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US4169568A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hermetically sealed parachute container

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1977-11-14
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Granted: 1979-10-02
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Expires: 1997-11-14
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Abstract

Abstract A parachute container for aircrew ejection seats is designed with a rigid dy having a reduced volume and weight, and which is hermetically sealed and filled with an inert gas to extend service life without maintenance, the container being provided with a detachable, flexible cover to permit the container to expand in volume proportional to the reduction of external atmospheric pressure. The cover is made of an elastomeric material having elastic memory capable of returning to its preformed shape as atmospheric pressure increases, repeated in operations from sea level to high altitudes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gene R. Drew
  • 👤 Herman M. Gylseth
  • 👤 William O. Van Buskirk
  • 👤 Richard V. Newkirk

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 19:28
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D17/00; B64D17/40; B64D17/42; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/20; Y10T292/205

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 157 words
A hermetically sealable personnel parachute container for attaching to an aircrew ejection seat comprising: a rigid box-like body having a mouth opening to the cavity at one side for receiving a parachute; means for securing the container to an ejection seat; a removable flexible diaphragm for closing and sealing the mouth opening; said flexible diaphragm having the property of elastic memory to enable the container volume to expand and contract with changes in atmospheric pressure; an outer protective cover detachably secured to the body in spaced relation to the diaphragm to allow said diaphragm to flex with changes in atmospheric pressure; means for evacuating the sealable container; releasable clamping means for securing said protective cover and said diaphragm to the periphery of the container; means operable upon deployment of the ejection seat for releasing the clamping means; whereby the cover and the diaphragm can be displaced from the body and the parachute deployed from the container cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 157 words
A hermetically sealable personnel parachute container for attaching to an aircrew ejection seat comprising: a rigid box-like body having a mouth opening to the cavity at one side for receiving a parachute; means for securing the container to an ejection seat; a removable flexible diaphragm for closing and sealing the mouth opening; said flexible diaphragm having the property of elastic memory to enable the container volume to expand and contract with changes in atmospheric pressure; an outer protective cover detachably secured to the body in spaced relation to the diaphragm to allow said diaphragm to flex with changes in atmospheric pressure; means for evacuating the sealable container; releasable clamping means for securing said protective cover and said diaphragm to the periphery of the container; means operable upon deployment of the ejection seat for releasing the clamping means; whereby the cover and the diaphragm can be displaced from the body and the parachute deployed from the container cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
The parachute container of claim 1 wherein said cover and said container are provided with flat portions having an annular complementary ridge and recess between which the periphery of said diaphragm is clamped in sealed relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
The parachute container of claim 1 wherein said cover includes a an annular ring on which is secured a plate-like transparent member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 105 words
A hermetically sealed personnel parachute container for attaching to an aircrew ejection seat comprising: a rigid box-like body having a mouth opening for receiving a parachute; means for securing the container to an ejection seat; a removable flexible diaphragm for closing and sealing the mouth opening; a protective cover for said diaphragm detachably secured to the body opening in spaced relationship thereto; releasable clamping means for securing said cover around its periphery to the container body and in clamping relationship to the diaphragm, said clamping means comprising a flexible, ring-shaped cable; and means operable upon deployment of the ejection seat for releasing the clamping means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 105 words
A hermetically sealed personnel parachute container for attaching to an aircrew ejection seat comprising: a rigid box-like body having a mouth opening for receiving a parachute; means for securing the container to an ejection seat; a removable flexible diaphragm for closing and sealing the mouth opening; a protective cover for said diaphragm detachably secured to the body opening in spaced relationship thereto; releasable clamping means for securing said cover around its periphery to the container body and in clamping relationship to the diaphragm, said clamping means comprising a flexible, ring-shaped cable; and means operable upon deployment of the ejection seat for releasing the clamping means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The parachute container of claim 4 wherein said cable is relesed by a pivotal fitting supported in the container and connected to a pilot chute bridle strap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 48 words
The parachute container of claim 4 wherein said cover fits within said container body, said body adjacent the mouth opening having an inner peripheral recess, said releasable means being a cable assembly which fits within the recess in a manner to wedge the cover in a secured condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The parachute container of claim 6 wherein said cable is provided with concentric wound spring segments which releasably maintain the cable within the recess.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1713224A Cited
US2467024A Cited
US2527020A Cited
US2495341A Cited
US2687263A Cited
US2659557A Cited
US2709519A Cited
US3138173A Cited
US3204810A Cited
US3943987A Cited
US4083468A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-10-01 1983-04-02 1983-10-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-10-01 1987-04-02 1987-10-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-10-01 1991-04-02 1991-10-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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