Aeronautics and astronautics – Safety lowering devices
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-19
2004-08-03
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Safety lowering devices
C244S00400R, C244S900000, C244S904000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06769648
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a personal aircraft device (“PAD”) and a powered personal aircraft device (“PPAD”). Specifically, the present invention is directed to an aircraft device configured to be ridden by a person or user, and/or cooperate and releasably connect to a user's body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The concept of an aircraft or glider for accommodating a person so as to fly in air is old. The initial aircraft tended to be unpowered gliders, and/or otherwise configured to be launched from a higher elevation to a lower elevation. For example, a glider could be launched from a tower, wall, hill, rooftop, mountain, cliff, plateau or other suitable higher elevation. These original gliders and even the gliders of today are configured to have high glide ratios to provide a slow and safe descent from one higher elevation to a lower elevation, and land unassisted. Typically, gliders have wings with a high aspect ratio for providing the high glide ratio.
A powered aircraft capable of gaining altitude was invented, developed and flown by the Wright brothers at the famous site in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Other powered aircraft had been invented and created over the decades in the twentieth century into a wide array of aircraft for numerous applications from civilian aviation, commercial aviation, military aviation into all aspects of aerospace applications. There still exists new and commercially viable conceptual platforms and applications of aerospace, and the present invention is to provide a new aircraft platform and novel applications for a personal aircraft device (“PAD”) and a powered personal aircraft device (“PPAD”).
Ganev (U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,859) discloses a sail board configured for use both on waves and in the air. The board has a substantially fixed configuration, similar to existing fiberglass surf boards, and relies on the sail for maneuverability.
Further, sky diving including free falling and parachuting have been popular in past years. High performance parachutes have been developed for providing controlled turning, increased maneuverability and/or gliding.
The ability to provide increased performance, new maneuvers and/or completely new applications for a sky diving and flying with the personal aircraft device according to the present invention will become apparent based on the description of the present invention to be provided hereinbelow. Further, the concept of a FLYING BOARD™ or AIR BOARD™ will be described hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device (“PAD”) or a powered personal aircraft device (“PPAD”).
A second object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device including a support and/or board provided with a wing, and configured to be ridden and/or cooperate and releasably connect to a user.
A third object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device including a support and/or board provided with at least one movable control surface, and configured to cooperate and releasably connect to a user.
A fourth object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device including a support and/or board configured to cooperate and releasably connect to a person, a wing connected to and extending from the board, and at least one movable control surface associated with the board and/or wing.
A fifth object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device including a support and/or board configured to cooperate and releasably connect to a user, and a wing connected to the board. The wing configured to be deployed from a substantially non-operational configuration to an operational configuration.
A sixth object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device including a board configured to cooperate and releasably connect with a user, and a wing connected to the board, the wing configured to move from one configuration to another configuration.
A seventh object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device including a board configured to cooperate and releasably connect with a user, at least one wing connected to the board, the device configured to descend at a substantially steep glide ratio.
An eighth object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device including a board configured to cooperate and releasably connect with a user, and a wing connected to the board, the device configured to provide at least two (2) different glide ratios.
A ninth object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device, including a board configured to cooperate and releasably connect with a user, and a wing connected to the board, the wing configured to change from one aspect ratio to another aspect ratio.
A tenth object according to the present invention is to provide a personal aircraft device, including a board configured to cooperate and operationally connect with a user, and a wing, the device configured to be controlled by movement of at least one body part of the user.
The present invention is directed to a personal aircraft device to be ridden by a person or user, and/or configured to be releasably connected to the user. Preferably, the connection, coupling and/or linkage between the personal aircraft device according to the present invention and one or more body parts of the user creates an operational arrangement or system where the personal aircraft device and user become one and operate as a single aircraft unit. Thus, it is preferable that the personal aircraft device according to the present invention utilizes a board, board-like or board-type support configured to cooperate with a user's body in a particular configuration (e.g. laying down, serpentine, or other suitable orientation of the user's body). However, it is to be understood that other supports other than a board can be utilized in some embodiments of the personal aircraft device according to the present invention.
The personal aircraft device according to the present invention can be utilized in a wide variety of applications. However, preferred embodiments of the personal aircraft device according to the present invention are configured to be relatively small in size, easy to store, easy to deploy, highly maneuverable, provide high performance free fall or flight and in some embodiments can obtain a suitable glide ratio for potential safe unaided landing. Preferred embodiments of the personal aircraft device according to the present invention can be configured for use from exiting the top of a tall building, for example, during an emergency, or being deployed from another aircraft the same or similar currently used for sky diving or parachuting. Thus, it is important that the personal aircraft device when releasably connected to a person can manage to exit through a doorway or exit way of civilian, military or potentially some type of commercial aircraft.
Regarding deployment from aircraft, winged embodiments of the personal aircraft device according to the present invention preferably have wings that are stowed in a manner to substantially reduce the overall width of the personal aircraft device when connected to a user to allow exiting the aircraft, and then subsequent deployment of the wing after exiting the aircraft. It is somewhat desirable that the wings are deployed rapidly after exiting the carrier aircraft while the personal aircraft device has not yet accelerated to free fall velocity to reduce stress on the user and personal aircraft device when deploying the wings. However, certain embodiments of the personal aircraft device according to the present invention, particularly those having low aspect ratio wing or short wing span configurations, can be designed to allow deployment at any time, even during free fall, or redeployment after wings are stowed in midair after a previous deployment.
The embodiments of the personal aircraft device according to the presen
Collins Timothy D.
Law Offices of William L. Klima, P.C.
Poon Peter M.
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