A kite includes a frame including a leading edge support and a plurality of struts extending rearward from the leading edge support, a flexible main canopy attached to the frame and at least one flexible kite sizing section adjustably attached to the flexible main canopy. The at least one flexible kite sizing section is adjustable to change an area of the kite, including an area of at least a first wing tip section of the kite.

Disclosed is a control device for power kites. It consists of a tall Y-shaped structure, the base of which is connected to the center of a horizontal control bar arranged perpendicular to the structure. An articulation forms the connection between the base of the structure and the center of the horizontal control bar. The control lines for the leading edge and the control lines for the trailing edge of a power kite are attached to the front and rear pre-lines of the device. Compared to a standard kite bar, the disclosed control device makes it easier for the user to balance using very short lines.

Methods and devices taught in the present disclosure address the need for improving stability and performance of delta wing kites. Delta wing kites as disclosed include a delta wing shaped sail reinforced with rigid or semi-rigid wing spars and a center spar, the wing spars and central spar being housed and secured within corresponding sleeves. A combination of various elements such as fuselage and corresponding through-holes, front and back pods, keel and top pockets provides improved stability and performance for the disclosed devices.

Methods and devices taught in the present disclosure address the need for improving stability and performance of delta wing kites. Delta wing kites as disclosed include a delta wing shaped sail reinforced with rigid or semi-rigid wing spars and a center spar, the wing spars and central spar being housed and secured within corresponding sleeves. A combination of various elements such as fuselage and corresponding through-holes, front and back pods, keel and top pockets provides improved stability and performance for the disclosed devices.

A single tow point box kite is presented that includes a single piece fabric canopy having a pair of sails connected via sleeves. The pair of sails are maintained in a drum-tight fashion to form a quadrangular configuration via a demountable frame that includes a plurality of spars projecting between the sails and through respective sleeves, with respective opposite extremities of the spars received in respective pockets of the fabric canopy, and struts projecting between pairs of spars. Sides of the quadrangular configuration are thus joined at corners defined by interaction of each of the plurality of spars of the demountable frame with respective pockets and sleeves of the canopy.

Also presented is a method for making the box kite canopy, including selecting first and second sails, defining lines of respective corners of the sails, forming fabric pockets along the lines of the respective corners at edge regions of the respective sails, making fabric loops, connecting the fabric loops to the respective sails along the lines of the respective corners at edge regions of the respective sails opposite the pockets, forming fabric sleeves to extend between the sails and sized to receive respective spars, and connecting the fabric sleeves to the sleeves via respective fabric loops.

A single tow point box kite is presented that includes a single piece fabric canopy having a pair of sails connected via sleeves. The pair of sails are maintained in a drum-tight fashion to form a quadrangular configuration via a demountable frame that includes a plurality of spars projecting between the sails and through respective sleeves, with respective opposite extremities of the spars received in respective pockets of the fabric canopy, and struts projecting between pairs of spars. Sides of the quadrangular configuration are thus joined at corners defined by interaction of each of the plurality of spars of the demountable frame with respective pockets and sleeves of the canopy.

Also presented is a method for making the box kite canopy, including selecting first and second sails, defining lines of respective corners of the sails, forming fabric pockets along the lines of the respective corners at edge regions of the respective sails, making fabric loops, connecting the fabric loops to the respective sails along the lines of the respective corners at edge regions of the respective sails opposite the pockets, forming fabric sleeves to extend between the sails and sized to receive respective spars, and connecting the fabric sleeves to the sleeves via respective fabric loops.

A kite system having a kite (14) and a hauling rope (15) which extends between the kite (14) and a tow point (16). A marking holder (25) is disposed between the tow point (16) and the kite (14). The marking holder (25) is conceived for changing between an entrained state in relation to the hauling rope (15), and a free-running state in relation to the hauling rope (15). A fitting installation (31) initiates a changeover between the entrained state and the free-running state of the marking holder (25). The invention moreover relates to a method for operating a kite system.

An example system includes an aerial vehicle, a tower, a tether, a gimbal assembly coupled to the tower, and a ring or landing surface coupled to the tower. The tether is connected between the gimbal assembly and the aerial vehicle. When the aerial vehicle is not in flight, the aerial vehicle may hang from the tether or park on the landing surface. In some embodiments, the ring or landing surface may support the tether away from the tower to prevent the aerial vehicle from contacting the tower. In some examples, the tower may include a lattice structure and guy wires, in other examples the tower may be tubular, while in other examples the tower may be a buoy.

A control bar stopper includes a stopper body having a sleeved line receiving slip groove that allows sleeved line slippage. The stopper body has an underlying control bar bumper. A brake body is provided having a sleeved line receiving stop groove that resists sleeved line slippage. The brake body is smaller than the stopper body and is positioned above and at a distance from the control bar bumper with the stop groove facing the slip groove. A pivotal link connects the stopper body and the brake body. In response to a control bar striking the control bar bumper, the slip groove allows the stopper body to slide along a sleeved line and as the stopper body slides along the sleeved line, the brake body pivots about the pivotal link into stop contact with the sleeved line with the stop groove resisting further slippage.

A control bar stopper includes a stopper body having a sleeved line receiving slip groove that allows sleeved line slippage. The stopper body has an underlying control bar bumper. A brake body is provided having a sleeved line receiving stop groove that resists sleeved line slippage. The brake body is smaller than the stopper body and is positioned above and at a distance from the control bar bumper with the stop groove facing the slip groove. A pivotal link connects the stopper body and the brake body. In response to a control bar striking the control bar bumper, the slip groove allows the stopper body to slide along a sleeved line and as the stopper body slides along the sleeved line, the brake body pivots about the pivotal link into stop contact with the sleeved line with the stop groove resisting further slippage.