Parachute stowage and deployment

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, wherein said flaps are integrally interconnected to and extend outwardly from a back panel and said flaps and panel are laid out flat with said canopy positioned thereon prior to folding and wherein after folding of said canopy, said flaps are brought around and over said canopy and secured together.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3, wherein said deployment container is wrapped about said canopy and is secured to itself to hold said canopy and wherein said canopy is released by releasing a flap on said deployment container.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 3, wherein said suspension lines are held reefed together until said canopy becomes fully extended and then said lines are released.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 5, wherein said lines are held by a reefing band encircling same and arranged to be released by a pull on a release element and wherein said lines are released by exerting a pull from said deployment container via a trigger line to said release element.

Claim 9

A deployment container for a parachute having a foldable flexible canopy and suspension lines attached to said canopy, said container comprising flexible back, top, side and bottom flaps, at least said side flaps having pull-apart securing means thereon permitting said back, top and side flaps to be wrapped about a fully folded parachute canopy and permitting each side flap to be secured to another flap in a manner permitting said securing means to pull apart for separation of said flaps in response to expansion forces outwardly from such folded parachute within the container, parachute suspension line stowage means mounted on the outside of said container and means for locking said bottom flap in closed position on said container with a loop formed from a portion of a suspension line outside the container.

Claim 10

A deployment container for a parachute having a foldable flexible canopy and suspension lines attached to said canopy, said container comprising flexible back, top, side and bottom flaps, at least said side flaps having pull-apart securing means thereon permitting said back, top and side flaps to be wrapped about a fully folded parachute canopy and permitting each side flap to be secured to another flap in a manner permitting said securing means to pull apart for separation of said flaps in response to expansion forces outwardly from such folded parachute within the container, parachute suspension line stowage means mounted on the outside of said container and means for locking said bottom flap in closed position on said container with a loop formed from a portion of a suspension line outside the container.

Claim 11

A deployment container according to claim 7, wherein said pull apart securing means includes two elements constructed to provide mechanical adhesion upon pressing of said two elements together.

Claim 12

A deployment container according to claim 8, wherein one of said two elements comprises a plurality Of burred elements of a harder material and the other element comprises a closely packed softer fibrous material.

Claim 13

A deployment container according to claim 7, wherein said pull apart securing means is in the form of elongated strips extending along the edges of said flaps.

Claim 14

A deployment container according to claim 7, wherein said flaps comprise a plurality of flaps of a fabric-like flexible material.

Claim 15

A deployment container according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said flaps has a parachute suspension line stowage loop attached thereto positioned to be pulled through an opening in an overlapping flap whereby a parachute suspension line can be stowed in said loop to hold said flaps secured to each other.

Claim 16

A deployment container according to claim 7, wherein said deployment device includes a central generally rectangular back panel having a top panel, a pair of side panels and a bottom panel extending from the different edges thereof, and a front panel extending from the edge of the top panel opposite said side panels.

Claim 17

A deployment container according to claim 13, wherein said pull apart securing means is arranged along the edges of said side panels extending from the bottom to the top panels and wherein the bottom edges of the side panels are left unsecured to permit entry of an airstream for generation of opening forces.

Claim 18

A deployment container according to claim 13, wherein said bottom panel has an extension connected thereto opposite said back panel to overlie said front panel and wherein a suspension line reefing loop is secured to said front panel for passage through an opening in said extension.

Claim 19

A deployment container according to claim 15, wherein said top and front panels have a pair of inner side panels integrally connected thereto and wherein said pull apart securing means extends in the form of strips along the mutually facing edge surfaces of each inner and outer side panel from top to bottom.

Claim 20

A deployment container according to claim 7, further including an assister comprising a flexible skirt closed at the top and open at the bottom and secured to the outside of said deployment device and oriented to billow and exert a pulling force on said device away from said suspension lines as said device falls through the atmosphere.

Claim 21

In combination, a parachute deployment device comprising a plurality of flaps of a flexible fabric-like material, pull-apart fastening means along the edges of said flaps for holding said flaps together in a container-like configuration within which a folded parachute canopy may be maintained, a pilot parachute external to said deployment device, a bridle line interconnecting said pilot parachute and said deployment device, said flaps having reinforcing webbing secured thereto to form a harness arrangement whereby said deployment device may be pulled upon as a unit without immediately becoming pulled apart, said bridle line being secured to said reinforcing webbing, and a quick release hook connected to said reinforcing webbing for securing of a parachute canopy to be pulled by said pilot parachute upon opening of said deployment device.

Claim 22

In combination, a parachute deployment device comprising a plurality of flaps of a flexible fabric-like material, pull-apart fastening means along the edges of said flaps for holding said flaps together in a container-like configuration within which a folded parachute canopy may be maintained, a pilot parachute external to said deployment device, a bridle line interconnecting said pilot parachute and said deployment device, said flaps having reinforcing webbing secured thereto to form a harness arrangement whereby said deployment device may be pulled upon as a unit without immediately becoming pulled apart, said bridle line being secured to said reinforcing webbing, and a quick release hook connected to said reinforcing webbing for securing of a parachute canopy to be pulled by said pilot parachute upon opening of said deployment device.

Claim 23

A combination according to claim 18, wherein said bridle line is secured directly to the deployment device and wherein said bridle line extends into the interior of said deployment device for attachment to a parachute canopy contained therein.

Claim 24

In combination, a parachute deployment device constructed and arranged to contain a folded parachute canopy, a parachute suspension line reefing band constructed to be secured about the suspension lines of a parachute for holding same in reefed arrangement, a release element for releasing said band in response to a pulling force, a trigger line connected between said release element and said parachute deployment device, said band and said release element being both connected to said trigger line whereby a pull on said trigger line will release said band and free said band completely from said suspension lines, and pull-apart securing means on said trigger line for detachably securing said trigger line to itself at locations on opposite sides of said release element.

Claim 25

In combination, a parachute deployment device constructed and arranged to contain a folded parachute canopy, a parachute suspension line reefing band constructed to be secured about the suspension lines of a parachute for holding same in reefed arrangement, a release element for releasing said band in response to a pulling force, a trigger line connected between said release element and said parachute deployment device, said band and said release element being both connected to said trigger line whereby a pull on said trigger line will release said band and free said band completely from said suspension lines, and pull-apart securing means on said trigger line for detachably securing said trigger line to itself at locations on opposite sides of said release element.

Claim 26

A parachute reefing device comprising a reefing band for encircling the suspension lines of a parachute, a release element for holding said band in a closed loop and responsive to a pulling force to release said band from its looped configuration, a trigger line permanently connected at displaced locations therealong to both said band and to said release element and pull apart securing means for detachably securing said trigger line to itself at locations on opposite sides of said release element.

Claim 27

A parachute reefing device comprising a reefing band for encircling the suspension lines of a parachute, a release element for holding said band in a closed loop and responsive to a pulling force to release said band from its looped configuration, a trigger line permanently connected at displaced locations therealong to both said band and to said release element and pull apart securing means for detachably securing said trigger line to itself at locations on opposite sides of said release element.

Claim 28

In combination, a folded parachute canopy, a parachute deployment device for containing said canopy, releasable securing means holding said folded canopy contained in said deployment device, means for stowing suspension lines extending from given locations on said folded canopy, said last-mentioned means forming an operative portion of said releaseable securing means to permit release of said canopy upon completion of unstowing of said suspension lines, a pilot parachute, first connecting means directly connecting said deployment device to said pilot parachute, second connecting means directly connecting said folded canopy, at a location thereon remote from said given locations, to said deployment device, said second connecting means comprising a quick release hook on said first connecting means and a flexible sleeve surrounding said quick release hook.

Claim 29

In combination, a folded parachute canopy, a parachute deployment device for containing said canopy, releasable securing means holding said folded canopy contained in said deployment device, means for stowing suspension lines extending from given locations on said folded canopy, said last-mentioned means forming an operative portion of said releaseable securing means to permit release of said canopy upon completion of unstowing of said suspension lines, a pilot parachute, first connecting means directly connecting said deployment device to said pilot parachute, second connecting means directly connecting said folded canopy, at a location thereon remote from said given locations, to said deployment device, said second connecting means comprising a quick release hook on said first connecting means and a flexible sleeve surrounding said quick release hook.

Claim 30

In combination, a deployment container and a parachute having a folded flexible canopy and suspension lines attached to said canopy, said deployment container comprising flexible back, top, side and bottom flaps, at least said side flaps having pull-apart securing means thereon permitting said back, top and side flaps to be wrapped about said fully folded parachute canopy and permitting each side flap to be secured to another flap in a manner permitting said securing means to pull apart for separation of said flaps in response to expansion forces outwardly from such folded parachute canopy within the container, parachute suspension line stowage means mounted on the outside of said container and means for locking from a portion of a suspension line outside the container, a pilot parachute outside said deployment container and means extending from said pilot parachute through the top flap of said deployment container and connecting said pilot parachute to the top of said canopy within said container.

Claim 31

In combination, a deployment container and a parachute having a folded flexible canopy and suspension lines attached to said canopy, said deployment container comprising flexible back, top, side and bottom flaps, at least said side flaps having pull-apart securing means thereon permitting said back, top and side flaps to be wrapped about said fully folded parachute canopy and permitting each side flap to be secured to another flap in a manner permitting said securing means to pull apart for separation of said flaps in response to expansion forces outwardly from such folded parachute canopy within the container, parachute suspension line stowage means mounted on the outside of said container and means for locking from a portion of a suspension line outside the container, a pilot parachute outside said deployment container and means extending from said pilot parachute through the top flap of said deployment container and connecting said pilot parachute to the top of said canopy within said container.