Abstract: An Occupant Retraction System (ORS) retracts a partially exposed occupant into a vehicle. The system responds to a trigger, wherein an occupant support retracts and actively pulls the occupant into the vehicle interior. The triggering event may be initiated by a manual switch, a rollover sensor, a crash sensor, a hostile ordnance sensor, or the like. A belt, harness, or foot strap may be connected to the occupant support to pull the occupant into the vehicle interior. A forcing means may be provided by a spring, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electro-mechanical actuator. The system further includes a damper for limiting acceleration to a safe maximum.

Abstract: A dual action canopy release for releasably holding a parachute harness securement strap in a buckle. The canopy release may be activated by a forward movement of a lever arm or a rearward movement of the lever arm. The lever arm cooperates with an actuating lever having a first position, wherein the actuating lever holds a latch in a locked position, and a second position, wherein the actuating lever releases the latch thereby allowing the latch to move to an unlocked position. Either the forward movement or the rearward movement of the lever arm causes the actuating lever to move to the second position. In the unlocked position, the latch allows parachute harness securement strap to be withdrawn from the buckle.

Abstract: A flotation collar includes an exterior cover and a bladder with two cells separated by a baffle. The exterior cover includes circumferential cover zippers which unzip if the bladder is inflated, and bottle access zippers to allow, for example, CO2 bottles to be removed and replaced. Each cell has a manual inflation valve stem for manual inflation, and an automatic inflation valve stem for automatic inflation by the bottles. The baffle forms a vertical separation in a neck portion of the bladder, and a diagonal separation in lower portions of the bladder. The vertical separation allow either cell to fill the neck portion of the bladder if the other cell is deflated, to adequately carry the wearer's head above water, and the diagonal separation allows either cell in the lower portions of the bladder to retain sufficient volume if the other cell is deflated, to provide auto-rotation of the wearer.

Abstract: A water activated release triggering mechanism is removably held to an exterior surface of a buckle housing and includes at least two probes and at least two batteries distributed between independent paths, for firing a squib. The distribution of batteries between independent paths precludes false firing from a single short with the body of the housing. The triggering mechanism is designed to be impervious to Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) and to preclude false release in the presence of 20,000 volts of Electro Static Discharge (ESD). The triggering mechanism may be easily removed for servicing, replacement, or for upgrading. In one embodiment, the triggering mechanism causes the buckle to release in the same manner as during manual release.

Abstract: A parachute canopy release mechanism. The canopy release releasably holds a strap holding member. The strap holding member is released by movement of a latch, which in turn is released by an actuating lever which is protected against inadvertent opening by a cover. The cover has a cover lock which further prevents the inadvertent release of the latch. The release mechanism can have a removable triggering unit which is activated when the mechanism is exposed to water.

Abstract: A pretensioner for tightening an occupant restraint, such as a seatbelt, against an occupant on a vehicle. The pretensioner has a locking reel which is activated when a signal is sent by a crash sensing device. When such signal is sent, the pretensioner causes a rack to turn a pinion, which is attached to a reel which tightens the occupant restraint. The pinion is allowed to turn freely by holding the rack out of its sphere of movement until the piston, which controls the position of the rack, is caused to extend. The pinion turns a shaft which is connected to a locking reel through a connector which is movable between a connected configuration and a disconnected configuration.

Abstract: A slip-retarding upper torso restraint harness and system for supporting a pilot seated in a vehicle during crash impact. The restraint harness includes a pair of retractably anchored left and right shoulder webbings each having a friction area on its respective inner surface, and at least one anchored base webbing releasably connectable to the pair of left and right shoulder webbings by a buckle. The friction areas operate to prevent the pilot from sliding forward along the inner surfaces of the left and right shoulder webbings during crash impact. Additionally, the restraint system further includes a one-piece pilot suit having secondary friction areas which work together with the friction areas of the restraint harness to provide even greater restraint during crash impact.

Abstract: An aircraft crash sensor activates an aircrew safety device upon sensing an aircraft impact in any direction to minimize the aircrew flail envelope and reduce the possibility of injury caused by the crash. The crash sensor is useful in a plurality of different aircraft all having different characteristics and mounting orientations for the crash sensor. It includes accelerometers which sense accelerations along three orthogonal axes. The memory contains algorithms for each of a plurality of different aircraft. The memory also contains a program which converts the acceleration data measured along the sensor's axes to acceleration data on the aircraft's orthogonal X, Y and Z axes. These converted acceleration signals are input to a microcontroller which evaluates them, by analyzing them with an algorithm contained in non-volatile programmable memory, to determine when a crash has occurred.

Abstract: A buckle system for release of a crew member's harness from a parachute. The buckle system has a frame which holds the harness. A tang assembly holds the parachute strap and snaps into the frame. The tang assembly is held by a latch which pivots between a closed position and an open position. The latch in turn is held by a lever which includes a cavity which holds the free end of the latch. When the lever is moved to an open position the latch is released. The latch has a spring which urges it into an open position. The result is a buckle system which can be opened with very little force being exerted on the lever. The lever is covered by a spring loaded cover. An automatic release is provided wherein a pyrotechnic charge opens the cover and lever and thereby releases the latch.

Abstract: An aircraft inertial webbing reel is mounted in a housing and has a ratchet wheel. A dog is mounted for spring-biased movement into engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth to lock the reel. A spring-biased blocking cam normally blocks movement of the dog. An inertia mass movable within a chamber has opposed end mounting surfaces with conical fittings which define an axis. A linkage comprising a pair of interconnected levers each having a distal end having a conical fitting. The fittings each confine a ball to mount the mass on the lever distal ends. A sliding and pivotal fitting interconnects the lever proximal ends and provides an overcenter mechanism normally biasing the lever distal ends toward each other and against the mounting surfaces to clamp the balls within the conical fittings. A predetermined acceleration of the aircraft in any direction causes the mass to shift the balls and move the lever distal ends away from each other.

Abstract: An aviator has a protective helmet and an oxygen mask releasably attached to the helmet by a mask release which automatically releases one of the mask connections to the helmet upon water immersion. An inflatable life preserver worn by the aviator has two spaced projections mounted on its upper outer surface directly beneath the mask. These projections contact the lower portion of the mask during life preserver inflation and gradually forcibly push the released mask away from the aviator's face as the life preserver further inflates.

Abstract: An emergency lighting strip provides for illumination of the floor of an emergency egress passageway during clear air conditions and also marks an escape path during conditions of limited visibility. The strip mounts two strings of narrow cone L.E.D.s in a transparent tubular housing which is mounted on the passageway wall. The marker string mounts L.E.D.s at half-inch intervals with their beam axes aimed at the middle of the passageway floor. The illuminator string mounts L.E.D.s at four-inch intervals with their beam axes angled above horizontal. A strip of the half-inch spaced L.E.D.s, with the L.E.D. beam axes perpendicular to the wall is mounted to frame and mark an exit doorway.

Abstract: A docking target (10) includes three concentric circles (C1, C2, C3) each comprising a plurality of different color light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) spaced about the circumference of each circle (C1, C2, C3). During vehicle approach, each circle appears initially as a light spot, then a continuous ring of light and finally a plurality of independent light points at defined distances of the vehicle (14) from the station (12) so that the operator can determine distance of the vehicle (14) to the target (10). The light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) on each circle, when visible, provide attitude information of the vehicle (14) with respect to the station (12) by the intensities of the light emitting diodes (D1, D2, D3) and the geometric shape produced thereby so that the operator can adjust the attitude of the vehicle (14) with respect to the station (12).

Abstract: A double safety manually releasable strap connector employs a male and a female member and latching devices to releasably connect the same, including a rotatable inter-connecting element in the female member. A manipulating lever is connected to the rotatable inter-connecting element for pivotal movement away from the female member. A first latch to prevent the pivotal movement of the lever for rotating the inter-connecting element being releasable by sliding the lever, and a second latch for locking the sleeve against the sliding movement. The male member is adapted to hold the riser of the canopy shrouds of a parachute and the female member is adapted to hold straps of the harness for the parachute.

Abstract: The releasable strap connector has a female connector and male connector, the latter having one or more prongs insertable in pockets of the female connector; a rocking bar has cut-away portions intersecting said pockets to interlock with correspondingly cut-away portions of the prongs of the male member, and a manipulating yoke lever for rocking the bar into a releasing position where the bar is withdrawn from said prongs.

Abstract: The releasable strap connector of the type used on parachute harness, has a female connector and a male connector; one or more prongs of the male connector are insertable in fitting pockets in the female connector; a rocking bar has cut-away portions intersecting said pockets so as to interlock with correspondingly cut-away portions of the respective prongs; a manipulating yoke lever is connected to the bar for rocking it into a releasing position where the cut-away portion of the bar is aligned with the pockets and the bar is withdrawn from the cut-away portions of the prongs thereby releasing the male member.

Abstract: This box type belt adjuster includes a box open at least at one end so as to form a passage therein for a belt or other webbing around a cam which latter is supported on a transverse shaft in the box. A snap-on cap covers the inner end of the passage and encloses a space for a yoke engaging the cam for turning it in the passage. The height of the passage and the distance between the risers of the cam are so related that when the cam is turned to move the risers toward the opposite top and bottom of the passage the clearance is slightly less than the thickness of the belt or webbing whereby when the cam is so turned the belt is jammed between the top and bottom of the passage and the risers of the cam. A manipulating extension extends from the lever to the outside of the cap for turning the cam in a direction to increase the clearance between the risers and the respective sides of the passage.

Abstract: This retractable pin disconnect is shown herein in connection with the male connector member of existing hardware for parachute harness and the like. The retractable pins engage opposite sockets in the legs of the male connector member for webbing. The retractable pins are on the opposite sidewalls of a hollow body and are connected to a pair of bell cranks which latter are connected to a yoke embracing the arms of the bell cranks so as to rock the bell cranks by pulling the yoke toward the other end of the body thereby to pull the retractable pins inwardly of the body and out of the sockets of the legs of the male connector member. The body is adapted to a webbing and thus interposed between the webbing and the connector member and functions in place of the usual webbing pin of the connector member. Means are provided for pulling the yoke for actuating the bell cranks and resilient means urge the yoke so as to move and hold the bell cranks in position for extending the retractable pins.

Abstract: The Canopy Release is for the purpose of connecting the webbings from a canopy or parachute to a harness worn by a person. The device includes a male connector member insertable in a female connector member and a releasable locking device for locking the male member in the female member.

Abstract: At least one gas operated cylinder is mounted on the female connector member of the canopy release body, the piston in the cylinder is restrained in a retracted position by a shear pin protruding in the track ahead of the piston; a roll bar transversely extended in the female member has a cutaway portion to permit the insertion of a prong of a male connector member into an intersecting pocket in the female member so that when the roll bar is turned into a corresponding recess in the prong it interlocks the connector members; the free end of the piston engages a shoulder formed in the periphery of the roll bar; the roll bar may be turned manually away from the piston into position to withdraw it from the recess in the prong, but when gas under pressure moves the piston it shears the shear pin and turns the roll bar into the disengaging position wherein the roll bar is withdrawn from said prong recess.