Patent Application
20110114784
This invention relates to flying devices, such as hang gliders, kites, paragliders, ornithopters, sailplanes, and various other flying devices. More specifically, this invention relates to a flying device, such as, but not limited to, one that is human powered, has bird like wings, and achieves ascent by flapping of the wings.
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
The earliest attempt to build a flying device is described in the Ancient Greek story about Daedalus and Icarus (1500 BC). Icarus was able to glide and soar in the beginning of his flight, but we do not have any evidence that he flapped the wings. Two problems are associated with Icarus' device. First, is the construction of the wings, i.e., the joints of the components itself and their relationship to Icarus' body. When Icarus soared up for some time, the joints melted since the glue was made out of wax. The second, and most important problem, is that Icarus would not be able to flap the wings. Indeed, the proportion of the power of human hands to the body's weight is many times less than the proportion of the power of the birds' wings to their weight. Bird may flap their wings. However, humans cannot flap the artificial wings using their hand muscles. This problem has been encountered by other inventors of wings many times for the next three and half millenniums after Icarus.
The second milestone that influence our creative thinking for building the human-powered bird-like-wings is Leonardo da Vinci's flying device (circa 1485). da Vinci's flying device resembles the modern hang gliders and ornithopter, a winged-flapping device intended to fly. However, this device would be difficult to reduce into practice because of the lack of the light and durable metals for building this device. This does not even take into consideration the ability to fly and the stability of the device. A model that da Vinci built for a test flight in 1496 did not fly.
In 1948 Rogallo patented the flying device “Flexible Kite” (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,116,406 and 4,116,407), which provides a kite which is simple to fly and graceful in flight. It is simple and economically constructed. However, such hang gliders are dependent on air updrafts to maintain them airborne. Otherwise, the device is inevitably descends to earth. These devices can glide and soar, but lack the most important element of flying, the ability to ascend by flapping the wings. Many other inventors of the prior art claim that their devices may flap, but there is no evidence that these devices are able to fly; that is to glide, to soar, and to flap the wings for ascent, as well as to be stable and secure in the air. In sum, we see the following historic problems of the prior art; there is no device that sustains stability and equilibrium in the air while flapping the wings and there is no reliable method of flapping the wings for ascension.
The human-powered, bird-like-wing flying device (a/k/a KROUNK) of the present invention overcomes the problems associated with prior art. The present invention does that by the following: KROUNK has wings which may rotate around the keel and it has legs that let the pilot control rotation of the wings, which is to make the wings flap. The present invention develops one of the more efficient methods of ascending, which is to increase the angle of attack by moving the control bar forward while shifting the pilot's weight to efficiently strike onto the legs that make the wings flap downward. The present invention is secure and stable in the air, particularly while ascending and descending. This is done by selecting the proper shape and the area of the wings and by proper attachment of the arm, legs and the hang loop, which holds the pilot's body.
It is a goal of the present invention to illustrate the following: (1) how to construct a human-powered, bird-like flying device that has two wings able to flap; (2) a method of use of this device; (3) a means of manufacturing the device, and (4) a superior method of flying which includes, but is not limited to, a superior method of ascending.
Further, it is another goal of the present invention to illustrate the methodologies that may be used in order to flap the wing for ascension in a variety of flying devices.
The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.
Overview: In
In
RLE 24 and LLE 26 are metal tubes. Alternatively, they may be a rod or other similar forms. RLE 24 and LLE 26 run along the front edge of the left wing 22 and right wing 20 to keep them taut. Legs 40 and 42 may pull RLE 24 and LLE 26 down, which make RLE 24 and LLE 26 rotate to some degree around keel 70. Pilot 50 may push the legs down and the wings flap down.
The intention of these figures is to illustrate a preferred methodology of making the flying device 10 with pilot 50 moving up, left, right, increasing the speed forward, or decreasing the speed. The unique means for ascending is the use of the components of flying device 10, such as wings 20 and 22, arm 30 and legs 40 and 42. In alternative embodiments, any number of combination of wing shapes, arm, and legs and their elements may be used, all of which would be considered under the scope of the present invention.
Arm: In
Legs: In
Wings: Wings 20 and 22 form a surface that is acted upon by aerodynamic forces to keep flying device 10 aloft. They are able to respond to pilot 50 who exercises control by the shifting of the pilot's body weight from keel 70 to legs 40 and 42. Wings 20 and 22 may be moved around keel 70; thus, efficiently exercising flap and creating additional lift allowing flying device 10 with pilot 50 to move upward.
Method of Manufacture: In
Method of Use: Pilot 50 exercises control by shifting body weight in opposition to arm 30. That is, wings 20 and 22 are controlled by changing their pitch and roll by means of shifting their center of applied forces. This is done by suspending the payload in the center by applying weights beneath wings 20 and 22 and moving pilot 50 left or right or forward or aft. When the center of applied weight of the pilot's body shifts toward the nose, the angle of attack of flying device 10 is decreased and, consequently, the speed of the device 10 is increased. When the body weight of pilot 50 shifts toward the tail, the angle of attack of flying device 10 is increased, and consequently, the speed of device 10 is decreased. When the body weight of pilot 50 shifts left, device 10 turns left. When the pilot's body shifts right, device 10 turns right. When the pilot's body weight shifts from hang loop 60 to legs 40 and 42, wings 20 and 22 are rotated down around keel 70. When pilot 50 releases the body weight pressure from legs 40 and 42 back to hang loop 60, wings 20 and 22 are rotated up around keel 70. When the pilot 50 pushes legs 40 and 42 straight-down, down-left, down-right, down-inward, or down-outward, the angle of attack or roll changes, and the direction of flight is changed accordingly.
Method of Flying [locomotion]: There are several aerial locomotion maneuvers, including but not limited to, gliding flight, soaring, and flying proper. Gliding flight is defined as falling at less than 45 degrees from the horizon. Soaring is essentially a form of gliding wherein the device is rising or otherwise moving air without flapping the wings. When pilot 50 hangs on hang loop 60 and does not shift their weight onto legs 40 and 42, wings 20 and 22 are not rotating around the keel 70; that is, they do not flap and flying device 10 is gliding or soaring. However, flying proper is defined as the flapping of wings to produce thrust ascending without the aid of the motion of the wind itself, as opposed to gliding and soaring. When wings 20 and 22 flap, as opposed to gliding or soaring, they develop some lift as before due to the shape of wings 20 and 22 that produce aerodynamic force which lifts flying device 10. Wings 20 and 22 change the angle of attack between the up-stroke and the down-stroke. When pilot 50 shifts their weight at a certain speed from hang loop 60 to legs 40 and 42; that is, making the wings 20 and 22 down-stroke, pilot 50 also moves arm 30 forward, increasing the angle of attack, or pushing legs 40 and 42 down and forward without pushing arm 30. This combination of moves makes flying device 10 move upward and forward.
In
Method of Flying [locomotion] of the First Embodiment: There is an important difference in locomotion when right wing 120, left wing 122 and keel 170 are fixed together. When pilot 150 pushes down on leg 140, right wing 120 flaps down, and left wing 122 flaps up. When pilot 150 pushes down on leg 142, left wing 122 flaps down, and right wing 120 flaps up. While pushing legs 140 or 142 up and/or down, pilot 150 pushes and/or pulls arm 130; thus changing the angle of attack. The entire flying device is rotating around an imaginary axis in propeller-like rotation.
In
The spirit of the present invention provides a breadth of scope that includes all methods of the human-powered bird-like flying device, element of another flying device. The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61261493 | Nov 2009 | US |
