The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 09, 2002
Daniel Preston, Kew Gardens, NY (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for reinforcing the nose of a deployable, ram air parachute. Stiffeners, formed of a super-elastic alloy, are attached to the ribs of the parachute canopy at the nose. The stiffeners can be easily crushed for packing of the parachute and return to their original shape upon deployment. The stiffeners are maintained in a desired shape through heat treatment or through attachment points to the rib. The stiffeners are light and add no pack volume as they are fashioned from small diameter wire into substantially ring shaped springs. The reinforcement of the nose prevents airfoil deformation due to head wind and greatly improves the efficiency of the ram air parachute.