IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KITES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedgo
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF KITES."-A communication from abroad by Joseph Louis
Horsin, of the Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France.
Sealed the 4th December 1863, and dated the 8th June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th June 1863.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KITES," a communication to me from abroad by Joseph
Louis Horsin, of the Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
The kites the subject of this Invention may be termed pocket kites, and
will be composed of a jointed frame or skeleton formed of small pieces (say of
wood), united together by bolts so riveted that the pieces may fold the one
upon the other like a folding rule. These small pieces of wood when united

page_text: form six principal parts of the frame or skeleton, starting from a common
centre, and consolidating the different parts of the cloth or covering of the
kite. The loose ends of the ribs or radiating arms of the skeleton carry a
small notch, which permits their being fastened to the covering, which may be
of any suitable material, and which will be furnished with strings or loops by
which it will be fastened to the skeleton. The materials employed may
vary, and also the proportions, form, color, ornamentation, and other
accessories.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year. of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF KITES," a communication to me
from abroad by Joseph Louis Horsin, of the Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto
annexed, and forming part of this Specification, and to the letters of referenco
placed on the Diagram drawn thereon:-
The object of this Invention is to obviate the inconveniences and annoyances
attending the carriage and use of kites as hitherto constructed, especially if of
any size, and the kite the result of the improvements herein-after described
and illustrated on the annexed Sheet of Drawing, and which may be termed
pocket kite, inasmuch as it may be carried in the pocket without incon-
venience, fully effects the object in view.
a
This improved kite is composed of a jointed carcase or skeleton c, formed of
small ribs of wood united together by means of small riveted bolts b, which
permit them to fold one on the other like a folding or pocket rule. These
small ribs when united form six principal parts of the skeleton, starting from a
common centre m, and radiating or spreading so as to consolidate the different
parts of the cloth or covering of the kite. This carcase or skeleton may also
be made of metal, whalebone, or other suitable material. The free or loose
ends of the rays or arms of the skeleton are slightly notched to permit the
cloth or covering of the kite to be fixed to them. This covering may be of
any material which may be found suitable, and be fixed to the skeleton by
small cords or strings attached to it, or by small loops or bands of india-rubber
or other elastic material. When the kite is to be used unfold and spread out
the arms of the skeleton, as shewn on the Drawing, and pass them through
the loops or bands of the covering, or lay the skeleton on the cloth or covering
(unfolded and spread out), and fasten them together by strings passing in the
notches of the arms or ribs round the centre and elsewhere if great solidity is
desired. When the kite is no longer in use untie the cloth or covering from
the skeleton, fold the arms or ribs of the skeleton one on the other, wrap the
cloth round the folded skeleton, and it may be placed with the tail (which
should be provided with a little bag to contain ballast) in a bag, which, even
if the kite be of large size, may be conveniently carried in the pocket.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and means by
which it is carried into practical effect, I desire it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the use of any special material for the manufacture of
the skeleton or of the covering of this improved kite, or to any size, shape,
proportion, color, or ornament, or to the precise details herein set forth, as
such may be varied infinitely; but what I claim is, the exclusive use of a
kite the skeleton of which may be attached to and removed from the cloth or
covering at pleasure, and which being jointed may be folded together into a

page_text: reduced compass, substantially as herein-before described and shewn.on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawing...
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
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