How Floyd Smith Designed the Modern Parachute Pack and Harness
A 1923 patent for a parachute system that introduced a reliable pack and harness design for aviators to safely exit aircraft.
Original patent title: “Parachute pack and harness, etc.”
A 1923 patent for a parachute system that introduced a reliable pack and harness design for aviators to safely exit aircraft. Granted to FLOYD SMITH AERIAL EQUIPMENT C in 1923 with 5 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a wearable parachute system that secures a folded canopy in a pack attached to a pilot's back via a harness. It focuses on the mechanical integration of the parachute container with the straps that distribute the shock of deployment across the user's body. By keeping the parachute as a self-contained unit worn by the pilot, it allowed for a quick exit from an airplane in an emergency, rather than requiring the parachute to be fixed to the aircraft structure.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the aerodynamic design or folding pattern of the parachute canopy itself.
- Does not cover automatic deployment mechanisms or barometric triggers.
- Does not cover emergency ejection seats that use explosives to propel the pilot.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation was moving the parachute from a static position on the plane to a mobile, wearable unit that remained with the pilot, ensuring the device was always available for an emergency exit.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Standard military emergency bailout parachutes
Modern skydiving container and harness systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This design was essential for the transition of parachuting from a circus stunt into a standard safety requirement for military and commercial aviation. It established the 'backpack' configuration that remains the industry standard for emergency parachutes today.
Filed
April 28, 1919
Granted
July 17, 1923
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Modern aerospace companies like Airborne Systems and various skydiving equipment manufacturers continue to refine the harness and container geometry established by these early designs.
Market impact
This patent helped standardize the safety equipment required for pilots, effectively creating the modern market for personal aviation safety gear and influencing military aviation protocols for decades.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a wearable parachute system that secures a folded canopy in a pack attached to a pilot's back via a harness. It focuses on the mechanical integration of the parachute container with the straps that distribute the shock of deployment across the user's body. By keeping the parachute as a self-contained unit worn by the pilot, it allowed for a quick exit from an airplane in an emergency, rather than requiring the parachute to be fixed to the aircraft structure.
The clever bit
The innovation was moving the parachute from a static position on the plane to a mobile, wearable unit that remained with the pilot, ensuring the device was always available for an emergency exit.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the aerodynamic design or folding pattern of the parachute canopy itself.
- Does not cover automatic deployment mechanisms or barometric triggers.
- Does not cover emergency ejection seats that use explosives to propel the pilot.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$3K – $9K
Midpoint $5K · expired or expiring · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Floyd, S. (1923). How Floyd Smith Designed the Modern Parachute Pack and Harness (U.S. Patent No. 1,462,456). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1462456/free-fall-parachute-smith-irvin
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Floyd Smith Designed the Modern Parachute Pack and Harness cover?
A 1923 patent for a parachute system that introduced a reliable pack and harness design for aviators to safely exit aircraft.
Who owns patent US 1462456?
FLOYD SMITH AERIAL EQUIPMENT C owns this patent, granted in 1923.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 1462456 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This design was essential for the transition of parachuting from a circus stunt into a standard safety requirement for military and commercial aviation. It established the 'backpack' configuration that remains the industry standard for emergency parachutes today.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the aerodynamic design or folding pattern of the parachute canopy itself.
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