Patents by Inventor Elek Puskas

Elek Puskas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5839695
    Abstract: An improved cruciform or cross parachute, especially for personnel use, is disclosed. The central section and canopy arms are made from a zero or near zero porosity fabric, and air from underneath the canopy is vented as air venting jets through generally horizontal openings in each of the four lateral arms of the canopy. The generally horizontal openings are centrally located in the upper half of the lateral arms, preferably spaced inwardly 20% of the arm width from the arm edges and preferably at a transition point in the upper part of the arm where a tangent line intersecting the arm surface is approximately 45.degree. from the vertical axis of the parachute. Also, preferably, the opening is formed by horizontal slits. The central section can be made from the standard square crown configuration or, alternatively, effectively enlarged by removing small triangular sections at each of the four corners of the otherwise square crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Para-Flite, Inc.
    Inventor: Elek Puskas
  • Patent number: 5174528
    Abstract: A ram air parachute has a crescent planform shape. A plurality of longitudinal ram air cells (14) are formed by spaced ribs (16) extending longitudinally between and connecting the upper surface (2) and lower surface (4) and have openings at the forward ends thereof adjacent the leading edge 8 to allow ram air to enter the cells when the parachute is deployed in use. A plurality of shroud lines (16) are connected to the loewr surface at spaced positions thereon. The leading edge has a shape substantially in the form of half the perimeter of a first ellipse and the trailing edge has a shape substantially in the form of half the perimeter of a second ellipse having the same major axis as the first ellipse but a shorter minor axis. The spacing between the ribs gradually decreases from the central to the outer regions of the canopy and the spacing between adjacent ribs is a function of the cosine of the sweep angle of the leading edge between adjacent ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventor: Elek Puskas
  • Patent number: 5005785
    Abstract: A slider type of reefing device physically restricts opening of a parachute canopy through its suspension lines, and hingedly mounts a flow deflecting flap to aerodynamically divert the inflow of inflating air to a ram-air inflated airfoil canopy. Aerodynamic drag of a slider baffle retards descent of the reefing slider and flow deflecting flap on the suspension lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Para-Flite, Inc.
    Inventor: Elek Puskas
  • Patent number: 4730796
    Abstract: An airfoil-shaped canopy of a ram air inflated parachute has load point attachments spaced chordwise along all of the ribs which internally separate the inflating air cells. Each load suspension line extending from a payload riser is connected through a load distributing system to at least four canopy load points consisting of a chordwise spaced pair and a spanwise spaced pair of attachments to the canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Para-Flite, Inc.
    Inventor: Elek Puskas
  • Patent number: 4557439
    Abstract: Lateral forces exerted on an air inflated, airfoil canopy of an aerial device during towline launching are balanced by slidable displacement of the coupling between the towline and a flexible guide attached at spaced locations to the aerial device. The flexible guide has a triangular configuration to control the distribution of towing force components and corresponding changes in orientation of the aerial device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Para-Flite, Inc.
    Inventor: Elek Puskas
  • Patent number: 4470567
    Abstract: The outer airfoil surface portions of a forward gliding type parachute canopy are made from one-piece flexible panels secured to each other along seams extending in transverse intersecting relation to the seams connecting spaced ribs to the outer surface portions to form internal airflow channels. Each panel is substantially equal in length to the spanwise dimension of the canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Para-Flite, Inc.
    Inventor: Elek Puskas