Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURES 
     This disclosure is a continuation-in-part of an earlier disclosure filed Feb. 18, 2000 by the same inventor, Ser. No. 09/506,891, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,816, entitled “Miniature Kites And Method For Making Them,” which is hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure: 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, generally, to a method for making a miniature kite. More particularly, it relates to a method that ensures the kite will fly in an optimal manner. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Kites and construction techniques for making them are well known but there are a number of problems with such construction methods when the size of the kite is reduced to approximately the size of an index card. 
     A very small kite has utility as a novelty item because, unlike a full-size kite, it can be flown indoors. Those who have office jobs cannot enjoy full size kites during working hours. However, a miniature kite can be tethered to a small portable fan, or other source of blowing air, and enjoyed by office workers. A gaily-colored miniature flying kite with long flowing tails in flight is as delightful indoors as is a full-sized kite when flown outdoors. Accordingly, a miniature kite flying in an office has great stress-reducing qualities, and provides an aesthetically pleasing, mobile display that enlivens a sterile office or cubicle environment. 
     The construction of a small, very light-in-weight kite, however, is somewhat problematic. For example, it is difficult to accurately attach the kite line to the kite tab and the kite tab to the kite body. A nimble-fingered worker can do the job quite well, but it is difficult to maintain the same consistent quality of work throughout a workday. Moreover, the attaching of the kite line or string to the kite tab is a critical positioning, as is the positioning of the kite tab to the kite body. 
     What is needed, then, is an improved method for making a miniature kite. The needed method should produce miniature kites of consistently high quality, should make the assembler&#39;s job easy, and should lower the level of skill required to perform the assembly task. Moreover, the quantity of kites that could be manufactured per hour should be high so that the cost of each kite to the consumer could be low. 
     There is also a need for a miniature kite that is aerodynamically designed so that it may also be flown indoors and outdoors in a very low speed breeze. 
     However, at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the kite-making art how an ideal miniature kite could be constructed. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     This inventive method is new, useful and nonobvious. The novel method for making a miniature kite includes the steps of forming from tissue paper a kite body of predetermined configuration. The kite body has a longitudinal axis of symmetry, a transverse axis, a leading end and a trailing end. At least a firs t elongate support member is secured to a first side of the kite body and a t least a second elongate support member is secured to said first side of said kite body as well. A tab or flap member of triangular configuration is also formed from tissue paper and secured to the kite body at a critical location. The flap member has an apex opposite from a longest side of the triangle. 
     A preselected edge of the flap member is secured to a second side of the kite body in parallel, spaced apart relation to the longitudinal axis of the kite body. The flap member is folded to position an unsecured part of the flap member in a flap plane substantially normal to a plane of the kite body. The flap plane passes through the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the kite body. The flap member is positioned so that the apex is positioned between the leading end of the kite body and a preselected transverse axis of the kite body, and in predetermined spaced relation to a plane of the kite body when the flap is deployed normal to the kite body. 
     An elongate thread is wound about a card and a free end of the thread is secured to an apex of the flap member. The card supplants a conventional dowel pin of the type commonly used for storing a kite string. Use of a flat, light-in-weight card reduces production time, material cost, and shipping expenses. It also enables a user to play out and collect lengths of kite string more efficiently than when using a dowel pin. Moreover, it facilitates the removal of the novel kite from its package and the re-packaging of the kite as well. 
     An elongate tail means is then secured to the trailing end of a preselected side of the kite body, and the completed assembly is prepared for shipping. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the predetermined configuration of the kite body is a diamond configuration. In additional embodiments, the predetermined configuration is triangular, star-shaped, rectangular, or oval. Other geometric shapes are within the scope of this invention because the shape of the kite body is not the innovative part of the invention. 
     It is therefore understood that a primary object of this invention is to provide fast and efficient means for making miniature kites of consistently high quality. 
     A closely related .object is to lower the skill level required for miniature kite assembly so that such kites can be economically produced. 
     Another important object is to make a miniature kite from very lightweight materials so that it can fly in very low air movement conditions. 
     Yet another highly significant object is to provide a miniature kite having optimal aerodynamic properties. 
     These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a kite body formed of tissue paper after a first frame member has been secured thereto; 
     FIG. 2 depicts the kite body of FIG. 1 after a second frame member has been secured thereto; 
     FIG. 3A depicts the step of applying an adhesive to a flap; 
     FIG. 3B depicts the attachment of the flap to the kite body; 
     FIG. 3C depicts the step of attaching a free end of a kite thread to the flap; 
     FIG. 4A depicts the first step in a kite tail-attaching method; 
     FIG. 4B depicts the second step in said tail-attaching method; 
     FIG. 4C depicts the third step in said tail-attaching method; 
     FIG. 5 depicts how the kite is prepared for shipment; 
     FIG. 6A depicts a kite body of triangular configuration; 
     FIG. 6B depicts a kite body of five-pointed star configuration; 
     FIG. 6C depicts a kite body of substantially diamond-shaped configuration; 
     FIG. 6D depicts a kite body of rectangular configuration; 
     FIG. 6E depicts a kite body of substantially oval configuration; 
     FIG. 6F depicts a kite body of substantially triangular configuration; and 
     FIG. 6G depicts a kite body of substantially five-pointed star configuration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, it will there be seen that the preferred embodiment of the miniature kite body of this invention is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral  10 . Like standard kite bodies, it is substantially diamond-shaped, having a longitudinal extent that exceeds its transverse extent. The preferred longitudinal extent is about four and nine-sixteenths inches and the preferred transverse extent is about three and five-sixteenths inches. 
     The assembly table should be rotatable about a vertical axis, should have a dark color to contrast with the white glue used in the manufacturing process, and should be made of a material such as glass, Formica® or Plexiglas®. 
     In FIG. 1, a bamboo stick  12  is adhered to a first side of kite body  10 . Stick  12  is coincident with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of said kite body. Although the step of adhering bamboo stick  12  to kite body  10  might be accomplished by any suitable means, the preferred technique is to prepare white glue that has been diluted, and to brush that watered-down white glue onto a first side of bamboo stick  12 , being careful to apply the glue for the entire length of the stick. Another way to apply the glue is to grasp the stick with a pair of tweezers and to swipe the stick from one end to the other through a glue spot on the assembly table or through a flat-surfaced tray, thereby eliminating the need for a brush, increasing production, and facilitating glue application. Undiluted (full strength) glue is too thick for easy application to either the stick or the paper and wrinkles the tissue paper from which kite body  10  is made. Stick  12  is then positioned, while still holding it with tweezers, on the kite body in alignment with the longitudinal axis thereof as indicated in FIG.  1 . If the stick is bowed, it is a simple matter to straighten it before the glue dries by nudging it with a finger until it is straight. The stick is pressed lightly to promote adhesion, and the glue is allowed to cure. 
     A second, transversely disposed bamboo stick  14  is then adhered in the same manner to the kite body as depicted in FIG. 2, i.e., in alignment with the largest or maximum-size transverse axis of the kite body. If either or both bamboo sticks have a slight warp or curvature, then the convex side of the warp or curvature is disposed against the kite body to optimize the shape thereof for flying. Sticks  12  and  14  collectively form a frame that maintains the shape of the kite body. 
     To attach triangular-shaped tab or flap  32 , kite body  10  is inverted so that the side thereof to which bamboo sticks  12 ,  14  are adhered is facing down on the assembly table. A coin or clean pebble is placed on the kite body to prevent it from blowing away during the remaining steps of the method. 
     A narrow strip of adhesive  33  is applied to long edge  34  of flap  32  as indicated in FIG. 3A; the width of the adhesive strip is about one-eighth of an inch. However, as a practical matter, it is advantageous to apply narrow strip of adhesive  33  to kite body  10  instead of to flap  32 . Kite body  10  is larger and more stable than flap  32  when lying on a table so the application of adhesive  33  to such kite body is easier and faster than applying said adhesive to flap  32  as depicted. 
     Although a brush is depicted in FIG. 3A, it should be understood that use of a plastic applicator has some advantages over a brush. For example, a plastic applicator is superior to a brush when applying a clean thin line of adhesive to a surface. Accordingly, when applying adhesive to the kite body in preparation to attaching flap  32  to said kite body, a plastic applicator can make the strip of adhesive precisely the length of the flap edge and can position the strip of adhesive very close to vertical stick  12 . A mark such as a “&lt;” can also be made on handle of a plastic applicator and used to indicate the vertical position of flap  32  relative to horizontal bamboo stick  14 . Throughout this disclosure, it should be understood that all references to a brush should be interpreted as including a plastic applicator as well. 
     The glued edge of triangular flap  32  is pressed against the stick-free side of kite body  10 , in parallel but slightly offset relation to the longitudinal axis thereof, as depicted in FIG.  38 . More particularly, long edge  34  of flap  32  is positioned slightly to the left or right of longitudinal stick  12  (which is on the opposite side of kite body  10 ), depending upon the dominant handedness of the assembler, so that when the unglued part of flap  32  is folded along its glued edge, the main body of said flap is oriented normal to the plane of kite body  10  and in a plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of said kite body. Specifically, long edge  34  is positioned between one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch from said longitudinal axis. The top of the flap is positioned about three-quarters of an inch from leading end  11  of kite body  10 . This positions apex  32   a  of triangular flap  32  about one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch above transverse stick  14 . As used herein, the term “above ” means on the side of transverse stick  14  nearest said leading end. The leading end of kite body  10  is the top end thereof, as drawn in FIG. 3B, and is denoted  11  as aforesaid. 
     The positioning of said apex  32   a  about one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch from transverse stick  14 , on the leading side thereof, is of critical importance. This distance is denoted  33   b  in FIG.  3 B. This represents a critical positioning of said apex because it optimizes the aerodynamic features of the novel kite. For example, if apex  32   a  of triangular flap  32  were coincident with transverse stick  14 , i.e., if distance  33   b  were zero, the flight characteristics of the novel kite would be diminished vis a vis the optimal positioning disclosed herein. Since the one-eighth to one-fourth inch separation between apex  32   a  of triangular flap  32  and transverse stick  14  is optimal only for the specific size kite body mentioned above, it is clear that such distance would increase as the size of kite body  10  is increased and decrease as said size is reduced. In the broadest claim that follows this description, the apex of the triangular flap is recited as being between the leading end of the kite body and the longest transverse axis of the kite body. Transverse stick  14  is coincident with said longest transverse axis as mentioned earlier. When the kite is in use, flap  32  is positioned normal to the plane of kite body  10 . Apex  32   a  is between leading end  11  of kite body  10  and the longest transverse axis  14  as aforesaid, but is spaced from the plane of kite body  10  by a distance predetermined by the size of flap  32 , which size is of course variable. The triangular shape of flap  32  may be divided by an imaginary line into two right triangles as indicated by imaginary line  33   a  in FIG.  3 A. Apex  32   a  is thus understood to be spaced from the plane of kite body  10  by a distance equal to the length of imaginary line  33   a  when flap  32  is in its deployed, in flight position. 
     About forty (40) yards of thread is wound in a uniform manner around a relatively stiff 3½“×5” inch card, preferably made of pressboard, denoted  36  in FIG. 5, on a thread-winding machine designed by the present inventor. 
     After flap  32  has been secured to kite body  10 , a free end of thread  27  is adhered to apex  32   a  of flap  32  as depicted in FIG.  3 C. Diluted white glue is applied by any suitable means to free end  27   a  of thread  27  for an extent of about one-half of an inch, and said glue-covered free end is then placed into overlying relation to flap  32  at apex  32   a . Although flap  32  could have a shape other than triangular, the use of a triangular-shaped flap has the advantage that it provides a clear apex to which thread  27  is attached. This removes all guesswork from the kite assembly and positions thread  27  at its optimal position. 
     The preferred embodiment of the novel miniature kite includes two tail ribbons, although different numbers thereof are within the scope of this invention. The ribbons are made of the same light-in-weight material as the kite body and flap. Each ribbon is preferably about nine-sixteenths of an inch in width and about thirty inches in length. A second pair of kite tails is provided in each kit of the commercial embodiment of the invention, for use in high winds. Specifically, the respective leading ends of the second pair of tails are attached to the respective trailing ends of the primary tails in such circumstance. 
     The ribbon attaching procedure is depicted in FIGS. 4A,  4 B, and  4 C. As indicated in FIG. 4A, the diluted glue is applied by a suitable brush means or plastic applicator to a first end of one of the ribbons; the glue extends from the leading end of ribbon  16  to a point about one-quarter inch from said end. The leading end of ribbon  1   8  is then pressed thereagainst and the two ribbons are joined to one another when the glue sets. The brush or plastic applicator is then used again to apply glue to an exterior surface of either ribbon, as indicated in FIG.  4 B. This glue extends from the end of the ribbon to a point about one-quarter inch from said end. The glued end of the ribbon is then pressed against kite body  10  at its trailing end as indicated in FIG.  4 C and the tail connecting procedure is finished when the glue cures. It is important to apply the tails squarely so that their respective longitudinal axes of symmetry are coincident with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the kite. 
     However, it has been found that an easier, faster and more accurate tail-attaching method is to lay a plurality of tails on the assembly table, apply glue to the tails with the plastic applicator, and to place the kite body—stick side down—onto the tails. This allows for a more accurate placement and alignment of the kite body to and with the tails so that they are squared relative to the longitudinal axis of the kite main body and in line with one another. 
     In the preferred embodiment, each ribbon of the ribbon pair is of a different color for artistic purposes. 
     The miniature kite is prepared for shipping by placing it into overlying relation to card  36  as depicted in FIG.  5 . Ribbons  16 ,  18 , that form the kite tail are coiled around the card as shown. Card  36  provides ease of packaging, and facilitates packaging of the kite by the manufacturer and carrying and use of the kite by the consumer. In a commercial embodiment, an extra set of tails is provided for use in high wind conditions as mentioned earlier. 
     The novel procedures disclosed above may be employed to make kites of widely varying shapes, and the coverage of this invention extends to kites of all shapes and sizes. For example, as depicted in FIG. 6A, kite body  10   a  may have a triangular shape and the frame that maintains that shape may include a longitudinally disposed first stick  12   a  and a transversely disposed second stick  14   a . As depicted in FIG. 6B, kite body  10   b  may have the configuration of a five-pointed star and in such event the frame for maintaining that shape would include sticks  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , and  14   b . FIG. 6C depicts kite body  10   c  of substantially diamond-shaped configuration, and its frame includes sticks  12   a  and  14   d . Rectangular kite body  10   d  is depicted in FIG.  6 D and its frame includes sticks  12   a ,  12   e  and  12   f  arranged in an “X ” configuration. An oval kite body is denoted  10   e  in FIG.  6 E and its frame preferably includes three sticks  12   a ,  12   h  and  12   i  arranged in the pattern of an asterisk. FIG. 6F depicts a substantially triangular kite body  10   f  having a frame formed by sticks  12   a  and  14   j . Finally, a modified five-pointed star kite body  10   g  is depicted in FIG. 6G, and its frame is formed by sticks  12   a ,  12   k ,  12   l  and  14   k ,  14   l . Numerous other shapes and appropriate frames therefore are within the scope of this it being impractical to illustrate all other practical miniature kite designs made possible by this invention. 
     Note further that the embodiments of FIGS. 6A,  6 B,  6 D, and  6 G are double-tailed, and the embodiment of FIG. 6F may be double or triple-tailed. 
     It will be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
     Now that the invention has been described,

Technology Category: 4