Technical field The present invention relates to traction kites and in particular to a devise for coupling a kite line in a kite control system.

Background of the Invention The popularity of kite surfing has increased dramatically over the last 10 years. Much of the growth in popularity can be associated with significant improvements in kite design, kite control systems and safety systems to make kite surfing easier and safer for the general public. There remains a general need and desire to continue to improve kite control systems and safety systems to further increase popularity and safety in the sport.

A kite surfer is attached to a kite by a plurality of lines, which make up the kite control system. There are lines for piloting or controlling the kite, a traction line for transferring traction forces from the kite to the rider to propel the rider, lines to assist the rider in relaunching the kite from water and a leash to generally tether a rider to a non-flying or depowered kite so that the kite is not carried away and lost. All of these lines must somehow be attached to or controlled by the rider.

One problem that exists is that kite lines become twisted when performing tricks and jumps. Accordingly there exists a need for a device for coupling kite lines that ameliorates twisting of lines or that at least provides a way for a rider to more easily remove twists in kite lines.

Disclosure of the Invention

To this effect, according to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for coupling a pair of kite lines to a kite harness loop, the device comprising a first releasable coupling rotatably attached to the harness loop for securing a first kite line to the harness loop and a second releasable coupling rotatably attached to the harness loop for securing a second kite line to the harness loop, the first and second couplings being rotatable about a common axis.

Preferably, the first and second latches are independently releasable.

Preferably, first latch has a handle movable in a first direction away from the loop for releasing the first coupling, and a second handle moveable in a second direction opposite to the first direction for releasing the second coupling.

Preferably, the first handle blocks the second coupling such that the first coupling must be released before the second coupling can be released.

Preferably, the first handle is movable axially on the common axis in the first direction and the second handle is movable axially on the common axis in the second direction. Preferably, the first and second couplings are provided on a coupling body rotatably attached to the harness loop.

Preferably, the first or second coupling is pelican-type hook for securing a kite line and which opens up with a pull or push of a release handle.

Preferably, the first kite line is a kite depower line and the second kite line is a kite landing line.

Preferably, the device further includes an attachment point for a third line, the attachment point being rotatable about the common axis. Preferably, the attachment point comprises an attachment member rotatably located between the coupling body rotatably attached to the harness loop.

Preferably, the attachment point is provided for attaching a kite control system to a harness via a leash.

Preferably, the device is in combination with a kite harness loop.

Preferably, the device is in combination with a kite control system including a harness loop and control bar and a plurality of kite lines.

According to another aspect of the invention there is also provided a kite attachment system comprising a harness loop, a releasable coupling for releasably attaching the harness loop to a traction line of a kite and a leash attachment, the leash attachment and releasable coupling being rotatably with the harness loop about a common axis.

Preferably, the releasable coupling comprises a first releasable coupling rotatably attached to the harness loop for securing a first kite line to the harness loop and a second releasable coupling rotatably attached to the harness loop for securing a second kite line to the harness loop, the first and second couplings being rotatable about a common axis.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided kite attachment system comprising a kite harness loop defining a longitudinal axis between a rider and a kite, and an leash attachment point for a kite leash that secures a kite to a riders harness, wherein the leash attachment point is rotatably located with the harness loop and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

Yet further aspects of the invention are defined in the claims, or will be apparent from the following description and appended drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1 is partial illustration of a kite control system,

Figure 2 is a section illustration of features marked 'A' in figure 1, Figure 3 is an illustration of a rider interacting with the kite control system,

Figures 4 is an illustration of a kite harness loop in combination with independently releasable line couplings and a leash coupling, Figure 5 is an exploded illustration of the kite harness loop in combination with the independently releasable line couplings and a leash coupling,

Figure 6 is a perspective illustration of the kite harness loop in combination with the independently releasable line couplings and a leash coupling,

Figure 7 is an illustration a release mechanism in a closed condition,

Figure 8 is an illustration a release mechanism in an open condition, and Figure 9 is an exploded illustration of the independently releasable line couplings and a leash coupling.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The following description is given by way of example only to illustrate the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of use for functionality of the invention. In particular, the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring to drawings, and in particular Figures 1 - 3, a control system for a traction wing (or kite) generally includes a pair rear kite lines 11, 12 and a pair of front control lines 13, 14. The rear control lines 11, 12 connect to fittings 14 at the ends of a control bar 10, which is held and manipulated by a rider or kite surfer 17. The front lines 13, 14 join at a point 19 located between the rider 9 and the kite. A single traction line 15 extends from the connection point 19 of the front lines to a harness loop 21 , which attaches to a harness worn by the rider 9. Traction forces from the kite are transferred to the rider by the traction line 16 causing the rider to be propelled by the kite. The traction line 15 typically comprises two portions, namely a trim strap 16 used to adjust the length of the traction line for "trimming" the flying attitude of the kite and a depower portion 17 between the trim strap 16 and harness loop 21. Together the trim strap 16 and depower line 17 form the traction line 15. The depower line 17 passes through an aperture 20 in the central region of the control bar 10. The rider 9 can manipulate the control bar long the depower line 17 between the harness loop 21 and trim strap 16 to alter the relative lengths of the front and rear lines thereby controlling the power of the kite. The also extending from the front line connection point 19 to the harness loop 21 is a landing line 18. The landing line 18 is longer than the traction line and under normal riding conditions does not take any traction force of the kite. The landing line also passes through the aperture 20 in the control bar 21. The landing line 18 and depower line 17 pass through and are surrounded by a flexible sleeve or tube 22 extending through the aperture 20 in the control bar 21. Figure 2 shoes a cross section of area A of Figure 1 illustrating the relative arrangement of the bar 10, sleeve 22 and lines 17, 18. The control bar 21 slides along the sleeve 22 when manipulated by the rider 9 to power and depower the kite. The depower line 17 and landing lines 18 releasably attach to the harness loop 21 by two independently releasable couplings. The couplings have concentric rotational axes and are rotationally fixed such that the control bar 10 and/or lines can be rotated together to voiding or ameliorating twisting of the lines.

Referring now to figures 4 through 8 in particular, the harness loop 21 for attaching to a harness worn by rider 9 has a harness loop body 33 with a pair of diverging arms 25, 26 and a semi flexible tube 24 attached at either end to respective ones of the arms 25, 26 to form the loop 35. The harness loop body 33 and loop 35 define a centreline 29 that is coincident with a centre line of the kite traction line 15. A brace 27 is provided between the arms 25, 26 to partially segment the loop 35. A security pin 28 is attached to the brace 27 and extends past the back edge of the loop. The security pin 28 engages with the harness hook (not shown) to prevent the loop 35 from unintentionally unhooking from the hook.

A release mechanism 30, shown in Figure 9, is located at the front part of the harness loop body 33 opposite the loop and includes the two independently releasable couplings for attaching the depower line 17 and landing line 18 to the harness loop 21. The release mechanism is provided with two release handles 57, 58 that can be manipulated by the rider for operating the couplings to release the depower line 17 and landing line 18 from its respective coupling. A first one of the handles is a depower line release handle 57 that forms an outer body of the release mechanism 30. The depower line release handle 57 is a push release handle that is grasped by the rider and pushed away from the rider towards the kite in a direction 'B' along the centreline 29 to release the depower line coupling. The second handle is a landing line release handle 58 located concentrically with the depower line release handle 57 on the opposite side of the harness loop body 33 within the loop 35. The landing line release handle 58 is a pull release handle that is grasped by the rider and pulled towards from the rider and away from the kite in an opposite direction 'C along the centreline 29 to release the landing line coupling.

The harness loop body 33 has a passage 36 through the body along its longitudinal centre line 29, which is coincident with the traction line 15 of the kite. The passage 36 extends from the top of the body 33 through the body to within the loop 35. The harness loop body 33 also has an opening 37 passing through the body 33 in a direction transverse to the passage 36 and which intersects with the passage 36. An inner body 40 of the release mechanism comprises a release plate 34 with a shaft 41 having an external diameter that is marginally smaller than the internal diameter of the loop body passage 36 and is inserted within passage 36. A tip end 42 of the shaft 41 is threaded for engagement by a nut 43 that is located within the aperture 37 through the harness body 33. Engagement of nut 43 with shaft 41 secures the release inner body 40 to the harness loop body 33 while allowing the release body 40 to freely rotate with respect to the loop body 33 and loop 35. A passage 50 through the release body 40 communicates with passage 36 in the loop body 33 to provide a single passage 36, 50 through both the release body 40 and loop body 33.

The release body 40 also includes a release fitting 44 secured to the release base 43 on an opposite side to shaft 41. The fitting comprises a pair of side arms 45, 46 located either side of aperture 50 in the release body 40. A pair of link bars link the side arms 45, 46. A first top bar 47 is located between top ends of the arms 45, 46 and an intermediary bar 48 is located slightly spaced from the release base 43. The side arms 45, 46 and upper cross bar 47 provide an eyelet for securing of a first latching pin 51. The latching pin 51 comprises a C-shaped pin plate 52 having an aperture 53 at a first end for attachment of the depower line and a tongue 54 pivotally connected at a second end by a hinge pin 56. The tongue 54 and plate 53 are freely pivotable with respect to each other such that the tongue can be pivoted to lie in line with the plate 53 or can fold back against the plate 53. The C-shaped plate 53 has a narrow waist such that when finger 54 is folded back along the plate 53 it forms a small loop. For attachment of the depower line 17 to the harness loop 21 the depower line 17 is attached to the aperture 53 of the release pin 51 and tongue 54 passed through the eyelet of the release structure 44 and folded back on plate 53 securing the release pin 51 about the upper linking bar 47 of the release fitting 44 in the form of a pelican hook. The depower line release handle 57, which forms the outer body of the release mechanism, is hollow and locates over the release fitting 44 for retaining the tongue 54 of the first latching pin 51 in the closed condition. The depower line is secured to the harness loop 21. The release fitting 44, release pin 51 and release handle 57 together form the first of the releasable couplings. When the release handle 57 is pushed away from the rider towards the kite in a direction along the centreline 29 the handle moves clear of the release fitting thereby freeing the tongue 54 which is free to pivot to allow the release pin 51 to uncouple from the release fitting 44 thus uncoupling the depower line 17 from the harness loop 21.

One of the pair of side arms 45, 46 of releasing fitting 44 is longer then the other and extends beyond the upper linking bar 47. A second tongue 60 is connected to the distal end of the longer side arm 45 by a second hinge pin 61. The second tongue 60 can pivot back long the arm 45 in the form of a second pelican hook for securing a loop 66 in the end of the landing line 18 to the release fitting. The second tongue 60 is substantially the same length as arm 45 and its second end opposite the hinge end 61 has a contoured surface 67 for engaging the edge of a locking ring 62. The locking ring 62 is formed about the longer arm 45 and passes in a space between the intermediary bar 48 between the arms and the release plate 34. A pin is located in the passage 36, 50 of the loop body 33 and release body 40. The distal end 64 of the pin projects from the passage above the release plate 34 where it is engageable by the locking ring 62. The pin 63 holds the locking ring 62 in a locking position retaining the second tongue 60 in a closed position. The landing line release handle is attached to the second end 65 of the pin 63. When a rider 9 pulls the landing line release handle towards the rider and away from the kite in a direction along the centreline 29 the first end 64 of the pin 63 is retraced into the passage 36, 50 and disengages from locking ring 62. The locking ring 62 moves to free the end of second tongue 60 allowing the tongue to pivot and release the landing line 18. The second tongue 60, locking ring 62, pin 63 and release handle 58 together form the second of the releasable couplings. As both of the releasable couplings for the depower line and landing line are formed with the release fitting 44 they rotate together with the release body about centre line 29. In the release mechanism of the preferred embodiment the second release coupling for the landing line 18 cannot be activated until the first release for the trim line 17 has been activated. In the coupled configuration, such as shown in Figure 4, the trim line release handle 57 also blocks the second tongue 60 of the second release coupling. If the second release handle 58 is operated before the first coupling is released the pin 63 will release the ring 62, but the second tongue 60 continues to be blocked by first release handle 57. Thus, the arrangement of the preferred embodiment also controls the order of release of the line couplings. The first coupling for the trim line 17 must be operated before the second coupling for the landing line 18 can be operated. In addition to the two independently releasable couplings for the depower and landing lines 17, 18 the preferred embodiment of the invention has a leash attachment 70, 73, 74 rotatable about the rotational centre line 29 for attachment of a kite retaining leash 68. A leash attachment washer 70 is located on release fitting shaft 41 between the release body 44 and loop body 36. A pair of low friction washers 71 , 72 are preferably provided either side of leash attachment washer 70 to ameliorate any binding between the leash attachment washer 70 and release body 44 and/or loop body 36. The low friction washers 71, 72 are preferably made of or coated in a low friction material such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is commonly known by the brand name TEFLON. To aid in easy attachment of the leash the leash attachment washer 70 is provided with an attachment tab 75 to which a short length of webbing 73 and D-ring 74 are attached. Because the leash attachment if freely rotatably with respect to the control bar 10 and harness loop 21 about concentric rotational axes 29 twisting of the leash is ameliorated when the harness loop 21 or the control bar 10 is rotated to untwist the front and rear lines 1 1, 12, 13, 14 after a trick or turn.