Patent US4540145A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4540145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reefing system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1984-08-27
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Granted: 1985-09-10
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Expires: 2004-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A reefing system to delay the development of a parachute wing is disclosed. single line system in conjunction with a slider and a two line system are described.
Inventors
- 👤 Jon T. Matsuo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:58
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D17/00; B64D17/02; B64D17/025; B64D17/22; B64D17/34; B64D17/343
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a ram-air parachute wing having a canopy having an upper and a lower support surface attached to and separated by a plurality of ribs shaped to form said upper and lower wing surfaces into an airfoil configuration, an improved reefing system comprising: a first plurality of attachment means connected to said upper support surface at spaced points about the leading edge of the parachute wing thereof; a second plurality of attachment means connected to said lower support surface at spaced points about the periphery of the parachute wing thereof; a first reefing line connecting individual ones of said first plurality of attachment means with individual ones of said second plurality of attachment means in a predetermined pattern; a second reefing line connecting individual ones of said second plurality of attachment means in a predetermined pattern; a first line cutting means connected to said first reefing line for the severing thereof at a predetermined time; and a second line cutting means connected to said second reefing line for the severing thereof at a predetermined time, whereby said parachute wing may be deployed to open in stages so as to facilitate parachute development at relatively higher airspeeds than parachute wings of a similar type bereft of such a reefing system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a ram-air parachute wing having a canopy having an upper and a lower support surface attached to and separated by a plurality of ribs shaped to form said upper and lower wing surfaces into an airfoil configuration, an improved reefing system comprising: a first plurality of attachment means connected to said upper support surface at spaced points about the leading edge of the parachute wing thereof; a second plurality of attachment means connected to said lower support surface at spaced points about the periphery of the parachute wing thereof; a first reefing line connecting individual ones of said first plurality of attachment means with individual ones of said second plurality of attachment means in a predetermined pattern; a second reefing line connecting individual ones of said second plurality of attachment means in a predetermined pattern; a first line cutting means connected to said first reefing line for the severing thereof at a predetermined time; and a second line cutting means connected to said second reefing line for the severing thereof at a predetermined time, whereby said parachute wing may be deployed to open in stages so as to facilitate parachute development at relatively higher airspeeds than parachute wings of a similar type bereft of such a reefing system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 1 wherein said first plurality of attachment means includes a plurality of rings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 1 wherein said first plurality of attachment means are spaced at the intersections of said upper support surface and predetermined ones of said ribs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 2 wherein said plurality of rings are spaced at the intersections of said upper support surface and predetermined ones of said ribs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 1 wherein said second plurality of attachment means includes a plurality of rings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 1 wherein said second plurality of attachment means are spaced at predetermined ones of said lower support surface and said ribs intersections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of rings are spaced to be located at the intersections of selected ones of said plurality of ribs and said lower support surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 1 wherein said first reefing line connects individual ones of said first attachment means located at the intersection of said upper support surface and a selected rib with an individual one of said second attachment means located at the intersection of said lower support surface and a rib adjacent to the rib locating said first attachment means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 1 wherein said second reefing line connects all of said second attachment means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ram-air parachute according to claim 1 wherein said first line cutting means severs said first reefing line before said second line cutting means severs said second line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a ram-air parachute having an upper support surface and a lower support surface spaced apart by a plurality of ribs configured to provide a plurality of ram-air filled cells, a reefing system comprising: a first plurality of attachment means on the periphery of said upper surface at the junction of a first series of selected ones of said ribs therewith for passing of a line therethrough; a second plurality of attachment means on the periphery of said lower support surface and at the junction of a second series of selected ones of said ribs different than said first series for passing a line therethrough; a slider having an attachment means thereon; a reefing line passing through said first and second plurality of attachment means and through the attachment means on said slider and having a length to close said ram-air filled cells along said periphery and to restrain motion of said slider; and cutting means held on said reefing line and operative to sever said reefing line at a predetermined time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a ram-air parachute having an upper support surface and a lower support surface spaced apart by a plurality of ribs configured to provide a plurality of ram-air filled cells, a reefing system comprising: a first plurality of attachment means on the periphery of said upper surface at the junction of a first series of selected ones of said ribs therewith for passing of a line therethrough; a second plurality of attachment means on the periphery of said lower support surface and at the junction of a second series of selected ones of said ribs different than said first series for passing a line therethrough; a slider having an attachment means thereon; a reefing line passing through said first and second plurality of attachment means and through the attachment means on said slider and having a length to close said ram-air filled cells along said periphery and to restrain motion of said slider; and cutting means held on said reefing line and operative to sever said reefing line at a predetermined time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-09 | 1989-03-11 | 1989-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-09 | 1993-03-11 | 1993-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-09 | 1997-03-11 | 1997-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |