US4065080A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Kite reel system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-11-26
•
Granted: 1977-12-27
•
Expires: 1996-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A kite reel system for use with a kite having plural lengths of line attached thereto includes a shaft rotatably journaled within a handle and having a reel mounted on one end thereof and a hand operated crank coupled to the other end thereof. The kite is reeled in from a flying condition in controlled fashion by securing a ring attached to the lengths of line within a mating notch in the shaft and operating the crank to rotate the shaft and thereby twist the lengths of line around each other. The twisted lengths of line are periodically fed through a notch in the edge of the reel for winding onto the reel, then back out of the reel notch and into the ring notch as an untwisted portion thereof is encountered. The twisting and reeling procedure is repeated until the kite has been reeled in. Launching of the kite involves turning of the crank to unwind the twisted lengths of line from the reel as the kite ascends until the lengths of line are unwound from the reel, following which the ring is placed within the mating notch and the hand crank is operated to continue rotation of the shaft until the lengths of line are completely untwisted from one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Dave R. Alison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:42
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H27/00; A63H27/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A kite reel system for use with a kite having the opposite ends of a length of line coupled thereto comprising: a first handle of hollow, generally cylindrical configuration; a shaft journaled within the first handle and capable of undergoing rotation relative to the first handle, the shaft having an axis of elongation and opposite first and second ends on opposite sides of and outside of the first handle; a reel having a cylindrical intermediate portion having a central axis and a pair of cylindrical end portions disposed at opposite ends of the intermediate portion, the end portions having a larger diameter than and extending radially outwardly from the intermediate portion, the reel being coupled to the first end of the shaft such that the axis of elongation of the shaft is coincident with the central axis of the intermediate portion of the reel; means coupled to the reel opposite the first handle and capable of releasably securing thereto an intermediate portion of a length of line having the opposite ends thereof coupled to a kite, said means including means for temporarily securing a twisted portion of the length of line adjacent the axis of elongation of the shaft; a crank having a first end thereof coupled to the shaft, the crank extending radially outwardly from the shaft and terminating in an opposite second end; and a second handle coupled to the second end of the crank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A kite reel system for use with a kite having the opposite ends of a length of line coupled thereto comprising: a first handle of hollow, generally cylindrical configuration; a shaft journaled within the first handle and capable of undergoing rotation relative to the first handle, the shaft having an axis of elongation and opposite first and second ends on opposite sides of and outside of the first handle; a reel having a cylindrical intermediate portion having a central axis and a pair of cylindrical end portions disposed at opposite ends of the intermediate portion, the end portions having a larger diameter than and extending radially outwardly from the intermediate portion, the reel being coupled to the first end of the shaft such that the axis of elongation of the shaft is coincident with the central axis of the intermediate portion of the reel; means coupled to the reel opposite the first handle and capable of releasably securing thereto an intermediate portion of a length of line having the opposite ends thereof coupled to a kite, said means including means for temporarily securing a twisted portion of the length of line adjacent the axis of elongation of the shaft; a crank having a first end thereof coupled to the shaft, the crank extending radially outwardly from the shaft and terminating in an opposite second end; and a second handle coupled to the second end of the crank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein one of the pair of cylindrical end portions of the reel adjacent the means capable of securing has a V-shaped notch in the outer periphery thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein the means capable of securing comprises a pair of hooks mounted on an end of the reel opposite the first handle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion and the pair of end portions of the reel have hollow interiors for receiving the first end of the shaft to mount the reel on the shaft and the first end of the shaft extends outside of the reel opposite the first handle and has a notch therein defining the means capable of securing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention set forth in claim 4, further including a hollow ring having the length of line extending therethrough, the ring being adapted to fit within said notch.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of flying a kite having the first end of each of a plurality of lengths of line attached thereto, each of the lengths of line having an opposite second end, comprising the steps of: 1. securing the second ends of the lengths of line to a member and rotating the member while the kite is in flight to twist the lengths of line together over a portion thereof; 2. winding the twisted portion of the lengths of line onto storage means; 3. again rotating the member to twist at least a portion of any remaining untwisted portion of the lengths of line together; 4. winding any twisted portion of the lengths of line produced by step 3) above mounted onto the storage means; and 5. repeating steps 3) and 4) above as necessary until the lengths of line are substantially completely twisted together and wound onto the storage means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of flying a kite having the first end of each of a plurality of lengths of line attached thereto, each of the lengths of line having an opposite second end, comprising the steps of: 1. securing the second ends of the lengths of line to a member and rotating the member while the kite is in flight to twist the lengths of line together over a portion thereof; 2. winding the twisted portion of the lengths of line onto storage means; 3. again rotating the member to twist at least a portion of any remaining untwisted portion of the lengths of line together; 4. winding any twisted portion of the lengths of line produced by step 3) above mounted onto the storage means; and 5. repeating steps 3) and 4) above as necessary until the lengths of line are substantially completely twisted together and wound onto the storage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention set forth in claim 6, comprising the further steps of: 6. unwinding the twisted lengths of line from the storage means as the kite is launched into the air; and 7. rotating the member until the lengths of line are substantially completely untwisted from each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A kite reel system for use with a kite having two different lengths of line coupled thereto comprising: an elongated structure rotatable about an axis along the length thereof; handle means extending along a portion of the length of the elongated structure; line storage means encircling the elongated structure at a location along the length thereof; and means for releasably coupling two different lengths of line to the elongated structure, and including means for temporarily securing a twisted portion of the two different lengths of line at or adjacent said axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
A kite reel system for use with a kite having two different lengths of line coupled thereto comprising: an elongated structure rotatable about an axis along the length thereof; handle means extending along a portion of the length of the elongated structure; line storage means encircling the elongated structure at a location along the length thereof; and means for releasably coupling two different lengths of line to the elongated structure, and including means for temporarily securing a twisted portion of the two different lengths of line at or adjacent said axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention set forth in claim 8, wherein the means for releasably coupling comprises a notch in the elongated structure adjacent the axis and a ring having the two different lengths of line secured thereto and adapted to reside within the notch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention set forth in claim 8, wherein the means for releasably coupling comprises a pair of hooks mounted on the elongated structure on opposite sides of the axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-26 | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-26 | 1989-06-27 | 1989-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |