The kite has a hollow, open-ended body that tapers down in cross-section from an operatively leading end to an operatively trailing end thereof. There is at least one panel spanning transversely across the interior of the body to maintain a smooth and uniform air flow through the kite body and to increase the flying stability of the kite. One or two flying lines are secured without a bridle to the kite.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a kite. 
Most currently available, low cost kites are unable to fly in stronger 
winds, say 20 knots or more, without breaking apart or becoming unstable. 
Generally speaking, it is only the more expensive and complicated kites 
that are able to fly competently in stronger winds. 
There is nevertheless a constant search for a simple, inexpensive and 
easily constructed kite which can fly in both lighter and stronger winds. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention there is provided a kite which comprises 
a hollow, open-ended body having an operatively leading end and an 
operatively trailing end, the body tapering down in cross-section from the 
operatively leading end to the operatively trailing end thereof, and at 
least one panel spanning transversely across the interior of the body. 
The body and panel may be made of flexible sheet material, typically a 
plastics sheet material. Preferably, an operatively leading edge of the 
panel is reinforced by a spar of material which is more rigid than that of 
the panel itself. Conveniently, the spar is removably located in a tubular 
pocket provided at the operatively leading edge of the panel. 
In the preferred embodiments, the or each panel extends from the 
operatively leading end of the body to the operatively trailing end, and 
the body tapers conically from the operatively leading end to the 
operatively trailing end thereof, it is also preferred that the 
operatively leading end of the body is defined by a leading edge lying in 
a plane which makes an acute angle with the axis of the body, with an 
operatively upper extremity of the leading edge extending forwardly beyond 
an operatively lower extremity thereof. 
The kite may include a single flying line attached to the body at a point 
adjacent the operatively lower extremity of the leading edge. 
Alternatively, the kite may have a pair of flying lines attached to the 
body at spaced apart positions adjacent the leading edge. 
In a case in which the kite has a single panel spanning across the interior 
of the body, it is preferred that the panel lies in a plane which is 
operatively horizontal and which includes the axis of the body. In 
multi-panel versions of the kite, the panels are preferably arranged in 
parallel, spaced apart relationship spanning across the interior of the 
body.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
The kite 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a hollow, open-ended body 12 which 
tapers down, in conical manner, from an operatively leading end 14 to an 
operatively trailing end 16. Spanning diametrically across the interior of 
the body 12, at an operatively horizontal attitude, is a panel 18. The 
body 12 and panel 18 are made of the same flexible material, in this case 
thin gauge polyethylene. The panel 18 extends from the operatively leading 
end to the operatively trailing end. 
The leading end 14 of the kite body 12 is defined by a leading edge 20. As 
will be evident from FIG. 2, the operatively upper extremity 22 of the 
leading edge extends forwardly beyond the operatively lower extremity 24 
of the leading edge. Thus the leading edge lies in a plane 26 which makes 
an acute angle 28 with the central axis of the body 12. The trailing end 
16 of the body 12 is defined by a trailing edge 30 that lies in a plane 32 
which is normal to the central axis. 
In the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a single flying line or 
string 34 which is attached to the body 12 close to the leading edge 20 at 
the lower extremity 24. Thus, the flying line 34 is attached without a 
bridle to the kite. 
FIG. 3 shows a view of the blank from which the kite body 12 is formed. In 
practice, the illustrated blank is formed into a conically tapering tube 
as seen in FIG. 1 and the edges 36 are secured to one another, for 
instance by adhesive, adhesive tape, by welding or by any other 
appropriate method. 
The panel 18 is of trapezoidal shape and the broken lines 38 in FIG. 3 
indicate the positions at which the edges of the panel are secured to the 
inner surface of the body 12. Once again, such secural can be achieved by 
adhesive, adhesive tape, welding or other appropriate method. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the leading edge of the panel 18 is formed into a 
tubular pocket 40. During assembly of the kite, a spar 42 is slipped 
lengthwise into the pocket 42. The spar may be provided by a length of 
wooden dowel, a length of tubular plastics or the like. The presence of 
the spar in the pocket 40 ensures that the leading edge of the panel 18 
spans diametrically across the leading end of the kite body, and gives 
some rigidity to that leading edge. 
In use, with the kite assembled in the manner described above, it is placed 
on the ground at an orientation for the leading end 14 to receive the 
prevailing air flow. Alternatively, a person could hold the kite at the 
appropriate orientation to receive the air flow. The air flow which enters 
the kite body 12 inflates it and causes it to fly. 
It is believed that the conically tapering shape of the kite body 12 gives 
rise to a "ram-air" effect which can hold the kite airborne in all but the 
very lightest winds. Added to this, it is believed that the interior panel 
18, which is horizontal during flight, gives rise to a smooth and uniform 
air flow through the kite body, and that this smooth air flow contributes 
to maintaining the kite in flight. It has been found that the provision of 
the internal panel also assists in maintaining the stability of the kite 
during flight. 
FIG. 4 shows a slightly modified version which is provided with a number of 
parallel panels 18A, 18B and 18C. It is anticipated that this arrangement 
of internal panels will also contribute greatly to maintaining stability 
and a uniform and smooth air flow through the kite body 12, but has the 
attendant disadvantages of increased weight, complexity and cost. 
FIG. 5 shows another slightly modified version which has a single internal 
panel 18 but which is provided with two independent flying lines 50 
secured without a bridle, to the kite body at spaced apart positions near 
to the leading edge 20 of the kite body 12. With this dual line 
arrangement, it is expected that the user will be able to steer the kite 
during flight by selectively pulling harder on one of the lines that the 
other. 
A major advantage of the illustrated kites, and particularly the kite of 
FIGS. 1 and 2, is simplicity, ease of construction and low cost.