SELF-CONTAINED TRACTION WING

Abstract

A self-contained traction wing which is intended to be used in combination with a gliding device capable of interacting with the feet of a user, is controlled by the user via manual gripping mechanism placed on the wing, and has a structure having a sail defined by a leading edge formed by an inflatable tube, and a trailing edge, the structure being symmetrical in relation to a central batten. The half wings located on either side of the central batten, each comprise at least one additional transverse batten between the central batten and the end of the wing. The additional transverse batten is closer to the end of the wing than to the central batten and comprises an inflatable tube structure, having a length provided to create a positive trailing edge.

Claims

1. A self-contained traction wing which is intended to be used in combination with a gliding device capable of interacting with the feet of a user is controlled by the user via manual gripping means placed on the wing, the wing comprising: a structure having a sail defined by a leading edge (BA) formed by an inflatable tube and a trailing edge (BF) said structure being symmetrical relative to a central batten; and half-wings located on either side of the central batten, each comprise at least one additional transverse batten placed between the central batten and the end of the wing, wherein said additional transverse batten 2 is closer to the end of the wing than to the central batten 1 comprises an inflatable tube structure, having a length provided to create a positive trailing edge BF.

2. The self-contained traction wing, according to claim 1, wherein the leading edge (BA) is extended by wing tip battens forming an angle with the leading edge (BA).

3. The self-contained traction wing, according to claim 2, wherein the central batten and the wing tip battens are comprised of inflatable tube.

4. The self-contained traction wing, according to claim 3, wherein the inflatable tube of the leading edge (BA), the inflatable strand of the central batten, the inflatable tubes of the transverse battens and the inflatable tubes of the wing tip battens are connected by a common inflation system.

5. The self-contained traction wing, according to claim 1, wherein the central batten is attached to the direct contact of the sail near its rear end.

6. The self-contained traction wing, according to claim 1, wherein the central batten comprises a portion located between its rear end and its junction with the inflatable tube of the leading edge (BA) which is not in contact with the sail V and is connected thereto by a panel of flexible material of the fabric type.

7. The self-contained traction wing, according to claim 1, wherein the sail V is comprised of fabric, wherein the direction of the straight yarn of the fabric is oriented, in each half-wing, at least in the vicinity of the trailing edge (BF), parallel to a fictitious line drawn between the rear end of the central batten and the rear end of the additional batten.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which relates to an embodiment which is given only by way of an indicative and non-limiting example of the invention.

[0041] The understanding of this description will particularly be facilitated by referring to the appended figure.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a bottom schematic view of an embodiment of a self-contained traction wing according to the invention.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a side schematic view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a low-angle perspective view of a self-contained traction wing according to the embodiment of the preceding figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] With reference to these figures, the self-contained traction wing comprises an inflatable tube leading edge BA and a trailing edge BF at an edge of the sail 6. The wing is symmetrical relative to a central batten 1 with an inflatable tube provided with handle-type gripping means 4 which are attached to said central batten 1 opposite the sail V. Another gripping handle 5 can also equip the leading edge tube BA.

[0046] The leading edge tube BA is extended, in the configuration shown (this is only one possibility), at its ends, by wing tip battens 3 forming an angle with the tube BA of the leading edge. These wing tip battens 3 are preferably and as already mentioned made of inflatable tubes.

[0047] According to the invention, in the two half-wings located on either side of the central batten 1, an additional transverse batten 2 placed between the central batten 1 and the wing tip batten 3 was added. Each transverse batten 2 is also formed of an inflatable tube.

[0048] The inflatable tube of the leading edge BA is curved in the plane of FIG. 1, but it also has a slightly V-shaped profile (that is, positive dihedral), as can be seen in FIG. 3, resulting in raising its ends and in particular the wing battens 3 relative to its center. Between two contact areas located on the one hand at the rear end of the central batten 1 and on the other hand on the inflatable tube of the leading edge BA, the sail V is connected to the central batten by a panel of fabric 6, which is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the sail V when the sail is taut.

[0049] All the inflatable tubes can be connected, that is to say pipes connecting them, making it possible to deploy the wing by a common inflation system during a single inflation operation, starting from an easily collapsible initial deflated state and only occupying a minimal form factor.

[0050] In any case, the example of the figure should not be considered as exhaustive of the invention, which on the contrary encompasses all variants and versions that fall within the field of ordinary knowledge of the person skilled in the art, for example in the shapes of the battens, their number, the shapes of the leading edge and of the trailing edge, etc.