Inflatable parachute for use as escape or sporting device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbers designate like parts, the numeral 1 designates a parachute canopy having a central apex opening 2.
The general idea of one embodiment of the invention is that the canopy 1 is opened and held open during use by an inflatable support structure consisting of a framework of lightweight flexible inflatable tubes.
This tubing framework comprises an upper circular or polygonal tube 3 and a lower similar tube 4 of considerably enlarged diameter and arranged concentrically with the upper tube 3.
These two elements, when inflated, form supporting frame elements for the top and lower marginal portions of the canopy 1.
The tube elements 3 are interconnected at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations by a plurality of upwardly inclined, converging straight inflatable tube sections 5 whose upper and lower ends are coupled in the tubes 3 and 4 in a gas-tight manner, with the interiors of all of the tubes in communication.
The upper inflatable tube or ring 3 is equipped with a safety relief valve 6 which prevents over-inflation of the tubing framework.
At preferably four circumferentially equidistantly spaced points around the inflatable structure, downwardly converging straight equal length clusters or groups of inflatable tubes 7 are provided, with their upper ends coupled into the tube ring 4 and their lower ends correspondingly coupled a lower relatively small size circular or polygonal tube section 8.
The three tube sections 3, 4 and 8 lie in parallel planes and the lower tube section 8 is of a size to receive the waist of a user of the device, as shown.
The tube section 8 is suspended well below the canopy 1 on the tube cluster 7, as shown.
The interiors of the clusters 7 are in direct communication with the elements 8 and 4, and in fact, the entire inflatable tubing framework constitutes a closed chamber or system.
The tube section or ring 8 is equipped with a suitable inflation valve 9 through which the tubular framework may be inflated at proper times for use