Releasable control yoke anchor system for kite

#This invention pertains to anchoring systems for user-manipulable yokes for controllably flying wind-powered objects, like a kite. In the system, the yoke is releasably coupled to land or a vehicle, such as a kite buggy, to transfer all of the kite's pulling force away from the user's arms, without impairing the user's ability to control the kite.

#Wind powered object, like kites; have been used as propulsion devices in various ways. For example, skiers, snowboarders, ice skaters and roller skaters ski, snowboard, ice skate, or roller skate while holding one or more handles or a yoke connected to one or more wires attached to a flying kite. The user manipulates the yoke to control the kite such that wind forces propel the kite through the air, thereby pulling the yoke and the user along a snow, ice, pavement, water, or other surface. Surfers have also used kites as propulsion devices to propel a surfboard over the water as the surfer rides the surfboard and controls the flying kite by manipulating a hand-held yoke coupled to the kite. Flying kites similarly propel wheeled “kite buggies”: the user sits in the kite buggy holding handles coupled to a flying kite. By suitably manipulating the handles the kite buggy rider controls the flying kite such that the kite's pulling forces are imparted to the handles, thereby propelling the rider and the kite buggy along a surface such as a beach.

#Many people find it difficult to control flying kites via conventional handles, as described above. It generally requires someone who is very athletic and strong in the arms and upper torso to be able to hold and to maintain control of the kite for more than a relatively brief time interval via handles. Learners, especially, are exposed to great stresses on their body from the large pulling forces of the kite. Even the experienced users may develop problems such as back problems due to the tensile forces generated by the kite.

#The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a side view of the releasable control yoke anchor system.

#FIG. 2a is a side view of a control yoke in the form of a bar.

#FIG. 1 shows the releasable control yoke anchor system 1. The system has two main parts: a control yoke, which is a first longitudinal member 2, and a second longitudinal anchoring member 3. The wind powered object's tethering lines 5 are attached at the opposing ends of the first longitudinal control member. To the center of this first longitudinal control member is coupled second longitudinal anchoring member. The reason why the coupling is in the center is, because this is the center of projected aerodynamic forces created by the wind-powered object. The lower portion of the second longitudinal anchoring member is coupled to an anchor 6, which could be land, water, vehicle or any other object. Therefore, the pulling force of the wind-powered object is transferred from the tethering lines into the control yoke and through the second longitudinal anchoring member into the anchor. The user does not have to bear any of these pulling forces and yet, by the control yoke being attached in the center of projected aerodynamic forces, the user can manipulate the control yoke in any direction he/she chooses with relative ease.

#If desired, user may easily release the first longitudinal member, the control yoke 2, which is releasably attached to the second longitudinal anchoring member 3, by manipulating the first longitudinal member 2 out and away from the coupling.

#The two couplings 4 of the second longitudinal anchoring member, one with the control yoke and one with the anchor could be any combination of them being rigid, flexible, swiveling, or releasable.