Parachutes

Details Parachutes Parachutes

1999-10-08

2001-08-21

Swiatek, Robert P. (Department: 3643)

Aeronautics and astronautics

Safety lowering devices

Parachutes

C244S145000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06276638

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to parachutes and in particular to reserve parachutes.
2. Description of Related Art
Where a parachute is used to support a person, a reserve parachute is provided for use in the event that the main parachute does not deploy or does not deploy successfully. In general, where a reserve parachute is deployed, it is essential that the reserve parachute deploys very quickly. This is particularly true where the main parachute is being used for low level dropping.
There are a number of factors that mitigate against the rapid and successful opening of a reserve parachute in these circumstances. First, a pilot parachute cannot be used to promote rapid deployment of the reserve parachute as such pilot parachutes tend to fly up inside the malfunctioning main parachute causing a persisting entanglement between the reserve parachute and the main parachute. Secondly, the air flow regime in such circumstances may not be conducive to rapid deployment of the reserve parachute.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a reserve parachute comprising a conical canopy having an apex and a lower edge, the apex including a plurality of pockets which inflate on release of the canopy to deploy the canopy.
The use of pockets at the apex has been found to create a positive force to control the deployment while avoiding entanglements.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


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patent: 5388787 (1995-02-01), Webb et al.
patent: 6003815 (1999-12-01), Parker et al.

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