Cruciform parachute design

• US 7,261,258 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roy L. Fox Jr
• Original Assignee: Roy L. Fox Jr
• Inventors: Fox, Roy L Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Teri Pham
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mayle; Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US11/353,356
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 244/138.R, 244139-150, 244/151.R, 244/151.A, 244/151.B, 244/152, 244/138.A, 244/32, 244/137.3, 244/902, 446/49, 446/53
• US Class Current: 244/145
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/02 Canopy arrangement or construction

Abstract

An improved cruciform-type parachute is provided for aerial delivery of cargo, with a center panel shaped as a square or other regular polygon, and first lens-shaped panels conjoined to each edge of the center panel. The first lens-shaped panels are formed of two circular section sub-panels conjoined along their respective arc segments. Side panels, shaped as rectangles or other quadrilaterals, have one edge conjoined with each first lens-shaped panel at the other edge opposite from the center panel. The adjacent side edges of each pair of adjacent side panels are conjoined to either convex edge of a second lens-shaped panel. The second lens-shaped panels are defined by three edges; two of which are defined by symmetrically opposed convex arcs joined at one end, and the third edge defined by a straight line intersecting the other ends of the arcs. One end of each of a plurality of upper rigging members are disposed along an edge opposite from the first lens-shaped panel on each side panel. The other ends of the upper rigging members converge and conjoin with an upper end of a single lower rigging member. The lower end of each lower rigging member connects to the supported cargo. Additional lens-shaped panels may be disposed between lateral divisions of the side panels.

Claims

1. A semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute, comprising:

a) a polygonal center panel having straight edges;

b) a plurality of first lens-shaped panels, each lens-shaped panel comprising a first and a second edge, wherein the first edge of each lens-shaped panel conjoins one of the straight edges of the center panel, wherein the number of lens-shaped panels equals the number of center panel straight edges;

c) a plurality of quadrilateral side panels comprising proximal, distal and two side edges, wherein the proximal edge of each side panel conjoins with the second edge of one of the lens-shaped panels;

d) a plurality of second lens-shaped panels, each second lens-shaped panel having two convex and one straight edges, wherein each second lens-shaped panel conjoins by its two convex edges with adjacent side edges of adjacent side panels; and

,

e) a plurality of rigging members having upper end sections, wherein the upper end sections of the rigging members are disposed on the side panels.

2. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1, wherein the quadrilateral side panels are of a shape selected from the group consisting of a square, a rectangle and a trapezoid.

3. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1, wherein the shape of the polygonal center panel is selected from a group consisting of a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon and an octagon.

4. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1, wherein the arc defining the two convex edges of the second lens-shaped panels is circular.

5. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1, wherein the arc defining the two convex edges of the second lens-shaped panels is elliptical.

6. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of linear reinforcements disposed on each of the side panels.

7. The semi-spherical cruciform type parachute of claim 6, wherein the linear reinforcements on each side panel are aligned collinear with the rigging members disposed on the side panel distal edge.

8. The semi-spherical cruciform parachute of claim 1, further comprising one or more vents defined within each second lens-shaped panel.

13. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachutes of claim 1 or 9, wherein the rigging members on each side panel comprise a plurality of upper rigging members having upper and lower ends, wherein the upper ends of the upper rigging members are disposed on the distal edge of the side panel, and further comprising a single lower rigging member, wherein the lower ends of the upper rigging members and the upper end of the lower rigging member are coupled.

14. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 13, wherein the length of the lower rigging member is at least twice the length of the upper rigging members.

15. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1 or claim 9, wherein the first lens-shaped panels comprise two sub-panels, each sub-panel defined by a circular section having an arcuate edge and a straight edge, wherein the two circular section sub-panels are conjoined along the respective arcuate edges.

16. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1 or claim 9, wherein the first lens-shaped panels comprise permeable interstices.

17. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1 or claim 9, wherein the side panels further comprise one or more second lens-shaped panels disposed between lateral divisions of the side panel.

18. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 1 or claim 9, wherein the side panels further comprise one or more third lens-shaped panels disposed between lateral divisions of the side panel, wherein each third lens-shaped panel has a shape defined by two symmetric convex edges, each convex edge having a first end coincident with either end of a first straight edge, and each having a second end coincident with either end of a second straight edge, wherein the first and second straight edges are parallel.

9. A semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute, comprising:

a) a square center panel having four straight edges;

b) four equal first lens-shaped panels, each first lens-shaped panel comprising a first and a second edge, wherein the first edge of each first lens-shaped panel conjoins one of the straight edges of the center panel, wherein the number of first lens-shaped panels equals the number of center panel straight edges;

c) four equal quadrilateral side panels comprising straight proximal, distal and two side edges, wherein the proximal edge of each side panel conjoins with the second edge of one of the first lens-shaped panels;

d) four second lens-shaped panels, each second lens-shaped panel having two convex and one straight edges, wherein each second lens-shaped panel conjoins by its convex edges with adjacent side edges of adjacent side panels;

e) a plurality of rigging members having upper and lower ends, wherein the upper ends of an equal number of rigging members are disposed on the distal edge of each side panel;

wherein the quadrilateral side panels further comprise a plurality of linear reinforcements disposed on each side panel collinear with the rigging members disposed on the distal edge of the side panel.

10. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 9, wherein the shape of the quadrilateral side panels is selected from the group consisting of a square, a rectangle and a trapezoid.

11. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 9, wherein the arcs defining the two convex edges of the second lens-shaped panels are circular.

12. The semi-spherical cruciform-type parachute of claim 9, wherein the arcs defining the two convex edges of the second lens-shaped panels are elliptical.