US1890083A - Mail-bag parachute - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1932. GRAEFF 1,890,083

MAIL BAG PARAGHUTE Original Filed Dec. '12. 1929 .3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1932. c. M GRAEFF MAIL BAG PARACHUTE a sheets-sheei 2 Original Filed D60. 12. 1929 M w m a Dec. 6, 1932. c. M. GRAEFF MAIL BAG PARACHUTE Original Filed Dec. 12. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gnmntow (5 17.6 77; m

iatented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT omce Main-nae PARACHU'IE a lication filed December 12, 1929, Serial in. 413,623. Renewed April '23, 1932.

This invention relates to parachutes and particularly to parachutes for landing mail from airplanes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a parachute of such construction that it will open readily when dropped from the mail plane. Further to provide a parachute structure to which mail bags or containers may be readily attached or detached.

Another object is to so connect the cords from the parachute to the mail bag support that there will be no tendency to draw the edge of the parachute inward by the weight of the bag.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein V Figure 1 is an elevation of a parachute constructed in accordance with my inventiony Figure is a fragmentary detailed view of the parachute showing the manner of ts formation Figure 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-8 of Figure 2, but showing the rope in P Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a modification of the parachute; g

Figure 5 is a like view to Figure 4 but showing a still further modification of the form of parachute sections;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of parachute section; I

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of mail bag support;

Figure 8 is an elevation of the lower end of the bag support shown in Fig. 7 with the pin in place; h

Fig. 9 is an elevation taken at right angles 7 to Fig. 8 and partly in section; h

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of F ignre 9; g

Figure 11 is an elevation of one of the ring supporting ropes used in connection with the parachute section shown in Fig. 6, the figure showing in section the mail bag the parachute 10 is formed of a series of sec- 5 tions 11, each of these sections ,being of the same general character and each having the specific form shownin Figure 2. These sectionsin actual practice will have an overall length of about eight feet nine inches and a width at the widest part ,of about eighteen inches. Each of these sections or panels 11 ias itslateral edges extending downward and outward from the upper tip end of the panel as at 12, then extending inward as at 13 to a distance ofabout nine inches from the widest part of the panel, then extended downward a distance of about six inches as at 141- to form a tab which is approximately three inches, wide and which is capable of being folded backupon itself to forma double thickness. This double thickness is stitched as at 15 all around its margin and inserted in this stitched portionand stitched thereto is a ring or grommet 16. h h

The several panels 11 are, stitched together around their margins down to the beginning of the inwardly convergent portions 13, thus leaving a series of flaps 16. extending loosely below the body portion. of the parachute, these flaps being free. Connected to the extremities of these flaps are the cords 17 which extenddo'wn to a metallic ring 18 and are connected thereto. Preferably, though I do not wish to be limited to this, there ispassed through each of the tabs 1 1a horseshoe-shapecl' transversely curved shield 19, the upper end of the cord or rope 17 being formed to provide; a loop disposed within said shield. This shield is preferably made of steel andjthe shield may be placed through the eyes or grommets 16 so that the rope will not be chafedon the eyes or grommets. The shield 19 in this case will rub against the metal eyeand the rope will be thoroughly protected so that it cannot wear out. The lower ends of the ropes or cords 17 are also formedpreferablywith, loops passing through U-shaped shields 19*, these in of panel 11, I do not wish to be limited to this.

In Figure 4, I show a form of panel designated 11 which is approximately the same form as that shown in Figure 2 and having an elongated neck portion. A. quarter inch rope 22 may beattache'd to this panel by stitches along; its entire length or otherwise and this rope extends down the middle ofthe panel and down the middle of the narrow neck at the lower end thereof. These ropes 22 may either be connected to the rings or ropes 17 in any desired manner or might be continued on down to'the ring 18 and connected thereto, as shown in Figure 1. Of course, this constructionof parachute tends to strengthen the parachute itself so that there is no dan er of its wrapping or the ropes tearing loose.

In Figure 5, I show another form of parachute in which each section 11, instead of being formed with a. narrowed lower end is cut away at its middle as at 23 so that the section instead of being'spear-shaped-isarrow-shaped. These sections may be stitched along their side edges to each other, as shown in Figure 5 and this will provide a parachute having a. series of scallops or depending flaps 1 extending around the loweredge of the parachute. To these flaps,-the supporting ropes 17 will be engaged in any desired manner, as for instance, the manner heretofore dey scribed. In this form of the invention, the

ropes 2 1 may also be sewed into the seams between the sections and these ropes may be f continued down and engaged with the ring from an airplane.

The depending flaps at the margins of the parachute can be either half round or approximately triangular in shape as desired.

7 or any other fabric.

The parachute can be made of silk, canvas InFigure 6, I showanother form of parachute section which is designated 11. This is rounded at its lower end as is the parachute section shown in Figure 2, but instead of having a depending tab 14, a tab 14 is provided which is bent back upon the body of the parachute section 11 and is sewed thereto and held to the body by means of the grommet 16 The rope 17 with its shield 19 may be used in connection with this construction or not as desired. On the other hand, these parachute sections at their lower ends may be connected to the ring 18 previously'described by means of double snap hooks -as illustrated in Figure 11, these snap hooks being operatively connected to and engagedwith the ends of the rope sec- .tions 26. As illustrated in Figure 7, the

frame'for supporting the mail bag mayconsist of the hoop 18 as previously described, the downwardly extending convergent members 20 but need not support the snap hook shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 7, 8 and 9.is shown a latch whereby the mail bag may be held positively engaged and if desired locked to the parachute. To this end the lower end 20 of the shank formed by the conjoined elements 20 shown in Figure 7 or the conjoined elements shown in Figure 1 isv angularly bent as at 27 and apertured (see Figure 9.) Passing up through this aperture is the pin 28 having a head at its lower end and having a transverse pin 29 to prevent the pin 28 dropping downward entirelythrough the aperture in the lug 27. The upper end of this pin 28 is slotted for the passage of thehasp 30 projecting from the shank 20. p

A padlock may be disposed through this hasp. It will be noted that the'aperture in the lug 28 may be expanded so as to permit the pinto rock outward. When the pin is rocked outward, a strap of a mail bag may .be passed over the pin and the pin may be then brought back into parallelism with the shank 20 engaged with the hasp and'then engaged with the padlock inserted through the hasp.

It will be understood, of course, that this means of connecting the mailbag to the parachute may be used with any form of parachute which has' been illustrated. I

I do not wish to be limited to a parachut having a circular formas the parachute in plan might have other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I The particular advantage in the formof the parachute described is that I have found in practice that a parachute having'these depending flaps which are free at their side edges will open quicker than where the margin of theparachute is not provided with these flaps. Furthermore I have found that the parachute holds the air better.

I claim I v 1. A mail parachute for mail planes formed by a series of panels stitched to each other,

lit

the panels being formed at their lower ends to provide aseries of depending flaps, each flap at its lower end being formed to provide a folded over tab, a grommet disposed in said folded over tab, ropes having their upper ends formed with loops to pass through said grommets, and metallic shields embracing said loops, an apertured ring through which said ropes extend, the lower ends of the ropes having loops passing through the apertures of said ring, metallic shields embracing the loops and preventing chafing against ring, and means depending from said ring for detachably engaging the mail bag.

2. A parachute of the character described, having a plurality of downwardly extending convergent ropes, a ring with which said ropes are connected, the ring at its lower end having a depending shank, a mail bag latch connected to said shank and adapted to detachably engage a portion of a mail bag, the latch comprising an angular lug at the lower end of the shank, a pin extending upward through said lug, and a hasp with which the upper end of the lug is engaged, the hasp being adapted to engage a padlock.

3. A mail parachute comprising a parachute proper, the lower margin of the parachute being provided with a series of spaced grommets, metallic members engagin through said grommets and engaging with a series of depending ropes, a ring, snap hooks at the lower ends of the ropes engageable with said ring, the ring having means 3; whereby a mail bag may be supported therefrom.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHARLES M. GRAEFF.

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