Abstract:
A flying kite designed to be visible when flown in low light conditions. The flying kite includes a body that is generally triangular in shape and configured in a substantially planar manner. The flying kite also comprises a frame that provides structural support for the body. The frame includes three corner frame members and three longitudinal frame members that are interposed the corner frame members. The longitudinal frame members further include two compartments having disposed therein the chemicals necessary to create chemical luminescence subsequent to distressing the frame members. The flying kite further includes two pockets for receiving therein a conventional glowstick.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a flying device, more specifically to a flying kite that is designed to be visible in low light conditions by utilizing chemical luminescence. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In the history of flight, the exact date and origin of the kite is not know but it is believed that kites were first flown in China more than two thousand years ago. The earliest written account of kite flying is about 200 B.C. when the Chinese General Han Hsin of the Han dynasty flew a kite over the walls of a city he was attacking to measure how far his army would have to tunnel to reach past the defenses. Kite flying was eventually spread by traders from China to Korea, and across Asia to India. Each area adopting a distinctive style of kite and cultural purpose for flying them. 
         [0003]    Men like Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Wilson used their knowledge of kite flying to learn more about the wind and the weather. Many early aviators such as the Wright Brothers experimented with kites which contributed to the development of the airplane. The US Weather service flew kites designed by William Eddy and Lawrence Hargraves to raise meteorological instruments and cameras. Kites were even used in the 19 th  century to pull a carriage at speeds of twenty miles per hour. Kites were used as recently as World War II to prevent airplanes from flying to low over targets. Diamond shaped kites were even used for target practice and aircraft recognition at sea during World War II. 
         [0004]    Modern times have seen the kite relegated from military and scientific purposes to solely recreational flying. Recreational kite flying is enjoyed by millions of individuals around the world. 
         [0005]    One problem with kite flying is that it is restricted to visible light hours. Individuals who wish to engage in the recreational sport of kite flying must do so when there is enough visible light to see the kite. Flying a kite in low light conditions or at night is virtually impossible. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a flying kite that has the ability to be flown in low light or night time conditions and retain the ability to be easily seen by the operator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is the object of the present invention to provide a flying kite that has the ability to be visible to its operator in low light or night time conditions. 
         [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a flying kite that has the ability to be visible to its operator in low light conditions that utilizes chemical luminescence as a method of illuminating the flying kite. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a flying kite that has the ability to be visible to its operator in low light conditions that utilizes chemical luminescence as a method of illuminating that is easy to fly. 
         [0010]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flying kite that has the ability to be visible to its operator in low light conditions that utilizes chemical luminescence as a method of illuminating that is relatively inexpensive. 
         [0011]    To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a to view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a section of the frame and its luminescent device of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a section of the frame of an embodiment of the present invention and its insertable luminescent device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to the embodiments in  FIG. 1 through 3 , and wherein the various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein like elements are identified with like reference numerals, there is illustrated the components of a preferred embodiment of a flying kite  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
         [0017]    The flying kite  100  is comprised of a body  10  that is configured in a substantially planar manner. The body  10  is manufactured from a durable lightweight material such as but not limited to cloth or plastic. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body  10  be manufactured from a transparent or translucent material. As shown in  FIG. 1  submitted herewith, the body  10  is generally triangular in shape. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the body  10  could be numerous different shapes in addition to and/or in conjunction with the shape as shown in the embodiment in  FIG. 1 . More specifically but not by way of limitation, the body  10  could be diamond shaped. The body  10  functions as the sail for the flying kite  100  providing the needed shape to create lift thus allowing the flying kite  100  to become airborne under the correct conditions of wind speed. Although no particular size of the body  10  is required, good results have been achieved with a lateral edge  105  that is approximately two to three feet in length. Furthermore, good results have been achieved with a bottom peripheral edge  110  intermediate the corners  115 ,  120  having a length of four to five feet. 
         [0018]    Contiguously mounted to the body  10  on opposing corners  115 ,  120  are the keel members  30  which are manufactured from the same material as the body  10  described herein. The keel members  30  function to control the side to side flight attitude of the flying kite  100  when the flying kite  100  is airborne. Although the keel members  30  are shown in the drawing submitted herewith as being generally angular in shape, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different shapes of keel members  30  could be utilized on the body  10  to achieve the function as described herein. 
         [0019]    A towing connection  40  is integrally mounted to the body  10 . The towing connection  40  is centrally mounted to the body  10  by conventional mechanical or chemical methods such as but not limited to heat welding. The towing connection  40  is manufactured from durable flexible material such as but not limited to plastic. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different materials could be utilized to manufacture the towing connection  40 . The towing connection  40  further includes an eyelet  50 . The eyelet  50  is an aperture that is generally annular in shape. The eyelet  50  is of sufficient diameter to have journaled therethrough a commonly used towline such as but not limited to string. 
         [0020]    Adjacent to the towing connection  40  and mounted on each side thereof are pockets  60 . The pockets  60  are disposed within the body  10  and are generally parallel with the towing connection  40 . The pockets  60  are generally rectangular in shape and have an opening  65  and are substantially hollow and configured to receive therein an illuminating device such as a conventional glowstick. Although in the drawings submitted herewith two pockets  60  are illustrated, those skilled in the art should recognize that numerous different amounts of pockets  60  could be disposed within the body  10 . Furthermore, those skilled in the art should recognize that the pockets  60  could be disposed within the body  10  in a plurality of locations. 
         [0021]    Superposed to each corner  20  are the corner frame members  70 . The corner frame members  70  are secured to the corners  20  by suitable mechanical or chemical methods such as but not limited to friction, gluing or heat welding. The corner frame members  70  are generally angular in shape and are manufactured from suitable durable and lightweight material such as plastic tubing. While in the drawings submitted herewith the corner frame members  70  are shown as being substantially tubular in shape, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the corner frame members  70  could be manufactured from rectangular tubing. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the corner frame members  70  could be numerous different shapes in order to correspond with different shapes of corners  20 . 
         [0022]    The corner frame members  70  have two ends  75  with apertures  85 . The apertures  85  are of sufficient diameter to receive therein one end  90  of the frame members  80 . The corner frame members  70  are substantially hollow and configured to receive therein the frame members  80 . The corner frame members  70  are releasably secured to the frame members  80  to comprise the frame  140 . The frame  140  provides structural support for the flying kite  100 . 
         [0023]    Intermediate each corner frame member  70  and generally parallel with the peripheral edges  130  of the body  10  are the frame members  80 . The frame members  80  are generally cylindrical in shape and are substantially disposed along the peripheral edges  130  functioning to connect the corner frame members  70  to form a frame  140 . The frame members  80  are manufactured from a translucent plastic tube having two internal compartments that contain chemicals that are used to create light or chemical luminescence. 
         [0024]    As is known to those skilled in the art, a chemical luminescence device is typically a plastic cylindrical rod that contains two chemical fluids in two different compartments. One compartment contains one chemical fluid and the other compartment contains another chemical fluid. The compartments are brittle and are generally manufactured from glass or brittle plastic. A user will distress the frame member  80  before inserting into the apertures  85  of opposing corner frame members  70 . Subsequent to distressing the frame member  80 , the internal compartments of the frame member  80  rupture thereby allowing the two chemicals substantially disposed within each compartment to combine. This causes a chemical reaction that result in the emission of light but not necessarily heat. 
         [0025]    The chemicals contained within the internal compartments of the frame member  80  are hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate ester. Further, the compartment containing the phenyl oxalate ester contains an additional fluorescent dye that is used to produce a color when the two chemicals combine. The combination of phenyl oxalate ester and hydrogen peroxide cause the ester to oxidize giving out two molecules of phenol and one molecule of peroxyacid. The peroxyacid decomposes spontaneously to carbon dioxide, releasing energy that excites a fluorescent dye that then de-excites by releasing a photon. The wavelength of the photon depends on the structure of the dye. Different dyes results in different colors. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different types of fluorescent dye could be utilized within the frame member  80  to produce a variety of different colors. More specifically but not by way of limitation, 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl) anthracene can be used to produce a green light and 9,10-diphenylanthracene to produce a blue light. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the frame member  80  could have disposed therein within two internal compartments other chemicals that could be utilized to create chemical luminescence. More specifically but not by way of limitation, sodium salicylate, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, bis(phenyl) oxalate and bis(2,4,5-trichlorophenol-6-carbopentoxyphenyl)oxalate. 
         [0026]    It is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the frame member  80  could have disposed therein other conventional light emitting devices. More specifically but not by way of limitation, a conventional LED light could be substantially disposed within the frame member  80  along with a small power supply to provide power to the lights. Although it is not illustrated in the drawings submitted herewith, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention, that the frame member  80  could be comprised of a conventional plastic tube having access thereon that would allow a user to place within the hollow frame member  80  a light emitting device such as a conventional glowstick. 
         [0027]    Referring now in particular to  FIG. 1 , a description of the operation of the flying kite  100  is as follows. In use, a user will place the body  10  of the flying kite  100  on a suitable horizontal support structure with the corner frame members  70  facing in a generally upward direction. The user will then distress the tubular frame members  80  and insert each end  90  into an aperture  85  of the corner frame members  70  on opposing corners  20 . When the frame member  80  is distressed it causes the two compartments disposed therein to rupture thus creating the chemical luminescence as described herein. The user continues to complete the frame  140  by inserting the frame members  80  into opposing corner frame members  70  until all of the corner frame members  70  have disposed therebetween a frame member  80 . The user then secures an appropriate line or string to the towing connection  40  utilizing the eyelet  50 . If desired, the user can insert additional chemical luminescent devices substantially in the pocket  60  in the body  10  for added visual effect. The user then flies the flying kite  100  as is known in the art. 
         [0028]    In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.