US 6,705,572 B1 · Emergency low altitude parachute wherein canopy is deployed and inflated prior to use

Abstract

The present invention 10 discloses an emergency low altitude parachute having a parachute canopy 28 that inflates by the introduction of compressed gas. A compressed gas canister 30 is located within the housing of the inflatable portion of the device and is activated by an activation ring 24. The device is stored within a carrying case 16 prior to use. When the low altitude emergency parachute 14 is removed from its storage case, the user 12 attaches the attachment harness 32 to their body. A helmet 22 with breathing apparatus is supplied. Once the user 12 is harnessed in, the device is held in the front of the body and an activation ring 24 is provided as means of activating the compressed gas canister 30. Once activated the parachute pontoons fill with the gas rapidly, expanding them and unfolding the parachute canopy 28. The device 10 is then released through the threshold 26 of the escape route. When the parachute 14 has fully deployed, the parachute 14 has sufficient surface air that a user 12 may propel themselves from a low altitude structure without requiring a substantial distance before the parachute canopy 28 is able to support the user's 12 weight.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of using an inflatable, low altitude, emergency parachute to escape a structure, comprising the steps of:

a) removing the parachute from a parachute carrying case, said parachute comprising a rectangular shaped parachute canopy having a pair of hollow pontoons at opposite ends of said canopy, said pontoons being elongated and parallel to each other, said canopy having passageways in ends adjacent said pontoons for providing communication between said pontoons, a compressed gas canister mounted in one end of one of said pontoons having an activation ring for initiating release of gas from said canister to inflate said pontoons resulting in deployment of said parachute canopy, a harness wrapped around said parachute canopy in a collapsed state, and said harness having chute lines connected to said parachute canopy and straps for attachment to an upper body of a person about to use said parachute;
b) removing the harness from the collapsed parachute canopy and attaching the parachute harness to the body of the user;
c) releasing the parachute canopy through a threshold of an escape route of the structure;
d) filling the pontoons with gas by activating the compressed gas canister;
and,
e) having the user launch himself into flight with the parachute being attached to the user.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Emergency low altitude parachute wherein canopy is deployed and inflated prior to use

Life of this patent

Emergency low altitude parachute wherein canopy is deployed and inflated prior to use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10