U.S. Patent Specifications

In a parachute canopy the combination comprises a fabric structure of inverted bowl‐like configuration developed from a plurality of individual pieces of material. The structure is further characterized in that portions thereof define a peak opening, and a lower peripheral edge and the inner surface thereof, in the developed shape of the structure, constitutes a spherical surface. The structure includes an annular skirt portion and at least one annular upper portion each portion having upper and lower spaced parallel edges, canopy reinforcing means. The adjacent edges of the skirt and upper portions being connected to the reinforcing means only at spaced circumferential points with the lower edge of the upper portion abutting the upper edge of the skirt portion on the reinforcing means without overlap of the portions. As assembled the upper edge of the upper portion and the lower edge of the skirt portion define the peak opening and lower peripheral edge, respectively, and the length of the lower edge of the upper portion exceeds the length of the upper edge of the skirt portion between the spaced points, whereby when the canopy is inflated, the lower edge of the upper portion and upper edge of the lower portion define crescent‐shaped openings.