CA1077784A

CA1077784A - Quick-release man overboard gear

Info

Publication number: CA1077784A
Application number: CA289,065A
Authority: CA
Inventors: David A. Plaunt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-10-19
Filing date: 1977-10-19
Publication date: 1980-05-20

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A device fastened near the stern of a pleasure or work boat, on either side or at the transom, which holds firmly one or more safety and/or life saving aids already in existance. The release of such aids is accomplished either by pulling of a handle or by the activation of a button or switch by the helmsman at his station, which immediately drops the equipment into the water upon the unfortunate accident of a person falling overboard.

Description

SPECIFICATION

(1) This invention is a marine accessory designed to be a safety device which immediately places already existing bouyancy and other safety aids into the water from the stern of a vessel in the event of a person falling overboard ~rom a pleasure or work craft.

(2) There are in existance several types of wire or steel strap holders for existing flotation and other safety aids none of which holders are automatic. In each of the other holders, it is necessary for the helmsman to leave his post briefly, a dangerous situation in bad weather when such accidents usually occur, remove the safet~ aids from such holder, then physically throw them into the water for the victim. It should be mentioned herein that it is believed that no device of similar design or function is available in i North America.

(3) The advantages of the proposed "Quick Release Man Overboard Gear" are:
(a) It is not necessary for the helmsman to leave his post thus risking damage to the vessel due to loss of control and possible broaching as `' . .' . '- ' . - '' .:: ' . ' : ' ', :~ ' " :, '' ' . ' ','. ' ' : . '' ' ': `. : . ,. ', ' ' ' ~ . ,' .'. : :. ' :~', , , ;:~: , , ' `' ' , ,, ,: ', , , , . . ' . : , ' ;,,.: '. ' : ~ : :

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he can simply pull the release handle (or activate the switch), which will be located within his reach, and, (b) time lapse between the victim falling into the water and khe sa~ety equipment becoming available to him is reduced to almost nothing by the simple activation of the mechanism as opposed to physically going to a rack or holder, lifting the safety aids therefrom and throwing them towards the victim.
The difference in time between these two operations is considerable and could mean life or death for the victim since in bad weather he could be heavily clothed and the wind could, through drift, carry . .
the aids away from the person faster than he or she could swim to them.

(~) In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the ; invention, Fi~ure 1 is a rearward facing view of that part of the invention which holds or retains the safety aids and from which they fall upon the activation o~ the mechanism by the helmsman. It is attached a~ or near the stern of ; the vessel.

Fi~ure 2 is the side of the inven-tion opposite that -holding the safety aids and upon which the release mechanism is located. Pulling handle ~1 removes pin `''ë ~7 which allows the release of the safety aids.

Fi~ure 3 is the side view of the invention illustrating a lie ring only (dotted lines) held in place by the shock cord.

is a top view (also with a life ring in dotted lines).
:.
is a close-up sketch of the pin release mechanism from -thc rear. The with~r~wl of thc pin //7 i5 thc kcy to :`

1~777~34 the release of the safety aids. The pin may be withdrawn either mechanically or electrically.

Fi~ure 6 is a close-up detail of the pin release mechanism from the side.

is a close--up detail of the pin release mechanism from the top.

is close-up detail of one type of pulley in the release mechanism, from the rear. There are numerous types and makes of pulley which would be suitable for this function~

Fi~ure 9 is close-up detail of ~ne type of pulley in the release mechanism, from the top.

(5) The numbered parts of ~he drawings refer to the following items and/or materials and describes their function.
. . ~
Fi~ure 1 7 #1, The Body of the invention which holds all other ii items in i~s composure. Size about two (2) square feet.

~2, The Edge Moulding. This will be moulded in, if constructed in a synthetic material, or, if in wood, installed with edge moulding glued and :
3 nailed.

~3, The Location for the Bouyancy Aid, (ring or horse shoe flotation device).

~4, Shock Cord. Two lengths mounted vertically. The thickness of this item depends on the size of the vessel, i.e. a small vessel (15 feet to 20 feet) would require smaller and lighter equipmentO The Shock Cord is drawn tightly around the safety 8~

equipment ~rom both sides, the tension rekaining it, passes through the hole, #5, and is retained on the reverse side of the device (Figure #2~ by retaining pin9 #7J
~5, Hole in body, approximakely 1" x 2" and beveled to permit the shock cord to pass through without right angled bends.
~6 9 Anchor Points ~or shock cords.
#7, Retaining Pin. Retains shock cord, ~4, which passes through hole, #5.
~'~, Eye Screws to accept retaining pin, #70 ~9, Pulleys through which line, #10 between retaining ;
pin, ~7 and handle, #11 pass. (There are several types of pulleys which would be suitable, however only one type is illustrated).
#10, Nylon Line joining retaining pin9 #7 to release handle, #11.
', ~119 Release Handle the pulling of which releases the safety aid(s).
~12, ~ounting Brackets. These would require different locatinns on the invention depending upon the vessel and the area in which it would be mounted.
: Figures ~1 and ~3 in the drawings supplied indicate the shock cord9 #4 tightly retaining the life buoy, passing through a hole~ #5 in the mounting~ ~1 and being retained behind the mounting by the pin~ #7 (Figure #3). (Other safety devices9 i.e. a man-o~erboard pole and a small strobe light, also normally held, have not been illustrated to simplify the drawings)~ A simple pull on the release handle, ~11 (Figure #2) pulls this pin out o~ the loops in the shock cord. The shock cord ~ 0 7~P7~3~

being under considerable tension then springs away from the life buoy allowing it to fall freely inko the water in close proximity to the victimO
(6) Although the device as illustraLted in the drawings attached is activated by the helmsman stalnding within reach of the device~ i~ would also be entirely feasible to be able to activate the mechanîsm remotely ~rom a steering station in another location removed from the invention. This~ depending on the size and type of vessel, could be accomplished either through a system of pulleys and levers~ or if it were well designed, protected and serviced9 electrically.
:
The invention could also be of se~eral dif~erent sizes and shapes (i.e. square~ circular, rectangular), depending on ~he size and type of vessel~ and could be made of different materials (i.e. fiberglass, wood, moulded ~astic9 etc). For example, a twenty (20~ foot pleasurs craft would carry smaller and lighter equipment than a sixty (60) foot sailboat or workboat.

~ (Claim on fbllowi~g page) ', :...

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privledge is claimed are defined as follows:

(1) A safety device, including a safety aid, adapted to be mounted at or near the stern of a vessel so that said safety aid can be released from the safety device and placed in the water near the victim of an accidental man over-board situation at sea, comprising a body having a flat surface on one side to which said safety aid can be mounted, shock cords securing said aid to the flat surface of the body by passing through a hole in the flat surface of the body, a removable pin located on the other side of the body and securing the shock cord, and means of removing the pin from the shock cord so that the safety aid can fall into the water, said pin removing means being immediately manually or electrically operable from a helmsman's station.