Kite control bar, kite control system and kite system

Abstract

The present invention provides a bar 100 for controlling a kite, comprising a bar 1, to whose end sections 11 control lines 300 of the kite to be controlled can be attached, and a guide device 2, in which at least one center line 200 of the kite to be controlled can be guided relative to the bar 1 such that the bar 1 is displaceable along the center line 200. The guide device 2 is rotatably mounted relative to the bar 1 such that an angle between a guide direction V of the guide device 2 and a longitudinal direction L of the bar 1 is variable.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a bar for controlling a kite, a control system for a kite and a kite system. Background of the invention

[0002] Kitesurfing is enjoying increasing popularity among water sports. In this sport, a rider on a board uses a kite (a kite-like device) to harness the wind for upward and forward propulsion, thus moving across the water.

[0003] The use of the kite as a means of propulsion is not limited to kitesurfing, but can also be used in other terrains. For example, for moving over snow and ice, where the user is on skis or a snowboard, or on asphalt, where the user is on a kind of skateboard.

[0004] In addition to the kite sail, such a kite has lines used to steer the sail and transfer power to the user. These lines typically include front lines and steering lines. The front lines are attached together to the user's harness during use and thus transfer the sail's propulsion power to the user, whereas the steering lines are used to steer the sail to the right and left.

[0005] The interface between the kite and the user is typically a bar, which comprises a bar beam with the control lines attached to its outer ends and a guide for the front lines, through which they run from the sail to the harness. The front lines are usually connected to a single center line in this area, or are connected to an end section of such a center line, with the center line being attached to the harness.

[0006] The bar can be moved along the center line via the guide, tightening or loosening the steering lines relative to the center line or the front lines, respectively, to change the sail's trim and thus influence propulsion. This process is also referred to as "powering" and "depowering," in which the pulling force on the user is increased or decreased, respectively.

[0007] An example of such a structure is described in WO 2011 014 904 A1

[0008] When using such a bar to control a kite, as in WO 2011 014 904 A1, depending on the wind strength and the maneuver being performed, there may be a loss of function in the control system because the lines become tangled or blocked and movements of the bar can no longer be smoothly transmitted to the kite, which deprives the surfer of the opportunity to influence the kite and, in extreme cases, even makes it impossible to maneuver. Summary

[0009] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a possibility for improved handling of the lines of a kite in kite-powered sports.

[0010] To achieve this object, a bar for controlling a kite according to claim 1, a control system for a kite according to claim 12 and a kite system according to claim 15 are provided.

[0011] The respective dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments, which can be provided individually or in combination.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, a bar for controlling a kite, in particular for kite-powered sports such as kite surfing or kite skiing, is provided. The bar comprises a bar pole, to the end sections of which control lines of the kite to be controlled can be attached, and a guide device in which at least one center line of the kite to be controlled can be guided relative to the bar pole such that the bar is displaceable along the center line. The guide device is rotatably mounted relative to the bar pole such that an angle between a guide direction of the guide device and a longitudinal direction of the bar pole is variable.

[0013] The longitudinal direction of the bar beam is understood to mean a direction of a connecting section between the two end sections of the bar beam.

[0014] Preferably, "rotatably mounted" means that apart from a relative rotation or twisting of the guide device relative to the bar beam, no other relative movements are possible, e.g., translational relative displacements.

[0015] The center line can be, for example, a combined set of front lines of the kite itself or a separate line with the kite's front lines attached to one end. The center line is usually connected to the user's harness via a coupling device, such as a chicken loop.

[0016] The guide device guides the center line and thus allows a possibility of displacement or a degree of freedom of displacement between the center line and the guide device and thus also between the center line and the bar rail or the bar itself.

[0017] The guide direction of the guide device is to be understood as the direction along which the said displacement possibility or said displacement degree of freedom exists.

[0018] The guide device, which is particularly adapted to an outer contour of the center line, allows a precise and accurate relative positioning of the center line to the guide device itself, rather than preferably only leaving a possibility of displacement between the center line and the guide device itself.

[0019] Due to the rotatable bearing, the center line now also has the option of rotating relative to the bar or bar with regard to relative movements.

[0020] In other words, the possibility of relative movements is extended by a rotational degree of freedom due to the rotatable bearing.

[0021] This increases the range of relative movements between the center line and the bar to such an extent that complex relative movements of the bar, which include, for example, a simultaneous translational displacement of the bar along the center line and a tilting of the bar relative to the center line (as is necessary, for example, when steering the kite via the control lines), can be carried out without the bar or guide device and the center line hindering, blocking or jamming each other.

[0022] For example, if the center line is pulled hard, tilting the bar without the pivoting guide mechanism can cause it to jam between the center line and the bar post, preventing the bar from being moved along the center line to adjust the kite's trim. Such a blockage or jamming reduces the user's ability to influence the kite's trim and, in extreme cases, even renders it unmaneuverable.

[0023] The risk of such an unfavorable operating condition can be significantly reduced by the additional rotational degree of freedom of the guide device, as this enables precise control of the displacement from the bar post to the center line and simultaneously increases the range of motion by the aforementioned rotational degree of freedom. In particular, a strong tilting movement of the bar can be compensated for by rotating the guide device, thus preventing jamming or blocking.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the guide device is mounted centrally on the bar beam in the longitudinal direction.

[0025] This allows the center line to be guided symmetrically to the end sections of the bar, which allows for particularly efficient control of the kite.

[0026] Preferably, the guide device is mounted on the bar beam in such a way that a direction of a rotation axis of the guide device and the longitudinal direction of the bar beam enclose a smallest angle between 45° and 90°, preferably between 80° and 90°.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the bar comprises a guide channel in the bar frame in which the guide device is rotatably mounted.

[0028] The middle line to be guided is thus guided through the guide device mounted in the guide channel and thus runs through the guide channel and through the guide device located therein.

[0029] The guide channel preferably extends from a first opening on the top side of the bar to a second opening on the bottom side of the bar. The top side is the side of the bar typically facing away from the user when the bar is in use, toward the kite, and the bottom is the side of the bar typically facing the user when the bar is in use.

[0030] The guide device is preferably arranged starting from the first opening in a range of 10% to 90% of a distance between the first and the second opening, in particular in a range of 15% to 85% of said distance.

[0031] This provides the guide mechanism in the guide channel with maximum protection, e.g., from contamination. Furthermore, the risk of injury is reduced, as it is difficult for the user to come into contact with the rotating guide mechanism during use.

[0032] The guide channel serves as an additional guide component for the middle line, which is immobile compared to the bar rail itself, and can be used in particular to increase the range of movement of the middle line but also to limit its maximum angular deflection relative to the bar rail.

[0033] For this purpose, the guide channel preferably comprises a plurality of guide surfaces with which the center line can come into contact, in particular by rotation of the guide device.

[0034] Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the guide channel in the bar beam is designed such that, starting from the guide device arranged therein up to the first opening of the guide channel, it has a widening channel section which comprises at least two guide surfaces which are inclined relative to one another.

[0035] "Widening" is to be understood as a cross-section perpendicular to a rotation axis of the guide device.

[0036] A center line guided in the guide device runs through one or both of the widening channel sections, whereby the widening channel sections, in conjunction with the rotatable bearing of the guide device, allow a particularly large range of movement of the center line before it comes into contact with the guide surfaces.

[0037] Preferably, the at least two inclined guide surfaces each enclose a minimum opening angle of 10° to 150°, more preferably of 30° to 130°, and particularly preferably of 50° to 110°. The opening angles of the two channel sections can differ from one another.

[0038] The aforementioned opening angles make it possible to provide a large amount of angular movement of the center line and also to limit this movement in such a way that, for example, when tilting the bar, the center line does not come too close to the control lines attached to the end sections.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the bar comprises at least one radial plain bearing, via which the guide device is rotatably mounted relative to the bar beam.

[0040] Plain bearings are comparatively low-maintenance and therefore offer a long-lasting and easy-to-maintain bearing for the guide device. However, an alternative design with a rolling bearing, such as a ball bearing or roller bearing, would also be possible.

[0041] The rotation axis of the guide device essentially corresponds to the rotation axis of the radial plain bearing.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one radial plain bearing comprises a bearing bush with a recess, which in particular has a circular cross-section, and a rotary element which is fitted into the recess of the bearing bush so as to be rotatable relative to the bearing bush.

[0043] The bearing bush can be made of a metallic material, for example steel, bronze, brass, white metal or an aluminum alloy, and preferably have a friction-reducing sliding coating in the area of the recess, for example a polymer coating, a brass coating or a bronze coating.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the bearing bush of the at least one radial plain bearing is firmly connected to the bar beam, in particular the bearing bush is an integral part of the bar beam or is detachably connected to it via fastening means.

[0045] An integral design is understood here as any combination of components that cannot be separated without destruction, such as a component manufactured in one piece that includes the said integrally designed components, or a component that is welded, soldered or glued to form a component.

[0046] Preferably, the rotating element is designed as part of the guide device. This allows the number of components of the bar to be reduced, which in turn reduces manufacturing costs and maintenance requirements, for example.

[0047] In an alternative embodiment, however, the rotating element can also be firmly connected to the bar beam and the bearing bush can be provided on the side of the guide device, in particular as part of the guide device.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the rotary element for establishing radial contact with the bearing bush of the at least one radial plain bearing comprises two or more contact surface segments which are arranged separately from one another in a circumferential direction of the at least one radial plain bearing.

[0049] In other words, the rotating element comprises free surfaces or spaces in the circumferential direction between the sections of the rotating element carrying the contact surface segments.

[0050] Compared to a fully circumferential contact surface, there is thus a reduced contact area with the bearing bush, which in particular enables the creation of the aforementioned free spaces through which contaminants in the plain bearing, e.g. sand or salt, can be washed out by the water inevitably present during kite surfing.

[0051] In other words, the design in question corresponds to a "self-cleaning" plain bearing, especially when kite surfing.

[0052] In a contact plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the guide device or of the at least one radial plain bearing, U 1 corresponds to a circumference of the recess of the bearing bush in the contact plane, and U 2 corresponds to a sum of all respective lengths of the two or more contact surface segments in the contact plane. Preferably, the two or more contact surface segments are adapted to a contour of the recess of the bearing bush such that U 2 / U 1 ≤90%, preferably U 2 / U 1 ≤80%, and particularly preferably U 2 / U 1 ≤60%.

[0053] The respective areas can provide sufficient open space in the plain bearing, which enables reliable flushing out of said contaminants.

[0054] Preferably, a lower limit of said ratio U 2 / U 1 is 30%, more preferably 40% and particularly preferably 50%.

[0055] Alternatively, it is of course also possible not to provide any clearance surfaces, so that the entire circumference of the rotating element in the contact plane is or can come into contact with the contour of the recess of the bearing bush, so that essentially U 2 ≈U 1 applies (subject to corresponding bearing gaps and tolerances).

[0056] Although such a design does not offer the possibility of easily flushing out contaminants compared to the design with contact surface segments, it is more cost-effective to produce.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the bar comprises two radial plain bearings, via which opposite end sections of the guide device are rotatably mounted relative to the bar beam.

[0058] As a result, the guide device is rotatably mounted at two bearing points, which in turn increases the support and force transmission between the guide device and the bar beam.

[0059] Both radial plain bearings can be designed according to one of the above-described designs of the at least one radial plain bearing. The second radial plain bearing can be designed the same or differently than the first radial plain bearing.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the guide device comprises a guide section which is designed to be in contact with the at least one central line when guiding the latter, wherein the guide section comprises at least two opposing guide segments which are preferably pin-shaped with a circular cross-section and between which the at least one central line can be guided.

[0061] In this way, a mechanically very precise guidance of the middle line can be achieved via at least two contact points with the guide section, namely with one of the two guide segments each.

[0062] Apart from the preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional shape can be circular but also elliptical or polygonal or substantially polygonal, in particular rectangular, wherein, in the case of a substantially polygonal cross-section, polygon corners can be rounded in order to improve the sliding of the central line over the guide segments.

[0063] Preferably, longitudinal directions of the at least two guide segments run parallel to each other and / or parallel to a rotation axis of the guide device or of the at least one radial plain bearing.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the at least two guide segments are connected to the rotating element of the at least one radial plain bearing, in particular fixedly or rotatably.

[0065] Preferably, the guide segments themselves, in a pin-shaped design, are mounted so they can rotate relative to the rotating element. This minimizes contact resistance between the center line and the guide segments, as they can roll against each other.

[0066] According to a second aspect of the invention, a control system for a kite is provided, comprising a bar according to the first aspect or according to one of its preferred embodiments and at least one center line. The at least one center line is guided in the guide device of the bar such that the bar is displaceable along the center line.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, a contour of a guide section of the guide device, which is designed to be in contact with the at least one central line when guiding the latter, and an outer contour of the central line are adapted to one another in such a way that a torque can be transmitted between them, the torque axis of which runs in particular parallel to the guide direction of the guide device.

[0068] In other words, the center line can preferably not rotate relative to the guide device in the area of the guide segments about a rotation axis running along the direction of displacement.

[0069] In this way, by rotating the bar with the guide device attached to it, torque can be transferred to the center line. This is particularly advantageous when the bar needs to be "unscrewed."

[0070] Such a rotation is necessary, for example, after a loop or another maneuver in which the control lines have become tangled. The rotation separates the control lines and, by transferring torque to the center line, ensures that the center line also rotates, thus returning the control system to its original configuration.

[0071] An outer contour of the center line in a cross-section perpendicular to a direction of travel of the center line is preferably substantially polygonal, in particular rectangular, whereby a particularly good form fit to the guide section for torque transmission can be achieved, in particular in comparison to a circular cross-section.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one central line has an inner passage channel through which further lines can be passed.

[0073] Preferably, the control system comprises a safety line which is guided through the passage channel of the central line and which can be releasably fastened to the user's harness, in particular by means of a safety device.

[0074] Preferably, the control system further comprises at least two control lines attached to end portions of the bar beam.

[0075] According to a third aspect of the invention, a kite system is provided that comprises a kite with at least two control lines and at least one center line, as well as a bar according to the first aspect of the invention according to one of its preferred embodiments. The control lines of the kite are attached to end sections of the bar spar of the bar, and the center line is guided in the guide device of the bar such that the bar can be moved along the center line.

[0076] In this way, an existing system can be supplemented with Y in order to provide the system according to the invention without having to replace existing components.

[0077] Further aspects and their advantages as well as more specific embodiments of the aforementioned aspects and embodiments are described below with the aid of the drawings shown in the attached figures. Fig. 1shows a side view of an embodiment of the bar according to the invention for controlling a kite. Fig. 2 shows a perspective top view of a section of the bar from Fig. 1 in their middle range. Fig. 3 shows a view of a cross-section of a section of the bar from Fig. 1 in the area of the bar's guide device. Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B show views of a cross-section of a section of the bar from Fig. 1 in two different positions of the middle line. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a guide device with radial sliding bearing of an embodiment of the bar according to the invention for controlling a kite. Fig. 6 shows a separate perspective view of the guide device from Fig. 5 without bearing bush.

[0078] It is emphasized that the present invention is in no way limited to the exemplary embodiments described below and their implementation features. The invention further encompasses modifications of the aforementioned exemplary embodiments, in particular those resulting from modifications and / or combinations of individual or multiple features of the described exemplary embodiments within the scope of the independent claims. Detailed character description

[0079] Fig. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the bar 100 according to the invention for controlling a kite.

[0080] The bar 100 comprises a bar spar 1, to the end sections 11 of which control lines 300 of the kite to be controlled can be attached or are attached in the embodiment shown.

[0081] The Fig. 1The direction L shown corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the bar beam 1, which can also be understood as the direction of a connecting line running through the bar beam 1 between the end sections 11.

[0082] The end sections 11 can be designed as desired and can be used, for example, as handle sections according to Fig. 1 The handle sections can be an integral part of the bar 1 or can be detachably connected to it via fastening means.

[0083] Furthermore, the bar 100 comprises a guide device 2 (in Fig. 1 obscured by a section of Barholm 1, see also Fig. 2 to 6 ), in which at least one center line 200 of the kite to be controlled can be guided relative to the bar 1 in such a way that the bar 100 can be moved along the center line 200.

[0084] The guide device 2 is in a guide channel 3 of the bar 100 (in Fig. 1also obscured by a section of Barholm 1, see also Fig. 2 to 4B ), through which the center line 200 also runs from a first opening on the top side of the bar 100 to a second opening on the bottom side of the bar 100.

[0085] For further construction of the guide device 2 and the guide channel 3, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in which the center line 200 is not shown and which are described together below.

[0086] Fig. 2 shows a perspective top view of a section of the Bar 100 from Fig. 1 in their middle range and Fig. 3 shows a view of a cross-section of a section of the bar 100 from Fig. 1 in the area of the guide device 2 of the bar 100, each without showing the middle line 200.

[0087] The guide device 2 is arranged within the guide channel 3 extending through the bar beam 1.

[0088] The guide device 200 is rotatably mounted relative to the bar beam 1, such that an angle between a guide direction V of the guide device 2 (see Fig. 3 ) and the longitudinal direction L of the bar beam 1 is variable.

[0089] A rotation axis of the guide device is designated R and in the embodiment shown runs essentially at right angles to the longitudinal direction L of the bar beam 1. Related to Fig. 3 For example, the axis of rotation runs orthogonally to the drawing plane.

[0090] The guide device 2 can thus rotate about the rotation axis R relative to the bar beam 1 or rotate relative to it.

[0091] The guide channel 3 preferably has a first and a second channel section 31, 32, or a channel section 31 located above the guide device 2 and a channel section 32 located below the guide device 2.

[0092] The first or upper channel section 31 is designed such that it widens from the guide device 2 arranged in the guide channel 3 to the first opening of the guide channel 3. For this purpose, the upper channel section 31 comprises at least two guide surfaces 33, 34 (left guide surface 33, right guide surface 34) that are inclined relative to one another.

[0093] Similarly, the second or lower channel section 32 is designed such that it widens from the guide device 2 arranged in the guide channel 3 to the second opening of the guide channel 3. For this purpose, the lower channel section 32 comprises at least two guide surfaces 35, 36 (left guide surface 35, right guide surface 36) that are inclined relative to one another.

[0094] A central line 200 guided in the guide device 2 runs through the two channel sections 31, 32, which, in conjunction with the rotatable mounting of the guide device 2, allow a particularly large range of motion of the central line 200 before it comes into contact with the guide surfaces 33 to 36, which accordingly limit the relative rotation of the central line 200 to the bar spar 1 in the guide device 2.

[0095] The rotatable mounting of the guide device 2 is implemented via at least one radial plain bearing of the bar 100, which comprises a bearing bush 12 with a recess, which in particular has a circular cross-section, and a rotary element 21, which is fitted into the recess of the bearing bush 12 so as to be rotatable relative to the bearing bush 12. For a more detailed description of the radial plain bearing, reference is made to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 referred to.

[0096] Preferably, the guide device 2 is rotatably mounted relative to the bar beam 1 via two opposing radial plain bearings.

[0097] The bearing bush 12 is firmly connected to the bar beam 1 and is preferably glued, welded, clamped or detachably connected to the bar beam 1 via fastening means.

[0098] Alternatively, bar beam 1 and bearing bush 12 can also be made from one piece.

[0099] The rotating element 21 is designed as part of the guide device 2, which further comprises two pin-shaped guide segments 22, between which the center line 200 can be passed, such that the center line 200 can be displaced along the guide direction V shown and defined by the guide segments 22 relative to the guide device 2 and thus also relative to the bar 1.

[0100] The pin-shaped guide segments 22 preferably extend in a respective longitudinal direction parallel to one another and parallel to the rotation axis R.

[0101] By rotating the guide device 2 around the rotation axis R, an angle between the guide direction V and the longitudinal direction L of the bar 1 changes and thus gives the center line 200, in addition to the displacement degree of freedom, a rotational degree of freedom for relative movements with respect to the bar 100 (see also Fig. 4A and 4B ).

[0102] In this way, the range of motion when guiding the center line 200 is increased and allows complex relative movements of the bar 100 and the center line 200 without jamming, jamming or blocking.

[0103] Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B show views of a cross-section of a section of the bar 100 from Fig. 1 in two different positions of the center line 200.

[0104] The structure of the Bar 100 shown in the section in the Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B is essentially the same as the structure already described from Fig. 3 .

[0105] Fig. 4A shows a first maximum rotational deflection of the guide device 2 with the center line 200 guided, in which the center line comes into contact with the right guide surface 34 of the upper channel section 31 and / or with the left guide surface 35 of the lower channel section 32.

[0106] Fig. 4Bshows a second maximum rotational deflection of the guide device 2 with the center line 200 guided, in which the center line comes into contact with the left guide surface 33 of the upper channel section 31 and / or with the right guide surface 36 of the lower channel section 32.

[0107] Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B illustrate the additional range of motion provided by the rotatable bearing during relative movements of the middle line 200 guided in the bar 100, without this leading to imprecise guidance or guidance with excessive play along the guidance direction V.

[0108] Furthermore, the Fig. 4A and 4B a center line 200, which includes an inner passageway 201 through which preferably additional line items of the kite can be passed, such as a safety line.

[0109] Preferably, the guide device 2, here in particular the two pin-shaped guide segments 22, is adapted to an outer contour of the center line 200 in such a way that a torque can be transmitted between them, the torque axis of which runs in particular parallel to the guide direction V of the guide device.

[0110] In other words, the center line 200 cannot rotate relative to the guide device 2 in the region of the guide segments 22 about a rotation axis (torque axis) running along the displacement direction V.

[0111] Preferably, the center line 200 has a polygonal, in particular a rectangular, outer contour in a cross section perpendicular to a direction of travel of the center line 200, whereby a particularly efficient form-fitting torque transmission can be implemented.

[0112] Fig. 5shows a perspective view of a guide device 2 with radial sliding bearing of an embodiment of the bar 100 according to the invention for controlling a kite.

[0113] The radial plain bearing shown can, for example, be used in duplicate for the bearing of the guide device 2 in the Fig. 1 to 4B Bar 100 shown will be used.

[0114] The radial plain bearing comprises a bearing bush 12 with a recess, which in particular has a circular cross-section, into which a rotating element 21 is fitted so as to be rotatable relative to the bearing bush 12, such that the guide device 2 can rotate about the rotation axis R relative to the bearing bush 12.

[0115] In the embodiment shown, the bearing bush 12 is designed in a plate-like manner and can be made, for example, from a metallic material, for example from steel, bronze, brass, white metal or an aluminum alloy, and preferably has a friction-reducing sliding coating in the region of the recess, for example a polymer coating, a brass coating or a bronze coating.

[0116] The rotary element 21 is designed as part of the guide device 22 and in the embodiment shown is also designed in a plate-like manner, wherein an outer contour is not in contact with the maximum possible area of the recess of the bearing bush 12, but instead several free spaces are formed in the radial plain bearing, as will be described below with reference to Fig. 6 in more detail.

[0117] In comparison to a fully circumferential contact surface, there is thus a reduced contact area with the bearing bush 12, which in particular enables the creation of the said free spaces through which contaminants in the plain bearing, e.g. sand or salt, can be washed out by the water inevitably present during kite surfing.

[0118] Furthermore, Fig. 5 yet another rotating element 21, which is part of a second radial plain bearing (not shown here) for supporting the guide device 2.

[0119] Fig. 6 shows a separate, perspective view of the guide device 2 from Fig. 5 without bearing bush 12.

[0120] The guide device 2 is composed of the two rotating elements 21, which are each part of two opposing radial plain bearings for supporting the guide device 22.

[0121] The rotating elements 21 are connected to each other by the pin-shaped guide segments 22 of the guide device 2, which define the guide direction V (see Fig. 3 ) and between which the middle line 200 is guided (see Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B ).

[0122] To implement the above-described embodiment with free spaces in the radial plain bearing, one or both of the rotating elements 21 shown comprises two or more, here four, contact surface segments 23 for establishing radial contact with the bearing bush 12, which are arranged separately from one another in a circumferential direction of the radial plain bearing or in a circumferential direction of the rotating element 21.

[0123] In other words, the rotary element comprises free surfaces or spaces in the circumferential direction between the sections of the rotary element 21 carrying the contact surface segments 23.

[0124] In a contact plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the radial plain bearing, U 1 corresponds to a circumference of the recess of the bearing bush 12 in the contact plane and U 2 corresponds to a sum of all respective lengths of the two or more, here four, contact surface segments 23 in the contact plane.

[0125] The said lengths of the contact surface segments 23 correspond to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 shown embodiment of the rotary element 21 with a cylindrical recess of the bearing bush 12, the length of circular arcs which extend along the contact surface segments 23.

[0126] Preferably, the two or more, here four, contact surface segments 23 are now adapted to a contour of the recess of the bearing bush 12 in such a way that U 2 / U 1 ≤90% applies, preferably U 2 / U 1 ≤80% applies and particularly preferably U 2 / U 1 ≤60% applies, whereby correspondingly large free spaces can be provided in order to ensure sufficient washing out of contaminants.

[0127] Embodiments of the present invention and their advantages have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0128] It is emphasized again that the present invention is in no way limited to the above-described embodiments and their features. The invention further encompasses modifications of the aforementioned embodiments, in particular those resulting from modifications and / or combinations of individual or multiple features of the described embodiments within the scope of the independent claims. List of reference symbols

[0129] 1Bar spar 2Guiding device 3Guide channel 11End section 12Bearing bush 31Upper channel section 32Lower channel section 33, 34Guide surfaces of the upper channel section 35, 36Guide surfaces of the lower channel section 21Rotating element 22Guide segment 23Contact surface segment 100Bar 200Center line 201Through channel 300Control line LLongitudinal direction of the bar spar RRotation axis of the guiding device VGuide direction of the guiding device

Claims

1. Bar (100) for controlling a kite, comprising: - a bar beam (1), to the end sections (11) of which control lines (300) of the kite to be controlled can be fastened, and - a guide device (2) in which at least one center line (200) of the kite to be controlled can be guided relative to the bar beam (1) in such a way that the bar (100) can be moved along the center line (200), wherein the guide device (2) is rotatably mounted relative to the bar beam (1) in such a way that an angle between a guide direction (V) of the guide device (2) and a longitudinal direction (L) of the bar beam (1) can be changed.

2. Bar (100) according to claim 1, wherein the guide device (2) is mounted centrally on the bar beam (1) in the longitudinal direction (L), in particular such that a direction of a rotation axis (R) of the guide device (2) and the longitudinal direction (L) of the bar beam (1) enclose a smallest angle between 45° and 90°, preferably between 80° and 90°.

3. Bar (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the bar (100) comprises a guide channel (3) in the bar beam (1) in which the guide device (2) is rotatably mounted.

4. Bar (100) according to claim 3, wherein the guide channel (3) in the bar beam (1) is designed such that, starting from the guide device (2) arranged therein up to a first opening of the guide channel (3), it has a widening channel section (31; 32) which comprises at least two guide surfaces (33, 34; 35, 36) which are inclined relative to one another.

5. Bar (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bar (100) comprises at least one radial plain bearing, via which the guide device (2) is rotatably mounted relative to the bar beam (1).

6. Bar (100) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one radial plain bearing comprises a bearing bush (12) with a recess, which in particular has a circular cross-section, and a rotary element (21) which is rotatably fitted into the recess of the bearing bush (12) relative to the bearing bush (12).

7. Bar (100) according to claim 6, wherein the bearing bush (12) of the at least one radial plain bearing is firmly connected to the bar beam (1), in particular the bearing bush (12) is an integral part of the bar beam (1) or is detachably fastened thereto by fastening means.

8. Bar (100) according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the rotary element (21) for establishing radial contact with the bearing bush (12) of the at least one radial plain bearing comprises two or more contact surface segments (23), which are arranged separately from one another in a circumferential direction of the at least one radial plain bearing, wherein in a contact plane perpendicular to the rotational axis (R) of the guide device (2), U1 corresponds to a circumference of the recess of the bearing bush (12) in the contact plane, and U2 corresponds to a sum of all respective lengths of the two or more contact surface segments (23) in the contact plane; wherein the two or more contact surface segments (23) are adapted to a contour of the recess of the bearing bush (12) in such a way that U 2 U 1 ≤ 90 % applies, preferably applies U 2 U 1 ≤ 80 % and particularly preferred is U 2 U 1 ≤ 60 % .

9. Bar (100) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the bar (100) comprises two radial plain bearings, via which opposite end sections (11) of the guide device (2) are rotatably mounted relative to the bar beam (1).

10. Bar (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the guide device (2) comprises a guide section which is designed to be in contact with the at least one central line (200) when it is guided, wherein the guide section comprises at least two opposing guide segments (22), which are preferably pin-shaped and between which the at least one central line (200) can be guided, wherein longitudinal directions of the at least two guide segments run in particular parallel to one another and / or parallel to a rotation axis (R) of the guide device (2).

11. Bar (100) according to claim 6 and claim 10, wherein the at least two guide segments (22) are connected to the rotary element (21) of the at least one radial plain bearing.

12. A control system for a kite, comprising: - a bar (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and - at least one center line (200); wherein the at least one center line (200) is guided in the guide device (2) of the bar (100) such that the bar (100) is displaceable along the center line (200).

13. Control system according to claim 12, wherein a contour of a guide section of the guide device (2), which is designed to be in contact with the at least one center line (200) when guiding the latter, and an outer contour of the center line (200) are adapted to one another in such a way that a torque can be transmitted between them, the torque axis of which runs in particular parallel to the guide direction (V) of the guide device (2).

14. Control system according to one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the at least one central line (200) has an inner passageway (201) through which further lines can be passed, in particular a safety line of the kite.

15. Kite system, comprising: - a kite with at least two control lines (300) and at least one center line (200); and - a bar (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11; wherein the control lines (300) of the kite are attached to end sections (11) of the bar post (1) of the bar (100) and the center line (200) is guided in the guide device (2) of the bar (100) such that the bar (100) is displaceable along the center line (200).

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