Well I got back from the trauma surgeon a bit ago and the good news is surgery wont happen for 4 to 6 weeks. The bad news is no bugging for 6 to 8 months after that.
I sent off the drawings to the patient attorneys and got a reply from a company about making up the Q/R systems. So thus comes to an end a wonderful summer.

Hopefully he told you that the forum would likely be considered prior art if someone decided to copy your design (first to invent). In some countries it's not patentable if disclosed (public disclosure), and in others it's first to file. Guess it depend on your goals. But a word of caution if you think the patent will offer replication protection.

If I may be of assistance/perform crash testing for you this summer, Jeff, let me know. When people want to know if something is idiot proof, they give it to me. I can screw up drinking straws.:Ange09: Feel better, man.

If needed I would be happy to be a test dummy for ya as well.:frog:

I have just found this forum, so I'm coming in on this thread a bit late, but has anyone tried quick release shackles, directly onto the handles, activated by the killer straps - either on the top lines or onto the strop? then the kite could be killed with the killers as soon as the handles leave you hand?

Why yes we have

Quote:

Originally posted by Crash Test Dummy I have just found this forum, so I'm coming in on this thread a bit late, but has anyone tried quick release shackles, directly onto the handles, activated by the killer straps - either on the top lines or onto the strop? then the kite could be killed with the killers as soon as the handles leave you hand?

I have 2 systems I have been working on. One is self deploying-it is used with a QR system that will release the strop from the pulley as you raise up off the seat of the buggy. I have used this a few times lately and it works rather well. I have faith I will never fly unintentionally again.
The second system is when using a strop and QR system you just let go of the handles and the killers are deployed, as you would if using handles and killers and not using a QR.
The handles are slow as the patent lawyers and patent office are working together. The $ aspect of this endeavor is rather pricey so it is slow.

I'm trying the same quick releases we have been using on dual lines for many years - so far so good. It is the old "Mouse trap" type and works fine on the dualies, and looks to be good for the quads.

I have only recently come back to power kites after a few years playing with the other toys, and quads are potentially much safer on our narrow beaches locally (Natal South Africa) - thus I'm looking to see what has been developed over the last few years. But so far the old way still looks best .