US2041233A - Parachute carrier for kites - Google Patents

Description

ay W, 19%.. E. w. CUTSHALL ZW 'L PARACHUTE CARRIER FOR KITES Filed Aug. 30, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet .l

Inventm' ET awma May l9, RQM

E. W. CUTSHALL $941,233

PARACHUTE CARRIER FOR KI'IES 2 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Aug. 50, 1934 I nventm Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to and has for its object the provision of an improved device for carrying a parachute. up to a kite, such device being adapted to travel along the kite string, being moved upwardly along the string of the kite by the force of the wind, and which is tripped and automatically returned by gravity to the flier.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carrier.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the folding wings of the carrier.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the carrier indicated generally by the reference numeral 5 comprises a frame formed from a single length of wire bent to provide a substantially elongated U 6, the legs 1 and 8 of which are bent laterally in reverse direction as at l and 8' and terminate in upstanding posts la, 8a. The posts 1a, 8a terminate in elongated loops lb, 8b in which are secured, in the case of the loop lb, a pair of eyelets 9, I and the case of the loop 812 three eyelets 9a, Illa, and. II, respectively.

As shown in Figure 3 the leg I has its lateral bend spaced downwardly from the lateral bend of the leg 8 and is looped about the leg!) as shown.

Carried by the leg 8 of the U 6 are foldable wings I2, there being provided for each wing a U-shaped frame I3 formed from a single piece of wire the sides of which at the open end of the U are looped to form eyes for pivotally connecting the frame to the leg 8.

Forming a wind surface for the wings I2 is a sheet I4 of paper the end portions of which are folded and united to the main body portion of the paper in a manner to provide pockets I receiving the frame as clearly shown in Figure 4. Between the pockets the paper I4 is adhesively secured to the leg I completing the hinge connection between the wings and the U member 6.

A trigger I 6 formed from a single length of wire is slidable through the eyes 9 and 9a and at one end is provided with a down-turned loop Ilia while at a relatively opposite end the trigger I6 is bent into U-form to provide an integral sliding latch l6b that is slidable through the eye I I, said eye II forming a keeper for the latch. The portion of the latch connecting the latch I6b with the main part of the trigger I6 is arcuately curved to clear the kite string I! which is threaded through the eyes I0, Illa and the loop 5 or eye Ilia provided on the trigger I6.

As is thought apparent, in operation the carrier, in starting position is at the lower end' of the kite cord I1. The parachute I8 is suspended by its usual cord from the latch I6 and the wings 10 I2 are normally retained in extended position, that is in a position substantially at right angles to the lateral projections 1, 8' through the medium of cords I9 which at one end are connected to the wings I2 at the upper corners of the free ends of the wings, the cords I9 having free ends provided with loopsthat are engaged with the latch I 6b as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this connection it will also be noted that with the cords I9 and parachute I8 engaged with the latch l6b the latter is in closed position, that is, in a position engaging the eye II.

Thus under action of the wind the carrier is propelled upwardly on the kite cord I1 until the eye equipped end Ilia of the trigger It engages 5 an abutment 20 provided on the kite cord IT in suitable proximity to the kite 2|. When the eye I6a of the trigger I6 strikes the abutment 20, which latter may be in the nature of a cork or the like the latch l6b moves to the left in Figure 3 resulting in a disengagement of the latch l6b from the eye II, or in other words, in a movement of the latch I 61) to open position. Upon the opening of the latch l6b in the manner just explained the parachute I8 will be released as will also the cords I9. With the cords I9 thus released the wings I2 under pressure of the wind are swung to the folded position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and are thence no longer responsive to the action of the wind, with the result that under the action of gravity the carrier is permitted to descend along the kite cord I! back to the flier.

The device is now ready for the elevation and 5 release of a second parachute or the like, it being apparent that upon the elevation of each successive article or parachute the above operation will be repeated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:-

with reversely extending projections terminatv ing in upstanding loops, the loops at the terminus of one of said legs being of greater length than the loop at the terminus of the other of said legs, three vertically aligned eyelets in the first named loop, a pair of vertically aligned eyelets in the second named loop, the lowermost eyelet of said pair and the intermediate eyelet of said three eyelets adapted to have the kite cord threaded therethrough, a trigger member 10 slidable through the uppermost eyelets in the loops and having an integral latch member slidable in the lowermost one of said three eyelets, wings hingedly mounted to one of the legs of said U-shaped part of the frame and strings secured to said wings and adapted to be looped over the latch member whereby longitudinal movement of the trigger will release the strings permitting a folding of the wings for the return of the carrier.

ELLSWORTH W. CUTSHALL.

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