Patent ID: 7578480
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
1. A reefing apparatus for controlling the inflation of a gliding wing parachute having a generally rectangular canopy with four outer corners and a plurality of suspension lines extending downwardly therefrom, said reefing apparatus comprising: A. a primary reefing loop means positioned beneath the gliding wing canopy; B. a first supplemental reefing loop means including a first forward attaching means and a first aft attaching means defined thereon which are each detachably engaged to said primary reefing loop means to define therebetween a first suspension line reefing zone for receiving and retaining therewithin of a plurality of suspension lines after release of the gliding wing parachute and prior to full deployment or deployment into another reefed stage of the canopy, said first supplemental reefing loop means also being detachably engaged to a first outer corner of the canopy of the gliding wing parachute to facilitate reefing of the canopy and defining of said first suspension line reefing zone at a position thereadjacent; C. a second supplemental reefing loop means including a second forward attaching means and a second aft attaching means defined thereon which are each detachably engaged to said primary reefing loop means to define therebetween a second suspension line reefing zone for receiving and retaining therewithin of a plurality of suspension lines after initial release of the gliding wing parachute and prior to full deployment or deployment into another reefed stage of the canopy, said second supplemental reefing loop means also being detachably engaged to a second outer corner of the canopy of the gliding wing parachute to facilitate reefing of the canopy and defining of said second suspension line reefing zone at a position thereadjacent; D. a third supplemental reefing loop means including a third forward attaching means and a third aft attaching means defined thereon which are each detachably engaged to said primary reefing loop means to define therebetween a third suspension line reefing zone for receiving and retaining therewithin of a plurality of suspension lines after initial release of the gliding wing parachute and prior to full deployment or deployment into another reefed stage of the canopy, said third supplemental reefing loop means also being detachably engaged to a third outer corner of the canopy of the gliding wing parachute to facilitate reefing of the canopy and defining of said third suspension line reefing zone at a position thereadjacent; E. a fourth supplemental reefing loop means including a fourth forward attaching means and a fourth aft attaching means defined thereon which are each detachably engaged to said primary reefing loop means to define therebetween a fourth suspension line reefing zone for receiving and retaining therewithin of a plurality of suspension lines after initial release of the gliding wing parachute and prior to full deployment or deployment into another reefed stage of the canopy, said fourth supplemental reefing loop means also being detachably engaged to a fourth outer corner of the canopy of the gliding wing parachute to facilitate reefing of the canopy and defining of said fourth suspension line reefing zone at a position thereadjacent; and F. a reefing cutter means positioned on to said primary reefing loop means and being operable responsive to activation thereof to sever said primary reefing loop means to release said first forward attaching means and said first aft attaching means therefrom for releasing the suspension lines retained within said first suspension line reefing zone, and to release said second forward attaching means and said second aft attaching means therefrom for releasing the suspension lines retained within said second suspension line reefing zone, and to release said third forward attaching means and said third aft attaching means therefrom for releasing the suspension lines retained within said third suspension line reefing zone, and to release said fourth forward attaching means and said fourth aft attaching means therefrom for releasing the suspension lines retained within said fourth suspension line reefing zone, said reefing cutter means also being operable responsive to activation thereof when severing said primary reefing loop means to release the four outer corners of the canopy of the gliding wing parachute from engagement therewith to facilitate full deployment or deployment into a subsequent reefed stage thereof.