Locking elements in the form of so-called cotter pins are known, whereby the free ends of said locking elements are bent so as to prevent the locking element from coming loose. In particular the removal of such a cotter pin is a difficult and time-consuming activity.

Furthermore, locking elements are known which are bent from wire, which locking elements comprise a first, straight leg, which is to be passed through a hole which is provided in an element to-be locked, and a second leg, which comprises a curved portion, which is to abut resiliently against the outer circumference of an element to be locked. Locking elements of this kind are essentially only suitable for locking elements having a substantially round diameter of a comparatively large dimension.

The objective of the invention is to provide a locking element which is of simple construction, which ensures an adequate locking action and which is easy to remove.

According to the invention, this objective can be accomplished in that said locking element is built up of at least one bent portion, which ends in two intersecting legs, which join said bent portion at least substantially tangentially.

A locking element of this kind is of simple construction, and thus it is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. If the legs of the locking element are passed through an opening or openings of an element to be locked, it is not necessary to deform said legs in order to prevent the locking element from coming loose undesirably, for example due to vibrations or the like.

Nor can the locking element come loose under the influence of forces which may be exerted on one leg of the locking element. On the other hand, the locking element can be removed in a very simple and quick manner by exerting a force on the bent portion which more or less coincides with the course of an imaginary line, which divides the angle between the two legs in two. No undesirable permanent

deformation of the locking element will occur upon removal of the locking element from the locking position thereby, so that the locking element can be used more than once, if desired.

The locking element according to the invention is especially suitable for use in a parachute assembly comprising a parachute holder which is provided with an outlet opening for the parachute, which outlet opening is closed by means of a flap, which is secured by means of a holding element extending through a hole in said flap, wherein the end of said holding element, which projects from said flap, is provided with at least one opening.

Parachute assemblies of this kind are known, for example from US patent No. 5,544,846 or from European patent application No. 0 329 055.

The locking elements which are generally used with such parachute assemblies have appeared to be unsatisfactory in practice.

Many of said locking elements can come loose undesirably upon being touched involuntarily, with all its negative consequences. Existing locking elements, which do not exhibit this drawback, are often difficult to remove, however, which is likewise undesirable, of course, in particular when used in combination with a reserve parachute, which must be activated in case of failure of the main parachute.

According to the invention, the legs of a locking element according to the invention are passed through said opening (s) in such a parachute assembly.

When such a locking element according to the invention is used in a parachute assembly of the above kind, undesirable coming loose of the locking element during transport and/or wearing of the parachute assembly is practically excluded. Nevertheless, said locking element can be removed quickly and without great effort by the parachutist, if necessary, by simply pulling at the bent portion of the locking element, possibly by means of a ripcord or the like.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a part of a parachute assembly, wherein a locking element according to the invention is used.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of Figure 1.

Figures 3-5 schematically show the influence of forces being exerted on the locking element.

Figure 6 is a view of the locking element with aids provided thereon for facilitating the insertion of the legs of the locking element into an opening or openings in an object to be locked.

Figure 7 schematically shows a manner of inserting a locking element into a part to be locked.

Figure 8 is a view slightly corresponding with Figure 2-of a locking element which cooperates with a part of different construction, which is to be locked.

Figure 9 is a view of a locking element which is inserted into holes formed in said part.

Figure 10 is a side view of Figure 9, from which the locking element has been left out.

Figure 11 is a plan view of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a side view of one part and a locking element coupled thereto.

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a side view of one part and a locking element coupled thereto.

Figure 15 is a sectional view of Figure 14.

Figure 1 schematically shows a parachute assembly, which comprises a parachute 1 (schematically indicated), in particular a reserve parachute, which is accommodated, together with a spring 2 connected to said parachute, in a space 3 forming part of said parachute assembly. Space 3 is provided with an opening, which is closed by a flap 4. When flap 4 is not being retained, it will be moved aside under the influence of spring 2 so as to release the opening, in such a manner that parachute 1 can exit from space 3 via said opening and subsequently unfurl.

Embodiments of parachute assemblies of this kind are known in several versions thereof, as appears from the above-mentioned

patent publications, so that their exact construction need not be discussed in more detail herein, since the exact construction of such a parachute assembly does not form part of the present invention.

A holding element, in the form of a cord 5 in the illustrated embodiment, is used for holding flap 4 in position, which cord is arranged in such a manner that two substantially parallel portions 6 and 7 of said cord extend through a hole 8 present in flap 4. Cord portions 6 and 7 extending through space 3 are fixed at their ends remote from flap 4 to a part (not shown) of the parachute assembly.

A locking element 9 according to the invention is used in combination with said holding element for locking flap 4 in the position which is shown in Figure 1.

As appears in particular from Figure 2, said locking element comprises a circular portion 10, with two intersecting legs 11 and 12 joining said circular portion. Preferably, the construction is thereby such that the legs 11 and 12, which extend in a straight line, join the bent portion 10 at least substantially tangentially.

Furthermore, one leg 11 is preferably longer than the other leg 12.

As will furthermore be apparent from Figure 2, the cord portion 13, which interconnects the ends of cord portions 6 and 7 which project above flap 4, is folded through 180°, as it were, in a point some distance away from the outer side of flap 4, in such a manner that an opening is formed in the holding element being formed by cord 5, through which the legs 11 and 12 of locking element 9 are passed, wherein the two cord portions 6 and 7 extend over legs 11 and 12 on the side of the point where the two legs 11 and 12 intersect that faces towards bent portion 10 of locking element 9, whilst the cord portion 13 which interconnects the two cord portions 6 and 7 extends under legs 11 and 12 near the intersection between the two legs 11 and 12. It will be apparent that the locking element 9 which is thus inserted in holding element 5 and which abuts against the outer side of flap 4, secures flap 4 in position.

As is schematically shown in Figure 8, the holding element may comprise two separate portions 14 and 15, in each of which an

opening is provided for passing one of the legs 11 and 12, respectively, therethrough.

As is schematically illustrated in Figure 3, bent portion 10 of the locking element will tend to deform slightly to a shape as illustrated exaggeratedly by means of line p when a pushing force is exerted on one end of a leg 11 or 12 in the direction indicated by arrow A, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the leg in question. If the element which is provided with the openings through which legs 12,12 of locking element 9 are passed is made of a yielding material, such as a cord, this will only cause the cord to tighten, but it will not cause the legs to move out of the respective openings.- In the case of a rigid holding element, the angle which the legs include between themselves, which is preferably larger than 50° in unloaded condition and which will generally be 90', will prevent shifting of the leg on which no force is being exerted, and thus effect a locking engagement of the entire locking element.

If a force is exerted on a leg at an angle thereto, as is indicated by means of arrow B in Figure 4, the bent element will tend to deform slightly to a shape as illustrated exaggeratedly by means of line q. It will be apparent that also in this case a locking engagement of the two legs in the respective opening (s) will be effected.

However, if a force is exerted on the bent portion of the locking element, as is illustrated in Figure 5, in a direction which more or less coincides with the imaginary line which divides the angle between the two legs 11 and 12 in two, for example by using a cord 9' attached to locking element 9, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the exertion of a relatively small force will make it possible to have legs 11 and 12 of locking element 9 move evenly out of the respective openings, so that the locking element can be easily removed. Once the locking element has thus been removed from the respective openings, the locking element will return to its original shape under the influence of its own resilience, after which it may be reused.

The fitting of the locking element is facilitated by making one leg longer than the other, so that it becomes possible to insert

the end of one leg into a respective opening first and then the end of the other leg.

Furthermore it is possible to use an aid as shown in Figures 6 and 7 for fitting the locking element. As is shown in Figure 6, aids in the form of sleeves 16 which are slightly conical at their free ends can be slid over the free ends of the leg.

When locking element 9 is to be fitted, legs 11 and 12 can be moved together, as is indicated by means of arrows D, in order to be moved to the position which is shown in Figure 7, after which the locking element can be fitted by inserting first the free ends of sleeves 16 into the respective opening (s) and subsequently the legs 11,12, onto which the sleeves 16 have been slid. Once the respective legs 11,12 have been inserted into the respective opening (s), the force being exerted on the locking element can be released, as a result of which the locking element will return to its original shape.

Sleeves 16 can then be removed, if desired.

Although the use of a locking element according to the invention has been explained in particular in combination with a parachute assembly, it will be apparent that the locking element according to the invention can also be used for other applications.

As is shown in Figures 9-11, for example, the two legs 11 and 12 of the locking element according to the invention can be passed through two openings 17 and 18 in a lip 19, which is formed on the end of an elongated part 20.

Said part may be a shaft, for example, which is capable of movement within another part, or with respect to which another part can move, or a threaded rod, on which a nut-shaped element can turn.

It will be apparent that relative movement between the part 20 as shown in Figures 9-10 and a part cooperating therewith will be limited by the locking element 9, whose two legs are inserted into part 20 through openings 17 and 18.

Similarly, Figures 12 and 13 show an embodiment wherein openings or holes 21 are provided in part 20 for passing legs 11 and 12 of locking element 9 therethrough. In the embodiment which is shown in Figure 13, the openings and holes are thereby formed in such a manner that the diameter dimension of a hole 21 gradually increases in

a plane perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the part 20, from the centre of said part to the outside thereof, which facilitates the insertion of the legs.

Figures 14 and 15 show a similar embodiment, wherein the holes 22 provided in part 20 have a substantially cylindrical diameter, however.

Instead of using one bent portion, which extends through an angle of approximately 270', for example, it will also be possible to use a substantially circular part, which extends through an angle of more than 360', for example 630'.

Accordingly, variations to the illustrated embodiment of the locking element are conceivable within the scope of the invention, whereby said locking element can be used for a wide range of applications.