Jump Suit

Abstract

A parachutist's jump suit includes a main sleeve to receive and fit closely about a limb; also, an auxiliary sleeve is attached to the main sleeve and extends along it toward an opening formed by the auxiliary sleeve to receive air in a space defined between the main and auxiliary sleeves, thereby to expand the auxiliary sleeve and develop pressure tending to impede the parachutist's fall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to what is commonly known as sky diving, and more particularly concerns the maneuvering and braking of the sky diver's fall through use of braking means associated with the diver's limb or limbs.

The sport of sky diving has recently gained widespread popularity, and the need for safe and useful sky diving equipment has correspondingly likewise increased. Group maneuvering of divers as well as other activities such as photography carried out during free fall has resulted in the need for equipment enabling the diver to vary and control his fall velocity. While efforts have been made to meet this need, no-one, to my knowledge, has been able to provide the unusual structure, functions and results now afforded by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide a jump suit construction meeting the needs as referred to above and providing the unusual advantages as will appear. Basically, the invention is embodied in a suit that includes, in combination, a main sleeve to receive and fit closely about a limb of the parachutist; and, an auxiliary sleeve attached to the main sleeve and extending along it toward an opening formed by the auxiliary sleeve to receive air in a space defined between the two sleeves, thereby to expand the auxiliary sleeve and develop pressure and force tending to impede the free fall of the diver. The sleeves may consist of heavy fabric material, and more than one (as for example all) of the diver's limbs may be fitted with main and auxiliary sleeves, as referred to, whereby he may orient his limbs, so provided, relative to the up-rushing air, and either individually or collectively, to maneuver his body and/or brake his fall, as desired. Typically, his rate of fall may thus be reduced within the range 0 to 50 miles per hour.

More specifically, the main sleeve may be sized to receive the parachutist's forearm or lower leg, and the auxiliary or outer sleeve may be attached to the main sleeve near the elbow or knee receiving portions thereof; the main and auxiliary sleeves may be attached together lengthwise thereof to still permit bellowing of the auxiliary sleeves; and the sleeves as defined may be incorporated in a quickly applied jump suit of zippered construction, as will appear.

The novel method of controlling the maneuvering of a human diver falling in the atmosphere includes controllably orienting a limb relative to the fall direction to increase pressurization of air entrapped by the sleeve means associated with that limb; and where such sleeves are associated with multiple limbs, the latter may be controllably oriented individually or collectively to achieve the desired maneuvering or varied braking.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an elevation illustrating use of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation showing the manner in which the jump suit is fitted on a parachutist;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on lines 4--4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical section showing details of the invention as applied to a leg portion of the jump suit; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken on lines 6--6 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 2, the illustrated jump suit 10 includes a body portion 11, arm sleeves 12 and leg sleeves 13. Like zipper connections 14 and 15 at the front of the suit extend as shown from the neck top at locations 16 to the leg portion bottoms at locations 17. As a result the suit may be quickly applied to the wearer through manipulation of the zippers in relation to the front and side panels 18 and 11a, and in relation to the zipper connected sections 13a and 13b of the leg sleeves. When both zippers are completely disconnected, front panel 18 is disconnected from side panels 11a, and sections 13a are disconnected from sections 13b, it being clear that sections 13b remain integral with front panel 18. When the suit has been fitted on the jumper, the top band 19 may be attached about the jumper's neck as by overlaying and connecting together band tabs 19a and 19b, these for example being surfaced with VELCRO interconnection layers which attach when pressed together.

The suit may consist for example of flexible fabric such as cotton duck, or other suitable material, and may be reinforced at the knees and elbows, as shown.

In accordance with the invention, an auxiliary sleeve is attached to at least one main sleeve (as for example an arm or leg sleeve as referred to), the auxiliary sleeve extending along the main sleeve toward an opening formed by the auxiliary sleeve to receive or trap air in a space defined between the main and auxiliary sleeves, thereby to expand the auxiliary sleeve and develop pressure tending to impede the parachutist's fall. In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main sleeve 12 is sized to closely receive the diver's arm, and the auxiliary sleeve 21 is rearwardly connected at 22 to and about main sleeve (near the elbow) to extend forwardly along the forearm portion 12a of the main sleeve. In this regard, the auxiliary sleeve is shown as folded at 21a for attachment to the main sleeve, and is also folded at its lower terminal 21b, for reinforcement. When the wearer's forearm is directed generally downwardly (as in FIG. 1 for example) during a fall in the atmosphere, air trapped in annular space 23 between the sleeves is pressurized by the ram effect of the relative upward velocity air tending to enter the sleeve open end 24, in the direction of arrow 25. This in turn tends to expand the auxiliary sleeve and develop force exerted upwardly on the wearer's arm tending to impede his fall and permitting enhanced maneuvering control as by varied directional orientation of the wearer's arm relative to the direction of fall. Note that space 23 increases in cross section toward end 24.

Merely as illustrative, the inner sleeve forearm portion 12a may be slit at 26 adjacent wrist portion 27, the latter being closely releasably retained about the wearer's wrist by overlapping and interconnection of tabs 27a and 27b, the interconnection being illustrated at 28 and consisting for example of VELCRO facings, as previously referred to. Main and auxiliary sleeves as referred to may be provided in association with both arms of the diver, as seen in FIG. 2.

In the example seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the main sleeve 13 is sized to closely receive the diver's leg, and the auxiliary sleeve 30 is rearwardly connected at 31 to and about the main sleeve (near the knee) to extend forwardly, with outward flare, along the lower leg portion 13c of the main sleeve. The auxiliary sleeve is shown as folded at 30a for attachment to the main sleeve, and is also folded at its lower terminal 30b, for reinforcement when the wearer's lower leg is directed generally downwardly (as in FIG. 1 for example) during a fall in the atmosphere, air trapped in space 32 between the sleeves is pressurized by the ram effect of the relative upward velocity air tending to enter the sleeve open end 33, in the direction of arrow 34. This in turn tends to expand the auxiliary sleeve and develop force exerted upwardly on the wearer's leg tending to impede his fall, and permitting enhanced control of maneuvering, as by raised directional orientation of the wearer's leg relative to the direction of fall. Space 32 also increases in area toward end 33.

The main and auxiliary sleeves 13c and 30 may, with unusual advantage, be attached together at a lengthwise extending location therealong, for added reinforcement tending to prevent relatively rearward displacement of the auxiliary sleeve relative to the main sleeve. For example, as seen in FIG. 5, the auxiliary sleeve may be attached to the main sleeve at lengthwise locations 36 and 37 adjacent opposite interconnectible zipper sections 14a and 14b, and extending to the terminal portion 38 of the main sleeve. The latter is folded as shown and contains an elastic band 39 to retain the terminal portion 38 closely about the wearer's lower leg. A U-shaped strap 40 is attached to the terminal portion 38 and sized to extend under the jumper's boot, for retaining the main sleeve against creep upwardly along the leg.

In use, the jumper or sky diver may controllably maneuver his limbs individually and/or collectively from an upwardly extended position (for maximum dropping speed) to downwardly oriented or extended position in order to achieve desired braking of his fall and selected roll of his body. If all four limbs are oriented downwardly as in FIG. 1, near maximum braking effect is achieved. The jumper 50 is shown as carrying main and auxiliary parachutes 51 and 52.

The sleeves 21 and 30 may consist of flexible fabric such as cotton duck, canvas, or the like.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a parachutist's jump suit, the combination comprising

a. a main sleeve to receive and fit closely about a limb of the parachutist, and

b. an auxiliary sleeve attached to the main sleeve at the outside thereof and extending therealong and thereabout toward an opening formed by the auxiliary sleeve to receive air in a space defined between the main and auxiliary sleeves thereby to expand said auxiliary sleeve and develop pressure tending to impede the parachutist's fall, the auxiliary sleeve when expanded flaring outwardly along its length and circumferentially about the main sleeve, the suit having an elongated zipper extending lengthwise along the main sleeve and along the auxiliary sleeve associated therewith, the zipper controlling opening and closing of the associated main and auxiliary sleeves.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary sleeve when expanded has increasing cross sectional area in a direction toward said opening.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sleeves consist of heavy fabric material.

4. The combination of claim 1 including another main sleeve sized to receive the parachutist's arm, and another auxiliary sleeve extending along the forearm portion of the other main sleeve.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the other auxiliary sleeve is attached to the other main sleeve at a location proximate the elbow portion of the main sleeve.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said main sleeve is sized to receive the parachutist's leg, and said auxiliary sleeve extends along the lower leg portion of the main sleeve.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said auxiliary sleeve is attached to the main sleeve at a location proximate the knee portion of the main sleeve.

8. In a parachutist's jump suit, the combination comprising

a. a main sleeve to receive and fit closely about a limb of the parachutist,

b. an auxiliary sleeve attached to the main sleeve and extending therealong toward an opening formed by the auxiliary sleeve to receive air in a space defined between the main and auxiliary sleeves thereby to expand said auxiliary sleeve and develop pressure tending to impede the parachutist's fall, and

c. said main sleeve being sized to receive the parachutist's leg, and said auxiliary sleeve extending along the lower leg portion of the main sleeve, the main and auxiliary sleeves being attached together at a lengthwise extending location therealong the suit having an elongated zipper extending lengthwise along the main sleeve and along the auxiliary sleeve associated therewith, the zipper controlling opening and closing of the associated main and auxiliary sleeves.

9. The combination of claim 1 including suit other main sleeves to receive and extend along all remaining limbs of the parachutist, and another auxiliary sleeve attached to one of said other main sleeves in the manner as defined in claim 1.

10. The combination of claim 1 including suit other main sleeves to receive and extend along all remaining limbs of the parachutist, and other auxiliary sleeves, attached to said other main sleeves in the manner defined in claim 1, the suit having an additional elongated zipper for one pair of said other main and other auxiliary sleeves, said additional zipper controlling opening and closing of said other main and other auxiliary sleeves of said one pair.