US2481507A - Parachute target - Google Patents

Description

H. GoLDsTElN PARACHUTE TARGET sept. 13, 1949.

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Filed July 26, 1944 Patented Sept. 13, 1949 'U N IT ED -STAT-ES PAT EN T *OFF I CE PARACHUTE TARGET Hymen Goldstein,Fairlawn,'N. J.

Application July 26, 1944, Serial No. 546,722

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-1054) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmenlzal purposes, Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to targets and more particularly to a target adapted to anti-paratroop defense practice.

One object of the present invention is to produce an inanimate target which Will effectively simulate a paratrooper descending from a plane.

Another object is to produce a target simulating a paratrooper descending from a plane in which the target Will have a natural swing similar to that inherent in a human parachutist.

Still another object is to provide an anti-paratroop target which when leaving the plane will have minimum chance of becoming entangled therewith.

Further objects Will be apparent from consideration of the following specification which when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawing the single figure shows a target member embodying the present invention, descending from a plane.

Referring to the drawing, the target comprises a sleeve-like member I substantially the size of a man. The sleeve l terminates in a metal ring 3 in the lower end thereof which holds that end in open position, allowing air to pass through the sleeve and billow it out. Weights 5 which may comprise sand bags are positioned substantially diametrically opposite each other so as to provide proper speed to the descent. Placing the Sand bags opposite each other causes the target to have a swinging movement, similar to that of a person descending by parachute. The open end of the sleeve is contracted as shown at 6 and has an aperture 'l in the upper end thereof to provide for the restricted escape of air passing through the sleeve, thereby providing a sumcient pressure to maintain the target sleeve inflated.

shroud lines 9 connect the upper end 1 of the sleeve I with a parachute canopy 10, the canopy IO providing proper drag and reducing the speed of descent of the sleeve to about 20 ft. per second.

Operation In operation, the target is bundled by folding in accordion fashion or so that the ring 3 forms the bottom of the bundle and the parachute canopy IO forms the top. The bundle is then tied with very low tensile strength string, the

string tying the bundle passing through a strap If sewed or otherwise securely fastened to the top of the chute l. A cord |3 of relatively high tensile strength is attached to the strap |2 through a break loop M. The strength of the cord |3, the string and the loop |4 are so arranged that on pull on the cord |3, the string will break before the loop |4.

When it is desired to release a target, the bundled target is thrown from the plane with the free end of the cord |3 secured to the plane. When the string breaks the bundle is released and the target opens. As the target completely opens, the loop M breaks and` the target descends to the ground.

During the descent of the target it may be fired upon either by ground troops or by strafing from airplanes. i

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, it will be realized that it is susceptible to various changes in size, Shape, and arrangement of parts without departing from ther spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A target of the Character described comprising a sleeve, a ring connected to one end of said sleeve and adapted to maintain said sleeve in open position, a pair of diametrically opposite weights carried by said sleeve adjacent said ring, said sleeve having a restricted opening in the end thereof opposite said ring, a plurality of shroud lines connected to said sleeve adjacent said restricted opening, and a parachute joined to said sleeve through said shroud lines.

2. A target of the character described comprsing in combination a parachute canopy, shroud lines joined to said parachute canopy along its edges, a hollow elongated inflatable sleeve joined to the lower ends of said shroud lines, means to cause infiation of said sleeve by air as the target descends toward the ground, and means secured to the lower end of the sleeve to cause the target to oscillate as it descends.

3. A target of the character described comprising in combination an elongated fabric sleeve open at both ends and of generally cylindrical shape when infiated by air received through the lower end during descent from an elevation, a ring at the lower end of said sleeve to hold that end in open position and allow air to infiate said sleeve during descent, the opening at the upper end of said sleeve being smaller that the opening at the lower end thereof, a weight secured on said ring at the lower end of said sleeve, shroud lines secured to the upper end of said sleeve at the edges of said smaller opening, and a para- Number chute canopy attached along its edges to said 22691169 shroud lines at the ends of said lines remote 5 2282,234 from said sleeve and said canopy being adapted to support the Weighted sleeve in a position simuf lating a human parachutist as' the target deflfmmber scends toward the ground from said elevation. 106553 HYMEN GoLDs'I'EIN; m 691956 i REFERENCES CITED 13 The following references are of. record in'the V file of this patent: t

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENT- Name Date Manson Jan. 13, 1942 Mlnnich May 5, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Countryq T, Date v "Italy Jan. 19, 1910 France July 22, 1930

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