Abstract: An object holding and releasing mechanism for use in combination with a kite, a flight string having a first end for being held by the flyer of the kite and having a second end, and an object to be released after being carried aloft by the kite. The object holding and releasing mechanism includes a first member for being attached to the kite; a holding mechanism for holding the object to be released; and a second member for being attached to the second end of the flight string, the second member being hingeably attached to the first member for movement between a closed position in which the object to be released is held by the holding mechanism and a opened position in which the object to be released is released by the holding mechanism, the second member being held in the closed position when the flight string is attached to the second member and is held taut, the second member being free to move to the opened position when the flight string is given slack.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasably attaching a parachute to a kite to allow the parachute to be carried aloft by the kite and to be released while the kite is in flight when the flight string of the kite is merely given slack. The mechanism includes a first member fixedly attached to the kite and a second member pivotally attached to the first member and fixedly attached to the end of the flight string. The second member is moveable from a first position in which the parachute is attached to the kite to a second position in which the parachute is released from the kite. The second member is held in the first position when the kite is aloft and the flight string is held substantially taut. The second member will then move to the second position when the flight string is given slack.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasably attaching a parachute to a kite to allow the parachute to be carried aloft by the kite and to be released while the kite is in flight when the flight string of the kite is merely given slack. The mechanism .[.includes.]. .Iadd.may include .Iaddend.a first member fixedly attached to the kite and a second member pivotally attached to the first member and fixedly attached to the end of the flight string. The second member is moveable from a first position in which the parachute is attached to the kite to a second position in which the parachute is released from the kite. The second member is held in the first position when the kite is aloft and the flight string is held substantially taut. The second member will then move to the second position when the flight string is given slack.