Releasable control yoke anchor system for kite

Abstract

A control yoke anchor system for a kite-powered vehicle has a control yoke releasably attached to an anchor. The lower end of a longitudinal member is coupled to a base. The base is mounted on, or is part of a vehicle propellable by a flying kite controlled by user manipulation of one or more control lines coupled between the control yoke and the kite. A first pivotal coupling on the upper end of the longitudinal member is releasably couplable to the control yoke. A second pivotal coupling can be pivotally coupled between the base and the lower end of the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member may be flexible. Releasable coupling of the control yoke to the first pivotal coupling can be via a hook provided on that coupling, with a portion of the control yoke being removably insertable within the hook. This “anchors” the control yoke by diverting a substantial portion of the kite's pulling force through the longitudinal member to the vehicle (i.e. the user does not personally bear the diverted force) without significantly impairing the user's ability to manipulate the control yoke while it remains within the hook.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.