Patent ID: 6869047
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: B63H,B64C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A kite safety device for a kite having an airfoil with leading and trailing edges, at least two control lines attached to distal ends of said airfoil and a control flying bar attached to at least two of said control lines, said safety device comprising: a trim line, said trim line having an upper end and a lower end, a central passageway extending from said upper end to said lower end and being sized and shaped to fit slidably through a central opening in said control flying bar of a kite; said trim line having a first stopper adjacent said upper end and a second stopper adjacent said lower end, said stoppers being sized and shaped to prevent said upper and lower ends of said trim line from passing through said central opening; an upper swivel, said upper swivel having a top portion and a bottom portion, each of said top and bottom portions having a hollow central core, a first end and a second end; said top portion being attached at its first end to said lower end of said trim line, said bottom portion being rotatably attached at its first end to said second end of said top portion and attached at its second end to a trim loop of said kite; a safety flying line, said flying line having first, second and third segments; said first segment having a first end and a second end and being attached at its first end to a first point adjacent a midpoint along a centerline extending from said leading edge to said trailing edge; said second segment having a first end and a second end, being attached at its first end to said second end of said first segment and having a third stopper attached adjacent its second end; said third stopper being sized and shaped to prevent said second end of said second segment from passing through a ring passage attached to an adjustable strap connected to said upper end of said trim line; said third segment having a first end and a second end and being attached at its first end to said second end of said second segment, extending through said central passageway and being attached at its second end to a first end of an upper portion of a lower swivel; said upper portion of said lower swivel being rotatably mounted at a second end to a first end of a lower portion of said lower swivel; a second end of said lower portion of said lower swivel being attached to a fixture, said fixture providing a point for attachment of said flying line to a harness; and whereby, when said control flying bar is released a user will be free to rotate beneath said kite and when tension is applied to said safety flying line, the kite will begin to stall and the kite will descend in a controlled manner.