Adaptable kite/airfoil

Abstract

An Adaptable kite/airfoil preferably for structured kites having effectively “reefable” sub-section(s) typically changing the effective width and/or length of the airfoil, thereby substantially changing the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil, using continuous sheet material sections not separated in flight use or in changing the kite aerodynamics. Thus, all of the sheet material, skin of the kite remain with the kite in its various configurations. Seven exemplary embodiments which achieve this approach are described including (1) roll-up section(s) (FIGS. 2A & 2B); (2) integrally contiguous, fold over, over-lapped section(s) (FIGS. 3 & 5); (3) continuous but not integrally contiguous, overlap section(s) using a telescoping arrangement (FIGS. 4A-4C); (4) varyingly compressed and/or aligned battens (FIGS. 5-6); (5) variable wing tips (FIG. 7); (6) center pull-down or up (FIGS. 8 & 9); and (7) in flight expandable/contractible center pulled up or down (FIG. 10).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.