Abstract: An improved inflatable wing and kit including an inflatable airframe, a center strut connectable to the airframe, a wing panel connectable to the airframe and to the center strut, and a handle. The handle may have first and second ends, each configured to removably connect to the center strut via connection devices on the center strut which are configured to receive the first and second ends of the handle.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing a seam on a body involves folding a seam allowance into a series of accordion folds to form a series of parallel reinforcement layers. The parallel reinforcement layers are of similar size and form a ridge. A ridge cap of flexible material is placed over the ridge. The ridge cap provides at least one further parallel reinforcement layer. The method involves securing the ridge cap and parallel reinforcement layers together with rows of stitching, with the stitching extending through all of the parallel reinforcement layers.

Abstract: A method of loading a bladder into an outer envelope of an inflatable kite involves inserting the bladder through a valve opening in a portion of the outer envelope of the inflatable kite until a valve of the bladder is positioned in the valve opening. The preferred manner of inserting the bladder into position is accomplished by securing a line to a remote end of the bladder and using the line to draw the bladder through the valve opening.

Abstract: A valve assembly for mounting on a substrate via rotational engagement with a base of the valve assembly, and a cap for such a valve assembly. A body of the cap is rotatably engageable with the base between opposing first and second terminal ends. At each of the first and second terminal ends, the body and the base abut each other to prevent rotation between the body and the base. As a result, torque applied to the cap is transmitted to the base to vary rotational engagement of the base with the substrate. A slot formed in the cap may be suitable to receive a protrusion on the base and may fork into two separate portions that terminate in opposing terminal ends to allow selective engagement of the protrusion with the two portions. The protrusion abuts against the terminal ends to transmit torque from the cap to the base.

Abstract: A wingsurfing wing, a handle thereof and a method of retaining the handle. The handle includes a member that is elongated in an elongation direction to be suitable for grasping. First and second attachment portions suitable for attaching the member to a strut of the wing extend from the member and are spaced apart from each other in the elongation direction. A fitting defines the second attachment portion and is adjustable between first and second configurations. In the first configuration, the fitting is movably engaged with the member to reposition the second attachment portion in the elongation direction. In the second configuration, the fitting is fixedly engaged with the member. The method includes causing frictional engagement between the strut and the fitting via an interference fit between a fastening portion and the strut, and causing frictional engagement between the fitting and the member to prevent movement of the fitting.

Abstract: A quick release leash which includes a flexible leash line that terminates in a male member of a quick release coupling. The quick release coupling has a female receiver which receives the male member in mating relation. A locking pin passage that intersects the female receiver. The male member of the quick release coupling has an aperture. A locking pin is axially movable in the locking pin passage and is biased by a biasing member into engagement with the aperture of the male member. When a force is exerted upon a manual release sufficient to overcome the biasing force of biasing member, the first end of the locking pin is withdrawn from the aperture of the male member and the male member is released. This quick release leash was developed as a safety device for water sports to quickly release a person from their board, but has wider application.

Abstract: A control bar stopper includes a stopper body having a sleeved line receiving slip groove that allows sleeved line slippage. The stopper body has an underlying control bar bumper. A brake body is provided having a sleeved line receiving stop groove that resists sleeved line slippage. The brake body is smaller than the stopper body and is positioned above and at a distance from the control bar bumper with the stop groove facing the slip groove. A pivotal link connects the stopper body and the brake body. In response to a control bar striking the control bar bumper, the slip groove allows the stopper body to slide along a sleeved line and as the stopper body slides along the sleeved line, the brake body pivots about the pivotal link into stop contact with the sleeved line with the stop groove resisting further slippage.

Abstract: A kite control bar having a tensioning member anchored to the bar end float and secured to the trim line. The tensioning member is capable of expanding and contracting. The tensioning member has a default state which is either an expanded state or a contracted state. When an adjusting force is exerted upon the trim line, the tensioning member is drawn into another of the expanded state or the contracted state. When the adjusting force is released, the tensioning member tends to return to the default state. This biases the trim line to force excess trim line out of the bar end float.

Abstract: A safety release mechanism for kite surfing with a safety release member by which a kite surfer is attached to the body. A locking element detachably secures an attachment end of the safety release member to the body. A resilient element urges the locking element into the unlocked position, such that upon release for the locking element, the resilient element moves the locking element to the unlocked position thereby resulting in a release of the attachment end of the safety release member, regardless of the orientation of the device, the orientation of the kite, or the available strength of the kite surfer.

Abstract: A lower back entry body suit consists of a one piece body having a front, a back, a torso covering upper portion and a lower portion that extends from waist to ankle dividing to define a first leg and a second leg. An access entry is provided into the body suit extending part way up the first leg, across the back, and part way down the second leg. This is the only access entry location on the body for the user to don or doff the body suit.

Abstract: A friction-sealed water immersion suit is described having a suit body with a neck opening, arm openings, leg openings and an entry opening. The entry opening defines an upper section and a lower section. A friction-sealed coupling is provided at the entry opening for coupling the upper section and the lower section of the suit body. The friction-sealed coupling includes a flap on one of the upper section or the lower section made of an elastomeric material and an inner flap and an outer flap on the other of the upper section or the lower section made of an elastomeric material. The friction-sealed coupling being engaged by interleaving the flap with the inner flap and the outer flap.

Abstract: A front flying line kite depower system includes a line sheath that extends through a transverse opening in the control bar. A front flying line parting fitting is non-rotatably fixed to an upper end of the line sheath above the control bar. When a manual rotation force is imparted to the line sheath, the relative positioning of a first front flying line and a second front flying line is altered by the front flying line parting fitting to untangle any twisting above the line sheath. Within the line sheath, the second front flying line is off-set from a primary axis and orbits the first front flying line which is positioned on the primary axis to avoid any tangling during manual adjustment.

Abstract: A waterproof seal includes a flexible annular tube formed by an inner layer and an outer layer of a garment and surrounding a passage through which a human appendage is intended to protrude. A first cord is positioned in a cavity defined by the annular tube. The first cord has a first end, a second end and extends more than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees around the passage with the first end and the second end exiting the annular tube. A second cord is positioned in the cavity defined by the annular tube. The second cord has a first end, a second end and extends more than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees around the passage with the first end and the second end exiting the annular tube. The first cord and the second cord cumulatively cover more than 360 degrees around the passage to provide an effective water seal.

Abstract: A kite control bar having a line guide extending with a fixed pawl towards one end. A reel is pivotally mounted towards one end of the control bar and extending into the line receiving channel. The reel has a fixed shaft with a knob on the shaft to enabling manual rotation of the reel. The reel has a ratchet gear. The reel is pivotally movable from an engaged positioned in which the ratchet gear of the reel is engaged with the pawl on the control bar thereby preventing rotation of the reel and a disengaged position in which the ratchet gear of the reel is disengaged from the pawl on the control bar thereby allowing rotation of the reel. The reel is biased into the engaged position. The reel is moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position by pushing the knob away from a center of the control bar.

Abstract: A control bar stopper includes a stopper body having a sleeved line receiving slip groove that allows sleeved line slippage. The stopper body has an underlying control bar bumper. A brake body is provided having a sleeved line receiving stop groove that resists sleeved line slippage. The brake body is smaller than the stopper body and is positioned above and at a distance from the control bar bumper with the stop groove facing the slip groove. A pivotal link connects the stopper body and the brake body. In response to a control bar striking the control bar bumper, the slip groove allows the stopper body to slide along a sleeved line and as the stopper body slides along the sleeved line, the brake body pivots about the pivotal link into stop contact with the sleeved line with the stop groove resisting further slippage.

Abstract: A method for monitoring air pressure in a kite when kite boarding is described. The method involves a first step of connecting an air pressure sensor to one or more bladders of the kite. The method involves a second step of positioning a visual display for the air pressure sensor where it will be visible to a user conducting a visual inspection of the kite to display a pressure reading as sensed by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A sport harness for use with a kite or other propulsive device having a quick release feature whereby the user may release himself or herself from the harness while being pulled by a kite. The quick release feature including an interconnection between a spreader bar and one part of a two part waist band closure whereby releasing one end of the spreader bar causes the closure to separate. A harness having vent openings. An overlay for impeding tangling of lines with a harness.

Abstract: A hollow kite control bar is provided with means for sliding access to the bar for one or multiple lines or groups of lines. Each line has one end towards the kite and the other towards the bar. The length of each line between the kite and the bar can be adjusted by pulling into and releasing from the bar, which length or lengths can be locked at multiple positions in one or more locking means fixed to the bar. The excess line length pulled in is automatically held inside the bar.

Abstract: A massive de-powering system for a kite wing used in kite boarding comprises a deflation control line that connects to a valve on the kite wing's leading edge bladder. In the preferred embodiment, disengaging the tether line from the harness causes the deflation control line to tension and to open the valve, thereby deflating the bladder. Tension along the deflation control line may also act to draw in spaced portions of the wing thereby collapsing it and further reducing the power generated by the wing.

Abstract: A massive de-powering system for a kite wing used in kite boarding comprises a deflation control line that connects to a valve on the kite wing's leading edge bladder. In the preferred embodiment, disengaging the tether line from the harness causes the deflation control line to tension and to open the valve, thereby deflating the bladder. Tension along the deflation control line may also act to draw in spaced portions of the wing thereby collapsing it and further reducing the power generated by the wing.