WO2022207270A1

WO2022207270A1 - Stunt kite

Info

Publication number: WO2022207270A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/056205
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ansgar PAHL
Original assignee: Stahlkite GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-30
Filing date: 2022-03-10
Publication date: 2022-10-06
Also published as: DE102021108051A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a stunt kite which has a shaping reinforcing structure extending across the entire width thereof. This reinforcing structure is formed by at least one inflatable hose body which forms a front leading edge of the stunt kite. At least one sail surface made of a flexible material is held on the reinforcing structure, is spanned by the reinforcing structure, and extends across the entire width of the front leading edge. This stunt kite is characterised in that the length of the hose body forming the front leading edge is variable, and in that the width of the front leading edge and therefore the size of the entire stunt kite is determined by the length of the hose body.

Description

stunt kite

The invention relates to a stunt kite with a shaping stiffening structure that extends over its entire width and is formed by at least one inflatable tube body that forms a front leading edge of the stunt kite, and with at least one sail surface made of flexible material that is held on the stiffening structure and that is Stiffening structure is stretched and extends over the entire width of the front leading edge.

Corresponding stunt kites are mainly used as sports equipment in kite sports for towing various water and land vehicles. The sail area is always selected depending on the wind conditions, with different wind speeds requiring different sized sail areas. In order to be able to practice their sport, athletes therefore usually need several stunt kites of different sizes, which is then associated with relatively high costs.

US 2019/0263486 A1 describes a stunt kite that takes into account the need for different sized sail areas. According to US 2019/0263486 A1, the sail area is to be enlarged in that a further piece of sail cloth is to be attached to the end of the sail area facing away from the front leading edge. Cross braces of the stiffening structure are then used to connect the further piece of canvas and/or the sail surface connecting surfaces, in particular made of Velcro, are arranged.

A stunt kite with a variable sail area is also known from DE 202 01 924 U1, the sail area being adapted to the respective wind strength by replacing a central insert part.

However, both solutions, both according to US 2019/0263486 A1 and according to DE 202 01 924 U1, have in common that the changed sail areas are also associated with a change in the shape of the sail areas and thus in their flight characteristics. For the athlete, the properties of the stunt kite can change negatively. But at least the handling of the stunt kite is made more difficult by the fact that the athlete has to change gears. There is therefore an increased risk of having an accident. This applies in particular to the stunt kite according to DE 202 01 924 U1, since it also does not have a continuous stiffening structure due to the insert part.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a stunt kite which, on the one hand, enables adaptation to different wind strengths and, on the other hand, has constant flight characteristics regardless of the wind strength.

This problem is solved with a stunt kite according to the features of claim 1. Further developments and advantageous configurations are specified in the subordinate claims.

The stunt kite with a shaping reinforcement structure extending over its entire width, which is formed by at least one inflatable tube body, which forms a front leading edge of the stunt kite, and with at least one on the reinforcement structure The sail surface that is held and made of a flexible material, which is spanned by the stiffening structure and extends over the entire width of the front leading edge, is characterized according to the invention in that the length of the tube body forming the front leading edge can be changed and that the length of the tube body Width of the front leading edge and thus the size of the entire stunt kite is determined.

By changing the width of the entire stunt kite, its shape can be retained in a simple manner, with the curvature of the front leading edge, which is decisive for the flight characteristics, and the shape of the sail area, in particular, remaining unchanged. In particular, the stunt kite according to the invention thus enables various reductions of its length dimensions that are as true to scale as possible while retaining its flight characteristics.

The stunt kite according to the invention relates to all possible forms of stunt kites with a corresponding requirement profile. In addition to such stunt kites that are controlled via lines, ropes or rods, those are also included that are held directly in the hand of the athlete and controlled by arm movements. Kite sports and wing foiling are examples of sports.

In a further embodiment, the hose body of the stunt kite forming the front leading edge is divided into sections for this purpose, to which means for changing the length of the hose body are assigned. Each section of the hose body advantageously forms a part area of the hose body that is intrinsically stable. In particular, the dimensional stability relates to a predetermined curvature of the section of the tube body. This curvature is achieved in a simple manner by a corresponding cutting of the respective section of the hose body and in particular the parts forming its casing. The means for changing the length of the hose body can therefore be arranged in or between the connecting areas of the sections in a simple manner. The dimensionally stable partial areas of the tube body formed by the section then do not have to be changeable themselves in order to achieve a length adjustment of the tube body or a size adjustment of the stunt kite.

Furthermore, according to a further development, it is provided that the sections are arranged symmetrically to a central axis of the stunt kite. This central axis runs essentially perpendicularly to the leading edge and intersects the leading edge in the middle, so that the stunt kite is divided by the central axis into two equal halves that are symmetrical to one another.

In a further embodiment, the stunt kite then has a section of the tube body which is arranged centrally and extends on both sides to the central axis. An equal number of further sections of the tube body are then arranged on this central section on both sides of the central axis. In order to ensure a uniform curvature of the hose body, the sections at the same distance from the central section or at the same distance from the central axis are identical to one another or at least have the same surface area as a mirror image.

In particular, all sections of the hose body are identical to one another. In the case of a corresponding stunt kite with identical sections, means for changing the length of the hose body arranged in pairs at the same distance from the central axis can then be individually adapted, while at the same time the curvature changes only as little as possible.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the material of the hose body, by which the length of the hose body can be changed, can be arranged within an outer casing of the hose body. This achieves that the excess material of the hose body in the respective wind conditions is on the one hand not directly flown against and on the other hand the flow properties of the cover are not impaired. Such an impairment could otherwise occur if the material of the hose body, by which the length of the hose body is shortened, causes warping on the outside of the leading edge.

In order to ensure at the same time that the hose body has a uniform pressure distribution over its length after it has been pumped up with air, a further embodiment provides that the material around which the length of the hose body can be changed is folded inside the hose body. In particular, the material inside the hose body is folded in such a way that the material lies against the outer casing of the hose body on the inside over as large a surface as possible.

According to a further development, the means for changing the length of the hose body are arranged on or on its casing on the outside. As a result, the means are easily accessible, in particular independently of the length of the hose body.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention also results from the fact that the means for changing the length of the tube body are provided as a means for changing the length of the tube body, which is circumferential and radially encircling the longitudinal extension of the tube body, which are each formed from two interacting members that are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal extension of the tube body on or on the casing are attached. In this embodiment, the length of the hose body is changed in that the interacting members are brought together or connected to one another, in particular intermeshing or being separated from one another. The area of the hose body between the links is then through the Material formed around which the length of the hose body can be changed and which can be arranged in particular within the outer casing.

In order to ensure a secure connection of the links to one another even when the stunt kite is under load, it is provided in a further embodiment that the means for changing the length of the hose body form an overlapping area circumferentially around the hose body, in particular forming an overlapping area radially to the longitudinal extension of the hose body. The overlapping area ensures that the ends of the elements that have been brought together, connected to one another or interlocked, do not directly abut one another. Instead, the links or the means for changing the length of the hose body form a double-layered area, at least in sections. A bursting open of the joined, interconnected or interlocking members at their ends, which could lead to an undesirable kinking of the hose body and thus a negative impact on the flight characteristics of the stunt kite, is thus effectively counteracted.

According to a preferred embodiment, zippers, Velcro fasteners, lacing or the like can be provided as means for changing the length of the hose body.

The sail area made of the flexible material advantageously has a size which is adapted to the length of the tube body and which can be changed together with the change in the length of the tube body. Since the sail area can also be changed, a reduction or enlargement of the stunt kite can be achieved overall, coordinated with the change in the length of the hose body, without impairing its flight characteristics. The adaptation of the sail surface can be done in such a way that, when the air flows against it when using the stunt kite, it changes as much as possible independently of the set size of the stunt kite always equal to the leading edge formed by the hose body. “Equal” is to be understood here as meaning that the sail area is always set at the same angle or angle range as possible to a direction of the wind hitting the stunt kite, regardless of its current size. This also applies in particular to a wind-related curvature of the sail surface. A certain angle of attack or range of angles of attack is therefore always related only to a certain surface section or point of the sail surface due to the curvature. The change in the size of the sail area relates to this in more

Configuration mainly to a change in the width of the sail area, which advantageously by the width of the areas of the

Hose body is changed, in which the hose body is changed in width.

Changing the sail area can be achieved in a simple manner by the means for changing the length of the hose body extending into the sail area, in particular dividing the sail area into sections of the same width as the sections of the hose body. The respective connection areas between the

Sections continue into the sail area. If a zip fastener is used as a means of changing the length of the tube body, it can be actuated continuously, for example, starting on the tube body and continuing to the end of the canopy facing away from the tube body, in order to connect the limbs to one another. The overlapping area is then advantageously formed in a transition area from the tube body to the sail area. The overlapping area can then only be double-layered to a limited extent and can also be formed at least in sections from wedge-shaped sections of the means or of the interlocking members for changing the length of the hose body. Alternatively, other means can also be assigned to the sail surface, which act in the same way as the aforementioned means for changing the length of the hose body. In particular, the sail area and the tube body can each be assigned means for changing their length or width, with the means assigned to the tube body and the means assigned to the sail area changing the length of the tube body or the size of the sail area in a manner suitable for one another.

According to a further development, the flexible material of the sail surface is changed accordingly in areas in which the length of the hose body can be changed, in particular reefed in the same way. By maturing or otherwise changing the stretched surface of the flexible material of the sail surface in areas where the length of the tube body can be changed, this material is fixed in a certain position on the sail surface, so that reefing only has a minimal influence on the flight characteristics of the stunt kite given is. Reefing includes bundling the material of the sail area by folding it together like an accordion, as well as all other types of folding of the material of the sail area and fixing it to the rest of the stretched sail area. Corresponding folds of the material to be reefed can be fixed to the stretched sail surface, for example by means of Velcro or other connectors. A rolling up of the material to be reefed is also included according to the invention.

In order to obtain sufficient dimensional stability, most stunt kites have, in addition to the inflatable tube body, cross braces as a shaping stiffening structure, which extend essentially at right angles from the tube body forming the front leading edge in the direction of the sail surface. According to a further development, these transverse struts are located in the middle between means for changing the length of the Tube body arranged. Loads occurring on the canopy are thus dissipated as evenly as possible, since the flexible material of the canopy is arranged in sections of equal size between the cross braces and the means for changing the length of the hose body or the size of the canopy.

In addition, it is provided that for a scale change of the stunt kite, the flexible material of the sail surface can be reefed along the hose body forming the front leading edge. In addition to the width of the stunt kite, in particular the width of the stunt kite determined by the length of the hose body forming the inflow edge, the distance from the inflow edge to a tear-off edge of the sail area can also be changed. The sail area is therefore stretched between the leading edge and the trailing edge and can be changed in all dimensions of its area extension in size, i.e. area. In a further embodiment, the change in surface area is proportional to one another in order to reduce or enlarge the scale of the stunt kite.

An embodiment of the invention, from which further features essential to the invention can arise, is shown in the drawing. Identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in all figures of the drawing. Show it:

Figure 1: a perspective view of a stunt kite according to the invention;

FIG. 2: a first detailed illustration of the stunt kite according to the invention according to FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 shows a second detailed representation of the stunt kite according to the invention according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. The shaping stiffening structure 2 is composed of a tube body 2a forming a front leading edge of the stunt kite and transverse struts 2b extending essentially at right angles from the tube body 2a forming the front leading edge in the direction of the sail area 1 . A total of six lines 3 act on this stunt kite, three of which are connected to the left and three to the right of a central axis 4 of the stunt kite on the hose body 2a forming the front leading edge. The central axis 4 is formed by a middle one of the transverse struts 2b, from which the stunt kite extends on both sides into mutually symmetrical halves, with each of the halves being assigned a further transverse strut 2b.

The hose body 2a forming the front leading edge is also composed of individual sections 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g. Of these sections 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g, starting from the centrally arranged section 5d, the section pairs that are each attached at the same distance from the centrally arranged section 5d are each identical, ie have the same area. The sections 5c and 5e, the sections 5b and 5f and the sections 5a and 5g each form a section pair. In addition, the sections 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f each have the same curvature as one another.

Between the sections 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g there are in each case connecting regions 6 which are associated with means 7 for changing the length of the hose body 2a. These means 7 for changing the length of the hose body 2a extend into the sail surface 1 and end at an end 8 of the hose facing away from the front leading edge Canopy 1. With the means 7 for changing the length of the hose body 2a, the size of the canopy 1 can thus also be changed.

The means 7 are each formed by two links 9, 9', with each link 9, 9' being assigned a common grip 10. In the representation according to FIG. 1, the means 7 for changing the length of the tube body 2a form an overlapping region pointing from the grippers 10 towards the edge of the drawing, which here forms a double-layered connection in the closed state. The limbs 9, 9' are arranged at a distance from one another on the tube body 2a and the sail surface 1, so that when the limbs 9, 9' are connected to one another, material of the connection regions 6 arranged at least between them is arranged within an outer covering of the tube body 2a.

FIG. 2 shows how the links 9, 9' are connected to one another in an interlocking manner in order to shorten the hose body 2a by the length of the respective connection regions 6. For this purpose, the gripper 10 has been guided around the hose body 2a by more than one revolution.

Finally, FIG. 3 shows the stunt kite reduced by the connection areas 6, with only the combined means 7 of the connection areas 6 being visible. Material of the sail surface 1 arranged between the members 9, 9' in the connection areas 6 is either reefed or brought into contact with the remaining stretched sail surface 1 in some other way.

All of the features mentioned in the above description and in the claims can be combined in any selection with the features of the independent claim. The disclosure of the invention is therefore not limited to the combinations of features described or claimed, rather all combinations of features that make sense within the scope of the invention are to be regarded as disclosed.

Claims

patent claims

1. Stunt kite with a shaping stiffening structure (2) extending over its entire width, which is formed by at least one inflatable tube body (2a), which forms a front leading edge of the stunt kite, and with at least one sail surface held on the stiffening structure (2). (1) made of a flexible material, which is spanned by the stiffening structure (2) and extends over the entire width of the front leading edge, because the length of the tube body (2a) forming the front leading edge can be changed, and that by the Length of the hose body (2a), the width of the front leading edge and thus the size of the entire kite is determined.

2. Stunt kite according to claim 1, characterized in that the hose body (2a) forming the front leading edge is divided into sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g) to which means (7) for changing the length of the Tubing body (2a) are assigned.

3. Stunt kite according to claim 2, characterized in that the means (7) for changing the length of the hose body (2a) are arranged in or between connecting areas (6) of the sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g). are.

4. Stunt kite according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g) are arranged symmetrically to a central axis (4) of the stunt kite.

5. Stunt kite according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material of the tube body (2a) around which the tube body (2a) in its length can be changed, can be arranged within an outer covering of the hose body (2a).

6. Stunt kite according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the means (7) for changing the length of the hose body (2a) are arranged on or on the outside of its casing.

7. Stunt kite according to one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the means (7) for changing the length of the hose body (2a) are provided as closing means which run radially to its longitudinal extent and which each consist of two interacting members (9, 9'). are formed, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal extension of the hose body (2a) and are fastened on or to the casing.

8. Stunt kite according to claim 7, characterized in that the means (7) for changing the length of the tube body (2a) circumferentially around the tube body (2a) form an overlapping area.

9. Stunt kite according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sail area (1) made of the flexible material has a size which is adapted to the length of the hose body (2a) and which, together with the change in the length of the hose body ( 2a) is changeable.

10. Stunt kite according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the means (7) for changing the length of the hose body (2a) extend into the sail surface (1), in particular the sail surface (1) in sections of the same width Subdivide sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g) of the tube body (2a).

11. Stunt kite according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the flexible material of the sail surface (1) can be correspondingly changed in areas in which the length of the hose body (2a) can be changed.

12. Stunt kite according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that transverse struts (2b) of the stiffening structure (2) extend essentially at right angles from the hose body (2a) forming the front leading edge in the direction of the sail surface (1) centrally between the means (7) extending into the canopy (1) for changing the length of the hose body (2a) are arranged.

13. Stunt kite according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the flexible material of the sail surface (1) can be reefed along the hose body (2a) forming the front leading edge.