Controllable stunt kite having a pair of symmetrical bridles

Abstract

A stunt kite comprising a first horizontal spar member, a second vertical spline member, third and fourth diagonal spar members, the members being formed into a fixed frame, a covering disposed on the frame and having a lateral dimension which is greater than its dimension corresponding to its longitudinal axis and being symmetrical in shape about the longitudinal axis, .[.a bow string forming the first member into a bowed shape such that the covering is bowed into a generally convex configuration,.]. a pair of bridles each symmetrically connected between the third and fourth members on opposed sides of the second member and extending outside the covering, the substantial midpoint of each bridle forming an attachment point which lies a predetermined distance above the center of gravity of the kite, and first and second tails connected to the bottom ends of the third and fourth members, respectively, for providing substantially equal stabilizing drag forces at the bottom corners of the covering, such that when lengths of line are connected to the attachment points the flight pattern of the kite is capable of being precisely controlled.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stunt kite comprising: a first spar member having first and second ends, a second spline member disposed substantially normal to said first member, and third and fourth spar members disposed diagonally relative to said first and second members and intersecting at said second member, said members being formed into a fixed frame;   a covering disposed on said frame and having an outer surface and a longitudinal axis in alignment with said second member, said outer surface being symmetrical in shape about said longitudinal axis and having a lateral dimension which is greater than its dimension corresponding to its longitudinal axis;   .[.means forming said first member into a bowed shape, such that said covering is bowed into a generally convex configuration;.].   .[.a first bridle connected to.]. .Iadd.bridle means consisting of a first and a second bridle, each bridle having only two connection points, said first bridle having one connection point on .Iaddend.said first member at a location intermediate said longitudinal axis and said first end and .[.to.]. .Iadd.having another connection point below said first member on .Iaddend.said fourth member, said first bridle extending outside said outer surface and having a midpoint that lies above the center of gravity .Iadd.and below said first member .Iaddend.of the kite and serves as an attachment point;   .[.a.]. .Iadd.  said .Iaddend.second bridle .[.connected to.]. .Iadd.having one connection point on .Iaddend.said first member at a location intermediate said longitudinal axis and said second end and .[.to.]. .Iadd.having another connection point below said first member on .Iaddend.said third member so as to be symmetrical about said longitudinal axis to said first bridle, said second bridle extending outside said outer surface and having a midpoint that lies above the center of gravity of the kite and serves as an attachment point; and   tail means connected to said third and fourth members proximate the respective bottom ends thereof for providing substantially equal stabilizing drag forces at the bottom corners of said covering, such that when lengths of line are connected to said attachment points the flight pattern of the kite is capable of being precisely controlled.   
     
     
       2. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 wherein said members intersect at a point and further including means for affixing said members together at said point. 
     
     
       3. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 wherein said covering comprises a six-sided shape having parallel side edges and top and bottom edges that generally resemble a blunt home plate. 
     
     
       4. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 wherein said covering comprises a five-sided shape that generally resembles a home plate. 
     
     
       5. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 wherein said covering comprises a six-sided shape having parallel side edges that generally resembles a chevron. 
     
     
       6. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 wherein said covering comprises a ten-sided shape that generally resembles a five-pointed star. 
     
     
       7. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 wherein said covering comprises a twelve-sided shape that generally resembles a six-pointed star. 
     
     
       8. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 and further comprising first and second control lines connected to said respective attachment points, said control lines each having an equal length, said lengths being capable of being relatively changed, whereby when said lengths are changed, the flight pattern of the kite is capable of being precisely controlled. 
     
     
       9. A stunt kite as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a plurality of snap swivels for connecting said first and second control lines to said attachment points and said tail means to said third and fourth members. 
     
     
       10. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 wherein said tail means includes a first elongated sheet of material connected to the bottom end of said third member, and a second elongated sheet of material, identical to said first sheet, connected to the bottom end of said fourth member, said first and second sheets providing substantially equal stabilizing drag forces at the bottom corners of said covering. .[.11. A stunt kite as recited in claim 10 wherein each said first and second sheets are comprised of an upper portion having a first constant lateral dimension, a lower portion having a second constant lateral dimension that is less than said first dimension, and a midportion interconnecting said upper and lower portion having a lateral dimension that is tapered from said first dimension to 
     
     
        said second dimension..]. 12. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 wherein said covering includes first and second apertures disposed on opposed sides of said longitudinal axis on a first imaginary line coinciding with the position of said first member, and third and fourth apertures disposed on a second imaginary line parallel to said first line and coinciding with the intersection of said respective fourth and third members and lines perpendicular to said first line at said first and second apertures, said apertures permitting said bridles to be connected to said members while extending outside said outer surface. .Iadd. 13. A stunt kite as recited in claim 1 and further comprising means forming said first member into a bowed shape, such that said covering is bowed into a generally convex configuration. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14. A stunt kite comprising: a first spar member having first and second ends, a second spline member disposed substantially normal to said first member, and third and fourth spar members disposed diagonally relative to said first and second members and intersecting at said second member, said members being formed into a fixed frame,   a covering disposed on said frame and having an outer surface and a longitudinal axis in alignment with said second member, said outer surface being symmetrical in shape about said longitudinal axis and having a lateral dimension which is greater than its dimension corresponding to its longitudinal axis,   a first bridle connected to said first member at a location intermediate said longitudinal axis and said first end and to said fourth member, said first bridle extending outside said outer surface and having a midpoint that lies above the center of gravity of the kite and serves as an attachment point;   a second bridle connected to said first member at a location intermediate said longitudinal axis and said second end and to said third member so as to be symmetrical about said longitudinal axis to said first bridle, said second bridle extending outside said outer surface and having a midpoint that lies above the center of gravity of the kite and serves as an attachment point; and   tail means including a first elongated sheet of material connected to the bottom end of said third member, and a second elongated sheet of material, identical to said first sheet, connected to the bottom end of said fourth member, each said first and second sheets being comprised of an upper portion having a first constant lateral dimension, a lower portion having a second constant lateral dimension that is less than said first dimension, and a midportion interconnecting said upper and lower portion having a lateral dimension that is tapered from said first dimension to said second dimension, said first and second sheets providing substantially equal stabilizing drag forces at the bottom corners of said covering, such that when lengths of line are connected to said attachment points the flight pattern of the kite is capable of being precisely controlled. .Iaddend.