Patent Publication Number: US-6336607-B1

Title: Kite line reeler and controller

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to controllers for light weight airborne devices such as kites, model airplanes, and the like, and more particularly, to apparatus for storing and releasing a plurality of lines to such devices on spools and means for controlling tension on the individual lines to control flight of the devices. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     When flying a kite, the simplest control is a single line on a spool. For better control, and for manipulation of more sophisticated kites such as stunt kites, three lines attached at different sites on the kite enable the operator to turn the kite and change its attitude. Kite line winders and controllers are well known, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,010 issued to Curtis is for two lines. A single spool has grooves for receiving two lines. The lines pass through spaced-apart guides to enable turns to be made by simply twisting the device. A frictional drag is mounted in a groove between the two line grooves. No facility is provided for a third line or for disengaging the winding crank when not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,739 issued to Barber is for three or four lines that fit into separate grooves on a common spool. A winding handle always rotates with the spool. A brake is applied by manually applying pressure to a lever. It would be desirable to have a line winder and controller for multiple lines in which each line were on a separate spool, so that the lines could be easily replaced with fresh, untangled lines already on replacement spools. It would also be useful to have an adjustable drag to prevent backlash when releasing line, in which the drag could be preset and the crank did not rotate during line release. It would also be useful if the drag were disconnected and an anti reverse mechanism were operative during wind up. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a line winder and controller for two or more lines in which each line is wound on a separate spool that can be easily replaced while all of the spools are rotated by a common crank that does not turn when line is being released. It is another object that the winder have a presettable drag that is disengaged during wind up. 
     The apparatus of the invention comprises a line winder and controller that winds each of a plurality of lines on separable spools that can be rotated together by a single handle. It includes a presettable drag that is engaged when line is being released to prevent backlash, and that is disengaged during wind up. The winding handle or crank is disengaged during line release. An anti reverse mechanism is disengaged by a manual, spring loaded pushbutton. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when the detailed description is studied in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements are designated by like reference characters in the various drawing figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a top view of the apparatus of the invention, partially broken away. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken on line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . with crank in stored position. 
     FIG. 3 is side elevation view of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a detail as in FIG. 2 with the crank in wind up position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing figures, the apparatus  1  of the invention is a hand-held controller that keeps three kite lines  2 , 3 , 4  spaced apart from each other as they exit their spools  5 , 6 , 7 , so that the kite may be maneuvered by selectively pulling lines by simply moving the housing  8 . The spools are received in recess  1  in housing  8 . Housing  8  has a front face  9  and a back face  10 . Each line leaves its spool and passes around a low friction guide roller  14  located at a different edge of the housing to separate the lines. The spools are rotatably mounted on axle  12 . Axle  12  is rotatably mounted on back face  10  by bearing  13  that allows translatory motion of the axle. Each spool has a pin  22  and a pin receiving recess  23 , so that the spools, when mounted on the axle, will rotate together. Any spool can be easily removed and replaced, as desired by simply opening the top cover  33 . A drag adjusting knob  20  is threadedly mounted in the cover  33 . Between the knob  20  and the top spool  5  is a friction washer  21 . A compression spring  24  forces the spools against the friction washer. By adjusting the knob, the degree of drag restraining release of line may by preset to avoid backlash and loss of kite control. 
     Upper gear  27  and lower gear  26  have peripheral teeth  29 , and they also have teeth  28  on their faces, which mesh together when juxtaposed. A ratchet pawl  30  is biased by torsion spring  31  to engage the peripheral teeth  29  of the upper gear. This prevents rotation in the line release direction and permits rotation in the wind up direction. A manual release button  32  disengages the pawl to allow rotation of upper gear  27  in line release direction. Recess  23  in the upper gear engages pin  22  in the lowest spool so that the upper gear and spools always rotate together. Thus the upper gear  27  is free to rotate on the axle, and the ratchet prevents spool rotation. The lower gear is fixed to the axle by key  34  in keyway  35 . A crank arm  16  with rotatably mounted winding handle  15  is pivotally mounted to the end of axle  12  by an off center pivot pin  17 . The crank arm is movable on the pivot pin through 180 degrees between a first, or wind up, position in which the handle is extended for use, and a second, or line release position, in which the handle is recessed. 
     In the first position, the offsetting of the pivot causes the axle to be pulled down away from the drag washer, thereby removing the drag during wind up. Clamp lock  25  affixed to the axle pulls the upper gear  27  down so that its face teeth  28  mesh with the face teeth  28  of the lower gear  26 . Disc  37  is also keyed to the axle. It is provided with a pair of projections  36 , between which the crank arm fits. This stabilizes the arm and provides leverage in rotating the axle. Movement of the crank arm now rotates the spools, because the lower gear is attached to the axle and the spools are attached to the upper gear by their pins  22 . Because the ratchet is operational, there is no release of line. 
     In the second, or release, position of the arm, the axle moves upward. The handle is stowed away. The upper and lower gears are no longer meshed, so that the spools are free to rotate on the axle, with two restraints. Because the axle is forced upward by compression spring  24 , the drag, or friction, washer is compressed between the drag adjusting knob and the upper spool, thereby adjustably resisting release of line. The ratchet mechanism remains operative, and is removed selectively when the operator presses the manual release button  32 . The line is then released under the restraint of the drag. 
     The above disclosed invention has a number of particular features which should preferably be employed in combination, although each is useful separately without departure from the scope of the invention. While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in form and arrangement of parts and the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made within the underlying idea or principles of the invention.