Improvements in Kites.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Kites.
I, WILLIAM ABNER EDDY, of 32, East 3rd Street, Bayonne, New Jersey,
United States of America, Expert Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
My invention relates to the construction of a kite without tail as I shall
describe referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the rear or upper face of a kite according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line of Fig. 1, showing in full and
hatched lines the natural sag of the fabric cover when the kite lies horizontally
and is not in use and, by dot and dash lines, the bellying of the cover by pres-
sure of the wind when the kite is in use, the dotted line indicating the bridle
by which the kite is held.
Fig. 3 is a cross section taken just in front of the cross-bar and looking toward
the rear showing the slack of the cover and the construction of the cross-bar,
and the truss wire which maintains the curvature of the cross-bar.
Fig. 4 is a detail of the locking device for the joint at the intersection of the
upright and cross bars.
Fig.
shows in detached detail the clips for that joint.
Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the ferrules for the ends of the bars, showing means
for attaching the eye upon the kite cover; and Fig. 7 is a detached detail of the
same.
2 is the straight longitudinal bar which forms the backbone of the kite. 3 is
the cross-bar preferably slightly curved, as shown, with the convex face presented
forward. This bar is secured upon the longitudinal bar at a point preferably
about one-fifth of the length of the latter from its top. The curvature of the
cross-bar is maintained by means of the truss wire 4, the tension of which may
be adjusted to vary the curvature. On the rear or concave side of the cross-bar
is a brace 5, which serves to strengthen the bar at its junction with the longi-
tudinal bar as shown in Figs. and 5. The longitudinal bar 2 passes between
the cross bar 3 and the brace 5, and is held firmly by means of a pair of similar
sheet metal clips A and B. Each of these is stamped out so as to form a medial
or body portion, which bears the one against the front, the other against the rear
face of the cross-bar and brace with an opening 8 through which passes the
longitudinal bar 2, and a tongue 1 which is secured the one upon the top, the
other on the bottom face of the bar 2, by any suitable means such as an eye
screw 9. The upper edge 10 and the lower edge of the clip B are bent over at
right angles, and furnished with teeth 12 to be driven into the cross-bar 3 and
brace 5. The clip A has its upper and lower edges bent over at right angles so
as to overlap and partially embrace the clip B and the bars 3 and 5, the clips
thus together making a very firm and rigid lock for the crossed bars.
At the
end of each of the bars I provide a sheet metal ferrule or thimble C, shown in
Figs. 6 and 7, which is secured in place preferably by eye screws 13, the metal

page_text: at the outer end being turned in to bear upon the end of the bar. The ferrule
is also formed with a tongue 14, having a double bend so as to set it off from the
bar, this serving as a hook upon which an eye or a ring 15 fastened to the edge
of the cover 16 is slipped, as shown in Fig. 6. This cover 16 is made preferably
of suitable fabric and, while in shape-conforming substantially to the lines con-
necting the ends of the bars, it is wider along the line of the cross-bar than the
length of the cross-bar. It is preferably hemmed along its edges and has
threaded into the hem a wire or cord guy 17, holding the rings 15, so that when the
rings are all attached to their respective hooks the cords or wires are drawn
tight and the cross bars are stayed and strengthened. The greater width of
the cover is taken up by gathers or folds along the portions of the wires or guys
which are at the top of the kite, as indicated by the shade lines in Fig. 1. Con-
sequently when the kite is held face downward in a horizontal position, as
indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the fabric sags downward, but when presented to
the wind the pressure of the wind causes the fabric to be bellied out in each
triangle, as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. This bellying of the
fabric produces pockets which serve to steady and support the kite, particularly
in light winds. The dotted line 18 indicates the bridle, one end of which is
attached to the end of the bar 2 and the other end to the connection of the two
bars. The line cord 19 is connected at any suitable point in the loop of the
bridle as indicated in Fig. 2.
By this construction I produce a kite which may be manufactured and trans-
ported in separate parts which can be readily assembled by unskilled persons,
and which when put together can be used in very light winds without a tail.
The fixing of the cross-bar at the point described on the longitudinal bar, causes
the kite to sail very nearly in a horizontal position and increases its efficiency.
The cross-bar may however be placed farther from the top. Also the curvature
of the cross bar may be dispensed with but the most satisfactory results particu-
larly in strong winds are obtained when the cross-bar has a slight curvature.
For convenience of assembling the parts, the clips A and B are fixed on the
cross-bar and its brace, leaving openings 8 through which the longitudinal bar
is thrust, one of its end ferrules having been temporarily detached, after which
the tongues 1 of the clips are secured to the bar 2 and its ferrule is replaced.
The end of the bridle 18 for attachment to the cross-bar is also preferably passed
through the cover and knotted on each side thereof to prevent them from being
separated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A kite constructed substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
2. In combination with the longitudinal bar and the cross bar and its brace,
the sheet metal clips made and fixed substantially as described.
3. In combination with the bars constituting the frame the fabric cover of
greater width, gathered substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The sheet metal ferrules at the ends of the frame bars and the rings at the
angles of the cover for fixing the cover, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of June 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.