Abstract:
An improved shape-retaining support structure is provided for the fuselage of a windsock style kite. An inextensible strap member is also provided between the wings of the kite to transfer wing loads through the windsock body without distorting its shape.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to toy kites and, in particular, to an internal support structure for a windsock kite. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known in the art to provide a kite with a windsock-like body, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. D407,126 to Wang. This design patent discloses a kite having an airplane configuration, wherein the airplane kite K comprises (referring to FIG. 1) a windsock body element B which is generally cylindrically-shaped, wings W, and a tail T. Wings W are supported by semi-rigid or rigid cross-beam rods C and the windsock body B is supported internally by one or more semi-rigid or rigid rods R. Referring to FIG. 2, a pair of rods R are positioned lengthwise through the windsock body B. These rods R are slightly longer than the length of windsock body B and are crossed to form an X-shape to provide stability and support to windsock body B. Rods R are retained at their respective ends by a plurality of pockets P, with the ends of each rod R touching opposite sides of the windsock body. 
     A difficulty is encountered in such designs in providing an internal support structure which can simply but effectively maintain the open cross-sectional shape of the windsock body in spite of the tensile stresses placed on the kite body by the internal rods and the wing cross-beams. The lengthwise stresses provided by the internal support rods tends to flatten the cylindrical cross-section of the windsock and, likewise, the transverse or lateral tension induced by the wing cross-beam also tends to locally flatten the windsock. It has been found that the configuration of the rods R in FIG. 2 is somewhat unstable and, further, does not adequately fill out the windsock shape, resulting in a somewhat limp or wrinkled appearance to the windsock body. 
     Accordingly, there is a need of an internal support structure for a windsock-like kite which overcomes these and other problems of prior art kites. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides in one aspect a kite comprising a fabric sleeve having a leading end, a trailing end and a generally longitudinal axis extending from the leading end to the trailing end, at least one wing member mounted to the sleeve, at least two resilient rods, each of the rods having a leading end and a trailing end, and a plurality of rod retainers for retaining the rods so that the rods add support to the sleeve, the rods, when retained in the rod retainers, having a curved configuration and extending generally longitudinally of the sleeve, wherein each rod contacts the sleeve at at least one region between the sleeve leading end and the sleeve trailing end, and wherein the rods intersect, at least twice, at least one plane defined by the general longitudinal axis and extending between the respective first ends of the rods. 
     In a second aspect, the present invention provides a kite comprising a fabric sleeve, at least one wing member mounted to the sleeve, at least two resilient rods for internally supporting the sleeve, and a plurality of rod retainers for retaining the rods interior of the sleeve in a curved condition, wherein the rods, when retained in the retainers, substantially intersect at least twice. 
     In a third aspect, the present invention provides a kite comprising a fabric sleeve having a leading end and a trailing end, at least one wing member mounted to the sleeve, at least a first and second resilient rods, each of the rods having a leading end and a trailing end, and a plurality of rod retaining members for retaining the rods in the sleeve, the rods, when retained in the rod retainers, having a curved configuration and extending generally longitudinally of the sleeve, wherein a vector defined from the leading end of the first rod to the leading end of the second rod has substantially the same direction as a vector defined from the trailing end of the first rod to the trailing end of the second rod. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings. 
     The drawings show articles made according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view from the front and to one side of a kite according to the prior art; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the kite of FIG. 1, shown with a portion of the fuselage removed to show the internal structure therein; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view from the front and to one side of a kite according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the kite of FIG. 3, shown with a portion of the fuselage removed to show the internal structure therein; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the kite of FIG. 3, shown with a portion of the fuselage removed to show the components therein; 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the kite of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 7A is an enlarged sectional view of the kite of FIG. 3, taken along the lines  7 A— 7 A in FIG. 3; 
     FIGS. 7B-7E are sectional views of the kite of FIG. 3, taken along the lines  7 B— 7 B,  7 C— 7 C,  7 D— 7 D and  7 E— 7 E, respectively. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, viewed from the front towards the tail, of an alternate embodiment of a kite according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a further alternate embodiment of the kite according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a partial side view of the kite of FIG. 3, viewed from Arrow  10  in FIG.  7 A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A windsock kite made in accordance with the present invention is shown in the Figures generally at  10 . Referring to FIG. 3, kite  10  has a fuselage or windsock sleeve  12 , wings  14 , a pair of horizontal stabilizers  16  and a tail  18 . A yoke  20  is provided for attachment of a bridle  22  and a kite sting  24 . 
     Sleeve  12  has a generally cylindrical fabric body  26 , having a longitudinal axis LA (see FIGS.  4  and  5 ), an open leading end  28  and an open trailing end  30  and sewn inside (or otherwise attached to) the sleeve fabric at ends  28  and  30  are a pair of semi-rigid or rigid rings  32  and  34  provided to maintain the openings in a desired shape, preferably circular. As will be described in more detail below, a pair of ribs  36  and  38  extend around the inner periphery of sleeve  12 , at positions substantially flanking the leading and trailing edges of wings  14 . 
     Wings  14  are attached to and extend laterally substantially perpendicularly from a mid-portion of sleeve  12 . Sewn inside (or otherwise attached to) the fabric at the leading edge of each wing  14  and extending substantially along the length of the wing is a semi-rigid or rigid wing spar rod  40 . Wings  14  are also supported by a cross-beam rod  42  passing through sleeve  12  at holes  44 . Cross-beam rod  42  is received and retained at its ends by a pair of retaining cups  46 . The length of cross-beam rod  42  is slightly longer than the distance between cups  46 , such that when cross-beam rod  42  is inserted in cups  46 , the fabric in wings  14  is placed under tension. 
     Horizontal stabilizers  16  and tail  18  are attached to and extend perpendicularly from end  30  of sleeve  12 . Horizontal stabilizers  16  and tail  18  are preferably also fabric. Sewn inside an edge of (or otherwise attached to) the fabric horizontal stabilizers  16  and tail  18  are stiffeners  50  and  52 , respectively, to support and maintain the shape of horizontal stabilizers  16  and tail  18 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, sleeve  12  is supported internally by a pair of resilient longeron rods  60 , in particular a first rod  60   a  and a second rod  60   b , having ends  62   a ,  62   b  and  64   a ,  64   b  respectively. Ends  62   a ,  62   b  and  64   a ,  64   b  are inserted into and received by a pair of longeron retainer members or pockets  66  and  68 , respectively. Longeron rods  60  have a length which is greater than that of sleeve  12 , such that longeron rods  60  must curve into an area to be inserted into pockets  66  and  68 . When so curved, rods  60  have an apex  63  as a result of such curvature. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, pockets  66  and  68  are preferably positioned adjacent ends  28  and  30 , respectively, near the position of maximum horizontal diameter of the rings. Approximately mid-way along sleeve  12  are a pair of loops  70 , through which longeron rods  60  pass. Loops  70  may be simple loops fabric attached at a point  72  to sleeve  12 . Loops  70  are preferably positioned to permit rods  60  to extend to a position adjacent the lateral edge of sleeve  12  (see FIGS. 4 and 7) so that apex  63  engages sleeve  12 , as will be described in more detail below. Longeron rods  60  are inserted into pockets  66  and  68  such that ends  62  and  64  of a particular longeron rod  60  are located on the same side (eg. port or starboard) of kite  10 . Loops  70  position and maintain a mid-portion of a longeron rod  60  substantially on the other side (eg. starboard or port) of sleeve  12  and adjacent a region of sleeve  12 . Loops  70  also maintain the central, curved portion of longeron rods  60  in contact with body  26  of sleeve  12 . In this configuration, when viewed substantially from a plane view (see FIG. 4) rods  60  appear to intersect, and in fact substantially intersect (see FIGS.  7 C and  7 D), at two locations. 
     As mentioned above, the configuration of longeron rods  60   a  and  60   b  within sleeve  12  is such that ends  62   a  and  64   a  of rod  60   a  are retained on the same side of sleeve  12 , and ends  62   b  and  64   b  of rod  60   b  are retained on the same side of sleeve  12 . Referring to FIGS. 7A-7E, these “sides” of the sleeve  12  can be defined by a plane LP passing through the longitudinal axis LA of sleeve  12  and passing between ends  62   a  and  62   b . Thus, ends  62   a  and  64   a  are both retained adjacent sleeve  12  on the right side (in the Figures) of the plane LP, whereas ends  62   b  and  64   b  are both retained adjacent sleeve  12  on the left side of the plane LP. Referring to FIGS. 4,  7 C and  7 D, it is also apparent that, by virtue of this configuration, rods  60   a  and  60   b  cross the plane LP twice. Ends  62   a ,  64   a  and  62   b ,  64   b  are thus retained within the same quadrant of the cross-section of sleeve  12 . Ends  62   a  and  64   a  are retained within a quadrant Q 1 , defined by a 90-degree angle extending from the longitudinal axis LA, and ends  62   b  and  64   b  are retained within a quadrant Q 2 , also defined by a 90-degree angle extending from the longitudinal axis LA. In three dimensions, the quadrants Q 1  and Q 2  form longitudinal sections along the length of sleeve  12 . 
     Thus when so positioned, apex  63  of longeron rods  60  apply an outward or transverse force over a region of fabric body  26  while the ends  62 ,  64  simultaneously apply a longitudinal, tensile force to the sleeve. Referring to FIG. 10, the extent of the region over which the apex of the longeron rods apply an outward, transverse force on the sleeve body depends on the length of the sleeve relative to the rod length. It is preferable for the apex area of the rods to engage the fabric over at least approximately one third of the length of the sleeve body. Thus, longeron rods  60  arranged in this configuration provide a firm support for body  26 , thereby keeping body  26  substantially taut thereover and assisting to maintain a smooth outer appearance to sleeve  12 . Ribs  36  and  38  also assist to further remove slack from the fabric body  26  of sleeve  12 , thereby enhancing the aircraft fuselage-like appearance of sleeve  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 7, kite  10  also has a cross-strap  80  attached to the interior of sleeve  12  adjacent holes  44 . Cross-strap  80  is preferably positioned to be aligned adjacent cross-beam  42 , preferably substantially inextensible and preferably has a length substantially equal to the chord length distance between holes  44  when sleeve  12  has a circular crosssection. Cross-strap  80  prevents the deformation of the sleeve&#39;s crosssection in response to tension induced by cross-beam  42  and transmitted by wings  14  to sleeve  12 . Together with ribs  36  and  38 , cross-strap  80  helps to maintain a substantially circular cross-section to sleeve  12 , to maintain the appearance of an aircraft fuselage. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, an alternate embodiment according of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, kite  100  comprises a body  112  and wings  114  supported by a cross-beam rod  142 . Sleeve  126  is supported internally by a pair of longeron rods  160 , retained centrally by loops  170 . A cross-strap  180  is provided between wings  114 . This embodiment is substantially similar to that of FIG. 3, with the exception that the wings are positioned vertically lower on the fuselage. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the positioning of the wings relative to the fuselage is not critical to the operation of the longeron rods in the configuration of the present invention. Indeed, one will understand that an advantage is derived from the present invention irrespective of whether the kite has airplane-type wings, other types of wings or lacks wings altogether. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, a further alternate embodiment according of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, kite  200  comprises a body  212  and wings  214  supported by a cross-beam rod  242 . Sleeve  226  is supported internally by a pair of longeron rods  160 , retained centrally by loops  170  and a further pair of longeron rods  262 , retained by loops  272 . A cross-strap  280  is provided between wings  114 . This embodiment is substantially similar to that of FIG. 3, with the exception that an increased number of longeron rods is provided to maintain a desired shape of body  212 . It will be understood by one skilled in the art that numerous variations to the configuration and number of longeron rods can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Through such variation, a wide variety of body shapes is available to the kite designer. Further, it will be apparent from FIG. 9 that the configuration of loop  70 ,  270  is not important to the present invention and any means of maintaining the position of the mid-portion of a longeron rod adjacent the fabric body of the sleeve will suffice in achieving the present invention. For example, plastic hooks or clips may equally be used in place of loops  70  or  270 ,  272 . Further, it will be understood that, while means for retaining the longeron rods in place are desirable to stabilize the structure, such means may also be omitted altogether, if desired, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Through such variation, a wide variety of body shapes is available to the kite designer. Further, it will be apparent from FIG. 9 that the configuration of loop  70 ,  270  is not important to the present invention and any means of maintaining the position of the mid-portion of a longeron rod adjacent the fabric body of the sleeve will suffice in achieving the present invention. For example, plastic hooks or clips may equally be used in place of loops  70  or  270 ,  272 . Further, it will be understood that, while means for retaining the longeron rods in place are desirable to stabilize the structure, such means may also be omitted altogether, if desired, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The arrangement of the longeron rods according to the present invention substantially improves the stability and shape-retaining characteristics of a windsock kite over prior art internal support arrangements. The present invention provides a surprisingly stable yet simple structure. The simplicity of the design is especially important in permitting an inexpensive and yet easy-to-assemble design for such a kite. By retaining the rod ends on the same side of the sleeve at both ends, a smaller radius of curvature is achieved than in the rods of the prior art. The increased curvature increases the tension exerted by the curved rod on the sleeve, while simultaneously providing a fuller, more sleeve-filling curve for a given rod-to-sleeve length ratio than the prior art. The result is a more stable structure having a more aesthetic appearance than the prior art. 
     Further, the cross-strap means of the present invention permits the flexible fabric of the sleeve body to maintain its shape while still transmitting a tensile force therethrough and, thus, permits the kite to maintain a desired overall outer appearance, such as an airplane, while remaining functional. That shape may be yet further enhanced by the use of the peripheral stiffening ribs of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that any number and arrangement of longeron can be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention and the present invention is not limited to two such rods. Further, it will be understood that any means of maintaining the positioning or the longeron rods in the sleeve may be used, and need not necessarily be restricted to the loop means ( 70 ) of the preferred embodiment. Other means may equally be provided, or such means may be omitted altogether, if desired. One skilled in the art will also understand that the present invention is not limited to use with airplane-like kites, but may also be used with advantage on any kite having a hollow, sleeve-like body. Such body may have open ends ( 28 ,  30 ) as described above, or the body may equally have one or both ends partially or completely closed or sealed. The shape of such body need not be substantially cylindrical, but may be any oblong shape (ie. having a length substantially greater than its cross-section) desired. 
     While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification and change without parting from the fair meaning of the proper scope of the accompanying claims.