US2411381A - Retainer for d-rings of parachute harnesses - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 19, 1946. F. G. MANSON RETAINER FOR D-RING OF PARACHUTE HARNESS Filed Aug. 30, 1944 Patented Nov. 19, 1946 UNITED. STATES PATENT ()FFICE RETAINER 1 FOR D-RINGS OF- PARACHUTE HARNESSES. r

The invention relates to hooking ringsfor. webs or straps and more particularly to means for 'at-' taching hooking rings to webs or straps in order that there may be convenient access to the .hook-. ing rings at all times, and the. invention has for one object the provision of improved means of i thi character.

Although the invention is not limited thereto;

it' is particularly applicable to and will beidescribed in connection with parachute harnesses and the like, such as are employed by parachutists; aviators and airplane passengers. It will be ,ap-l parent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made'withoutdeparting from the true.

spirit and scope of the invention; to adapt the invention for use on straps,.belts, andfsimilar de-1 vices wherever it is "desirable to provide convenient access to a'hooking ring.

Parachute harnesses'are provided withhooking rings to whichadditional equipment is attached,

usually by quick release connectors. Sucha hook-- ing ring iscommonly known as a D-ring." Here: tofore such a ring has been attached to the parachute harness by stitching or other well known securing means, allowing the ring to dangl in random positions relative to the harness webbing to which it is attached. This dangling of the usual D-ring makes it often difficult to fasten to and release therefrom a quick release connector. It is readily perceivable that activities involving parachutes require rapid manipulation of the release connectors co-operating with the booking or D-rings and, accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to provide improved hooking attachment means for maintaining positively the hooking ring or D-ring outwardly extended from the webbing or strap to which the ring is attached.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a D-shaped ring having an integral bridging portion is attached to a strap or web. A rigid or stiff loop-shaped member to maintain the ring extending outwardly from the strap or web passes through holes provided in the bridging portion and extends paralllel to th plane of the web or strap, tape means being stitched around said loop-shaped portion to attach it firmly to the web or strap.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is an elevational view of the web and D- ring embodying the invention in assembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing a release snap attached .f to the D-ring;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view takenzalong line. B -3 of Fig. ,2,.the release snap beingomitted; 1

Fig.4 is aperspective View partially insectionrand partially in elevation showing the elements in" partially assembled relationship; and.

Fig. .5 shows a modification of the 1oop. e1ement.':

Referring now to the drawing, the invention isshown as embodying a web or straplilwhich" mayformpart of a parachute harness'or the like to which .a substantially D-shaped ring I t 'ofany suitable material. such as Duralumin isattached bya loop of webbing I4 stitc'hedto the web lEias; shown. The ring II is provided with a base por= tion l2 and an integral. "bridging portion; 13,

through which holes I5 areqformed; the axis of" the. holes being substantially atright angles .to the plane of the.ring..

A; tilt-restraining member I5 .whose .function will'be more full explained hereinafter comprises a: loop member hailing two integrally formed prongs I I and L' I 8 space'dfrom "eachother 'so as-to fit conveniently'into the holes *I 5 and "another hollow loop member I9 having two integrally formed hollow prongs 2G and 2| spaced to fit over and telescope upon the ends of the prongs IT! and I3, as shown (Fig. 1), to form a closed loop.

Co-operating with the tilt-restraining member I 6 to maintain the D-ring l I substantially at right angles to the web I0 is a tape 22 consisting of a generally rectangular piece of fabric having cutout portion 23 to accommodate the inner loop of the D-ring l I, the edges 24 and 25 of the tape being stitched to the web Iii, as shown (Fig. 1), to form a pocket 21 surrounding the restraining member I6.

Assembly of the structure is as follows: the webbing I4 is placed around the base portion l2 of the D-ring II and is stitched to the web ID. The tape '22 is placed over the D-ring II with the ring protruding through the cut-out portion 23, and the side edges 24 of the tape22 are stitched to the web II), the ends 25 of the tape being left unstitched. The pocket formed by the tape 22 stitched only at its edges is held outwardly by any suitable means, which may be the hands of the user, and the tilt-restraining member I6 is placed inside of the pocket with the prongs I? and I8 through the openings I5 in the bridging portion l3. To complete the tilt-restraining member, the hollow loop I9 is telescope'd over the p s l1 and I8, following which the ends 25 of he tape are stitched to the web It forming a closed pocket 21 enclosing the tilt-restraining loop "3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5, a hollow loop member 29 corresponding to the loop member [9 of Figs. 1 to 4 is provided with a prong 30, a portion of which is cut away to facilitate the insertion of the prongs l1 and 18 into the hollow prong 30 and the prong 3| of the loop member 29 after the prongs l1 and I8 have been inserted through the openings l5 of the D-ring and inside of the tape 22 stitched by its edges 24 to the webbing ill. The prong 3| of the loop member 29 is inserted over the corresponding end of the prong l8, after which the loop portion 29 is rotated until the cutaway portion of the prong 30 comes into registry with the prong I! which moves into the cutaway portion, whereupon the loop portion 29 is pushed into a completely closed position to form the tiltrestraining member l9. This will obviate any fumbling of the user in attempting to match the prongs l1 and I8 with the hollow prongs of the second loop portion.

It will be clear by reference to Fig. 2 that the D-ring ll, although having some freedom of movement which is limited by the flexibility of V the tape 22, is maintained outwardly spaced from the web l0 so that access to it is at all times convenient.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a flexible fabric strap, a D-ring fastened to said strap, means for holding said D-ring outwardly from said strap, said means comprising a member integral with said D-ring and having openings therethrough sub- 4 stantially at right angles to the plane of said D-ring, a non-flexible loop-shaped tilt-restraining member extending through said openings and a second non-flexible loop-shaped member fitting over the ends of said first loop-shaped member to form a closed loop, and means for holding said tilt-restraining member to said strap.

2. In combination with a flexible fabric strap, a D-ring fastened to said strap, tilt-restraining means forholding said D-ring extending outwardly from said strap, said tilt-restraining means comprising a member integral with said D-ring and having a pair of openings therethrough and a two pronged non-flexible restraining member extending through said openings substantially parallel to said strap, and means for holding said restraining member to said strap.

3. In combination with a flexible fabric strap, a D-ring fastened to said strap, means for holding said D-ring outwardly from said strap, said means comprising amember integral with said D-ring and having openings therethrough substantially at right angles to the plane of said D-ring, a non-flexible loop-shaped tilt-restraining member extending through said openings and. a second non-flexible loop-shaped member fitting over the ends of said first loop-shaped member to form a closedloop, and a fabric covering surrounding both said non-fiexibleloops for holding said tilt-restraining member to said strap.

4. In combination with a flexible strap, a

D-ring fastened to said strap, said D-ring in cluding a pair of openings therethrough substantially at right angles to the plane ofsaid ring,

a non-flexible tilt-restraining member having a pair of prongs extending through said openings for holding said ring outwardly of said strap, and means for holding said restraining member to said strap.

FRANK G. MANSON. I p

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