GB2079230A - A line passing device for passing a line about a remote object - Google Patents

Abstract

A line passing device for passing a line about a remote object comprises an attachment device (7) pivotably mounting a latch member (10) and having detachably mounted thereon a hook shaped member (6) provided with an automatic retainer (34) at its remote end. A line to be passed is secured at (32) to the hook member (6). The hook member (6) is retained within a socket in the attachment device (7) by means of a spring force urging the latch (10) to a non-engaged position. The arrangement is such that upon passing the hook around the object (50) and pulling on the object the movement of the hook from its socket in the member (7) causes the latch (10) to swing against the spring force in front of the object (10) to engage the retainer (34) whereby upon release of the hook member from the socket in the body member (7) it is pulled around the remote object (50) drawing the line with it. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A line passing device for passing a line about a remote object This invention relates to a line passing device for passing a line about a remote object. It is of particular use in small boats and is particularly useful for various mooring operations with a yacht.

While primarily intended for use in passing a line around a remote object, for example an eys on a mooring buoy or through a ring hanging upon a quay wall, in an alternative use in its preferred form it could be used to pick up a cable lying on a harbour bottom or to pass a line under a cable chain as an aid to free a fouled anchor. Apart from the obvious uses for yachts it could be used in any other location where a line is required to be passed around a remote object, for example around a tree branch or an overhead cable.

Basically the invention arises from appreciating that by attaching a special device to the end of the line this device may itself be passed from an attachment device around the object, carrying the end of the line with it, in such a way that the very action of releasing it from one portion of an attachment device can cause it to be secured to another portion of the attachment device such that it passes around the rear of the object carrying the line with it.

According to the invention there is provided a line passing device for passing a line about a remote object comprising an attachment device adapted for attachment to the end of a long pole or the like and a passing member adapted to have secured thereto a line to be passed, first means being provided for detachably securing the passing member to one portion of the attachment device and second means being provided for securing the passing member to another portion of the attachment device responsive to release of the passing member by the first means whereby in use of the device the passing member with the end of a line attached can be passed behind the remote object with connection to the attachment device passing from the first to the second means.

Preferably the passing member is hook-shaped to facilitate being passed around behind a remote object in use thereof.

Suitably the second means may comprise a self-closing retainer adapted to engage a latch member on the attachment means.

Suitably the attachment means may comprise a body member with a latch member being pivotably mounted thereon for pivotal movement between a non-engaging position and an engaged position in which it is engageable with the retainer, the latch being spring urged to its nonengaging position.

The first means is such that movement thereof in a direction to release the passing member causes the latch to move from its nonengagement position towards its engaging position.

In the preferred construction later described in detail the passing member has a mounting portion received in a socket of the body member, the first means including a member secured to the latch to hold the mounting portion in the socket by the action of the spring force urging the latch to its non-engaged position.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a line passing device embodying the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line Il-Il of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of part of the latching loop comprised in the device; FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a passing hook member partly shown in Figure 1; and FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are three diagrammatic views illustrating in sequence use of the device to pass a line about a remote object.

Referring to the drawings the line passing device can be considered as comprising two elements, an attachment device 4 and a passing hook member 6. The attachment device 4 comprises a body member 7 pivotally connected to a holder member 9 provided with a bayonet socket 8 or other suitable convenient means for securing it to the end of a pole which preferably will be telescopic or made in sections that can be readily connected one to the other so that the pole can be extended in use to the length required.

The body member 7, which can be a casting or moulding, comprises an arm 11 provided with a recess 20 within which is pivotally mounted one end of a latching loop member 10. The loop member 10 is secured to a sleeve 22 supported by a pivot pin 1 5. Also secured to the latch member 10 are arms 13 for a purpose to be explained later, the latch member 10 being spring biased in a clockwise direction by a spring the ends of which are shown at 16 and 17 cooperating with the arm 11 and a crossmember 12, the crossmember 12 being secured between two arms of the loop 1 0.

The remote end of the loop 10 is provided with a V-shaped connecting bight 1 8 extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the main length of the loop 10 for ready engagement with a retainer on the passing hook member 6 as will be explained later.

The passing hook member 6 is detachably retained to the body member 7 by a cylindrical mounting portion 24 thereof being received within a bore 28 in the body member 7. The side of the bore 28 is provided with two diametrically opposed slots 30 through which project pins 25 are secured to the mounting portion 24. These pins serve two functions. They hold the passing hook member 6 against rotation in the socket, so as to be properly orientated relative to the latch 10 and also they are engaged by the arms 13 under influence of the spring 1 6, 17, to retain the passing hook member in the socket.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the remote end of the passing hook member 6 is provided with a readily engageable retainer comprised by a hook 34 and a lock 35 pivoted at 36 to the hook and spring urged by a light spring into the position shown. With this arrangement when the portion 18 of the latch loop 10 strikes against the passing hook member 6 it readily slides therealong into the hook 34 in engagement with which it is retained by the lock 35 having sprung out to the position shown in Figure 4. Also secured near the remote end of the hook member 6 is a line retainer, comprised by a flange 32 provided with a line receiving bore 33.

Although the line retaining means for securement of a line could be provided anywhere on the hook member 6 and still function to retain the end of the line when the member 6 is passed behind a remote object, it is preferred that it be provided near the free end of the hook member 6 as this facilitates drawing of the hook member around the remote object once it has been released from the body member during use of the device, such use being explained below in connection with Figures 5,6 and 7.

Reverting to Figure 1 the pivotal articulation between the body member 7 and the holder 9 is provided by a tongue 40 extending into a slot defined between two extension portions 41 of the holder 9. The portions 41 and the tongue 40 are pivotably connected by a pin 42. The bottom and side of the tongue 40 can be considered as forming a cam against which is urged a plunger 44 received within a bore 45 in the holder 9. A spring 46 urges the plunger 44 upwardly into engagement with the tongue 40, engagement with the end of the tongue being illustrated in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that with this construction the body member 7 will tend to take up a position either aligned with a pole received in the socket 8 or substantially at right angles thereto.Preferably a stop is provided so that the body member 7 can rotate in one direction only from the position shown in Figure 1, clockwise relative to the holder 9. Suitably locking means may be provided for holding the articulation between the body member 7 and the holder 9 against rotation. Such locking means can comprise a nut and threaded connection on the pin 42 whereby the portions 41 can be squeezed together to grip the tongue 40 received therebetween.

Use of the device will now be described in relation to Figures 5,6 and 7. Firstly, assuming that the device is mounted on the end of a pole, the passing hook member 6 is retained within the socket 28 in the position as shown in Figure 5 with a line to be passed being secured at 32. The person using the device can then reach forward with the pole and pass the hook 6 behind the object 50 as shown in Figure 5. Once this has been done by drawing the hook back towards the user, the hook engages the object 50 and with increasing tension the mounting portion 24 is pulled out of the socket 28. The projections 25 engaging the arms 13 rotate the latch loop 10 against the action of the spring until it engages the hook member 6 with its V-shaped portion 18 which slides along it until it is retained in the retainer hook 34.Upon additional pulling sufficient force finally causes the mounted portion 24 to leave the bore 28 entirely with the result that the hook member 6 can be pulled around the object 50 together with line, finally reaching the position shown in Figure 7 where the device is pulled back to the user, drawing the end of the line around the object 50. In this condition as shown in Figure 7 it will be appreciated that the pull on the attachment 4 is transmitted via the loop 10 to the retainer hook 34 from which it passes to the connected line being dragged around the object 50.

The purpose of the articulation between the holder 9 and the body member 7 is to permit the device to be used where is not readily possible to loop the hook member 6 beyond the item being picked up, for example when engaging a mooring ring on a harbour wall. By having the device rotated through substantially 900 from the position shown in Figure 1 it is possible still to use the device to hook the end of the portion 6 through the mooring ring so that when pulled the attachment straightens out and the device functions generally as described above in connection with Figures 5, 6 and 7.

While the device has been illustrated tor convenience as comprising a moulded or cast body member 7 it wouid be appreciated that this could be fabricated in other ways, if desired, for example by having a simple tubular body member containing the bore 27 to which is secured a fabricated bracket carrying the pivotal mounting for the latch loop 10. Also other alternative means of retaining the loop 18 on the end of the hook portion 6 will be readily apparent although the particular lockable hook retainer illustrated is particularly simple, safe and readily available.

As a simplified construction the loop member 10 the arms 13 and the sleeve 22 can ail be formed as a simple integral member by the bending of a length of stout wire. Thus the wire can be formed as shown centrally thereof with its two end portions simply being bent through approximately 2700 to form an eye with the free ends of the wire forming the arms 13. Two eyes thus spaced apart along the length of the pin 1 5 are held against movement towards and away from each other by the cross-member 12 brazed or welded to the two lengths of the loop. The cross-member 12 then acts as a tie for the legs as well as an abutment for the springs.

Also simplified forms of the locking hook construction 34 and 35 may be used. Thus instead of having a pivoted 35 as shown there may be used a single simple length of springy brass or other metal as a leaf spring secured to the shank of the hook and biased against the inside surface of the free end of the hook so as to flex to act in the manner of the pivoted lock 35 illustrated in Figure 4.

Instead of mounting the line passing device on the end of the pole or rod as shown it may be secured at the end of the line so that it can be lowered into water or thrown across a high object.

A ready adaptation of the illustrated device for such use is to provide a hole diametrically through the holder 9 or, to provide a bracket on the holder 9 whereby a line can be secured thereto instead of the long pole or rod. Thus with such an arrangement one line attached to the holder can be used to cause the hook 6 to pass over an object around which another line, secured to the hook 6, is to be passed.

Claims (14)

1. A line passing device for passing a line about a remote object comprising an attachment device adapted for attachment to the end of a long pole or the like and a passing member adapted to have secured thereto a line to be passed, first means being provided for detachably securing the passing member to one portion of the attachment device and second means being provided for securing the passing member to another portion of the attachment device responsive to release of the passing member by the first means whereby in use of the device the passing member with the end of a line attached can be passed behind the remote object with connection to the attachment device passing from the first to the second means.

2. A line passing device according to claim 1, wherein the passing member is hook-shaped to facilitate being passed around behind a remote object in use thereof.

3. A.device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the second means comprises a self-closing retainer adapted to engage a latch member on the attachment means.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the attachment means comprises a body member with the latch member being pivotally mounted thereon for pivotal movement between a nonengaging position and an engaged position in which it is engageable with said retainer.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the latch is spring urged to its non-engaging position.

6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first means is such that movement thereof in a direction to release the passing member causes the latch to move from its non-engaging position towards its engaged position.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the passing member has a mounting portion receivable in a socket of the body member, the said first means including a member secured to said latch to hold the mounting portion in said socket by the action of the spring force urging the latch to its non-engaged position.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the mounting portion is cylindrical to be received in a bore in the body member and comprises two diametrically opposed projections received in slots in the side of the bore to hold the mounting portion against rotation in the bore.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the projections are engaged by a pair of said members on said latch to retain the mounting portion in the bore.

10. A device according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the body member is pivotally connected to a holder adapted for securement to a pole.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the pivotable connection is lockable.

12. A device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the pivotal connection includes a spring cam arrangement to bias the connection such that the bore in the body member will normally either extend in the direction of the length of the pole or in a direction substantially at right angles thereto.

1 3. A device according to any one of claims 4 to 12 when appendant to claim 2, wherein the latch comprises a loop pivotable to swing in the plane of the hook-shaped passing member to engage said retainer.

14. A line passing device for passing a line about a remote object, such device being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.