Abstract
A control system for a kite having a quick release loop assembly includes a retention mechanism configured to release one end of the loop upon sliding a handle from a covered disposition to an uncovered disposition. The quick release assembly also includes a mechanism to untwist a landing line tube from a static line automatically, and to automatically index a landing line.
Claims
1. A quick release loop assembly comprising: a housing including a slide and a base; a retention mechanism disposed on said base and operatively configured to retain a retention member on at least one end of a loop; said slide operable between a covering disposition and an uncovered disposition; said slide configured to release said one end of said loop when in said uncovered disposition; wherein said slide is substantially uncoupled from forces transmitted through said loop.
2. The quick release loop assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said retention mechanism includes at least a pawl and a ledge dimensioned and configured to form a retention recess therebetween.
3. The quick release loop assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein a pivot point of said pawl is offset from, and inboard of, said recess.
4. The quick release loop assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said retention member is configured to rest within said recess and against said pawl when inserted into said retention mechanism.
5. The quick release loop assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said recess is substantially in line with said recess and a point of contact between said retention member and said pawl.
6. The quick release loop assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said slide is configured to lift said pawl when in said uncovered disposition.
7. The quick release loop assembly as recited in claim 6 further comprising a line connecting said pawl to said slide.
8. A quick release loop assembly for a control bar, the quick release loop assembly comprising: at least a housing and a loop, said loop configured to releasably secure the control bar to a water sports harness; said housing configured to house a retention mechanism for releasably retaining said loop; said housing including a base and a slide; said loop including at least a first end having a retaining ring; said retention mechanism including at least one pawl pivotably attached to said housing, said pivot pawl being biased to rest against a ledge and to retain said retaining ring.
9. The quick release loop as recited in claim 8 further comprising a shaft, said slide configured to be movable along at least a portion of said shaft.
10. The quick release loop as recited in claim 9 wherein said housing further comprises a base, said retention mechanism being attached to said base.
11. The quick release loop as recited in claim 10 wherein said slide is disposable between a covering disposition and an uncovered disposition.
12. The quick release loop as recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one pivot pawl includes a distal and a proximal end.
13. The quick release loop as recited in claim 12 further comprising a line connecting said slide to said proximal end of said at least one pivot pawl.
14. The quick release loop as recited in claim 13 wherein said line is dimensioned to pull on said proximal end of said pawl when said slide is moved toward said uncovered disposition.
15. The quick release loop as recited in claim 14 further comprising at least a second pivot pawl dimensioned and configured to receive a second end of said loop.
16. The quick release loop as recited in claim 15 wherein said uncovered disposition is at least partially defined by said slide being moved along said shaft sufficient for a distal end of said second pivot pawl to be exposed.
17. The quick release loop as recited in claim 16 wherein said second pivot pawl includes a tab on said distal end, said tab being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a finger of a user.
18. The quick release loop as recited in claim 9 further comprising a biasing element configured to normally bias said slide toward said base.
19. A water sports control system comprising: at least a control bar and a quick release loop assembly; said quick release loop assembly including a shaft configured to rotate within said quick release loop assembly, and a receptacle at one end of said shaft; at least a landing line tube and a static line extending from said receptacle.
20. The control system as recited in claim 19 further comprising a biasing element configured to bias said shaft against said receptacle, thereby causing both the shaft and receptacle to rotate as a single unit.
21. The control system as recited in claim 20 wherein, when said quick release loop assembly is loaded, said biasing element becomes compress, and said receptacle becomes free to rotate relative to said shaft.
22. The control system as recited in claim 19 wherein said control bar includes a plurality of indexed chambers.
23. A water sports control system comprising: a quick release assembly including a landing line tube running therethrough, said landing line tube terminating at a collar; a stopper configured to receive a landing line; said stopper and said collar cooperatively structured and configured to rotate as a single unit.
24. The control system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a plurality of teeth on said collar and a plurality of teeth on said stopper.
25. A trim cleat for a water sports control system comprising: a cup having a wedge-shaped inner surface configured to receive a landing line tube therein; a barbed insert configured to be inserted inside said landing line tube; said barbed insert being cooperatively structured and configured with said cup to wedge and releasably secure said landing line tube inside said cup.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a front view of a control system including a quick release assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a control system including a quick release assembly according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a front view of a quick release assembly having a slide in a covering disposition according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a front view of the quick release assembly of FIG. 3 having a slide in an uncovered disposition.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a partial section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a partial section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 in which the retention mechanism of the quick release assembly has been released
[0026] FIG. 7 is a partial section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a partial section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 in which the pawl has been manually lifted.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a retention mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a detail view of a control system and quick release assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 in which the loop is loaded.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 in which the loop is unloaded.
[0032] FIG. 13 is a detail view of the interface between a shaft and a receptacle according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 14 is a section view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 15 is a detail view of a collar and stopper according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a trim cleat according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 17 is a section view taken along line C-C of FIG. 16.
[0037] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0038] One embodiment of a control system 1 according to the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The control system 1 includes a control bar 90 which a user manipulates to adjust his or her speed and direction. The control bar 90 is connected to two control lines (not depicted) at its extreme ends and is also configured to slide along the length of a static line 200 and a landing line tube 300. The static line 200 primarily transmits force from a kite (or other power source) to the user via the quick release loop assembly 10 (sometimes referred to as a quick loop). The landing line tube 300 houses a landing line (not depicted) that normally does not transmit any force, unless the user activates the quick release mechanism, at which point the landing line acts to depower the kite. At the top of the system 1, a trim cleat 500 allows a user to adjust the trim of the kit, and acts as a conduit to transmit power from the kite to the static line 200. The trim cleat 500 also supports the landing line tube 300.
[0039] FIGS. 3 and 4 provide a detailed view of the quick release loop assembly 10. The primary components of the assembly 10 include a receptacle 40 to receive and channel the static line 200 and landing line tube 300, a shaft 50, a housing 20, a retention mechanism 150, and a loop 100. The housing 20 may include a slide 21 and a base 22. In the preferred embodiment, the retention mechanism is located on the base 22, while the slide 21 acts as the release mechanism for the user. When the user desires to release one end of the loop 100 from the housing 20, the user may grasp the slide 21 and push it toward the receptacle 40, as it is free to slide along the shaft 50. Also in a preferred embodiment, the slide 21 is biased toward the base 22, for example with the use of an elastic cord or band to join the two components together. In any event, the slide 21 is capable of covering the retention mechanism 150 when engaged against the base 22, and is also capable of exposing the retention mechanism 150 when the slide 21 is moved away from the base 22. Accordingly, the slide is capable of transitioning between a covered disposition, as shown in FIG. 3, and an uncovered disposition, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0040] FIGS. 5 and 6 present a cutaway view of the quick release loop 10, taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 so that the mechanism of release can be described in more detail. The quick release mechanism 150 includes at least one pawl 30 pivotably attached to the base 22. A torsion spring 80 biases the pawl 30 against a ledge 70. The loop 100 includes a first end 11 and second end 12, each having a retention bar 120 protruding therefrom. In a most preferred embodiment, the pawl 30 and ledge 70 are correspondingly dimensioned and configured to rest against one another at a predetermined angle. It is therefore possible to insert the loop 100 into the quick release loop assembly 10 by pushing the first end 11 or second end 12 into the assembly 10 with sufficient force to cause the retention bar 120 to separate the pawl 20 from the ledge 70. Once fully inserted, the retention bar 120 will rest on the ledge 70 and/or against the pawl 30, but will permit the pawl 30 to close against the ledge 70. This can be considered a retain orientation of the loop 100. In a most preferred embodiment the quick release loop assembly 10 is dimensioned and configured such that, when a force is applied to the loop 10 while the loop 10 is in a retained orientation, all or a substantial portion of the force will be transmitted into the ledge 70, rather than the pawl 30. In such an embodiment, it can be appreciated that it is not possible to remove the retention bar 120 without opening the pawl 30 and allowing the retention bar 120 to slip over the ledge 70.
[0041] As can be seen in FIG. 6, in one preferred embodiment, the pawl 30 is pivotably attached at or around its mid-point and the proximal end 32 includes an aperture 34. A line or cable 60 is then attached to the pawl 30 at the proximal end 32 as well as to the slide 21. Upon moving the slide 21 away from the base 22, the line 60 becomes taught and, as force is applied to the slide 21, the line 60 will activate the pawl 30 by overcoming the force of the tension spring 80, thereby permitting the pawl 30 to open and release the retention bar 120. In a most preferred embodiment, the line 60 is attached to the slide 21 on the opposite side from the pawl 30 in order to introduce an oblique angle into the line 60 when the line is taught. This angle, combined with the arrangement of the pawl 30 itself, can provide some mechanical advantage assisting the user in overcoming the force of the retention spring 80.
[0042] In the depicted embodiment it can be seen that the quick release loop assembly 10 is mostly symmetrical about the shaft 50, having a pawl 30, ledge 70, and torsion spring combination 80 on both sides of the shaft 50. Additionally, the loop 10 includes retention bars 120 at each of the first end 11 and second end 12. The left half (as depicted) which includes a line 60 connected to the pawl 30 can be considered the quick-release side, as this is the pawl 30 that will release when the slide 21 is moved sufficiently away from the base 22. The right half can then be considered a semi-permanent side because the retention bar 120 on this side will stay connected even when the slide 21 is activated. It is semi-permanent, however, because it is still desirable for the second end 12 of the loop 10 to be released quickly and easily in order to facilitate changes in styles or sizes of loop 10.
[0043] Therefore, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the slide 21 is moved into an uncovered disposition, a tab 35 at the distal end 31 of the pawl 30 is exposed. In a preferred embodiment, the force of the torsion spring 80 is selected in combination with the leverage afforded by the tab 31 to permit a user to manually pry open the pawl 30 and release the second end 12 of the loop 10 with his or her fingers. This facilitates a tool-less change of loops 100. Alternatively, either end 11, 12 of the loop 10 may be used as a convenient tool to open the pawl 30. An end 11, 12 serves as a more convenient tool than, e.g., a screwdriver or wrench, because typically the loop 10 is only removed when the user desires to change to another style of loop, and so will likely have a second loop handy. In a most preferred embodiment, the tab 35 is correspondingly dimensioned and configured with the distal end 31 of the pawl 30 to create a pry recess 36, which is in turn dimensioned and configured to receive one end 11, 12 of the loop 10. The user may rest the loop 10 against the rim 220 of the base 22 and use it to lever the retention bar 120 into the pry recess 36, thereby opening the pawl 30.
[0044] FIG. 9 is a top view of a base 22 having only one pawl 30 installed to further facilitate disclosure of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 9 discloses a preferred embodiment of a pawl 30. As can be seen, the pivot point 35 of the pawl is offset and inboard from the distal end 31. In such an arrangement, it is relatively easy to pivot the pawl 30 when pushing on the distal end 31 from below, such as when the retention bar 120 is being inserted into the retention mechanism 150. However, it takes considerably more force to rotate the pawl 30 when pushing on it at a point above the ledge 70, such as when the retention bar 120 is inserted all the way into a retained orientation. Therefore, it is relatively difficult to withdraw the retention bar 120 without otherwise opening the pawl 30 first.
[0045] Turning to FIG. 10, another aspect of the present invention is disclosed. In the depicted embodiment, the static line 200 and the landing line tube 300 pass through the control bar 90 and into retained relation with the receptacle 40. The control bar includes separate indexed chambers 95 for each of the static line 200 and landing line tube 300. This arrangement helps untangle the static line 200 from the landing line tube 300 should they become twisted about one another. This is a common occurrence when a user performs an unhooked maneuver. Advanced kite surfers can perform all manner of jumps, twists, and rolls which call for unhooking the loop 10 from the user's harness so that the user is free to rotate relative to kite. One common occurrence, however, is that during one of these maneuvers, the static line 200 and landing line tube 300 can become twisted about one another.
[0046] With reference now to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, in a preferred embodiment the shaft is made of a sleeve 51 and inner shaft 52. The sleeve 51 is rigidly attached to the housing 20, while the inner shaft 52 is free to move relative to the sleeve 51. In a most preferred embodiment, the inner shaft 52 can both rotate and translate relative to the sleeve 51. This movable relationship is facilitated by a bearing 600 and spring washer 400 disposed between the bottom end of the inner shaft 52 and the base 22. The spring washer 400 acts to bias the inner shaft 52 downward, toward the loop 10, until the receptacle 40, which is also rigidly attached to the inner shaft 52, comes to rest against the sleeve 51. In such an arrangement, when the loop 10 is loaded with the force of a powered kite pulling a user, it will bias the inner shaft 52 downward, creating a gap between the receptacle 40 and the sleeve 51. Accordingly, the receptacle 40, along with the inner shaft 52, are free to rotate relative to the sleeve 51 and housing 20. Otherwise, when the loop 10 is not loaded, the spring washer 400 will bias the sleeve 51 against the receptacle 40, which will inhibit relative rotation between the sleeve 51 and receptacle 40. As can be seen in FIG. 13, interlocking teeth 45, 55, may be added to the surfaces where the sleeve 51 and receptacle 40 interface to help ensure they are locked together when the assembly is unloaded.
[0047] Now that those relationships have been described, their function as an automatic swiveling assembly can be appreciated. More specifically, upon initiating an unhooked maneuver the user will first unhook the loop 10 from his or her harness. This will unload the loop 10, causing the spring washer 400 to force the sleeve 51 against the receptacle 40. In this arrangement the entire assembly will rotate as one unit. This behavior will maintain the loop in the same orientation throughout the whole maneuver, which is an important attribute that allows the rider to quickly re-hook without having to check or adjust the orientation of the loop. However, because the rider may have rotated the control bar 90 during the maneuver, it is possible that the static line 200 and landing line tube 300 will twist about one another, causing a safety hazard. Accordingly, once the user rehooks and the loop 10 is loaded again, the receptacle 40 will separate from the sleeve 51 and the receptacle will be free to rotate independently of the loop 10. The static line 200 and landing line tube 300 will naturally tend to unravel if no force is holding them together, so the arrangement permits an automatic swiveling when the loop is under load. Otherwise, the user can pull on the control bar 90 and allow the separate indexed chambers 951, 952 to unwind the two lines.
[0048] FIG. 13 is a detail view of an alternative embodiment in which the shaft 50 and receptacle 40 include mating teeth 45, 55 on their respective interface surfaces. The teeth 45, 55 provide mechanical grip between the shaft 50 and receptacle 40 to help ensure that they rotate as one unit when the loop 10 is unloaded.
[0049] FIG. 14 is a section view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2. As can be seen, the landing line tube 300 travels through the receptacle 40, shaft 50, and housing 20, exiting below the base 22 of the housing. The landing line itself (not picture) is secured to a leash stopper 320 that interfaces against the bottom collar 310 of the landing line tube 300. A ring 350 also floats between the leash stopper 320 and collar 310 which serves as an attachment point for a safety leash that connects to the user's harness. With reference now to FIGS. 14 and 15, it can be seen that teeth 311, 321 are disposed on the interfacing surfaces of the collar 310 and stopper 320. This arrangement helps ensure that the landing line indexes along with the quick release assembly 10 and the kite itself. Otherwise, if the landing line becomes twisted inside of the landing line tube 300, it can cause safety issues.
[0050] FIGS. 16 and 17 depict a trim cleat assembly 500 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In particular, FIG. 17 is a section view taken along line C-C of FIG. 16. The trim cleat 500 serves to connect the static line 200 to other rigging lines that run toward the kite and can be used to trim the kite. As can be seen, the trim cleat 500 can include a cup 510 having a substantially funnel or wedge-shaped sidewall which supports the landing line tube 300. A barbed insert 370 is inserted in the top of the landing line tube 300 and the entire assembly is seated within the cup 510. As such, the landing line tube 300 becomes wedged and secured in place between the barbed insert 370 and the cup 510. This arrangement allows for the landing line tube 300 to be easily removable for service or replacement, as no adhesive or other more permanent installation methods are required.
[0051] Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
