I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a kite messenger for transporting a load from the ground to a kite while in flight.
II. Description of Related Art
There are many previously known kite messengers. Such kite messengers transport a load from the ground to a kite while the kite is in flight. Such messengers utilize the kite string to guide the messenger from the ground and to the kite.
For example, such messengers are particularly useful in fishing for transporting bait from the fishing boat and to a kite trailing the fishing boat. By transferring the bait to a location greatly spaced from the boat reduces the possibility that noises from the boat will scare the fish away.
Even though there have been previously known messengers, the previously known messengers were only capable of transporting relatively light loads to the kite while the kite is in flight. As such, these previously known messengers have enjoyed only limited acceptance.
The present invention provides a kite messenger which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known kite messengers.
In brief, the kite messenger of the present invention comprises an elongated body having a front end and a rear end. Preferably, the body is formed from a pair of elongated, lightweight tubes.
At least one and preferably two sails are pivotally mounted to the body at a position spaced from the rear end of the body. The sails are pivotal between a first position in which the sails extend laterally outwardly from the body, and a second position in which the sails fold against the body.
At least two guides are attached to and are longitudinally spaced along the body. These guides are adapted to slidably attach the body to a kite string. Preferably, the guides comprise rollers which roll along the kite string and are supported to the body by U-shaped roller supports. As such, the kite string is entrapped between the U-shaped roller supports and the rollers.
At least one latch is mounted to the body adjacent its rear end. The latch is movable between a closed position and an open position.
An actuator is slidably mounted to the body and has a front end which protrudes forwardly of the front end of the body. The rear end of the actuator is attached to the latch so that the latch is movable between a hold position and a release position in unison with the actuator. Actuation of the actuator from the hold and to the release position simultaneously and respectively moves the latch from its closed and to its open position.
An elongated tether has one end attached to the sail and its other end releasably held by the latch when the latch is in its closed position. Furthermore, the tether is dimensioned so that, with the other end of the tether held by the latch, the tether holds the sail in its first position in which the sail extends laterally outwardly from the messenger body.
Preferably, a second sail is also pivotally mounted to the body at a position longitudinally spaced from the first sail. A second tether extends between the first sail and the second sail and this tether is dimensioned to hold the first sail in its first or laterally outwardly extending position while the first sail is in its first or laterally outwardly extending position. Conversely, as the first sail moves to its second or collapsed position, the second tether likewise permits the second sail to move to its collapsed position.
In practice, the sails are moved to their first or laterally outwardly extending position and the second end of the tether is mounted to the latch. The body is then attached to the kite string by the guides.
Upon release of the messenger, the wind power engages the sail or sails and propels the kite messenger up the kite string and towards the kite. A stop is attached to the kite string adjacent the kite so that, when the messenger reaches the stop, the stop moves the actuator to its release position thus moving the latch to its open position and releasing the second end of the tether. Upon the release of the tether, the wind moves both sails to their second or collapsed position thus allowing the kite messenger to return to the ground due to gravity.
The latch may also be used to release a payload, such as bait from a fishing boat, once the latch is moved to its open position. Any conventional mechanism may be used to dispense the payload, if desired, once the kite messenger reaches the kite.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
With reference first to
In a fashion that will be described hereinafter in greater detail, the kite messenger 10 is used to convey a payload 18 from the ground and to a stop 20 attached to the kite string 14. The stop 20 is illustrated in
With reference now to
A first sail 32 is pivotally mounted to the body 22 by a bracket 34 so that the sail 32 is movable between a first position in which the sail extends laterally outwardly from the body 22 as shown in solid line in
Preferably a second sail 36 is pivotally mounted to the body 22 by a bracket 38 which is substantially identical to the blanket 36. Like the first sail 32, the second sail 36 is movable between a first position in which the second sail 36 extends laterally outwardly from the body 22 as shown in solid line in
With reference to
In order to facilitate compact storage when not in use, the strut 40 preferably comprises two tubes 45 and 47 which are detachably secured together at the bracket 34. Thereafter the bracket 34 is slid rearwardly along the body 22 together with its associated sail. The sails 32 and 36 can then be folded inward and over each other so that the entire messenger can be rolled into a small cylindrical shape for compact storage.
With reference still to
In order to attach the kite messenger 10 to the kite string 14, the axles 48 and both brackets are removed along with their corresponding rollers 46. The kite string is then positioned within the U-shaped roller supports 44 and the rollers 46 and their axles 48 are remounted on the pulley supports 44. In doing so, the kite string 14 is entrapped between the pulley 46 and the pulley support 44 thus slidably securing the messenger body 22 to the kite string 14. Any conventional means, furthermore, such as a spring-loaded ball detent 50 may be used to releasably secure each axle 48 to its associated U-shaped roller support 44. A third roller 46 is also rotatably mounted to a latch bracket 50 mounted at the rear end 30 of the body 22.
With reference now to
A latch 56 is attached to the rear end of the actuator tube 54 so that the latch 56 and actuator tube 54 move in unison with each other. The latch 56 is generally U-shaped and is movable between a closed position, illustrated in phantom line in
Conversely, when the actuator moves to its release position, the actuator tube 54 simultaneously moves the latch 56 to its open position. In doing so, the latch 56 disengages from the bracket opening thus opening the eyelet 60 to release objects that may be contained within the eyelet. Furthermore, the latch bracket 50 preferably includes outwardly tapered walls 62 to facilitate the release of objects held within the eyelet 60.
With reference again to
A second tether 70 extends from a midpoint of the first sail 32 and to a midpoint of the second sail 36. This second tether 70 is dimensioned so that, when the first sail 32 is held in its first or outwardly extending position by the first tether 64, the second tether 70 also holds the second sail 36 in its first or outwardly extending position.
With reference now to
The messenger body 22 is then attached to the kite string 14 in the previously described fashion and the messenger is released. Upon release, wind propels the messenger from the ground surface and to the stop 20 on the kite string 14. Once the messenger reaches the stop 20, the stop 20 engages the actuator 52 and moves the actuator 52 from its hold and to its release position. Simultaneously, the latch 56 is moved from its closed and to its open position. When this happens, the end 68 of the first tether 64 is released thus allowing both sails 32 and 36 to collapse to their second position. In their second position, the plane of the sails 32 and 36 is substantially parallel to the wind, rather than substantially perpendicular, thus allowing the messenger to return along the kite string 14 to the ground surface by gravity.
An important aspect of the present invention is that the entire kite messenger may be easily assembled and disassembled. This is achieved primarily since the struts 40 and 42 which form the supports for the sails 32 and 36 are detachably mounted to the body and are easily disassembled from the body. This allows the entire messenger 10 to be easily housed and transported.
Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.