Locking device for parachute harness quick release

Claim 1

In a release mechanism for releasably interconnecting the strap members of a personnel harness, said release mechanism having a body, a plunger journaled in said body, said plunger having a first end thereof disposed within said body and a second end thereof disposed outside of said body, the portion of said plunger within said body having a cam-forming groove in the peripheral surface thereof, a spring-biased cam follower journaled in said body so as to engage in said cam-forming groove, movement of said plunger relative to said body being defined by cooperation between said cam follower and said camforming groove, a plurality of spring-biased pin members journaled in said body member and movable up and down therein for releasably holding a plurality of said strap members, a retractor member comprising a plurality of bifurcated arms, each of said bifurcated arms engaging one of said spring-biased pin members in said body member for causing downward movement thereof upon downward movement of said retractor, and an operating button mounted on said second end of said plunger, that improvement which comprises a locking disc mounted on said first end of said plunger coaxially with said plunger, said locking disc being movable on its axis by the movement of said button and said plunger successively to each of four positions comprising, a first position at which said spring-biased pins are maintained locked by said locking disc and prevented from being depressed, a second position at which said spring-biased pins are unlocked and free to be retracted by said retractor member under force transmitted by said button and said plunger when said button is depressed, a third position at which said button, said plunger, said retractor member, said spring-biased pins, and said locking disc are simultaneously depressed so as to release said plurality of strap members from said spring-biased pins, a fourth position at which said spring-biased pins are unlocked and free to be moved downward in said body member against the biasing force of said springs for connecting said strap members to said release mechanism, and thereafter movement of said button, said plunger, and said locking disc back to said first position.