Parachute containers

Claim 2

A parachute container comprising a single unitary piece of flexible sheet material formed with a generally rectangular centrally located back panel, a bottom flap extending downwardly from a bottom edge of the back panel, a pair of side flaps extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the back panel, a top flap extending up from the remaining top edge of said back panel, said back panel being provided with rows of parachute suspension line storage elements, said bottom, side and top flaps being foldable over the back panel in mutually overlapping relationship to form a closed container with said top flap overlying said bottom and side flaps, said bottom and side flaps being otherwise unconnected to each other, fasteners attached to said container for securing said container to a parachute harness, separate reusable pull apart fastening means for separately, directly and independently interconnecting said top flap to each of said side flaps and to said bottom flap in their overlapped condition, said pull apart fastening means maintaining positive fastening of adjacent flaps against pulling forces in the planes of said overlapped flaps and operating in response to connecting and disconnecting forces applied transversely to the planes of said overlapped flaps for connecting the flaps to each other and for releasing the flaps from each other, respectively, and a flap pulling member connected to the top flap for pulling outwardly on said top flap to open said container, whereby such outward pulling simultaneously releases said fastening means and opens said flaps outwardly without need for resilient flap pulling elements on said container.

Claim 3

A parachute container according to claim 1 wherein said side flaps are generally triangular in shape and have truncated apexes.

Claim 4

A parachute container according to claim 2 wherein the bottom flap includes a central tab-like projection extending centrally of its outer edges and which, when the flaps are overlapped, extends up between said truncated apexes and wherein a portion of said fastening means is formed on said projection.

Claim 5

A parachute container according to claim 1 wherein said pull apart fastening means comprises a hook and loop arrangement wherein there is formed on one flap barbed plastic bristles and, on a mating portion of another flap, a looped fabric.

Claim 6

A parachute container according to claim 1 wherein said top flap is secured to said back panel only in its central region to provide slit like openings toward its side edges for exit of parachute risers.

Claim 7

A parachute container according to claim 5 wherein pull apart fastening means are formed on said top and side flaps in regions adjacent the outer edges of said slit like openings.

Claim 8

A parachute container according to claim 1 wherein said flap pulling member is a hand grip formed along the outer edge of the top flap.

Claim 9

A parachute container comprising a single unitary piece of flexible sheet material formed with a generally rectangular centrally located back panel, a bottom flap extending downwardly from a bottom edge of the back panel, a pair of side flaps extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the back panel, a top flap extending up from the remaining top edge of said back panel, said back panel being provided with rows of parachute suspension line stowage elements, said bottom, side and top flaps being foldable over the back panel in mutually overlapping relationship to form a closed container, said bottom and side flaps being otherwise unconnected to each other, fasteners attached to said container for securing said container to a parachute harness, pull apart fastening means for separately, directly and independently interconnecting said top flap to each of said side flaps and to said bottom flap in their overlapped condition, said pull apart fastening means being of a construction to maintain positive fastening of adjacent flaps against pulling forces in the planes of said flaps and to respond to forces transverse to the planes of said flaps for releasing the flaps from each other and a flap pulling member connected to the outermost of said flaps in their overlapped condition, for pulling outwardly on said outermost flap to open said container, whereby such outward pulling simultaneously releases said fastening means and opens said flaps outwardly without need for resilient flap pulling elements on said container and wherein said flap pulling member on said container is a rolled hem hand grip formed along the outer edge of the outermost of said overlapped flaps.

Claim 10

A parachute container comprising a single unitary piece of flexible sheet material formed with a generally rectangular centrally located back panel, a bottom flap extending downwardly from a bottom edge of the back panel, a pair of side flaps extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the back panel, a top flap extending up from the remaining top edge of said back panel, said back panel being provided with rows of parachute suspension line stowage elements, said bottom, side and top flaps being foldable over the back panel in mutually overlapping relationship to form a closed container, said bottom and side flaps being otherwise unconnected to each other, fasteners attached to said container for securing said container to a parachute harness, pull apart fastening means for separately, directly and independently interconnecting said top flap to each of said side flaps and to said bottom flap in their overlapped condition, said pull apart fastening means being of a construction to maintain positive fastening of adjacent flaps against pulling forces in the planes of said flaps and to respond to forces transverse to the planes of said flaps for releasing the flaps from each other and a flap pulling member connected to the outermost of said flaps in their overlapped condition, for pulling outwardly on said outermost flap to open said container, whereby such outward pulling simultaneously releases said fastening means and opens said flaps outwardly without need for resilient flap pulling elements on said container and wherein said flap pulling member on said container is a rolled hem hand grip formed along the outer edge of the outermost of said overlapped flaps.