Kite with windsock and its lighting system

Abstract

This makes it easier to rotate or flap the windsock component connected to the kite component. [Solution] The kite with a windsock 100 comprises a kite member 20, a connecting string 30, an axially rotatable starting end connecting member 40 for attaching the starting end of the connecting string 30 to the kite member 20, and a windsock member 60 connected to the kite member 20 via the connecting string 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a kite with a streamer. The present invention also relates to a system for illuminating a kite with a streamer while it is flying.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for the purpose of stably flying a kite, it has been known to connect a streamer to the tail side of the kite (Patent Document 1). This kite with a streamer utilizes the lift and drag of the streamer itself: the drag portion stably flies the kite, and the lift portion supports the weight of the kite's tail itself, which is said to be capable of maintaining flight performance while obtaining the effect of stable flight.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Literature 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, the present inventor has studied irradiating light to a kite with a streamer during flight to make the kite with a streamer, particularly the streamer, beautifully glow in the air. At this time, if the streamer can be effectively rotated about its axis or fluttered in the air, the illuminated streamer will appear to sparkle more brightly.

[0005] On the other hand, the kite with a windsock described in Patent Document 1 merely attaches the windsock to the kite for stable flight, and does not envision illuminating the windsock with light, effectively rotating it on its axis, or making it flap. In particular, in the kite with a windsock described in Patent Document 1, a single connecting string attached to the tail end of the kite branches into three strings on the windsock side, and these three branched strings are directly tied to the inlet side of the windsock at equal intervals. When the kite and windsock are connected by such a connecting string, if the windsock begins to rotate on its axis during flight, the three branched strings may become entangled, or forces may act to restore the entangled strings to their original position, thereby hindering the rotation of the windsock on its axis. In Patent Document 1, a windsock is attached to the kite for the purpose of stable flight, so it can be said that it is more effective not to rotate or flap the windsock. However, if the purpose is to rotate the windsock, a connecting string of this shape is insufficient.

[0006] Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to make it easier to rotate or flap a windsock member connected to a kite member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The inventors of the present invention diligently studied means to solve the problems of the conventional invention described above. As a result, they discovered that in a structure in which a kite member and a windsock member are connected by a connecting string, by attaching the starting end of the connecting string to the kite member via a swivel or other axially rotatable starting end connecting member, the connecting string is less likely to twist or tangle even when the windsock member rotates or flutters. Therefore, compared to conventional kites with windsocks, the windsock member rotates and flutters more easily. Based on this discovery, the inventors realized that the problems of the conventional invention could be solved, and thus completed the present invention. Specifically, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0008] The first aspect of the present invention relates to a kite with a windsock 100. The kite with a windsock 100 mainly comprises a kite member 20, a connecting string 30, a starting end connecting member 40, and a windsock member 60. The windsock member 60 is connected to the kite member 20 via the connecting string 30. The starting end connecting member 40 is an axially rotatable member for attaching the starting end of the connecting string 30 to the kite member 20. By providing such a freely axially rotatable starting end connecting member 40, even if twisting occurs in the connecting string 30 due to the axial rotation or flapping of the windsock member 60, that twisting is resolved by the rotation of the starting end connecting member 40. Therefore, it becomes possible to keep the windsock member 60 rotating in one direction without causing strong twisting in the connecting string 30. As a result, the windsock member 60 connected to the kite member 20 can continue to rotate or flap in the air.

[0009] In the windsock kite 100 according to the present invention, the windsock member 60 may have a body 61 and a plurality of overhead wires 62. The body 61 has an air inlet 61a formed therein. Preferably, the body 61 is cylindrical with an inlet 61a formed at one end and an air outlet 61b formed at the other end, but it is not limited to this, and may be bag-shaped with no outlet 61b and the other end closed. Preferably, the cross-section of the body 61 is circular, but it may be triangular, square, or other polygonal. The plurality of overhead wires 62 are stretched across the inlet 61a of the body 61 so as to intersect each other. Therefore, at least two overhead wires 62 form at least one intersection point, and the overhead wires 62 are fixed at at least four points around the periphery of the inlet 61a of the body 61. Furthermore, it is preferable that the plurality of overhead wires 62 are stretched without slack. The connecting string 30 is attached to the intersection of the multiple overhead wires 62. If there are three or more overhead wires 62, it is preferable to install (stretch) each overhead wire 62 across the inlet 61a so that all of them intersect at one point. In this configuration, by crossing the multiple overhead wires 62 installed across the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60 and attaching the connecting string 30 to their intersections, the windsock member 60 becomes more likely to rotate on an axis, using the axis passing through this intersection or the connecting string 30 attached thereto as the axis of rotation. In other words, when the windsock kite 100 is flown, the windsock member 60, which is subjected to the force of the wind, will naturally rotate on an axis around the intersection of the multiple overhead wires 62. In particular, the rotation of the windsock member 60 becomes more stable when the multiple overhead wires 62 are stretched taut without slack. Furthermore, since the connecting string 30 remains a single piece and is attached near the center of the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60 (the intersection with the overhead wire material 62), the connecting string does not branch into multiple pieces as in the conventional technology, thus eliminating factors that would hinder the rotation of the windsock member 60. In this way, the configuration of the windsock kite 100 according to the present invention allows the windsock member 60 to rotate stably, and as a result, when light is shone on the windsock kite 100 while it is flying, the windsock member 60 can be made to shine particularly beautifully.

[0010] The kite with a windsock 100 according to the present invention preferably further comprises an end-side connecting member 50. The end-side connecting member 50 is an axially rotatable member for attaching the end of the connecting string 30 to the intersection of the multiple overhead wires 62 of the windsock member 60. By further providing the freely axially rotatable end-side connecting member 50 in this way, even if twisting occurs in the connecting string 30 due to the axial rotation of the windsock member 60, this twisting can be eliminated by the rotation of the end-side connecting member 50. Therefore, it becomes possible to continue rotating the windsock member 60 in one direction, for example, without causing strong twisting in the connecting string 30.

[0011] In the kite with a windsock 100 according to the present invention, the terminal connecting member 50 preferably has a rotatable connector 52 such as a swivel. Furthermore, it is preferable that this rotatable connector 52 is connected to the intersections of multiple overhead wire members 62. This allows for smoother rotation of the windsock member 60 at the intersections of the multiple overhead wire members 62.

[0012] In the kite with a windsock 100 according to the present invention, it is preferable that the end-side connecting member 50 further has an open / close engagement 51 that can be opened and closed. In this case, the end side of the connecting string 30 and the rotating connecting member 52 are connected via the open / close engagement 51. By providing the open / close engagement 51 in this way, the attachment and detachment of the connecting string 30 becomes easier, and the workability of the kite with a windsock 100, such as assembly, disassembly, and maintenance, is improved.

[0013] In the kite with a windsock 100 according to the present invention, it is preferable that the multiple overhead wires 62 include some that intersect at an angle of 85 to 95 degrees. By intersecting the overhead wires 62 at substantially orthogonal angles (90 degrees ± 5 degrees) in this way, the rotation of the windsock member 60 becomes more stable. Specifically, the intersection formed by the orthogonal overhead wires 62 more accurately coincides with the central axis of the body portion 61 of the windsock member 60, thereby preventing eccentricity of the windsock member 60. In addition, substantially orthogonal overhead wires 62 can maintain the shape of the inlet 61a of the body portion 61 uniformly, which also enables stable rotation. The substantially orthogonal angles (85 to 95 degrees) referred to here are an angle range that takes into account manufacturing errors and deformation during use, and the above effects can be fully obtained within this range.

[0014] In the windsock kite 100 according to the present invention, the connecting string 30 may have a central string 31 and a plurality of branch strings 32. The central string 31 is attached to the kite member 20 via a starting end connecting member 40. The plurality of branch strings 32 branch off from this central string 30 and are attached to the periphery of the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60. In this case, it is preferable that the plurality of branch strings 32 have different lengths so that when the plurality of branch strings 32 are stretched without slack, the intersections of the plurality of branch strings 32 are unevenly distributed from the central axis (C) of the inlet 61a. By having the plurality of branch strings 32 have different lengths in this way, when the windsock kite 100 is flown, the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60 is more likely to tilt. This tilt makes it easier for the airflow to hit the inner surface of the windsock member 60, and in particular the upper part of the inner surface of the inlet 61a can receive the wind more effectively. By creating an incline at the inlet 61a in this way, the force of the wind is efficiently captured, making it easier for the windsock member 60 to flutter while flying. In addition, because the intersections of the multiple branching cords 32 are unevenly distributed from the central axis (C) of the inlet 61a, a rotational moment is more easily generated in the windsock member 60. As a result, the windsock member 60 rotates and flutters more actively. Furthermore, when the windsock member 60 rotates while flying with the inlet 61a side tilted, the windsock member 60 appears to move dynamically. This makes the movement of the windsock member 60 while flying more noticeable.

[0015] In the windsock kite 100 according to the present invention, it is preferable that the windsock member 60 has a body portion 61 in which an air inlet 61a and an air outlet 61b are formed. In this case, the body portion 61 may be narrowed such that the outlet 61b is narrower than the inlet 61a. By narrowing the outlet 61b of the body portion 61 so that it is narrower than the inlet 61a, the air that enters the body portion 61 is less likely to flow out, and an appropriate air pressure can be maintained inside the body portion 61. As a result, when the windsock member 60 is hit by wind, the body portion 61 is more likely to remain in an inflated state, improving the stability of its shape. In addition, as air is retained inside the body portion 61, the movement of the windsock member 60 becomes smoother, and the axial rotation and the duration of flapping are also improved. Furthermore, by narrowing the outlet 61b, the attitude of the windsock member 60 when it is flying also becomes more stable. This narrowed structure makes it more susceptible to wind resistance, while also controlling the airflow within the body 61, resulting in a more beautiful rotational and fluttering motion of the windsock member 60.

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a lighting system. The lighting system according to the present invention comprises a kite with a streamer 100 according to the first embodiment described above, a support pole 200 to which the kite with a streamer 100 is attached, and one or more lighting devices 300 attached to the support pole 200 for illuminating the kite with a streamer 100. With this lighting system, the lighting devices 300 can illuminate the kite with a streamer 100 attached to the support pole 200 as it flies while rotating on its axis. In particular, as described above, the kite with a streamer 100 according to the present invention has a streamer member 60 that rotates stably on its axis, so the streamer member 60 that receives light from the lighting devices 300 rotates while shining beautifully. In this way, the lighting system according to the present invention can create new decorative value at night and other times. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily rotate the windsock member connected to the kite member on its axis. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the overall configuration of a lighting system for a kite with a streamer according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a detailed view showing the main part of the kite with a streamer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing the main part of the kite with a streamer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing how the streamer member of the kite with a streamer according to the second embodiment of the present invention flies. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the modes described below, and also includes appropriately modified versions within the range obvious to those skilled in the art from the following modes.

[0020] [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a lighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this lighting system includes a kite with a streamer 100, a support column 200, and a plurality of lighting devices 300. When the kite with a streamer 100 is attached to the support column 200, it automatically flies in the air by receiving natural wind. The plurality of lighting devices 300 are arranged so as to irradiate light onto the kite with a streamer 100 that is in flight.

[0021] Furthermore, Figure 1 shows an example of the dimensions of each part to illustrate the actual size of the kite with a windsock 100 and the support pole 200. In the example shown in Figure 1, the kite with a windsock 100 is extremely long, with a total length of approximately 31,570 mm (approximately 31.57 m), and the total height of the support pole 200 is approximately 12,000 mm (approximately 12 m). By forming a large structure with the kite with a windsock 100 and the support pole 200 in this way, and illuminating the kite with a windsock 100 with light, a strong impression can be made on the audience. Note that the lighting system of the present invention is not limited to the example dimensions shown in Figure 1, and its dimensions can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the installation location and environment. However, in order to stably supply natural wind to the kite with a windsock 100, it is preferable that the total height of the support pole 200 be 8 m or more, and particularly 10 m or more. Furthermore, in order to make a strong impression on the audience, the total length of the kite with a streamer 100 is preferably 10m or more, and more preferably 15m or more, or 20m or more. In addition, the total length of the kite with a streamer 100 is preferably 1x or more, and more preferably 1.5x or more, or 2x or more, of the total height of the support pole 200.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the kite with streamer 100 mainly includes an attachment cord 10, a kite member 20, a connecting cord 30, a starting-end side connecting member 40, an ending-end side connecting member 50, and a streamer member 60. The attachment cord 10 is a cord member used for attaching the kite with streamer 100 (particularly the kite member 20) to the pillar 200. The attachment cord 10 is tied to the kite member 20, extends long along the pillar 200, and is fixed to the pillar 200 by one or more fixtures 210 provided on the pillar 200. This prevents the kite with streamer 100 from flying far away even if the pillar 200 is broken. The kite member 20 is attached to the pillar 200 via the attachment cord 10, and flies in the natural wind. The present embodiment is characterized by the long-extending streamer member 60. Compared with the case where the streamer member 60 is directly attached to the pillar 200, interposing the kite member 20 between the streamer member 60 and the pillar 200 allows the long-sized streamer member 60 to fly neatly and straight. The connecting cord 30 is a cord member for connecting the kite member 20 and the streamer member 60. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the starting-end side connecting member 40 is used to connect the end of the connecting cord 30 on the kite member 20 side (referred to as the "starting end") to the kite member 20. In addition, the ending-end side connecting member 50 is used to connect the end of the connecting cord 30 on the streamer member 60 side (referred to as the "ending end") to the streamer member 60. Both the starting-end side connecting member 40 and the ending-end side connecting member 50 are configured to be freely rotatable around an axis, thereby suppressing twisting of the connecting cord 30. It should be noted that it is also possible to omit both or either of the starting-end side connecting member 40 and the ending-end side connecting member 50. The streamer member 60 is a characteristic element that extends long, and it is mainly the portion that reflects light emitted from the lighting device 300 and glows beautifully. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the length of the streamer member 60 is approximately 25,000 mm (approximately 25 m). Although the length of the streamer member 60 is not limited thereto, in order to enhance the impression given to spectators, the length is preferably at least 10 m or more, more preferably 15 m or more or 20 m or more, and may be 25 m or more. In the present embodiment, as will be described in detail later, a configuration is adopted to facilitate the axial rotation of the streamer member 60 during flight.

[0023] Figure 2 shows a more specific configuration of the windsock kite 100 shown in Figure 1. In particular, Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the windsock kite 100. First, the kite member 20 can adopt a structure commonly used in kites. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the kite member 20 has a wing surface 21 made of fabric and a support member 22 that supports this wing surface 21. The wing surface 21 is the surface that generates lift when it receives wind, and is made of a lightweight and strong fabric such as polyvinyl chloride or nylon. The support member 22 is a rod-shaped member that holds the wing surface 21 in a predetermined shape, and is made of a lightweight and rigid material such as a carbon rod or fiberglass. In this embodiment, a so-called delta-shaped kite is adopted, but it is not limited to this, and other shapes of kites such as square or diamond shapes can also be adopted.

[0024] The connecting string 30 is a string-like member for connecting the kite member 20 and the windsock member 60, and is made of a material with sufficient tensile strength. For example, nylon string or braided rope can be used for the connecting string 30. In this embodiment, the length of the connecting string 30 is approximately 4,000 mm (approximately 4 m), and this length ensures an appropriate distance between the kite member 20 and the windsock member 60. However, the length of the connecting string 30 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, 1 to 10 m or 2 to 6 m. Furthermore, since the connecting string 30 is made of a single string and does not branch into multiple parts as in Patent Document 1, it does not obstruct the rotation of the windsock member 60.

[0025] The starting end connecting member 40 is a member for rotatably connecting the starting end of the connecting string 30 to the kite member 20. As shown in the detailed view in Figure 2(a), the starting end connecting member 40 has an openable / closable engagement 41 and an axially rotatable rotating connector 42. The connecting string 30 is attached to the openable / closable engagement 41, which is configured to be openable and closable so that it can be easily attached to and detached from the rotating connector 42. For example, a snap hook or a carabiner can be used as the openable / closable engagement 41. By using such an openable / closable engagement 41, the connection between the kite member 20 and the connecting string 30 can be easily attached and detached, and maintenance work such as replacement and inspection of the connecting string 30 can be performed efficiently. The rotating connector 42 is a freely rotatable member such as a swivel and is attached to the kite member 20. That is, in this embodiment, the rotating connector 42 is interposed between the openable / closable engagement 41 and the kite member 20. For example, the support member 22 of the kite member 20 includes a central bone 22a, also called a spine, which is positioned along the center of the wing surface 21, and a fixing string 22b is attached to this central bone 22a. Then, a rotating connector 42 can be attached to this fixing string 22b. By interposing the rotating connector 42 between the opening / closing engagement 41 and the kite member 20 in this way, the connecting string 30 tied to the opening / closing engagement 41 can rotate freely relative to the kite member 20. In addition to a swivel, any axially rotatable member such as a swivel or a ball bearing rotary joint can be used as the rotating connector 42. By connecting the kite member 20 and the connecting string 30 via such a rotating connector 42, twisting that occurs in the connecting string 30 can be effectively eliminated.

[0026] The terminal connecting member 50 is a member for rotatably connecting the terminal end of the connecting string 30 to the windsock member 60. As shown in the detailed view in Figure 2(b), the terminal connecting member 50, like the starting end connecting member 40, has an openable / closable engagement 51 and an axially rotatable rotating connector 52. The openable / closable engagement 51 is configured to be openable and closable so that the connecting string 30 can be easily attached to and detached from the rotating connector 52, and can use, for example, a snap hook or a carabiner. The rotating connector 52 is a freely rotatable member such as a swivel and is attached to the intersection of the overhead wire material 62 of the windsock member 60, which will be described later. By providing the openable / closable engagement 51 and the rotating connector 52 at the connection point between the windsock member 60 and the connecting string 30 in this way, the axial rotation performance of the windsock member 60 is improved, and maintainability is also ensured. In particular, since the windsock member 60 is a component that rotates when it is hit by the wind, the rotational performance of this part is important. In this embodiment, however, the rotational center of the windsock member 60 (the intersection point of the overhead line material 62) is directly connected via the rotating connector 52, which enables stable rotation.

[0027] The windsock member 60 has a long body 61. In this embodiment, the body 61 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section. That is, the body 61 has an air inlet 61a at one end and an air outlet 61b at the other end. With this structure, when the windsock member 60 is lifted, air flows into the body 61 from the inlet 61a and is discharged from the outlet 61b, and the air circulates in a certain direction within the body 61, causing the body 61 to expand and be maintained in a cylindrical shape. In particular, in order to make it difficult for the air that has entered the body 61 to escape and to maintain the expanded state of the body 61, it is preferable that the body 61 does not have ventilation holes and only has an inlet 61a and an outlet 61b. This allows the body 61 to remain lying down and floating in the air for a long time when the windsock member 60 is lifted. The body 61 is formed using a lightweight and durable fabric material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, or nylon. In particular, the material forming the body 61 is preferably polyethylene or polypropylene, which has excellent air permeability barrier properties, and is especially preferably polyethylene. The diameters of the inlet 61a and outlet 61b of the body 61 can be, for example, 100 mm to 1500 mm, preferably 150 to 1000 mm, and especially preferably 200 to 500 mm.

[0028] Furthermore, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 2(c), the body portion 61 has a folded portion 61c at least at the end on the inlet 61a side where the fabric material is folded inward. This folded portion 61c is joined to the fabric material body by a welded portion 61d at its tip, and a hollow space is formed between the folded line and the welded portion 61d. The welded portion 61d can be formed by heat welding, high-frequency welding, etc. A rigid wire 61e is placed in the hollow space of the folded portion 61c to maintain the shape of the inlet 61a. The rigid wire 61e can be, for example, a high-strength, durable metal wire such as piano wire, or a lightweight composite material with appropriate rigidity such as fiberglass or carbon fiber. Such a rigid wire 61e is held in a state inserted within the hollow space of the folded portion 61c. With this configuration, the inlet 61a of the body portion 61 is always maintained in an appropriate shape, enabling stable airflow. Furthermore, while Figure 2 shows a configuration in which a folded portion 61c is formed at the inlet 61a and a rigid wire 61e is inserted therein, it is also possible to form a similar configuration on the outlet 61b side.

[0029] The windsock member 60 further has a plurality of overhead wire members 62. Each overhead wire member 62 is arranged linearly so as to span across the inlet 61a of the body 61. As shown in Figure 2(b), in this embodiment, two overhead wire members 62 are arranged to intersect each other. More specifically, these two overhead wire members 62 intersect near the center of the inlet 61a, and the angle of intersection is set to be substantially orthogonal (85 to 95 degrees). In other words, fixing parts for fixing the ends of the overhead wire members 62 are provided around the periphery of the inlet 61a of the roughly circular body 61 at intervals of approximately 90 degrees ((π / 2)r, where r is the radius of the inlet 61a), and the two overhead wire members 62 are installed so as to linearly connect the fixing parts that are opposite each other on this circumference. In the example shown in Figure 2, the first overhead wire 62 connects the 0-degree and 180-degree positions on the circumference of the inlet 61a, and the second overhead wire 62 connects the 90-degree and 270-degree positions on the circumference. These overhead wires 62 are preferably made of lightweight wire with high tensile strength, such as fishing line. For example, the overhead wires 62 can be made of synthetic resins such as nylon, polyester, polyethylene, or fluorocarbon, or of high-strength fibers such as aramid fibers. These wires may be made of single fibers or of multiple fibers twisted together. In particular, it is preferable to use single-fiber wires made of synthetic resin that have excellent weather resistance and linearity.

[0030] Furthermore, each overhead wire 62 is held in place by a wire holder 63 provided on the periphery of the inlet 61a. This wire holder 63 is provided on the fixing portion of the end of the overhead wire 62 on the periphery of the inlet 61a. Preferably, the wire holder 63 is attached to a rigid wire 61e provided on the folded portion 61c of the body 61. By being attached to this rigid wire 61e, the wire holder 63 securely fixes each overhead wire 62 and also has the function of applying appropriate tension to the overhead wire 62. In the example shown in Figure 2, as described above, four wire holders 63 are arranged at 90-degree intervals on the periphery of the inlet 61a of the body 61, and each overhead wire 62 is stably stretched without loosening by these wire holders 63. The state in which each overhead wire 62 is not slack means, for example, that the amount of deflection from the ideal straight line at the midpoint (intersection) of the overhead wire 62 is 5% or less of the diameter of the inlet 61a. This amount of deflection is, for example, 50 mm or less when the diameter of the inlet 61a is 1,000 mm. Furthermore, it is preferable that appropriate tension is applied to each overhead wire 62 in order to achieve this amount of deflection. By holding the overhead wire 62 without slack in this way, the position of the intersection of the overhead wire 62, which is the rotation center of the windsock member 60, is stabilized.

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(b), connecting strings 30 are attached to the intersections of each overhead wire 62 via terminal connecting members 50. More specifically, axially rotatable terminal connecting members 50 are connected to the intersections of each overhead wire 62. In the example shown in Figure 2, rotating connectors 52 (such as swivels) are connected to the intersections of each overhead wire 62. Although not shown in the illustration, it is also possible to configure the system by connecting opening / closing engagers 51 (such as snap hooks) to the intersections of each overhead wire 62. All of the overhead wires 62 stretched across the inlet 61a of the body 61 are inserted through the connecting holes of the terminal connecting members 50 (rotating connectors 52). Therefore, the connection position of the terminal connecting members 50 does not deviate from the intersections of each overhead wire 62. In this way, by the connection position of the terminal connecting members 50 coinciding with the intersections of the overhead wires 62, the rotation center of the windsock member 60 is stabilized, enabling smooth rotation. In particular, when using the rotating connector 52, since the rotating connector 52 itself has a structure that allows for axial rotation, it is possible to effectively eliminate the twisting of the connecting string 30 that occurs when the windsock member 60 rotates. Furthermore, because the terminal connecting member 50 is connected to the intersection of the overhead wire material 62, the windsock member 60, which rotates when it is hit by the wind, can rotate independently of the connecting string 30 via the terminal connecting member 50. As a result, the windsock member 60 can continue stable axial rotation without its rotation being hindered by the connecting string 30. Therefore, the windsock member 60 can produce a more beautiful visual effect when it receives light from the lighting device 300.

[0032] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, a configuration using two overhead wires 62 was described, but the number of overhead wires 62 is not limited to two; it may be three or more. For example, even when using three overhead wires 62, each wire 62 is arranged to intersect at one point near the center of the inlet 61a. In this case, six wire holders 63 will be arranged on the circumference of the inlet 61a at 60-degree intervals. When using four overhead wires 62, eight wire holders 63 will be arranged at 45-degree intervals. Increasing the number of overhead wires 62 in this way makes the rotation center of the windsock member 60 more stable, allowing the windsock member 60 to rotate more smoothly. However, as the number of overhead wires 62 increases, the manufacturing process becomes more complex, and the possibility of interference between the overhead wires 62 also increases. For this reason, it is preferable to keep the number of overhead wires 62 within the range of two to four.

[0033] Next, returning to Figure 1, the lighting device 300 will be described. The lighting device 300 is installed on the ground or on the roof or roof of a building together with the support column 200, and is configured to illuminate the kite with a windsock 100 while it is flying by shining light upwards. In this embodiment, the lighting device 300 employs multiple LED lights capable of emitting light of different colors. For example, the multiple lighting devices 300 include a red LED light source that emits red light and a blue LED light source that emits blue light, which are placed at different locations on the ground or elsewhere. By shining light from these lighting devices 300 onto the kite with a windsock 100 while it is flying at night, the light is reflected off the surface of the windsock member 60, causing the windsock member 60 to shine in different colors while it is flying. In particular, as the windsock member 60 rotates and sways in the wind, the color of the reflected light changes, creating a more attractive visual effect.

[0034] The arrangement of the lighting devices 300 is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 1. For example, it is possible to place multiple lighting devices 300 at different locations on the building, or to make the illumination angle and direction of the lighting devices 300 variable. It is also possible to install the lighting devices 300 on the support column 200 and illuminate the kite with a windsock 100. Furthermore, the color and number of lighting devices 300 can be changed as appropriate, and by adding light sources of other colors, such as white light or green light, a wider variety of effects can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to create dynamic effects by making the lighting devices 300 blink or by changing the intensity of the light.

[0035] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the kite with a windsock 100 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and their descriptions will be omitted. The description will focus on the different components.

[0036] Figure 3 shows the main parts of a kite with a windsock 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The kite with a windsock 100 according to the second embodiment mainly comprises a mounting string 10, a kite member 20, a connecting string 30, a starting end connecting member 40, and a windsock member 60. The main differences between the components of the second embodiment and the first embodiment are the configuration of the connecting string 30 and the structure of the windsock member 60. In the second embodiment, the terminal end connecting member 50 is omitted, but it is also possible to use the terminal end connecting member 50 as in the first embodiment.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, in this embodiment, the connecting string 30 is composed of a central string 31 and a plurality of branching strings 32. The central string 31 is attached to the kite member 20 via a starting end connecting member 40 (opening / closing engager 41 and rotating connector 42), similar to the connecting string 30 in the first embodiment (see Figure 3(a)). The plurality of branching strings 32 branch off from the central string 31 and are directly attached to the periphery of the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60. Similar to the first embodiment, a rigid wire 61e is provided around the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60 to maintain its shape, so one end of each branching string 32 can be tied to this rigid wire 61e. In the example shown in Figure 3, there are eight branching strings 32, but the number of branching strings 32 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, 3 to 20, and particularly preferably 4 to 12 or 6 to 10. Furthermore, for example, the central cord 31 and the multiple branch cords 32 may each be made of different cord members, and the central cord 31 and branch cords 32 may be formed by tying or fusing these multiple cord members together. Alternatively, the same number of cord members as the number of branch cords 32 may be prepared, the central cord 31 may be formed by twisting these multiple cord members together, and the multiple branch cords 32 may be formed by unraveling the multiple branch cords. In the second embodiment, since these branch cords 32 are used, the overhead line material 62 in the first embodiment is omitted.

[0038] A characteristic feature of this embodiment is that at least some of the branching cords 32 have different lengths from the other branching cords 32. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, this embodiment provides eight branching cords 32a to 32h, and the ends of these branching cords 32a to 32h are joined at a single intersection 32i. The central cord 31 is also joined at this intersection 32i to the ends of each branching cord 32a to 32h. Here, the first branching cord 32a is longer than the fifth branching cord 32e, which is located opposite the intersection 32i on its extension. Similarly, the second branching cord 32b, located to the right of the first branching cord 32a, is longer than the sixth branching cord 32f, which is located opposite the intersection 32i. Similarly, the eighth branch cord 32h, located to the left of the first branch cord 32a, is longer than the fourth branch cord 32d, which is located opposite the intersection 32i. For example, the difference in length between the branch cords 32 is preferably about 5% to 20% of the diameter of the inlet 61a. The third branch cord 32c, located to the right of the second branch cord 32b, and the seventh branch cord 32g, located to the left of the eighth branch cord 32h, are located opposite each other across the intersection 32i, but these branch cords 32c and 32g are substantially the same length. As a result, the intersection 32i of each branch cord 32 is off-center from the central axis (C) of the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60. For example, the straight-line distance from the central axis (C) of the inlet 61a to the intersection point 32i of each branching cord 32 is preferably 10 mm or more, 20 mm or more, or 30 mm or more, and may be 100 mm or less, 80 mm or less, or 60 mm or less.

[0039] By creating differences in the lengths of the branching cords 32 in this way, it is possible to intentionally create a tilt in a specific direction relative to the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60. As shown in Figure 4, because the lengths of the multiple branching cords 32 are different, the inlet 61a of the windsock member 60 is tilted so that the top is higher and the bottom is lower. This tilt allows the upper inner surface of the inlet 61a to effectively catch the wind, causing the windsock member 60 to fly more powerfully. In addition, this tilt also gives the windsock member 60 a rotational moment, promoting axial rotation and flapping motion. Furthermore, the windsock member 60 becomes more active when it receives wind. As a result, when light is shone from the lighting device 300, the light reflected from the surface of the windsock member 60 changes in a more diverse way, resulting in a visually attractive effect.

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the body 61 of the windsock member 60 according to the second embodiment is narrowed such that the outlet 61b is narrower than the inlet 61a. For example, the diameter of the outlet 61b is preferably 80% or less, 70% or less, or 60% or less of the diameter of the inlet 61a, and may be 20% or more, 30% or more, or 40% or more. In particular, the diameter of the outlet 61b is preferably 40-60% (about half) of the diameter of the inlet 61a. This increases the residence time of the air inside the windsock member 60, allowing the body 61 to maintain a more inflated state. In addition, the retention of air inside the windsock member 60 increases the stability of its shape.

[0041] Specifically, in the example shown in Figure 3, a folded portion 61f is formed near the outlet 61b of the windsock member 60, similar to the inlet 61b. The tip of this folded portion 61 is joined to the main fabric material by a welded portion 61g, creating a hollow space between the folded line and the welded portion 61g. On the outlet 61b side, a tacking thread 61h is inserted into this hollow space. The diameter of the outlet 61b can be adjusted using this tacking thread 61h. A thin, lightweight thread material, such as fishing line, can be used for the tacking thread 61h. It is also possible to adjust the outlet 61b by loosening the tacking thread 61h in strong winds to widen it, and by tightening the tacking thread 61h in light winds to narrow it.

[0042] In the second embodiment, an opening 21a is provided on the wing surface 21 of the kite member 20. In the example shown in Figure 3, a circular opening 21a is formed near the center of the wing surface 21. The shape of the opening 21a is not limited to a circle and can be made into various shapes, and the opening 21a may be formed in multiple locations. For example, the opening 21a can be configured as one large opening in the center of the wing surface 21, or as multiple small openings distributed in the center and periphery of the wing surface 21. However, if the opening 21a is too large, the lift of the kite member 20 will decrease, so it is preferable that the total area of ​​the opening 21a be about 5% to 30% of the total area of ​​the wing surface 21. The main purpose of this opening 21a is to reduce the weight of the kite member 20 and improve its flight stability. By providing the opening 21a, the wind pressure applied to the kite member 20 in strong winds can be dispersed or reduced, and the swaying and vibration of the kite member 20 can be suppressed.

[0043] Furthermore, the structure for narrowing the outlet 61b of the windsock member 60, which was additionally adopted in the second embodiment, and the opening 21a formed on the wing surface 21 of the kite member 20 can also be applied to the first embodiment.

[0044] In this specification, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings in order to express the content of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes modifications and improvements that are obvious to those skilled in the art based on the matters described in this specification. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10…Attachment string 20…Kite components 21...wing surface 21a...opening 22...Support material 22a...Central bone 22b…Fixed string 30…Connecting string 31...Central cord 32...Branching cord 40...Starting end connecting member 41...Opening / closing engaging device 42...Rotating connector 50...End-side connector 51…Opening / closing engagement device 52…Rotating connector 60... Windsock component 61... Body 61a...Inlet 61b...Outlet 61c...Folded portion 61d...Welded portion 61e... Rigid wire material 61f... Folded section 61g...Welded area 61h...Drawstring 62... Overhead line material 63... Wire material holder 100...Kite with streamer 200...Pole 210... Fixture 300... Lighting device

Claims

1. kite member (20) and Connecting cord (30) and A rotatable starting end connecting member (40) for attaching the starting end of the connecting string to the kite member, The kite member is connected to the kite member via the aforementioned connecting string, and includes a windsock member (60). A kite with a windsock.

2. The aforementioned windsock member is, A body portion (61) having an air inlet (61a) formed therein, It has a plurality of overhead wires (62) that are stretched across the inlet of the body so as to intersect each other, The connecting string is attached to the intersection of the multiple overhead line members. A kite with a windsock as described in claim 1.

3. The aforementioned kite with a windsock is, The system further includes an axially rotatable end-side connecting member (50) for attaching the end of the connecting string to the intersection of the plurality of overhead wires of the windsock member. A kite with a windsock as described in claim 2.

4. The terminal connecting member has a rotatable connecting device (52) such as a swivel, The rotating connector is connected to the intersection of the multiple overhead line members. A kite with a windsock as described in claim 3.

5. The terminal connecting member further has an openable / closable opening / closing engaging device (51), The end of the connecting string and the rotating connector are connected via the opening and closing engagement. A kite with a windsock as described in claim 4.

6. The aforementioned plurality of overhead wires include some that intersect at an angle of 85 to 95 degrees. A kite with a windsock as described in claim 2.

7. The aforementioned connecting string is The central string (31) attached to the kite member via the starting end connecting member, The windsock member has a plurality of branching cords (32) that branch off from the central cord and are attached to the periphery of the inlet of the windsock member, Some of the branched cords exist in such a way that the intersection points of the multiple branched cords are unevenly distributed from the central axis of the inlet. A kite with a windsock as described in claim 1.

8. The windsock member has a body portion (61) in which an air inlet (61a) and an air outlet (61b) are formed, The body is narrowed such that the outlet is narrower than the inlet. A kite with a windsock as described in claim 1.

9. A kite with a windsock (100) as described in claim 1, A support pole (200) to which the aforementioned kite with a windsock is attached, The kite with a windsock attached to the support pole is equipped with a lighting device (300) for illuminating the kite with a windsock attached to the support pole. Lighting system.

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