Improvements in and relating to Kites and Parachutes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 8th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Kites and Parachutes.
1, WILLIAM HENRY RHODES, of 5 Lime Grove, Longsight, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention is divided into several parts or heads and relates not only to
improvements in the construction of kites and parachutes but also consists in a
novel method of combining a parachute with a kite as hereinafter explained.
My principal object is to enable a parachute to travel up from the ground by
the line by which the kite is held captive and without any other motive power
than that supplied by the wind pressure, and to arrange that when the parachute
has reached the kite or attained any lesser height desired it will be automatically
released and will gradually descend to the ground.
I will first describe how I accomplish the above mentioned object. I employ a
parachute preferably of the improved construction hereinafter described although any
other suitable construction of parachute might be employed; and I secure to the
point or apex of the parachute a loop or eyelet with a narrow opening or a split ring
set transversely in an open guide or slot. The line attached to and confining the kite
is made of two diameters the greater length of the line being of such thickness that it
will not pass through the opening in the loop or equivalent on the parachute but
a short length near the kite or at other desired point is smaller and will pass freely
through. In order not to weaken the line the short thin portion could be of wire
or other strong material. When the kite flying and the line is passed through
the loop or equivalent on the open parachute the wind acting on the latter causes it
to-travel up the line until reaching the thin part of the line and being prevented
from rising higher by a knot or by a stop fixed thereon the parachute is auto-
matically released by the thin part of the line slipping through the narrow opening
in the loop or equivalent and then the open parachute escaping falls gradually to
the earth. It should be noticed that the parachute when rising is kept steady and
prevented from twisting round and becoming entangled with the line by the open
guide or slot.
My previously mentioned improvements in the construction of the parachute consist
in making the framework of two flexible ribs or arms of any suitable elastic
material such as cane and pivoting them upon the central rod to the end of which
the loop or split ring is attached. These flexible ribs or arms the ends of which
form four points of attachment for the covering always tend to spring open by
their own elasticity and yet allow the parachute to be shut up or folded flat when
required.
The fabric employed as the covering of the parachute is preferably perforated
according to my improvements so as to obtain lightness.
My improvements in the construction of kites consist chiefly in making the breast
bone or cross piece in two pieces and in attaching them to the back bone or
standard of the kite by a spring hinge or equivalent connection which will allow
the wings or covering of the kite to yield temporarily to any excessive wind
pressure and thereby relieve the extreme tension which would otherwise be placed
upon the line.
Dated this 7th day of November 1889.
· H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Kites and Parachutes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY RHODES; of 5 Lime Grove, Longsight Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention is divided into several parts or heads and relates not only to
improvements in the construction of kites and parachutes but also consists in a
novel method of combining a parachute with a kite as hereinafter explained.
My.principal object is to enable a parachute to travel up from the ground by
the line by which the kite is held captive and without any other motive power
than that supplied by the wind pressure, and to arrange that when the parachute
has reached the kite or attained any lesser height desired it will be automatically
released and will gradually descend to the ground.
I will first describe how I accomplish the above mentioned object and for this
purpose will refer to Figures 1 and 2 of the sheets of drawings hereunto annexed
which illustrate the method of combining a parachute with a kite according to my
invention.
I employ a parachute a preferably of the improved construction hereinafter
described and as shown in Fig. 2 although any other suitable construction of
parachute might be employed; and I secure to the point or apex of the parachute
a split ring or a loop or eyelet 6 with a narrow opening 61 set transversely in an
open guide or slot c secured to the end of the central rod or stem d.
The line attached to and confining the kite e is made of two diameters, the
greater length of the line being of such thickness that it will not pass through the
opening in the loop or equivalent bon the parachute a; but a short length at X
near the kite or at other desired point as for example at Y is smaller and will
pass freely through the said opening. In order not to weaken the line such short
thin portions would be made of wire or other strong material.
When the kite e is flying and the line is passed through the loop or equiva-
lent b, either by threading the end of the line through said loop or passing
the thin portion at Y. through the opening 6, the wind acting on the open parachute a
causes it to travel up the line f until reaching the thin part at X and being pre-
vented from rising higher by a knot or by a stop f¹ fixed thereon the parachute a
is automatically released by the thin part of the line slipping through the narrow
opening b¹ and then the open parachute escaping falls gradually to the earth. It.
should be noticed that the parachute when rising is kept steady and prevented from
twisting round and becoming entangled with the line ƒ by the open guide or slot c
and as it descends it is kept steady by the weight h.
My previously mentioned improvements in the construction of the parachute
consist as illustrated by Fig. 2 in making the framework of two or more flexible ribs
or arms of any suitable elastic or flexible material such as cane, and pivoting them
upon the central rod d between a collar d' and a wing nut j thereon. The ends of
these flexible ribs or arms i form four, or more, in this case as three are employed
they form six points of attachment for the covering of the parachute. The flexible
ribs or arms i while always tending to spring open by their own elasticity, yet allow
the parachute to be shut up or folded flat when required. To keep the arms i
perfectly firm and steady when open I prefer to employ the small recessed cap or
distance piece k which is formed to fit over them and is retained in position by any
convenient means such as an india rubber band or other light spring.
The fabric employed as the covering of the parachute. is preferably. perforated.
according to my improvements so as to obtain lightness.
My improvement in the construction of kites is illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7 and
consists in making the breast bone or cross piece in two pieces or in one piece of
flexible material such as wooden lath and in^attaching them or it to the backbone or

page_text: standard m of the kite by a hinge and springs n or an equivalent connection which
will allow the wings or covering of the kite to yield temporarily to any excessive wind
pressure and thereby relieve the extreme tension which would otherwise be placed
upon the line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination for the purposes herein set forth with a kite provided with a
line made of two diameters, of a parachute having attached to its apex an open guide
in which is set transversely an eyelet with a narrow opening.
2. The herein described improvements, in the construction of parachutes, which
consist chiefly in forming the framework of flexible ribs or arms pivoted on
the central rod or stem of the parachute substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
3. The improvement in the construction of kites, which consists in the use and
application of springs combined with a flexible or yielding breast bone or cross piece
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 2nd day of Angust 1890
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.