# US 5,344,203 A · Aerodynamically-stabilized collapsible personnel and cargo basket for helicopters

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- Number: US 5,344,203 A
- Document ID: US5344203A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/002,829
- Filed: 1993-01-08
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1992-03-09
- Inventors: Donald J. Tollenaere
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344203A

## CPC

- B66F 11/04: for movable platforms or cabins, e.g. on vehicles, permitting workmen to place themselves in any desired position for carrying out required operations ({Working platforms on fork-lift trucks B66F9/127; } vehicle aspects of service vehicles B60P3/14; platforms for cleaning windows A47L3/02; devices for rescuing persons from buildings A62B1/02; liftable or lowerable platforms for use on ladders E06C7/16; maintenance travellers for bridges E01D19/10; scaffolds on an extensible sub-structure E04G1/22)
- B64D 1/22: Taking-up articles from earth's surface
- B65D 7/26: {with all parts hinged together}
- B65D 88/522: {all side walls hingedly connected to each other or to another component of the container}
- B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

An aerodynamically-stable collapsible basket for carrying a load suspended from a helicopter having a loaded and an unloaded flight mode is provided. The collapsible basket comprises a grated floor, mesh sides and a lifting harness assembly. The floor supports the load and comprises a rectangular bottom frame and a grate having four ends. Each end of the grate connects to a different side of the rectangular bottom frame. Apparatus for aerodynamically stabilizing the basket comprises collapsible side-frame assembly having four rectangular side frames pivotally mounted to different sides of the rectangular bottom frame. Stabilization of the basket results from airflow patterns developed by mesh screen sides attached to the basket and the floor grating. Apparatus for attaching the basket to the helicopter comprises two pairs of hooks, each pair being oppositely attached to the top ends of two oppositely-facing side frames.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An elongated rectangular basket having vertical sides and an elongated bottom frame and floor with a short dimension and a long dimension for carrying a load suspended from a helicopter comprising:
a. means for supporting the load;
b. means for aerodynamically stabilizing the basket for both unloaded and loaded configurations during high speed transport comprising aerodynamic slats aligned across the short dimension of the floor, thereby providing an empty flight mode with the basket aligned longwise in the direction of flight and further comprising mesh screen on the vertical sides, thereby providing a second stable flight mode for loaded flight with the basket aligned with the long dimension crosswise to the direction of flight; and
c. means for attaching the basket to the helicopter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An elongated rectangular basket according to claim 1, wherein the bottom frame is rectangular having the long dimension approximately twice the length of the short dimension.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An elongated rectangular basket according to claim 1, wherein said means for aerodynamically stabilizing the basket comprises a collapsible side-frame assembly, said collapsible side-frame assembly comprising four side frames, each side frame pivotally mounted to different sides of a bottom frame.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An elongated rectangular basket according to claim 3, wherein each side frame is rectangular.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An elongated rectangular basket according to claim 1, wherein said means for attaching the basket to a helicopter comprises two pairs of hooks, each pair being oppositely attached to the top ends of two oppositely-facing side frames of the basket.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

An elongated rectangular basket according to claim 5, wherein said means for attaching further comprises a harness and spreader assembly.

### Claim 7

An elongated rectangular basket for carrying a load suspended from a helicopter comprising:
a. an elongated rectangular bottom frame and a floor having a plurality of slats;
b. a collapsible side-frame assembly and four mesh screens, said collapsible side-frame assembly comprising four rectangular side frames, each side frame pivotally mounted to different sides of the rectangular bottom frame, each mesh screen connected to a different side frame, thereby providing turbulent and separated airflow ahead and around the load such that two stable flight modes are provided, an empty flight mode with the basket aligned longwise in the direction of flight and a loaded flight mode with the basket aligned crosswise to the direction of flight;
c. two pairs of hooks for attaching the basket to a suspension harness, each pair being oppositely attached to the top ends of two oppositely-facing side frames; and
d. a suspension harness having a spreader assembly to separate suspension lines leading to the basket hooks and a ring assembly for attachment to the helicopter lifting point.