KITES

Abstract: A collapsible and foldable kite including frame members (1-5), a keel member (7), spreader supports (8) and a sail (6), the frame members being fixed to the sail with the keel member and spreader supports either fixed to the sail and/or frame members to brace the sail while flying, at least one of the frame members being hinged to allow the frame members and sail to be folded or rolled into a small package.

Description: KITES This invention relates to kites and more particularly to a readily collapsible / foldable and packagable kite. At present kites are manufactured from rigid frame members and a sail constructed from a sheet material which is cut to a desired shape. Prom the bottom of the sail a tail or the like member extends. The frame normally consists of crossed members fixed relative to the sheet material by a variety of means, for example, by sleeves formed across or up and down on the sail. The kite includes a connection or connections for a tether line(s) by which the kite is controlled during light. A disadvantage of existing constructions of kite is that when stored or packaged their size is constrained by the length of the rigid frame members. A further disadvantage of existing kites is that prior to flight a preflight assembly operation is required. An object of the invention is therefore to provide a readily collapsible, foldable and packagable kite the size of which is a relatively small so that a convenient kite package is produced. A further object of the invention is to provide a readily collapsible, foldable and packagable kite which offers a useful alternative choice. According to a broadest aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible and foldable kite including frame members, a keel member, spreader supports and a sail, the frame members being fixed to the sail with the keel member and spreader supports either fixed to the sail and/or frame members to brace the sail while flying, at least one of the frame members being hinged to allow the frame members and sail to be folded or rolled into a small package. The frame members can be manufactured from wood or a plastics material which is formed, extruded or injection moulded with a hinged joint therein. The sail can be glued or if constructed from a plastics material can be heat welded or fixed with a self-adhesive tape to the frame members. The sail and frame members can be formed from the same material. Further aspects of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only. An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the front of an example of kite according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of a keel of the type fitted to the kite shown in Figure 1; SUBSTITUTE SHEET Figure 3 shows a side view of a spreader member of the type fitted to the kite shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a front view of a sail for the kite shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a front view of the frame members for the kite shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a detail on an enlarged scale of an example of the connection in the frame members at A in Figures 1 and 5; Figure 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of an example of moulded connection for joining the members together; Figure 8 shows a view similar to that of Figure 7 and showing the connection and attached frame members in a partly folded configuration; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the kite show in Figures 1 to 6 in a folded and collapsed position; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a connection suitable for joining the frame members at the point A in Figure 5; and Figure 11 shows a view similar to that of Figure 10 with the frame members hinged from their erect position. The example of the kite shown in the drawings is a conventional shape of kite which folds down to a size of 240mm long by 25mm round. It is however to be appreciated that with minor modifications the overall size of the kite and its shape can be varied. For SUBSTITUTE SHEET example the kite can be square, round, oblong or diamond shaped all of which are foldable by providing appropriately shaped and dimensioned frame members, keel member and spreader members. The kite shown in the drawings is 645mm long, 480mm wide with a 2.5mm wide by 2000mm long plastic tape tail (not shown) when opened and ready to fly. The kite has a main frame formed from members 1, 2 and 3 and transverse members 4 and 5 which can be formed from a variety of materials like wood or an extruded plastics material which can, for example, be 5mm x 3mm in cross-section. The kite has a sail 6 which is glued, heat welded, or fixed with self-adhesive tape, directly to the frame members to create structural rigidity to the kite. Alternatively a plastics sleeve can be welded over the frame to the sail to hold the parts together. Preferably the sail 6 is attached with self-adhesive tape to the frame members which fold inwards. The kite has a keel member 7 and spreader supports 8 which are manufactured from a laminated plastics material. The supports 8 are welded to the keel at the line 9 in the centre of the keel. The supports 8 and member 7 are welded to the front face of the sail along the line of the frame members. A towing connection 10 is provided in the keel and this can have an eyelet in the plastics material to SUBSTITUTE SHEET provide added strength to the point of connection for a tether line which can be a length of nylon line or the like. A tail (not shown) can be welded to the base 11 of the kite. In Figures 7 and 8 is shown a connector 12 which can be injection moulded from a plastics material. The connector 12 has four socket members 13. Into each socket member 13 is inserted an end of one of the frame members 1, 2, 4 and 5. Each of the socket members 13 is connected at 14 to a central hub 15. The connections at the points 14 are flexible to enable the members 1, 2, 4 and 5 to be hinged to lie alongside each other as shown in Figure 9. The ends of the frame members 1, 2, 4 and 5 can be glue of friction fitted into their socket members 13. The frame members 2 and frame member 3 can be joined at A (Figure 5) by a connector of the type shown in Figures 10 and 11. The connector is generally indicated by the arrow 16 and can be injection moulded from a plastics material. The connector 16 has a pair of sockets 17 into which the ends of the members 2 and 3 fit. The sockets 17 are joined to member 18 by flexible webs 19. When folding the kite the members 2 and 3 are folded so that the lower end of the member 3 contacts the region B of the spreader support. The members 1, 4 and 5 then collapse in the direction of the arrows 20 in SUBSTITUTE SHEET a similar fashion to an umbrella about the region B to the condition shown in Figure 9. The fabric of the sail is then wrapped around the members to form a generally cylindrical compact shape. The tail (not shown) is then wound around the folded kite to complete the package. In practice the largest part of the collapsed kite is a hand reel and tether line for the kite. The complete package can be packed in an envelope for transportation and storage. The kite is opened for use by unwinding the tail and opening the kite, attaching the line and by holding the kite into the wind by the tip in one hand this allows the kite to fly. Thus by this invention there is provided a foldable and packagable kite which does not require any pre- flight assembly to enable it to fly. A particular example of the invention has been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place,without departing from the oσopo of tho appended- σlaimc. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: CLAIMS ; 1. A collapsible and foldable kite including frame members, a keel member, spreader supports and a sail, the frame members being fixed to the sail with the keel member and spreader supports either fixed to the sail and/or frame members to brace the sail while flying, at least one of the frame members being hinged to allow the frame members and sail to be folded or rolled into a small package. 2. A collapsible and foldable kite as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame members are manufactured from wood or a plastics material which can be formed, extruded or injection moulded with a hinged joint therein. 3. A collapsible and foldable kite as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sail can be glued or if constructed from a plastics material can be heat welded or fixed with self-adhesive tape to the frame members. 4. A collapsible and foldable kite as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims wherein the sail and frame members are formed from the same material. 5. A collapsible and foldable kite as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the kite is square, round, oblong or diamond shaped. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 6. A collapsible and foldable kite as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plastics member is positioned over the frame members on the sail to position them together. 7. A collapsible and foldable kite as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the keel member includes a towing connection to which a tether line is connected. 8. A collapsible and foldable kite as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sail is folded or collapsed in an umbrella fashion about the connection between the frame member. 9. A collapsible and foldable kite as claimed in any one of the preceding claims together with pens or colouring means sold as a kit for purchasers to draw or colour the sail to a desired pattern. 10. A collapsible and foldable kite substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. S UBSTITUT SHΞE"

Inventors: HENDERSON ANTHONY ALAN, HENDERSON, ANTHONY, ALAN
Applicants: TALENT IND LTD, TALENT INDUSTRIES LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A63H27
IPC codes: A63H27