Collapsible cargo management system for transporting payloads suspended from aircraft

An apparatus for attaching and releasing multiple payloads suspended from an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a plurality of spaced apart corner assemblies;
• (b) a plurality of elongated horizontal struts extending between the corner assemblies, the elongated struts forming a polygonal configuration disposed in a first plane and having a central axis transversely extending though the first plane;
• (c) a hub disposed above the horizontal struts in alignment with the central axis;
• (d) a plurality of vertical struts, each vertical strut extending at an angle from a select corner assembly to the hub;
• (e) a center strut projecting from the hub along the central axis;
• (f) a plurality of tension members, each tension member extending from a select corner assembly to the center strut;
• and
• (g) a plurality of cargo hooks, each cargo hook being attached to a corresponding corner assembly.

An apparatus for attaching and releasing multiple payloads suspended from an aircraft by a cable, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a loading frame;
• (b) a plurality of payload hooks attached to the loading frame;
• (c) a plurality of support legs each have a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of each support leg being hingedly attached to the loading frame such that each support leg can be manually rotated between a lowered position wherein the second end of each support leg is positioned below the payload hooks so as to support the loading frame and payload hooks off a ground surface and a raised position wherein the second end of each support leg is positioned above the payload hooks;
• and
• (d) means for locking the support legs in the lowered and raised position.

An apparatus for attaching and releasing multiple payloads suspended from an aircraft by a cable, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a loading frame;
• (b) a plurality of payload hooks attached to the loading frame;
• (c) attachment means for securing the loading frame to the cable;
• (d) a universal joint disposed between the loading frame and the attachment means;
• and
• (e) spindle means disposed between the universal joint and the attachment means for enabling annular rotation of the loading frame and universal joint relative to the attachment means.

An apparatus for attaching and releasing multiple payloads suspended from an aircraft by a cable, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a loading frame including a plurality of vertical struts each having a central longitudinal axis, the vertical struts being positioned such that the central longitudinal axis of each vertical strut intersects at a central point;
• (b) a plurality of payload hooks attached to the loading frame;
• (c) attachment means for securing the loading frame to the cable;
• and
• (d) a universal joint disposed between the loading frame and the attachment means, the universal joint being aligned with the central point defined by the intersecting longitudinal axis of the vertical struts such that the universal joint bends at the central point.

An apparatus for attaching and releasing multiple payloads suspended from an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

• a loading frame including a plurality of spaced apart corner assemblies and a plurality of elongated horizontal struts extending between the corner assemblies, each elongated strut having a central longitudinal axis, the horizontal struts being configured such that the central longitudinal axis of adjacent horizontal struts intersect at a load point;
• a plurality of payload hooks;
• attachment means for securing the loading frame to a cable;
• and
• a universal joint connecting each payload hook to a corresponding corner assembly, each universal joint being aligned with a corresponding load point defined by the intersecting longitudinal axis of vertical struts such that the universal joints bend at the corresponding load points.

An apparatus for attaching and releasing multiple payloads suspended from an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

• a loading frame including a plurality of spaced apart corner assemblies and a plurality of elongated horizontal struts extending between the corner assemblies, each elongated strut having a central longitudinal axis, the horizontal struts being configured such that the central longitudinal axis of adjacent horizontal struts intersect at a load point;
• a plurality of payload hooks;
• attachment means for securing the loading frame to a cable;
• a universal joint connecting each payload hook to a corresponding corner assembly, each universal joint being, aligned with a corresponding load point defined by the intersecting longitudinal axis of vertical struts such that the universal joints bend at the corresponding load points;
• a plurality of vertical struts each extending from a corresponding corner assembly to a common hub, each vertical strut having a central longitudinal axis, the vertical struts being positioned such that the central longitudinal axis of each vertical strut intersects at a central point;
• and
• a universal joint disposed between the hub and the attachment means, the universal joint being aligned with the central point defined by the intersecting longitudinal axis of the vertical struts such that the universal joint bends at the central point.