GB1585058A

GB1585058A - Flotation collar

Info

Publication number: GB1585058A
Application number: GB2734076A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PENK Ltd
Current assignee: PENK Ltd
Priority date: 1977-07-26
Filing date: 1977-07-26
Publication date: 1981-02-25

Description

(54) FLOTATION COLLAR (71) We, PENK LIM1TED, a British Company, of Stanmore Industrial Estate, Bridgnorth, Salop, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a flotation collar for supporting a rope, pipe or the like in a liquid, preferably sea water.

It has previously been the practice to produce flotation collars in the form of apertured cylindrical mouldings and to thread these collars onto a rope, pipe or the like from the ends of the latter. One or both of these ends are then fitted with attachments, for example, thimbles, shackles or eyes, which are considerably larger than the rope or pipe. In order to replace a damaged flotation collar, the end attachment must first be removed from the rope or pipe.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a flotation collar for supporting a rope, pipe or the like on a liquid, comprising a tubular body of foamed material having an aperture extending therethrough, which aperture is adapted to receive said rope, pipe or the like, the tubular body having two splits therein extending between said aperture and the exterior of said body and dividing the body into two portions which are completely mutually separable before fitting to said rope, pipe or the like and which are secured together at both of said splits by respective securing means after fitting to said rope, pipe or the like.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic end view of one embodiment of a flotation collar according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a schematic view in the direction of arrow X in figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic end view of a second embodiment of a flotation collar according to the present invention, figure 4 is a schematic view in the direction of arrow Y in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a plan view of a reinforcing strap which forms part of the flotation collar of Figures 3 and 4.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the flotation collar comprises a tubular body 10 of annular cross-section and made of flexible foamed plastic material having an integral, continuous skin. An aperture 11 which receives a rope, pipe or the like in use, extends axially through the body 10. The body 10 has a pair of opposed splits 12 therein which each extend between aperture 11 and the exterior of the body 10. The splits 12 divide the body 10 into two separate, identical portions 13 and 14, each of which has a tongue 15 at one free end thereof and a groove 16 at the other free end thereof. The tongues 15 and grooves 16 which extend for less than the axial length of the body 10. The body portions 13 and 14 are mutually engaged such that the tongue 15 on one engages in the complementarily shaped groove 16 on the other. The body portions 13 and 14 are secured together by means of pegs 17 which are driven through the tongue 15 on each body portion and the material surrounding the groove 16 in the other body portion.

The extemal surface of the flotation collar is substantially cylindrical and has a raised rim 18 at each end thereof. That part of the external surface which lies between the two rims is covered by a coloured or fluorescent layer, and the provision of the rim 18 lessens the chances of this layer being damaged when the collar is resting on a hard surface, e.g. a quayside.

The flexible foam material of which the tubular body 10 is made is arranged to be sufficiently rigid to resist separation of the two body portions under radial loading and to resist undue compression under axial loading.

A second embodiment of the flotation collar is shown in Figures 3 to 5 and is generally similar to that described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, similar parts being accorded the same reference numerals with 100 added. In this embodiment, the tubular body 110 is reinforced by means of metal straps 120, two such straps being embedded in each body portion 113 and 114. The straps in each body portion extend in the circumferential direction and are axially spaced so as to be disposed adjacent the ends of the tubular body 110, respectively.

Each strap 120 in one of the body portions is axially aligned with a respective one of the straps in the other body portion so as to define together a respective generally annular reinforcement. In each body portion 113 and 114, one end of each strap 120 is disposed in the respective tongue 115 adjacent a radially inner surface thereof, the other end being disposed adjacent a radially inner surface of the respective groove 116. The ends of the straps 120 are apertured at 121 to allow a respective one of the pegs 117 to pass therethrough. One of the straps 120 is shown in an unbent condition in Figure 5.

Also in this embodiment, six pegs 117 are used to secure the body portions 113 and 114 together, three at each split 112. Two pegs at each split pass through the apertures 121 in the straps 120. In addition, each peg 117 is received in a preformed hole 122 in the body 110, the internal size of each hole 122 being slightly smaller than the peg 117 which it receives so as to retain the latter in position.

As an alternative to metal, the straps 120 can be made of nylon, polyvinylchloride, or glass reinforced plastics. Where the flotation collar is intended for light duty purpose, the reinforcing straps can be omitted altogether.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A flotation collar for supporting a rope, pipe or the like on a liquid, comprising a tubular body of foamed material having an aperture extending therethrough, which aperture is adapted to receive said pipe, rope or the like, the tubular body having two splits therein extending between said aperture and the exterior of the body and dividing the body into two portions which are completely mutually separable before fitting to said rope, pipe or the like and which are secured together at both of said splits by respective securing means after fitting to said rope, pipe or the like.

2. A flotation collar as claimed in claim 1, wherein the splits are provided in opposed parts of the tubular body.

3. A flotation collar as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein free ends of the body portions adjacent said splits are provided with interengageable tongues and grooves.

4. A flotation collar as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein each body portion has a tongue at one free end thereof and a groove at the other free end thereof, the tongue of each body portion being engageable within the groove in the other body portion.

5. A flotation collar as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein each securing means comprises at least one peg passing through the respective tongue and the material surrounding the associated groove.

6. A flotation collar as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising generally annular reinforcing means embedded with the tubular body.

7. A flotation collar as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reinforcing means includes a plurality of axially spaced straps extending circumferentially of each body portion.

8. A flotation collar as claimed in claim 7, wherein two straps are provided in each body portion adjacent the axial ends thereof, respectively.

9. A flotation collar as claimed in any one of claims 6, 7 and 8 when appended to claim 3 or 4, wherein the reinforcing means extends into each tongue.

10. A flotation collar as claimed in any one of claims 6,7 and 8 when appended to claim 5, wherein the reinforcing means has apertures therein through which the pegs pass.

11. A flotation collar as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the foamed material has an integral, continuous skin.

12. A flotation collar as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tubular body has an annular raised rim at each axial end thereof.

13. A flotation collar as claimed in claim 12, wherein the external surface of the tubular body between the raised rims is provided with a coloured or fluorescent layer.

14. A flotation collar substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. Each strap 120 in one of the body portions is axially aligned with a respective one of the straps in the other body portion so as to define together a respective generally annular reinforcement. In each body portion 113 and 114, one end of each strap 120 is disposed in the respective tongue 115 adjacent a radially inner surface thereof, the other end being disposed adjacent a radially inner surface of the respective groove 116. The ends of the straps 120 are apertured at 121 to allow a respective one of the pegs 117 to pass therethrough. One of the straps 120 is shown in an unbent condition in Figure 5. Also in this embodiment, six pegs 117 are used to secure the body portions 113 and 114 together, three at each split 112. Two pegs at each split pass through the apertures 121 in the straps 120. In addition, each peg 117 is received in a preformed hole 122 in the body 110, the internal size of each hole 122 being slightly smaller than the peg 117 which it receives so as to retain the latter in position. As an alternative to metal, the straps 120 can be made of nylon, polyvinylchloride, or glass reinforced plastics. Where the flotation collar is intended for light duty purpose, the reinforcing straps can be omitted altogether. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A flotation collar for supporting a rope, pipe or the like on a liquid, comprising a tubular body of foamed material having an aperture extending therethrough, which aperture is adapted to receive said pipe, rope or the like, the tubular body having two splits therein extending between said aperture and the exterior of the body and dividing the body into two portions which are completely mutually separable before fitting to said rope, pipe or the like and which are secured together at both of said splits by respective securing means after fitting to said rope, pipe or the like.