Air reefing system

Claim 2

An air reefing system of the type to be used in combination with a flexible flow form device, said system comprising: a first skin means of predetermined configuration; a second skin means of predetermined configuration disposed in substantially spaced apart relation from said first skin means; a plurality of third skin means disposed in interconnecting relation between said first and second skin means; at least one spor means defined by said first, second and third skin means, one end of said spor means at least partially defining a leading edge of said device, at least a portion of said spor means being closed at its opposite end to at least partially define the trailing edge of said device; a plurality of first Jordan clusters formed in said first skin means; a plurality of second Jordan clusters formed in said second skin means; a plurality of holonomic ports formed in said third skin means; a jet port means defined by at least a portion of said one spor means being open at its aft end; a jiro port means formed in said second skin means; control means operatively connected with said second skin means; and air reefing means disposed on said device, whereby said device is self-reefing upon its exposure to predetermined fluid flow.

Claim 3

An air reefing system as in claim 1 wherein said air reefing means comprises at least one biasing means disposed in interconnecting relation between pairs of said third skin means defining side walls of said spor means, whereby said pairs are urged one toward the other.

Claim 4

An air reefing system as in claim 2 wherein said biasing means is frangibly attached to said third skin means, whereby said biasing means is automatically disengaged upon substantially full inflation of said device.

Claim 5

An air reefing system as in claim 1 wherein said air reefing means comprises retention line means disposed at least partially within said device in interconnecting relation between pairs of said third skin means.

Claim 6

An air reefing system as in claim 4 wherein said air reefing means comprises retention line means disposed at least partially within said device in interconnecting relation between the outermost of said third skin means.

Claim 7

An air reefing system as in claim 4 wherein said retention line means comprises a plurality of lines, at least one of said plurality being attached at one end thereof to the interior surfaces of said pairs of said third skin means; a plurality of guide means disposed within said device and depending from substantially the midpoint of said first skin means; at least one aperture formed through said second skin means in corresponding relation to said guide means, each of said plurality of lines extending from said outermost third skin means through said holonomic ports, through one of said plurality of guide means, and through said aperture to the exterior of said device; connector means formed at a predetermined point outside said device whereby said plurality of lines are joined; and lanyard means extending from said connector means.

Claim 8

An air reefing system as in claim 6 wherein said plurality of lines are frangibly attached at said one end to said pairs of said third skin means.

Claim 9

An air reefing system as in claim 6 wherein said plurality of lines are formed from substantially elastic material, whereby said pairs of said third skin means are normally urged one toward the other.

Claim 10

An air reefing system as in claim 6 wherein said lanyard means is at least partially formed from substantially elastic material, whereby said pairs of said third skin means are normally urged one toward the other when the free end of said lanyard means is attached to a payload means depending from said device.

Claim 11

An air reefing system as in claim 6 wherein the free end of said lanyard means is attached to a payload means depending from said device and is restrainingly stowed to normally urge said pairs of said third skin means one toward the other.

Claim 12

An air reefing system of the type to be used in combination with a flexible flow form device, said system comprising: a first skin means of predetermined configuration; a second skin means of predetermined configuration disposed in substantially spaced apart relation from said first skin means; a plurality of third skin means disposed in interconnecting relation between said first and second skin means; at least one spor means defined by said first, second and third skin means one end of said spor means at least partially defining a leading edge of said device, at least a portion of said spor means being closed at its opposite end to at least partially define the trailing edge of said device; a plurality of first Jordan clusters formed in said first skin means; a plurality of second Jordan clusters formed in said second skin means; a plurality of holonomic ports formed in said third skin means; a jet port means defined by at least a portion of said one spor means being open at its aft end; a jiro port means formed in said second skin means; at least first and second fluid flow regulating means connected to said first, second and third skin means in fluid communicating relation to said closed portion of said spor means, one end of said fluid flow regulating means at least partially defining said trailing edge, each of said fluid flow regulating means being operably independent one from another; control means operatively connected with said second skin means and said first and second fluid flow regulating means; and air reefing means disposed on said device, whereby said device is self-reefing upon its exposure to predetermined fluid flow.

Claim 13

An air reefing system of the type to be used in combination with a flexible flow form device, said system comprising: a first skin means of predetermined configuration; a second skin means of predetermined configuration disposed in substantially spaced apart relation from said first skin means; a plurality of third skin means disposed in interconnecting relation between said first and second skin means; at least one spor means defined by said first, second and third skin means one end of said spor means at least partially defining a leading edge of said device, at least a portion of said spor means being closed at its opposite end to at least partially define the trailing edge of said device; a plurality of first Jordan clusters formed in said first skin means; a plurality of second Jordan clusters formed in said second skin means; a plurality of holonomic ports formed in said third skin means; a jet port means defined by at least a portion of said one spor means being open at its aft end; a jiro port means formed in said second skin means; at least first and second fluid flow regulating means connected to said first, second and third skin means in fluid communicating relation to said closed portion of said spor means, one end of said fluid flow regulating means at least partially defining said trailing edge, each of said fluid flow regulating means being operably independent one from another; control means operatively connected with said second skin means and said first and second fluid flow regulating means; and air reefing means disposed on said device, whereby said device is self-reefing upon its exposure to predetermined fluid flow.