Delayed restraint release device for inflatable escape slides

Claim 2

In an inflatable emergency evacuation slide, a delayed restraint release device comprising: strap means comprised of a plurality of strap segments, said strap means coupling remote portions of said evacuation slide to preclude full deployment of said slide; a cord having a first end attached to said slide and having a free second end, said cord being connected to said slide at an intermediate point along its length and having said free second end formed into a laced lanyard knot, said laced lanyard knot coupling strap segments of said strap means together at an intermediate point along said strap means; and supplemental bag means associated with said cord and pneumatically coupled with said slide and inflatable with the inflation of said slide to extend said cord and unlace said lanyard knot and thereby permit full deployment of said slide.

Claim 3

In combination with a multi-chamber inflatable emergency evacuation slide, a releasable restraint system including strap means containing a plurality of strap segments for securing together the head end of said slide with a point adjacent the foot end of said slide, said system comprising a primary delayed restraint release device intermediate said strap means and operative under normal conditions to restrain full deployment of said slide until a predetermined pressure has been built up within one of said chambers of said slide to uncouple adjacent strap segments of said strap means and permit full deployment of the slide, and a secondary delayed restraint release device intermediate said strap means operable under normal conditions to restrain full deployment of said slide temporarily and operable to permit full deployment of said slide only when said chamber of said slide that activates said primary delayed restraint release device is inoperable, said secondary release device including a cord coupled at one end to said slide and having a free second end laced in a lanyard knot to couple strap segments of said strap means together, and a supplemental bag means coupled with said cord and pneumatically coupled with a chamber of said slide that does not activate said primary delayed restraint release device for inflation therewith whereby said cord will become extended upon inflation of said supplemental bag means to unlace the lanyard knot and uncouple said strap segments coupled by said cord to thereby permit full deployment of said slide.

Claim 4

In combination with a multi-chamber inflatable emergency evacuation slide, a releasable restraint system including strap means containing a plurality of strap segments for securing together the head end of said slide with a point adjacent the foot end of said slide, said system comprising a primary delayed restraint release device intermediate said strap means and operative under normal conditions to restrain full deployment of said slide until a predetermined pressure has been built up within one of said chambers of said slide to uncouple adjacent strap segments of said strap means and permit full deployment of the slide, and a secondary delayed restraint release device intermediate said strap means operable under normal conditions to restrain full deployment of said slide temporarily and operable to permit full deployment of said slide only when said chamber of said slide that activates said primary delayed restraint release device is inoperable, said secondary release device including a cord coupled at one end to said slide and having a free second end laced in a lanyard knot to couple strap segments of said strap means together, and a supplemental bag means coupled with said cord and pneumatically coupled with a chamber of said slide that does not activate said primary delayed restraint release device for inflation therewith whereby said cord will become extended upon inflation of said supplemental bag means to unlace the lanyard knot and uncouple said strap segments coupled by said cord to thereby permit full deployment of said slide.

Claim 5

An inflatable emergency evacuation slide, including a delayed restraint device, said device adapted to restrain temporarily full deployment of said slide until a predetermined time, said device including: a first strap means coupled to a first portion of said slide; a second strap means coupled to a second portion of said slide remote from the said first portion of said slide; a cord having a first end attached to said slide and having a free second end, said cord being connected to said slide at an intermediate point along its length and having said free second end formed into a laced lanyard knot, said lanyard knot arranged to couple said first and second strap means; and a supplemental bag means inflatable with the inflation of said slide to extend the said cord and release the said lanyard knot to separate said first and second strap means and thereby permit full extension of the slide.

Claim 6

An inflatable emergency evacuation slide, including a delayed restraint device, said device adapted to restrain temporarily full deployment of said slide until a predetermined time, said device including: a first strap means coupled to a first portion of said slide; a second strap means coupled to a second portion of said slide remote from the said first portion of said slide; a cord having a first end attached to said slide and having a free second end, said cord being connected to said slide at an intermediate point along its length and having said free second end formed into a laced lanyard knot, said lanyard knot arranged to couple said first and second strap means; and a supplemental bag means inflatable with the inflation of said slide to extend the said cord and release the said lanyard knot to separate said first and second strap means and thereby permit full extension of the slide.

Claim 7

The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 and further including rings secured to said supplemental bag means and entraining said cord to preclude its entanglement.