US 12,304,629 B2
Aerial fire-fighting bucket systems
Andrew Sawyer, Bend, OR (US); Steve Sawyer, Bend, OR (US); Jeremy Bryant, La Pine, OR (US); and Scott Siemsen, La Pine, OR (US)
Assigned to KAWAK AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Bend, OR (US)
Filed by KAWAK AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Bend, OR (US)
Filed on Mar. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/687,358.
Prior Publication US 2023/0278708 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. A62C 3/02 (2006.01); B64D 1/16 (2006.01); B64D 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 1/16 (2013.01) [A62C 3/0235 (2013.01); B64D 3/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerial fire-fighting bucket system comprising:
a bucket configured to be filled with a liquid cargo and to discharge the liquid cargo; and
rigging attached to the bucket and configured to be attached to the long line of an aircraft;
wherein the bucket includes:
a pliable skin having an upper edge and a lower edge,
a generally circular upper frame from which the upper edge of the skin is suspended by a plurality of loops, the upper edge being spaced from the upper frame and the loops providing a sliding connection to the upper frame that allows the skin to slide along a circumference of the generally circular upper frame in response to forces applied to the bucket, and
a lower structure to which the lower edge of the skin is attached in a sealed manner.