Parachute deployment system and method

A parachute system comprising:

• a parachute container having a plurality of flaps for folding thereof and enclosing a packed parachute within the parachute container when the flaps are in a closed position;
• a bridle having a proximal end operable with the parachute for deployment thereof, and a distal end operable with a deceleration styled parachute carried outside the parachute container, the bridle extending outwardly from within the parachute container through the folded flaps for suspension of the parachute container by the deceleration styled parachute while the flaps are in the closed position;
• a closing member operable with the plurality of flaps for locking the plurality of flaps in the closed position and thus securing the packed parachute within the parachute container;
• a ripcord pin having a shaft portion and an eyelet, the ripcord pin engaging the closing member for securing the closing member and thus locking the plurality of flaps in the closed position;
• a ripcord line operable with the ripcord pin for pulling the pin from engagement with the closing member to unlock the plurality of flaps and permit the bridle to pull the main parachute from the parachute container under a pulling force from the deceleration styled parachute, thus initiating deployment of the main parachute, wherein the ripcord line passes through the eyelet of the ripcord pin for slidable engagement therewith, the ripcord line having a fixed end attached to the parachute container and a free end for manual pulling thereof for releasing the ripcord pin from the closing member, the ripcord pin providing a pulley styled engagement with the ripcord line thus providing a mechanical advantage thereto.

A parachute system comprising:

• a parachute container having a plurality of flaps for folding thereof and enclosing a packed parachute within the parachute container when the flaps are in a closed position;
• a bridle having a proximal end operable with the parachute for deployment thereof, and a distal end operable with a deceleration styled parachute carried outside the parachute container, the bridle extending outwardly from within the parachute container through the folded flaps for suspension of the parachute container by the deceleration styled parachute while the flaps are in the closed position;
• a closing member operable with the plurality of flaps for locking the plurality of flaps in the closed position and thus securing the packed parachute within the parachute container;
• an ripcord pin having a shaft portion and an eyelet, the ripcord pin engaging the closing member for securing the closing member and thus locking the plurality of flaps in the closed position;
• a ripcord line operable with the ripcord pin for pulling the pin from engagement with the closing member to unlock the plurality of flaps and permit the bridle to pull the main parachute from the parachute container under a pulling force from the deceleration styled parachute, thus initiating deployment of the main parachute;
• and
• a safety pin carried by the bridle at a location outside the parachute container, the safety pin having a shaft portion engaging the eyelet of the ripcord pin for preventing removal of the ripcord pin from the closing member, wherein deployment of the deceleration styled parachute pulls on the bridle which in turn disengages the safety pin from the ripcord pin, thus allowing the ripcord line to pull the ripcord pin from the closing member only after the deceleration styled parachute has been deployed.

A parachute system comprising:

• a parachute container having a plurality of flaps for folding thereof and enclosing a deployment bag within the parachute container when the flaps are in a closed position;
• a deployment bag carried within the parachute container for attaching to a main parachute carried therein;
• a bridle having a proximal end attached to the deployment bag, and a distal end operable with a deceleration styled parachute carried outside the parachute container, the bridle extending outwardly from within the parachute container through the folded flaps for suspension of the parachute container by the deceleration styled parachute while the flaps are in the closed position;
• a kill line carried by the bridle, the kill line attached at one end to the deployment bag and at an opposing end to the deceleration styled parachute;
• and
• a closing member operable with the plurality of flaps for locking the plurality of flaps in the closed position and securing the deployment bag and thus the parachute within the parachute container.

A tandem parachute system comprising:

• a main parachute operable with a harness for allowing an instructor and a student to descend in tandem following a free fall;
• a parachute container having a tray portion for packing the main parachute therein and a plurality of flaps operable therewith for enclosing the packed main parachute within the parachute container when the flaps are in a closed position;
• a drogue parachute carried outside the parachute container, the drogue parachute operable for deployment during free fall for providing a desirable free fall condition;
• a bridle including a stop carried at median portion thereof, the bridle having a proximal end operable with the main parachute for deployment thereof, and a distal end operable with the drogue parachute, the bridle extending outwardly from within the parachute container through the folded flaps for suspension of the parachute container by the drogue parachute while the stop is secured within the parachute container by the flaps in the closed position;
• a closing member operable with the plurality of flaps for locking the plurality of flaps in the closed position and thus securing the stop and the packed main parachute within the parachute container;
• and
• a ripcord operable with the closing member for unlocking the flaps for releasing the stop and permitting the bridle to pull the main parachute from the parachute container under a pulling force from the drogue parachute, thus initiating deployment of the main parachute after deployment of the drogue parachute.

A method providing safe deployment of a main parachute operable with a deceleration styled parachute, the method comprising:

• packing a main parachute in a parachute container having a tray portion for carrying the main parachute therein and a plurality of flaps operable for enclosing the packed main parachute within the parachute container when the flaps are in a closed position;
• providing a bridle having a proximal end, a distal end, and a median portion therebetween, the bridle further having a stop carried at the median portion;
• attaching the proximal end of the bridle the main parachute for deployment thereof;
• attaching the distal end of the bridle to a deceleration styled parachute carried outside the parachute container, the bridle extending outwardly from within the parachute container through the folded flaps for suspension of the parachute container by the deceleration styled parachute while the stop is secured within the parachute container by the flaps in the closed position;
• securing the flaps in the closed position with a closing member operable with the plurality of flaps for holding the plurality of flaps in the closed position and securing the stop and the packed parachute within the parachute container;
• and
• connecting a ripcord to the closing member for unlocking the flaps and releasing the stop, thus permitting the bridle to pull the main parachute from the parachute container under a pulling force from the deceleration styled parachute, thus deploying the main parachute.

A method for deploying a main parachute operable with a deceleration parachute, the method comprising:

• carrying a main parachute within a deployment bag for operation therewith in deploying the main parachute therefrom;
• placing the deployment bag within a parachute container having a plurality of flaps for folding thereof for enclosing the deployment bag within the parachute container when the flaps are in a closed position;
• attaching a proximal end of a bridle to the deployment bag and a distal end to the deceleration styled parachute carried outside the parachute container, the bridle extending outwardly from within the parachute container through the folded flaps for suspension of the parachute container by the deceleration styled parachute while the flaps are in the closed position;
• attaching one end of a kill line to the deployment bag and an opposing end of the kill line to the deceleration styled parachute;
• locking the plurality of flaps in the closed position for securing the deployment bag and thus the parachute within the parachute container;
• deploying the deceleration styled parachute for altering a free falling condition, the deceleration styled parachute suspending the parachute container from the bridle attached thereto;
• and
• unlocking the plurality of flaps for causing the bridle to pull the deployment bag from the parachute container to thus initiate deploying the main parachute.