PARAGLIDING HARNESS

Abstract

A paragliding harness (14) comprising a seat (16), a backrest (17), two paragliding wing attachment points, and a reserve harness connection device (1) for the harness (14) intended to be connected to a reserve parachute (13), characterized in that the reserve harness connection device (1) comprises: two reserve risers (3) attached to the harness (14) laterally on either side of the seat (16), at or above the paragliding wing attachment points, and an automatic system for righting the pilot upon deployment of the reserve parachute, comprising two righting lines (7), each attached to the backrest (17) or to the lateral periphery of the backrest (17) and to one of the reserve risers (3). Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: PARAGLIDING HARNESS

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of paragliding harnesses and more particularly to emergency halyards connecting a harness to a reserve parachute.

[0002] A reserve parachute and most of the lines are folded into a pod, i.e., "deployment pack" in English or inner container. A pod is connected to an extraction handle.

[0003] The reserve parachute folded in its pod is stored in an external container generally forming part of the harness, the extraction handle being positioned outside the harness, available to the pilot.

[0004] Depending on the configuration of the harness, the external container is located in the ventral, dorsal, upper dorsal, subcutaneous or lateral position.

[0005] The lines of the reserve parachute are connected to reserve risers commonly connected to anchor points on the shoulders of the harness. In optimal operation of the reserve parachute, the pilot is thus suspended by the shoulders in a natural vertical position.

[0006] In many diverse situations, often multifactorial, in the impossibility of returning the paraglider to a controlled flight situation, in order not to transform an incident into an accident, the extraction of the reserve parachute seems inevitable.

[0007] A recurring risk when deploying the reserve parachute is the interaction between the reserve parachute and the main canopy, which can re-inflate. When the paraglider canopy re-inflates, the latter and the reserve parachute come into opposition.

[0008] This opposing positioning of the sails is commonly called the mirror effect.

[0009] This mirror effect configuration causes an increase in the fall rate compared to a fall slowed by the reserve parachute alone.

[0010] In this disadvantageous configuration, in the case of an attachment of the emergency halyards to the shoulders, the pilot loses the vertical position and finds himself on his back, putting the pilot in a most dangerous landing position.

[0011] To avoid this mirror effect, it is necessary to neutralize the paraglider wing, using the risers or the paraglider wing controls.

[0012] However, in turbulent aerology conditions, depending on the cause and configuration of the fall, the height of the fall relative to the ground or the pilot's immediate environment, this maneuver of lowering the main sail may be difficult, or even impossible.

[0013] The present invention thus proposes a paraglider harness equipped with a device for emergency connection of the harness to a reserve parachute making it possible to straighten the pilot when deploying the reserve parachute.

[0014] Thus, the paraglider harness according to the invention comprises a seat, a backrest, two anchoring points for the paraglider sail, an emergency connection device for the harness intended to be connected to a reserve parachute, in which the reserve connection device comprises two reserve risers secured to the harness laterally on either side of the seat, at or above the anchoring points of the paraglider sail, and an automatic system for righting the pilot when the reserve parachute is deployed, comprising two righting lines each secured to the backrest or to the lateral periphery of the backrest and to one of the reserve risers.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the emergency connection device comprises an emergency halyard comprising the two emergency risers, one of the emergency risers being extended by a first lateral portion, a lower portion and a second lateral portion, the lower portion being located under the seat.

[0016] According to the preceding embodiment, the second lateral portion and the free end of one of the two risers each comprise an end loop, the loops being arranged in the vicinity of one another.

[0017] According to one feature, a straightening halyard comprises a main portion connecting the lower part or the lower periphery of the backrest and a secondary portion connecting the upper part or the upper periphery of the backrest.

[0018] According to the preceding characteristic, the righting halyard is a strap or portions of straps connected together by connection means, the righting halyard passing from the lower part or the lower periphery of the backrest, extending along the lateral part of the backrest to the upper part or upper periphery of the backrest and then being connected to the main portion.

[0019] According to an additional characteristic, the emergency connection device comprises a safety halyard connecting the seat to at least one free end of one of the two risers.

[0020] According to the preceding characteristic, the safety halyard is intended to be fixed to the seat substantially between the pilot's legs.

[0021] According to the preceding characteristic, the safety halyard is connected to the end loops by a carabiner.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the harness comprises means for attaching the emergency risers and means for attaching the automatic system for straightening the pilot to the backrest.

[0023] According to the preceding embodiment, the emergency elevators each comprise an end loop.

[0024] The implementation of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description detailed which is set out below with regard to the attached drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig.l] is a left side view of a paraglider harness according to the invention, connected by an emergency connection device to a deployed emergency parachute, the paraglider sail not being shown.

[0026] [Fig.2] is a simplified front view of [Fig.l].

[0027] [Fig.3] is a right side view of a paraglider harness according to the invention, connected by the emergency connection device to a reserve parachute folded in its pod, not shown, stored in the external container.

[0028] [Fig.4] is a simplified front view of [Fig.3], the reserve parachute folded in its pod being located outside the outer container.

[0029] [Fig.5] is a left side view of a paraglider harness according to the invention, connected by an emergency connection device to a deployed emergency parachute, the paraglider being inflated, the pilot being positioned vertically.

[0030] [Fig.6] is a left side view of a conventional paraglider harness, connected by conventional emergency risers to a deployed emergency parachute, the paraglider being inflated, the canopy and parachute being in mirror effect, the pilot being positioned on his back.

[0031] Conventionally, a harness (14) comprises a seat (15) formed of a seat (16) and a backrest (17), advantageously surrounded and extended at the level of the legs by an envelope, commonly called a cocoon, forming a cockpit for the pilot.

[0032] A paraglider harness (14) according to the invention requires a particular structure compared to a traditional harness, allowing the integration or connection of specific emergency halyards, namely the emergency connection device (1) according to the invention, as described in more detail in the remainder of the description.

[0033] In the remainder of the description, the terms halyard or strap will be used to designate the same entity, these terms having the same meaning.

[0034] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a harness (14) according to the invention comprises an emergency connection device (1) to a reserve parachute (13).

[0035] The emergency connection device (1) comprises an emergency halyard (2), the upper end of which in the deployed position is fixed to the lines of the emergency parachute (13), an automatic system for righting the pilot comprising a pair of righting halyards (7) and advantageously a safety halyard (11) fixed substantially to the center of the seat (16), between the legs of the pilot and to the emergency halyard (2), by a safety carabiner (12).

[0036] The locking of the safety halyard (11) connected to the emergency halyard (1) by the safety carabiner (12) prevents, during takeoff, the risk of the pilot accidentally falling out of the harness (1) which would be inadvertently not secured at the harness (14).

[0037] It is understood that the emergency connection device (1) can adopt two positions, namely, a folded position, in which the emergency halyard (2) is housed in appropriate pockets, running through the envelope of the harness (14) to the emergency container (18), and a deployed position.

[0038] According to the illustrated embodiment, the emergency connection device (1) comprises the safety halyard (11).

[0039] According to the illustrated embodiment, the emergency halyard (2) is a continuous strap, defined for the presentation of the invention, in several portions.

[0040] The emergency halyard (2) comprises two emergency risers (3), one of the emergency risers (3) being extended by a first lateral portion (4a), a lower portion (5) and a second lateral portion (4b).

[0041] The emergency halyard (2), as illustrated in [Fig.2], comprises an anchor point (10), intended for connecting the emergency halyard (2) to the lines of the emergency parachute (13).

[0042] Let us specify that the anchor point (10) connects the two emergency risers (3) of the emergency halyard (2).

[0043] According to another embodiment, not illustrated, the emergency halyard comprises two emergency anchor points (10) and is H-shaped, namely that the two anchor points are connected by a portion of strap, advantageously forming an integral part of the emergency halyard (2).

[0044] Both ends of the emergency halyard (2) comprise end loops (6).

[0045] More precisely, one end of the emergency halyard (2) formed by the free end of one of the two emergency risers (3) and the other end of the emergency halyard (2) formed by the free end of the second lateral portion (4b), comprise end loops (6a, 6b).

[0046] According to one characteristic, the end loops (6a, 6b) of the emergency halyard (2) are arranged in the vicinity of one another.

[0047] These safety loops (6a, 6b) are intended to be fixed to the safety halyard (11) by a carabiner (12), when placing the pilot in the harness (14).

[0048] According to the preceding characteristic, and as illustrated in [Fig.2], the end loop (6a) of one of the emergency risers (3) is inserted into the end loop (6b) of the second portion (4b) of the emergency halyard (2), the end loop (6a) of one of the emergency risers (3) being secured to the carabiner (12) of the safety halyard (11). The tension generated by the deployment of the emergency parachute (13) thus locking the emergency connection device (1).

[0049] For safety conditions of deployment of the reserve parachute, the halyard of safety (2) is advantageously positioned at or above the anchor points of the paraglider sail.

[0050] The lower portion (5) of the emergency halyard (2) is arranged under the pilot's seat (16).

[0051] More precisely, the lower portion (5) is located transversely in the width of the seat (16), substantially halfway between the longitudinal ends of the seat (16).

[0052] The lower portion (5) is advantageously secured to the lower surface of the seat (16) or housed in a reinforced pocket, opening at its two ends and running the width of the seat (16).

[0053] The lateral portions (4a, 4b) of the emergency halyard (2) being positioned on either side of the pilot's sides.

[0054] The lateral portions (4a, 4b) are advantageously secured to the lateral parts of the structure of the harness (14) opposite the sides of the pilot.

[0055] As mentioned above, the emergency connection device (1) comprises an emergency halyard (2) and an automatic system for righting the pilot comprising a pair of righting halyards (7).

[0056] According to an additional characteristic, a righting halyard (7) comprises at least one halyard connecting a part of the emergency halyard (2), namely an emergency lift (3), to the backrest (17) of the seat (15) of the harness (14).

[0057] A righting halyard (7) is either secured to the lateral surfaces of the backrest (17) or to the structure of the saddle (14) on the periphery of the lateral ends of the backrest (17).

[0058] In other words, the backrest (17) is advantageously housed between the righting halyards (7).

[0059] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1], a righting halyard (7) comprises a main portion (8) and a secondary portion (9).

[0060] The main portion (8) of a righting halyard (7) connects an emergency lift (3) to the lower lateral part of the backrest (17), more precisely to the lower level of a lateral end of the backrest (17).

[0061] The secondary portion (9) of a righting halyard (7) connects the main portion (8) arranged in correspondence, to the upper lateral part of the backrest (17), more precisely to the upper level of a lateral end of the backrest (17).

[0062] Advantageously, the secondary portion (9) and in particular the junction of the secondary portion (9) to the upper lateral part of the backrest (17) is located on the outer periphery of the pilot's armpits.

[0063] A lateral part, namely a lower lateral part and an upper lateral part of the backrest (17), is understood to mean a lateral surface adjacent to the su- upper part of the backrest (17), support for the pilot's back.

[0064] The pair of righting halyards (7) being intended to substantially surround the pilot's torso, without hindering the pilot's mobility.

[0065] According to an additional characteristic, a righting halyard (7) is a continuous or semi-continuous strap, one of its ends of which is connected to an emergency lift (3) of the emergency halyard (2), extends into the lower lateral part of the backrest (17), extends along the lateral surface of the backrest (17), up to the upper lateral part of the backrest (17) and is connected to the main portion (8).

[0066] The integral connection of the end of the secondary portion (9) to the main portion (8) is substantially located halfway along the length of the main portion (8), namely substantially equidistant from the connection of the righting halyard (7) to the emergency lift (3) arranged in correspondence and to the connection of the lower part of the backrest (17).

[0067] The connection of the righting halyard (7) to itself and to the emergency elevator (3) is permanent and advantageously achieved by sewing.

[0068] A semi-continuous strap is understood to mean two portions of strap connected by a connection means, such as a self-locking buckle or a tightening buckle.

[0069] According to an additional characteristic, and as illustrated in [Fig.l], a righting halyard (7) is a semi-continuous strap, more precisely, the main portion (8) and the secondary portion (9) are two-part straps connected by a connection means.

[0070] The preceding characteristic allows in particular the prior adjustment of the inclination of the backrest (17) relative to the emergency risers (3), during deployment of the emergency parachute (13).

[0071] The positioning of the pilot in the harness is carried out by positioning and adjusting the harness retaining straps (14), and attaching the safety halyard (11) to the loops (6a, 6b) at the ends of the emergency halyard (2).

[0072] According to the illustrated embodiment, the emergency connection device (1) is integrated into the harness (14), but it could be otherwise, the emergency connection device (1) being removable and intended to be assembled to a harness (14) comprising means for attaching the emergency risers (3) of the emergency connection device (1) and the automatic system for straightening the pilot to the backrest (17) of the harness (1).

[0073] Thus, according to one embodiment, not shown, the emergency connection device (1) is independent of the harness (14), and comprises two emergency risers (3) in Y or H, connected by one or two anchor points (10) to the lines of the emergency parachute (13), and an automatic system for righting the pilot comprising two righting lines (7) intended to be connected to the backrest (17) or on the lateral periphery of the backrest (17), for example in a manner equivalent to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0074] According to the preceding embodiment, the emergency elevators (3) each comprise an end loop (6a, 6b).

[0075] According to the preceding embodiment, the harness (14) comprises at least one emergency anchoring point intended for fixing at least one end (6a, 6b) of one of the two emergency risers (3), and at least one means for fixing a righting halyard (7) to the backrest (17) or to the lateral periphery of the backrest (17).

[0076] Thus, according to the preceding embodiments, the two emergency risers (3) are secured to the harness (14) laterally on either side of the seat (16), at or above the anchoring points of the paraglider sail.

[0077] According to a general characteristic, the harness (14) comprises an external container (18), in which the reserve parachute (13) is folded in a conventional manner in its pod, connected to a reserve handle (19), and connected to the anchor point of the reserve halyard (2).

[0078] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.3], the emergency container (18) is located in the lateral position of the saddle (13).

[0079] According to the preceding embodiment, the harness (14) conventionally comprises housings for the emergency risers (3) provided for this purpose, on the surface of the envelope of the harness (14), from substantially the anchoring points of the paraglider sail to the emergency container (18).

[0080] When deploying the reserve parachute (13), and inflating the paraglider sail, which should, with a conventional harness, generate a mirror effect of the sails, as illustrated in [Fig.6], the harness (14) and the reserve connection device (1) according to the invention, make it possible to straighten the pilot into a natural vertical position, as illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0081] Real-life tests of deployment of the reserve parachute (13) in mirror effect with the paraglider sail, of a harness (14) and of the reserve connection device (1) according to the invention, were successfully carried out, demonstrating the effectiveness of the pilot's recovery.

Claims

Claims

1. Paraglider harness (14) comprising a seat (16), a backrest (17), two anchor points for the paraglider sail, an emergency connection device (1) for the harness (14) intended to be connected to a reserve parachute (13) characterized in that the reserve connection device (1) comprises: • two reserve risers (3) secured to the harness (14) laterally on either side of the seat (16), at or above the anchor points of the paraglider sail, and • an automatic system for righting the pilot when the reserve parachute is deployed, comprising two righting lines (7) each secured to the backrest (17) or to the lateral periphery of the backrest (17) and to one of the reserve risers (3).

2. Harness (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the emergency connection device (1) comprises an emergency halyard (2) comprising the two emergency risers (3), one of the emergency risers (3) being extended by a first lateral portion (4a), a lower portion (5) and a second lateral portion (4b), the lower portion (5) being located under the seat (16).

3. Saddle (14) according to claim 2, characterized in that the second lateral portion (4b) and the free end of one of the two risers (3) each comprise an end loop (6a, 6b), the loops (6a, 6b) being arranged in the vicinity of one another.

4. A harness (14) according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that a righting halyard (7) comprises a main portion (8) connecting the lower part or the lower periphery of the backrest (17) and a secondary portion (9) connecting the upper part or the upper periphery of the backrest (17).

5. Harness (14) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the righting halyard (7) is a strap or portions of straps connected together by connection means, the righting halyard (7) passing from the lower part or the lower periphery of the backrest (17), extends along the lateral part of the backrest (17) to the upper part or upper periphery of the backrest (17) and then be connected to the main portion (8).

6. Harness (14) according to claim 3, characterized in that the emergency connection device (1) comprises a safety halyard (11) connecting the seat (16) to at least one free end of one of the two risers (3).

7. Harness (14) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the safety halyard (11) is intended to be fixed to the seat (16) substantially between the pilot's legs.

8. A harness (14) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the safety halyard (11) is connected to the end loops (6a, 6b) by a carabiner (12).

9. Harness (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for attaching the emergency risers (3) and means for attaching the automatic system for straightening the pilot to the backrest (17) or to the lateral periphery of the backrest (17).

10. Harness (14) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the emergency risers (3) each comprise an end loop (6a, 6b).

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