Feb 17, 2026

US12553696 - Interlocking expandable air-drop package

A modular air-drop package assembly is provided for delivering an internal payload. The assembly is oriented along axial, radial and angular directions, and includes a front section and a rear section. The front section has a hollow housing open at its rear along the axial direction. The housing has an inner wall that includes a plurality of angularly spaced indentations. Each indentation extends radially into the wall. The rear section has a bulkhead, a sleeve and a corresponding plurality of flanges. The bulkhead closes the housing at the rear. The sleeve extends axially forward from the bulkhead along the axial direction for insertion into the housing. The plurality of flanges extends forward from the bulkhead. Each flange has a radially extending tab that engages with a corresponding indentation of the plurality.

Assignee: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
Inventors: Jesse Hunter Conklin
Filing date: 2025-01-30

The patent describes a modular air-drop package assembly designed for delivering internal payloads, featuring a front section with a hollow housing and a rear section with a bulkhead and flanges that interlock. This assembly is oriented in multiple directions and utilizes a system of indentations and tabs to secure the components together.

Claim 1

1 . A modular air-drop package assembly for delivering an internal payload, said assembly oriented along axial, radial and angular directions, and comprising: a front section with a hollow housing open at a rear end of said front section along the axial direction, said housing having an inner wall that include a plurality of angularly spaced indentations, each indentation extending radially into said wall; and a rear section having a bulkhead that closes said housing at said rear end of said front section, a sleeve that extends axially forward from said bulkhead along the axial direction for insertion into said housing, and a corresponding plurality of flanges that extend forward from said bulkhead, each flange having a radially extending tab that engages with a corresponding indentation of said plurality of indentations. a front section with a hollow housing open at a rear end of said front section along the axial direction, said housing having an inner wall that include a plurality of angularly spaced indentations, each indentation extending radially into said wall; and a rear section having a bulkhead that closes said housing at said rear end of said front section, a sleeve that extends axially forward from said bulkhead along the axial direction for insertion into said housing, and a corresponding plurality of flanges that extend forward from said bulkhead, each flange having a radially extending tab that engages with a corresponding indentation of said plurality of indentations.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12553696

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12553696