US4050654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hang glider
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-12-27
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Granted: 1977-09-27
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Expires: 1996-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A foot-launched passenger carrying wing capable of flight including a frame, a flexible wing covering the frame, a keel, a bracket slidable on the keel, cross brace members pivotally attached to the bracket at one end and to leading edge members of the frame at the other end, and cables connecting the parts to provide an operative structure when the bracket is moved in one direction to extend the frame into flying condition and to collapse the frame when the bracket is moved in the opposite direction. Movement of the bracket also adjusts the billow of the sail and the dihedral of the frame. The wing sail is attached to the leading edge members along their entire length and to the keel along a portion of the rearward end thereof. An arrangement is provided to adjust the bracket before or during flight to provide different billow and dihedral conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald A. Heckman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:14
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C31/00; B64C31/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
A foot-launched, lightweight, person-carrying wing comprising: a keel, right and left leading edge members pivotally connected at their forward ends to the forward end of said keel, a master hinge bracket slidable on said keel, right and left cross brace members pivotally connected at their inner ends to said bracket and at their outer ends respectively, to said right and left leading edge members, a king post pivotally connected to said bracket and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, said keel, leading edge members and cross brace members forming a frame, a control bar pivotally connected to said bracket and having a right and a left leg which extend downwardly and outwardly from said bracket, and a base connecting the ends of said legs, flexible cables connecting the lower end of the right leg of said control bar to, respectively; the front end of said keel, the rear end of said keel, and the outer end of said right cross brace member, flexible cables connecting the lower end of the left leg of said control bar to, respectively; the front end of said keel, the rear end of said keel, and the outer end of said left cross brace member, flexible cables connecting the top of said king post to; the front end of said keel, the rear end of said keel and the outer ends of said right and left cross brace members, a wing sail covering said frame and connected to said leading edge members along their entire length and to the rear portion only of said keel, said bracket being movable (a) forwardly to pivot said leading edge members inwardly, said king post downwardly and said control bar upwardly to collapse said frame and (b) rearwardly to erect said frame into operative position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
A foot-launched, lightweight, person-carrying wing comprising: a keel, right and left leading edge members pivotally connected at their forward ends to the forward end of said keel, a master hinge bracket slidable on said keel, right and left cross brace members pivotally connected at their inner ends to said bracket and at their outer ends respectively, to said right and left leading edge members, a king post pivotally connected to said bracket and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, said keel, leading edge members and cross brace members forming a frame, a control bar pivotally connected to said bracket and having a right and a left leg which extend downwardly and outwardly from said bracket, and a base connecting the ends of said legs, flexible cables connecting the lower end of the right leg of said control bar to, respectively; the front end of said keel, the rear end of said keel, and the outer end of said right cross brace member, flexible cables connecting the lower end of the left leg of said control bar to, respectively; the front end of said keel, the rear end of said keel, and the outer end of said left cross brace member, flexible cables connecting the top of said king post to; the front end of said keel, the rear end of said keel and the outer ends of said right and left cross brace members, a wing sail covering said frame and connected to said leading edge members along their entire length and to the rear portion only of said keel, said bracket being movable (a) forwardly to pivot said leading edge members inwardly, said king post downwardly and said control bar upwardly to collapse said frame and (b) rearwardly to erect said frame into operative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as recited in claim 1 and further including means for moving said bracket incrementally on said keel to move said leading edge members inwardly or outwardly a predetermined amount to simultaneously adjust the billow of said sail and the dihedral of said frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which said sail is provided with an opening through which said king post extends, said king post being retracted through said opening to a position under said sail when said frame is retracted to folded position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which said cables are of such length that they become taut when said bracket is moved to its rearward position to fully extend said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which the base portion of said control bar is made of flexible material which is hollow, one of said cables passing through said hollow base portion to rigidify the same when said frame is extended and said cables become taut.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which at least one of said cables from said king post to the forward end of said keel is provided with a tensioning device to maintain said cable taut in different positions of said bracket on said keel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which at least one of said cables from said king post to the ends of said cross brace members is provided with a device for maintaining said cable taut in different positions of adjustment of said bracket on said keel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which said wing sail is attached to the rear portion of said keel by a web member which spaces the rear portion of said wing sail from said keel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which said wing sail is attached to the rear portion of said keel by a web member which spaces the rear portion of said wing sail from said keel by an amount which varies from several inches at the rear end of said keel to approximately zero at a point about one-fourth the length of said keel from the rear end thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as recited in claim 1 in which said master hinge bracket is normally located forwardly of a line connecting the outer ends of said cross brace members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-26 | 1981-03-28 | 1981-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-26 | 1985-03-28 | 1985-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-26 | 1989-03-28 | 1989-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |