FR3145339A1 - Kite control bar - Google Patents

Abstract

A traction kite control bar, in particular for kite surf kite or snow kite, comprises at least two continuous and spaced rigid tubes (21, 22), two attachment parts (24, 25) for first lines (3, 5) of a wing (9) of the kite, secured to the two ends of the tubes, respectively, a part (23) for the passage of at least a third line (7) of said wing, secured to the tubes (21, 22) in their central region, the third line passing in a space between tubes, and a gripping fitting (30-33) surrounding the tubes and secured to them. (Fig 3)

Description

Control bar for kite Field of invention

The present invention relates to traction kites such as kite surfing or kite snow kites, and more particularly to a new traction bar for such a kite.

State of the art

Such a kite conventionally comprises a wing, front and rear lines as well as a control bar allowing a practitioner to be towed by said kite to act on the 2 rear lines. A practitioner or pilot is understood to be a natural person in the case of a kite surf or a traction kite. This pilot is linked to a board or a surfboard or skis or to a machine rolling on the ground. The control bar connects the rear lines to the pilot's hands. The front lines freely cross the control bar in its center through an orifice provided for this purpose. The latter are connected to the pilot's harness approximately at the level of his navel. In general, a device allows the practitioner to quickly free himself from the traction of the front lines by manually pulling an element located within reach. In this situation, an additional line can be provided to continue to connect the pilot to the kite which has become inactive.

Control bars are generally made of aluminum in order to obtain the mechanical resistance required at the level of the hole where the front lines pass. A molded rubber shape covers the contact area of the bar with the hands and generally integrates pre-lines and the shapes for winding the lines. It is possible to adjust the length of the rear lines inside the molded rubber part surrounding the pre-lines. The set of possible positions of the kite in flight defines the wind window. As mentioned, in some cases, there is a fifth line almost parallel to the front lines. In addition, especially for use in water, the equipped bar must float when detached from the pilot.

The control bars of traction kites are subject to a certain number of adaptations depending on the object towed and the environment in which it moves.

For skis sliding on snow and for other equipment too (notably foils and water or a machine rolling on sand), reducing the mass of the control bar is a major objective when the wind is no longer able to pull the pilot who must carry the sail and the entire control system including the lines, the bar and the harness attachment system. The lighter and more compact the assembly is, the easier it is to practice in this context. On the other hand, a low mass control bar also allows fine and therefore efficient piloting in critical wind situations. Depending on the size of the wing, the length of the bar is adapted and the distance between the 2 rear lines varies.

Some suppliers offer full carbon bars that solve the weight constraint but often require the use of gloves to ride them with sufficient grip of the hands on the bar. The range of available bar lengths remains limited. Their fairly high cost is mainly due to the central profile of the bar which must allow the passage of the front lines while its bending resistance must be maximum in this section: this hole creates a sudden variation in the geometry of the globally tubular bar elsewhere. This geometric shape accident is very damaging to the strength of the bar and therefore requires local reinforcements.

The present invention aims to remedy this major drawback.

For this purpose, a traction kite control bar is proposed, in particular for kite surf kite or snow kite, characterized in that it comprises at least two continuous and spaced rigid tubes, two attachment parts for first lines of a kite wing, secured to the two ends of the tubes, respectively, a part for the passage of at least a third line of said wing, secured to the tubes in their central region, the third line passing in a space between tubes, and a gripping fitting surrounding the tubes and secured to them.

Some preferred but optional aspects of this control bar include the following features, taken alone or in any combinations that the skilled person will appreciate to be technically compatible with each other:

* the control bar consists of two continuous rigid tubes.

* the tubes are made of carbon fibers.

* the gripping pad is made of a low density material.

* the gripping material is made of cork or cork-based.

* the gripping trim comprises a set of elements assembled around the tubes and trapping them.

* at least one of the central part and the attachment parts includes arrangements contributing to holding together the elements of the gripping trim.

* the ends of the rigid tubes are embedded in the respective hanging parts.

* the central part is a single piece and the rigid tubes pass through said central part.

* the control bar comprises a release device comprising a first ring to which is attached a line called the front line of the wing and capable of being attached to a release device, a second ring secured to the first ring by being inscribed in it and crossed by a safety line (7bis) of the wing, and a third ring of a diameter larger than the second ring and to which is attached one end of the safety line.

The traction kite control bar according to the present invention is now described in detail according to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, this with reference to the appended drawings, drawings in which:

is a global and schematic perspective view of a kite surf piloted by a practitioner,

is a perspective view, from the pilot's point of view, of the kite surfing of the ,

is an exploded perspective schematic view, on an enlarged scale, of a control bar according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

is a perspective view showing the control bar equipped with the front and rear lines and associated pre-lines,

is a perspective view from below the control bar,

is a perspective view of some of the elements making up the structure of the control bar, and

is a perspective view of a specific ring associated with a release device, according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Figures 1 and 2 show a control bar 11 held by the right 4 and left 2 hands of a practitioner or pilot. Two rear lines 3, 5 of the wing or sail 9 are connected to the ends of said bar by respective fasteners 17, 19. Front lines 7, 7 and possibly a fifth safety line 7bis pass through the bar through an orifice 6 and are attached respectively to a loop of the pilot's harness (in the region designated by 1) and to a safety strap ("leash in English") not shown. A device for releasing the front lines 7, schematically designated by the reference 8, is located directly behind the bar. Pre-lines constituting the departures of the rear lines 3, 5 are surrounded by protective elements 13, 15 such as foam tubes extending along the rear lines and surrounding them just in front of the control bar.

There highlights the structure of the bar which comprises two parallel rigid tubes 21, 22, for example made of metal, carbon fiber or composite. The ends of these tubes are embedded in the parts or end pieces 24, 25. A central part 23 is crossed by the two tubes 21, 22. The references 30 to 33 designate filling elements between the tubes, or fittings, the external geometry of which defines the gripping zone of the control bar.

With particular reference to figures 4, 5 and 6, the end pieces 24, 25 are crossed respectively by orifices 34, 35 through which the rear lines 3, 5 pass. The distance between the axes of these orifices defines the effective length of the bar and these orifices open onto flares 38, 39.

Similarly, an orifice 6 for lines 7 and possibly 7bis is formed in the central part 23 and is also associated with a non-referenced flare. Flexible tubes 40 and 41 extend respectively two rigid hooks 36, 37 secured to the end pieces 24, 25.

A kite wing or sail 9 generates traction thanks to its speed relative to the blowing wind. The pilot's two hands 2 and 4 allow the control bar to be moved in two movements that can be simultaneous:

– first movement: bring the bar closer to or further away from your navel, we say respectively border or chock,

– second movement: rotate the control bar to the right by pulling the right hand 4 and releasing the left hand 2 or symmetrically to the left.

The second movement allows to control the position of the kite in the wind window; this movement associated with the first movement defines the intensity of the traction force generated. To obtain a minimum traction force which is a safety situation, the control bar must be shocked. The more the bar is edged and centered in the wind window, the more the traction increases and requires to oppose it. In case of emergency, when the traction generated by the kite is no longer sustainable, the release of the front lines allows to create a length differential with the fifth line which remains attached to the safety strap. Instantly the traction decreases sharply.

The control bar is stressed by the action of the pilot's hands and the rear lines but not at all by the traction force of the front lines which is taken up directly by the attachment 1 to the pilot's harness. The front lines 7 and possibly the fifth line 7bis pass freely through the bar in its middle in the hole 6.

For greater convenience in piloting, the tubes 13, 15 surrounding the pre-lines of the rear lines allow, if necessary, the rear lines 3, 5 to be seized without risk to the fingers. Finally, shapes are provided for winding the lines by a back and forth crossed along the bar at the level of the hooks 36, 37.

The traction kite control bar according to the present invention has a structure that is all the more resistant to piloting efforts since it does not have any geometric shape accident. It comprises in particular two continuous rigid tubes 21, 22 cut to length and which have not undergone any other modification likely to weaken them after their mass production. The spacing of these two parallel tubes allows the passage between them, at the level of the orifice of the central part 23, of the front lines 7 and possibly of the fifth line 7bis.

The flaring of the orifice 6 of the part 23 makes it possible to limit the wear of the front lines 7 and possibly 7bis in the center of the bar for all the control movements described above.

The control bar is assembled by adjusting the central part 23 on the tubes 21, 22 and then fixing it, for example by gluing.

The tubes 21, 22 are then embedded in the end pieces 24, 25 forming connecting pieces of the rear lines. This embedding is achieved by a cylindrical socket of appropriate depth completed here by four screws 26 to 29 ( ), or alternatively by any connection making it possible to avoid the tearing of these parts in the longitudinal direction of the tubes. The steering forces of the wing are fully transmitted to the tubes 21 and 22 and the parts 24 and 25 ensure the rigidity of the structure of the bar by effectively closing the forces involved.

Parts 24 and 25 also allow the length of the rear lines to be adjusted by any solution allowing the lines to be blocked in or at the edges of the through holes 34 and 35 (here using the hooks 36, 37, ).

Flares 38, 39 ( ) orifices 35, 34 respectively, receiving the pre-adjustment lines of the rear lines 3, 5, make it possible to limit wear of the lines.

As mentioned, the hooks 36, 37 placed symmetrically on the end pieces 24, 25, on the front side in the direction of movement of the pilot ( ), allow, when necessary, to wind the lines by a crossed back and forth, while the elastic tubes 40, 41 extend these hooks by increasing the volume available for winding the lines and by protecting the pilot from possible impacts with the hooks.

There clearly shows the protective elements 13, 15 (here foam tubes) of the pre-adjustment lines of the rear lines ( ).

Toppings 30 to 33 ( ) are here made of cork and fill the volume between the tubes 21 and 22 while ensuring a surface connection with the latter and the parts 23, 24 and 25. The external shape and volume as well as the feel obtained are directly dedicated to the comfort of the pilot's hands and to the efficiency of the piloting. These fittings contribute very little to the mechanical resistance of the bar, mainly constituting comfortable gripping parts while ensuring the buoyancy of the bar. As an alternative to cork, other low-density materials can be used. Here, a low-density material is understood to mean a material whose density is between 0.5 and 2 times the average density of cork.

Fatigue of the rider's arm muscle chain is also taken into consideration by giving these pads an elliptical or oval cross-section, with several possible versions where appropriate.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, bevels 44 provided on the central part 23 ensure the protection and integrity of the cork fittings during use.

The traction kite control bar according to the present invention has a structure that very effectively resists the forces associated with piloting, while the fillings are chosen considering the comfort and sensitivity felt by the practitioner's hands.

By adapting the release device 8 and, using a specific ring 42 ( ), the mass of the folded kite is even lower because the release system could be separated from the front lines and the fifth line. According to another inventive aspect, the configuration of the ring 42 comprises a main ring 42bis which blocks the front lines 7 in one direction against the control bar and a ring 42ter, which is rigidly secured to it, which blocks the fifth line 7bis in the same direction, the latter ending in a ring 43 of larger diameter than the ring 42ter, itself connected to the rider via the safety strap not shown. In the other direction, the front lines as well as the fifth line can move independently. A suitable release device, for example of a common model, attaches to the main ring 42bis in a manner diametrically opposite to the attachment of the front lines 7.

The traction kite control bar according to the present invention makes it possible to offer a range of extended bar lengths depending on the practices and the size of the wings.

The choice of materials, preferably carbon for the tubes, cork for the filling elements and a recycled plastic material for the central parts 23 and ends 24, 25 guarantees an end of life of the bar which is very little sensitive for the environment.

The traction kite control bar according to the present invention is manufactured using simple and effective means for an attractive cost price much lower than for all-carbon bars and above all offering optimum comfort of use and piloting.

Claims (10)

Traction kite control bar, in particular for kite surf kite or snow kite, characterized in that it comprises at least two continuous and spaced rigid tubes (21, 22), two attachment parts (24, 25) for first lines (3, 5) of a wing (9) of the kite, secured to the two ends of the tubes, respectively, a part (23) for the passage of at least a third line (7) of said wing, secured to the tubes (21, 22) in their central region, the third line passing in a space between tubes, and a gripping fitting (30-33) surrounding the tubes and secured to them. Control bar according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two continuous rigid tubes (21, 22). Control bar according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubes (21, 22) are based on carbon fibers. Control bar, characterized in that the gripping trim is made of a low density material. Control bar according to claim 4, characterized in that the gripping lining (30-33) is made of cork or cork-based. Control bar according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the gripping fitting comprises a set of elements (30-33) assembled around the tubes and trapping them. Control bar according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of the central part (23) and the attachment parts (24, 25) comprises arrangements contributing to retaining the elements of the gripping trim together. Control bar according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ends of the rigid tubes (21, 22) are embedded in the respective attachment parts (24, 25). Control bar according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the central part (23) is in one piece and in that the rigid tubes (21, 22) pass through said central part. Traction kite control bar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a release device comprising a first ring (42bis) to which is attached a line (7) called the front line of the wing and capable of being attached to a release device, a second ring (42ter) integral with the first ring by being inscribed in the latter and crossed by a safety line (7bis) of the wing, and a third ring (43) of a diameter larger than the second ring (42ter) and to which is attached one end of the safety line (7bis).