US20070114333A1 - Automatic Release Attachment For Kites and the Like, and Method of Use - Google Patents
Automatic Release Attachment For Kites and the Like, and Method of Use Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070114333A1 US20070114333A1 US11/557,371 US55737106A US2007114333A1 US 20070114333 A1 US20070114333 A1 US 20070114333A1 US 55737106 A US55737106 A US 55737106A US 2007114333 A1 US2007114333 A1 US 2007114333A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- hook assembly
- release
- ring
- attachment
- tension
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H8/00—Sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing
- B63H8/50—Accessories, e.g. repair kits or kite launching aids
- B63H8/56—Devices to distribute the user's load, e.g. harnesses
- B63H8/58—Spreader bars; Hook connection arrangements
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H8/00—Sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing
- B63H8/10—Kite-sails; Kite-wings; Control thereof; Safety means therefor
- B63H8/18—Arrangements for connecting the user to a kite-sail; Kite-safety means, e.g. chicken loops, safety leashes or quick release mechanisms
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to attaching a line from a power or traction kite to the harness of an operator of the kite and, more particularly, an attachment for a termination or other portion of a line extending from a power or traction kite which provides for automatic release of the line at several user-selectable tension release settings
- kites are used to provide motive force for several sports, most notably kite-boarding and snow-kiting.
- kite-boarding and snow-kiting For example, a rider on a wakeboard-style board, a surfboard, a snowboard, skis or the like can be towed by a kite.
- kite-boarding and snow-kiting involve jumping, where the kite lifts the rider and the board to which the rider usually is coupled, such as by a foot loop, off the surface over which the board had been moving, thereby causing the rider to glide for a distance in a manner similar to a paraglider.
- a front control line extending from a leading edge of a kite terminates in what is commonly known as a trim loop or chicken loop.
- the chicken loop is hooked onto a hook affixed to a spreader bar that is strapped to a harness worn by an operator of a kite, such as the rider of a surfboard being towed by a kite. After the chicken loop is engaged to the hook of the spreader bar, the chicken loop can then be manually locked in place, or shackled.
- rear control lines extending from the trailing edge of the kite are attached to the two ends of a control bar.
- the operator of the kite uses the control bar to control the kite's flight. For example, when the operator pulls the control bar inwardly toward his body, the length of the rear control lines is effectively reduced, which rotates the kite so that the angle of attack is increased. When tension on the control bar is released, the control bar moves outwardly, away from the operator, effectively lengthening the rear control lines. This lengthening rotates the kite to a position with a lower angle of attack, decreasing the kite's lift. To turn the kite, the operator pulls inwardly only on one end of the control bar, which twists the kite in such a manner that it turns.
- Most spreader bars have a simple, U-shaped hook extending therefrom and to which the chicken loop can be attached.
- the chicken loop is secured to the spreader bar usually by manually inserting a length of plastic tubing, which is attached to one end of the chicken loop, into the space between the two sides of the hook.
- This securing technique is slow and ungainly both for shackling and unshackling the chicken loop and, therefore, not favored.
- Still other spreader bar designs include a manual release utilizing a rotating hook extending from the spreader bar.
- Such spreader bars include a movable bar, lever or like device positioned in front of the lower part of the hook for preventing rotation of the hook. To release the chicken loop, the bar is moved so that it no longer restrains rotation of the hook.
- This type of kite release is not a fail safe design, and also has other disadvantages. If the hinge on which the bar rotates fails, the bar can actually be pulled into the middle of the hook as the hook rotates, which effectively locks the chicken loop in place. Similarly, other known chicken loop manual safety releases rely on releasing one side of the chicken loop, thereby allowing the loop to slide through the spreader bar hook. If the release hinge were to fail, the chicken loop would be prevented from sliding through the hook, such that the operator of the kite could not disconnect himself from the kite.
- an attachment for a tension line such as a termination of a kite line
- a tension line such as a termination of a kite line
- a tension release setting selected by the operator and, furthermore, makes shackling and unshackling of the coupling element of the line, respectively, to and from a hook easy and convenient.
- an automatic release attachment for releasably engaging a coupling element of a tension line, such as a chicken loop termination of a kite line, provides for quick and automatic release of the coupling element when the tension in the line exceeds the tension rating corresponding to a selected one of plurality of user-selectable tension release settings.
- the attachment is fixed to a spreader bar that is secured to a harness strapped to an individual, and includes a hook assembly secured to a shaft and which is for engaging a termination of a tension line.
- a rotatable release ring is disposed on the shaft between the hook assembly and a resilient element, which is also coupled to the shaft, and is rotatable about the shaft to a plurality of tension release settings.
- the hook assembly is movable between open and closed positions where the hook assembly is, respectively, disengaged from and engaged with the ring.
- the ring is rotatable to positions respectively corresponding to the plurality of tension settings at which the hook assembly, when in the closed position, can be engaged with the ring.
- the resilient element maintains the hook assembly engaged to the ring at a selected tension setting, so long as the tension on the line does not exceed the tension rating for the selected setting.
- the hook assembly automatically is released from the ring, which in turn provides for release of the termination of the tension from the hook assembly.
- a hook assembly which can be part of the attachment or fixed directly to a spreader bar, includes a flexible shackle that makes shackling and unshackling of a termination, such as a chicken loop, respectively, to and from the hook assembly, and thus the attachment, easy and convenient for an operator of the kite, such as a rider of a board being towed by the kite.
- a hook assembly in another preferred embodiment, includes a retaining bar that prevents a chicken loop from becoming unshackled when the chicken loop is moving towards a rearward portion of an interior region of the hook assembly in which the chicken loop, when engaged to the hook assembly, is retained, unless a downward force is applied to the chicken loop during such rearward movement.
- the hook assembly with the retaining bar, and with or without a flexible shackle is attached directly to a spreader bar.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an automatic release attachment, in accordance with the present invention, coupled to a spreader bar and with a hook assembly in the closed position.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the release attachment of FIG. 1 with the hook assembly in the open position and the shackle not shown.
- FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the release attachment of FIG. 1 shown in relation to the spreader bar.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main shaft of the release attachment of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the hook assembly of the release attachment of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5A is a side, isometric view of the hook assembly of the release attachment of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the release ring of the release attachment of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an automatic release attachment, in accordance with the present invention, with a hook assembly in the closed position.
- FIGS. 8A, 8B , 8 C and 8 D are isometric views of the shaft of the release attachment of FIG. 7 .
- FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the release attachment of FIG. 7 shown in relation to a spreader bar.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the release ring of the release attachment of FIG. 7 with the set screws shown in exploded view.
- FIG. 11 is a top view of the detent ring of the release attachment of FIG. 7 .
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hook assembly extending from a spreader bar in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 13 is a partial, bottom view of the hook assembly of FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the hook assembly as shown in FIG. 12 with the shackle removed.
- FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a portion of the automatic release attachment of FIG. 1 including a rotating leash collar, in accordance with the present invention, and where the shaft and spring have been omitted.
- FIG. 15B is an exploded view of a rotating leash collar assembly, in accordance with the present invention, shown in relation to the washer of the automatic release attachment of FIG. 1 to which the collar assembly is secured.
- FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16 C are isometric views of the cut-away portions of the release ring of FIG. 6 corresponding respectively to the release, low and medium settings for the attachment of FIG. 1A .
- FIG. 16D is an isometric view of the portion of the groove of the release ring of FIG. 6 not adjacent to a cut-away portion.
- FIGS. 17A, 17B , 17 C and 17 D are top views of the attachment of FIG. 1 , showing only the pin of the hook assembly at release, low, medium, and high settings, respectively.
- FIG. 18 is a side view of a portion of the attachment of FIG. 1 with the pin of the hook assembly above the release ring and where the shackle is not shown.
- an automatic release attachment providing quick and automatic release of a termination of a tension line is described in detail below in connection with use of the release attachment in conjunction with a spreader bar which would be attached to a harness strapped to an individual operating a kite who desires to releasably secure the termination of a front control line of the kite to the release attachment.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an automatic release attachment 10 , in accordance with the present invention, coupled to a spreader bar 12 .
- the attachment 10 includes a main, cylindrically shaped shaft 14 secured at an end 21 to the spreader bar 12 .
- the shaft 14 extends perpendicularly away from the bar 12 and has a hook assembly 16 secured at its other end 13 .
- the hook assembly 16 is shown in the closed position, coupled to a release ring 52 .
- the shaft 14 includes an aperture 18 adjacent the end 13 and extending transversely through the shaft 14 , and a threaded portion 20 extending from the end 21 .
- the shaft 14 also includes an aperture 22 disposed intermediate the end 13 and the threaded portion 20 and extending transversely through the shaft 14 .
- a limiter boss 24 is secured to the outer surface of the shaft 14 intermediate the apertures 18 and 22 .
- the boss 24 includes threaded apertures 25 , 27 extending in the same axial direction as the shaft 14 and disposed one on top of the other, with the aperture 27 being closest to the shaft 14 .
- the hook assembly 16 includes opposing hinge plates 26 fixed to legs or pin brackets 30 of a folded, U-shaped bracket or hook 32 .
- the hook 32 defines a region 39 for receiving a coupling element attached to a kite line, such as a termination of the line that is in the form of a chicken loop as is conventional in the art.
- the region 39 is defined by an opening 38 , the brackets 30 and a stop 36 .
- the U-shaped fold 43 of the brackets 30 is opposite the opening 38 .
- Each of the opposing plates 26 includes an aperture 28 and the apertures 28 are axially aligned with each other.
- a shackle holder 34 is coupled at closed end 33 of the hook 32 .
- the stop 36 is coupled to open end 29 of the hook 32 , extends into the region 39 , defines a portion of the opening 38 and has surfaces 37 facing the region 39 .
- a release pin 40 having a semi-spherically-shaped tip 41 with a predetermined radius and curvature extends from the stop 36 in the direction opposite to the fold 43 of the hook 32 .
- the components 26 , 32 , 34 , 36 and 40 of the hook assembly 16 constitute an integral assembly.
- the components 26 , 32 , 34 , 36 and 40 are formed by bending of wire or rod stock.
- a hinge bolt 42 passing through the apertures 28 of the hook assembly 16 and the aperture 18 of the shaft 14 , and onto which a nut 44 is threaded, pivotally secures the hook assembly 16 to the shaft 14 .
- the bolt 44 is a pin welded or clipped to the shaft 14 for pivotally securing the hook assembly 16 to the shaft 14 .
- a cylindrical bearing 50 which encircles the shaft 14 , is disposed on the shaft 14 adjacent to the limiter boss 24 and on the side of the boss 24 opposite to the hook assembly 16 .
- the bearing 50 includes an aperture 51 A extending radially between its outer surface and a central aperture 51 B of the bearing.
- a spring plunger 54 is threaded through the aperture 25 of the boss 24
- a limiter set screw 56 is threaded through the aperture 27 of the boss 24 .
- the screws 54 and 56 are disposed within the apertures 25 and 27 so that respective ends 55 and are slightly above the opposing, top surface 60 of the ring 52 , and where the end 55 of the screw 54 is disposed slightly closer to the surface 60 of the ring 52 than the end 57 of the screw 56 .
- the release ring 52 includes a cylindrically-shaped body 70 having the top surface 60 , which opposes the limiter boss 24 , and a bottom surface 77 .
- the body 70 defines an axially extending center aperture 108 and an aperture 110 extending radially away from the aperture 108 to the outer surface of the body 70 .
- the bearing 50 is press fit within the aperture 108 of the ring 52 with the aperture 51 A of the bearing 50 aligned with the aperture 110 of the ring 52 .
- the release ring 52 further includes grooves 62 A, 62 B, 62 C and 62 D in the surface 60 , spaced from each other and extending circumferentially along outer edge 63 of the surface 60 .
- the surface 60 includes an annularly extending groove 64 , spaced from the outer edge 63 , having the same radius and curvature as the tip 41 of the release pin 40 , a depth equal to the radius of the tip 41 and a wall surface 65 adjacent the edge 63 .
- the surface 60 of the ring 52 further defines cut-away portions 66 B, 66 C and 66 D disposed adjacent to each other, and extending annularly along the surface 60 adjacent to and radially outward of the groove 64 .
- the cut-away portions 66 B, 66 C and 66 D are cut-outs in the surface 60 having gradually increasing depths, for example, about 0.8 mm, about 1.0 mm and about 1.2 mm.
- one or more of the cut-away portions 66 B, 66 C and 66 D constitute bevels in the wall surface 65 of the groove 64 , and each of the bevels is at a different angle in relation to the surface 60 .
- one or more of the cut-away portions 66 B, 66 C and 66 D include a cut-out with a bevel in the wall surface 65 .
- 16A, 16B and 16 C show profile views of the cut-away portions 66 D, 66 C and 66 B, respectively, which are defined in the surface 60 of the ring 52 adjacent the groove 64
- FIG. 16D shows a profile view of the surface 60 at the portion of the groove 64 that does not have an adjacent cut-away portion.
- a handle 72 is secured to the body 70 of the release ring 52 , and the ring 52 includes a cylindrically-shaped barrel 76 , which has a smaller diameter than the body 70 and extends away from the bottom surface 77 of the body 70 .
- the combined axial length of the barrel 76 and the body 70 of the ring 52 is at least about three times the diameter of the shaft 14 and the bearing 50 is a low friction bearing. If the ratio of the combined axial lengths to the shaft 14 diameter is too low, the bearing 50 , which is press fit within the aperture 108 of the ring 52 , may lock up against the shaft 14 , which would substantially prevent axial movement of the ring 52 and also possibly inhibit rotational movement of the ring 52 . In a most preferred embodiment, the combined axial length should be about at least 5 times the diameter of the shaft 14 .
- one or more shims 80 optionally are disposed on the barrel 76 of the release ring 52 intermediate the surface 77 and a spring washer 82 , the washer 82 also being disposed on the barrel 76 .
- a limiter nut 84 is disposed at the portion of the threaded portion 20 of the shaft 14 that is furthest away from the end 21 .
- a resilient element 88 which is in the illustrated embodiment is a spring 88 that encircles the shaft 14 , the limiter nut 84 and an optional washer 89 disposed on the threaded portion 20 of shaft 14 adjacent to the limiter nut 84 , extends between the surface 77 and a washer 86 disposed on the shaft 14 on the side of the washer 89 facing the end 21 .
- the threaded portion 20 of the shaft 14 which has been threaded through a threaded hole (not shown) of the spreader bar 12 , extends through the bar 12 .
- a fixing nut 90 fixedly secures the portion of the threaded portion 20 of the shaft 14 protruding through the aperture of the spreader bar 12 to the shaft 14 , and thus the attachment 10 to the spreader bar 12 , such that the spring 88 is compressed tightly between the washers 82 and 86 .
- the washer 89 is used, as necessary, to set the axial length of the threaded portion 20 between the spreader bar 12 and the nut 84 to an amount where the spreader bar 12 , when secured tightly to the shaft 14 , is properly aligned with the shaft 14 .
- a set screw 94 threaded into an aperture (not shown) within the shackle holder 34 secures a flexible shackle 92 to the shackle holder 34 of the hook assembly 16 .
- the shackle 92 extends away from the holder 34 toward the surfaces 37 of the stop 36 , defining a space between the shackle 92 and the stop 36 that is too small for a conventional termination of a line of a kite (“chicken loop”) to pass therethrough.
- a chicken loop is usually about 0.5 inches in diameter and constructed of polyurethane or similar material.
- the shackle 92 is made of pliable material, such as polyurethane, and preferably in the form of a tube.
- the spreader bar 12 is a conventional spreader bar, well known in the industry, and includes two loops 13 at the respective ends to which a harness can be attached.
- the loops 13 preferably are welded onto the bar 12 in an offset manner, so that the centers of the respective loops 13 are aligned with the center of the hook assembly 16 when the attachment 10 is secured to the spreader bar 12 .
- the chicken loop is aligned with the center of the loops 13 at either end of the spreader bar 12 .
- This alignment between the chicken loop and the loops 13 of the hook assembly 16 is advantageous because it reduces the tendency of the attachment 10 to swivel on a harness that is also attached to the loops 13 of the spreader bar 12 .
- FIGS. 1, 3 , 5 A and 5 B, and also to FIG. 2 which shows the hook assembly 16 in the open position and the shackle 92 omitted for clarity purposes
- an operator of a kite such as a rider of a snowboard who is controlling a power kite that is pulling the rider, would secure a chicken loop extending from the kite to the attachment 10 as follows. First, the operator moves the chicken loop to the opening 38 of the hook assembly 16 . The operator then pulls the chicken loop through the opening 38 , which causes the shackle 92 to bend, for example, into the region 39 and toward the fold 43 .
- the bending of the shackle 92 creates sufficient space between the bent shackle 92 and the opposing surface 37 of the stop 36 for the chicken loop to pass relatively unimpeded through the opening 38 .
- the shackle 92 then returns to an unbent (at rest) position.
- the surfaces of the hook 32 defining the region 39 of the hook assembly 16 will arrest most rearward movement of the chicken loop within the region 39 .
- the shackle 92 will bend outwardly, away from the opening 38 , such that the chicken loop can move past the shackle 92 and become disengaged from the hook assembly 16 .
- the operator can disengage the chicken loop from the hook assembly with relative ease by applying sufficient force onto the chicken loop in the directions of the opening 38 and also the surfaces 37 of the stop 36 .
- the chicken loop is likely not to contact the surfaces of the hook 32 defining the region 39 , and the shackle 92 also is likely to be bend outwardly, away from the opening 38 , such that the chicken loop would become disengaged or unshackled from the hook assembly 16 with relative ease.
- minimal effort by the operator is required to engage and disengage the chicken loop, respectively, to and from the hook assembly 19 , and inadvertent disconnects are avoided.
- the shackle 92 of the hook assembly 16 advantageously should avoid most inadvertent unhooking of the chicken loop from the hook assembly 16 .
- the material included in the shackle 92 can have varying degrees of flexibility and would be selected in accordance with user preference.
- the type of shackle 92 included in the hook assembly 16 can be easily adjusted by an operator, because the shackle 92 is simply removed from and attached to the shackle holder 34 with the screw 94 .
- the shackle 92 advantageously provides that the chicken loop is engaged to the hook assembly 16 without having to lock the chicken loop in place, as required in many prior art devices.
- the chicken loop is held tightly enough within the region 39 to prevent the chicken loop from accidentally becoming disengaged from the hook assembly 16 should the kite line become slack.
- the operator uses the handle 72 , moves the ring 52 of the attachment 10 to a release setting, if the ring 52 is not already at such setting, by rotating the release ring 52 about the shaft 14 so that the cut-away portion 66 D becomes aligned with the pin 40 when the hook assembly 16 is pivotally rotated, in the direction of the arrow A as shown in FIG. 2 , from the open condition to the closed condition.
- the spring plunger 54 rotates over the surface 60 and becomes engaged with the groove 62 corresponding to the selected tension setting.
- FIG. 18 shows a side view of the hook assembly 16 where the ring 52 is in the release setting and the pin 40 is over the surface 60 adjacent the groove 64 .
- the operator moves the ring 52 to a selected tension release setting on the ring 52 at which the hook assembly 16 would be automatically released from the ring 52 when the tension of a line coupled to the hook assembly 16 exceeds the release rating of the selected setting.
- the tension line is coupled to the hook assembly 16 after the attachment 10 , with the hook assembly 16 in the closed position, is at a desired release setting.
- the chicken loop of a kite line is engaged to the hook assembly 16 once the hook assembly 16 is in the closed position and a desired release setting has been selected.
- the kite would be automatically released from the attachment 10 when tension on the line extending from the kite exceeds a tension rating corresponding to the tension release setting selected by the operator.
- the attachment 10 has the following user-selectable release settings: release, low, medium, and high or locked.
- FIGS. 17A, 17B , 17 C and 17 D are top views of the attachment 10 showing the position of the pin 40 in the groove 64 at the release, low, medium, and high or locked settings, respectively.
- a locking mode may be omitted, such as for a beginner's or children's implementation of the attachment 10 .
- FIG. 16A which is an isometric view of the portion of the surface 60 of the ring 52 at the cut-away portion 66 D, and to FIG. 17A , the geometry of the cut-away portion 66 D in the surface 60 , with respect to the groove 65 , provides that, when the hook assembly 16 is moved to the closed position, the pin 40 passes with little or no resistance across the portion 66 D, and then the pivoting rotation of the hook assembly 16 is halted when the pin 40 becomes lodged in the groove 64 after clearing the portion 66 D.
- the operator if desired, can easily rotate the hook assembly 16 in the direction of the arrow B as shown in FIG. 2 , which would pull the pin 40 out of the groove 64 , across the portion 66 D and away from the release ring 52 , so that the hook assembly 16 returns the open condition.
- the spring plunger 54 moves into and out of the grooves 62 in the surface 60 .
- the ring 52 is secured at a selected tension setting for the attachment 10 .
- the grooves 62 A, 62 B, 62 C and 62 D are disposed on the surface 60 of the ring 52 , such that when the end 55 of the spring plunger 54 is within one of the grooves 62 B, 62 C and 62 D, the pin 40 is positioned within the groove 64 aligned with the cut-away portions 66 B, 66 C and 66 D, respectively.
- the grooves 66 B, 66 C and 66 D correspond to the medium, low and release settings.
- the pin 40 is positioned at the portion of the groove 64 that is not adjacent to any cut-away portion in the surface 60 , or the high or locked setting of the attachment 10 .
- the limiter set screw 56 is slightly spaced from the surface 60 of the ring 52 , such that all of the force applied by the spring 88 to the ring 52 is applied to the pin 40 .
- the limiter set screw 56 limits the movement of the ring 52 , thereby allowing easy re-engagement of the hook assembly 16 with the ring 52 .
- the operator can select a mode of operation for the attachment 10 by moving the ring 52 , using the handle 72 , to one of the low, medium, and high or locked settings.
- the spring plunger 54 compresses, which allows the ring 52 to rotate.
- the grooves 62 B and 62 C have beveled surfaces 59 A, such as at angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the surface 60 , at their circumferential sides, and the grooves 62 A and 66 D have beveled surfaces 59 A at their circumferential sides adjacent the grooves, 62 B and 62 C, respectively.
- the grooves 62 A and 62 D have surfaces 59 B at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the surface 60 on the circumferential sides opposing the grooves 62 B and 62 C, respectively.
- the geometry of the surfaces 59 of the grooves 62 provides that the spring plunger 54 can move in and out of the grooves 62 with relative ease, but cannot be easily rotated in the circumferential direction opposite the grooves 62 B and 62 C when the plunger 54 is in the groove 62 A and 62 D, respectively.
- the plunger 54 when the spring plunger 54 is moved from the groove 62 D to the adjacent groove 62 C, the plunger 54 will extend into the next groove 62 C, stopping rotation of the release ring 52 , which creates a feeling for the operator similar to the ring 52 being stopped by a detent.
- the spring 88 via the washer 82 , maintains a force against the release ring 52 .
- the operator can continue to rotate the ring 52 , as desired, to achieve the medium or high settings, and the same interaction between the spring plunger 54 and the grooves 62 B or 62 A would occur.
- the operator can move the release ring 52 to the high setting where the pin 40 sits in the portion of the annular groove 64 that does not have an adjoining cut-away portion and the plunger 54 is within the groove 62 A.
- the automatic release features of the attachment 10 are in operation. Any line tension on the chicken loop creates a force vector perpendicular to the shaft 14 at the release pin 40 . If there is sufficient tension on the line, such as can occur in a dangerous, high wind circumstance, to create a sufficient force on the pin 40 , such that the pin 40 compresses the spring 88 to such an extent that the release ring 52 is pushed out of the way of the release pin 40 , the release pin 40 then surmounts the wall 65 of the groove 64 and the hook assembly 16 freely rotates to the open position and is no longer engaged with the ring 52 .
- the spring constant of the spring 88 is suitably selected to provide that selected amounts of tension on a line would cause the pin 40 to become disengaged from the groove 64 when the pin 40 is opposite the various cut-away portions 66 , or not adjacent any cut-away portion.
- the shims 80 may be added or removed from the shaft 14 , as desired, to fine tune the tension at which the pin 40 would be released from the groove 64 at the various release settings.
- the operator can readily switch the attachment 10 to the medium setting by rotating the release ring 52 so that the pin 40 becomes lodged in groove 64 adjacent to the cut-away portion 66 B and the screw 54 is opposite the groove 62 B.
- the effective depth of the annular groove 64 is reduced in relation to the actual depth of the groove 64 when the pin 40 is in the high setting.
- the effective depth of the groove 64 is reduced because the cut-away portion 66 B, which can include a bevel in the wall 65 , a cut-out in the surface 60 or both, effectively reduces the height of the outer wall 65 adjacent the pin 40 , such that less force on the pin 40 would be required to sufficiently compress the spring 88 so that the pin 40 can surmount the outer wall 65 and, thus, become disengaged from the groove 64 , as described above.
- the cut-away portion 66 B which can include a bevel in the wall 65 , a cut-out in the surface 60 or both, effectively reduces the height of the outer wall 65 adjacent the pin 40 , such that less force on the pin 40 would be required to sufficiently compress the spring 88 so that the pin 40 can surmount the outer wall 65 and, thus, become disengaged from the groove 64 , as described above.
- the spring constant of the spring 88 is selected such that a tension of about the expected weight of an operator of the kite generates sufficient force on the pin 40 when the attachment 10 is in the low setting to cause the pin 40 to surmount the outer wail 65 of the groove 64 at the cut-away portion 66 C.
- the hook assembly 16 rotates freely away from the shaft 14 to the open position, such that the chicken loop can readily become disengaged from the hook assembly 16 .
- the attachment 10 is changed to the low setting and the effective depth of the annular groove 64 is further reduced.
- the release pin 40 becomes disengaged from the annular groove 64 at a significantly lower line tension than in the medium setting.
- the operator further rotates the release ring 52 to the last groove 62 D to obtain the release setting.
- the effective depth of the annular groove 64 is at a minimal level, such that the hook assembly 16 will rotate away from the shaft 14 upon the application of a minimal tension to the line.
- the hook assembly 16 when tension on the kite line increases beyond a level designated as safe, the hook assembly 16 is automatically released from the attachment 10 , which in turn permits the chicken loop and thus the kite to quickly disengage from the hook assembly 16 , thereby avoiding death or serious injury to the rider.
- the operator rotates the release ring 52 to the release setting and re-engages the hook assembly 16 to the ring 52 , preferably before re-shackling the chicken loop in the region 39 .
- the inventive automatic release attachment eliminates human reaction time as a factor controlling the release of a kite line when a dangerous high tension circumstance arises, thereby affording a level of safety not currently available in prior art manual kite release devices. Further, the inventive automatic release attachment makes shackling and unshackling of the chicken loop more convenient for the operator than otherwise available in the prior art.
- the desired tension for release in each setting is variable and the type of kite, the sport involved, for example, snow kiting or kite boarding, rider preference and rider skill can all play a large part in the selection of a release tension.
- the release tension ratings in the low and medium settings are between 70% and 105% of operator weight and at 130% to 150% of the low setting, respectively. Calibration of the attachment 10 is readily performed by adding or removing the shims 80 .
- an apparatus desirably should have redundant safety devices, and that the failure of one safety device on the apparatus should not disable any of the other safety devices.
- the inventive automatic release attachment advantageously increases the safety of an operator, such as a kite-boarder, because the attachment can fail only to safe or neutral conditions.
- the attachment 10 could fail to the open, or fail safe, position, where the chicken loop is released from the attachment 10 .
- the attachment 10 could fail to the locked, or fail neutral, position, where the hook assembly 16 is locked within the groove 64 and cannot be disengaged therefrom.
- the operator can bend the shackle 92 and then pull the chicken loop over the bent shackle 92 to disengage the chicken loop from the hook assembly 16 and, thus, the attachment 10 .
- a rider of a snowboard who desires to be towed by a kite uses the attachment 10 to provide for an automatic release of the kite termination at several selectable release settings, each having a different automatic release tension. It is known that, when a gust wind acts on a kite whose termination is locked in place, the wind can generate sufficient tension on the line to loft the rider over 50 feet in the air.
- the automatic release features of the attachment 10 would prevent such occurrence. For example, the most dangerous time for a kite-boarder is when the kite is airborne while at the beach, including launching and landing of the kite. In such circumstances, the rider requires the least amount of power from the kite.
- the next most dangerous phase of kite-boarding is when the rider initially moves away from, or returns to, shore.
- the safest phase of kite-boarding is when the rider is far from land, during which time the rider may initiate the more extreme maneuvering, including higher speeds and jumping.
- the inventive automatic release attachment with four selectable tension release settings, would accommodate these different phases of kite-boarding.
- a first or release setting the attachment 10 releases the kite when a minimum of tension is on the line.
- the release setting is used to manually initiate release, as well as to re-engage the hook assembly 16 to the release ring 52 after a release.
- a second or low release setting is selected by the operator to launch or land the kite.
- the attachment 10 automatically releases the kite when the tension on the line is at a level significantly less than the rider's weight.
- a third or medium setting is used when the rider rides away from, and back to, shore. At the third setting, the kite will be released when the tension on the line is at a level somewhat above the rider's weight. Moderate riding, including very gentle jumps, are possible at the third setting. In addition, the rider could use the third setting in the event adverse weather conditions develop while the rider proceeds back to shore.
- a fourth or high setting is selected when the rider prepares to begin advanced maneuvering.
- the kite will be released when the tension on the line is at a level significantly above the rider's weight, and preferably is many times the weight of the rider.
- the attachment 10 is considered locked at this level, such that automatic release cannot occur.
- the locked setting may be desirable by the rider who desires to perform intentional jumps and other advanced maneuvers where the line tension would equal or exceed the line tension that could be dangerous if the rider is still on shore.
- the groove 64 of the attachment 10 has a depth providing that the high setting is not a locked setting and the pin 40 automatically releases at some tension above a rider weight, for example, at about 200% of a rider's weight
- the attachment 10 allows the rider to perform all but the most extreme maneuvering.
- the attachment 10 includes a retractable quick release spring plunger 112 which extends through the release ring 52 at the aperture 110 , the aperture 51 A in the bearing 50 and is secured to the shaft 14 at the aperture 22 , when the ring 52 is rotated to a setting where the aperture 51 A of the bearing 50 , which is press fit to the ring 52 , is aligned with the aperture 22 in the shaft 14 .
- the aperture 22 is aligned with the aperture 51 A when the ring 52 is in the high or locked setting.
- the force of the spring of the plunger 112 causes the plunger 112 to snap into the aperture 22 in the shaft 14 , thereby preventing all movement of the ring 52 until the plunger 112 is manually retracted from the aperture 22 .
- the plunger 112 when used with the attachment 10 , thus, prevents the release ring 50 from rotating about, or moving axially along the length of, the shaft 14 .
- the plunger 112 blocks movement of the ring 52 , such that the attachment 10 is in a locked mode.
- the operator To deselect the locked mode, the operator must simultaneously pull against the plunger 112 , so that it no longer bears against the shaft 14 , while rotating the release ring 52 out of the locked setting.
- the plunger 112 does not change the automatic release features of all of the other settings of the attachment 10 , because the plunger 112 would not be secured to the shaft 14 in such settings.
- the plunger 112 is omitted from the attachment 10 and a simple set screw seals the aperture 110 but does not extend into the aperture 51 A of the bearing 50 .
- the use of the plunger 112 with the attachment 10 may be desirable for very extreme jumping over shallow water to eliminate the possibility of the locked mode disengaging accidentally.
- the ring 52 is not rotatable and the hook assembly 16 includes several pins 40 , which provide that less load is placed on each pin 40 when engaged in the groove 64 .
- the ring surface 60 includes a plurality of semi-spherically shaped indents, each having a cutout similar to the geometry of the cutout 66 C, and the pins 40 would engage the respective shaped indents.
- the ring 52 is not rotatable and the hook assembly 16 includes a single pin 40 and the ring surface 60 includes is a single corresponding indent 66 in the ring surface 60 for receiving the pin 40 .
- the attachment 10 including the non-rotatable ring 52 with the single pin 40 and corresponding single indent 66 also includes the plunger 112 . The plunger 112 , when secured to the shaft 14 , prevents axial movement of the non-rotatable ring 52 , thereby placing the attachment 10 in locked mode.
- the attachment 10 includes only the release settings of manual release, automatic release and locked.
- the attachment 10 is mounted inline between a kite line and the chicken loop of the kite line, rather than to the spreader bar 12 , where the end 21 of the shaft 14 is for engagement with a chicken loop and the hook assembly 16 is for engagement with the front lines of the kite.
- the shackle 92 is constructed of a material or materials that provide that the shackle 92 only has sufficient strength to hold the chicken loop or a like termination within the region 39 to prevent accidental release, in other words, when there is minimal, or the absence of any, tension on the line.
- the attachment 10 includes a rotating leash collar 162 encircling the spring 88 .
- the collar 162 which is in the form of a tube and has a loop 161 extending therefrom, has an axial length that is less than the axial distance between the washers 86 and 82 on the shaft 14 , such that when the collar 162 is centered between the washers 86 and 82 , the collar 162 is axially spaced from the washers 82 and 86 by gaps 165 A and 165 B, respectively.
- the collar 162 rotates about the shaft 14 when the control bar of the kite is rotated. It is noted that, in this embodiment, if the leash exerts any pull on the collar 162 prior to automatic release of the hook assembly 16 , the effective release tension rating for a selected setting for the attachment 10 would increase, because the collar 162 , in addition to the spring 88 , would be applying force to the release ring 52 .
- a leash collar assembly 160 as shown in exploded view in FIG. 15B at the portion of the shaft 14 of the attachment 10 at which the collar assembly 160 would be disposed and with the spring 88 omitted for clarity, includes the collar 162 that can rotate about the shaft 14 , but would not apply any force to the release ring 52 during rotation.
- the collar assembly 160 includes a tube 167 whose inner diameter exceeds the outer diameter of the spring 88 (not shown) and axial length is slightly longer than the axial length of the leash collar 162 .
- the collar 160 encircles the tube 167 , which at one end is welded to the washer 86 .
- a washer 169 having the same inside diameter as the tube 163 is welded onto the other end of the tube 163 .
- the collar 162 thus, is locked within the axial space on the shaft 14 extending between the washers 86 and 165 , in other words, can move axially along the length of the shaft 14 only between the washers 86 and 165 .
- the collar 160 rotates about the shaft 14 , the collar 160 rotates in relation to the washer 86 , which is fixed in place and, therefore, fixes the assembly 160 A in place.
- the fixed washer 86 prevents the collar 160 applying such force to the ring 52 and, thus, prevents a change to the effective tension release rating for a selected release setting.
- FIG. 7 illustrates another preferred embodiment of an automatic release attachment 150 in accordance with the present invention.
- the attachment 150 is similar in construction and operation to the attachment 10 described above, and like reference numerals are used to describe components having similar or identical construction and operation as those contained in the attachment 10 .
- the attachment 150 includes a hook assembly 16 pivotally secured to a main shaft 154 , as shown in greater detail in FIGS. 8A, 8B , 8 C, and 8 D, at an aperture 18 adjacent end 13 of the shaft 154 .
- the hook assembly 16 is identical to that contained in the attachment 10 , except that the shackle holder 34 is contained within the brackets 30 of the hook 32 and does not extend opposite the region 39 defined by the hook assembly 16 .
- FIG. 7 and also to FIG. 9 which shows the attachment 150 in exploded view in relation to a spreader bar 12
- a release ring 156 and a detent ring 158 which in combination provide the same automatic release functionalities as the ring 52 , are disposed on the shaft 154 between the hook assembly 16 and a spring 88 .
- An optional rotating leash collar 160 encircling the spring 88 is disposed between the detent ring 158 and an optional tension adjusting spring washer 157 .
- a nut 84 is secured to the threaded portion 20 of the bar 154
- a nut 90 is secured to the portion of the threaded portion 20 of the bar 154 extending through an aperture 163 in the spreader bar 12 .
- the bar 154 includes a limiter boss pin 166 disposed on the bar 154 at about the same position as the boss 24 is disposed on the bar 14 .
- the bar 154 includes a groove 168 extending between the end 21 of the bar 14 and the limiter pin 166 .
- the release ring 156 includes an annular groove 64 and cut-away portions 66 B, 66 C and 66 D.
- threaded apertures 170 and 172 are defined in a surface 63 .
- a release set screw 174 is threaded into the aperture 170 so that the top of the set screw 174 is slightly above the surface 60 of the release ring 156 .
- the detent ring 158 includes holes 178 A, 178 B, 178 C and 178 D in an annular configuration and spaced from each other, where the holes 178 B, 178 C and 178 D are spaced in correspondence with the spacing of the cut-away portions 66 B, 66 C and 66 D on the release ring 156 .
- center aperture 180 of the ring 158 includes a key 181 which is matched to the groove 168 in the bar 154 .
- the key 181 slides into and along the groove 168 to the furthermost portion in the direction of the end 13 of the shaft 154 , such that that the ring 158 is fixed in placed on the shaft 154 at such portion of the groove 168 .
- Operation of the attachment 150 is similar to that of the attachment 10 , in that, after the chicken loop is initially engaged to the hook assembly 16 , preferably while the hook assembly 16 is in the open position, the hook assembly 16 is rotated to the closed position and the detent set screw 176 is threaded into the aperture 172 so that the end of the screw 176 opposing the detent ring 158 , which is preferably oval in shape, engages the detent hole 178 .
- the pin 40 When the pin 40 is engaged to the groove 64 , the pin 40 can be positioned in the groove 64 not opposite a cut-away portion and opposite the cut-away portions 66 B, 66 C and 66 D, respectively and the screw 176 , in turn, would be engaged within a corresponding one of the detent holes 178 A, 178 B, 178 C and 178 D.
- the size of the detent holes 178 determines the detent force on the ring 156 . Therefore, if a spring 88 with a higher spring constant is used, the diameter of the holes 178 on the ring 158 can be reduced.
- placing the screw 176 into one of the detent holes 178 A, 178 B, 178 C and 178 D sets the attachment 150 to the release settings of high, medium, low and release, respectively.
- the spring 88 forces the detent ring 158 against the release ring 156
- the limiter pin 166 limits the extent that the spring 88 forces the rings 156 and 158 against the pin 40 of the hook assembly 16 .
- the operator can select a different release setting by rotating the ring 156 so that the detent screw 176 engages another of the detent holes 178 . While the ring 156 is being rotated, the pin 40 simultaneously moves annularly in the groove 64 to a different position, for example, adjacent another of the cut-away portions 66 , and the screw 176 would engage the corresponding detent hole 178 .
- the release ring 156 is rotated to the release setting to effect a manual release, the detent screw 176 engages the detent hole 178 D and the set screw 174 is now aligned with and under the motion limiter pin 166 .
- the release set screw 174 is set preferably slightly above the surface of the release ring 156 in this setting, some of the force that the spring 88 applies to the pin 40 is transferred to the release set screw 174 , such that the hook assembly 16 can rotate away from the bar 154 when only a small force is applied to the hook assembly 16 .
- the release set screw 174 can be adjusted within the aperture 170 by the operator to establish a preferred force for disengaging and reengaging the hook assembly 16 to the ring 156 .
- a hook assembly 200 is welded or otherwise attached to a spreader bar 202 including hooks 204 at the opposing ends.
- the spreader bar 202 is similar in construction to the spreader bar 12 , except that the bar 202 does not include an aperture between the hooks 204 .
- the hook assembly 200 includes a folded U-shaped bracket or hook 201 having a folded portion 243 , as is conventional in the art.
- the hook 201 includes parallel legs 206 , spaced from each other, extending away from the spreader bar 202 and then curving toward and joining each other after the fold 243 to define a region 239 for retaining a chicken loop.
- the hook assembly 200 includes a retaining bar 208 having spaced legs 210 extending away from adjacent the spreader bar 202 , along the surface portions of the legs 206 facing the region 239 and then bending away from the legs 206 , preferably at about a 30 to 45 degree angle with respect to the legs 206 , into the region 239 and terminating as a joined portion at an end 212 .
- the legs 210 of the bar 208 are welded or otherwise attached to the adjoining surfaces of the legs 206 , forming a junction 247 facing the region 239 .
- a bushing 224 is welded or otherwise attached in the space between the legs 206 adjacent the end 218 of the hook 201 .
- the bushing 224 is mounted so that a straight line from about the center of the bushing 224 intersects the free end 212 of the retaining bar 208 .
- a shackle 225 is mounted inside the bushing 224 by a set screw (not shown), similar to the screw 94 described above, which is threaded into the shackle 225 from the outside of the hook 201 so that the shackle 225 is flush with the edge of the bushing 224 which is outside the hook 201
- End 227 of the shackle 225 opposing the end 212 of the retaining bar 208 , is close to, but does not touch, the retaining bar 208 .
- the end 227 of the shackle 225 and the end 212 of the retaining bar 208 define a gap 216 therebetween. When the shackle 225 is not bent, the gap 216 is sufficiently small so that the chicken loop cannot pass through the gap 216 .
- the set screw for the shackle 225 is selected so that it is flush with both ends of the bushing 224 , and holds the shackle 225 with a predetermined force inside of the bushing 224 .
- a predetermined force needs to be applied to the shackle 225 to cause the shackle 225 to bend a sufficient amount, such that the gap 216 sufficiently increases to allow the chicken loop to pass therethrough.
- the shackle 225 can have varying degrees of flexibility and is easily replaceable. The operator of the hook assembly 200 , therefore, can select from several different shackles 225 to control the amount of force that would need to be applied to the shackle 225 to unshackle the chicken loop from the hook assembly 200 .
- an operator of a kite such as rider of a kite-board, engages a chicken loop to the hook assembly 200 by pulling a control bar for the kite down and towards the hook assembly 200 .
- the rider uses a motion, common and well known to those trained in the art of kite-riding, to hook the chicken loop into the region 239 of the hook assembly 200 .
- the retaining bar 208 aids this action by guiding the chicken loop to a region intermediate the end 218 of the hook 201 and the end 212 of the retaining bar 208 .
- the shackle 225 bends inwardly into the region 239 , out of the way of the chicken loop, such that the chicken loop becomes shackled within the region 239 . If the rider pulls the control bar towards the hook assembly 200 again, the shackle 225 guides the chicken loop onto the surface of the legs 210 of the retaining bar 208 facing the region 239 . Continued rearward movement of the chicken loop will be arrested when the chicken loop contacts the junction 247 of the retaining bar 208 and the hook 201 . Thus, inadvertent disengagement of the chicken loop from the hook assembly 200 is prevented.
- the rider can disengage the chicken loop from the hook assembly 200 by merely pulling the control bar back and down.
- the downward force applied by the rider at the beginning of rearward movement of the chicken loop maintains the chicken loop against the surfaces of the hook 201 near the end 218 facing the region 239 .
- the force causes the shackle 225 to bend outwardly, away from the region 239 , such that the chicken loop disengages from the hook assembly 200 instead of being guided onto the surfaces of the legs 210 of the retaining bar 208 facing the region 239 .
- the rider may use one hand to guide the chicken loop out of hook assembly 200 .
- the inventive hook assembly 200 with the retainer bar 208 when attached to a spreader bar 202 , prevents release of a chicken loop contained within the region 239 while the chicken loop is moving rearward, i.e., towards the operator, unless a downward force is added to that movement.
- the hook assembly 200 thus, will eliminate most inadvertent disengagements of the chicken loop, while simultaneously allowing the rider to quickly and easily disengage the chicken loop from the hook assembly 200 , while keeping both hands on the control bar.
- the shackle 225 is omitted from the shackle assembly 200 .
- the chicken loop likely would be retained in the region 239 , even in the absence of the shackle 225 , based on the high likelihood that rearward movement of the chicken loop would result in the chicken loop sliding onto the surfaces of the legs 210 of the retaining bar 208 facing the region 239 .
- the retaining bar 208 is latched or hinged at the point the bar 208 joins the hook 201 .
- the retaining bar 208 can be latched in an up position allowing free disengagement of the chicken loop, and in a down position maintaining engagement of the chicken loop, as desired.
- the retaining bar 208 is omitted from the hook assembly 200 , such that only the shackle 92 retains the chicken loop with the region 239 .
- the hook assembly 16 of the attachment 10 or 150 includes a retaining bar 208 extending from the stop 36 into the region 39 and opposing the shackle 92 , in the same manner that the retaining bar 208 opposes the shackle 225 in the hook assembly 200 .
Abstract
An automatic release attachment automatically releases a tension line engaged to the attachment when the tension in the line exceeds the tension rating corresponding to a tension release settings selected by an operator. A hook assembly, which can be part of the attachment, includes a shackle that eases shackling and unshackling of a coupling element of the tension line to the hook assembly.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/741,797 filed Dec. 2, 2005 and 60/734,569 filed Nov. 8, 2005, incorporated by reference herein.
- The present invention relates generally to attaching a line from a power or traction kite to the harness of an operator of the kite and, more particularly, an attachment for a termination or other portion of a line extending from a power or traction kite which provides for automatic release of the line at several user-selectable tension release settings
- Large kites are used to provide motive force for several sports, most notably kite-boarding and snow-kiting. For example, a rider on a wakeboard-style board, a surfboard, a snowboard, skis or the like can be towed by a kite. Both kite-boarding and snow-kiting involve jumping, where the kite lifts the rider and the board to which the rider usually is coupled, such as by a foot loop, off the surface over which the board had been moving, thereby causing the rider to glide for a distance in a manner similar to a paraglider.
- A front control line extending from a leading edge of a kite terminates in what is commonly known as a trim loop or chicken loop. The chicken loop is hooked onto a hook affixed to a spreader bar that is strapped to a harness worn by an operator of a kite, such as the rider of a surfboard being towed by a kite. After the chicken loop is engaged to the hook of the spreader bar, the chicken loop can then be manually locked in place, or shackled.
- In addition, rear control lines extending from the trailing edge of the kite are attached to the two ends of a control bar. The operator of the kite uses the control bar to control the kite's flight. For example, when the operator pulls the control bar inwardly toward his body, the length of the rear control lines is effectively reduced, which rotates the kite so that the angle of attack is increased. When tension on the control bar is released, the control bar moves outwardly, away from the operator, effectively lengthening the rear control lines. This lengthening rotates the kite to a position with a lower angle of attack, decreasing the kite's lift. To turn the kite, the operator pulls inwardly only on one end of the control bar, which twists the kite in such a manner that it turns.
- Most spreader bars have a simple, U-shaped hook extending therefrom and to which the chicken loop can be attached. In the prior art, the chicken loop is secured to the spreader bar usually by manually inserting a length of plastic tubing, which is attached to one end of the chicken loop, into the space between the two sides of the hook. This securing technique is slow and ungainly both for shackling and unshackling the chicken loop and, therefore, not favored.
- In another prior art chicken loop securing technique, a piece of plastic is rotated under a hook extending from the spreader bar. The plastic is snapped into the middle of the hook, locking the chicken loop in place.
- Still other spreader bar designs include a manual release utilizing a rotating hook extending from the spreader bar. Such spreader bars include a movable bar, lever or like device positioned in front of the lower part of the hook for preventing rotation of the hook. To release the chicken loop, the bar is moved so that it no longer restrains rotation of the hook. This type of kite release is not a fail safe design, and also has other disadvantages. If the hinge on which the bar rotates fails, the bar can actually be pulled into the middle of the hook as the hook rotates, which effectively locks the chicken loop in place. Similarly, other known chicken loop manual safety releases rely on releasing one side of the chicken loop, thereby allowing the loop to slide through the spreader bar hook. If the release hinge were to fail, the chicken loop would be prevented from sliding through the hook, such that the operator of the kite could not disconnect himself from the kite.
- Overall, currently known spreader bar designs rely on an operator removing one hand from the control bar to shackle or unshackle the chicken loop, respectively, to and from the hook and, furthermore, manually activating any available safety release. Recognition of a dangerous situation by a kite operator takes time, and it also takes time for the kite operator to reach for and activate a manual safety release. It has been found that combined human recognition and reaction time is so long that, in many circumstances, the operator cannot act quickly enough to activate a manual safety release before a dangerous situation occurs. Further, in practice, it is difficult for an operator, such as a rider of kite-board, to fly a powerful kite with one hand while manipulating current shackle systems with the other hand to release the kite line.
- Also, it is known that most riders, by force of habit, will initially attempt to control a kite when the kite acts unexpectedly, instead of attempting to release the kite. All too often, by the time the rider decides to take steps to release the kite, it is too late to avoid the dangerous situation, which can result in serious injury or death to the rider. For example, an unexpected gust of wind or a kite-control malfunction can cause loftings, which are unintentional flights caused by a kite lifting the rider, and draggings, where a kite drags the rider. Oftentimes, once a rider is being dragged, the rider may not be able to take the necessary physical actions to activate a manual safety release.
- Therefore, there is need for an attachment for a tension line, such as a termination of a kite line, which can be releasably engaged to a coupling element of the line and automatically releases the engaged tension line as a function of a tension release setting selected by the operator and, furthermore, makes shackling and unshackling of the coupling element of the line, respectively, to and from a hook easy and convenient.
- In accordance with the present invention, an automatic release attachment for releasably engaging a coupling element of a tension line, such as a chicken loop termination of a kite line, provides for quick and automatic release of the coupling element when the tension in the line exceeds the tension rating corresponding to a selected one of plurality of user-selectable tension release settings.
- In a preferred embodiment, the attachment is fixed to a spreader bar that is secured to a harness strapped to an individual, and includes a hook assembly secured to a shaft and which is for engaging a termination of a tension line. A rotatable release ring is disposed on the shaft between the hook assembly and a resilient element, which is also coupled to the shaft, and is rotatable about the shaft to a plurality of tension release settings. The hook assembly is movable between open and closed positions where the hook assembly is, respectively, disengaged from and engaged with the ring. The ring is rotatable to positions respectively corresponding to the plurality of tension settings at which the hook assembly, when in the closed position, can be engaged with the ring. The resilient element maintains the hook assembly engaged to the ring at a selected tension setting, so long as the tension on the line does not exceed the tension rating for the selected setting. When the tension on the line exceeds the tension rating for the selected setting, the hook assembly automatically is released from the ring, which in turn provides for release of the termination of the tension from the hook assembly.
- In a further preferred embodiment, a hook assembly, which can be part of the attachment or fixed directly to a spreader bar, includes a flexible shackle that makes shackling and unshackling of a termination, such as a chicken loop, respectively, to and from the hook assembly, and thus the attachment, easy and convenient for an operator of the kite, such as a rider of a board being towed by the kite.
- In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a hook assembly includes a retaining bar that prevents a chicken loop from becoming unshackled when the chicken loop is moving towards a rearward portion of an interior region of the hook assembly in which the chicken loop, when engaged to the hook assembly, is retained, unless a downward force is applied to the chicken loop during such rearward movement. In still a further preferred embodiment, the hook assembly with the retaining bar, and with or without a flexible shackle, is attached directly to a spreader bar.
- Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an automatic release attachment, in accordance with the present invention, coupled to a spreader bar and with a hook assembly in the closed position. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the release attachment ofFIG. 1 with the hook assembly in the open position and the shackle not shown. -
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the release attachment ofFIG. 1 shown in relation to the spreader bar. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main shaft of the release attachment ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the hook assembly of the release attachment ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5A is a side, isometric view of the hook assembly of the release attachment ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the release ring of the release attachment ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an automatic release attachment, in accordance with the present invention, with a hook assembly in the closed position. -
FIGS. 8A, 8B , 8C and 8D are isometric views of the shaft of the release attachment ofFIG. 7 . -
FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the release attachment ofFIG. 7 shown in relation to a spreader bar. -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the release ring of the release attachment ofFIG. 7 with the set screws shown in exploded view. -
FIG. 11 is a top view of the detent ring of the release attachment ofFIG. 7 . -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hook assembly extending from a spreader bar in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 13 is a partial, bottom view of the hook assembly ofFIG. 12 . -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the hook assembly as shown inFIG. 12 with the shackle removed. -
FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a portion of the automatic release attachment ofFIG. 1 including a rotating leash collar, in accordance with the present invention, and where the shaft and spring have been omitted. -
FIG. 15B is an exploded view of a rotating leash collar assembly, in accordance with the present invention, shown in relation to the washer of the automatic release attachment ofFIG. 1 to which the collar assembly is secured. -
FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C are isometric views of the cut-away portions of the release ring ofFIG. 6 corresponding respectively to the release, low and medium settings for the attachment ofFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 16D is an isometric view of the portion of the groove of the release ring ofFIG. 6 not adjacent to a cut-away portion. -
FIGS. 17A, 17B , 17C and 17D are top views of the attachment ofFIG. 1 , showing only the pin of the hook assembly at release, low, medium, and high settings, respectively. -
FIG. 18 is a side view of a portion of the attachment ofFIG. 1 with the pin of the hook assembly above the release ring and where the shackle is not shown. - For purposes of highlighting the features of the present invention, an automatic release attachment providing quick and automatic release of a termination of a tension line is described in detail below in connection with use of the release attachment in conjunction with a spreader bar which would be attached to a harness strapped to an individual operating a kite who desires to releasably secure the termination of a front control line of the kite to the release attachment. It is to be understood that the inventive of features of the automatic release attachment are readily applicable to other applications where easy engagement and disengagement of a coupling element of a line, rope, cord or the like, respectively, to and from an attachment are desired and where the attachment automatically releases the engaged termination when the tension on the line, rope, cord or the like exceeds the tension rating of a user-selected tension release setting that is desirable from a standpoint of safety or convenience.
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FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of anautomatic release attachment 10, in accordance with the present invention, coupled to aspreader bar 12. Referring toFIG. 1 , and toFIG. 3 which shows an exploded view of theattachment 10, theattachment 10 includes a main, cylindrically shapedshaft 14 secured at anend 21 to thespreader bar 12. Theshaft 14 extends perpendicularly away from thebar 12 and has ahook assembly 16 secured at itsother end 13. InFIG. 1 , thehook assembly 16 is shown in the closed position, coupled to arelease ring 52. - Further referring to
FIG. 4 , which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of theshaft 14, theshaft 14 includes anaperture 18 adjacent theend 13 and extending transversely through theshaft 14, and a threadedportion 20 extending from theend 21. Theshaft 14 also includes anaperture 22 disposed intermediate theend 13 and the threadedportion 20 and extending transversely through theshaft 14. Alimiter boss 24 is secured to the outer surface of theshaft 14 intermediate theapertures boss 24 includes threadedapertures shaft 14 and disposed one on top of the other, with theaperture 27 being closest to theshaft 14. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 3 , and also toFIGS. 5A and 5B which show perspective and side isometric views, respectively, of thehook assembly 16, thehook assembly 16 includes opposinghinge plates 26 fixed to legs or pinbrackets 30 of a folded, U-shaped bracket orhook 32. Thehook 32 defines aregion 39 for receiving a coupling element attached to a kite line, such as a termination of the line that is in the form of a chicken loop as is conventional in the art. Theregion 39 is defined by anopening 38, thebrackets 30 and astop 36. TheU-shaped fold 43 of thebrackets 30 is opposite theopening 38. Each of the opposingplates 26 includes anaperture 28 and theapertures 28 are axially aligned with each other. Ashackle holder 34 is coupled atclosed end 33 of thehook 32. Thestop 36 is coupled to openend 29 of thehook 32, extends into theregion 39, defines a portion of theopening 38 and hassurfaces 37 facing theregion 39. Arelease pin 40 having a semi-spherically-shapedtip 41 with a predetermined radius and curvature extends from thestop 36 in the direction opposite to thefold 43 of thehook 32. In a preferred embodiment, thecomponents hook assembly 16 constitute an integral assembly. Alternatively, thecomponents - Referring again to
FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, ahinge bolt 42 passing through theapertures 28 of thehook assembly 16 and theaperture 18 of theshaft 14, and onto which anut 44 is threaded, pivotally secures thehook assembly 16 to theshaft 14. In alternative embodiments, thebolt 44 is a pin welded or clipped to theshaft 14 for pivotally securing thehook assembly 16 to theshaft 14. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, acylindrical bearing 50, which encircles theshaft 14, is disposed on theshaft 14 adjacent to thelimiter boss 24 and on the side of theboss 24 opposite to thehook assembly 16. Thebearing 50 includes anaperture 51A extending radially between its outer surface and acentral aperture 51B of the bearing. Aspring plunger 54 is threaded through theaperture 25 of theboss 24, and a limiter setscrew 56 is threaded through theaperture 27 of theboss 24. As discussed in detail below, thescrews apertures top surface 60 of thering 52, and where theend 55 of thescrew 54 is disposed slightly closer to thesurface 60 of thering 52 than theend 57 of thescrew 56. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , therelease ring 52 includes a cylindrically-shapedbody 70 having thetop surface 60, which opposes thelimiter boss 24, and abottom surface 77. Thebody 70 defines an axially extendingcenter aperture 108 and anaperture 110 extending radially away from theaperture 108 to the outer surface of thebody 70. Thebearing 50 is press fit within theaperture 108 of thering 52 with theaperture 51A of the bearing 50 aligned with theaperture 110 of thering 52. Therelease ring 52 further includesgrooves surface 60, spaced from each other and extending circumferentially alongouter edge 63 of thesurface 60. In addition, thesurface 60 includes an annularly extendinggroove 64, spaced from theouter edge 63, having the same radius and curvature as thetip 41 of therelease pin 40, a depth equal to the radius of thetip 41 and awall surface 65 adjacent theedge 63. Thesurface 60 of thering 52 further defines cut-awayportions surface 60 adjacent to and radially outward of thegroove 64. - In a preferred embodiment, the cut-away
portions surface 60 having gradually increasing depths, for example, about 0.8 mm, about 1.0 mm and about 1.2 mm. Alternatively, one or more of the cut-awayportions wall surface 65 of thegroove 64, and each of the bevels is at a different angle in relation to thesurface 60. In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the cut-awayportions wall surface 65.FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C show profile views of the cut-awayportions surface 60 of thering 52 adjacent thegroove 64, andFIG. 16D shows a profile view of thesurface 60 at the portion of thegroove 64 that does not have an adjacent cut-away portion. - A
handle 72 is secured to thebody 70 of therelease ring 52, and thering 52 includes a cylindrically-shapedbarrel 76, which has a smaller diameter than thebody 70 and extends away from thebottom surface 77 of thebody 70. In a preferred embodiment, the combined axial length of thebarrel 76 and thebody 70 of thering 52 is at least about three times the diameter of theshaft 14 and thebearing 50 is a low friction bearing. If the ratio of the combined axial lengths to theshaft 14 diameter is too low, thebearing 50, which is press fit within theaperture 108 of thering 52, may lock up against theshaft 14, which would substantially prevent axial movement of thering 52 and also possibly inhibit rotational movement of thering 52. In a most preferred embodiment, the combined axial length should be about at least 5 times the diameter of theshaft 14. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 3 , one ormore shims 80 optionally are disposed on thebarrel 76 of therelease ring 52 intermediate thesurface 77 and aspring washer 82, thewasher 82 also being disposed on thebarrel 76. Alimiter nut 84 is disposed at the portion of the threadedportion 20 of theshaft 14 that is furthest away from theend 21. Aresilient element 88, which is in the illustrated embodiment is aspring 88 that encircles theshaft 14, thelimiter nut 84 and anoptional washer 89 disposed on the threadedportion 20 ofshaft 14 adjacent to thelimiter nut 84, extends between thesurface 77 and awasher 86 disposed on theshaft 14 on the side of thewasher 89 facing theend 21. The threadedportion 20 of theshaft 14, which has been threaded through a threaded hole (not shown) of thespreader bar 12, extends through thebar 12. A fixingnut 90 fixedly secures the portion of the threadedportion 20 of theshaft 14 protruding through the aperture of thespreader bar 12 to theshaft 14, and thus theattachment 10 to thespreader bar 12, such that thespring 88 is compressed tightly between thewashers washer 89 is used, as necessary, to set the axial length of the threadedportion 20 between thespreader bar 12 and thenut 84 to an amount where thespreader bar 12, when secured tightly to theshaft 14, is properly aligned with theshaft 14. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 3 , 5A and 5B, aset screw 94 threaded into an aperture (not shown) within theshackle holder 34 secures aflexible shackle 92 to theshackle holder 34 of thehook assembly 16. Theshackle 92 extends away from theholder 34 toward thesurfaces 37 of thestop 36, defining a space between theshackle 92 and thestop 36 that is too small for a conventional termination of a line of a kite (“chicken loop”) to pass therethrough. As well known in the art, a chicken loop is usually about 0.5 inches in diameter and constructed of polyurethane or similar material. Theshackle 92 is made of pliable material, such as polyurethane, and preferably in the form of a tube. - The
spreader bar 12 is a conventional spreader bar, well known in the industry, and includes twoloops 13 at the respective ends to which a harness can be attached. Theloops 13 preferably are welded onto thebar 12 in an offset manner, so that the centers of therespective loops 13 are aligned with the center of thehook assembly 16 when theattachment 10 is secured to thespreader bar 12. As discussed below, when a chicken loop is retained within thehook assembly 16, the chicken loop is aligned with the center of theloops 13 at either end of thespreader bar 12. This alignment between the chicken loop and theloops 13 of thehook assembly 16 is advantageous because it reduces the tendency of theattachment 10 to swivel on a harness that is also attached to theloops 13 of thespreader bar 12. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 3 , 5A and 5B, and also toFIG. 2 , which shows thehook assembly 16 in the open position and theshackle 92 omitted for clarity purposes, an operator of a kite, such as a rider of a snowboard who is controlling a power kite that is pulling the rider, would secure a chicken loop extending from the kite to theattachment 10 as follows. First, the operator moves the chicken loop to theopening 38 of thehook assembly 16. The operator then pulls the chicken loop through theopening 38, which causes theshackle 92 to bend, for example, into theregion 39 and toward thefold 43. The bending of theshackle 92 creates sufficient space between thebent shackle 92 and the opposingsurface 37 of thestop 36 for the chicken loop to pass relatively unimpeded through theopening 38. Once the chicken loop has sufficiently cleared theopening 38 and entered theregion 39, theshackle 92 then returns to an unbent (at rest) position. The surfaces of thehook 32 defining theregion 39 of thehook assembly 16 will arrest most rearward movement of the chicken loop within theregion 39. - If the chicken loop applies sufficient force to the
shackle 92 in the direction away from thefold 43, however, theshackle 92 will bend outwardly, away from theopening 38, such that the chicken loop can move past theshackle 92 and become disengaged from thehook assembly 16. Similarly, the operator can disengage the chicken loop from the hook assembly with relative ease by applying sufficient force onto the chicken loop in the directions of theopening 38 and also thesurfaces 37 of thestop 36. When the operator applies such directed force to the chicken loop, the chicken loop is is likely not to contact the surfaces of thehook 32 defining theregion 39, and theshackle 92 also is likely to be bend outwardly, away from theopening 38, such that the chicken loop would become disengaged or unshackled from thehook assembly 16 with relative ease. Thus, minimal effort by the operator is required to engage and disengage the chicken loop, respectively, to and from the hook assembly 19, and inadvertent disconnects are avoided. - The
shackle 92 of thehook assembly 16 advantageously should avoid most inadvertent unhooking of the chicken loop from thehook assembly 16. The material included in theshackle 92 can have varying degrees of flexibility and would be selected in accordance with user preference. The type ofshackle 92 included in thehook assembly 16 can be easily adjusted by an operator, because theshackle 92 is simply removed from and attached to theshackle holder 34 with thescrew 94. - Further, the
shackle 92 advantageously provides that the chicken loop is engaged to thehook assembly 16 without having to lock the chicken loop in place, as required in many prior art devices. The chicken loop is held tightly enough within theregion 39 to prevent the chicken loop from accidentally becoming disengaged from thehook assembly 16 should the kite line become slack. - Referring to
FIGS. 1-3 and 6, if thehook assembly 16 is in the open position, the operator, using thehandle 72, moves thering 52 of theattachment 10 to a release setting, if thering 52 is not already at such setting, by rotating therelease ring 52 about theshaft 14 so that the cut-away portion 66D becomes aligned with thepin 40 when thehook assembly 16 is pivotally rotated, in the direction of the arrow A as shown inFIG. 2 , from the open condition to the closed condition. When thering 52 is rotated, thespring plunger 54 rotates over thesurface 60 and becomes engaged with the groove 62 corresponding to the selected tension setting. - After the
ring 52 is positioned at the release setting, the operator can easily engage thehook assembly 16 to thering 52 by rotating thehook assembly 16 in the direction of the arrow A.FIG. 18 shows a side view of thehook assembly 16 where thering 52 is in the release setting and thepin 40 is over thesurface 60 adjacent thegroove 64. After thehook assembly 16 is engaged to thering 52 in the release setting, the operator moves thering 52 to a selected tension release setting on thering 52 at which thehook assembly 16 would be automatically released from thering 52 when the tension of a line coupled to thehook assembly 16 exceeds the release rating of the selected setting. Preferably, the tension line is coupled to thehook assembly 16 after theattachment 10, with thehook assembly 16 in the closed position, is at a desired release setting. For example, the chicken loop of a kite line is engaged to thehook assembly 16 once thehook assembly 16 is in the closed position and a desired release setting has been selected. The kite would be automatically released from theattachment 10 when tension on the line extending from the kite exceeds a tension rating corresponding to the tension release setting selected by the operator. - In the exemplary embodiment of the
attachment 10, theattachment 10 has the following user-selectable release settings: release, low, medium, and high or locked.FIGS. 17A, 17B , 17C and 17D are top views of theattachment 10 showing the position of thepin 40 in thegroove 64 at the release, low, medium, and high or locked settings, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, a locking mode may be omitted, such as for a beginner's or children's implementation of theattachment 10. - Referring to
FIG. 16A , which is an isometric view of the portion of thesurface 60 of thering 52 at the cut-away portion 66D, and toFIG. 17A , the geometry of the cut-away portion 66D in thesurface 60, with respect to thegroove 65, provides that, when thehook assembly 16 is moved to the closed position, thepin 40 passes with little or no resistance across theportion 66D, and then the pivoting rotation of thehook assembly 16 is halted when thepin 40 becomes lodged in thegroove 64 after clearing theportion 66D. When theattachment 10 is in the release setting, the operator, if desired, can easily rotate thehook assembly 16 in the direction of the arrow B as shown inFIG. 2 , which would pull thepin 40 out of thegroove 64, across theportion 66D and away from therelease ring 52, so that thehook assembly 16 returns the open condition. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 6 andFIGS. 17A-17D , as thering 52 is rotated, thespring plunger 54 moves into and out of the grooves 62 in thesurface 60. When theplunger 54 is within a groove 62, thering 52 is secured at a selected tension setting for theattachment 10. Thegrooves surface 60 of thering 52, such that when theend 55 of thespring plunger 54 is within one of thegrooves pin 40 is positioned within thegroove 64 aligned with the cut-awayportions attachment 10, thegrooves screw 54 is positioned at the groove 66A, thepin 40 is positioned at the portion of thegroove 64 that is not adjacent to any cut-away portion in thesurface 60, or the high or locked setting of theattachment 10. Further, regardless of the position of thering 52, in other words, the selected release setting, when thehook assembly 16 is engaged to thering 52, the limiter setscrew 56 is slightly spaced from thesurface 60 of thering 52, such that all of the force applied by thespring 88 to thering 52 is applied to thepin 40. When thehook assembly 16 rotates to the open position for any reason, the limiter setscrew 56 limits the movement of thering 52, thereby allowing easy re-engagement of thehook assembly 16 with thering 52. - Once the
pin 40 is positioned within thegroove 64 in the release setting, the operator can select a mode of operation for theattachment 10 by moving thering 52, using thehandle 72, to one of the low, medium, and high or locked settings. When the operator applies force to thehandle 72 to rotate therelease ring 52, thespring plunger 54 compresses, which allows thering 52 to rotate. Referring toFIG. 6 , thegrooves surfaces 59A, such as at angle of about 45 degrees with respect to thesurface 60, at their circumferential sides, and thegrooves surfaces 59A at their circumferential sides adjacent the grooves, 62B and 62C, respectively. Further, thegrooves surfaces 59B at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to thesurface 60 on the circumferential sides opposing thegrooves spring plunger 54 can move in and out of the grooves 62 with relative ease, but cannot be easily rotated in the circumferential direction opposite thegrooves plunger 54 is in thegroove - Thus, when the
spring plunger 54 is moved from thegroove 62D to theadjacent groove 62C, theplunger 54 will extend into thenext groove 62C, stopping rotation of therelease ring 52, which creates a feeling for the operator similar to thering 52 being stopped by a detent. In this condition, thespring 88, via thewasher 82, maintains a force against therelease ring 52. The operator can continue to rotate thering 52, as desired, to achieve the medium or high settings, and the same interaction between thespring plunger 54 and thegrooves FIG. 16D , the operator can move therelease ring 52 to the high setting where thepin 40 sits in the portion of theannular groove 64 that does not have an adjoining cut-away portion and theplunger 54 is within thegroove 62A. - When the chicken loop is engaged in the
hook assembly 16 and thehook assembly 16 is the closed condition, the automatic release features of theattachment 10 are in operation. Any line tension on the chicken loop creates a force vector perpendicular to theshaft 14 at therelease pin 40. If there is sufficient tension on the line, such as can occur in a dangerous, high wind circumstance, to create a sufficient force on thepin 40, such that thepin 40 compresses thespring 88 to such an extent that therelease ring 52 is pushed out of the way of therelease pin 40, therelease pin 40 then surmounts thewall 65 of thegroove 64 and thehook assembly 16 freely rotates to the open position and is no longer engaged with thering 52. When thehook assembly 16 rotates to the open position in such circumstance, the tension on the line is likely to be sufficient to cause the chicken loop to move very forcefully and quickly towards theshackle 92 at theopening 38, resulting in the almost immediate bending of theshackle 92 away from theregion 39, such that the chicken loop quickly disengages from thehook assembly 16. - The spring constant of the
spring 88 is suitably selected to provide that selected amounts of tension on a line would cause thepin 40 to become disengaged from thegroove 64 when thepin 40 is opposite the various cut-away portions 66, or not adjacent any cut-away portion. Theshims 80 may be added or removed from theshaft 14, as desired, to fine tune the tension at which thepin 40 would be released from thegroove 64 at the various release settings. - Once in the high setting, the operator can readily switch the
attachment 10 to the medium setting by rotating therelease ring 52 so that thepin 40 becomes lodged ingroove 64 adjacent to the cut-awayportion 66B and thescrew 54 is opposite thegroove 62B. Referring toFIGS. 16C and 17C , in the medium setting, the effective depth of theannular groove 64 is reduced in relation to the actual depth of thegroove 64 when thepin 40 is in the high setting. The effective depth of thegroove 64 is reduced because the cut-awayportion 66B, which can include a bevel in thewall 65, a cut-out in thesurface 60 or both, effectively reduces the height of theouter wall 65 adjacent thepin 40, such that less force on thepin 40 would be required to sufficiently compress thespring 88 so that thepin 40 can surmount theouter wall 65 and, thus, become disengaged from thegroove 64, as described above. - In a preferred embodiment, the spring constant of the
spring 88 is selected such that a tension of about the expected weight of an operator of the kite generates sufficient force on thepin 40 when theattachment 10 is in the low setting to cause thepin 40 to surmount theouter wail 65 of thegroove 64 at the cut-awayportion 66C. As discussed above, once thepin 40 disengages from theannular groove 64, thehook assembly 16 rotates freely away from theshaft 14 to the open position, such that the chicken loop can readily become disengaged from thehook assembly 16. - By rotating the
release ring 52 from thegroove 62B to thegroove 62C, theattachment 10 is changed to the low setting and the effective depth of theannular groove 64 is further reduced. Referring toFIGS. 16B and 17B , in the low setting, therelease pin 40 becomes disengaged from theannular groove 64 at a significantly lower line tension than in the medium setting. To affect a manual release, the operator further rotates therelease ring 52 to thelast groove 62D to obtain the release setting. In the release setting, the effective depth of theannular groove 64 is at a minimal level, such that thehook assembly 16 will rotate away from theshaft 14 upon the application of a minimal tension to the line. - In a preferred embodiment of the
attachment 10, when tension on the kite line increases beyond a level designated as safe, thehook assembly 16 is automatically released from theattachment 10, which in turn permits the chicken loop and thus the kite to quickly disengage from thehook assembly 16, thereby avoiding death or serious injury to the rider. After a manual or automatic release of thehook assembly 16, the operator rotates therelease ring 52 to the release setting and re-engages thehook assembly 16 to thering 52, preferably before re-shackling the chicken loop in theregion 39. - Advantageously, the inventive automatic release attachment eliminates human reaction time as a factor controlling the release of a kite line when a dangerous high tension circumstance arises, thereby affording a level of safety not currently available in prior art manual kite release devices. Further, the inventive automatic release attachment makes shackling and unshackling of the chicken loop more convenient for the operator than otherwise available in the prior art.
- It is to be understood that the desired tension for release in each setting is variable and the type of kite, the sport involved, for example, snow kiting or kite boarding, rider preference and rider skill can all play a large part in the selection of a release tension. In a preferred embodiment, the release tension ratings in the low and medium settings are between 70% and 105% of operator weight and at 130% to 150% of the low setting, respectively. Calibration of the
attachment 10 is readily performed by adding or removing theshims 80. - It is noted that an apparatus desirably should have redundant safety devices, and that the failure of one safety device on the apparatus should not disable any of the other safety devices. The inventive automatic release attachment advantageously increases the safety of an operator, such as a kite-boarder, because the attachment can fail only to safe or neutral conditions. First, the
attachment 10 could fail to the open, or fail safe, position, where the chicken loop is released from theattachment 10. Second, theattachment 10 could fail to the locked, or fail neutral, position, where thehook assembly 16 is locked within thegroove 64 and cannot be disengaged therefrom. In the latter circumstance, the operator can bend theshackle 92 and then pull the chicken loop over thebent shackle 92 to disengage the chicken loop from thehook assembly 16 and, thus, theattachment 10. - In one exemplary application, a rider of a snowboard who desires to be towed by a kite uses the
attachment 10 to provide for an automatic release of the kite termination at several selectable release settings, each having a different automatic release tension. It is known that, when a gust wind acts on a kite whose termination is locked in place, the wind can generate sufficient tension on the line to loft the rider over 50 feet in the air. The automatic release features of theattachment 10 would prevent such occurrence. For example, the most dangerous time for a kite-boarder is when the kite is airborne while at the beach, including launching and landing of the kite. In such circumstances, the rider requires the least amount of power from the kite. The next most dangerous phase of kite-boarding is when the rider initially moves away from, or returns to, shore. The safest phase of kite-boarding is when the rider is far from land, during which time the rider may initiate the more extreme maneuvering, including higher speeds and jumping. The inventive automatic release attachment, with four selectable tension release settings, would accommodate these different phases of kite-boarding. In a first or release setting, theattachment 10 releases the kite when a minimum of tension is on the line. The release setting is used to manually initiate release, as well as to re-engage thehook assembly 16 to therelease ring 52 after a release. A second or low release setting is selected by the operator to launch or land the kite. At the low setting, theattachment 10 automatically releases the kite when the tension on the line is at a level significantly less than the rider's weight. A third or medium setting is used when the rider rides away from, and back to, shore. At the third setting, the kite will be released when the tension on the line is at a level somewhat above the rider's weight. Moderate riding, including very gentle jumps, are possible at the third setting. In addition, the rider could use the third setting in the event adverse weather conditions develop while the rider proceeds back to shore. A fourth or high setting is selected when the rider prepares to begin advanced maneuvering. At the fourth setting, the kite will be released when the tension on the line is at a level significantly above the rider's weight, and preferably is many times the weight of the rider. Theattachment 10 is considered locked at this level, such that automatic release cannot occur. The locked setting may be desirable by the rider who desires to perform intentional jumps and other advanced maneuvers where the line tension would equal or exceed the line tension that could be dangerous if the rider is still on shore. - In another embodiment, the
groove 64 of theattachment 10 has a depth providing that the high setting is not a locked setting and thepin 40 automatically releases at some tension above a rider weight, for example, at about 200% of a rider's weight In this embodiment, theattachment 10 allows the rider to perform all but the most extreme maneuvering. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 3 and 17A-17D, in a preferred embodiment, theattachment 10 includes a retractable quickrelease spring plunger 112 which extends through therelease ring 52 at theaperture 110, theaperture 51A in thebearing 50 and is secured to theshaft 14 at theaperture 22, when thering 52 is rotated to a setting where theaperture 51A of thebearing 50, which is press fit to thering 52, is aligned with theaperture 22 in theshaft 14. In the preferred embodiment, theaperture 22 is aligned with theaperture 51A when thering 52 is in the high or locked setting. As thering 52 is rotated to obtain the locked setting, the force of the spring of theplunger 112 causes theplunger 112 to snap into theaperture 22 in theshaft 14, thereby preventing all movement of thering 52 until theplunger 112 is manually retracted from theaperture 22. - The
plunger 112, when used with theattachment 10, thus, prevents therelease ring 50 from rotating about, or moving axially along the length of, theshaft 14. When theattachment 10 is in the high or locked setting, theplunger 112 blocks movement of thering 52, such that theattachment 10 is in a locked mode. To deselect the locked mode, the operator must simultaneously pull against theplunger 112, so that it no longer bears against theshaft 14, while rotating therelease ring 52 out of the locked setting. Theplunger 112, however, does not change the automatic release features of all of the other settings of theattachment 10, because theplunger 112 would not be secured to theshaft 14 in such settings. - In an alternative embodiment, the
plunger 112 is omitted from theattachment 10 and a simple set screw seals theaperture 110 but does not extend into theaperture 51A of thebearing 50. The use of theplunger 112 with theattachment 10, for example, may be desirable for very extreme jumping over shallow water to eliminate the possibility of the locked mode disengaging accidentally. - In a preferred embodiment, the
ring 52 is not rotatable and thehook assembly 16 includesseveral pins 40, which provide that less load is placed on eachpin 40 when engaged in thegroove 64. Instead of thegroove 64, thering surface 60 includes a plurality of semi-spherically shaped indents, each having a cutout similar to the geometry of thecutout 66C, and thepins 40 would engage the respective shaped indents. When a force in the direction of thespreader bar 12 is applied to a lever attached to thering 52, where the lever, for example, is thehandle 72, therelease ring 52 is forced downward against thespring 88, thereby allowing manual release. - In another embodiment, the
ring 52 is not rotatable and thehook assembly 16 includes asingle pin 40 and thering surface 60 includes is a single corresponding indent 66 in thering surface 60 for receiving thepin 40. In a further embodiment, theattachment 10 including thenon-rotatable ring 52 with thesingle pin 40 and corresponding single indent 66 also includes theplunger 112. Theplunger 112, when secured to theshaft 14, prevents axial movement of thenon-rotatable ring 52, thereby placing theattachment 10 in locked mode. In this embodiment, theattachment 10 includes only the release settings of manual release, automatic release and locked. - In still another embodiment, the
attachment 10 is mounted inline between a kite line and the chicken loop of the kite line, rather than to thespreader bar 12, where theend 21 of theshaft 14 is for engagement with a chicken loop and thehook assembly 16 is for engagement with the front lines of the kite. - In still a further embodiment, the
shackle 92 is constructed of a material or materials that provide that theshackle 92 only has sufficient strength to hold the chicken loop or a like termination within theregion 39 to prevent accidental release, in other words, when there is minimal, or the absence of any, tension on the line. - In a preferred embodiment, the
attachment 10 includes arotating leash collar 162 encircling thespring 88. Referring toFIG. 1 , and also toFIG. 15A which shows the portion of theshaft 14 of theattachment 10 at which thecollar 162 would be disposed and omits thespring 88 for clarity purposes, thecollar 162, which is in the form of a tube and has aloop 161 extending therefrom, has an axial length that is less than the axial distance between thewashers shaft 14, such that when thecollar 162 is centered between thewashers collar 162 is axially spaced from thewashers gaps loop 161 of thecollar 162, thecollar 162 rotates about theshaft 14 when the control bar of the kite is rotated. It is noted that, in this embodiment, if the leash exerts any pull on thecollar 162 prior to automatic release of thehook assembly 16, the effective release tension rating for a selected setting for theattachment 10 would increase, because thecollar 162, in addition to thespring 88, would be applying force to therelease ring 52. - In a preferred embodiment, a
leash collar assembly 160, as shown in exploded view inFIG. 15B at the portion of theshaft 14 of theattachment 10 at which thecollar assembly 160 would be disposed and with thespring 88 omitted for clarity, includes thecollar 162 that can rotate about theshaft 14, but would not apply any force to therelease ring 52 during rotation. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 15 B, thecollar assembly 160 includes atube 167 whose inner diameter exceeds the outer diameter of the spring 88 (not shown) and axial length is slightly longer than the axial length of theleash collar 162. Thecollar 160 encircles thetube 167, which at one end is welded to thewasher 86. Awasher 169 having the same inside diameter as thetube 163 is welded onto the other end of thetube 163. Thecollar 162, thus, is locked within the axial space on theshaft 14 extending between thewashers 86 and 165, in other words, can move axially along the length of theshaft 14 only between thewashers 86 and 165. When thecollar 160 rotates about theshaft 14, thecollar 160 rotates in relation to thewasher 86, which is fixed in place and, therefore, fixes the assembly 160A in place. Thus, although thecollar 160 may exert a force against thewasher 169, the fixedwasher 86 prevents thecollar 160 applying such force to thering 52 and, thus, prevents a change to the effective tension release rating for a selected release setting. -
FIG. 7 illustrates another preferred embodiment of anautomatic release attachment 150 in accordance with the present invention. Theattachment 150 is similar in construction and operation to theattachment 10 described above, and like reference numerals are used to describe components having similar or identical construction and operation as those contained in theattachment 10. Referring toFIG. 7 , theattachment 150 includes ahook assembly 16 pivotally secured to amain shaft 154, as shown in greater detail inFIGS. 8A, 8B , 8C, and 8D, at anaperture 18adjacent end 13 of theshaft 154. Thehook assembly 16 is identical to that contained in theattachment 10, except that theshackle holder 34 is contained within thebrackets 30 of thehook 32 and does not extend opposite theregion 39 defined by thehook assembly 16. - Referring to
FIG. 7 and also toFIG. 9 , which shows theattachment 150 in exploded view in relation to aspreader bar 12, arelease ring 156 and adetent ring 158, which in combination provide the same automatic release functionalities as thering 52, are disposed on theshaft 154 between thehook assembly 16 and aspring 88. An optionalrotating leash collar 160 encircling thespring 88 is disposed between thedetent ring 158 and an optional tension adjustingspring washer 157. Anut 84 is secured to the threadedportion 20 of thebar 154, and anut 90 is secured to the portion of the threadedportion 20 of thebar 154 extending through anaperture 163 in thespreader bar 12. - Referring to
FIG. 7 andFIGS. 8A, 8B , 8C and 8D, thebar 154 includes alimiter boss pin 166 disposed on thebar 154 at about the same position as theboss 24 is disposed on thebar 14. In addition, thebar 154 includes agroove 168 extending between theend 21 of thebar 14 and thelimiter pin 166. - Referring to
FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, therelease ring 156 includes anannular groove 64 and cut-awayportions apertures surface 63. A release setscrew 174 is threaded into theaperture 170 so that the top of theset screw 174 is slightly above thesurface 60 of therelease ring 156. Referring toFIG. 11 , thedetent ring 158 includesholes holes portions release ring 156. In addition,center aperture 180 of thering 158 includes a key 181 which is matched to thegroove 168 in thebar 154. When thering 158 is installed onto thebar 154, the key 181 slides into and along thegroove 168 to the furthermost portion in the direction of theend 13 of theshaft 154, such that that thering 158 is fixed in placed on theshaft 154 at such portion of thegroove 168. - Operation of the
attachment 150 is similar to that of theattachment 10, in that, after the chicken loop is initially engaged to thehook assembly 16, preferably while thehook assembly 16 is in the open position, thehook assembly 16 is rotated to the closed position and the detent setscrew 176 is threaded into theaperture 172 so that the end of thescrew 176 opposing thedetent ring 158, which is preferably oval in shape, engages the detent hole 178. When thepin 40 is engaged to thegroove 64, thepin 40 can be positioned in thegroove 64 not opposite a cut-away portion and opposite the cut-awayportions screw 176, in turn, would be engaged within a corresponding one of the detent holes 178A, 178B, 178C and 178D. The size of the detent holes 178 determines the detent force on thering 156. Therefore, if aspring 88 with a higher spring constant is used, the diameter of the holes 178 on thering 158 can be reduced. Similarly as described above for theattachment 10, placing thescrew 176 into one of the detent holes 178A, 178B, 178C and 178D sets theattachment 150 to the release settings of high, medium, low and release, respectively. - When the
hook assembly 16 is in the closed position with thescrew 176 in one of the detent holes 178, thespring 88 forces thedetent ring 158 against therelease ring 156, and thelimiter pin 166 limits the extent that thespring 88 forces therings pin 40 of thehook assembly 16. The operator can select a different release setting by rotating thering 156 so that thedetent screw 176 engages another of the detent holes 178. While thering 156 is being rotated, thepin 40 simultaneously moves annularly in thegroove 64 to a different position, for example, adjacent another of the cut-away portions 66, and thescrew 176 would engage the corresponding detent hole 178. - It is noted that when the
release ring 156 is rotated to the release setting to effect a manual release, thedetent screw 176 engages thedetent hole 178D and theset screw 174 is now aligned with and under themotion limiter pin 166. As the release setscrew 174 is set preferably slightly above the surface of therelease ring 156 in this setting, some of the force that thespring 88 applies to thepin 40 is transferred to the release setscrew 174, such that thehook assembly 16 can rotate away from thebar 154 when only a small force is applied to thehook assembly 16. The release setscrew 174 can be adjusted within theaperture 170 by the operator to establish a preferred force for disengaging and reengaging thehook assembly 16 to thering 156. - Referring to
FIG. 12 , ahook assembly 200, in accordance with the present invention, is welded or otherwise attached to aspreader bar 202 includinghooks 204 at the opposing ends. Thespreader bar 202 is similar in construction to thespreader bar 12, except that thebar 202 does not include an aperture between thehooks 204. Thehook assembly 200 includes a folded U-shaped bracket or hook 201 having a foldedportion 243, as is conventional in the art. Thehook 201 includesparallel legs 206, spaced from each other, extending away from thespreader bar 202 and then curving toward and joining each other after thefold 243 to define aregion 239 for retaining a chicken loop. In addition, thehook assembly 200 includes a retainingbar 208 having spacedlegs 210 extending away from adjacent thespreader bar 202, along the surface portions of thelegs 206 facing theregion 239 and then bending away from thelegs 206, preferably at about a 30 to 45 degree angle with respect to thelegs 206, into theregion 239 and terminating as a joined portion at anend 212. Thelegs 210 of thebar 208 are welded or otherwise attached to the adjoining surfaces of thelegs 206, forming ajunction 247 facing theregion 239. - Referring to
FIG. 12 , and also toFIG. 13 , which is a partial view of theend 218 of thehook assembly 200, abushing 224 is welded or otherwise attached in the space between thelegs 206 adjacent theend 218 of thehook 201. Thebushing 224 is mounted so that a straight line from about the center of thebushing 224 intersects thefree end 212 of the retainingbar 208. Ashackle 225, similar to theshackle 92 described above, is mounted inside thebushing 224 by a set screw (not shown), similar to thescrew 94 described above, which is threaded into theshackle 225 from the outside of thehook 201 so that theshackle 225 is flush with the edge of thebushing 224 which is outside thehook 201End 227 of theshackle 225, opposing theend 212 of the retainingbar 208, is close to, but does not touch, the retainingbar 208. Theend 227 of theshackle 225 and theend 212 of the retainingbar 208 define agap 216 therebetween. When theshackle 225 is not bent, thegap 216 is sufficiently small so that the chicken loop cannot pass through thegap 216. - The set screw for the
shackle 225 is selected so that it is flush with both ends of thebushing 224, and holds theshackle 225 with a predetermined force inside of thebushing 224. A predetermined force needs to be applied to theshackle 225 to cause theshackle 225 to bend a sufficient amount, such that thegap 216 sufficiently increases to allow the chicken loop to pass therethrough. Like theshackle 92, theshackle 225 can have varying degrees of flexibility and is easily replaceable. The operator of thehook assembly 200, therefore, can select from severaldifferent shackles 225 to control the amount of force that would need to be applied to theshackle 225 to unshackle the chicken loop from thehook assembly 200. - In a preferred implementation of the
hook assembly 200 where thehook assembly 200 is connected to thespreader bar 202, as shown inFIG. 12 , an operator of a kite, such as rider of a kite-board, engages a chicken loop to thehook assembly 200 by pulling a control bar for the kite down and towards thehook assembly 200. The rider then uses a motion, common and well known to those trained in the art of kite-riding, to hook the chicken loop into theregion 239 of thehook assembly 200. The retainingbar 208 aids this action by guiding the chicken loop to a region intermediate theend 218 of thehook 201 and theend 212 of the retainingbar 208. As the chicken loop reaches theshackle 225, theshackle 225 bends inwardly into theregion 239, out of the way of the chicken loop, such that the chicken loop becomes shackled within theregion 239. If the rider pulls the control bar towards thehook assembly 200 again, theshackle 225 guides the chicken loop onto the surface of thelegs 210 of the retainingbar 208 facing theregion 239. Continued rearward movement of the chicken loop will be arrested when the chicken loop contacts thejunction 247 of the retainingbar 208 and thehook 201. Thus, inadvertent disengagement of the chicken loop from thehook assembly 200 is prevented. - Referring to
FIG. 12 , if, in a starting position, the chicken loop is positioned against theinside curve 243 of thehook 201, the rider can disengage the chicken loop from thehook assembly 200 by merely pulling the control bar back and down. The downward force applied by the rider at the beginning of rearward movement of the chicken loop maintains the chicken loop against the surfaces of thehook 201 near theend 218 facing theregion 239. The force causes theshackle 225 to bend outwardly, away from theregion 239, such that the chicken loop disengages from thehook assembly 200 instead of being guided onto the surfaces of thelegs 210 of the retainingbar 208 facing theregion 239. Alternatively, the rider may use one hand to guide the chicken loop out ofhook assembly 200. - Advantageously, the
inventive hook assembly 200 with theretainer bar 208, when attached to aspreader bar 202, prevents release of a chicken loop contained within theregion 239 while the chicken loop is moving rearward, i.e., towards the operator, unless a downward force is added to that movement. Thehook assembly 200, thus, will eliminate most inadvertent disengagements of the chicken loop, while simultaneously allowing the rider to quickly and easily disengage the chicken loop from thehook assembly 200, while keeping both hands on the control bar. - In an alternative embodiment, the
shackle 225 is omitted from theshackle assembly 200. The chicken loop likely would be retained in theregion 239, even in the absence of theshackle 225, based on the high likelihood that rearward movement of the chicken loop would result in the chicken loop sliding onto the surfaces of thelegs 210 of the retainingbar 208 facing theregion 239. - In another embodiment, the retaining
bar 208 is latched or hinged at the point thebar 208 joins thehook 201. By using a latch or hinge mechanism to couple thebar 208 to thehook 201, the retainingbar 208 can be latched in an up position allowing free disengagement of the chicken loop, and in a down position maintaining engagement of the chicken loop, as desired. - In a further embodiment, the retaining
bar 208 is omitted from thehook assembly 200, such that only theshackle 92 retains the chicken loop with theregion 239. - In still another preferred embodiment, the
hook assembly 16 of theattachment bar 208 extending from thestop 36 into theregion 39 and opposing theshackle 92, in the same manner that the retainingbar 208 opposes theshackle 225 in thehook assembly 200. - Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.
Claims (27)
1. An automatic release attachment for releasably engaging a tension line comprising:
a hook assembly defining a retaining region for retaining a coupling element of a tension line, wherein the hook assembly is secured to a shaft and movable between open and closed positions;
a release ring rotatably coupled to the shaft, rotatable to a plurality of tension release settings at which the hook assembly is engagable to the ring when the hook assembly is in the closed position, wherein the ring is disposed intermediate the hook assembly and a first resilient element, the first resilient element being coupled to the shaft and applying a biasing force against the ring to hold the ring between the first resilient element and the hook assembly, wherein the plurality of the settings correspond to respective tension ratings; and
wherein, when the hook assembly is in the open position, the hook assembly is not engaged with the release ring, and, when the hook assembly is in the closed position engaged to the release ring at a selected one of the settings, the hook assembly is automatically released from the release ring when tension on the tension line of the coupling element retained within the retaining region of the hook assembly exceeds the tension rating for the selected setting.
2. The attachment of claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly includes a shackle for retaining the coupling element of the line in the retaining region.
3. The attachment of claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly includes a pin and the release ring includes an annular groove for receiving the pin when the hook assembly is in the closed position, wherein the annular groove has a radius and depth substantially equal to the radius and depth of the pin, and wherein the ring includes at least a first cut-away portion adjacent the annular groove and corresponding to one of the release settings.
4. The attachment of claim 3 , wherein the first cut-away portion has a geometry effectively reducing the depth of the adjacent portion of the annular groove to a first depth, such that the pin is released from the groove when the amount of tension on the line exceeds the tension rating for the corresponding release setting.
5. The attachment of claim 4 , wherein the pin is released from the groove when the amount of tension on the line is less than the amount of tension on the line at which the pin is released from the groove when the pin is (i) not adjacent to a cut-away portion, or (ii) adjacent to a second cut-away portion having a geometry effectively reducing the depth of the adjacent portion of the groove to a second depth exceeding the first depth.
6. The attachment of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of cut-away portions spaced from one another about the annular groove and corresponding to the respective release settings.
7. The attachment of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cut-away portions includes at least one of a groove defined in the ring and a bevel in the annular groove.
8. The attachment of claim 3 , wherein the hook assembly includes a set screw and a spring plunger contacting the ring, wherein the ring defines a plurality of detent holes for receiving the spring plunger, wherein the locations of the respective detent holes on the ring correspond to the release settings, and wherein ease of rotatability of the ring is decreased when the spring plunger is received within one of the detent holes.
9. The attachment of claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly includes a flexible shackle extending across a portion of an opening of the retaining region when the shackle is an at rest position, and wherein, when the shackle is in a bent position, the portion of the opening across which the shackle extends is less than that which the shackle extends when the shackle is at the rest position.
10. The attachment of claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly is pivotally secured to the shaft and rotatable in relation to the shaft between the open and closed positions.
11. The attachment of claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a limiter boss for limiting the movement of the ring in the direction of the hook assembly.
12. The attachment of claim 1 further comprising:
a spacer interposed between the ring and the first resilient element.
13. The attachment of claim 1 further comprising:
a second resilient element for releasably securing the ring to the shaft for preventing any movement of the ring when the attachment is at one of the settings.
14. An automatic release attachment for releasably engaging a tension line comprising:
a hook assembly for retaining a coupling element of a tension line in a retaining region; and
an automatic release means for releasably engaging the hook assembly at a plurality of selectable tension release settings respectively corresponding to a plurality of tension ratings, wherein, when the coupling element of the line is retained by the hook assembly and the hook assembly is engaged to the release means at a selected one of the release settings, the release means automatically releases the hook assembly when tension on the line element exceeds the tension rating for the selected release setting.
15. The attachment of claim 14 , wherein the automatic release means includes a release ring opposing the hook assembly and rotatable to obtain each of the release settings and a first resilient means biasing the ring in the direction of the opposing hook assembly.
16. The attachment of claim 14 , wherein the automatic release means includes a rotatable release ring defining an aperture and overlying a detent ring defining a plurality of detent holes, wherein the detent holes correspond to the respective release settings and wherein the ring is rotatable to engage a spring plunger extending through the aperture in one of the detent holes, thereby coupling the release ring to the detent ring and establishing a selected one of the release settings.
17. The attachment of claim 14 , wherein the hook assembly includes a pinning means engageable with a receiving means in the automatic release means, wherein the receiving means includes at least one groove for receiving the pinning means and corresponding to a release setting.
18. The attachment of claim 17 , wherein the receiving means includes a plurality of grooves corresponding to a plurality of respective release settings.
19. The attachment of claim 14 further comprising:
a second resilient means for releasably securing the ring for preventing any movement of the ring when the attachment is at one of the settings.
20. A hook assembly for releasably engaging a coupling element of a tension line comprising:
a hook defining a retaining region for retaining a coupling element of a tension line; and
at least one of:
(i) a flexible shackle coupled to the hook and extending at least partially across an opening of the retaining region, wherein the shackle has a rest position and a bent position, and wherein, in the rest position, the shackle extends substantially across the opening and wherein, when a predetermined force is applied against the shackle, the shackle bends to increase the size of the opening; and
(ii) a retaining bar coupled to the hook and extending at least partially across the opening.
21. The hook assembly of claim 20 , wherein the retaining bar opposes the shackle.
22. A method of releasably securing a tension line to an automatic release attachment comprising:
shackling a coupling element of a tension line to a retaining region of a hook assembly; and
engaging the hook assembly to an automatic release means; and
selecting one of a plurality of release settings, wherein the release settings corresponds to the respective amounts of tension on the line at which the hook assembly, when engaged to the automatic release means, is released from the automatic release means.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising at least one of:
shackling the coupling element to the hook assembly by bending a shackle extending form the hook assembly; and
unshackling the coupling element from the hook assembly by bending the shackle.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the hook assembly is secured to a shaft and rotatable between open and closed positions, wherein the hook assembly is engaged to the release means in the closed position.
25. An automatic release attachment for releasably engaging a tension line comprising:
a hook assembly for retaining a coupling element of a tension line in a retaining region; and
an automatic release means for releasably engaging the hook assembly, wherein, when the coupling element of the line is retained by the hook assembly and the hook assembly is engaged to the release means, the release means automatically releases the hook assembly when tension on the line element exceeds a predetermined tension.
26. The attachment of claim 25 , wherein the hook assembly is secured to a shaft and the automatic release means includes a release ring coupled to the shaft and opposing the hook assembly, wherein the release ring is not rotatable about the shaft and the attachment further comprises:
a first resilient means biasing the ring in the direction of the opposing hook assembly.
27. The attachment of claim 26 further comprising:
a second resilient means for releasably securing the ring to the shaft for preventing any movement of the ring.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/557,371 US20070114333A1 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2006-11-07 | Automatic Release Attachment For Kites and the Like, and Method of Use |
US12/351,981 US7651142B2 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2009-01-12 | Automatic release attachment for kites and the like, and method of use |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US73456905P | 2005-11-08 | 2005-11-08 | |
US74179705P | 2005-12-02 | 2005-12-02 | |
US11/557,371 US20070114333A1 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2006-11-07 | Automatic Release Attachment For Kites and the Like, and Method of Use |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/351,981 Division US7651142B2 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2009-01-12 | Automatic release attachment for kites and the like, and method of use |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070114333A1 true US20070114333A1 (en) | 2007-05-24 |
Family
ID=38024068
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/557,371 Abandoned US20070114333A1 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2006-11-07 | Automatic Release Attachment For Kites and the Like, and Method of Use |
US12/351,981 Expired - Fee Related US7651142B2 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2009-01-12 | Automatic release attachment for kites and the like, and method of use |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/351,981 Expired - Fee Related US7651142B2 (en) | 2005-11-08 | 2009-01-12 | Automatic release attachment for kites and the like, and method of use |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20070114333A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1951391A2 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2006311293A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007056728A2 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090159752A1 (en) * | 2007-12-19 | 2009-06-25 | Sidewinder Gear Llc | Spreader bar lateral kite control |
DE102014100735B3 (en) * | 2014-01-23 | 2015-03-26 | Technische Universität München | Device for setting a steering kite system |
WO2017147641A1 (en) * | 2016-03-03 | 2017-09-08 | Harval Industries Pty Ltd | A kiteboarding spreader/slide bar |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2013166596A1 (en) * | 2012-05-11 | 2013-11-14 | Ocean Rodeo Sports Inc. | Safety system for a traction kite with releasable adjustable bar stopper |
RU2684874C1 (en) * | 2018-01-22 | 2019-04-15 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Казанский национальный исследовательский технический университет им. А.Н. Туполева-КАИ" (КНИТУ-КАИ) | Kite piloting method |
RU2684879C1 (en) * | 2018-01-22 | 2019-04-15 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Казанский национальный исследовательский технический университет им. А.Н. Туполева-КАИ" (КНИТУ-КАИ) | Kite |
EP3527478A1 (en) | 2018-02-16 | 2019-08-21 | Jonas Hofstetter | Kitehand holding device for a kite |
FR3095594A1 (en) * | 2019-05-05 | 2020-11-06 | Franck Gressier | Harness hook with loaded or manual opening device |
PL436655A1 (en) * | 2021-01-14 | 2022-07-18 | Action 13 Spółka Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością | Device used to connect and release a connection between two elements |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20090121086A1 (en) | 2009-05-14 |
WO2007056728A2 (en) | 2007-05-18 |
WO2007056728A3 (en) | 2008-01-03 |
AU2006311293A1 (en) | 2007-05-18 |
EP1951391A2 (en) | 2008-08-06 |
US7651142B2 (en) | 2010-01-26 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE |