Manually released refining control

Claim 2

In combination with a parachute having a canopy, a riser and suspension lines interconnected between the riser and the canopy, reefing control means for restricting inflation of the canopy comprising at least two loops anchored to the canopy, guide means secured at spaced locations to the canopy for threadedly receiving the loops in a reefed condition of the canopy, lock means engageable with the loops in the reefed condition of the canopy for interconnecting the same to prevent withdrawal of the loops from the guide means, and means for releasing the lock means to permit withdrawal of the loops from the guide means in response to inflation of the canopy.

Claim 3

In combination with a parachute having a canopy, a riser and suspension lines Interconnected between the riser and the canopy, reefing control means for restricting inflation of the canopy comprising at least two loops anchored to the canopy, guide means secured at spaced locations to the canopy for threadedly receiving the loops in a reefed condition of the canopy, lock means engageable with the loops in the reefed condition of the canopy for preventing withdrawal of the loops from the guide means, and means for releasing the lock means to permit withdrawal of the loops from the guide means in response to inflation of the canopy, said lock means including a lock ring element through which both of the loops are threaded, a lock pin held by said loops in abutment with the ring element and a flexible retainer connecting the lock pin to the ring element.

Claim 4

In combination with a parachute having a canopy, a riser and suspension lines Interconnected between the riser and the canopy, reefing control means for restricting inflation of the canopy comprising at least two loops anchored to the canopy, guide means secured at spaced locations to the canopy for threadedly receiving the loops in a reefed condition of the canopy, lock means engageable with the loops in the reefed condition of the canopy for preventing withdrawal of the loops from the guide means, and means for releasing the lock means to permit withdrawal of the loops from the guide means in response to inflation of the canopy, said lock means including a lock ring element through which both of the loops are threaded, a lock pin held by said loops in abutment with the ring element and a flexible retainer connecting the lock pin to the ring element.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 2 wherein said lock ring element is anchored to the canopy remotely spaced from the anchor locations for the loops.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 2 wherein said lock ring element is mounted on the riser.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 2 wherein said releasing means includes a manually tensioned lanyard conected to the lock pin for withdrawal thereof from the loops.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 2 including means for anchoring ends of the loops to the canopy in spaced adjacency to each other at predetermined anchor locations.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein the guide means comprises a plurality of rings secured to the canopy in peripherally spaced relation to each other.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 wherein said releasing means includes a manually tensioned lanyard connected to the lock pin for withdrawal thereof from the loops.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 wherein said retainer is anchored to one of the suspension lines adjacent to the lock ring element.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 wherein said lock ring element is anchored to the canopy remotely spaced from the anchor locations for the loops.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 7 wherein said lock ring element is mounted on the riser.

Claim 14

In combination with a parachute having a canopy to which suspension lines are connected, reefing control means for restricting inflation of the canopy comprising loop means anchored to the canopy, guide means secured at spaced locations to the canopy for threadedly receiving the loop means in a reefed condition of the canopy, lock means engageable with the loop means for preventing withdrawal thereof from the guide means and release means connected to the lock means for disengagement thereof from the loop means to permit withdrawal of the loop means from the guide means.

Claim 15

In combination with a parachute having a canopy to which suspension lines are connected, reefing control means for restricting inflation of the canopy comprising loop means anchored to the canopy, guide means secured at spaced locations to the canopy for threadedly receiving the loop means in a reefed condition of the canopy, lock means engageable with the loop means for preventing withdrawal thereof from the guide means and release means connected to the lock means for disengagement thereof from the loop means to permit withdrawal of the loop means from the guide means.

Claim 16

In combination with a parachute having a canopy from which a payload is suspended by suspension lines, releasable reefing means for restricting inflation of the canopy, remote control means connected to the reefing means, lock means engageable with the reefing means in the reefed condition of the canopy for preventing release thereof, and actuating means connected to the remote control means adjacent to the payload for releasing the lock means to permit inflation of the canopy.

Claim 17

In combination with a parachute having a canopy from which a payload is suspended by suspension lines, releasable reefing means for restricting inflation of the canopy, remote control means connected to the reefing means, lock means engageable with the reefing means in the reefed condition of the canopy for preventing release thereof, and actuating means connected to the remote control means adjacent to the payload for releasing the lock means to permit inflation of the canopy.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 13, wherein said remote control means comprises a tensioned lanyard.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 14 including a riser strap connecting said suspension lines to the payload, and means for anchoring the lanyard to the riser strap adjacent to the actuating means, said actuating means being constituted by an end portion of the lanyard.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 13 including a riser strap connecting said suspension lines to the payload, and means for anchoring the remote control means to the riser strap adjacent to the actuating means.