Abstract: A backpack for a wearer in an aircraft has a rigid housing releasably storing equipment for bailing out of the wearer from the aircraft over land, water and all types of surfaces under all types of surface conditions and for survival of the wearer during, upon and after descent.

Abstract: A container and method for compression packaging a compressible article which includes use of a container having two rigid sides each connected to the other at a first end establishing a spaced-apart, parallel, and substantially co-extensive relationship between the sides. The container also includes closure means at the other end of each side for releasably holding the sides in the relationship established by the first end against the face of the compressible article held therebetween, and retaining mean fixed along the sides of the container. The retaining means has an open condition which permits compression packaging of the article and a closed condition which retains the compressible article under pressure in the container until released by the closure means.

Abstract: A vacuum-packed assembly for the compact storage of compressible survival equipment is provided. The assembly includes a compressed article of survival equipment, such as a sleeping bag, life raft, or parachute within a flexible, evacuated, heat-sealed envelope of gas-impermeable material. An outer envelope of thicker, more durable material is preferably employed for protecting the inner envelope. The outer envelope is also evacuated. If a parachute is stored within the assembly, an actuation neck is provided for allowing the envelopes to be ruptured upon deployment of a drogue or pilot parachute. Both the drogue parachute and an aircrewman can be connected to the parachute externally of the vacuum envelopes without risking vacuum integrity.

Abstract: A three-dimensional vacuum envelope is provided for storing compressible articles and particularly survival equipment such as a parachute. It includes upper and lower walls of flexible, substantially gas-impermeable material. One of the upper and lower walls includes an integral loop defining a pouch in fluid communication with the remainder of the envelope. The pouch is pivotable with respect to the envelope and may be used for containing parts which must be independently maneuverable even after storage and evacuation.

Abstract: A seat-mounted parachute employs two-way stretch material to prevent the ease cord for canopy glide control from bunching or binding.

Abstract: A reserve parachute for deployment under low descent speeds includes a rubber ring packed with the canopy and rigging lines and attached to the canopy in the region of the canopy apex and being disposed concentric with respect to a vent hem of the canopy. Upon deployment the ring expands to increase profile drag to ensure the canopy mouth faces substantially downwardly during deployment. The peripheral hem of the canopy at the canopy mouth is stiffened with a tape loop treated with polyurethane so that the peripheral hem springs apart upon deployment. An inhibitor tie is attached to a loop of the folded rigging lines within the pack to permit only a part of the rigging to be released initially; the inhibitor tie breaks at a predetermined tension in the lines to permit the remainder of the rigging lines to be released and to permit fully canopy deployment.

Abstract: A parachute container for aircrew ejection seats is designed with a rigid dy having a reduced volume and weight, and which is hermetically sealed and filled with an inert gas to extend service life without maintenance, the container being provided with a detachable, flexible cover to permit the container to expand in volume proportional to the reduction of external atmospheric pressure. The cover is made of an elastomeric material having elastic memory capable of returning to its preformed shape as atmospheric pressure increases, repeated in operations from sea level to high altitudes.

Abstract: A parachute suspension line stowage assembly kit is provided for a parach pack container that is more compact making more space available in the pack for housing other components of the parachute system and enabling a smaller size container. The assembly is fabricated basically of fabric material mounted on a rigid support plate for forming pockets for a plurality of looped parachute suspension lines. The novel stowage device is capable of withstanding higher shock loads; and is adaptable to different size parachute containers.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement in the art of parachutes. A parachute has a pilot chute and a main chute and provides that the main chute is locked in place and is not released until the pilot chute is properly deployed. This improvement may also provide for the actuating of the release of the main chute by the deployment of the pilot chute. This improvement in turns allows other improvements such as providing the individual parachutes with alternative mountings of the pilot chute for left and right handed people.

Abstract: Parachute containers formed of a central panel and overlapping flaps which are held together by pull apart intergripping fastening arrangement. The fastening arrangement is constructed such that it releases in response to pulling in a flap opening direction so that the flaps are automatically opened by the action of releasing the fastening arrangement thereby eliminating the need for elastic straps, springs etc.

Abstract: The device comprises a first gripping band of the Velcro type which is secured to a first of the parachute pack flaps and engages a second gripping band of the Velcro type secured to a second pack flap opposite the first flap. The pack is opened by an opening control device which is connected through a flexible connecting element to an edge of the second gripping band in such manner that a pull on the opening control device causes the second gripping band to be disengaged by peeling off from the first gripping band in starting from the edge. In an alternative arrangement, the first and second gripping bands are interconnected not directly but by an independent gripping band which is disengaged by peeling off from the first and second gripping bands for opening the pack. The opening control device may be an automatic pack opening strap coiled on the pack.

Abstract: A parachute assembly in which the canopy of the chute is rolled or folded to an elongated shape with the skirt at one end and that end is folded back toward the apex of the canopy. A panel of flexible sheet material having a base portion and a cover portion is attached to the canopy by the base portion and has the cover portion folded over the folded skirt of the canopy. The suspension lines of the parachute are grouped in a rope-like bundle which is folded in zigzag fashion to releasably join the cover portion of the panel to the base portion to form the panel into a casing that snugly encloses the folded skirt. The remainder of the elongated shape is folded over the casing to form a compact bundle which is releasably enclosed in a parachute container of conventional type. The folded state of the skirt end of the canopy positively prevents inflation of the canopy until the suspension lines are fully stretched out during a parachute jump.