Patent Application
20140084112
n/a
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
n/a
The present invention relates to a method and system for attaching a balloon to a kite.
Kite fishing is a fishing modality used in both recreational and commercial fishing. Kite fishing provides fishermen on shore the ability to fish in areas that are far from the shore and would otherwise be available with a boat. Similarly, for fishermen in boats, kite fishing provides a way to fish in areas that are not accessible by boat or that are too shallow for navigation. Kite fishing allows suspension of the bait right on top of the water at a fair distance from a boat or shore.
In kite fishing, a helium-filled balloon is secured to a kite usually using strings and tape. The balloon helps maintain the kite aloft and a line attached to the kite allows a fisherman to control the kite. One or more fishing lines are connected to the line of the kite using a releasable mechanism, such as a clip. On one end, each fishing line is attached to a rod and reel, and at the other end, the fishing line is attached to a bait holder that holds bait. When a fish bites and pulls on the bait, the releasable clip releases the fishing line. The fishing line is then reeled using the rod and reel.
Even though kite fishing has been around for many years, there has been little innovation with respect to methods of attaching a balloon to a kite. In fact, tying the balloon to the kite with strings and tape is the most common way of doing so. The strings are taped to the balloon and then attached to the kite. Once the balloon is attached, if there is a need to readjust the balloon, the tape needs to be removed, which often causes the balloon to pop. Given the disadvantages of using tape, most fishermen just use the strings to attach the balloon to the kite. However, attaching the balloon to the kite using strings is laborious. Thin strings are difficult to maneuver, especially during windy conditions, as the strings can become tangled.
A method and system for attaching a balloon to a kite is disclosed. In accordance with one aspect, a balloon retainer for securing a balloon having an inflation neck to a kite is provided. The balloon retainer includes a fabric element having three attachment points for securing the inflated balloon to the kite. The fabric element forms a pocket dimensioned to retain the inflated balloon. The balloon retainer also includes a balloon inflation neck securing mechanism configured to retain a portion of the inflation neck of the balloon.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a method for securing an inflated balloon having an inflation neck to a kite using a balloon retainer. The method includes attaching the balloon retainer to the kite. The balloon retainer includes a fabric element having three attachment points for securing the inflated balloon to the kite. The fabric element forms a pocket dimensioned to retain the inflated balloon. The method further includes securing a portion of the inflation neck to the fabric element using a balloon inflation neck securing mechanism configured to retain the portion of the inflation neck of the balloon.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a fishing rig. The fishing rig includes an inflated balloon, a kite, and a balloon retainer for retaining the inflated balloon to the kite. The balloon retainer includes a fabric element having three attachment points for securing the inflated balloon to the kite. The fabric element forms a pocket dimensioned to retain the inflated balloon. The balloon retainer further includes a balloon inflation neck securing mechanism configured to retain a portion of the inflation neck of the balloon.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for securing a balloon to a fishing kite using a balloon retainer. The balloon retainer comprises a fabric element having three attachment points for securing the inflated balloon to three locations on the fishing kite. The balloon retainer is attached to the kite. The fabric element of the balloon retainer forms a pocket dimensioned to retain the balloon when inflated. A portion of the inflation neck is secured to the fabric element using a balloon inflation neck securing mechanism configured to retain the portion of the inflation neck of the balloon.
As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.
Referring now to the drawing figures in which reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in
A releasable clip 24 can be used to releasably secure the fishing line 20 to the line 18 of the kite 12. The releasable clip 24 is releasably attached to the flying line 18, so that when a fish bites and pulls on the fishing line 20, the releasable clip 24 releases from the flying line 18 and drops to the water. Although
As the balloon 14 is inflated, the balloon 14 pushes the balloon retainer 16 away from the kite 12, creating a pocket with the kite 12. The balloon 14 can be retained inside the formed pocket. The size of the balloon retainer 16 varies depending on the size of the balloon 14 when inflated. The size of the balloon retainer 16 may also vary depending on the size of the kite 12. The balloon retainer 16 further includes a balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28 configured to retain a portion of an inflation neck 30 of the balloon 14. The Balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28 can be an aperture provided through the fabric element 26. The aperture may be dimensioned to receive and retain a portion of the inflation neck 30 of the balloon 14. For example, a portion of the inflation neck 30 of the balloon 14 may be inserted through the aperture of the fabric element 26. The portion of the inflation neck 30 may be inserted through the aperture when the balloon 14 is inflated or deflated.
The aperture in the fabric element 26 may be constructed to specifically allow a portion of the inflation neck 30 to fit tightly inside the aperture, i.e., the aperture may allow a portion of the inflation neck 30 to fit snuggly in the aperture. A knot may be tied in the inflation neck 30. The size of the knot may be larger than the aperture so that the knot is not pulled back through the aperture. The knot and the aperture may cause the balloon 14 to remain secured to the balloon retainer 16.
The balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28 may be any type of securing mechanism. For example, instead of an aperture, the inflation neck securing mechanism 28 may be a rubber band attached to the fabric element 26. The rubber band may be used to hold a portion of the inflation neck 30 to the balloon retainer 16. The balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28 may also be a clip, a hook, a loop, a clamp, a snap, a clasp, a string, a pin, or any fastening device that may be used to attach the balloon 14 to the balloon retainer 16.
To inflate the balloon 14, the balloon inflation neck 30 can be inserted into the balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28. The balloon 14 can be inflated while the balloon inflation neck 30 is secured by the balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28 to the fabric element 26 and hence, to the kite 12. The inflation neck 30 of the balloon 14 may be inserted through the balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28 to inflate the balloon 14 with, for example, an air or helium pump connected to the inflation neck 30. As the balloon 14 gets filled up with air, the balloon 14 expands, pushing the balloon retainer 16 to form a pocket dimensioned to retain and embrace the inflated balloon 14. While the balloon 14 is being filled with gas, the balloon retainer 16 can hold the balloon 14 and prevent the balloon 14 from moving away from the kite 12.
The balloon 14 can be filled with gas until the balloon 14 expands to a size where the balloon 14 can fit snuggly between the balloon retainer 16 and the kite 12. For example, the balloon 14 may be filled with gas until the inflated balloon 14 reaches a size where the inflated balloon 14 pushes the balloon retainer 16, which is attached to the kite 12, as far as possible from the kite 12. The balloon retainer 16 may stretch until the balloon retainer 16 is tense enough to secure the inflated balloon 14 firmly to the kite 12. Using the balloon retainer 16 to attach the balloon 14 to the kite 12 may be easier than using strings to secure the balloon 14 to the kite 12.
In an exemplary embodiment, the attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c are securable to the kite 12 in a spaced-apart relationship. The attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c can be secured anywhere on the kite 12. The three attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c can be secured to three different locations along a periphery of the kite 12. Further, the kite 12 may include a first side 48, a second side 50 adjacent/connected to the first side 48, a third side 52 adjacent/connected to the second side 50 and opposite to the first side 48, and a fourth side 54 adjacent/connected to the third side 52 and opposite to the second side 50.
For instance, the attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c may be secured to two of four sides of the kite 12 such as the first side 48 and the third side 52 of the kite 12, and the two sides of the kite 12 may be opposing. One of the three attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c can be secured to one side of four sides of the kite 12, such as the third side 52, and two of the three attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c can be secured to the side opposite the one side, e.g., the attachment points 26a and 26b can be attached to the first side 48.
The fabric element 26 includes a plurality of fabric element sides 32a, 32b and 32c that connect the three attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c. One of the fabric element sides 32a, 32b and 32c may have a notch 34. The notch 34 may be dimensioned to impart a substantially “Y” shape to the fabric element 26. The balloon retainer 16 may have any shape, such as a T shape, a triangular shape, etc. The balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28, which may be an aperture in the fabric element 26, may be proximate one of the attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c. For example, the balloon inflation neck securing mechanism 28 may be proximate attachment point 26c, and that attachment point 26c may be opposite fabric element side 32a that includes the notch 34. The balloon retainer 16 may be fastened to the kite 12 by securing the attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c to the kite 12 using a fastening element.
The frame 36 may have a substantially “X” configuration, where the middle of the “X” corresponds to a middle 46 of the frame 36. The cover or sail of the kite 12 may be made of paper, plastic and cloth, among other materials. The exemplary kite 12 has an approximate squared shape including a first corner 13a, a second corner 13b, a third corner 13c and a fourth corner 13d.
The first and second corners 13a and 13b may be connected by the first side 48 of the kite 12. The second and third corners 13b and 13c may be connected by the second side 50 of the kite 12. The third and fourth corners 13c and 13d may be connected by the third side 52, and the fourth and first corners 13d and 13a may be connected by the fourth side 54 of the kite 12. The attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c can be attached anywhere on the kite 12, including any corner of the kite 12. For example, the attachment point 26a may be attached to the first corner 13a, the attachment 26b may be attached to the second corner 13b and the attachment 26c may be attached to the middle 46, to third corner 13c and/or the fourth corner 13d. In fact, the attachment points 26a, 26b and 26c may be attached anywhere on the kite 12 and/or the frame 36, such as the first frame portion 38a, the second frame portion 40a, the third frame portion 42a and the fourth frame portion 44a.
A third frame location 56 may be in the middle 46 of the frame 36 or may be proximate to the middle 46 of the frame 36. The attachment point 26c may be secured to the third frame location 56. This configuration may result in the kite 12 flying in an approximate straight pattern, as the inflated balloon 14 would be mostly centered on the top part of the kite 12. When flying a single kite 12, this configuration may allow the kite 12 to fly mostly parallel to the direction the wind is blowing. As another example, the attachment points 26a and 26b may be attached to the first side 48 and the attachment point 26c may be attached to the second side 50, the third side 52, the fourth side 54 or the middle 46 of the kite 12.
In this example, the fourth frame location 42b on the third frame portion 42a is proximate to the second side 50 and the third side 52 of the kite 12, i.e., proximate to the corner 13c. By securing the attachment point 26c close to the corner 13c of the kite 12, the balloon retainer 16 pushes the balloon 14 toward the second side 50 of the kite 12. Securing the attachment point 26c to the fourth frame location 42b, may cause the balloon 14 to be retained to the right side of the kite 12, which may make the kite 12 fly slightly towards the right. Since the balloon 14 is closer to the second side 50 than to the fourth side 54, more of the left side of the kite 12, i.e., the surface area proximate to the fourth side 54 is exposed to the wind/air. As the wind hits the left side of the kite 12, the wind pushes the kite 12 toward the right. This configuration may cause the kite 12 to fly straight and slightly towards the right.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
