AU701074B2 - Glider - Google Patents

Description

-1-

GLIDER

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to skydiving and, in particular, to a glider adapted to be ridden by a skydiver to increase the gliding time prior to the opening of the parachute.

Background of the Invention Skydivers have been known to leap from aeroplanes with surfboard shaped devices strapped to their feet. These devices provide, to a limited degree, a means of gliding to increase the freefall time of the skydiver prior to the opening of the parachute. However, the extra wind resistance caused by the skydiver's body standing on top of the surfboard means that the speed, lift and the glide time provided by these surfboard type devices is limited.

,ooo Summary of the Invention The present invention in one broad form provides a glider device adapted to be 15 ridden by a skydiver, said device comprising: a body section and two wings extending outwardly from said body section, said body section comprising a recessed area shaped so as to accommodate at least a portion of the body of said rider in a lying position.

Preferably, said recessed area includes two handles for said rider to grasp when lying in said glider device.

Preferably, said glider device further comprises two fins, each fin extending substantially normally to the wings. In an embodiment, each of said wings includes one said fin disposed adjacent or nearby the recessed portion. In another embodiment, each of said wings includes one of said fins at its outermost extremity.

Preferably, said glider is generally pear shaped, widening from its nose towards its rear.

Preferably, said glider tapers in thickness towards its rear.

[N:\libtt]00724:CMS Preferably, said recessed portion is sufficiently long to accommodate the body of said skydiver from the head to the knees.

Preferably, said glider device tapers in thickness towards the outer extremities of said wings.

Preferably, said glider device comprises retaining means to releasably secure a said rider in said recessed area.

Preferably, said retaining means comprise a strap releasable by means of a single buckle which can be released by the skydiver when lying in said recessed area.

Preferably, tethering means are also provided to releasably tether the glider device to the skydiver after the release of said retaining means.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a glider device according to a first embodiment of 15 the invention; 00•4 Figure 2 is a side elevation of a glider device shown in Figure 1 (wings not shown); Figure 3 is a cross-section of a wing of the glider device of Figure 1 taken through line 3-3; Figures 4a and 4b show cutaway plan views of two wing shapes of a glider device according to second and third embodiments of the invention; Figure 5 shows a front elevation of the glider device shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a front elevation of the glider device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the glider device shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a lower side perspective view of the glider device shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a top perspective view of the glider device shown in Figure 6; and [N:\libtt]00724:CMS -3- Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the glider device shown in Figure 6.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 and 5 there is shown a glider device according to a first embodiment of the invention. The glider 10 includes a body section indicated generally at 12 and two wings 14 extending outwardly from the body section 12. The body section 12 also includes a recessed area 16 shaped so as to accommodate at least a portion of the body of a rider in a lying position. The glider 10 also includes handles 18.

The skydiver rides the glider 10 lying face down in the recessed area 16, and grasping a handle 18 in each hand. At least a portion of the skydiver's legs preferably i extend from the end of the glider so that he can stand up prior to leaping out of the aeroplane. Before jumping, the skydiver is releasably strapped in the recessed area 16 by a releasable strap or straps (not shown).

It is preferable that the strap or straps used to attach the skydiver to the glider 15 are releasable by the skydiver himself. This is so that the skydiver is able to release the glider 10, if necessary, while in flight. However, it is also preferable that the glider is releasably tethered to the skydiver, so that the glider may be released from the skydiver without becoming lost or interfering with the parachute.

As can be seen in Figure 2, when the skydiver is lying in the recessed area 16, e 20 the glider acts as an aerofoil, providing lift to the glider and skydiver. Wings 14 provide additional lift to the glider, and preferably have the aerofoil shape in cross section, as best seen in Figure 3. Because the skydiver is at least partially nestled within the recessed area 16, the speed obtainable by the glider is greater than that obtainable by surfboard shaped gliding devices which are used strapped to the feet of skydivers. This means that a greater lift is achievable by the glider, increasing the gliding time of the skydiver before the necessity of opening the parachute. The recessed area 16 also assists the skydiver to lie more securely on the glider.

[N:\libtt]00724:CMS As best seen in Figure 5, the wings 14 preferably taper in thickness towards their tips 20 providing a greater degree of flexibility towards the tips of the wings, and rigidity towards the recessed area 18 of the glider body 12.

The glider is steered by the shifting weight of the skydiver. The handles 18 assist the skydiver to shift his/her weight, thus steering the glider. The handles 18 are pivotably mounted on the glider, and able to be folded back onto the glider when not in use.

Figures 4a and 4b show partial wing profiles of gliders according to second and third embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated that different wing shapes are possible, so long as they are shaped as aerofoils to provide lift to the glider.

•The glider is also optionally provided with a fin 22 on each wing extending substantially normal to the wings and parallel to the longitudinal axis 24 of the glider.

•In the first embodiment of the invention the wings 22 are positioned near the recessed portion 16.

The glider is preferably made from a strong but lightweight material, such as a ".glass fibre, or a plastics material, or combination thereof.

Figures 6 to 10 show a glider 26 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like features. The fins 22 of the fourth embodiment are disposed on the outer extremities of truncated triangular wings 28.

In this embodiment, the pilot rides within the recessed area 16 which is sized to accommodate most of the rider including their arms. In a variation of this embodiment, the wings are hollow with openings leading into the recessed area 16 so the rider can place his arms within the hollow portion of the wings during flight. As with earlier embodiments, the glider optionally includes: handles in the recessed area 16; straps to attach the skydiver to the glider; and/or a strap or other means to releasably tether the glider to the skydiver.

IN:\libtt]00724:CMS Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

fto S [N:\libtt]00724:CMS The claims defining the invention are as follows: i. A glider device adapted to be ridden by a skydiver, said device comprising: a body section and two wings extending outwardly from said body section, said body section comprising a recessed area shaped so as to accommodate at least a portion of the body of said rider in a lying position.

2. A glider device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recessed area includes two handles for said rider to grasp when lying in said glider device.

3. A glider device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said glider device further comprises two fins, each fin extending substantially normally to the wings.

4. A glider as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said wings includes oeo° one of said fins positioned adjacent or nearby said recessed portion.

S" 5. A glider as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said wings includes 15 one of said fins at the outermost extremity of said wing.

6. A glider device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said glider is generally pear shaped, widening from its nose towards its rear.

7. A glider device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said glider tapers in thickness towards its rear.

8. A glider device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said e.

recessed portion is sufficiently long to accommodate the body of said skydiver from the head to the knees.

9. A glider device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said glider device tapers in thickness towards the outer extremities of said wings.

10. A glider device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said wings each include a hollow portion opening into said recessed area, said hollow portions being adapted to at least partially receive the arms of the skydiver during flight.

[N:\libtt00724:CMS

Claims (4)

11. A glider device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said glider device comprises retaining means to releasably secure said skydiver in said recessed area.

12. A glider device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said retaining means comprise a strap releasable by means of a single buckle which can be released by the skydiver when lying in said recessed area.

13. A glider device as claimed in claim 12, wherein tethering means are also provided to releasably tether the glider device to the skydiver after the release of said retaining means.

14. A glider device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference i to Figures 1 to 3 and 5, or Figure 4a, Figure 4b or Figures 6 to o DATED this Twentieth Day of September 1996 Peter Barrett Saunders S. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON [N:\libtt]00724:CMS Glider ABSTRACT A glider device adapted to be ridden by a skydiver. The glider includes a body section (12) and two wings (14) extending outwardly from said body section The body section (12) also includes a recessed area (16) shaped so as to accommodate at least a portion of the body of said rider in a lying position. *wo *e so a *as f so [N:\libtt]00724:.