Wing Rig

Abstract

Disclosed is a wing rig having detachable handles fastened to a front tube or a center strut.

Claims

1. A foil wing for wind-powered sports, comprising an inflatable front tube (6) from which an inflatable center strut (18) extends which is designed to be held by the user for guiding said foil wing (1), wherein said front tube (6) and said center strut (18) span a canopy (14), and comprising at least one handle (16, 28, 30) fastened to said center strut (18) for holding said foil wing (1), characterized in that said handle (16, 28, 30) is configured to be detachable, said handle (16, 28, 30) being approximately U-shaped or V-shaped or being formed in a plurality of parts with a web (32) and at least one support arm (34, 36) associated therewith, wherein end portions are inserted in adapters (76, 78) attached to said front tube (6) or said center strut (18), said adapters being configured as screw or clamping adapters.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The foil wing according to claim 1, wherein said handle (16, 28, 30) is rigid.

5. The foil wing according to claim 4, wherein said adapter (76, 78) preferably has a rig-side adapter console (38, 40) to which a support plate (46, 48) of said handle (16, 28, 30) can be attached, preferably by means of a fastening screw (50).

6. The foil wing according to claim 5, wherein said adapter console (38, 40) is curved corresponding to the diameter (d, D) of said center strut (18) or said front tube (6).

7. The foil wing according to claim 4, wherein said adapter (76, 78) and at least one end portion of said handle (16, 28, 30) are clamped together.

8. The foil wing according to claim 7, wherein said adapter is configured such that, by inflating said front tube (6) and/or said center strut (18), a force/form fitting connection and thus a clamping is generated.

9. The foil wing according to claim 8, wherein said adapter (76, 78) extends over a portion of said front tube (6) or said center strut (18) such that the end portion can be inserted into the receiving space (92, 94) delimited by said adapter (76, 78) on the one hand and by said front tube (6) or said center strut (18) on the other hand, wherein the end portion is preferably clamped together with said adapter (76, 78) after said front tube (6) and/or said center strut (18) has been inflated so that the end portion is held in a force or form fitting manner.

10. The foil wing according to claim 7, wherein said adapter (76, 78) is formed to be loop-shaped from a tape-like or belt-like material connected to said center strut (18) or said front tube (6).

11. (canceled)

12. The foil wing according to claim 1, wherein said support arm (34, 36) is configured with a support plate (46, 48) at an end portion remote from said web (32).

13. The foil wing according to claim 8, wherein said support arm (34, 36) is configured with a support plate (46, 48) at an end portion remote from said web (32); and said support plate (46, 48) or said web (32) protrudes beyond said adapter (76, 78) with a protrusion (96).

14. The foil wing according to claim 12, wherein said support plate (46, 48) is curved corresponding to the diameter (d, D) of said center strut (18) or said front tube (6).

15. The foil wing according to claim 7, wherein said handle (16, 28, 30) is clamped together with the respective adapter (76, 78) via a support arm (34, 36) on the one side and via said web (32) on the other side.

16. The foil wing according to claim 12, wherein said web (32) is tubular or hose-shaped and said support arm (34, 36) enters into the tubular profile of said web (32) with a connecting piece (56, 58) or encompasses said tubular profile in sections.

17. The foil wing according to claim 16, wherein said web (32) is formed to be straight or curved.

18. The wing rig according to claim 1, wherein two handles (28a, 28b) are fastened in an approximately V-shaped manner to said center strut (18) on the one side and to said front tube (6) on the other side.

19. The wing rig according to claim 1, wherein at least one, preferably flexible, handle (16) is non-detachably fastened to said front tube (6) and/or to said center strut (18).

20. The foil wing according to claim 1, wherein said handle (16, 28, 30) is flexible.

Description

[0036] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the wing rig according to the invention are explained in more detail below using schematic drawings. In the drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a wing rig used to drive a foil board;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of a wing rig, in which the positions of exchangeable handles having a U-profile are shown by way of example;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a handle which can be fastened at the positions according to FIG. 2 and which is configured as a straight web;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the handle according to FIG. 3;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a further partial exploded view of the handle according to FIG. 4;

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of a further exemplary embodiment of a wing rig according to the invention with a recessed grip;

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the wing rig according to FIG. 6;

[0044] FIG. 8 shows a further detailed view of a handle according to FIG. 7 which is fastened to a center strut on the one side and to the front tube on the other side;

[0045] FIGS. 9, 10 are views of a support arm of the handle according to FIGS. 6 to 8;

[0046] FIG. 11 shows a variant of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6, the handles being fastened only to the center strut and to the front tube, respectively, and

[0047] FIGS. 12, 13 show a detailed view of a handle of the embodiment according to FIG. 11.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows the use of a wing rig 1 according to the invention for driving a foil board 2. A surfer 4 holds the wing rig 1 with his/her hands only and adjusts it with respect to the wind depending on the desired direction of travel (close-hauled, beam reach, running downwind) or on the lift to be set, for example when jumping or adjusting the ride height.

[0049] The wing rig 1 includes an inflatable front tube 6 with an attack-side leading edge 7 which is approximately arcuate in plan view (from above in FIGS. 1 and 2), preferably approximately delta-, C- or U-shaped and with tips 8, 10 thereof extending to a trailing edge 12 of a canopy 14 of the wing rig 1. As explained below, this canopy 14 is spanned, on the one hand, by the front tube 6 and, on the other hand, by a boom or a center strut (see FIG. 2). The surfer 4 holds the wing rig 1 mainly on the boom/center strut that protrudes downwards (view according to FIG. 1). The front tube 6 is preferably set in a V- or U-shape, both in the top view and in a front view – as seen in the direction of attack, with the V/U in the front view pointing upwards, that is, broadening away from the surfer. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the trailing edge 12 and thus the entire canopy surface 14 is set in a V- (or U-) shape when viewed from the front.

[0050] By way of example, a handle arranged centrally in the area of the front tube 6 is identified by the reference symbol 16. This handle 16 is gripped, for example, when the wing rig 1 is held in the wind while driving on a wave without propulsion. This handle 16 is also used when handling the wing rig 1 on land or when starting or ending a trip (water landing).

[0051] As explained below, further handles may be positioned on the wing rig 1. A special feature of the handle 16 is that it can be exchanged at the wing rig 1, for example at the front tube 6 or the center strut 18 here.

[0052] The illustration according to FIG. 1 also shows a safety leash 17, which is fixed to the wrist of the surfer 4 and the other end portion of which engages the front tube 6

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view from below of a wing rig 1 according to FIG. 1. The boom mentioned above, configured as an inflatable center strut 18 in this exemplary embodiment, can be seen in this illustration. The center strut 18 is attached to the front tube 6. The front tube 6 is configured similar to a front tube of a kite and is connected to the inflatable center strut 18 via a one-pump system (not shown in detail) so that both can be filled with air via a common valve. In the illustration according to FIG. 13, the above-described handle 16 is shown bridging an apex 20 of the front tube 6 in the attack direction.

[0054] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the center strut 18 is curved upwards, with an attack-side strut portion 22 connected to the front tube 6 being connected to the front tube 6 in the area of the apex 20. Following this strut portion 22 positioned approximately at right angles to the front tube 6, the center strut 18 is curved upwards in a central portion 24 towards the canopy 14 and then transitions into a tapered end portion 26 extending to the trailing edge 12. The canopy 14 is connected to the center strut 18 at least in sections, so that the profile described at the outset is established. The center portion 24 and the downstream end portion 26 are connected to the canopy 14. Between the front strut portion 22 and the canopy 14 there is a space 27 which remains empty or is filled with a cloth wall. The applicant reserves the right to aim an independent claim at the bulging inflatable center strut 28.

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, two V-shaped handles 28a, 28b are arranged in the region of the strut portion 22, said handles being attached to the strut portion 22 with their converging end portions. The distant end portions of the handles 28a, 28b are each fastened to the lower side (view according to FIG. 2) of the front tube 6.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows three further handles 30a, 30b, 30c according to the invention which are distributed along the center strut 18 from the connection of the two aforementioned handles 28a, 28b towards the tapered end portion 26 of the center strut 18. These handles are also arranged pointing downwards towards the driver (view according to FIG. 2).

[0057] Of course, such handles may also be attached to other positions of the wing rig 1. A special feature is that these handles are held on the center strut 18 of the wing rig 1 such that they can be exchanged in a simple manner. Replaceable is understood to mean a positional fixation that can be released or locked with little effort and with a simple tool, for example a screwdriver or wrench. It is not necessary to unpick seams or loosen rivets or an adhesive layer or the like.

[0058] In this way it is possible, for example, to provide different handles at different positions of the wing rig 1, wherein this positioning can be varied according to the preferences of the user. It only has to be ensured that there are appropriate receptacles for fixing the handles 30 in position on the wing rig side.

[0059] The handles 30 may be rigid or flexible. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the handles 30 are rounded, for example in a U-shape or V-shape.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a variant of a handle 16 (of course, the other mentioned handles 28, 30 may also be configured according to FIG. 3), wherein an approximately V-shaped structure with a straight web 32 which is connected to the wing rig 1, for example the front tube 6 (only indicated in FIG. 3), by two support arms 34, 36 positioned at an angle thereto.

[0061] Two preferably flexible adapter consoles 38, 40 are arranged on the wing rig side, on each of which a receptacle 42, 44 is formed, into which a threaded bushing, which will be explained below, is inserted. A support plate or a support element 46, 48 of the support arms 34, 36 may be inserted into this receptacle 42, 44 in a form-fitting manner and then fixed in position by means of a fastening screw 50 which is screwed into the threaded bushing of the adapter console 38.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the adapter console 38 is sewn and/or glued to the outer skin of the front tube 6 so that the handle 16 is attached to the wing rig 1 in a very rigid manner when the front tube 6 is inflated. The adapter console 38, 40 may be configured to be flexible, for example as a TPU patch.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the handle 16 according to FIG. 3. As explained, said handle 16 is attached to the front tube 6/leading edge 7, the two adapter consoles 38, 40 with the receptacles 42, 44 being attached to the front tube 6. According to the illustration in FIG. 4, said receptacles 42, 44 are each configured as rectangular pockets into which the above-described threaded bushings 52, 54 are centrally inserted. The support plates 46, 48 of the support arms 34, 36 are formed according to the profile of the pocket-shaped receptacles 42, 44 so that they are inserted into them with a precise fit. As explained, the support arms 34, 36 are set at an angle in the exemplary embodiment shown so that they converge towards the web 32. At the end portions pointing towards the web 32, the support arms 34, 36 are formed with connecting pieces 56, 58 aligned coaxially with the web 32 and at least partially enter into the tube profile of the web 32 or encompass the corresponding end portions. The position of the web 32 in relation to the connecting pieces 56, 58 may be fixed, for example, by material bonding, form-fit and/or force-fit.

[0064] The illustrated handle 16 may, for example, be made of fiber-reinforced plastic or light metal or another suitable material and is therefore configured to be comparatively rigid. Due to the replaceability, it can be easily exchanged for a flexible handle.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows the adapter bracket 40 (patch), the support arm 36 and part of the web 32 with the threaded bushing 54 in an exploded view. It can be seen from this illustration that, in this exemplary embodiment, the receptacles 42, 44 and the support arms 34, 36 are made of fiber-reinforced plastic, with the wall thicknesses being reduced in order to minimize the weight.

[0066] The threaded bushing 54 is inserted into a bushing receptacle 62 with a hexagonal bolt 60 so that the threaded bushing 54 is secured against rotation. The preferably flexible adapter console 40 rests with its contact surface 64 on the outer skin of the front tube 6 or the center strut 18 and is - as explained - for example glued and/or sewn thereto. The inclined support arm 36 includes the support plate 48 described above, which can be inserted into the receptacle 44 of the adapter plate 40 with a precise fit. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the support plate 48 is formed with a central bore 66 through which the fastening screw 50 is threadedly engaged with the threaded bushing 54. The connecting piece 58 dips into the inner diameter of the tubular web 32 and has a contact shoulder 68 against which the end face of the web 32 rests flush in the assembled state so that a high-strength connection between the central web 32 and the two outer support arms 34, 36 is ensured.

[0067] In principle, however, the handles 16, 28, 30 may also be formed integrally or with a different geometry.

[0068] As explained above, instead of the rigid handles 16, 28, 30, flexible handles or mixed types of handles may also be positioned.

[0069] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a large number of adapter consoles 38, 40 may be provided along the front tube 6 and/or the center strut 18 so that the handles can be positioned individually.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of a wing rig 1 according to the invention, wherein the center strut 18 is reduced in diameter d in the area adjacent to the front tube 6 compared to a portion with the diameter D adjacent to the trailing edge 12 so that this recessed step creates a recessed grip 70 in the area of which two handles 30a, 30b according to the invention and a conventional holding strap 72 disposed between them are arranged. Accordingly, the handles 30a, 30b extend approximately as an extension of the area of the center strut 18 formed with the diameter D. A special feature of the handles 30a, 30b is that they are clamped to the center strut 18 or the front tube 6, with this clamping being caused by the wing rig 1 being inflated. After deflation, the handles can be attached to the front tube 6 or the center strut 18 without any tools and without significant effort so that the handles 30a, 30b can be mounted and removed in an extremely simple manner.

[0071] On the one side, the handle 30a is fastened to the region 74 with a larger diameter D with the end portion on the left in FIG. 6 and, on the other side, approximately centrally within the recessed grip 70. For attachment, adapters 76, 78 are formed on the center strut 18 via which the handle 30a is fixed in position. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the two adapters 76, 78 are each formed by webbing straps 80, 82, which are sewn with their respective end portions to the outer skin of the center strut 18 and which bulge like a bridge so that a reach-through area for a handle portion is formed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the handle 30a includes a support arm 34 on the right end portion, the basic structure of which corresponds approximately to that of the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 5 and which is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0072] As with the embodiments described above, the support arm 34 is connected to a tubular web 32 which extends to the region 74 including the adapter 76. Here, the tubular end portion 84 of the web 32 enters the strap 80 and passes through it, with the end portion 84 protruding from the strap 80 being fixed in position via a cap 85, into which the end portion 84 dips, so that its movement is restricted to the left in the view according to FIG. 6. As will be explained in more detail below, the support arm 34 enters the strap 82 from the right in the view according to FIG. 6 so that the handle 30a is mounted simply by pushing it into the strap 80 or the strap 82 from the right.

[0073] The further handle 30b is fixed in a corresponding manner via a support arm 36 and via a webbing strap 86 on the center strut 18 and with the end portion of the web 32 on the right in FIG. 6 and another webbing strap 88 on the front tube 6. As in the case of the handle 30a, an axial displacement beyond the front tube 6 is prevented by a cap 90 which is attached to the strap 88. The difference in diameter between the front tube 6 and the center strut 18 in the connection region of the handle 30b is so large that there is sufficient clear width for gripping the web 32. The handle 30b is attached by pushing it into the adapters 76, 78 in the direction of the front tube 6.

[0074] The conventional holding strap 72 is non-detachably mounted between the two support arms 34, 36 and enables the wing rig 1 to be handled even when the handles 30a, 30b have been removed. This area is shown enlarged in FIG. 7. This depiction clearly shows the two webbing straps 82, 86, the end portions of which are each sewn to the outer skin of the center strut 18 and which bulge in an arc to form a receiving space 92 or 94 for part of the respective support arm 34, 36.

[0075] The structure of the support arms 34, 36 is explained, by way of example, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 which show an individual representation of the support arm 34. Accordingly, they each have a support plate 48, which is curved according to the diameter D of the center strut 18 or the diameter of the front tube 6, so that a flat contact with these components is ensured. In the illustration according to FIG. 9, the diameter D of the region 74 of the center strut 18 is shown as an example. A support arm 36 is attached to the side of the support plate 48, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is approximately U-shaped with an inclined base, so that the connecting piece 58 formed at the end portion of the support arm 36 runs approximately in parallel to the apex of the support plate 48. As in the exemplary embodiments described above, the connecting piece 58 is recessed by a step so that, in the transition region to the portion with a smaller cross section, a radial contact shoulder 68 is formed. The diameter e of the recessed region then corresponds to the inner diameter of the attached web 32, which rests with its end face on the contact shoulder 68 of the connecting piece 58 in the assembled state. In the illustrated embodiment, the support arm 36 is made of fiber-reinforced plastic. In principle, the support arm 36 may also be made from a different material or by a generative method (3D printing).

[0076] As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 8, the width b of the webbing strap 86 is slightly smaller than the width B (see FIG. 10) of the support plate 48 so that, in the assembled state, the support plate 48 (and of course the other support plates as well) protrudes from the webbing strap 86 with a protrusion 96. In order to fix the position, this protrusion 96 may be provided with a step which abuts against the associated webbing strap 86 in the pull-out direction and thus makes it even more difficult to inadvertently pull the support plate 48 out of the webbing strap 86.

[0077] As with the handle 30a, the end portion of the web 32 remote from the webbing strap 86 (see particularly FIG. 8) is inserted into the webbing strap 88 and secured by the cap 90 in the axial direction.

[0078] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment in which the two handles 30a, 30b are only attached to the center strut 18. In this exemplary embodiment, the center strut 18is not configured with a recessed grip 70 but in a conventional manner so that there is no step in the transition region to the front tube 6 that a handle can overstretch.

[0079] In this exemplary embodiment, each of the handles 30a, 30b is formed with two support arms 34, 36 (only the support arms of the handle 30a are provided with reference symbols in FIG. 11) between which the web 32 extends. Accordingly, the two structurally identical support arms 34, 36 are oriented in such a way that their connecting pieces 56, 58 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) point towards one another. The support plates 46, 48 then again engage in the respective webbing straps 80, 82 and 86, 88 in a force-fitting and form-fitting manner. That is, the webs of the handles 30a, 30b overstretch the respective webbing straps 80, 82 or 86, 88, so that assembly is only possible after deflation, with the handles 30a, 30b practically not releasable in the inflatable state due to the force/form fit.

[0080] The conventional holding strap 72 is again mounted between the handles 30a, 30b. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 11 (and also in the other exemplary embodiments), a handle 16, the structure of which is explained with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, is detachably fastened to the leading edge 7 of the front tube 6 as an extension of the center strut 18

[0081] Accordingly, this handle 16 has again two support arms 34, 36 which are essentially configured in the manner shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The support plates 46, 48 again dip into webbing straps 98, 100 of the adapters 76, 78 which are fastened to the leading edge 7 of the front tube 6. As in the embodiment described above, the two webbing straps 98, 100 are located between the support arms 34, 36 so that the handle 16 is reliably fixed in position.

[0082] In this exemplary embodiment, a web 32 made of an elastic material, for example a flexible hose, is placed on the two connecting pieces 56, 58 and is curved in accordance with the curvature of the leading edge 7 (see FIG. 13). In the illustrated embodiment, the hose is press fitted onto the recessed end portion of the connecting pieces 56, 58. Of course, the web 32 may also be additionally fixed in position by means of fixing elements, for example catches, screws, clamps or the like. Of course, this also applies to the other handles 28, 30 described.

[0083] In the exemplary embodiments described above, the center strut 18 is configured to be inflatable. As explained at the outset, instead of this inflatable center strut 18, a center strut configured as a boom or additionally configured with a boom may also be used. In this case, there is no need to attach handles to the center strut. However, it is definitely advantageous to provide the handles 16 and 28a, 28b described above in addition to the boom to simplify handling.

[0084] A wing rig is disclosed, wherein detachable handles are attached to a front tube or a center strut.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0085] 1 wing rig [0086] 2 foil board [0087] 4 surfer [0088] 6 front tube [0089] 7 leading Edge [0090] 8 tip [0091] 10 tip [0092] 12 trailing Edge [0093] 14 canopy [0094] 16 handle [0095] 18 center strut/boom [0096] 19 safety leash [0097] 20 apex of the front tube/leading edge [0098] 22 strut portion [0099] 24 center portion [0100] 26 end portion [0101] 27 distance [0102] 28 handle [0103] 30 handle [0104] 32 web [0105] 34 support arm [0106] 36 support arm [0107] 38 adapter console / patch [0108] 40 adapter console / patch [0109] 42 receptacle [0110] 44 receptacle [0111] 46 support plate [0112] 48 support plate [0113] 50 fastening screw [0114] 52 threaded bushing [0115] 54 threaded bushing [0116] 56 connecting piece [0117] 58 connecting piece [0118] 60 hexagonal bolt [0119] 62 bushing receptacle [0120] 64 contact surface [0121] 66 bore [0122] 68 contact shoulder [0123] 70 recessed grip [0124] 72 holding strap [0125] 74 region of center strut [0126] 76 adapter [0127] 78 adapter [0128] 80 webbing strap [0129] 82 webbing strap [0130] 84 end portion [0131] 85 cap [0132] 86 webbing strap [0133] 88 webbing strap [0134] 90 cap [0135] 92 receiving space [0136] 94 receiving space [0137] 96 protrusion [0138] 98 webbing strap [0139] 100 webbing strap