Automatic Release Attachment For Kites and the Like, and Method of Use

Abstract

An automatic release attachment automatically releases a tension line engaged to the attachment when the tension in the line exceeds the tension rating corresponding to a tension release settings selected by an operator. A hook assembly, which can be part of the attachment, includes a shackle that eases shackling and unshackling of a coupling element of the tension line to the hook assembly.

1 . An automatic release attachment for releasably engaging a tension line comprising: 
 a hook assembly defining a retaining region for retaining a coupling element of a tension line, wherein the hook assembly is secured to a shaft and movable between open and closed positions;    a release ring rotatably coupled to the shaft, rotatable to a plurality of tension release settings at which the hook assembly is engagable to the ring when the hook assembly is in the closed position, wherein the ring is disposed intermediate the hook assembly and a first resilient element, the first resilient element being coupled to the shaft and applying a biasing force against the ring to hold the ring between the first resilient element and the hook assembly, wherein the plurality of the settings correspond to respective tension ratings; and    wherein, when the hook assembly is in the open position, the hook assembly is not engaged with the release ring, and, when the hook assembly is in the closed position engaged to the release ring at a selected one of the settings, the hook assembly is automatically released from the release ring when tension on the tension line of the coupling element retained within the retaining region of the hook assembly exceeds the tension rating for the selected setting.    
   
   
       2 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly includes a shackle for retaining the coupling element of the line in the retaining region.  
   
   
       3 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly includes a pin and the release ring includes an annular groove for receiving the pin when the hook assembly is in the closed position, wherein the annular groove has a radius and depth substantially equal to the radius and depth of the pin, and wherein the ring includes at least a first cut-away portion adjacent the annular groove and corresponding to one of the release settings.  
   
   
       4 . The attachment of  claim 3 , wherein the first cut-away portion has a geometry effectively reducing the depth of the adjacent portion of the annular groove to a first depth, such that the pin is released from the groove when the amount of tension on the line exceeds the tension rating for the corresponding release setting.  
   
   
       5 . The attachment of  claim 4 , wherein the pin is released from the groove when the amount of tension on the line is less than the amount of tension on the line at which the pin is released from the groove when the pin is (i) not adjacent to a cut-away portion, or (ii) adjacent to a second cut-away portion having a geometry effectively reducing the depth of the adjacent portion of the groove to a second depth exceeding the first depth.  
   
   
       6 . The attachment of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of cut-away portions spaced from one another about the annular groove and corresponding to the respective release settings.    
   
   
       7 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cut-away portions includes at least one of a groove defined in the ring and a bevel in the annular groove.  
   
   
       8 . The attachment of  claim 3 , wherein the hook assembly includes a set screw and a spring plunger contacting the ring, wherein the ring defines a plurality of detent holes for receiving the spring plunger, wherein the locations of the respective detent holes on the ring correspond to the release settings, and wherein ease of rotatability of the ring is decreased when the spring plunger is received within one of the detent holes.  
   
   
       9 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly includes a flexible shackle extending across a portion of an opening of the retaining region when the shackle is an at rest position, and wherein, when the shackle is in a bent position, the portion of the opening across which the shackle extends is less than that which the shackle extends when the shackle is at the rest position.  
   
   
       10 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the hook assembly is pivotally secured to the shaft and rotatable in relation to the shaft between the open and closed positions.  
   
   
       11 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a limiter boss for limiting the movement of the ring in the direction of the hook assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The attachment of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a spacer interposed between the ring and the first resilient element.    
   
   
       13 . The attachment of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second resilient element for releasably securing the ring to the shaft for preventing any movement of the ring when the attachment is at one of the settings.    
   
   
       14 . An automatic release attachment for releasably engaging a tension line comprising: 
 a hook assembly for retaining a coupling element of a tension line in a retaining region; and    an automatic release means for releasably engaging the hook assembly at a plurality of selectable tension release settings respectively corresponding to a plurality of tension ratings, wherein, when the coupling element of the line is retained by the hook assembly and the hook assembly is engaged to the release means at a selected one of the release settings, the release means automatically releases the hook assembly when tension on the line element exceeds the tension rating for the selected release setting.    
   
   
       15 . The attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the automatic release means includes a release ring opposing the hook assembly and rotatable to obtain each of the release settings and a first resilient means biasing the ring in the direction of the opposing hook assembly.  
   
   
       16 . The attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the automatic release means includes a rotatable release ring defining an aperture and overlying a detent ring defining a plurality of detent holes, wherein the detent holes correspond to the respective release settings and wherein the ring is rotatable to engage a spring plunger extending through the aperture in one of the detent holes, thereby coupling the release ring to the detent ring and establishing a selected one of the release settings.  
   
   
       17 . The attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the hook assembly includes a pinning means engageable with a receiving means in the automatic release means, wherein the receiving means includes at least one groove for receiving the pinning means and corresponding to a release setting.  
   
   
       18 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein the receiving means includes a plurality of grooves corresponding to a plurality of respective release settings.  
   
   
       19 . The attachment of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a second resilient means for releasably securing the ring for preventing any movement of the ring when the attachment is at one of the settings.    
   
   
       20 . A hook assembly for releasably engaging a coupling element of a tension line comprising: 
 a hook defining a retaining region for retaining a coupling element of a tension line; and    at least one of:    (i) a flexible shackle coupled to the hook and extending at least partially across an opening of the retaining region, wherein the shackle has a rest position and a bent position, and wherein, in the rest position, the shackle extends substantially across the opening and wherein, when a predetermined force is applied against the shackle, the shackle bends to increase the size of the opening; and    (ii) a retaining bar coupled to the hook and extending at least partially across the opening.    
   
   
       21 . The hook assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the retaining bar opposes the shackle.  
   
   
       22 . A method of releasably securing a tension line to an automatic release attachment comprising: 
 shackling a coupling element of a tension line to a retaining region of a hook assembly; and    engaging the hook assembly to an automatic release means; and    selecting one of a plurality of release settings, wherein the release settings corresponds to the respective amounts of tension on the line at which the hook assembly, when engaged to the automatic release means, is released from the automatic release means.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising at least one of: 
 shackling the coupling element to the hook assembly by bending a shackle extending form the hook assembly; and    unshackling the coupling element from the hook assembly by bending the shackle.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the hook assembly is secured to a shaft and rotatable between open and closed positions, wherein the hook assembly is engaged to the release means in the closed position.  
   
   
       25 . An automatic release attachment for releasably engaging a tension line comprising: 
 a hook assembly for retaining a coupling element of a tension line in a retaining region; and    an automatic release means for releasably engaging the hook assembly, wherein, when the coupling element of the line is retained by the hook assembly and the hook assembly is engaged to the release means, the release means automatically releases the hook assembly when tension on the line element exceeds a predetermined tension.    
   
   
       26 . The attachment of  claim 25 , wherein the hook assembly is secured to a shaft and the automatic release means includes a release ring coupled to the shaft and opposing the hook assembly, wherein the release ring is not rotatable about the shaft and the attachment further comprises: 
 a first resilient means biasing the ring in the direction of the opposing hook assembly.    
   
   
       27 . The attachment of  claim 26  further comprising: 
 a second resilient means for releasably securing the ring to the shaft for preventing any movement of the ring.