Buckle system for manual or automatic release of crew member harness from parachute

A buckle system for release of a harness, said buckle system including a harness loop securement pin and a parachute loop securement pin, said buckle system comprising:

• a frame having two arms and a cross member, said two arms holding said harness loop securement pin;
• a cover having a pivoted end and a free end, said cover being pivotally held to said frame and movable from a closed position to an open position, said cover being biased toward said closed position;
• a lever having a pivoted end and a free end, said lever being pivotally held to said frame and movable from a closed position to an open position, said lever being biased toward a closed position, said lever having a latch holding ledge, said cover and said lever being held on said frame so that the cover covers said lever but when said cover is moved to an open position, the lever is exposed and may be moved from its closed position to its open position but when said cover is covering said lever, the lever may not be moved from its closed position;
• a latch having a pivoted end and a free end, said latch being pivotally held to said frame and movable from a closed position to an open position and said latch being positioned so that its free end fits under said latch holding ledge of said lever when said latch and said lever are in the closed position and said latch has a tang holding tooth which is rotated into a closed position when said latch is in a closed position, the direction of rotation of said lever to an open position being opposite of the direction of rotation of said latch to an open position, said latch being biased toward an open position;
• and
• a tang assembly having a pair of arms which hold the parachute strap loop securement pin and a cross member, said cross member of said tang assembly including a tang, shaped to be held by said tang holding tooth of said latch whereby when said tang is held by said tang holding tooth, said latch is in a closed position, and said lever is in a closed position, said tang assembly is securely held to said frame but when said lever is moved to an open position, the latch is urged to move out of said latch holding ledge as a result of said latch being biased toward an open position and move to an open position and release said tang.