US3768761A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable life raft
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-26
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1991-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable life raft for aircraft crew member survival normally contained in a deflated state in a container attached to a parachute harness and provided with compartments adapted to be automatically inflated in a predetermined sequence by a pressurized gas during a parachute descent over land or water to enclose the parachutist and protect the same from adverse environmental conditions including water immersion upon touchdown.
Inventors
- 👤 R Cramer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:59
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C9/00; B63C9/06; B63C9/065; B63C9/02; B63C9/04; B63C2009/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
356 words
Protective means for automatically enclosing a crew member wearing a parachute during a descent with a covering to provide a shield against adverse conditions in an environment, said protective means comprising: housing means attached to said crew member having a lid portion and a base portion; release means for separating said lid portion from said base portion during said descent; raft means located in said lid portion of the housing having sequentially connected flotation tube and cabin tube portions to provide a framework for a floor panel and a roof panel, said flotation tube portion having a foot end and a head end separated by spaced apart side portions, said floor panel having a top wall and a bottom wall which define an air tight volume, said cabin tube portion having opposite ends connected to said side portions to create an arch-like support by moving from said foot end toward said head end in response to an inflation gas to completely enclose said crew member during descent, said flotation and cabin tube portions upon inflation have a spaced relationship to provide an opening through which the parachute extends during descent; check valve means located in said top wall of the floor panel for orally inflating said air tight volume to provide insulation against said adverse conditions in the environment; anchor means secured to said flotation tube for maintaining said raft means in a stable position in said environment; water scoop means secured to and depending from said float end of the flotation tube to provide ballast for the raft means; a flexible partition secured to said flotation tube and said cabin tube for sealing said opening through which the parachute extends upon separation of the parachute and the crew member to provide a water tight compartment; storage means connected to said flotation tube containing a source of pressurized gas; and valve means connected to said storage means and responsive to movement of said base portion of the housing means upon separation from the lid portion for allowing said pressurized gas to sequentially inflate said flotation tube and said cabin tube during descent to develop said shield.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
356 words
Protective means for automatically enclosing a crew member wearing a parachute during a descent with a covering to provide a shield against adverse conditions in an environment, said protective means comprising: housing means attached to said crew member having a lid portion and a base portion; release means for separating said lid portion from said base portion during said descent; raft means located in said lid portion of the housing having sequentially connected flotation tube and cabin tube portions to provide a framework for a floor panel and a roof panel, said flotation tube portion having a foot end and a head end separated by spaced apart side portions, said floor panel having a top wall and a bottom wall which define an air tight volume, said cabin tube portion having opposite ends connected to said side portions to create an arch-like support by moving from said foot end toward said head end in response to an inflation gas to completely enclose said crew member during descent, said flotation and cabin tube portions upon inflation have a spaced relationship to provide an opening through which the parachute extends during descent; check valve means located in said top wall of the floor panel for orally inflating said air tight volume to provide insulation against said adverse conditions in the environment; anchor means secured to said flotation tube for maintaining said raft means in a stable position in said environment; water scoop means secured to and depending from said float end of the flotation tube to provide ballast for the raft means; a flexible partition secured to said flotation tube and said cabin tube for sealing said opening through which the parachute extends upon separation of the parachute and the crew member to provide a water tight compartment; storage means connected to said flotation tube containing a source of pressurized gas; and valve means connected to said storage means and responsive to movement of said base portion of the housing means upon separation from the lid portion for allowing said pressurized gas to sequentially inflate said flotation tube and said cabin tube during descent to develop said shield.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The protective means, as recited in claim 1 wherein: said cabin tube portion, said flexible partition, and said flotation tube isolate said crew member from water in said environment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |