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( G r a n t e d u n d e r t h e a c t i e f M a r c h > 3 . , 1 8 8 3 , a sa m e n d e d A p r i l 3 0 , 1 9 2 8 ; 3 7 0 0 3 . ( 3 l - 7 5 7 )The invention d e s c r i b e d herein may bemanu'

factured a n d used by o r f o r the Governmentforg o v e r n m e n t a l p u r p o s e s , w i t h o u t t h e paymenttome f any royalty thereon.This i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s t o improvements in?a e r i a l t r a i l e r s which v a r e more p a r t i c u l a r l ya d ap t e d f o r use a s tow a r g e t s , but which may eused f o r other p u r p o s e s , such a s advertisingetc.The primary object of the invention i s the pro- Y

v i s i o n o f a n a e r i a l tow t a r g e t which may be usedVas s u c h , with a high degree o f e f f i c i e n c y i n co nnection with a n t i - a i r c r a f t o r other gunnery pract i c e .Another o b j e c t o f t h i s invention i s the p r o - lv i s i o n o f a n improved a e r i a l ` t o w t a r g e t w h i c h ' vembodies such c o n s t r u c t i o n a s t o p r e s e n t s u ff i c i e n t area t o gunners, as a t a r g e t ; which pres e n t s a'm inimum o f d r a g toa t o w i n g a i r c r a f t , a n dwhich i s s u l h c i e n t l y s t a b l e w h i l e b e i n g towed a s [

` 0t o p r e s e n t a n a c c u r a t e t a r g e t , w i t h o u t theosc i l l a t i o n s which are sometimes attendant uponthe use o f conventional tow t a r g e t s .A u r t h e r o b j e c t o f t h i s i n v e n t i o n i s t h e p r ov i s i o n o f a n improved a e r i a l tow > t a r g e t whichmay be compactly assembled within a s m a l ls p a c e o r compartment upon t h e a i r c r a f t , s o t h a ti t m a y be e i c i e n t l y launched w i t h o u t l i a b i l i t y o fc a t c h i n g i n p a r t s o f t h e a i r c r a f t d u r i n g t h elaunching p r o c e s s , a n d y e t which w i l l e i c i e n t l yd e p l o y w i t h i n a s h o r t p e r i o d o f time t o p e r m i tof accurate use a s a target f o r gunners,etc.A u r t h e r o b j e c t o f t h i s i n v e n t i o n i s the prov i s i o n o f a n improved a e r i a l tow t a r g e t w h i c h ' . I

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while e m b o d y i n g i mprov e d means t o pres e nt as u i c i e n t area t o gunners, a minimum f drag t st h e a i r c r a f t , a n d remain s t a b l e d u r i n g t h e t o w i n gp r o c e s s ; y e t m a y b e manufactured a t a m i n i m u mo f c o s t d ue t o c o n s e r v a t i o n o f m a t e r i a l s .A u r t h e r o b j e c t o f t h i s i n v e n t i o n _ i s t h e p r ov i s i o n o f a n improved m ethod o f c o n s t r u c t i n g a n dpacking a tow t a r g e t within a small compass.Other o b j e c t s a n d advantages o f t h i s ` i n v e n t i o nw i l l be apparent during the c o u r s e o f the f o l l o wing detailed description. , In t h e accompanying d r a w i n g s , forming a p a r to f t h i s s p e c i f i c a t i o n , a n d w h e r e i n s i m i l a r r e f e re n c e c h a r a c t e r s d e s i g n a t e c o r r e s p o n d i n g p a r t sthroughout the several views,F i g u r e 1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e view o f t h e tow t a r g e ti n i t s deployed condition a n d a s i t w i l l appear t o

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marksmen or others who are observin g thesame.F i g u r e 2 i s a f r a g m e n t a r y s i d e e l e v a t i o n o f t h et o w t a r g e t , showing t h e m a i n f e a t u r e s o f - con

struction thereof. ' F i g u r e s 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , a n d ' 7 a r e s e c t i o n a l v i e w s 5 5

taken s u b s t a n t i a l l y on t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e l i n e s i nFigure 2 o f the d r a w i n g s .Figure 8 i s aside e l e v a t i o n o f on e of t h e s m a l l e ri n a t i n g s l e e v e s o f t h e tow t a r g e t , showing t h e

_ c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the same.Figure 9 i s a fragmentary s e c t i o n a l V i e w takens u b s t a n t i a l l y on t h e l i n e 9- 9 o f Figure 2 .

Figure 1 0 i s a > s e c t i o n a l View taken substant i a l l y on t h e l i n e I ? - - l o f F i g u r e 8 .Figure > 1 1 i s a fragmentary p l a n v i e w o f on eo f t h e a i r d e f l e c t i n g a n d i n f l a t i n g p a n e l s o 1 'b r i d l e s which e n a b l e immediate deployment a n di n f l a t i o n o f the tow t a r g e t a f t e r i t i s l a u n c h e d .

Figure 1 2 i s a s e c t i o n o f webbing which i s s ecured t o the r l e a d i n g e nd o f t h e tow t a r g e t f o rthe purpose o f forming a n anchoring coupling t owhich the tow cable i s attached.Figure 1 3 i s a diagrammatic r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o fthe m a n n e r i n which th e v a r i o u s p o r t i o n s o f theV t o w target a r e doubled a n d h e m m e d , with t h er e i n f o r c i n g and s t i f f e n i n g w e b b i n g a s s o c i a t e dwith t h e f o l d e d p o r t i o n s t h e r e o f .In the drawings, wherein f o r the purpose o fi l l u s t r a t i o n i s shown o n l y a p r e f e r r e d embodim e n t o f the i n v e n t i o n , the l e t t e r A may ge ne r a l l y d e s i g n a t e t h e a e r i a l t r a i l e r o r tow t a r g e t ,which may n c l u d e a m a i n s l e e v e o r body B ha v> i n g a s s o c i a t e d t h e r e w i t h a s t r u c t u r e C comprisinga l u r a l i t y o f i n f l a t i n g s l e e v e s i n a n improvedr e l a t i o n , a n d with which i s associated a nn orb r i d l e arrangement D f o r t h e purpose o f s t ab i l i z i n g a n d d i r e c t i n g a i r i n t o t h e s l e e v e s B a n dC . A ow c a b l e E s connected a t the l e a d i n g e n dk o f t h e b r i d l e arrangement D.T h e m a i n body s l e e v e o r tube B may be o f as i n g l e p i e c e o f m a t e r i a l , a l t h o u g h i t i s p r e f e r a b l ym a d e _ o f a w p l u r a l i t y o f l e n g t h w i s e p a n e l s whicha r e ' s u i t a bl y s t i t c h e d t o g e t h e r t o p r o v i d e a t u b ewhich may vary i n d i a m e t e r , a s d e p l o y e d . P r e fe r a b l y , > f o r ordinary gunnery p u r p o s e s , the i nf l a t e d diameter o f t h e m a i n s l e e v e may p p r o x im at e t h i r t y - n i n e i n c h e s i n diameter,_althoughthis distance may ary f o r va rious purposes. F ori n s t a n c e , > f o r ordinary gun t a r g e t use i t may bey s m a l l e r than f o r a n t i - a i r c r a f t t a r g e t p r a c t i c e , a n dwh e n used f o r o t h e r p u r p o s e s , the a e r i a l t r a i l e r ,such as f o r advertising purposes, may vary cons i d e r a b l y in s i z e . F or ordinary t a r g e t u s e s them a i n s l e e v e B may Vary between twenty-sixinches a n d t h i r t y - n i n e inches i n i n f l a t e d d iameter, a n d the le ngth thereof may ary betweenn i n e a n d e i g h t e e n f e e t , although t h e s e d i m e ns i o n s are not t o be regarded a s l i m i t a t i o n s upont h e ' i n v e n t i v e s t r u c t u r a l f e a t u r e s .The t r a i l i n g e n d o f the mainv s l e e v e ha s a

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2r i n g - s h a p e d s e c t i o n 2 0 which i s a p p r o p r i a t e l ys t i t c h e d t h e r e t o a s a t 2 | , a s by d o u b l i n g t h ematerial o f the s l e e v e upon i t s e l f t o provide a tth e extreme t r a i l i n g e n d a circumferential passageway 2 2 wherein i s disposed a section o f ropeo r cable 2 3 . Preferably t h i s cable 2 3 i s o f on eq u a r t e r inch mani la yacht r o p e , although i t mayb e o f e l a s t i c m a t e r i a l , s i m i l a r t o the e l a s t i c r es t r i c t i n g c a b l e which i s used i n the vents v o fparachutes. The purpose o f th e rope or cablem a t e r i a l 2 3 i s t o r e s t r i c t t h e o u t l e t a t the t r a i l i n ge n d of the s l e e v e B. The cable or rope 23 ha s anormal diameter which i s somewhat l e s s thanthe diameter o f the passageway _ 2 4 thru thes l e e v e B , a n d i n t h i s r e s p e c t p u c k e r s t h e r i n g 2 0a t t h e t r a i l i n g e n d o f t h e s l e e v e B , t o provide a sa r e s t r i c t e d o u t l e t opening 3 0 . `Thus the necessary drag i s created upon th e t a r g e t a s i t i s towedby t h e a i r c r a f t , t o p r o p e r l y d e p l o y t h e t a r g e t i na p ath wh ich ca n be predetermined.r The d i a me t e r o f the o u t l e t opening 3 0 a s d e f i n e d by therope o r c a b l e 2 3 i s such a s t o permit th e A a i r t os p i l l through t h e t a r g e t w i t h o u t unnecessary r es t r i c t i o n upon t h e s p e e d o f t h e a i r c r a f t .Referring t o t h e i n t e r m e d i a t e s e c t i o n o f t h et o w t a r g e t , which m a y ' b e . a p p r o p r i a t e l y t e r m e dthe small s l e e v e s e c t i o n C , t h e same i s providedi n order t o insure a n accurate a n d e f l i c i e n tl a u n c h i n g o f t h e tow t a r g e t ; t o permit o f t h ef o l d i n g o f t h e tow t a r g e t i n t o s m a l l compass;a n d t o permit i n s t a n t i n f l a t i o n . To t h a t l e n dt h i s s e c t i o n C c o n s i s t s o f a p l u r a l i t y of smalld i a m e t e r e d s l e e v e s 2 8 , which a r e p r e f e r a b l y o fth e s ame material a s th e s l e e v e B. At t h e i r reare n d s these sleeves or tubes 28 are co n n e c t e d inA 't h e forward open e n d o f t h e l a r g e body s l e e v e Band e x t e n d t h e r e f r o m f o r w a r d l y e x t e r i o r l y o ft h e s l e e v e B: the sam e being connected i n a symm e t r i c a l arrangement a t t h e i r forward e n d s a n dhaving t h e b r i d l e c o n s t r u c t i o n D ttached t h e r et o .The c o n s t r u c t i o n o f each o f t h e s l e e v e s A 2 | ! _ i si n d i c a t e d i n F i g u r e s 5 a n d 8 o f t h e d r a w i n g s .F or t h e i r major length each c o n s i s t s o f a s i n g l ep l y o f m a t e r i a l ' . The diameter o f t h e s e t u b e s i so f course governed by the diameter o f the l a r g etube o r s l e e v e B. I t i s preferred t o use s i x o fthem, arranged s o t h a t wh e n the tow t a r g e t i sinated t h e i r axes w i l l l i e p a r a l l e l with eacho t h e r a n d with t h e tow a x i s o f t h e a e r i a l t r a i l e r .At t h e i r forward ends eachof t h e s l e e v e s 2 8 i sp r e f e r a b l y doubled upon i t s e l f t o p r o v i d e a multif o l d hem 8 a , which may be s t i t c h e d i n a n y a pproved ma n n er, i n order t o provide a circumfere n t i a l p a ss a g e w a y for a r i g i d preferably m e t a l - ~l i c r i n g 3 | . These r i n g s 3 | are a l l o f th e sam ediameter. E y e l e t s or grommets 3 2 are providedr a d i a l l y through t h i s he m p o r t i o n 3 0 a i n such_ r e l a t i o n that wh e n the s l e e v e s 2 8 a r e placed i n as y m m e t r i c a l c i r c u l a r a r r a n g e m e n t , l a c e s 3 5 ,shown i n Figure 9 , may be employed t o connectt h e s a i d r i n g ends o f t h e s l e e v e s 2 8 t o g e t h e r , a n ds o that the s l e e v e s may be s w i v e l e d a t t h e s e r i n ge n d s . This e n a b l e s t h e r i g i d r i n g s 3 | t o be f o l de d on e upon the other i n order t o pack the towt a r g e t i n t o a small compass a n d i n such orderlyf a s h i o n t h a t i t may be q u i c k l y d e p l o y e d . Ther i n g s 3 | may e o f a n y approved c o n s t r u c t i o n , a s. i s shown i n F i g u r e 9 , a n d they may e formed bybending t h e material upon i t s e l f a t i t s ends a n ds o l d e r i n g i t a s a t 3 8 a f t e r wrapping i t with w i r e .

At t h e i r rear e n d s th e s l e e v e s 2 8 are eachd o u b l e d o u t w a r d l y upon t h e m s e l v e s , t o p r o v i d ea double p l y p o r t i o n 3 1 o f about s i x i n c h e s i nl e n g t h which i s i n t e n d e d t o e x t e n d i n t o _ t h e open

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2 , 2 6 9 , 4 6 9forward e n d o f th e m a i n s l e e v e B o as t o d i r e c tt h e a i r f l o w i n g through t h e s m a l l e r s l e e v e i n t ot h e l a r g e r s l e e v e . Strong l i n e n webbing 4 0 i ss t i t c h e d c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l l y about t h e s l e e v e 2 8a t the forward e n d o f the portion 3 l which e xt e n d s i n t o t h e l a r g e s l e e v e . At i t s forward endt h e m a i n s l e e v e B s a l s o provided with s t r o n gl i n e n w e b b i n g 4 | , s u i t a b l y s t i t c h e d t h e r e t o . T h etubes or sleeves 28 are so arranged at their reare n ds in the open e n d o f the m a i n s l e e v e B thatthe webbing 4 0 l i e s i n the s a m e plane a s t h ewebbing 4 | o f t h e m a i n s l e e v e , a n d , a s i n d i c a t e di n Figure 7 , the r e a r ends o f the small s l e e v e s2 8 a t t h i s l o c a t i o n are s u i t a b l y s t i t c h e d , a s showna t 5 0 , soas t o permanently connect the s m a l ls l e e v e s 2 8 a t t h e i r rear ends with th e forwarde n d o f the m a i n s l e e v e B . Of course the p o r ~t i o n s 3 1 o f t h e s l e e v e s 2 8 which e x t e n d i n t o t h eforwardend > o f t h e m a i n s l e e v e a r e p r e f e r a b l ynot otherwise connected t o g e t h e r o r t o the m a i nsleeve. . _ _ _

R e f e r r i n g t o . t h e _ b r i d l e c o n s t r u c t i o n D f o r g u i di n g movement o f t h e a i r . i n t o t h e > s l e e v e s o f t h ea e r i a l t r a i l e r , t h e s a m e v c o m p r i s e s a V s e r i e s ` o fe l o n g a t e d p l a n e ; s u r f a c e s , 6 0 j o i n e d _ t o g e t h e r a tt h e i r l o n g i t u d i n a l e d g e s upon t h e tow a x i s o f t h et r a i l e r and r a d i a t i n g t h e r e f r o m . T h e s e s u r f a c e sa r e e a c h o f t h e . r shapeof r i g h t a n g l e d t r i a n g l e s .T h e i r a p i c e s f a r e c o n n e c t e d t o g e t h e r a t t h e f o rward tow c a b l e c o n n e c t i n g en d o f t h e t a r g e t an dthehypothenuse e d g e s t h e r e o f a r e l o c a t e d o u t _ e r ~m o s t . ` There a r e s i x o f t h e s e f i n s , on e f o r e a c ho f the s l e e v e s 2 8 , a n d a t t h e i r r e a r e n ds they e xt e n d s l i g h t l y i n t o t h e ` f o r w a r d e n d s ` o f t h r es p e c t i v e s l e e v e s w i t h which t h e y a r e a s s o c i a t e d ,d i a m e t r i c a l l y , a c r o s s . t h e i n s i d e o f t h e r e s p e c t i v es l e e v e s . Y Thusthe i i n . o r p l a n e s u r f a c e f o r . e a c hs m a l l s l e e v e 4 2 8 n o t ' o n l y j d i r e c t s t h e a i r f l o w _ i n t ot h e s l e e v e , v b u t d i v i d e s , t h e a i r s t r e a m a s i t f l o w si n t o t h e s m a l l s l e e v e ; l t h u s p r e v e n t i n g ` e d d i ' e s ` a n de c c e n t r i c i t i e s \ i n _ . ' t h e a i r s t r e a m v f l o w . B y r e f e re n c e t o F i g u r e s 3 and I l _ o f t h e ` d r a w i n g s i t ' w i l lb e s e e n t h a t t h e s e . s i x , f i n s o f t h e - b r i d l e c o n s t r u ct i o n a r e ` i n : r e a l i t y formed o _ f t h r e e y s e c t i o n s 5 9o f f i e x i b l e f a b r i c t T h e s e s e c t i o n s o f f a b r i c a r eo f r i d e n t i c a l c o n s t r u c t i o n . They a r e eachin t h eform o f a n - i s o c e l e s . - t r i a n g l e , e x c e p t attheir b a s ee n d s . . Atthe b a s e - o r rear.each o f t h e s e s e c t i o n s5 9 , a s ' i n d i c a t e d ` i n F i g u r e 1 1 , i s p r o v i d e d wthap a i r o f p l a n e ' e x t e n s i o n s l , of a w i d t h s u i i i c i e n g lt o p e r m i t t h e _ e x t e n s i o n t h e r e o f , i n t o t h e y o p e ne n ds ofthe s l e e v e s 2 8 . ~ Each S e c t i o n 5 ! ! l o f f a b r i ci s r e i n f o r c e d a l o n g - t h e s i d e s t h e r e o f , a t i t s a p e x ,a n d around t h e marginal e d g e s y o f t h e e x t e n ,s i o n s A H l w i t h s t r o n g , . l i n e n w e b b i n g . T h e - t h r e es e c t i o n s 58are j o i n e d togetherupon a l i n e whichw o u l d n o r m a l l y b e t h e a l t i t u d e o f t h e t r i a n g u l a rs e c t i o n s 5 9 , - a n d which l i e s i n t h e a x i s o f tow o ft h e a e r i a l ` t r a i l e r , a s ca n r e a d i l y ( b e . u n d e r s t o o dby r e f e r e n c e tdFigures 1 . a n d 2 o f t h e d r a w i n g s .The l e n g t h o f each e x t e n s i o n p o r t i o n 1 0 . m a y o fcourse v a r y . P r e f e r a b l y i t variesfrom- s i x t o f - t e ni n c h e s a n d t h e s e e x t e n s i o n s A p r o j e c t i n t o t h e f o r ~ward open e n d s o f t h e _ s m a l l e r s l e e v e s 2 8 ; ` - _ t h eo p p o s i t e webbing r e i n f o r c e d e d g e s o f Y e a c h o f t h ee x t e n s i o n s l b e i n g s t i t c h e d s u i t a bl y l t o t h e m a t e - - rr i a l o f t h e s l e e v e , a t d i a m e t r i c a l l y V o p p o s e d p o i n t s ,s o a s t o provide a diaphragm-like ` p a r t i t i o n - i nt h e open end o f t h e s l e e v e , d i a m e t r i c a l l y V t h e r ea c r o s s , a s indicatedin Figure 9 o f t h e d r a w i n g s ' .As i n d i c a t e d i n l F i g u r e l l o f t h e drawings e a c ho f ` t h e f a b r i c s e c t i o n s 5 8 a t each o f t h e p a r t i t i o ne x t e n s i o n s l 0 i s p r o v i d e d w i t h w e b b i n g s t r i p s 8 0which a r e o v e r l a p p e d a t t h e o u t e r s i d e s o f theres p e c t i v e s l e e v e s w i t h u w h l c h t h e ` e i s z t e n s i o n s " H l a r e

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i f a - 2 6 9 , 4 6 9a s s o c i a t e d , a n d s t i t c h e d t h e r e t o , a s i n d i c a t e d i nt h e v a r i o u s v i e w s o f - t h e d r a w i n g s . T h i s A p r o v i d e s> a very firm a n d strong connection between theb r i d l e c o n s t r u c t i o n and _ t h e s m a l l s l e e v e s e c t i o n ,w i t h t h e n s l l o f t h e b r i d l e c o n s t r u c t i o n so a rr a n g e d a s t o a c c u r a t e l y d i v i d e t h e a i r s t r e a m andg u i d e t h e movement o f t h e a i r f l o w i n t o t h etubes 2-8, , Y . ~~Each f a b r i c s e c t i o n ` 5 9 o f t h e b r i d l e c o n s t r u ct i o n i s _ p r o v i d e d a t i t s o u t e r end with a p i e c e o f .w e b b i n g . T h i s webbing i s shown a t 9 0 i n F i g u r e1 2 o f t h e drawings a n d i t i s s t i t c h e d t o t h e apexe n d o f th e s e c t i o n 5 9 so as t o provide a n openloop a t s a i d a p e x , a s i n d i c a t e d i n 4 F i g u r e 2 o f th ed r a w i n g s .a l l s t i t c h e d s e c u r e l y t o g e t h e r t o p r o v i d e a verys t r o n g e y e through which t h e tow c a b l e o r r o p e

l E i s c o n n e c t e d i n any a p p r o v e d manner.From t h e f o r e g o i n g d e s c r i p t i o n i t c a n r e a d i l yp r o v i d e d , which i s p a r t i c u l a r l y w e l l adapted f o ruse as a tow target for us e in connection witha n t i - a i r c r a f t or other g un n er y p r a c t i c e . F ora e r i a l gunnery t h e t a r g e t w i l l be towed a t d i stances o f about s i x ` h u n d r e d f e e t and for anti- l a i r c r a f t p r a c t i c e a distance l o f about three thousand f e e t . Due t o the improved c o n s t r u c t i o n o ft h i s tow t a r g e t , s u f f i c i e n t area i s presented t o theg u n n e r so as t o furnish a n ad equate t a r g e t .There s a minimum of d r a g upon the to w i n g air- -c r a f t , a n d th e t a r g e t i s s t a b l e , without unnecessary o s c i l l a t i o n s . T he f a b r i c o f which the t a r g e ti s c o n s t r u c t e d i s p r e f e r a b l y mercerised c o t t o n a i rplane c l o t h , a n d t h a t i s t r u e f o r each o f t h e s e ct i o n s B , C , a n d D. A l l o f these s e c t i o n s are e nt i r e l y f l e x i b l e , s o f a r a s th e c l o t h i s concerned,a n d s o f a r a s the l i n e n webbing, except f o r ther i g i d shaping r i n g s 3 | which a r e d i s p o s e d i n t h eforward ends o f the s m a l l e r s l e e v e s 2 8 . Thed i a m e t er of these sleeves may of course vary.Preferably i t i s l e s s than 1 / 3 o f the diameter o ft h e l a r g e s l e e v e B . Thus i t ca n b e - s e e n that thee n t i r e t a r g e t may be f o l d e d i n t o a very smallcompass. Due o the connection o f the r i n g s 3 lthey may be folded on e upon the other a n d th ef a b r i c packed i n o r d e r l y fashion s o that the e n t i r et a r g e t may e launched through a s m a l l openingin the rear cockpit of a towing airplane or othera i r c r a f t . Of course the r i n g s 3 | overlap upo neach other a n d provide a bundle which i s nota p p r e c i a b l y g r e a t e r than t h e diameter o f a s i n g l er i n g 3 l . These r i g i d r i n g s 3 l a r e p r o v i d e d f o rthe ne cessary s t i f e n i n g a t the mouth e n d o - f thesmall tubes s o as t o obtain instant i n f l a t i o n assoon as the target i s launched. The ' l n or b r i d l econstruction D o f course insures n ot only aproper d i v i s i o n o f a i r stream i n t o t h e t u b e s 2 8 ,bu t the diaphragm i n the s m a l l e r ends o f thetubes acts as a n i m m e d i a t e straightener f o r unf o l d i n g t h e r i n g s i n t o p o s i t i o n f o r i n f l a t i o n .The f l o a t i n g cord 2 3 a t the r e a r e n d o f t h e towt a r g e t permits the use o f a l a r g e Vent openinga n d thus reduces drag s o that i t i s not apprec i a b l y g r e a t e r than t h a t o f a s t r a i g h t openeds l e e v e .The l a r g e s l e e v e B permits o f a s i m p l e d e s i g no f t a r g e t a n d reduces the f a b r i c r e q u i r e d t o areasonable amount. I t w i l l o f c o u r s e be p o s s i b l et o u t i l i z e a s e r i e s o f l o n g s l e e v e s , such a s providedi n t h e s e c t i o n C , o f s m a l l d i a m e t e r , a l l attachedt o g e t h e r , a n d d o a w a y with the l a r g e r s l e e v e s e ct i o n B , bu t such c o n s t r u c t i o n would r e q u i r e a ne x c e s s i v e amount o f m a t e r i a l . In o r d e r t o g i v ea n i d e a o f proportion o f l e n g t h , the s e c t i o n B nl e n g t h m a y b e about s i x t i m e s t h e l e n g t h o f t h e

' I h e s e p i e c e s o f webbing 9 i ) ` arethen '

b e understood t h a t a n a e r i a l t r a i l e r ha s b e e n f v z o

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50

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times the length o f the s e c t i o n C .s e c t i o n ; C , and t h e s e c t i o n ' D m a y beaboutfourThese proportions may of course vary. j 1

Various changes i n th e s t e p s l o f themethod; o f p a c k i n g t h e tow t a r g e t , and c h a n g e s i n t h e s h a p e ,. . s i z e , an d arrangement o f p a r t s o f t h e improved t a r g e t maybe m a d e t o t h e form ` o f i i n v e n t i o n h e r e i n shown a n d d e s c r i b e d , w i t h o u t d e p a r t i n g f r o m f t h e s p i r i t o f t h e i n v e n t i o n - o r t h e s c o p e o f> , t h e c l a i m s .-Iclaim: _ . , 1 ,v l . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising as th e mainbody t h e r e o f a n e l o n g a t e d s l e e v e c o n s t r u c t i o nhaving an a i r s p i l l ' p a s s a g e w a y t h e r e t h r o u g h ,

b r i d l e m e a n s f o r d i r e c t i n g m o v e m e n t o f a i r i n t othe s l e e v e conne cted with the forward e n d o f thes l e e v e and e x t e n d i n g f o r w a r d l y t h e r e f r o m , s a i db r i d l e c o n s t r u c t i o n comprising a p l u r a l i t y o fp l a n e f i n s , s a i d s l e e v e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n c l u d i n g ap l u r a l i t y o f s m a l l diametered s l e e v e s arranged i np a r a l l e l i s m a n d having i n d i v i d u a l f i n s o f t h eb r i d l e c o n s t r u c t i o n e x t e n d i n g i n t o t h e open'mouth ends o f s a i d s l e e ve s f o r d i r e c t i n g a i r f i o wthereinto. . 2 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a n elongateds l e e v e - l i k e s t r u c t u r e open a t both en dsand ha vi n g a r e l a t i v e l y l o n g c o l l a p s i b l e s l e e v e - l i k e bodyopen a t both e n d s , a p l u r a l i t y o f p a r a l l e l a i r cu rr e n t d i r e c t i n g s l e e v e - l i k e c e l l s opening i n t o t h ebody s l e e v e a t t h e f o r e e n d t h e r e o f , each c e l l b ' eing open a t i t s v f o r e a n d a f t e n d s , s t a b i l i z i n g v a n esa t th e f o r e v e n d s o f s a i d c e l l s l e e v e s f o r d i r e c - t i n gv a n d _ s t a b i l i z i n g a i r d r a f t t h e r e t h r o u g h , s a i dv a n e s being arranged i n r e l a t i v e r a d i a l - r e l a t i o na n d i n d i a m e t r i c a l i n t e r s e c t i o n with the c e l l - l i k es l e e v e s .

3 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a n elongateds l e e v e - l i k e s t r u c t u r e open a t both ends a n d h a vi n g a r e l a t i v e l y l o n g c o l l a p s i b l e s l e e ve - l i k e bodyop e n at both ends, a p l u r a l i t y o f p a r a l l e l a i r curr e n t d i r e c t i n g s l e e v e - l i k e c e l l s opening i n t o t h ebody s l e e v e a t t h e f o r e e nd t h e r e o f , each c e l lb e i n g open a t i t s f o r e a n d a f t e n d s , s t a b i l i z i n gv a n es a t th e f o r e e n ds o f s a i d c e l l s l e e v e s f o rd i r e c t i n g an d s t a b i l i z i n g a i r d r a f t t h e r e t h r o u g h ,s a i d v a n es being arranged i n r e l a t i v e r a d i a l r e l at i o n a n d i n d i a m e t r i c a l i n t e r s e c t i o n with each o fthe c e l l - l i k e s l e e v e s , a tow c a b l e connected a t thef o r e e n ds o f said vanes, a n d th e rear e n d o f them a i n body s l e e v e being provided with a chokeds p i l l o p e n i n g .

4 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a n elongatedm a i n body s l e e v e o f f l e x i b l e m a t e r i a l whichi s r e l a t i v e l y long t o be used a s a t r a i l e r f o r ge ne r a l t a r g e t p r a c t i c e a n d o f a nature t o be c o ll a p s e d b o d i l y upon i t s e l f l a t e r a l l y an d l o n g i t u d in a l l y , s a i d s l e e v e having a passageway t h e r ethrough opening a t the forward e n d a n d with achoked s p i l l opening a t the r e a r e n d t h e r e o f , ap l u r a l i t y o f r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t e r e l o n g a t e d c o l l a p s ib l e s l e e v e s e c t i o n s connected a t t h e i r r e a r e n dswithin the f o r e e n d o f the f i r s t mentioned s l e e v ea n d each p r o j e c t i n g beyond t h e f o r e e nd o f t h ef i r s t mentioned s l e e v e , s a i d p l u r a l i t y o f s m a l l e rs l e e v e s e c t i o n s h a v i n g p a s s a g e w a y s t h e r e t h r o u g hopening a t the f o r e a n d r e a r e n ds t h e r e o f , a n dv a n e means a t th e f o r e e n d s o f s a i d group o fs m a l l e r s l e e v e s e c t i o n s t o i n s u r e t h e d i r e c t i o n o fa i r t h e r e i n t o .

5 . An a e r i a l tow t a r g e t comprising a n e l o ng a t e d f l e x i b l e s l e e v e - l i k e body which ha s a l e n g t hdimension many i m e s that o f t h e cross-dimens i o n t h e r e o f , s a i d s l e e v e b e i n g p r o v i d e d with apassageway therethrough open a t t h e f o r e a n da f t ends o f t h e s l e e v e , m e a ns f o r a t t a c h i n g t h e

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f o r e ` e n d o f the s l e e v e t o a towing v e h i c l e , a n d r es i l i e n t means at the periphery of the a f t op e n i n go f t h e t a r g e t n o r m a l l y t e n d i n g t o r e s t r i c t t h eopening a n d vary i t s s i z e according t o th e p r e ss u r e o f t h e a i r a s i t s p i l l s through s a i d o p e n i n g .

6 . An a e r i a l tow t a r g e t c o m p r i s i n g an e l o ng a t e d f l e x i b l e s l e e v e - l i k e body which ha s a l e n g t hd i m e n s i o n manyl t i m e s t h a t o f t h e c r o s s ( d i m e ns i o n t h e r e o f , s a i d s l e e v e b e i n g p r o v i d e d with apassageway t h e r e t h r o u g h open a t t h e f _ o r e an da f t e n d s o f the s l e e v e , m e a n s f o r attaching thefore e n d of the sleeve to a tow i n g v e h i c l e , and res i l i e n t means at thep eriphery of the aft o p e n i ngo f the t a r g e t normally tending t o r e s t r i c t theopening a n d v a r y i t s s i z e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p r e ss u r e o f t h e a i r a s i t s p i l l s through s a i d o p e n i n g ,s a i d r e s i l i e n t m e a n s comprising a f l o a t i n g e l a s t i cband p e r i p h e r a l l y s u r r o u n d i n g t h e a i r s p i l l openi n g .V 7 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a p l u r a l i t y o ff l e x i b l e a n d l o n g i t u d i n a l l y c o l l a p s i b l e s l e e v e s ,each o f which i s c y l i n d r i c a l i n formation, m e a n sgrouping s a i d s l e e v e s t o g e t h e r i n a c y l i n d r i c a larrangement, a n d a n elongated c o l l a p s i b l e v a n econstruction connected with s a i d s l e e v e s a n d ext e n d i n g f o r w a r d l y t h e r e f r o m .8 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r comprising a p l u r a l i t y o ff l e x i b l e and l o n g i t u d i n a l l y r c o l l a p s i b l e s l e e v e s ,each o f which i s c y l i n d r i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n , m e a n sgrouping said sleeves together in a cylindrical _arrangement, a n d a n elongated c o l l a p s i b l e v a n econstruction including a p l u r a l i t y of v a n e s co nn e c t e d with s a i d s l e e v e s a n d e x t e n d i n g f o r w a r d l yt h e r e f r o m , t h e p l a n e o f t h e vanes t r a n s v e r s e l y

i n t e r s e c t i n g t h e p a s s a g e w a y s t h r o u g h s a i d s l e e v es e c t i o n s f o r d i v i d i n g t h e a i r s t r e a m l t r a v e l t h e r ethrough. ' , j9 . A n a e r i a l t r a i l e r c o m p r i s i n g a , p l u r a l i t y o ff l e x i b l e v a n d l o n g i t u d i n a l l y - c o l l a p s i b l e s l e e v e s ,each o f which i s c y l i n d r i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n , meansgrouping s a i d s l e e v e s t o g e t h e r i n a c y l i n d r i c a l a rr a n g e m e n t , A a n e l o n g a t e d c o l l a p s i b l e v a n e c o ns t r u c t i o n c o n n e c t e d w i t h s a i d s l e e v e s a n d e x t e n di n g f o r w a r d l y t h e r e f r o m and an e l o n g a t e d l a r g ed i a m e t e r e d m a i n b o d y s l e e v e h a v i n g t h e a b o v em e n t i o n e d c y l i n d r i c a l a r r a n g e d s m a l l e r y s l e e v e sd i s p o s e d i n t h e f o r e p a r t t h e r e o f f o r d i r e c t i n gt r a v e l o f > a i r t h e r e t h r o u g h .1 : 0 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r c o m p r i s i n g a p l u r a l i t y o ff l e x i b l e c y l i n d r i c a l c o l l a p s i b l e s l e e v e s o p e n a tt h e i r f o r e a n d r e a r e n d s , m e a n s g r o u p i n g s a i ds l e e v e s t o g e t h e r i n a c y l i n d r i c a l a r r a n g e m e n t , ar i g i d r i n g i n t h e f o r e e nd o f each s l e e v e f o r h o l di n g t h e s l e e v e s open a t t h e i r mouths, a n d m e a n sf o r d i r e c t i n g a i r i n t o the open ends o f s a i dsleeves.` _1 1 . An a e r i a l t r a i l e r c o m p r i s i n g a p l u r a l i t y o fi l e x i b l e 4 c y l i n d r i c a l c o l l a p s i b l e s l e e v e s open a tt h e i r f o r e a n d rear e n d s , m e a n s grouping s a i ds l e e v e s t o g e t h e r i n a c y l i n d r i c a l arrangement, ar i g i d r i n g i n t h e f o r e e n d o f each s l e e v e f o r h o l di n g the s l e e v e s open a t t h e i r mouths, a n d m e a n sf o r d i r e c t i n g a i r i n t o t h e open ends o f s a i ds l e e v e s ' , s a i d r i n g s t b e i n g c o n n e c t e d t o g e t h e r s ot h a t _ t h e s l e e v e s when t h e y a r e c o l l a p s e d ma y b earranged with the r i n g s i n a superposed s t a c k e dr e l a t i o n . FRANK GEORGE MANSON.