Parachute riser assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022081120-A1
Application number	US-202017020604-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2020
Priority date	Sep 14, 2020
Publication date	Mar 17, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A parachute riser assembly for a parachute comprises a left riser, a right riser, and a curtain. The left riser is configured to extend from a canopy and is configured to be coupled to a left attachment point of a harness worn by a user, according to various embodiments. Similarly, the right riser is configured to extend from the canopy and is configured to be coupled to a right attachment point of the harness, according to various embodiments. The curtain may be coupled to and may extend between the left riser and the right riser. In various embodiments, a portion of the curtain is configured to move along the left riser and the right riser from a furled state to an unfurled state in response to tensioning the left riser and the right riser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A parachute riser assembly for a parachute, the parachute riser assembly comprising:
a left riser configured to extend from a canopy and configured to be coupled to a left attachment point of a harness worn by a user; a right riser configured to extend from the canopy and configured to be coupled to a right attachment point of the harness; and a curtain coupled to and extending between the left riser and the right riser; wherein a portion of the curtain is configured to move along the left riser and the right riser from a furled state to an unfurled state in response to tensioning the left riser and the right riser.

2 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the curtain comprises a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge is the portion of the curtain that is configured to move along the left riser and the right riser such that the bottom edge moves down towards the harness along the left riser and the right riser in response to tensioning the left riser and the right riser via deployment of the parachute.

3 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 2 , wherein the top edge of the curtain is non-movably coupled to the left riser and the right riser such that the top edge is prevented from moving relative to the left riser and the right riser.

4 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 3 , wherein at least the bottom edge of the curtain comprises a sleeve structure that envelopes respective sections of the left riser and the right riser such that the sleeve structure enables the bottom edge of the curtain to be slidably coupled to the left riser and the right riser to allow the bottom edge of the curtain to slide along the left riser and the right riser towards the harness in response to deployment of the parachute.

5 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 4 , further comprising respective draw straps extending along the left riser and the right riser, wherein each draw strap of the respective draw straps comprises a first end coupled to a respective riser and a second end directly coupled to the portion of the curtain.

6 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 5 , further comprising respective links affixed to the left riser and the right riser proximate the harness, wherein each draw strap of the respective draw straps extends through and bends substantially 180 degrees about one link of the respective links.

7 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 6 , wherein in the furled state a first length of the left riser and the right riser, as measured between the respective links and the first end of the respective draw straps, is greater than a second length of the respective draw straps, also as measured between the respective links and the first end of the respective draw straps.

8 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 7 , wherein, in response to tensioning the left riser and the right riser, the second length of the respective draw straps is increased as the second end of the respective draw straps is pulled down towards the harness, thereby transitioning the curtain to the unfurled state and substantially equalizing the first length and the second length.

9 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 1 , wherein a shape of a bottom edge of the curtain extending between the left riser and the right riser in the unfurled state is arcuate.

10 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the left riser and the right riser are rear risers.

11 . The parachute riser assembly of claim 1 , further comprising respective draw straps extending along the left riser and the right riser, wherein each draw strap of the respective draw straps comprises a first end coupled to a respective riser and a second end directly coupled to the portion of the curtain.

12 . A parachute comprising:
a canopy; a left riser extending from the canopy and configured to be coupled to a left attachment point of a harness worn by a user; a right riser extending from the canopy and configured to be coupled to a right attachment point of the harness; a curtain coupled to and extending between the left riser and the right riser; and respective draw straps extending along the left riser and the right riser, wherein each draw strap of the respective draw straps comprises a first end coupled to a respective riser and a second end directly coupled to a portion of the curtain; wherein the portion of the curtain is configured to move along the left riser and the right riser from a furled state to an unfurled state in response to tensioning the left riser and the right riser.

13 . The parachute of claim 12 , wherein the curtain comprises a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge is the portion of the curtain that is configured to move along the left riser and the right riser such that the bottom edge moves down towards the harness along the left riser and the right riser in response to tensioning the left riser and the right riser via deployment of the parachute.

14 . The parachute of claim 13 , wherein the top edge of the curtain is non-movably coupled to the left riser and the right riser such that the top edge is prevented from moving relative to the left riser and the right riser.

15 . The parachute of claim 14 , wherein at least the bottom edge of the curtain comprises a sleeve structure that envelopes respective sections of the left riser and the right riser such that the sleeve structure enables the bottom edge of the curtain to be slidably coupled to the left riser and the right riser to allow the bottom edge of the curtain to slide along the left riser and the right riser towards the harness in response to deployment of the parachute.

16 . The parachute of claim 15 , further comprising respective links affixed to the left riser and the right riser proximate the harness, wherein each draw strap of the respective draw straps extends through and bends substantially 180 degrees about one link of the respective links.

17 . The parachute of claim 16 , wherein in the furled state a first length of the left riser and the right riser, as measured between the respective links and the first end of the respective draw straps, is greater than a second length of the respective draw straps, also as measured between the respective links and the first end of the respective draw straps.

18 . The parachute of claim 17 , wherein, in response to tensioning the left riser and the right riser, the second length of the respective draw straps is increased as the second end of the respective draw straps is pulled down towards the harness, thereby transitioning the curtain to the unfurled state and substantially equalizing the first length and the second length.

19 . The parachute of claim 12 , wherein a shape of a bottom edge of the curtain extending between the left riser and the right riser in the unfurled state is arcuate.

20 . A parachute comprising:
a canopy; a left riser extending from the canopy and configured to be coupled to a left attachment point of a harness worn by a user; a right riser extending from the canopy and configured to be coupled to a right attachment point of the harness; a curtain coupled to and extending between the left riser and the right riser; respective draw straps extending along the left riser and the right riser, wherein each draw strap of the respective draw straps comprises a first end coupled to a respective riser and a second end directly coupled to a portion of the curtain; and respective links affixed to the left riser and the right ris

Assignees

• Ami Ind Inc

Inventors

• Mastrolia Bradley

Classifications

• B64D17/24 Primary

  Rigging lines · CPC title

• B64D17/30

  Harnesses · CPC title

• B64D17/00 Primary

  Parachutes (non-canopied parachutes B64D19/00) · CPC title