KITE PARACHUTE UNIT WITH AUTOMATIC EJECTOR

• US 3,698,671 A
• Filed: 05/12/1971
• Issued: 10/17/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter D. Barry
• Original Assignee: Walter D. Barry
• Inventors: Barry, Walter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buchler, Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sauberer, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US05/142,522
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 244/155R,153R
• US Class Current: 244/155.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/087 Means for launching objects along the kite string, e.g. with parachutes

Abstract

A novel kite unit including an automatic ejector along the kite line and positioned near the kite end. This unit includes a stop disc near the lower end of the kite line and a parachute unit which is movable on the kite line from the stop disc upwards to the automatic ejector where the parachute is disengaged and is brought to earth by means of gravity, the parachute spreading its canopy during descent in order to effect a slow rate of downward travel.

Claims

1. A kite unit comprising a member folded along a center line extending from an apex thereof to produce an ejector means having a pair of panels in abutment with one another to provide a pair of ejector surfaces in coplanar abutment with one another and a trough therebetween extending along the inner surface of the folded center line;

a plurality of paired coaxial apertures at predetermined locations in said panels for receiving a kite string threaded therethrough, and a single aperture in one of said panels adjacent the apex from which the center line fold extends for receiving a kite string threaded therethrough and along said trough across the upper surface of said apex.

2. The kite unit of claim 1 wherein said ejector means also has means attached thereto on the outside of the folded center line for controlling the orientation of said ejector surfaces relative to kite string threaded through said apertures.

3. The kite unit of claim 2 wherein said orientation control means comprises a weight affixed to said ejector means adjacent the end of the center line fold opposite the apex.

4. The kite unit of claim 2 wherein said orientation control means is so located on said ejector means as to orient the apex from which the center line extends to a location below kite string extending through and out of said trough and to orient said ejector surfaces to extend from a position at said apex to a position above such a kite string.

5. The kite of claim 1 wherein the apex from which the center line fold extends is normally located on a first side of a line extending through said coaxial apertures and said single aperture, and said ejector surfaces normally extend from said first side of such a line to a position on a second side of such a line sufficient to allow the creation of a moment arm, about such a line, by the imposition of a lateral force exerted on said ejector surfaces, and thereby momentarily reverse the orientation of the apex and the ejector surfaces when a body is ejected therefrom by the creation of a sufficient moment arm.

6. The kite unit of claim 1 including a parachute unit comprising a weight, a set of shrouds attached to said weight, a canopy attached to said shrouds and having a relatively large angle conical cap at the center thereof and formed of material which is more rigid than the material of the remainder of said canopy, thereby increasing the sail area presented by said canopy when said canopy is not in a free-fall condition.

7. The kite unit of claim 6 wherein said parachute unit further comprises an open hook means atTached to said conical cap and so configured as to be slidably receivable by said ejector surfaces when transferred thereto from kite string extending from said trough.