A parachute normally has a canopy which is connected to a harness via several lines. When a person or a load has to be brought to the surface of the earth as of a certain height, for example from an aeroplane, by means of a parachute, the parachute is connected to said person or load by means of the above-mentioned harness, while the canopy is stored in a bag and the lines of the parachute are fixed to the bag in a detachable manner.

While said person or load is coming down, said bag is detached from the harness, such that, when the person or load falls, said lines are gradually stretched while being detached from said bag. To this end, a small pilot chute which is connected to the bag is for example opened beforehand. This pilot chute makes sure that a tensile force is exerted on the lines between the bag and the harness, via the bag, such that the lines are released from the bag and stretch. When the lines are thus entirely stretched and the bag is situated almost vertically above the person or load, the bag will be opened as a result of the tensile force exerted on it via the pilot chute. The canopy is hereby released in such a manner that it can deploy and, thanks to the thus created air resistance, it will have sufficient bearing capacity to make said person or load descend to the surface of the earth in a controlled manner.

According to the present state of the art, the lines of a parachute are fixed onto said bag according to a zigzag pattern by means of several ring-shaped elastic strips.

Such strips are also used to close the bag after said canopy has been put away in it. These ring-shaped elastic strips are described for example in American patent US 5,263, 663.

However, it is relatively laborious and very time-consuming to fix said lines in a zigzag pattern to the bag with said ring-shaped elastic strips. Moreover, these strips break after frequent use or they are torn when the above-mentioned lines exert too much force on them. Replacing these damaged strips is very time-consuming and requires considerable dexterity.

Further, it was found that said lines are not stretched gradually and continuously and that, as a consequence, the bag is exposed to shocks. In particular, the lines are stretched with a shock whenever they are detached from an elastic strip. This implies a considerable risk in that the bag undergoes a rotation while the lines are being stretched, such that the latter are twisted according to a helical motion. Thus, there is a chance that the canopy deploys too late and that a reserve parachute must be used.

The invention aims to remedy these disadvantages by proposing a bag for a parachute which makes it possible to fix said lines to the bag in a very fast and safe manner, whereby the latter can be closed in a simple manner. Moreover, the invention is advantageous in that the lines are stretched in an almost entirely continuous manner, such that the risk for the latter to twist or to become entangled is practically negligible.

To this aim, the above-mentioned fastening element has a first far end which is fixed to the bag, whereby means are provided to connect the other far end of this fastening element in a detachable manner to the bag, such that this fastening element forms a loop through which a part of said parachute or of said bag must extend.

Practically, the aforesaid means comprise a sleeve which is fixed to said bag and which forms a space in which said other far end can be placed so as to connect this far end to the bag.

In an advantageous manner, said fastening element makes it possible to fix said lines to the bag in a detachable manner when the aforesaid canopy has been put away in the latter, whereby this fastening element forms a loop through which said lines extend.

According to a special embodiment of the bag according to the invention, a first part of this bag is formed of a closing flap which allows to seal an opening in the bag, provided to store said canopy in it, while a second part of said bag is connected to the edge of said opening, whereby said first far end of the fastening element is fixed to one of the above-mentioned parts, whereas the free edge of the closing flap, when the latter is closed, extends through the loop formed of said fastening element when the latter is connected to the bag via said means.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the bag according to the invention, the fastening element is fixed to said second part near the edge of the aforesaid opening, whereby the free edge of the closing flap is provided with at least one eye through which said fastening element extends in order to seal said opening with the closing flap, whereby said other far end of the fastening element co-operates with the means which are provided on said second part.

A screening cap is preferably provided which must extend over said lines, when the latter have been fixed against the bag, such that the lines are clasped between the bag and the screening cap, whereby the lines are gradually drawn from under this screening cap when a tensile force is exerted upon them via said harness.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, said bag has at least a screening cap extending over said lines when the latter have been laid against the bag, whereby the screening cap is provided with a fastening element which works in conjunction with fastening means in order to pull the screening cap taut over the lines, such that the latter are clasped between the bag and the screening cap, in such a way that the lines are gradually drawn from under this screening cap when a tensile force is exerted upon them.

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of a few embodiments of the bag for a parachute according to the invention; this description is given as an example only and does not restrict the scope of the claimed protection in any way ; the figures of reference used hereafter refer to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic view in perspective of a bag according to a first embodiment of the invention when it is open.

Figure 2 is a schematic view in perspective of the bag from figure 1 when the closing flap is closed and the lines of the parachute have been fixed against this bag.

Figure 3 is a schematic view in perspective of the bag from figure 2 whereby a screening cap is provided over said lines.

Figure 4 is a schematic view in perspective of a second embodiment of the bag according to the invention.

In the different drawings, the same reference figures refer to identical or analogous elements.

The invention generally concerns a bag for a parachute with one or several fastening elements to close the bag and/or to fix the lines of a parachute to this bag.

Figures 1 to 3 represent a bag 1 in which is stored a folded-up canopy 2 of a parachute according to a first embodiment of the invention. The canopy 2 is connected to a harness which is not represented in the figures, in a manner known as such via lines 3.

Further, this bag is provided with two fastening elements 4 and 5 which each consist of an elongated strip of flexible material. These fastening elements may for example consist of several layers of textile made of nylon which have been stitched together. A first far end 6 of these fastening elements 4 and 5 is fixed to said bag. This far end 6 is for example stitched to the bag 1.

The other far end 7 of the fastening elements 4 and 5 is freely movable and works in conjunction with fastening means 8 which make it possible to connect this far end 7 in a detachable manner to the bag 1. When this other far end 7 is thus connected to the bag 1, the corresponding fastening elements 4 and 5 form a loop which makes it possible to fix said lines 3 in a detachable manner to the bag 1 and to close the latter, as represented in figure 2.

The fastening elements 4 and 5 preferably have a relatively supple zone 6' near said first far end 6. Thus, the fastening elements on this supple zone 6'can easily bend or be folded in order to connect said other far end 7 with the aforesaid fastening means 8.

The bag 1 has an opening 9 which can be sealed by means of a closing flap 10 with a free edge 11. This closing flap 10 forms a first part of said bag 1, whereas the edge of the opening 9 connects to a second part thereof. When the closing flap 10 is

closed and thus seals the opening 9, as is represented in figures 2 and 3, said free edge 11 extends through the respective loops formed by the fastening elements 4 and 5.

The free edge 11 of the closing flap 10 is in particular provided with two recesses, forming an eye 12 and 13 respectively. In order to seal the opening 9 by means of the closing flap 10, the aforesaid fastening elements 4 and 5 are thus put through the corresponding eye 12 and 13, and the above-mentioned other far end 7 of the fastening elements 4 and 5 is subsequently connected to said second part of the bag 1 by means of the fastening means 8.

In the embodiment of the invention represented in figures 1 to 3, these fastening means 8 are formed of a rectangular strip of textile, stitched on the bag 1 near said first far end 6 of the fastening elements 4 and 5. This rectangular strip of textile is fixed to the bag 1 on two opposite edges, such that a sleeve 14 is formed between these edges. In order to thus fix the fastening elements 4 and 5 in a detachable manner to the bag 1, the other far end 7 thereof is put in the corresponding sleeve 14. The dimensions of this sleeve 14 are preferably selected such that there is only little play between said other far end 7 and the sleeve 14. This has for a result that the fastening elements 4 and 5, thanks to the frictional forces between said other far end 7 and the sleeve 14, are connected to the bag 1.

When a tensile force is exerted on the canopy 2 by the above-mentioned lines, on the closing flap 10, or directly on the fastening elements 4 and 5, said other far end 7 will slide out of the sleeve 14 under to the influence of said force, practically according to the longitudinal direction of the latter, such that the closing flap 10 is opened and the canopy 2 can consequently deploy.

The lines 3 extend, after the canopy 2 has been stored in the bag 1, through said opening 9 from the bag 1 between the fastening elements 4 and 5, as is schematically represented in figure 1. While the bag 1 is being closed, this opening 9, as described above, is sealed by means of the closing flap 10. As is represented in figure 2, the lines 3 hereby stick out between the closing flap 10 and the edge of said opening 9, practically in the middle of the bag 1. The lines 3 are put through the loop formed by the first fastening element 5. Next, these lines 3 are put over the last fastening element 5, after it has been closed, and they are guided to the other fastening element 4. The latter fastening element

4 is also closed by putting its other far end 7 in the corresponding sleeve 14, such that the lines extend through the thus formed loop.

Finally, the remaining part of the lines 3 is put on the bag 1 in an eight- shape form, whereby the utmost far end thereof extends between the bag 1 and the harness, which is not represented in the figures.

Further, the bag 1 is provided with a screening cap 15 which must extend over said lines 3 when the latter have been fixed against the bag 1, as is represented in figure 3. This screening cap 15 makes sure that the lines 3 are clasped between the bag 1 and the screening cap 15, and consequently cannot shift and retain their eight-shaped position. When a tensile force is exerted on the lines 3, via the above-mentioned pilot chute, between the harness and the bag 1 in order to stretch them to prepare the deployment of the canopy 2, the lines 3 are gradually and continuously drawn from under this screening cap 15 without any shocks.

As this screening cap 15 exerts a pressure force on said fastening means 8, via the aforesaid lines 3, said other far ends 7 of the fastening elements 4 and 5 are clasped relatively tight in their corresponding sleeve 14. Thus is avoided that the closing flap 10 might open too soon and that the canopy 2 would deploy prematurely. After the lines 3 have been entirely stretched and thus are no longer situated under said screening cap 15, the latter will exert practically no force anymore on said fastening means 8, such that the closing flap 10 opens smoothly without requiring a large tensile force on the lines 3 or on the canopy 2. Consequently, this considerably increases the safety when opening the parachute.

The screening cap 15 moreover prevents that the lines 3 which are fixed to the bag 1 might become entangled with said harness or with other parts of the parachute equipment used.

The shape of the bag 1 represented in the figures practically corresponds to that of a rectangular prism. Said lines 3 are hereby fixed to the top surface of the bag, while said closing flap 10 forms a side surface of the bag 1. The screening cap 15 thus forms a strip extending over the entire length of the top surface of the bag 1. Each of the far ends of this strip forms a fastening element which is provided with a rectangular, relatively rigid zone 16 and 17 co-operating with fastening means 18 and 19 on the two opposite side walls of the bag 1.

Such fastening elements 16 and 17 may possibly also be provided on the edge of said strip which extends next to the opening 9, while the bag has fastening means 18 and 19 on a corresponding position near the opening 9 which co-operate with the latter fastening elements.

The fastening means 18 and 19 each consist of a rectangular strip of textile fixed on three of its edges to the bag 1, whereby the edge 20, which is turned away from the top surface of the bag 1, is loose, such that the thus formed space between said strip of textile and the bag 1 is accessible.

In order to thus pull the screening cap 15 taut over the lines 3, the above- mentioned rigid zone 16 and 17 is put along said edge 20 between the bag 1 and the strip of textile of the respective fastening means 18 and 19. The rigid zones 16 and 17 are hereby folded almost entirely inward in relation to the screening cap 15, such that said strip of textile is clasped between the respective rigid zone 16 and 17 and the screening cap 15.

The dimensions of said rigid zones 16 and 17, and in particular their width, are preferably selected such that they cannot slide out of the fastening means 18 and 19 once the canopy 2 has been stored in the bag 1. In particular, the canopy 2 exerts a pressure force on the bag 1, such that it is almost entirely stretched and relatively rigid.

This makes sure that said rigid zones 16 and 17 cannot be removed from the fastening means 18 and 19 as a result of a tensile force that would be exerted on the screening cap 15 during the stretching of the lines 3.

Figure 4 represents a second embodiment of the bag according to the invention. In this figure, the lines 3 of the parachute are schematically represented in a single continuous line for clarity's sake.

This embodiment is different from the preceding embodiment of the bag according to the invention in that the lines 3 have been fixed against the bag 1 in a zigzag pattern by means of several fastening elements 21,22, 23 and 24.

Each of these fastening elements 21,22, 23 and 24 consists of a strip of relatively bendable material, a first far end 6 of which is fixed to said bag 1, while its other far end 7 is connected to this bag 1 in a detachable manner via fastening means 8.

In particular, the latter have a sleeve 14 which is fixed to the bag 1 and in which said

other far end 7 is put in a practically fitting manner in order to close the fastening elements 21,22, 23 and 24 and to thus form said loop.

The fastening elements 21,22, 23 and 24 and the corresponding fastening means are fixed on either side of the closing flap 10 on the side walls of the bag 1. Thus, these fastening elements 21,22, 23 and 24, when they are closed, form a loop standing crosswise on the closing flap 10 and which protrudes somewhat in relation to the latter's surface.

The closing flap 10 further has two eyes 12 and 13 which co-operate with corresponding fastening elements 4 and 5 as described for the embodiment of the bag represented in figures 1 to 3.

The lines 3 thus extend through the loops formed by the fastening elements 4 and 5 near the free edge 11 of the closing flap 11, and they are then guided according to a zigzag pattern over the surface of this closing flap 10. The lines 3 hereby each time form a loop extending through the loop which is formed by the fastening elements 21,22, 23 and 24.

Such a fastening of the lines 3 is advantageous in that the fastening means 21,22, 23 and 24 do not jam in the lines 3 in a fixed manner, but only hold them in their position until they are stretched during the preparation of the deployment of the canopy 2.

When stretching the lines 3, they are drawn gradually and continuously out of the loops formed by the fastening means without any shocks. If, however, for some reason or other the lines 3 become entangled with a fastening element 21,22, 23 or 24, due to the tensile force being exerted upon them, said other far end 7 will be drawn from the corresponding sleeve 14, so that the lines 3 are further stretched without any problem.

When the lines 3 are already stretched up to the fastening elements 4 and 5, whereby the closing flap is closed, said other far end 7 of these fastening elements 4 and 5 is pulled from the corresponding sleeve 4 by the lines 3, such that the lines 3 can stretch entirely and the closing flap 10 is opened so that the canopy 2 can deploy.

According to yet another embodiment of the bag according to the invention, said closing flap 10 is provided with fastening elements 16 and 17 on its free edge 11 which are analogous to those with which the screening cap 15 is pulled taut over the lines 3. Thus, fastening means 18 and 19 are provided on the corresponding edge of the opening 9 in which the fastening elements 16 and 17 are put in order to close the bag.

When the lines 3 are entirely stretched and a tensile force is exerted upon them, the fastening elements 16 and 17 become detached in relation to the fastening means 18 and 19, such that the closing flap 10 opens and the canopy 2 leaves the bag 1.

Naturally, the invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments of the bag for a parachute according to the invention and as represented in the accompanying drawings. Although the bag as the one represented in the figures has a mainly rectangular shape, it may of course have any shape whatsoever.

Further, a bag has been described representing a separate closing flap. Of course, it is also possible that this bag consists for example of a piece of textile which is folded double so as to form a bag in which said canopy is stored.

It is also possible that the above-mentioned rigid zones 16 and 17 are formed of Velcro which meshes in a corresponding zone provided on the side surface of the bag 1.

The above-mentioned other far end 7 of the fastening elements and the aforesaid fastening means 8 may for example comprise Velcro@, such that they can be connected to one another in a detachable manner.

Although in said first embodiment of the bag according to the invention, the lines 3 of the parachute are fixed against the bag 1 in an eight-shape form, it is of course possible to do this according to any pattern whatsoever.

Further, the closing flap 10 must not necessarily be closed by means of two fastening elements 4 and 5, but it can also be closed by means of a single fastening element 4 or 5 and a single eye 12 or 13. Naturally, it is also possible to provide more than two fastening elements to close the bag 1.

In the bag according to the invention, no use is made of elastic means such as ring-shaped elastic strips for fixing said lines onto the bag. In particular, these lines rest freely between the screening cap and the bag.