GB2392200A

GB2392200A - Kite flying harness releasable clip

Info

Publication number: GB2392200A
Application number: GB0216528A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Donovan
Original assignee: BOOST SPORTS Ltd
Current assignee: BOOST SPORTS Ltd
Priority date: 2002-07-16
Filing date: 2002-07-16
Publication date: 2004-02-25
Also published as: GB0216528D0

Abstract

A kite flying harness comprising a clip 2 and a release mechanism, in which the clip comprises a closure means 8 mounted on a hinge 9, and a linkage 10 adapted to extend over one end of the closure means thereby to form a closure, in which the closure means carries a loaded sheet 19 in use, and in which operation of the release mechanism disengages the linkage from the closure means such that the closure means can be opened by the load applied by the sheet.

Description

2392Zoo Kite Surfing harness clip This invention relates to a quick-

release clip for use with a kite surfing rig.

Kite surfing, or kite boarding, is a new form of water sport. The user rides a board, or other water-going mechanism, and uses a air-borne kite to provide propulsion. The user is attached to the kite by means of a body harness, which is connected to a number of sheets which control the kite, and thus the sailing direction of the rig.

A kite surfing rig can provide high levels of propulsion in strong winds. As a result, the user can attain speeds which can put them in danger, and in addition the user can be lifted from the water and dragged through the air. As a result it is necessary to provide a release mechanism to unhitch the user from the kite in a dangerous situation. The first kite surfing rigs were provided with a hook,,,elem,ent which extended from the body harness. The user would place the sheets under the hook during use, and remove them by hand to release the kite. However, this mechanism is unsafe when the pulling force provided by the kite is too strong for the sheets to be released by hand, To address this problem quick-release safety clips have been developed. A common arrangement comprises a clip element provided with a transverse closing pin, in which the clip can be opened by removing the pin. However, these mechanisms also suffer from drawbacks.

Firstly, if the force provided by the kite is strong, it can be difficult to remove the pin, because the

-2 load on the clip acts against it. Secondly, the pin is provided with a handle, or a ring-pull with which to release it. These pins can be small, or awkward to locate, hold or use in an emergency.

The object of the present invention is to overcome some of these problems.

According to the present invention a kite surfing harness is provided with a sheet clip in which the force required to open the clip is provided by the load.

In a preferred embodiment the clip is provided with a closure means which can withstand the load applied to the clip, but which can be readily released by hand.

The clip can be substantially oval or circular in shape, and can comprise a fixed arm and a rotating arm, joined together by hinge at the outermost point of the clip. The rotating arm can be brought to the base of the clip, where a substantially transverse linkage can be provided which is adapted to hold the arm and to close the clip around a sheet for use. The linkage can be hinged adjacent to the base of the fixed arm, and can extend around the inner end of the rotating arm. The rotating arm can be provided with a linkage connection portion at its inner end, and the linkage can be biased towards the arm to provide a secure fastening.

When the sheet applies a load to the clip some of the force is carried by the fixed arm, and some of the force is carried by the rotating arm, depending on the location of the sheet in the clip. The load applied to the

-3 rotating arm is carried by the linkage, which can be adapted to withstand the load. However, when the linkage is released manually the clip will open because load acts against the hinge.

(The linkage can also be adapted to release the rotating arm and thus the sheet if the load exceeds a predetermined amount, so the user can be released from the kite if a dangerous wind is encountered.) The linkage can be connected to a pull-cord which can be mounted on the harness. In a preferred construction the pull cord is housed in a preformed grab handle which is attached to the front of the harness. The cord can be passed round a bar so that outward movement of the grab handle results in the linkage being pulled towards the harness to release the rotating arm.

In one embodiment the clip is attached to a shaped rigid bar which is integrated into the front of the harness and is worn across the user's midriff. The grab handle can also be mounted on the spar where it can be readily located and operated. The rigid spar can be provided with other known means to attach to a sheet or sheets.

The present invention also includes a kite surfing rig comprising a harness provided with a sheet clip in which the force required to open the clip is provided by the load.

The present invention also includes a kite surfing harness front bar provided with a sheet clip in which the force required to open the clip is provided by the load.

It will be appreciated that the above described invention can be used with any kind of kite-propelled vehicle, for example a land-going buggy.

The present invention can be performed in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a top view of a kite surfing harness according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1 a kite surfing harness 1 is provided with a sheet clip 2 in which the force required to open the clip 2 is provided by the load. The harness is provided with a front bar 3 comprising buckles 4 for attachment to the rest of the harness 1. The bar 3 is shaped and dimensioned to fit across the user's midriff.

The bar 3 is provided with a sheet hook 5 for temporary fastening of the sheet. Mounted on top of the hook 5 is the sheet clip 2, which comprises a base portion 6, a fixed arm 7, a rotating arm 8, a hinge 9 and a linkage 10, which is rotatable about hinge 11. Linkage 10 is formed as a hoop which passes around each side of the base 6, and around curved linkage connection portion 12 provided on the rotating arm 8.

Attached to the linkage 10 is an operating cord 13, which is passed over the linkage 10 through aperture 14 provided in the base 6, and which is threaded round bar IS and housed inside a grab handle 16. The end of the cord 13 is secured to bar 17 by means of knot 18. A cross-section of sheet 19 is shown in dotted lines.

-5 In Figure 1 the clip 1 is in use. The sheet 19 loads the clip 2, and the kite at its far end propels the user along. The linkage 10 is provided with an internal spring (not shown) which biases the hinge 11 in an anti-clockwise direction, and thus maintains the fastening.

The spring is adapted to contain any anti-clockwise forces applied to the rotating arm 8 by the load. (It will be appreciated that the linkage spring and the linkage connection portion 12 can be adapted to release the sheet 19 if the load reaches a predetermined amount. Therefore a clip can be provided which will release the sheet if a dangerous wind speed is encountered.) To operate the clip and release the sheet 19 the user pulls on the grab handle 16, which rotates the linkage 10 about its hinge 11. As a result the linkage 10 releases the linkage connection portion 12 of the operating arm 8, and the load applied via the sheet 19 opens the clip 2 and releases the sheet 19.

It will be appreciated that various other embodiments can be constructed which do not depart from the spirit of the invention. For example, the bar 3 does not need to be provided with the hook 5, and the clip 2 can be fastened directly to the bar 3.

Thus a sheet release clip is provided which utilizes the load to release the sheet. With this arrangement the sheet can be readily released, and does not become more difficult to release as the load builds.

Further, a release clip is provided with a readily locatable and operatable release grab handle.

Claims

-6 Claims

1. A kite flying harness comprising a clip and a release mechanism, in which the clip comprises a closure means mounted on a hinge, and a linkage adapted to extend over one end of the closure means thereby to form a closure, in which the closure means carries a loaded sheet in use, and in which operation of the release mechanism disengages the linkage from the closure means such that the closure means can be opened by the load applied by the sheet.

2. A kite flying harness as claimed in Claim 1 in which the clip comprises a base portion, an arcuate fixed arm extending outwardly from the base portion, and an arcuate rotating arm, in which the fixed arm and the rotating arm are connected together at their outer ends by a hinge, and in which the linkage retains the inner end of the rotating arm against the base portion to form the closure.

3. A kite flying harness as claimed in Claim 2 in which the linkage comprises an elongate hoop mounted on a hinge adjacent the inner end of the fixed arm, and extending around the base so as to extend over the rotating arm in use, and in which the hinge biases the hoop over the inner end of the rotating arm.

4. A kite flying harness as claimed in Claim 3 in which the base is provided with an aperture, and in which a cord passes through the aperture and over the linkage, such that movement of the cord moves the linkage towards the harness and away from the inner end of the rotating arm.

-7-

5. A kite flying harness as claimed in Claim 4 in which the release mechanism comprises a handle, one end of which is attached in a hinged relationship to the harness, and the other end of which is attached to the cord.

6. A kite flying harness as claimed in Claim 5 in which the cord extends from the linkage, through an aperture provided on the harness to the handle, such that movement of i the handle away from the harness pulls the linkage towards the harness.

7. A kite flying harness as claimed in Claim 6 in which the handle comprises an arcuate tube, and the cord extends through the tube and is attached to a retainment element on the other side by means of a knot.

8. A kite flying harness as claimed in any of Claims 2 - 7 in which the inner end of the rotating arm is provided with a tapered linkage engaging section, such that linkage will slide off the end of the rotating arm when a pre-determined sheet load is applied in use, and the rotating arm will be released.

9. A kite flying harness as claimed in Claim any of the preceding Claims in which a sheet hook is provided for temporary carriage of the sheet, and the clip is mounted to the end of the hook.

-8- lo. A kite flying harness as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the harness is a kite surfing harness.

11. A kite flying harness substantially as claimed herein and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

12. A kite flying rig provided with a harness as claimed in any of the previous Claims.

13. A kite flying harness front bar comprising a clip and a release mechanism, in which the clip comprises a closure means mounted on a hinge, and a linkage adapted to extend over one end of the closure means thereby to form a closure, in which the closure means carries a loaded sheet in use, and in which operation of the release mechanism disengages the linkage from the closure means such that the closure means can be opened by the load applied by the sheet.