Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jure, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
I, BADEN FLETCHER SMYTH BADEN-POWELL, Lieutenant in the Army, of
The Guards' Club London do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
follows:-
This invention has special reference to a kite used for raising a man in the air
though it is also applicable for all other purposes to which a kite may be applied.
The kite consists of a covering of canvas or other suitable material preferably
of a more or less hexagonal shape, stretched upon a framework made of flexible
rods of bamboo, hollow steel, or other light & strong substance. The frame is
placed at the back of the covering, that is on the side away from that on which the
wind impinges. It consists of a "backbone" running down the centre of the kite
from top to bottom, preferably consisting of two spars placed side by side at an
interval of about one tenth the width of the kite and connected together at the top
and the bottom, as well as by short crosspicces or "stretchers placed across to
connect the two and keep them at the desired distance apart.
"
The covering is held out transversely by a number of crosspieces or "ribs" at
right angles to the backbone, the covering being attached by means of rings and
lanyards to their outer extremities.
These crosspieces being of flexible material will be bent back by the wind and
thus a more or less convex surface will be presented to it's action.
Two retaining cords are used, being attached by bridles or crowfeet to the frame
in such a manner that the pull of the cords will bear on points on each side of the
central axis of the kite. The lower, or ground, ends of the cords should be fixed
some distance apart. No "tail" such as is generally applied to kites is then
requisite.
The man or weight to be lifted is suspended from below the kite.
Dated this Tunnin and day of Tune 1003
I, BADEN FLETCHER SMYTH BADEN-POWELL, Lieutenant Scots Guards, of
The Guards' Club S.W. London 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:-
This invention relates to an improved form of kite and to the manner in which
the same is caused to fly steadily in the air, having special reference to a kite used
for raising a man, though it is also applicable to a kite for carrying a photographic
camera an explosive bomb, or other object and to all other purposes to which a kite
may be applied.

page_text: With this object employ the apparatus as illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Fig. 1. shows the general plan of the kite, which consists of a covering of canvas
or other suitable material (A A) preferably of a more or less hexagonal shape
stretched upon a framework made of flexible rods of bamboo, hollow steel, or other
light and strong substance. The frame is placed at the back of the covering that
is on the side away from that on which the wind impinges.
a a a is the "backbone" running down the centre of the kite from top to bottom
preferably consisting of two spars placed side by side at an interval of about one
tenth the width of the kite, and connected together at the top and at the bottom as
well as by short crosspieces or "stretchers" (c. c.) placed across to connect the two
and keep them at the desired distance apart.
The covering is held out transversely by a number of crosspieces or ribs (b. b. b)
at right angles to the backbone, the covering being attached by means of rings &
lanyards to their outer extremities.
These crosspieces being of flexible material will be bent back by the wind and
thus a more or less convex surface will be presented to it's action.
Two retaining cords (ee Fig. 2.) are used being attached by bridles or crows-
feet (d. d d) or otherwise to the frame in such a manner that the pull of the cords
will hear on two points, one un each side of the central axis of the kite, the lower
or ground ends of the cords being held or fixed some distance apart. By this
arrangement the kite is caused to fly steadily and no tail," such as is generally
applied to kites, is then requisite.
The man, or weight to be lifted is suspended from the cords below the kite usually
in a basket or car (^).
Fig. 2. shows a side elevation of the kite while flying in the air.
Fig. 3. shows another variety in the form of the kite, in which the backbone (a a)
consists of one piece only, the top of the kite is curved and fastened to a curved
cross piece, and diagonal spars (y g) are added.
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. A kite of the form and construction as herein described.
2. A kite retained by two cords fixed so as to bear on two points one on eacli
side of the central axis of the kite for the purpose specified.
Dated this Sixteenth day of March 1895.
B. F. S. BADEN-POWELL.