Quick-release device

Claim 1

A QUICK-RELEASE DEVICE FOR PARACHUTES AND THE LIKE HAVING MUTUALLY DISTINCT "LOADING," "DISCHARGE" AND "RELEASE" POSITIONS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BODY; A CONTROL MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID BODY FOR ROTARY AND AXIAL MOVEMENTS RELATIVE THERETO; LOCKING MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID BODY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH AND CONSEQUENT PREVENTION OF ROTARY MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF PLUNGERS HAVING THEIR AXES PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER; A SLEEVE ENCIRCLING EACH PLUNGER; CONNECTING MEANS FOR SECURING EACH SLEEVE TO SAID CONTROL MEMBER TO PREVENT RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN ANY SLEEVE AND SAID CONTROL MEMBER; A RELEASABLE CATCH OPERABLE TO LOCK TO ONE ANOTHER EACH PLUNGER AND ITS ENCIRCLING SLEEVE; DETENT MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID BODY AND COACTING WITH SAID CONTROL MEMBER TO PERMIT AXIAL MOVEMENTS OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID BODY ONLY IN PREDETERMINED DIRECTIONS UNDER PREDETERMINED CONDITIONS; THE CONTROL MEMBER OF THE QUICK-RELEASE DEVICE BEING LOCKED AGAINST ROTARY MOVEMENT BY SAID LOCKING MEANS AND AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT IN ANY DIRECTION BY SAID DETENT MEANS IN THE "LOADING" POSITION; SUBSEQUENT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID LOCKING MEANS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTROL MEMBER PERMITTING ROTATION OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER FROM THE "LOADING" POSITION TO THE "DISCHARGE" POSITION; SAID DETENT MEANS PERMITTING SUBSEQUENT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER IN A FIRST DIRECTION FROM THE "DISCHARGE" POSITION TO THE "RELEASE" POSITION AND PREVENTING REVERSAL OF SAID AXIAL MOVEMENT ONCE COMPLETED; SUBSEQUENT AND CONSECUTIVE ROTARY MOVEMENT AND AXIAL MOVEMENT IN A SECOND DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID FIRST DIRECTION OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER ENSURING RESETTING OF THE DEVICE TO THE "LOADING" POSITION, SAID DETENT MEANS PREVENTING REVERSAL OF SAID AXIAL MOVEMENT IN A SECOND DIRECTION ONCE COMPLETED; SAID LOCKING MEANS AGAIN ENGAGING WITH SAID CONTROL MEMBER IN SAID "LOADING" POSITION.