Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling movement of a flying device, such as a kite. In controlling such movement, the apparatus comprises a series of force transmitting members associated with a control bar to be grasped by an operator. Such association minimizes interference of the force transmitting members with the control bar surface so as to heighten the level of control that the operator may exert over the kite. Such association also permits the operator to achieve, through movement of the control bar, selective adjustments in both the velocity and acceleration at which the kite and the operator are able to move in a single direction.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/528,446 filed Dec. 9, 2003, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to the sport of kite surfing, and more particularly, to a control apparatus that eases maneuverability of the kite and which also provides an ability to selectively adjust both the velocity and acceleration at which the kite sails.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Kite surfing is a sport of growing popularity among those who enjoy water sports. Enthusiasts engaging in the sport use a connected kite to capture energy created by the wind to then propel their movement across the surface of the water, all while standing on a small board much akin to a surfboard. Such sportsmen, or surfers, endeavor to accomplish highly acrobatic maneuvers. These maneuvers often require great individual skill and control of the kite.  
         [0006]     To control the kite, it is necessary that the kite surfing equipment include a control bar. The control bar provides both a point of connection between the kite and the surfer, as well as the device that the surfer uses to adjust his or her movement relative to the water surface.  
         [0007]     In achieving the above connection, the control bar is usually linked to the kite by a series of control lines, and to the surfer by a harness that couples to a belt or vest worn around his or her waist. Past designs of such linkage have often involved the passage of at least one of those lines directly through the surface of the control bar at the longitudinal center thereof. In the experience of many surfers, the passing of any control line through the surface of the control bar at that point interferes with an ability to freely move his or her hands fully across the control bar. Consequently, the particular range of surfing maneuvers requiring the ability to have such freedom of movement are greatly decreased, as is the enjoyment provided by the flexibility to quickly switch from the performance of one maneuver to another, say for example, while the surfer is airborne.  
         [0008]     To adjust his or her movement while surfing, the surfer merely places his or her hands on the control bar and moves it in a desired direction, thereby steering the control lines, and thus the attached kite in the same general direction. As the positioning of the kite changes, the velocity and acceleration at which the surfer moves typically change as a result of the strength of the wind impacting the kite and the angle at which that impact occurs. Velocity, as is commonly understood, is movement with a certain amount of speed in a certain direction; and acceleration is simply a change in velocity over a period of time.  
         [0009]     Past designs of control bars and their attached control lines, however, have been unable to allow the surfer to initiate, merely by a simple movement of the control bar, both an increase and a decrease in acceleration without causing a change in the surfer&#39;s travel direction. For instance, while at least one of these designs has allowed a surfer to increase his or her acceleration, a decrease in such acceleration can only be obtained by moving the control bar such that the kite is powered by the wind to a much lesser extent; whereby such movement also has the effect of changing the surfer&#39;s travel direction. Conversely, another of such control bar and line designs permits a surfer to slow the kite through movement of the control bar, but lacks an ability to have such movement make the kite sail any faster than the rate at which it is already traveling, absent an increase in the strength of the wind impacting the kite.  
         [0010]     Thus, in view of the above, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus in which the attachment of the control lines to the control bar permits the surfer to freely use as much of the length of the control bar as is possible to control the kite. Further still, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus with which the surfer could selectively initiate an increase or decrease in the acceleration while moving in a single direction. With such a combination, a surfer would be able to maximize both the level of control, which he or she may exercise over a vast array of surfing maneuvers as well as, therefore, the level of enjoyment obtainable from his or her surfing experience.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     Accordingly, there is provided an apparatus intended to maximize the level of control that a kite surfer has over a kite during its use. To do so, the apparatus minimizes the amount of structure present on the control bar surface in order to provide the surfer the ability to grasp a larger area thereof. Additionally, the apparatus provides the kite surfer the ability to initiate either an increase or decrease in the acceleration at which the kite and the surfer are able to move in a single direction.  
         [0012]     The above apparatus comprises a series of kite control lines coupled with a control bar which the surfer grasps to control their movement. In particular, three control lines are associated with both the control bar and the kite. Two of these lines enable steering of the kite. The third line acts as a brake line to enable the kite to experience more or less power, or in other words, be accelerated or decelerated, during its use.  
         [0013]     Association of each of the three lines with the control bar is made in a manner that consumes as little of its surface area as possible. To do so, the brake line is linked from the kite to a closed loop cable. The cable is then guided on and by a system of pulleys that route it through an interior of the control bar, instead of directly through the surface thereof. Accordingly, more area of the control bar is available for the surfer to contact with his or her hands, thereby allowing the kite to be better managed while surfing.  
         [0014]     Further, the kite control apparatus enables the surfer to initiate an increase or decrease in the acceleration of the kite while traveling in a single direction, and advantageously, during the performance of surfing maneuvers. To do so, a surfer need only move the control bar toward or away from himself or herself to obtain the desired change in acceleration. Specifically, movement of the control bar toward the surfer provides an increase in acceleration and, conversely, movement of the control bar away from the surfer slows movement of the kite so as to provide a decrease in acceleration.  
         [0015]     Accordingly, there is provided an apparatus for controlling a kite that maximizes the level of control that a kite surfer may exert over a kite during its use.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view in which a kite surfer is holding onto the kite control apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the control apparatus according to  FIG. 1  in which portions thereof are cutaway to show the assembly of certain components thereof; in particular, the relationship of a closed loop cable and control bar comprising the apparatus.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the assembly of the linkage of a control line used in causing an acceleration or deceleration in movement of the kite to the closed loop cable and control bar referenced in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  in which the relationship of the control bar and at least one of the pulleys with which the closed loop cable is associated is shown. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]     Looking to  FIG. 1 , an individual is shown using an apparatus  10  for controlling a flying device, such as a kite (not shown); and which is intended for use in capturing energy created by the wind, whereby that energy is then used in powering movement of the individual. Such an individual is often referred to as a kite surfer.  
         [0021]     The apparatus  10  comprises a main body portion that is provided as a control bar  12 , preferably formed as an elongated tubular handlebar, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The control bar  12  is, preferably, formed of carbon fiber so as to provide advantages including high durability and resultant longevity. Other materials, including stainless steel, brass or titanium, which provide the same or similar advantages may also be used. As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , the surfer obtains a stance in which both of his or her arms are outstretched from his or her torso and whose hands are grasped upon the surface  14  of the control bar  12 , and specifically, within a grip region  16  having forward and rearward areas  18  and  20 , respectively. Further, the surfer is shown wearing a belt  22  around his or her waist. Attached to the belt  22  is a line  24  which couples to a harnessing loop  26  extended from the control bar  12 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a series of force transmitting members, or control lines  28 ,  30  and  32  are provided, and are associated with the control bar  12  and the kite to transfer therebetween the force(s) caused by the wind impacting the kite, in addition to the force(s) generated by movement of the control bar  12 . It is obvious that the kite, although not shown, is to be attached to each of the control lines  28 ,  30  and  32 . Two of these control lines  28  and  32  comprise left and right fly-lines, respectively, that are mounted to the control bar  12  at respective ends  34  and  36  thereof to enable steering of the kite. Further, as may be understood from each of  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the fly-lines  28  and  32  extend through openings  38  formed on the surface  14  of the control bar  12 . Plastic grommets  40  are placed within the openings  38  such that they abut against inner and outer surfaces of the control bar  12  and receive the fly-lines  28  and  32  therethrough. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the control bar  12  is moveable throughout a range of motion in order to permit the surfer an ability to steer movement of the kite. During such movement, the grommets  40  assist in protecting against tearing of the fly-lines  28  and  32 .  
         [0023]     With reference to both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the apparatus  10  further comprises an assembly  42  that is associated with the control bar  12  for adjusting and controlling the amount of power to be generated by the kite. Included as part of that assembly  42  is brake line  30 , which as shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , is operatively connected with the control bar  12  such that it is free from direct contact or connection with the surface  14  of the control bar  12 . Accordingly, more surface area of the control bar  12 , and specifically more of the grip region  16 , is available for use by a surfer to control movement of the kite than has been made available by past control bar and line designs.  
         [0024]     In avoiding the surface contact mentioned above, the assembly  42  further comprises a pair of connections that associate the brake line  30  and the control bar  12 .  
         [0025]     The first connection involves passing the brake line  30  through the legs  44  of an inverted U-shaped member  46 , as is shown in  FIG. 3 . The legs  44  are attached to a projection  48  extending from a top surface  50  of a wishbone-shaped carrier  52  via a pin  54 . As shown, the pin  54  is inserted in a pair of apertures  56  and  57 , respectively provided in the legs  44  and the projection  48 . As may be seen therein, the carrier  52  suspends a pulley  58  that is attached thereto by a connector  60  extended through apertures  59  and  61  in each of the carrier  52  and the pulley  58 , respectively.  
         [0026]     The projection  48  is mounted for rotation such that the U-shaped member  46  rotates relative to the top surface  50  of the carrier  52 . Such rotation enables the brake line  30  to avoid undue twisting and knotting during use of the kite.  
         [0027]     The second connection involves a substantially continuous medium  63  that, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , is hung from the elevated pulley  58  so as to be carried thereby. The medium is, preferably, provided as a closed loop cable that is further entrained about a series of left, middle and right pulleys  62 ,  64  and  66 , respectively, which as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are disposed within an interior  68  of the control bar  12  so as to route the cable  63  below the surface thereof. When looking to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , it is to be understood that the elevated pulley  58  is moveable along a track defined by the closed loop cable  63 , and that each of the pulleys  62 ,  64  and  66  is mounted on a similar shaft  69  which is fixedly attached with the interior surface of the control bar  12 .  
         [0028]     Looking to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a plastic ball and rubber sleeve combination  67  through which the cable  63  passes and which provides a spacing mechanism to maintain an appropriate distance between the attachment of the surfer to the harnessing loop  26  and the control bar  12 . After passing therethrough, the cable  63  forms the harnessing loop  26 ; whereby a substantially semi-circular rubber sheath  65  covers a portion thereof.  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it may be seen that the cable  63  passes through the surface  14  of the control bar  12  by way of cutouts  70  and  72  which are provided, respectively, in each of the forward and rearward areas  18  and  20  of the grip region  16 . Notably, the location of these cutouts  70  and  72 , and thus that of the entry and exit of the cable  63  relative to the control bar  12 , permits the entire forward area  18  of the grip region  16  to be made available for use by the surfer to move his or her hands thereacross.  
         [0030]     In recalling discussion herein, the control apparatus  10  permits a surfer to steer movement of the kite, and thus his or her direction of travel across the water surface. To do so, the surfer need only move the control bar in a certain direction, e.g., left or right, and the respective control line  28  or  32  tugs on the kite to position it relative to the direction of the impacting wind. Such a sequence ultimately translates into the direction of travel that the surfer desires.  
         [0031]     Further, the apparatus  10  also enables the surfer to regulate the amount of power generated by the kite, and therefore, both the acceleration of it and the surfer while moving in a single direction. To increase his or her acceleration, the surfer need only move the control bar  12  toward himself or herself. As this occurs, the cable  63  traverses at least pulleys  62 ,  64  and  66 , whereby portions thereof and the brake line  30  move upwardly and away from the control bar as a result of the impact of the wind upon the kite. More specifically, such movement of the brake line  30  allows the kite, and specifically its leading edge to which the brake line  30  is attached, to lessen resistance against the wind so as to allow the kite to catch more of the its impact, thereby causing an increase in power that provides greater acceleration. To slow down, or decrease the acceleration, the surfer need only move the control bar  12  away from himself or herself. As this occurs, the cable  63  traverses at least pulleys  62 ,  64  and  66 , whereby portions thereof and the brake line  30  move toward the control bar  12 , and against the force of the wind impacting the kite. The effect of such movement is a downward pulling by the brake line  30  on the leading edge of the kite that causes an increased resistance against the impacting wind. As a result of this increased resistance, the kite cannot be lifted by the wind as much as when the control bar  12  is moved toward the surfer. Consequently, the kite produces a decrease in power, causing a lessening in the acceleration to be experienced by the surfer.  
         [0032]     With the advancement of cable  63  over elevated pulley  58  and remaining pulleys  62 ,  64  and  66 , it is to be understood that the elevated pulley and the attached brake line  30  will move in unison with the directional movement of either one of the fly-lines  28  and  32 . Accordingly, it is to be understood that increases or decreases in acceleration are also obtainable while the surfer turns the control bar  12 , and thus the kite, for movement in a particular direction.  
         [0033]     Preferably, each of the control lines  28 ,  30  and  32 , as well as the closed loop cable  63 , are provided as cabling constructed of nylon rope so as to provide high durability and flexibility. It is to be understood that other such materials providing similar properties and characteristics could also be used.  
         [0034]     Accordingly, there is provided an apparatus for controlling movement of a flying device, whereby such apparatus enables greater control to be exerted over the use of the flying device.  
         [0035]     While the foregoing describes certain preferred embodiments, it is to be recognized that one of ordinary skill in the art could adopt other forms thereof; accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.