The present invention is related to a device for guiding the trajectory of a user performing a flight-like jump. Further, the present invention is related to a wingsuit which can be used in connection with such a device. Further, the present invention is related to a system encompassing such a device and such a wingsuit Finally, the present invention is related to a method for performing a flight-like jump.

PRIOR ART

With the help of wingsuits, it is possible to perform flight-like jumps from an elevated position, like a platform, a plane or the like. A wingsuit is a suit with fabric between the legs and under the arms such that surface area is added to the human body. Thus, there is a significant increase in lift enabling a person wearing such a wingsuit to glide through the air. As a stable flight requires taking the right position in the air at the right point of time, a lot of practice is needed for doing such a kind of sport. Otherwise, there is a high risk of serious accidents, not only for unexperienced, but also for experienced practitioners.

In the document US 2016/0236110 A1, a special kind of wingsuit is disclosed which comprises a propulsion system like an electrically driven propeller. This combination shall ensure an improved stabilization of the aerodynamic forces due to the wingsuit on the one hand and improved steering and control possibilities due to the propulsion system on the other hand. However, the system is still quite complex to control. Thus, a user still needs to be quite experienced for doing a flight-like jump with such a wingsuit.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it is an object of the invention to make flightlike jumps with a wingsuit safer and to allow this activity to be done by any person, i.e. also by less trained or even unexperienced people.

The object of the invention is achieved by a device comprising the features of independent claim 1. Further, the object of the invention is achieved by a wingsuit comprising the features of independent claim 10, a system comprising the features of independent claim 13, and a method comprising the features of independent claim 14. Preferred embodiments of the invention of the inventions are defined by the dependent claims.

The main idea of the invention is providing a securing for a user wearing a wingsuit and performing a flight-like jump in safe environment by means of a guidance of the flight, but the flight in the designated form is performed only by free air forces as it is the case for total free wingsuit jumps. The guidance only comes into an effect, when the user deviates from the trajectory with a certain deviation. With the help of such a guidance, the risk of an uncontrolled leaving a predetermined and safe flight trajectory is minimized (and ideally even completely eliminated), and thus, the risk of accidents is also eliminated or reduced to a minimum. Further, such a guidance secures the user performing the flight-like jump as the user is secured to the guidance system and thus e.g. the risk of a free fall of the user straight to the ground is minimized or even completely eliminated. This results in an increased safety of the user doing the flight-like jump, and the user can feel secured and more comfortable, even in case the user is rather unexperienced.

According to the invention, this is achieved by a device for guiding the trajectory of a user performing a flight-like jump. The device comprises at least one guiding element and at least one elongated securing element. The at least one securing element comprises a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, wherein the first end portion is configured such that it can be connected to a wingsuit worn by the user. The second end portion of the at least one securing element is connected to the guiding element (or one of the guiding elements in case there are more than one guiding elements). Therein, the connection of the second end portion to the guiding element is moveable, i.e. the second end portion and thus the securing element can be moved - and in particular glide - along the corresponding guiding element, such that the user wearing the wingsuit and performing the flight-like jump is securely guided along the trajectory as defined by the guiding element during the flight-like jump.

The guiding element is preferably configured such that it has a rigid structure that is able to carry the weight of the user also under unstable weather and/or flight conditions. Therefore, it is preferred that the guiding element is made from a durable material. E.g. the guiding element can be a metal rod or rope, the bearing load capacity of which is structurally calculated and proven. In case the guiding element being nearly non- elastic, the trajectory during the flight-like jump is very well defined. Thus, the trajectory of the user is very predictable. This can be advantageous for making the flight-like jump safe. In case the guiding element being elastic at least to some extent, e.g. when the guiding element is formed by means of one or more ropes, this can be advantageous for making the flight-like jump for the user more comfortable, since the guiding element and thus the trajectory defined by the guiding element can at least somehow adjust to the movements of the user performing the flight light jump.

Further, the guiding element is preferably configured such that it can be securely connected to an elevated platform from which the user starts his flight like jump and a lower platform at which the user lands. For example, the connection can be realized via any kind of positive or non-positive or form-fit connection, e.g. via a screw connection, a carabiner or other. However, the invention encompasses also other types of connection.

The elongated securing element also should be made from a robust material. For being able to get into the modus of a flight, the securing element should give the user some degree of freedom, i.e. the securing element is preferably made from a flexible material such that the user is safely connected to the guiding element, but at the same time can still move relative to the guiding element also in a direction different from the main guiding direction. E.g. the securing element can be a rope made of metal or a synthetic material. The safety can be further increased by providing not just one guiding element and just one securing element, but at least two guiding elements and/or two securing elements, because then there is a redundancy in the safety mechanism. Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment the device comprises at least two guiding elements and at least two securing elements. Each of the securing elements comprises two opposing end portions, wherein each first end portion is connected to the wingsuit and wherein the second end portion is movably connected to a corresponding guiding element. For enabling a safe flight along the whole flight trajectory, the guiding elements preferably run parallel to each other and in a predetermined distance relative to each other. According to an embodiment of the invention, two of the guiding elements may have a distance in vertical direction. Thus, in case one of the guiding elements or the connection to one of the securing element breaks, the user is still safely connected the other guiding element. However, the guiding elements may alternatively or cumulatively have a distance in horizontal direction.

According to a further development of this embodiment, the two securing elements together preferably have a length which is larger than the distance between the at least two guiding elements for giving the user a sufficient degree of freedom during his flight-like jump. On the contrary, with increasing length, the trajectory becomes less defined making the flight-like jump less safe. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the invention, at least two securing elements each have a length which is smaller than the distance between the at least two guiding elements, but greater than half of the distance between the guiding elements. Thus, it is made sure that the user is secured to the guiding elements with a sufficient degree of freedom. At the same time, it is avoided that the deviation of the user's trajectory is such huge that he might accidentally strike one of the guiding elements.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a travelling element is provided at the guiding element or each guiding element, respectively, wherein the travelling element is configured such that it can perform a travelling movement along the corresponding guiding element. According to this embodiment, the respective securing element of the inventive device is indirectly connected to the guiding element via the travelling element. As the travelling element can glide or roll along the guiding element, this results in a smooth movement of the securing element and thus the user during the flight-like jump. For enabling the travelling movement of the travelling element along the guiding element, the travelling element may be built as a guiding carriage for example, with a travelling bushing encompassing the guiding element or rather with at least one or more roll elements encompassing the travelling element, which roll elements are arranged in a kind of a housing, a cage or a framework. The travelling element can be formed e.g. by a trace, one or more ropes. However, the invention is not limited to the travelling element being realized as mentioned above.

It might be undesirable that the velocity of the user exceeds a certain velocity value - either in certain sections of the flight trajectory like the end section or over the whole length of the flight trajectory. Therefore, according to a further development of the above mentioned embodiment, the travelling element or at least one of the travelling elements comprises a braking unit Preferably, all of the travelling elements comprise such speed control unit The at least one speed control unit may be configured such that it becomes active and decelerates a movement of the travelling element along the guiding elements) and thus of the user during the flightlike jump in case the velocity is equal to or greater than a predetermined velocity threshold. It is possible that the velocity threshold can be adjusted by a user. Thus, it is possible to adjust the velocity threshold in dependence of the skills of the user for example. Further, the braking unit may be configured such that the velocity threshold is constant along the whole length of the flight trajectory. However, it is also possible that the velocity threshold varies along the flight trajectory, e.g. in response to a signal sent by a signaling device which the user may carry with himself during the flight-like jump for example for thus being able to directly control the velocity. Such a signaling device may be also installed stationary along the guiding element, or it may be controlled by the service team operating the inventive device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the securing element comprises an elastic portion or is made of an elastic material like e.g. a bungee rope. Thus, in case of sudden direction changes or movements during the flight-like jump of the user, the elastic portion or the elastic behavior of the securing element serves as some kind of a buffer, even in case the elasticity of the guiding element is very low. In more detail, the securing element (or at least a portion thereof) can be elastically deformed in certain limits such that there is no strict limitation of deviations from the predetermined flight trajectory. This can make the flight-like jump more comfortable for the user, as sudden disruptions are avoided.

It is possible that the first end portion of the securing element is permanently fixed to the wingsuit. Likewise the second end portion may be permanently fixed to the guiding element However, it is preferred that the first end portion is removable connected to the wingsuit and/or the second end portion is removable connected to the guiding element. Thus, it is for example possible to easily exchange the securing element and/or to connect them to different wingsuits.

Further, the invention is related to a wingsuit for being used with an inventive device. For being able to be used with the inventive device, the wingsuit comprises at least one joint, wherein each joint is configured such that the first end portion of the securing element of the inventive device can be connected to the joint For example the joint may be a carabiner or loop.

One joint can be sufficient for enabling the use of the wingsuit in connection with the inventive device. However, it may be advantageous to have more than one joint at different positions at the wingsuit such that the user can select one of them and thus decide on his position during the flight-like jump. According to an embodiment of the invention, at least two joints are provided on opposite sides of the wingsuit. More concrete, one of them is provided on the back part of the wingsuit, whereas the other one is provided on the front part of the wingsuit. Especially, this arrangement is advantageous for being used together with an embodiment of the inventive device according to which two guiding elements are provided, wherein the guiding elements are arranged in a distance in vertical direction.

However, it is also possible to provide the joints at other positions of the wingsuit. E.g. in case the two guiding elements being arranged in a distance in horizontal direction, it might be preferred to arrange the joints at the back of the wingsuit

Another solution of the object of the invention is related to a system for performing a flight-like jump, wherein the system comprises the inventive device and the inventive wingsuit. Regarding preferred embodiments of the system it is referred to the explanations given with regard to the inventive device and the inventive wingsuit

Further, the invention is related to a method for performing a flight-like jump with an inventive system. According to the inventive method, first the first end portion of the (or each) securing element is connected to the corresponding joint of the wingsuit. This can be done by the user or a service team. After connecting the first end portion(s) to the wingsuit, the user is safely connected to the guiding elements). Thus, the user can start his flight-like jump and jump from an upper platform. This upper platform may be any kind of elevated position like a hill, a tower or the like. After having jumped from the platform, the user moves along a trajectory defined by the guiding element(s) during the flight-like jump. Therein, the trajectory is not necessarily strictly defined, but there may be some degree of freedom, wherein there are some limits regarding the space for the actual flight trajectory. At the end of the flight-like jump, the user lands at a lower platform. After that, the first end portion(s) of the securing element(s) are disconnected from the wingsuit, e.g. the service team can support the user in disconnecting the end portions from the wingsuit such that he can leave the lower platform.

PREFERRED EMODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Additional details, characteristics and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and the description of the respective figures which exemplarily show some preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 shows an overall view of an embodiment of the inventive system;

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of a user of the inventive system according to figure 1.

In figure 1, an embodiment of the inventive system 1 for performing a flight- like jump is shown. The system 1 comprises a device 2 having two guiding elements 3, 4 which extend from an upper platform 5 to a lower platform 6. The fixation of the guiding elements 3, 4 in the region of the upper and lower platforms 5, 6 is not explicitly shown in figure 1. Eg. the guiding elements 3, 4 may be connected to posts and/or fastening hooks provided at the upper and lower platform. The guiding elements 3, 4 are arranged in distance in vertical direction Y. Therein, they run generally parallel to each other from the upper platform 5 to the lower platform 6. Different from the embodiment shown in figure 1, the invention also encompasses embodiments in which the guiding elements 3, 4 have no or not only a distance in vertical direction Y, but (also) in horizontal direction X.

According to the embodiment shown in figure 1, the guiding elements 3, 4 have a varying slope between the upper and lower platform 5, 6. More concrete, the slope decreases along the way from the upper platform 5 to the lower platform 6. In the region of the lower platform 6, the guiding elements 3, 4 extend almost in horizontal direction X. Thus, the guiding elements 3, 4 define a flight trajectory with a higher slope and thus a higher acceleration in the beginning and a lower slope at the end such that there is a lower acceleration or even deceleration at the end of the flight trajectory.

As shown in figure 1 and more detailed in figure 2, a user 7 is performing a flight-like jump with the help of the inventive system 1. For doing so, the user 7 is wearing a wingsuit 8 which is used in connection with the inventive device 2.

In addition to the guiding elements 3, 4, the device 2 comprises two elongated securing elements 9, 10 via which the user or the user's wingsuit 8, respectively, is secured to the guiding elements 3, 4. Different from the embodiment shown in figure 1 and 2, the device 2 may also comprise only one guiding element and one securing element. Further, the device may also comprise more than two guiding elements and more than two securing elements. Each securing element 9, 10 comprises a first end portion 11, 12 and a second end portion 13, 14. The first end portions 11, 12 are configured for connecting the respective securing elements 9, 10 to corresponding joints of the wingsuit 8. Preferably, the first end portions 11, 12 are removable connected to the respective joints of the wingsuit 8 such that - after having finished the flight-like jump - the user 7 can easily release the connections and step off the platform 6 without having to take off the wingsuit 8.

Each end portion 13, 14 of the device 2 is configured such that it allows for a movable connection of the respective securing element 9, 10 to the corresponding guiding element 3, 4. According to the embodiment shown in figure 2, the end portions 13, 14 are indirectly connected to the guiding elements 3, 4 via travelling elements 15, 16 provided at the guiding elements 3, 4. More concrete, the guiding elements 3, 4 are built as sliding rails and the travelling elements 15, 16 are built as guiding carriages mounted to the sliding rails and being able to slide along the sliding rails. Thus, during the flight-like jump, the travelling elements 15, 16 can easily follow the user's flight trajectory along the guiding elements 3, 4.

According to the embodiment shown in figure 2, the guiding elements 3, 4 have a rigid and inelastic structure. The securing elements 9, 10 are flexible for not strictly confining the flight trajectory, but for giving the user a certain degree of freedom during his flight-like jump. The securing elements 9, 10 may feature an elastic behavior for making the flight more comfortable for the user, in particular in a situation in which the user leaves the ideal flight trajectory to such an extent that one of the securing elements becomes fully stretched.

For doing a flight-like jump with the inventive system 1, the user 7 enters the platform 5. On the platform 5, the end portions 13, 14 of the securing elements 9, 10 are connected to the corresponding joints of the user's 7 wingsurt 8. This can be done by the user or by a member of the service team. After safely connecting the securing elements 9, 10 to the wingsuit 8, the user 7 can start his flight-like jump by jumping from the platform 5. In the beginning of the flight-like jump, the user 7 almost freely falls towards the ground until he gains the necessary speed for gliding through the air, i.e. the component of movement in horizontal direction X increases during the flight-like jump, until he reaches the lower platform 6 where the user 7 can safely finish his flight-like jump.

During the flight-like jump, the user 7 is safely connected to the guiding elements 3, 4. Therein, the flight trajectory is defined by the course of the guiding elements 3, 4. However, the flight-like jump is not strictly limited to one flight path. Instead, there is a certain degree of freedom to deviate from the ideal trajectory. Thus, the risk of an accident is minimized without limiting the user 7 too much, i.e. the user 7 can still reach a modus in which he safely, but freely glides through the air.

The present invention is not limited by the embodiments described above which only are examples and can be modified in various ways within the scope of protecting defined by the claims.