Movable Parachute Riser Attachment for Stable Descent Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional parachute harnesses restrict the adjustment of a jumper's orientation and attitude during descent, creating pivot points that cause oscillation and potential injury, and ejection seat parachutes apply forces that can lead to aft pitch and neck hyperextension due to improper load application.

Innovation Solution

A harness assembly with movable riser attachments that allow the point of force application to shift from the front of the user to a position aligned with the spine, reducing off-axis loads and minimizing head movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the harness is anchored at fixed anchor points on the shoulder straps, then the harness provides stable attachment points, but the jumper oscillates to and fro during descent and landing due to inherent pivot points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharness attachment stabilityVSAvoidjumper oscillation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing fixed anchor points with movable riser attachments that can slide along the shoulder straps. This allows the attachment points to dynamically adjust their position, eliminating the fixed pivot points that cause oscillation while maintaining stable harness attachment throughout the descent and landing phases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the riser straps are anchored at the front of the crew member's body, then the attachment is simple and direct, but aft pitch occurs causing forward-backward accelerations that can cause injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment simplicityVSAvoidaft pitch and forward acceleration injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling the riser attachments to move dynamically along the shoulder straps from front to rear positions. This dynamic adjustment allows the attachment point to shift away from the front of the body, eliminating aft pitch and the associated forward acceleration injuries while maintaining simple attachment construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by allowing the attachment point position parameter to vary along the shoulder strap length. This parameter adjustment enables the force application point to move from a front location (causing harmful aft pitch) to a rear location (aligned with the spine, eliminating injury risk)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If single riser straps are used to suspend the jumper, then the harness structure is simplified, but the degree of adjustment for varying orientation and attitude is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharness structure simplicityVSAvoidjumper orientation adjustment range

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by introducing movable riser attachments that can slide along the shoulder straps, enabling dynamic adjustment of the jumper's orientation and attitude during descent. This maintains the simplicity of single riser strap structure while significantly increasing adaptability through the movable attachment mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12528590B2Parachute systems and riser attachments thereof

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

Parachute systems and harness assemblies for parachute systems include a harness having a shoulder portion, a front portion, a back portion, and a leg portion, a fitting strap attached to the shoulder portion, with a gap defined between the fitting strap and the shoulder portion, and a riser attachment is movably attached between the shoulder portion and the fitting strap, the riser attachment free to move from a first position on a front of the harness to a second position aft of the first position along a path defined by the gap.