Parachutes which have a generally circular skirt or hem, such as semi-hemispherical, extended gore, or any variant of axisymmetric parachutes and cruciform parachutes with arms attached are disclosed with a plurality of vertical slits located in a circumferential band adjacent the skirt or hem of the parachute to prevent canopy inversion. During deployment, when the outer portion of the canopy is exposed to air flow, the slits open up and the drag of the skirt of the canopy is reduced, thus limiting the potential for hem migration. The slits are positioned to allow airflow therethrough in order for the pressure on the outside of the canopy to be transferred through the slit openings and released or transferred to inside of the lower section of the canopy. Instead of slits, elongated narrow openings can be utilized.

The system 100 can include a balloon system 110 and a set of spools 120. The system can optionally include a set of actuators 130. However, the system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system can function to facilitate balloon launch preparation and/or launch of a balloon vehicle system. The system can additionally function to facilitate controlled stand-up of a balloon.

The system 100 can include a balloon system 110 and a set of spools 120. The system can optionally include a set of actuators 130. However, the system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system can function to facilitate balloon launch preparation and/or launch of a balloon vehicle system. The system can additionally function to facilitate controlled stand-up of a balloon.

The invention relates to a canopy, in particular for a paraglider, parachute, flexkite, or surfkite, comprising an upper sail and a lower sail as well as profile-forming ribs, characterized in that at least two different zones are formed in the canopy that have different opening and emptying times.

The invention relates to a canopy, in particular for a paraglider, parachute, flexkite, or surfkite, comprising an upper sail and a lower sail as well as profile-forming ribs, characterized in that at least two different zones are formed in the canopy that have different opening and emptying times.

A high-rise building escape apparatus enables user to quickly exit a high-rise building in the event of an emergency. It mainly includes a damper which withstands impact of termination of descent and decreases terminal velocity due to its mushroomlike shape, a compartment, side and bottom nets, a parachute, an air source system, hoses, rotatable and fix frames, and a safety belt. The apparatus is operated following the procedure below. A user sets up the fix frame and rotatable frame attaching the dropping parts on the sill of a window or on the top of a balcony, makes the rotatable frame swing to the outside, opens the dropping part pack, fills the high pressure air to the airbags simultaneously through a number of internal hoses and an external hose, and disconnects the hoses. The user then moves from the inside of the building to the compartment in the middle of the damper through the rotatable frame with hands grabbing it, reaches the bottom portion of the compartment, fastens the safety belt, and releases the dropping parts. As a result, the user will move down with the damper, the parachute will be extended, released, and deployed, and the rotatable frame will rotate back. As soon as the user reaches the ground, the user will unbuckle the safety belt, get out of the damper, and release the high pressure air.

A system and method is provided for shortening specific suspension lines near the center of a ram air parachute in order to distort the airfoil section only in the center section of the canopy. This distortion of the center section results in a significant alteration of the glide ratio of the parachute by simultaneously reducing the forward speed and increasing the rate of descent. Meanwhile, because the canopy is only distorted in the center section, the wingtips remain extended and pressurized so that the steering apparatus at the trailing edge of the canopy remains fully functional to direct the heading.

A system and method is provided for shortening specific suspension lines near the center of a ram air parachute in order to distort the airfoil section only in the center section of the canopy. This distortion of the center section results in a significant alteration of the glide ratio of the parachute by simultaneously reducing the forward speed and increasing the rate of descent. Meanwhile, because the canopy is only distorted in the center section, the wingtips remain extended and pressurized so that the steering apparatus at the trailing edge of the canopy remains fully functional to direct the heading.

Disclosed herein are parachute canopies and sliders for use with parachutes. The parachute canopies can include one or more deformable vent panels that can be used to control an inflation rate of the canopies based on an internal pressure within the canopies. The sliders can include strips that form through holes that have a width that distributes a radial load on suspension lines and allow for the use of lower weight, high modulus suspension lines.

Disclosed herein are parachute canopies and sliders for use with parachutes. The parachute canopies can include one or more deformable vent panels that can be used to control an inflation rate of the canopies based on an internal pressure within the canopies. The sliders can include strips that form through holes that have a width that distributes a radial load on suspension lines and allow for the use of lower weight, high modulus suspension lines.