Abstract: A ram air canopy includes a top skin, a bottom skin, a plurality of ribs between the top skin and the bottom skin forming a plurality of cells. A leading edge of a cell includes an opening to allow air to enter the cell. A glide vent is disposed in the top skin to allow air the exit the cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissipating shock load in a parachute delivery system has at least one strip of material having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a predetermined length. The apparatus also has a piercing member having a first portion for piercing through the strip of material and a second portion that defines an opening. The strip of material passes through the opening in the piercing member. The first end of the strip of material is configured to be attached to parachute suspension lines. In a preferred embodiment, the strip of material is a strip of woven webbing. When a predetermined tensile force acts upon the strip of material and the piercing member such that the first end of the strip of woven webbing is pulled in one direction and the piercing member is pulled in an opposite direction, tension is produced which causes the piercing member to stretch and break the lateral fibers of the strip of woven webbing.

Abstract: A reefing assembly for a circular parachute having a canopy including a skirt portion, and suspension lines attached to the skirt portion. The assembly includes a tension structure bounding a central opening and having a plurality of straight segments. A plurality of cords, each cord having two ends, are each fixed to one end of one of the tension structure straight segments to define a loop, and a plurality of rings slidably disposed on each of the loops. Each of the rings is slidably connected to at least one of the suspension lines. The rings are clustered together at a central portion of their respective loops, and upon deployment of the canopy, slide along their respective loops to become substantially equidistantly disposed on their respective loops. The assembly facilitates a restrained opening of the canopy and thereby reduces opening shock load.

Abstract: An apparatus for dissipating shock load in a parachute delivery system has at least one strip of material having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a predetermined length. The apparatus also has a piercing member having a first portion for piercing through the strip of material and a second portion that defines an opening. The strip of material passes through the opening in the piercing member. The first end of the strip of material is configured to be attached to parachute suspension lines. In a preferred embodiment, the strip of material is a strip of woven webbing. When a predetermined tensile force acts upon the strip of material and the piercing member such that the first end of the strip of woven webbing is pulled in one direction and the piercing member is pulled in an opposite direction, tension is produced which causes the piercing member to stretch and break the lateral fibers of the strip of woven webbing.

Abstract: A reefing assembly for a circular parachute having a canopy including a skirt portion, and suspension lines attached to the skirt portion. The assembly includes a tension structure bounding a central opening and having a plurality of straight segments. A plurality of cords, each cord having two ends, are each fixed to one end of one of the tension structure straight segments to define a loop, and a plurality of rings slidably disposed on each of the loops. Each of the rings is slidably connected to at least one of the suspension lines. The rings are clustered together at a central portion of their respective loops, and upon deployment of the canopy, slide along their respective loops to become substantially equidistantly disposed on their respective loops. The assembly facilitates a restrained opening of the canopy and thereby reduces opening shock load.

Abstract: A projectile launch assembly includes a launch tube having distal and proximal ends and an inwardly extending dimple structure therebetween, the proximal end being configured to receive a firearm muzzle, a receiver disposed on the distal end of the launch tube and having connector structure at a distal end thereof for connection to a projectile, an energy absorbing plug disposed in the launch tube and having a proximal end portion adjacent the dimple and a body portion extending distally, and an energy transfer piston disposed in the launch tube and having a proximal end configured complementarily to the plug and having a distal end configured complementarily to a proximal end of the receiver. A bullet leaving the firearm muzzle is absorbed by the plug which is thereby moved with the piston distally in the tube, the piston engaging the receiver to propel the launch assembly and projectile from the firearm muzzle.

Abstract: A method for forming a parachute of a round configuration when deployed, and having a diameter D and a central vent of a diameter d, includes the steps of sewing together a plurality of elongated bolt widths of parachute cloth, the parachute cloth bolt widths being sewn together along lengthwise edges thereof to provide a sheet having seams interconnecting pairs of the bolt widths of cloth, the sheet having a width of about ½ D, less ½ d, cutting triangular pieces from the sheet, cutting opposite side edges of the triangular pieces to a length such that each side edge length is substantially equal to ½ D, cutting the triangular pieces from outboard edge ends to provide arc-shaped outboard edges, and sewing together the triangular pieces along the side edges thereof to produce main seams and to provide a round parachute canopy.