High efficiency, low weight and volume energy absorbent seam

A method of constructing a ribbon parachute canopy seam joint for fastening ribbons of a parachute together such that said parachute seam joint has a seam efficiency greater than 1.00, a radial seam volume to seam length ratio less than 0.10 inches squared, and a radial seam weight to seam length ratio less than 0.0025 pounds per inch, comprising the steps of;

• aligning a first parachute ribbon having an edge with a second parachute ribbon also having an edge, such that said edge of said first parachute ribbon is generally parallel to and narrowly overlapping said edge of said second parachute ribbon, and said ribbons define a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis;
• sewing a plurality of rows of zigzag stitching along said longitudinal axis on said narrow overlapping sections of ribbons whereby said first and second parachute ribbons are fastened together;
• placing a first narrow strip of radial tape, having a lengthwise dimension, on said overlapping sections of ribbons and oriented such that said lengthwise dimension is aligned along said longitudinal axis so as to cover said zigzag stitch;
• placing a second narrow strip of radial tape, having a lengthwise dimension, on said overlapping sections of ribbons and opposite to said first narrow strip of tape and oriented such that said lengthwise dimension is aligned along said longitudinal axis so a to further cover said zigzag stitch;
• and
• sewing said first strip of radial tape to said second strip of radial tape with multiple rows of straight stitching thereby affixing and orthogonally sandwiching said overlapping sections of said parachute ribbons to said first and second strips of radial tape.

A method of constructing a ribbon parachute canopy seam joints for fastening ribbons of a parachute together such that said parachute seam joints have a seam efficiency greater than 1.00, a seam volume to seam length ratio less than 0.10 inches squared, and a radial seam weight to seam length ratio less than 0.0025 pounds per inch, comprising the steps of;

• aligning a first pair of parachute ribbons having a first pair of edges, such that said first pair of edges of said first pair of parachute ribbons are generally parallel and narrowly overlapping and said first pair of ribbons define a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis;
• sewing a plurality of rows of generally parallel zigzag stitching on said narrow overlapping sections of parachute ribbons along said longitudinal axis whereby said first pair of parachute ribbons are fastened together;
• aligning multiple successive pairs of parachute ribbons each successive pair having a pair of edges, such that said each successive pair of edges are generally parallel and narrowly overlapping and said successive pairs of ribbons have a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis;
• sewing a plurality of rows of generally parallel zigzag stitching on said narrow overlapping sections of each successive pair of parachute ribbons along said longitudinal axis whereby each said successive pair of parachute ribbons are fastened together;
• aligning said first pair of said parachute ribbons and said successive multiple successive pairs of parachute ribbons together such that said zigzag stitches of each said pair of parachute ribbons are generally arranged in a straight line along said longitudinal axes;
• placing a first narrow strip of radial tape, having a lengthwise dimension, on said overlapping sections of ribbons and disposed such that said lengthwise dimension is aligned along said longitudinal axis so as to cover said arranged zigzag stitching;
• placing a second narrow strip of radial tape, having a lengthwise dimension, on said overlapping sections of ribbons and opposite to said first narrow strip of tape and disposed such that said lengthwise dimension is aligned along said longitudinal axis so as to further cover said arranged zigzag stitching;
• and
• sewing said first strip of radial tape to said second strip of radial tape with multiple rows of straight stitching thereby affixing and orthogonally sandwiching said parachute ribbons to said first and second strips of radial tape.