Safety apparatus and method for parachutists during jumping

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for parachutists jumping from an aircraft, wherein the parachutist carries a parachute, which has a parachute canopy and a deployment bag which encloses the parachute canopy when the parachute is in the unopened state, said apparatus comprising a connecting device between the parachute and the aircraft, which connecting device comprises a static line and, in a connection state in which the parachute is in an unopened state, forms a firm connection of the parachute to the aircraft and, in a disconnection state, forms a disconnection between the parachute and the aircraft, and wherein the deployment bag has a closure device which can be brought, by the generation of a predefined triggering tensile force by means of the static line, into an open position in which the parachute canopy is released from the deployment bag in order to unfold, and wherein the connecting device has a safety predetermined breaking point which, in the event that the closure device of the deployment bag is not triggered, brings the connecting device into the disconnection state.

Description

[0001] Eiedler, Ostermaim & Schneider

[0002] Patent Attorneys Partnership mbB European Patent Trademark Attorneys

[0003] DR. JÜRGEN FIEDLER Dipl.-Ing

[0004] THOMAS OSTERMANN

[0005] Dipl.-Ing. *

[0006] DR. PETER SCHNEIDER

[0007] Applicant: Dipl.-Phys. *

[0008] * '-i.'-aeo” aryt f'tc'w,

[0009] Robert Cloth

[0010] Sporckweg 9 Klausheider Str 31

[0011] D-33106 Paderborn 33104 Paderborn Telephone 0 52 54 M, 06 3 I

[0012] Fax 0 52 54 bft H(, 32 and

[0013] Alexander Cloth CLO2401 PCT

[0014] Sporckweg 9 09 / 08 / 2025 33104 Paderborn

[0015] Safety device and procedure for parachutists during jumps

[0016] The invention relates to a device for parachutists jumping from an aircraft, wherein the parachutist carries a parachute comprising a canopy and a pack sack enclosing the canopy in the unopened state of the parachute, with a connecting device having a lifting line between the parachute and the aircraft, which in a connected state in which the parachute is in an unopened state forms a fixed connection between the parachute and the aircraft and which in a disconnected state forms a separation between the parachute and the aircraft, the pack sack having a closing device which can be brought into an open position by generating a predetermined release force by means of the lifting line, in which the canopy is released from the pack sack for the latter to unfold.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for parachute jumpers. The invention also relates to a safety shear point for the safety device.

[0018] From EP 3 386 861 AI, parachutes with a reserve parachute are known which have an automatic opening mechanism, so that the opening of the reserve parachute is initiated automatically if the parachutist is below a certain altitude and exceeds a certain rate of descent.

[0019] In military applications, the ability to parachute from very low altitudes is a requirement. For low-altitude jumps, automatic deployment occurs through the opening of a pack bag, which, when the parachute is deflated, encloses the canopy. When the parachutist jumps, the extended launch line creates a pulling force, or release force, which opens a locking mechanism within the pack bag. This allows the canopy to inflate under the pressure of the air and thus open automatically. If the parachutist's jump is not as planned, for example, if the launch line becomes wrapped around their arm, the line may not be able to generate the necessary release force to open the pack bag's locking mechanism.To prevent the parachutist from continuing to hang from the aircraft in the slipstream, it is desirable to avoid this undesirable hanging state of the parachutist without injuring or killing the jumper, or without the aircraft becoming only partially maneuverable or crashing and the planned military operation being affected.

[0020] From DE 10 2008 023 271 A1, it is already known to provide a predetermined breaking point on a parachute pack for ballistically deployed objects, such as projectiles, etc. The predetermined breaking point is located on one side of the pack. On another side of the pack, a rope connection to the functional element is provided. The predetermined breaking point is part of a closure device of the pack, whereby breaking the predetermined breaking point separates the functional element together with the parachute from the pack.

[0021] From DE 448 364, a parachute is known with a parachute canopy arranged in a pack sack when the parachute is unopened. The pack sack has a closure device connected to a lifting line permanently attached to the aircraft. Once the lifting line has extended after the jump, it acts as a release force on the closure device of the pack sack and opens it. The parachute canopy can then open. Separation between the parachute canopy and the lifting line is achieved by a predetermined breaking point, designed as a tearable cord, located between the parachute canopy and the lifting line.A disadvantage of this known device for parachuting parachutes is that the lifting line cannot fulfill its function of opening the pack if it does not generate the necessary release force. This can happen, for example, if the lifting line wraps around an arm, leg, or torso of the parachutist during the jump. In this case, the release force of the lifting line acts on the parachutist's arm or leg, but not on the pack, which then fails to open. The lifting line can also be incorrectly routed at the locking point, becoming blocked and unable to generate a release force. The consequence of this failure to open is that the parachutist is towed by the aircraft, suspended by the line, often with violent, rapid movements, during which, in the case of spins, the parachutist is subjected to strong centrifugal forces.Furthermore, there is a risk that, while the parachutist is suspended from the aircraft, the parachutist's reserve parachute may unintentionally open or be actively but incorrectly opened by the parachutist, which could injure or kill the parachutist. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device and method for parachutists jumping from an aircraft in such a way as to increase the operational reliability of their parachute or reserve parachute.

[0022] To solve this problem, the invention in conjunction with the preamble of claim 1 is characterized in that the connecting device has a safety breakaway point which, if the closure device of the pack sack is not triggered, brings the connecting device into the separation state.

[0023] According to the invention, a connecting device between the parachute or pack on one side and the aircraft on the other side has a safety breakaway component, so that separation between the parachute or pack and the aircraft can be effected if the release mechanism for the pack fails to activate via a lifting line. The fundamental idea of ​​the invention is to provide an additional safety breakaway component in every case, ensuring further separation between the parachute or pack and the aircraft. This allows the connecting device to be separated if the release force of the lifting line fails to activate the locking mechanism, enabling the skydiver to then deploy the parachute or, if necessary, a reserve parachute.This advantageously avoids the parachutist hanging from the aircraft for an extended period, which can result in high inertial forces acting on the jumper, leading to injury or death. Furthermore, it prevents the aircraft from being damaged or crashing due to an opening parachute canopy. According to the invention, the jumper is prevented from being thrown against the aircraft wall from the outside due to their undesirable hanging position on the elevator cable. The invention provides a safety separation virtually at the moment the locking mechanism fails to activate, ensuring the parachutist lands where they are supposed to land with their companions.

[0024] According to a further development of the invention, the safety breakaway point is designed such that the connecting device is only brought into the separation state when a threshold tensile force is exceeded, which leads to the breaking of the safety breakaway point and which is greater than the predetermined release pull-out force for the pack bag. Advantageously, this ensures that separation of the parachute from the aircraft by breaking the safety breakaway point does not occur if the proper release of the pack bag's closure device is achieved by the release pull-out force of the lifting line. Advantageously, the safety breakaway point is only effectively activated or broken in an emergency if the release of the closure device by the pull-out force of the lifting line cannot occur.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the safety break point is formed as a seam between two textile parts. The seam, which is formed by sewing two parts to be joined, preferably two parts of the elevator shaft, is designed such that it breaks or separates when a predetermined threshold tensile force is reached. Preferably, the seam is integrated into the elevator shaft, so that the handling effort is relatively low.

[0026] According to a further development of the invention, the safety breaking point is arranged at an end of the lifting line facing the aircraft. For example, the safety breaking point can be arranged between an end of the lifting line facing the aircraft and a lifting line hook of the connecting device, wherein the lifting line hook is firmly attached to, for example, an anchor line of the aircraft. Advantageously, this ensures that the connecting device always releases and thus the parachute separates from the aircraft if the closure device of the pack bag fails to open.

[0027] According to a further development of the invention, the safety breakaway point is designed such that the threshold tensile force leading to its failure lies within a suitable range. Advantageously, the weight of the parachutist plus the acceleration forces during the jump are sufficient to exceed the threshold tensile force, thus ensuring the separation of the parachute from the aircraft after the safety breakaway point has failed. The threshold tensile force is preferably set so low that a parachutist suspended from the elevator rope, due to their weight and the acceleration forces acting in the air, generates the necessary threshold tensile force to release the connection to the aircraft.

[0028] According to a further development of the invention, the safety breakaway component comprises an elongated breakaway element which is rigidly connected at a first end region to a first coupling element force-connected to the elevator rope and at a second end region to a second coupling element rigidly connected to the elevator rope hook. The safety breakaway component can be easily installed between the elevator rope and the elevator rope hook, requiring only one additional fastening point compared to attaching the elevator rope to the elevator rope hook without a safety breakaway component.

[0029] According to a further development of the invention, the predetermined breaking element of the safety predetermined breaking point is plate-shaped and has at least one narrowing and / or material thinning between the first end region and the second end region. The narrowing and / or material thinning preferably forms the actual breaking point. Thus, a defined break occurs between the two end regions of the predetermined breaking element, to which the coupling elements are attached. Advantageously, this allows for a reliable separation.

[0030] According to a further development of the invention, the safety breakaway point has an adapter in which the breakaway element is arranged. Advantageously, this simplifies assembly, as a preferably screw connection can be made at the end regions of the adapter by inserting fastening screws through bores in the adapter and the breakaway element. Advantageously, this makes the locking mechanism of the safety breakaway point more user-friendly, as the safety element only needs to be inserted into the adapter.

[0031] According to a further development of the invention, the predetermined breaking point element has an additional bore in the intended breaking area, preferably in the central region of the narrowing. This creates, firstly, a defined breaking point on the safety element, since the material accumulation between the opposing end regions is minimal at this point. Secondly, a deformation of the bore, for example, a deformation from a circular contour to an ellipsoidal contour in the longitudinal direction of the safety element, indicates wear of the safety element, thus necessitating its replacement.

[0032] According to a further development of the invention, a reserve parachute can be provided which is equipped with an automatic opening device. In this way, it is ensured that if the parachute fails to deploy and separates from the aircraft, the reserve parachute will deploy either by the parachutist or by the automatic opening device, thus safely bringing the parachutist to the designated landing location.

[0033] To solve the problem, the invention has the features of method claim 14.

[0034] The particular advantage of the method according to the invention is that the parachute is quickly and easily separated from the aircraft, preventing the parachute from being deployed. This advantageously prevents the parachutist from hanging from the aircraft for an extended period, which can lead to undesirable consequences. Furthermore, it allows military operations involving the rapid deployment of multiple parachutists at short intervals to proceed without disruption. The operation can continue virtually uninterrupted, without any adverse effects on the parachutist or the aircraft. In particular, it prevents the aircraft from being restricted in its maneuverability due to the parachutist being suspended.The invention avoids the risk of the parachutist being thrown against the aircraft wall from the outside, or of the parachutist being subjected to high g-forces due to rapid movement, which could injure or kill him, or of the parachutist being dragged to death during aircraft landing. The invention enables a safe separation of the parachutist from the aircraft regardless of whether the packing bag's locking mechanism is triggered, and preferably even if the locking mechanism is not triggered.Since the threshold tensile force required to break the safety shear point is always exceeded when the parachutist is suspended from the elevator line under the influence of acceleration forces in the air, the separation of the parachutist or parachute from the aircraft occurs immediately after the planned, but failed, release of the pack bag's locking mechanism. If several parachutists jump in quick succession, typically forming a group, the intended jump pattern remains unchanged.

[0035] According to a further development of the invention, the parachutist has a reserve parachute that can be deployed manually or automatically. This should ensure a safe landing for the parachutist even if the main parachute cannot be deployed.

[0036] Further advantages of the invention arise from the further subclaims.

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0038] They show:

[0039] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a normal jump in which a closure device of a parachute pack is brought into an open state by means of a release force of the lift line,

[0040] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of an abnormal jump in which the closure mechanism of the pack bag cannot be brought into an open position due to the lifting line being wound around an arm of the parachutist, whereby a safety breakaway point is used to separate the lifting line from the aircraft.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a safety predetermined breaking point according to a first embodiment,

[0042] Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a safety soil rupture point according to a second embodiment,

[0043] Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a safety rope break point integrated into a lift rope according to a further embodiment and

[0044] Fig. 6 shows a cross-section through a weld joint according to Figure 5.

[0045] A device according to the invention for parachutists 1 jumping from an aircraft additionally features, compared to known solutions, a safety rope break point 3, which is arranged in a connection device 4 between a parachute 5 (main failsafe) and a load-bearing attachment point in the cargo hold of an aircraft 2, for example, an anchor cable 6. The anchor cable 6 is fixedly arranged between two attachment points B of the aircraft 2.The connecting device 4 typically serves to connect a parachute pack 7 of the parachute 5 and the anchor part 6 of the aircraft 2, whereby the pack 7, in the unopened state of the parachute 5, encloses a parachute canopy 8 of the parachute 5. In normal circumstances, when the parachutist 1 jumps from the aircraft 2, the weight of the parachutist 1 causes a lengthy lifting line 9 of the connecting device 4 to stretch, whereby the tensile force generated on the pack 7 serves as a release force FA for a locking device 10 of the pack 7, by means of which the pack 7 can be moved from the closed position enclosing the parachute canopy 8 to an open position opening the parachute canopy 8. Upon opening the pack sack 7, the parachutist 1, together with the parachute canopy 8, is released by the communication device 4.separated, so that after unfolding the parachute canopy 8 he can land safely on the earth. The connecting device 4 together with the pack sack 7 remains in the connected state with the aircraft 2 or connected state with the anchor cable 6 of the aircraft 2. In this way, parachutists 1 attached to the same anchor cable 6 can jump one after the other from the aircraft 2.

[0046] The safety shear point 3 according to the invention is designed such that it does not trigger or break during the normal jump of the parachutist 1 as shown in Figure 1. The connecting device 4, consisting of the lifting blocks 9, the safety shear point 3, and a lifting line hook 1 attached to the anchor rope 6, can therefore be reused for the next parachutist 1.

[0047] In the present embodiment, the safety shear point 3 is arranged on an end of the elevator rope 9 facing the aircraft 2. As can be seen in Figure 3, the safety shear point 3 comprises an elongated shear element 12, which is fixedly connected to the elevator rope 9 at a first end region 13 and to the elevator rope hook 11 at a second end region 14 located on a side facing away from the elevator rope 9. The shear element 12 is plate-shaped and has at least one tapered section 15, so that controlled stretching and breaking can occur between the first end region 13 and the second end region 14 of the shear element 12.

[0048] Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined breaking element 12 can also have a material thinning in the central region, i.e., in a region between the first end region 13 and the second end region 14, by which the breaking point is defined. According to an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 4, a predetermined breaking element 12', depicted with a dashed line, can be detachably arranged in an adapter 16. The adapter 16 can be formed by two cover plates 17, between which the predetermined breaking element 12' is held in the assembled position. The cover plates 17 of the adapter 16 and the predetermined breaking element 12' each have aligned first bores 18 in a first end region 19 and second bores 20 in a second end region 21 of the respective elongated predetermined breaking element 12' or adapter 16.While the adapter plates 17 are arranged in a substantially rectangular shape, the predetermined breaking element 12' has a narrowing 22 in a central area, in which the breaking point of the predetermined breaking element 12' is located. In this narrowing 22, the predetermined breaking element 12' has a central bore 23 that aligns with a central bore 24 of the adapter 16. This allows the condition of the predetermined breaking element 12' to be advantageously visualized. Should this fracture narrowing 22 have already stretched longitudinally before a break, this would be indicated by a change in the central bore 24 from a circular contour to an elongated, ellipsoidal contour. In this case, there is a risk that the resulting safety predetermined breaking point 3 will trigger prematurely. The problem can be remedied by replacing the predetermined breaking element 12'.

[0049] To connect the predetermined breaking element 12' to the adapter 16 or to the lifting rope 9 and the lifting rope hook 11, a fastening screw 25 is provided in the first end region 19 of the adapter 16, which extends through the first bores 18 and is secured on the other side by a nut (not shown). Between the head of the fastening screw

[0050] 25 and the cover plate 17 of the adapter 16 is a first coupling element

[0051] 26 A clamp is provided by which the safety break element 12' or the adapter 16 is connected to the lifting line 9 in the first end region 19. Similarly, in the opposite second end region 21, another fastening screw 25 is inserted through the bore and connected with the nut, with a further clamp serving as a second coupling element 27 to connect the adapter 16 or safety element to the lifting line hook 11. By actuating the fastening center 25, a force-transmitting connection can be achieved between the withdrawal line 9 and the adapter 16 or the safety element on one side, and between the lifting line hook 11 and the adapter 16 or safety break element 12' on the other.

[0052] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the lift rope 9 itself can also have an end that serves as a safety breakaway point 3. In this case, an additional component for the safety breakaway point 3 can be omitted.

[0053] Considering the normal case of a parachutist's jump as shown in Figure 1, the launching line 9 automatically extends as the parachutist 1 falls. When the launching line 9 is in an extended state, it generates a pulling force, or release force FA, on the locking mechanism 10 of the pack 7 (not shown in detail), causing the locking mechanism 10 to open. This releases the parachute canopy, allowing the parachutist 1 to descend to the ground under the open parachute canopy 8. It is assumed that the parachutist 1 carries the pack 7 on his back, containing the parachute canopy 8, and a reserve parachute 28 on his front.

[0054] If the parachutist 1's jump does not proceed as planned and a malfunction occurs that prevents the required release force FA from acting on the locking device 10 of the pack sack 7, for example, if the lifting line 9 wraps around an arm 29 of the parachutist 1, the parachutist 1 would remain suspended by the lifting line 9 and be carried further by the aircraft 2. The parachute canopy 8 would not open automatically. The locking device 10 would not be activated and would remain in the connected state.

[0055] To enable the separation of the parachutist 1 or the parachute 5 from the aircraft 2, the safety shear point 3 breaks and brings the connecting device 4 into a separation state when the threshold tensile force Fs required to break the safety shear point 3 is exerted and / or exceeded by the lifting line 9. The threshold tensile force Fs is predetermined by the shear element 12, 12' and lies within a suitable range. It can be below or at or slightly above the weight of the parachutist 1. At the safety shear point 3, the parachutist 1 is subjected to at least his weight while suspended, as well as additional forces resulting from the oscillation, which in total are greater than the predetermined threshold tensile force Fs.

[0056] Preferably the threshold tensile force Fs is greater than the trigger tensile force FA, so that in a normal, trouble-free jump according to Figure 1 the safety shear point 3 is not activated or does not lead to the separation of the lift line 9 to the aircraft 2.

[0057] Since, if the pack sack 7 does not deploy, a tensile force of at least the threshold tensile force Fs acts on the safety shear point 3, the safety shear point 3 breaks immediately after at least part of the lifting element 9 is extended. The parachutist 1 is now separated from the aircraft 2 and falls in free fall. He can now manually activate the reserve parachute 28 to open it. Alternatively, the reserve parachute 28 can have an automatic opening device that opens the reserve parachute 28 depending on the parachutist 1's current altitude and / or his falling speed. After the reserve parachute 28 has opened, he can land safely at the designated location. Preferably, the shear element 12, 12' is made of a metal material. The adapter plates 17 are also preferably made of a metal material.

[0058] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), an outer packaging bag or parachute container is arranged around the pack sack 7. The outer packaging bag also has a closure device that is coupled to the lifting line 9, so that the release force FA of the lifting blocks 9 opens both the outer packaging bag and the actual pack sack 7.

[0059] An incorrect arrangement of the functional elements on the outer packaging bag or on the parachute container can also be a reason for the parachutist getting stuck on the aircraft.

[0060] According to an embodiment of the invention not shown, the predetermined breaking element consists of a textile material, in particular a textile band, which is preferably elongated.

[0061] For example, the material thinning of the predetermined breaking element has a notch, a perforation, or a scoring mark at the predetermined breaking point. The perforation preferably runs transversely or longitudinally along the predetermined breaking element, or transversely or longitudinally along the release force or the stretched lifting cable. 9 Preferably, the predetermined breaking element is made of a metal material. Alternatively, it can consist of a plastic or plastic composite material.

[0062] According to a further embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the safety break point 3 is formed by a seam 32, which in the present embodiment is integrated next to the lift stone 9. The seam 32 is arranged in an area close to the free end of the lift rope 9 or to the lift rope hook 11. so that the triggering of the safety break point 3 or the separation of the connecting device 4 occurs in an area close to the elevator rope hook 11. The seam connection 32 is formed by a seam between two textile parts 33, 34, namely a first textile part 33 of the elevator rope 9 and a second textile part 34 of the same elevator rope 9. These two textile parts 33, 34 are connected at their free ends by one or more threads 35 in such a way that when the threshold tensile force Fs is reached in the longitudinal direction of the elevator rope 9, this seam connection 32 breaks.

[0063] The elevator rope 9 can be a conventional elevator rope, which is separated at the seam and then repeatedly joined together by one or more threads 35 in stitches in such a way that the connecting device and thus the safety breakaway point 3 is triggered or separated when the specified threshold tensile force Fs is reached.

[0064] Advantageously, this creates a simple and long-term stable safety breakaway point 3, which is integrated into the elevator rope 9.

[0065] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention not shown, the seam connection 32 can also be formed by an additional textile or non-textile predetermined breaking element, which is arranged as an adapter between the lifting rope 9 and the lifting rope hook 11.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device for parachuting parachutists (1) from an aircraft (2), wherein the parachutist (1) carries a parachute (5) comprising a parachute canopy (8) and a pack sack (7) enclosing the canopy in the unopened state of the parachute (5), with a connecting device (4) having a lifting line (9) between the parachute (5) and the aircraft (2), which in a connected state in which the parachute (5) is in an unopened state forms a fixed connection between the parachute (5) and the aircraft (2) and which in a disconnected state forms a separation between the parachute (5) and the aircraft (2), wherein the pack sack (7) has a closing device (10) which can be brought into an open position by generating a predetermined release force (FA) by means of the lifting line (9), in which the parachute canopy is released from the Pack sack (7) is released for unfolding,characterized in that the connecting device (4) has a safety breakaway point (3) which, if the locking device (10) of the pack sack (7) fails to release, brings the connecting device (4) into the separation state.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety break point (3) is designed such that the connecting device (4) is brought into the separation state when a threshold tensile force (Fs) acting on the safety break point (3) is exceeded, which is greater than the release tensile force (FA).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the safety breakaway parts (3) are in the lift rope (9) is integrated or is arranged between an end of the lift rope (9) and a lift rope hook (1 1 ) of the connecting device (4), wherein the lift rope hook (11 ) is attached to a fixed attachment point (B) on the aircraft (2).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the threshold tensile force (Fs) is in the appropriate range.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting device (4) comprises the lift rope (9), the safety breakaway point (3) and the lift rope hook (1 1 ), wherein the lift rope hook (1 1 ) is movably held on a fastening, in particular on an anchor line (9), of the aircraft (2).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the safety predetermined breaking point (3) is formed by a seam connection (32) between two textile parts (33, 34), wherein the seam connection (32) is designed such that it breaks when the threshold tensile force (Fs) is reached.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the textile parts (33, 34) which are connected to each other via the seam connection (32) are parts of the lifting rope (9).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the safety predetermined breaking parts (3) preferably have an elongated predetermined breaking element (12, 12 ) which is fixedly connected to the lift rope (9) at a first end region (13). force-connected first coupling element (26) and a second coupling element (27) is firmly connected to the lifting rope hook (11) at a second end area (14).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the predetermined breaking element (12, 12\) has a reduction in width and / or a thinning of the material, which is preferably located between the first end region (13) and the second end region (14) of the predetermined breaking element (12, 12 1 ) extends, or that the predetermined breaking element consists of a textile material.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the predetermined breaking element (12 ) is detachably arranged in an adapter (16) via fastening means (25), wherein the coupling elements (26, 27) for connecting the predetermined breaking element ( 12') to the lifting rope (9) and the lifting rope hook (1 1 ) are provided on the fastening means (25).

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the predetermined breaking element (12') has a bore (23) in a predetermined breaking area.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a reserve parachute (28) is provided with an automatic opening device which opens the reserve parachute (28) depending on a height and / or a falling speed of the parachutist (1).

13. Safety predetermined breaking point for a device according to one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Method for parachutists (1) jumping from an aircraft (2) at low altitude, wherein a closure device (10) of a pack bag (7) of the parachute (5) can be brought into an opening position releasing a parachute canopy (8) by means of a release force generated by a connecting device (4), characterized in that after the parachutist (1) has jumped the connecting device (4) is brought into a disconnected state, unless the closure device (10) of the pack bag (7) has been brought into the open position by the connecting device (4).

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that after the connecting device (4) is brought into the separation state, a reserve parachute (28) attached to the parachutist (1) is automatically opened.

16. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the reserve parachute (28) is opened depending on a current altitude and / or current falling speed of the parachutist (1 ).

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