Three-ring parachute canopy release

A parachute canopy release comprising a harness strap and a parachute riser. The parachute riser has a terminal end connected to a riser ring. The harness strap has a connector assembly comprising a ring assembly and a latch assembly. The ring assembly has a middle ring and a small ring secured to the harness strap at middle and small ring securing straps, respectively. The latch assembly has a base and a latch slide engaging the base. The middle ring is inserted through an inner diameter of the riser ring, the small ring is inserted through an inner diameter of the middle ring, and the latch slide is manipulated such that the small ring is retained intermediate said base and an interior surface of said latch slide when said parachute riser is releasably connected to said harness strap.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure is directed to an apparatus for releasably joining two lengths of material such as webbing. More particularly, the disclosure is directed to an apparatus for connecting and releasing a parachute canopy from a parachutist's harness strap.

Two-action parachute canopy release configurations are generally easier to rig than the tab and grommet configuration of conventional three-ring parachute canopy releases. Despite their easy assembly, two-action configurations may require considerable strength to release in extreme conditions. The conventional three-ring configuration uses a high mechanical advantage to reduce operating loads and thereby gain a weight advantage over two-action configurations. Since two-action configurations inherently lack the strong retention capabilities of the conventional three-ring configuration, parachute canopy release mechanisms employing the two-action configuration are heavier as they must be made of high strength steel to provide the requisite structural integrity.

SUMMARY

The three-ring parachute canopy release disclosed herein generally comprises a harness strap, a parachute riser, and a connector assembly. The parachute riser is connected at one end to the parachute canopy, and at the other end the riser terminates in a riser ring. The connector assembly is attached to the harness strap and comprises a ring assembly having a middle ring, a small ring, and securing straps attaching the middle ring and the small ring to the harness strap. The middle ring is sized to be receivable within the inner diameter of the riser ring. Similarly, the small ring is sized to be receivable within the inner diameter of the middle ring.

Additionally, the connector assembly comprises a latch assembly which secures the small ring in a ring fastening channel of a latch assembly base. A latch slide and safety lever of the latch assembly are attached to the base and manipulable between a released position and a fastened position. When the latch assembly is configured in the fastened position, the latch slide covers the ring fastening channel. When the latch assembly is configured in the released position, the latch slide covers the safety lever.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Though the description generally refers to an apparatus for attaching and releasing a parachute to a harness strap, the three-ring configuration disclosed herein may be used in any application where two lengths of material must be releasably affixed.

Referring to the drawings, the parachute canopy release mechanism10generally includes a parachute riser12, a harness strap14, and a connector assembly16. The riser12is preferably constructed from nylon webbing, and provides an attachment point between a parachute (not shown) and the harness strap14. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the parachute riser terminates in a riser ring18. The riser ring18has an outer and an inner diameter. The riser ring18may be attached to the riser using any of the methods known in the art, for example, looping the end of the riser around the ring and securing the end of the riser in a loop via a stitched connection, as illustrated in the figures.

The connector assembly16further comprises a ring assembly20and a latch assembly22. A middle ring24of the ring assembly20provides a first attachment point between the riser12and the connector assembly16. The middle ring24has an outer and an inner diameter. The outer diameter of the middle ring24is smaller than the inner diameter of the riser ring18so that the middle ring24may pass through the riser ring18. A middle ring securing strap26loops around the middle ring24and secures the middle ring24to the harness strap14.

A small ring28provides a second attachment point between the riser12and connector assembly16. The small ring28has an outer and an inner diameter. The outer diameter of the small ring28is smaller than the inner diameter of the middle ring24so that the small ring28may pass through the middle ring24. A small ring securing strap30loops around the small ring28and secures the small ring28to the harness strap14. The small ring securing strap30and middle ring securing strap26are secured to the harness strap14so as to position the small ring24adjacent the middle ring28. In the embodiments depicted in the figures, the middle ring securing strap26is stitched to the exterior surface of the harness strap14. The small ring securing strap30is stitched to the surface of the middle ring securing strap26at a point intermediate the middle ring24and the end of the middle ring securing strap26.

The riser ring18, middle ring24, and small ring28may be constructed of aluminum, titanium, steel, or any high strength rigid material capable of maintaining its original form when repeatedly subjected to high tension forces.

The latch assembly22is secured to the harness strap14adjacent the small ring28and includes base32, latch slide34, and safety lever36. The base32has an elongate body and may be made of the same material as the rings. At the end adjacent the small ring28, a ring fastening channel38is formed in the base32. The ring fastening channel38is sized to receive the small ring28.FIG. 2shows the ring fastening channel38embodied as an arcuate groove defined in the base32.

The latch slide34, which in a preferred embodiment is spring-loaded, has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The latch slide34engages retention ledges40configured along the base32at a cavity defined between the base32and the surface of the harness strap14. The latch slide34is manipulable between a fastened and released position by moving the slide34along the retention ledges40. In the fastened position, the slide34covers the ring fastening channel38to thereby capture the small ring28, while in the released position the slide covers the safety lever. The embodiment of the latch slide34illustrated in the figures also shows the slide34having a fastening ledge42projecting from the exterior surface. The fastening ledge42improves the manipulability of the latch slide34, allowing a parachutist to efficiently fasten or release the connector assembly16with one hand.

The safety lever36is installed in the base32at the end opposite the ring fastening channel38. In the embodiments depicted in the figures, the safety lever36is generally L-shaped and is pivotable around an attachment axis formed in the base32. The safety lever36is spring loaded, and received in a safety lever cavity44when the latch assembly22is configured in the released position. When in the released position the interior surface of the latch slide34prevents the safety lever spring (not shown) from pivoting the safety lever36about the attachment axis.

The three-ring parachute canopy release is fastened by sequentially securing the rings within one another. The riser ring18is secured by the middle ring securing strap26after inserting the middle ring24within the inner diameter of the riser ring18. The middle ring24is secured by the small ring securing strap30after inserting the small ring28within the inner diameter of the middle ring24. The small ring28is then secured in the latch assembly22by inserting the small ring28in the ring fastening channel38.

Once the small ring28is secured in the ring fastening channel38, the latch slide34is maneuvered into the fastened position via the fastening ledge42, so that the latch slide34covers the fastening channel38. When the latch slide34is positioned thus, the interior surface of the slide34captures the small ring28within the ring fastening channel38. After the latch slide34is maneuvered over the fastening channel38, the safety lever spring (not shown) pivots the safety lever36about the attachment axis in the base32. Once pivoted about the attachment axis, the safety lever36engages the fastening ledge42. The safety lever36, safety lever spring (not shown), and the attachment axis function to prevent the latch slide34from returning to the released position.

The three-ring parachute canopy release is maneuvered into the released position by first pivoting the safety lever36about the attachment axis. Once the safety lever36is pivoted into the safety lever cavity44, the latch slide34is maneuvered over the safety lever36. Though release of the latch assembly22is described as a two-step process, a parachutist may release the latch assembly with one hand by pinching or forcing together the safety lever36and the fastening ledge42.

Once the latch assembly is maneuvered into the released position the ring assembly20is quickly disengaged in cascade fashion. First the small ring28is removed from the ring fastening channel. Next the small ring securing strap30and small ring28are removed from the inner diameter of the middle ring24. Subsequently, the middle ring securing strap26and middle ring are removed from the inner diameter of the riser ring18. Once the middle ring24is removed from the inner diameter of the riser ring18, the parachute is effectively released from the harness14.

While a preferred embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claimed coverage.