US1877227A - Air-vent parachute - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 13, 1932. CUNNlNGHAM l 1,877,227

AIR VENTPARACHUTE Filed Aug. 1,. 1951 Patented Sept.` 13, 1932 UNITED STATES .WILLIAM LESLIE CUNNINGHAM, F SALINA, KANSAS i.

AIR-VENT PABACHUTE Application led August 1,1931. Serial No. 554,395.

This invention relates to the classof parachutes and pertains particularly to means for causing the rigid opening of the same.

The primary object of the present inveiition is to provide a parachute having means associa-ted therewith about the edge thereof which are in the form of air receiving cups and are designed tov open up immediately upon the releasing of the parachute from its container or its folded condition to trap and direct air into the main body of the parachute so as to cause the same to open up quickly. v A further object of the invention is to provide a parachute having. auxiliary. air receiv- 4 ing pockets about the edge thereof, which are positively opened by spring elements which foi-m a part of a frame, the frame and pocket being in folded condition and the spring elements being under tension when the parachute is folded.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the aceompanyiiig drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that 'the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure. from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims'.

In the drawing i Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the frame for one of the air pockets formed about the edge of the parachute, the same being in folded condition;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 'but with the frame in the open position which it assumes when the parachute has been released; Y n

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of an open air pocket or scoop;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view detailing a portion of one corner of an air scoop or pocket frame.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an open parachute of the character embodying the W present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout ythe several views, the numeral 1 indicates generally the reinforcing body frame for one of 55 the plurality of airscoops or'pockets which are formed about the edge of the parachute body. Each of these frames as shown, has an arched upper portion 1a and spaced paral-` lel side portions 1b and a cross connecting 00 bottom portion or bar 1c between the lower ends of the side portions 1". At their lower ends each of the side portions 1b is extended inwardly a short distance and then turnedl back upon itself to extend outwardly to join nu the adjacent end of the cross bar 1c thus forming the two spaced inwardly extending arms 1d and 1e which are joined at their inner ends in the 4manner illustrated. The up er end of the arms or the arm 1d is o set `70 with respect to the lower arm .for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

Associated with each frame l is an arcuate loop 2 having the side members 2EL each of which terminates at its free end in an eye 2b 75 which is closed about the outer end of the adjacent arm 1e about which the loop oscillates,

The loop 2 has its side members 2 of materially less length than the side members 1b 80 of the frame 1 and is designed to swing into a v position where it is in substantially the same plane as the frame 1, as illustrated in Figure 1. Surrounding each of the inwardly extending arms 1" of each frame is a coiltwist spring 3 which has one end formed to provide a hook 3a which engages about the adj a# cent arm 1d while the other end is extended parallel with the adjacent side of the loop 2 and attached thereto as indicated at 3b at a point removed a substantial distance from the adjacent eye 2.1. v The body 4 of the parachute -embodying the present invention maybe formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material and about the edge thereof there is formed a plurality of openings 5 of the same configuration as the framel shown in Figures 1. and v2. Each frame 1 has secured thereto 10 an edge` of a scoop-like cloth body-6 and is also secured in and to .the edge of an opening 5, the bar portion 1c of the frame l extending across the openside or mouth of the opening 5 in which the frame is placed. The lower edge of each scoop body 6 is secured to the loop 2 and the body 6 of the scoop isv so cutthat when the loop 2 is moved to a position where it lies in a plane at right angles to a plane in whichthe frame l'lies, it will assume a transversely arcuate form and pro: ject from the body of the parachute in the manner illustrated in Figure 3.

The cross bar 1c of each air scoop frame has attached thereto adjacent each end, one of the free ends of a V-shapcd cord 7 to the point of which is connected one end of a cord 8 which leads to the usual harness device 9 which-the user of the parachute straps to his body. Additional cords 10 may be connected between the edge of the parachute at points between the scoops G and the body harness 9, if desired, as illustrated in Figure 5.

In the use of the present parachute when the same has been folded up in the usual manner, or if the same is to be retained in a carrying case 'from which it is drawn when placed into use, `the loopmember 2 of each air scoop or pocket will be folded up into the frame 1 in the manner illustrated in Figure 1 and the spring 3 at each side of each frame will be held under tension. Due to the relative positions of the arms lcl and le it will be apparent that the loop 2 may assume a folded position wherein it will lie in a plane 7 parallel with the plane in which the adjacent frame 1 lies; When the parachute is released for opening the spring actuated loops 2 will also be released and lwill b e caused to assume the outwardly extended position shown in Figure 2 and thus will operate to immediately open the air scoops about the edge of the parachute body. vThe scoops will thus immediately pick up quantities of air and direct the sameinto the parachute and thus cause the same to open rapidly.

Having thus described-the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a parachute, a'main air recelvlng body having a plurality of openings through the wall and about the edge thereof, a foldable scoop-like body covering each' ofsaid openings and when o cned designed to pro- 'ect outwardly from t e main body and having a lower free edge, anda frame-like body" conforming to and-secured about said lower free edge of each scoop and hingedly conl nected with the main body.

2. In a parachute, a main air receiving body having a the wall and a out the edgethereof, a foldable scoop-like bodyv covering eachj'of said openings'and when opened designed to project outwardly from the main body and havmg a lower free edgea frame-like body plurality of openings through conforming to and secured about said lower fr ee edge o ed with the main bo y, and resilient means for positively moving each of .said framelike bodies to a position to extend outwardly from the main parachute body to effect the` positive opening ofthe air scoop when the' free edge, each of said foldable bodies being formed in a manner to extend outwardly from the parachute body to provide an air scoop, a reinforcing frame in each of said openings, a loop frame pivotally attached to each reinforcing frame andv further having connection withithe lower free edge of the adj acont foldable body, and resilient means controlling each loo frame to cause the same to swing outwar ly intoa plane extending substantially at right angles to the adjacent reinforcing frametormaintain the attached foldable body in open position.

4. In a parachute, a main air receiving body having a plurality of o enings therethrough and disposed about t e edge thereof, .a foldable body covering veach of said openings and having., an ed e secured to the edge of the opening *and urther having a lower free edge, each. of said foldable bodies being formed in a manner to extend outwardly from the parachute body to provide an aliscoop, a reinforcing frame secured in each of said openings and. having side meinbers connected by a bar at their` lower ends, said bar extending transversely of the opening, an inwardly extending palr of arms carried by each side member of each reinforcing frame, a loop body having a pair of side members each terminating in an eye and each eye encirclingan arm at one side of the reinforcing frame said loop bodyv being attached to and followin free lower edge of the adjacent foldable body, the other arm adjacent each e e constituting a stop forsaid loop when the atter is swung 1n one direction, and a spring element carried by an arm of each pair and having connection with the attachedv loop and normally acting to urge the loop to swing outwardly to .a position in a lplane extending at right angles to the attac ed frame. 5. In a parachute, a main air receiving body havlng a plurality of openings in the wall about the edge thereof, a foldable body secured to thev main body over each of sai d openings, upon the outside of the main body, said foldable body when unfolded forming an ai-r scoop, a frame secured to a free edge of each ,foldable body to maintain the saine in a desired form when the foldable body is each scoo and-hingedly connectthe contour of the unfolded, the frame being oscillatably connected to the main body, and resilient meansV carried by the main body and engaging theframe and normally urged to move the same in a direction to unfold the foldable body.

6. In a parachute, a main air receiving body having a plurality of openings in the i Wall about the edge thereof, a foldable body secured to the main body over each of said openings, upon the outside of the main body, said foldable body when unfolded forming an air scoop, a frame secured to a free edge of each foldable body to maintain the same in a desired form when the oldable body is unfolded, theframe being oscillatably connected to the main bod resilient means carried by the main bo y and engaging the v frame and normally urged to move the same in a direction to unfold the oldable body, a plurality of body suspending cords, and a pair of attaching cords connecting oneend of each suspending cord with the main body, said pair of attaching cords, being when in operative position, in downwardly converging relation and having their free ends connected to the main body at opposite sides of the foldable body.

WILLIAM LESLIE CUNNINGHAM.

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