $612,450

SHEET 2 UF 2 John Sinkzl,

Invcr y Lyle Troruy,

Agent FOLDABLE KITE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to kites, and particularly to a kite that can be assembled and disassembled.

2. Prior Art Kites are said to have been invented by Archytas of Tarentum (Tarento) in the fourth century B.C. Kites have lifting elements of various shapes; diamond, triangular with a semicircular head, circular, and polygonal, shapes being well known. Nearly all kiteshave a pendulous tail for balancing purposes. The present invention relates to kites which can be disassembled and reassembled. Some known kites of this kind are bulky, are difi'rcult to assemble and disassemble, and are prone to damage even when not in use.

US. Pat. No. 3,327,975 issued to Vaughan in 1967 teaches a kite frame assembly that can be utilized with lifting elements of various shapes, and includes a center disc connecting member. After repeated assembly and disassembly, due to wear and/or distortion the center disc no longer holds frame members rigidly. Thus the kite tends to have an excessively flexible lifting element after repeated assembly and disassembly, this causes instability in flight. Nevertheless the Vaughan central disc construction marks advance in the art permitting many assemblies and disassemblies before becoming inoperative from intolerable instability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention teaches a demountable framework for a kite, that is to say a framework which can be repeatedly assembled and disassembled. The framework has structure providing compensation for wear resulting from repeated assembly and disassembly so reducing disadvantages and difficulties as aforesaid.

A kite according to the present invention has a demountable framework including radial frame members releasably secured in a center disc. The disc has a core, with radial slots in which inner ends of the radial frame members are inserted. The core has a stiff base, a cap releasably secured to the core clamps the inner ends of the frame members when the cap is secured.

The kite has a lifting element with comer pockets accepting outer ends of the frame members which are of such length that, when the inner ends of the frame members are inserted in the slots and their outer ends inserted in the pockets, clamping as above stretches the lifting element taut.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of a kite according to the present invention as seen from below,

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the kite,

FIG. 3 is a section on 3-3 of FIG. 2, some parts not being shown in section,

FIG. 4 is a fragmented detail section on 4-4 of FIG. 2, some parts not being shown in section,

FIG. 5 is a fragmented plan as seen from 5-5 of FIG. 4, one frame member only being shown,

FIG. 6 is a fragmented perspective of a frame member,

FIG. 7 is a fragmented detail section on 7-7 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 is a fragmented section similar to FIG. 4, showing an alternative snapon means, some parts not being shown in section,

FIG. 9 is a fragmented detail of a portion of FIG. 8.

A detail description following, related to the drawings, gives exemplification of preferred embodiment of the invention which, however, is capable of expression in structure other than that particularly described and illustrated.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Description related to Figs. 1 through 7 In FIGS. 1 and 2 a kite 10 according to the invention is connected to a main line 11 by four rigging lines l2, l3, I4, 15, shown in broken outline in FIG. 1 and intersecting at a junction 16. The kite has a hexagonal lifting element 17 with upper and lower surfaces, and corners 18 through 23, a longitudinal axis of the kite being defined by a line joining the corners l8 and 21. The lifting element is of lightweight sheet material, as known in the art, and has a peripheral hem enclosing, as seen in FIG. 7 only, a reinforcing cord 17.1.

The kite is shown with frame members on the upper surface of the lifting element; they can be on the lower surface.

The lifting element is supported by six frame members 25 through 30 which are secured releasably in a center disc 24 as latter described. The frame members extend radially outwards from the center disc, outer ends being fitted into corner pockets later described.

The rigging lines 12, 13 and 14 are secured respectively adjacent the

comers

19, 18 and 23, and the line 15 is secured in the approximate midpoint of the frame member 28 at 15.1, as shown in FIG. I, to reduce bending due to lifting forces on the member 28. The lines 12 and 14 are of equal length and are secured around frame members near their outer ends. The lines 13 and 15 are of such length as to give a required angle of attack of the kite-lifting element. The

comers

22 and 20 serve as anchorage points for a bifurcated tail 36 which has two streamers 37 and 38 joined at 39 to form a single tail 40 of suitable length.

The frame member 25, FIG. 6, has inner and outer ends 25.1 and 25.2 of V-shape defined by pairs of sloping faces 31 and 32 converging to blunt edges 33 and 34 respectively, the edges being disposed at to each other as shown. The remaining five frame members are similar to the frame member 25. Each of the comers I8, 19, 20, 22 and 23 of the hexagonal lifting element has a small pocket, in FIG. 2 the pocket at the corner 18 being designated 41. The pocket is adapted to receive the outer end 25.2 of the frame member 25, the edge of which is positioned nicely within the pocket, the edge being blunted to reduce possibility of cutting the pocket. The description above applies to all of the pockets aforesaid, a frame member being positioned in each. For best results, each rigging line is secured to its respective comer by tying around the pocket while the pocket contains the outer end of its respective frame member. In this way, load from the rigging line is transferred directly to the frame member, reducing risk of tearing.

The corner 21 is at a tail, or lower, end of the axis, this comer has a pocket 42 longer than the pockets above, extending radially inwards from the comer beyond the point 15.1, so as to provide a larger area for load transmission. The pockets thus secure the lifting element to outer ends of the frame members. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the line 15 is tied around the frame member 28 with the pocket 42 sandwiched between the line and the member.

The inner end of each frame member is clamped in the center disc 24 FIG. 4 so forming a demountable framework for the kite, the framework being adapted to hold the lifting element taut. The center disc has three main components, namely a core 43, a screw cap 44, and a base 51 of stiff material secured to an underside of the core.

As seen in FIG. 5, the core has six equally spaced radially disposed slots 45 through 45.5. The slot 45 has parallel sidewalls 46 and a V-shaped inner end 47 complementing the V-shaped inner ends of the frame members (see FIG. 6) all of the slots being similarly shaped. The frame member 25 is shown inserted in the slot 45.1. Provision of V-shaped inner ends of slots to complement blunted V-shaped inner ends of frame members restricts rotation of the frame members.

As seen in FIG. 4, the cap has an internal thread 48 which screws on to an external thread 49 on the core, being thread means releasably securing the cap to the core. The cap has a hollow cylindrical rim 50 with an annular face 50.1 opposing the stiff base 51, secured to the core 43. When the frame elements are inserted in the slots 45 through 45.5, and the cap 44 is screwed onto the core portion, the frame members are clamped between the cap face 50.1 and the stiff base 51, forming a demountable framework assembly of frame members extending radially outwards from the center disc 24.

The frame members are thus cantilevered from the center disc, and looseness in the clamping can be reduced or eliminated by tightening the cap onto the core portion. After repeated assembly or disassembly, looseness above can occur due to wear and/or distortion of the center disc and/or frame members; and can thus be reduced or eliminated.

The frame members are of such length that, when their inner ends are inserted in the radial slots with their outer ends being received in the pockets, securing the cap as aforesaid stretches the lifting element taut. That is, each frame member has a length greater than the distance from slot to pocket. The frame members are thus held in the slots by two forces, namely the clamping effect between the face 50.1 and the base portion 51, and the urging inwards of the members due to the stretched lifting element.

OPERATION The kite is assembled by placing the outer end of each frame member in its corresponding corner pocket. Inner ends of the frame members are then sprung into the slots 45 through 45.1 sliding the edges along the vees until each frame member contacts the base 51. The sloping faces 31 of the frame members are urged into the V-shaped ends of the slots as before explained. The cap 44 is then screwed onto the core 43, clamping the frame members between the face 50.1 of the rim 50 and the base portion 51. The cap 44 is tightened. The rigging lines 12 through 15 are secured around the four pockets, enclosing the outer ends of the frame members. The kite is now assembled and ready for use. It is convenient to leave the rigging lines tied around the pockets when the kite is disassembled. Clearly the rigging lines pass through the lifting element in order to be secured around the frame members.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT Description of FIGS. 8 and 9 The kite is shown with a hexagonal lifting element, this being convenient for layout, it is to be understood that the lifting element can be almost any shape symmetrical about the longitudinal axis.

In FIG. 8, an alternative central disc generally 53 is shown, having a snap-on cap 54 of resilient material, and a core 55 to which a stiff base 56 is secured. The core has radial slots as described with reference to the core 43 in FIG. 5. In FIG. 8 the cap 54 is shown snapped in position urging the

frame members

26 and 29 against the base 56, the lifting element 57 being held taut against the base.

In this alternative, screw thread means of FIG. 4 are replaced by a snap-on cap and groove combination shown at enlarged scale in fragmented section in FIG. 9 being a means, alternative to the FIG. 4 means, for releasably securing the cap to the core and clamping the frame members between the cap and the base.

The cap 54 is made of flexible resilient material and has a cylindrical rim 58 with an inner lip 59, the lip having a first conical face 61, and an annular face 62 which opposes the base 56. The core portion 55 has a groove having a cross section that is partially defined by a second conical face 63 that complements the face 61 of the cap 54. For clarity a space is shown between the faces 61 and 63, the two faces are in contact in an assembled kite.

Resilience of the cap 54 urges the lip 59 inwards into the groove, the face 61 sliding over the face 63 urging the annular face 62 towards the base 56. This clamps the frame members between the base 56 and the face 62. As can be seen, the lip 59 acts as a wedge having faces 61 and 62 bearing against the face 63 and the frame member 26. The snap-on cap 54, the core 55, and the base 56, above serve as snap-on cap means adapted to clamp the inner ends of the frame members so as to form the demountable framework.

I claim:

1. In a kite (10) having a demountable framework including radial frame members (25-30) having inner and outer ends (e.g. 25.1, 25.2), and a lifting element (17) secured to the outer ends of the frame members, a combination including,

a. a center disc (24) having a core (43) with radial slots (e.g. 45) adapted to secure inner ends of the frame members inserted in the slots,

b. a stiff base (51) secured to the core,

c. a cap (44) releasably secured to the core, inner ends of the radial frame members being clamped between the cap and the base when the cap is secured to the core, forming a demountable framework assembly,

d. pockets (41) of the lifting element receive the outer ends (25.2) of the frame members, with each frame member having a length such that, in the assembled framework, each extends from the core to a pocket, the length of the frame members being such that, when their inner ends are inserted in the slots of the core with their outer ends being received in the pockets, securing the cap as aforesaid stretches the lifting element taut,

e. the inner end (25.1) of a frame member has a V-shape defined by sloping faces (31) converging to a blunt inner edge (33), the radial core slot receiving the inner end being of complementary shape (47) so that rotation of the frame member is restrained.

2. A combination according to claim I wherein,

f. the outer end (25.2) of a frame member has a V-shape defined by sloping faces (32) converging to a blunt outer edge (34), the outer edge being in a plane parallel to the lifting element.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein,

g. the blunt inner edge is in a plane nonnal to the lifting element, the blunt edges being disposed at degrees to one another.

4. A combination according to claim 3 with thread means releasably securing the cap to the core.

5. A combination according to claim 4 wherein the cap is a snap-on cap (54) adapted for clamping as aforesaid.

Claims

1. In a kite (10) having a demountable framework including radial frame members (25-30) having inner and outer ends (e.g. 25.1, 25.2), and a lifting element (17) secured to the outer ends of the frame members, a combination including, a. a center disc (24) having a core (43) with radial slots (e.g. 45) adapted to secure inner ends of the frame members inserted in the slots, b. a stiff base (51) secured to the core, c. a cap (44) releasably secured to the core, inner ends of the radial frame members being clamped between the cap and the base when the cap is secured to the core, forming a demountable framework assembly, d. pockets (41) of the lifting element receive the outer ends (25.2) of the frame members, with each frame member having a length such that, in the assembled framework, each extends from the core to a pocket, the length of the frame members being such that, when their inner ends are inserted in the slots of the core with their outer ends being received in the pockets, securing the cap as aforesaid stretches the lifting element taut, e. the inner end (25.1) of a frame member has a V-shape defined by sloping faces (31) converging to a blunt inner edge (33), the radial core slot receiving the inner end being of complementary shape (47) so that rotation of the frame member is restrained.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein, f. the outer end (25.2) of a frame member has a V-shape defined by sloping faces (32) converging to a blunt outer edge (34), the outer edge being in a plane parallel to the lifting element.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein, g. the blunt inner edge is in a plane normal to the lifting element, the blunt edges being disposed at 90 degrees to one another.