GB2225997A

GB2225997A - Apparatus for manipulating a lasso

Info

Publication number: GB2225997A
Application number: GB8829177A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Spencer Mcnae
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-11-26
Filing date: 1988-12-14
Publication date: 1990-06-20
Also published as: ZA888860B; GB8829177D0; NZ222711A; AU2569888A

Abstract

An apparatus 1 for manipulating a lasso and/or for lassoing an object 12, comprises holding means 2, such as a pair of open jaws or callipers 5, 6 or an openable ring, to hold the loop or noose portion 3 of the lasso in an open configuration during positioning around an object 12, the holding means 2 being then detachable from the loop portion 3 allowing the lasso to be tightened around the object, and includes a handle portion 4 by which the holding means 2 can be manipulated by an operator from some distance away. The apparatus has a range of applications from boat mooring through to air sea rescue recovery to tail roping of game fish. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO LASSO APPARATUS This invention relates to lasso apparatus, and is intended particularly, though not necessarily solely, to provide an apparatus for manipulating a lasso, and/or an apparatus for lassoing a bollard, mooring pile or the like, in order to secure a water borne vessel.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for manipulating a lasso and/or an apparatus for l lng an object, which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention consists in an apparatus for manipulating a lasso, said apparatus comprising: holding means to hold a loop portion of said lasso in an open contiguration, said holding means being in use detachable from said loop portion; and a handle portion by which in use said holding means can be manipulated.

'In a further aspect the invention consists in an apparatus for lassoing an object, said apparatus comprising: a lasso having a fixed or running loop portion; holding' means to hold said loop portion in an open configuration, said holding means being in use detachable from said loop portion; and a handle portion by which in use said holding means and said loop portion can be manipulated, To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely lllu3trattre and are not intended to be in any senae limiting.

The presently preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 shows a plan view of an apparatus for lassoing an object, in use, according to one preferred form of the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross section along AA of the handle portion of the apparatus of figure 1 Figure 3 shows a plan trew of an alternative preferred form of the apparatus of the invention, in use; Figure 4 shows the apparatus of figure 3 in the process of lassoing an object, in use; and Figure 5 shows a plan view of a further alternative preferred form of the apparatus of the invention.

Referring now to the figures, an apparatus 1 for manipulating a lasso and/or for lassoing an object, is provided,'said apparatus comprising holding means 2 to hold a loop portion 3 of a lasso in an open configuration, as shown in figures 1 and 3, and a handle portion 4 by which in use the holding means 2 can be manipulated.

The holding means 2 preferably comprises a pair of jaw ox caliper portions 5 and 6. In one preferred form of the invention shown in figure l, the jaw portions 5 and 6 form a broadly open arc, and in this case the jaw or caliper portions 5 and 6 may be either substantially rigid or flexible.

In an alternative preferred form of the invention shown in figure 3, the jaw or caliper portions 5 and 6 may form a nearly closed ring. The free ends by the jaw or caliper portions 5 and 6 are, in this embodiment, shaped or bent to project from the ring. In this embodiment the jaw or caliper portions are suitably constructed of substantially flexible material.

Other possible configurations for the holding means 2 envisaged within the scope of the invention include a shepherds crook arrangement having one extended jaw, and a closed or substantially closed loop.

The holding means is so constructed as to hold the loop portion 3 of a lasso in an open configuration, but is in use detachable from the loop portion 3 to allow the loop portion to grip an object 12. The holding portion may be constructed of any suitable material as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, but should preferably be both lightweight and strong. It may be either rigid or flexible as is hereinafter described. Suitable materials include epoxy resin, fibreglass materials and the like.

In one preferred form of the invention, shown in figure 1, the loop portion 3 of the lasso is attached around at least part of its circumference to the holding means 2.

This attachment may be by any suitable attachment means, but patches 7 of hook and loop" material such as that sold under the trade mark VELCRO, have been found to be particularly effective. Reciprocally engaging patches of the material are fixed to the inner surfaces of the jaw or caliper portions 5 and fi, and to the loop portion 3 of the lasso. The number and size of the attachment means 7 used will depend on the size and weight of the lasso which is to.

be manipulated I In at least one form of the invention, the lasso comprises a synthetic webbing material to which a VELCRO-type attachment means may be directly sewn or glued. Further alternatives include the provision of a metal band inside the holding means and magnetic patches on the loop portion 3, or a furry" loop portion 3 which will attach to a looped pile' type inner surface on the holding means 2. Other forms of attachment, such as studs, clips, or patches of contact adhesive are also envisaged within the scope of the invention.The attachment means must be sufficiently secure to maintain the loop portion 3 in an open configuration during manipulation, but also be such as to permit the loop portion 3 to be detached from the holding means 2 in ust', as is hereinafter described.

In an alternative form of the invention, shown in use in figures 3 and 4, the loop portion 3 is arranged over and around the jaw portions 5 and 6 so as to be held in an open configuration during manipulation, without being actually connected to the holding means 2 by attachment means. In the particular embodiment of the invention shown in figures 3 and 4, the loop portion 3 is at least partly looped over and held by the projecting free ends of the jaw or caliper portions 5 and 6.

In & still further alternative form envisaged within the scope of the invention, and which may be of particular application in handling heavy hawsers, chains and the like, the holding means 2 comprises a ring or partial ring (as shown in figure 5) of substantially tubular form. The partial ring includes a slot 13 around the inner circumference of the ring, communicating with the hollow interior The loop portions 3 of the lasso of rope, webbing, chain or the like it positioned inside the tubular holding means 2.The relative sizee of the tubular hollow, the width of the slot 13 and the diameter of the rope, webbing; chain or the like are such that the loop portion 3, when at rest, is retained within the holding means 2, but by a degree of deformation of the edges of the slot 13 in use is able to pass through the slot 13 and thus come free of holding means 2. The holding means 2 must in this embodiment be constructed of a material providing the suitable quallties of substantial rigidity. in maintaining the open ring form, while permltting the necessary deformation of the slot to allow passage of the loop portion when tightened. I have found that polyethylene pipe is a suitable material but others will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Depending on the attachment means which is chosen, and the purpose of the lassoing, the lasso and in particular its loop portion 3 may be constructed of rope, line, cord, taper webbing or any other suitable material. For example, tape or webbing of 20 tonne working load is available, and could be used in many applications including in particular the mooring or securing of boats.

The handle portion of the apparatus is suitably an elongated pole member, which may be comprised of for example PVC pipe, epoxy-resin, fibreglass, aluminium or other metal, or wood such as dowelling, or other suitable materials such as vill be apparent to those skilled in the art, The handle portion should be substantially rigid and of light weight. In one preferred torm of the invention, shown in figures 1 and 2, the handle portion 4 ie substantially hollow, and the running portion 8 of the lasso is fed through the hollow handle portion 4 to the operator end 9 of the apparatus. As shown in figure 2, the hollow handle portion 4 may have a slot 10 running the length thereof, to allow the running portion 8 of the lasso to be freed from the handle portion 4 if desired.

The handle portion 4 may be telescopic in construction, allowing extension to various lengths, and in very large applications such at for use on large ships, the handle portion 4 may be extendable by hydraulic or other means.

These variations are envisaged within the scope of the invention herein described.

The loop portion 3 of.the lasso may comprise a running or fixed loop, which may be formed in many ways such as by splicing, knotting, or by provision of a ring 10 at one end of the line, tape, webbing or the like, The running end 8 is fed through the rings to form the loop portion.

Fixing means (not shown) may be provided to fix the free or running end 8 of the lasso during manipulation, and a trigger or release means may be included to release the end 8 when desired. The use of the invention will now be described.

In use, in particular for manipulating a lasso to attach a rope or line onto a bollard, mooring pile or the like in order to secure about, an operator grips the apparatus at or near the operator end 9, retaining hold of both the running portion B of the lasso and of the handle portion 4. The loop portion 3 of the lasso (formed for example by passing the running end 8 through the ring 10) is arranged so as to be held in an open configuration by the holding means 2, either by engaging attachment means 7 such as reciprocal patches of WVELCRO"-type material, ör by arranging the loop portion 3 around the holding means 2 in a manner similar to that illustrated in figure 3.If desired, in the form of the invention shown in figure 1 provided with flexible jaw or caliper portions 5 and 6, the loop portion 3 can be partially tightened after being attached to the holding means 2, thus drawing the caliper or jaw portions together under tension, The free end 8 may then be fixed by fixing means (not shown) or otherwise secured or held as desired.

The apparatus is then extended by the operator and the loop portion w and holding means 2 placed over and around the desired object to be lassoed, such as a mooring pile or bollard 12. Once the loop portion 3 is around the bollard 12, as shown in figures 1 and 3t the handle means 4 is pulled back towards the operator thus drawing the holding means 2 towards the operator. As the loop portion 3 contacts the object 12 which it surrounds, it will become detached from the holding means 2 as the holding means 2 is withdrawn. If the loop portion is a running noose, the operator may simultaneously or Bubsequently tighten the noose around the object 12 by pulling on the running end 8.

if the jaw or caliper portions are held partially closed tender tension, the detachment of the loop portion 3 will release them into.a broad are (figure 1) which can pass around the object 12 to allow withdrawal.

In the form of the invention shown in figures 3 and 4, the flexible open jaws or caliper portions 5 and 6 of the holding means 2 will be forced flexibly open (figure 4) by the object 12 so as to pass around the object 12 to allow withdrawal.

Thus the operator withdraws and retains the manipulation apparatus and alno now retains the running end 8 of the lasso which is engaged with the object such as bollard or pile 12. If the operator is on for example, the deak of boat, the operator can attach the free end 8 of the lasso to the boat, and the boat is thus secured to the bollard, pile or the like 12.

Thus it can be seen that an apparatus for manipulating a lasso, and/or an apparatus for lassoing an object, is provided, which advantageously enables a lasso to be positioned so as to engage an object, at a distance from the operator. This is particularly useful in the case of the berthing and mooring of ships and boats of all sizes, there it can be difficult for other than a very skilled and experienced "linesman" to sucessfully lasso a bollard or pile from a distance. Other possible uses for thfs apparatus include the tail roping of game fish, the retrieving of objects from the water such as lost gear or persons, the attaching and retrieving of vessels adrift, and in for example mountaineering, rigging, construction, or any other use where it is desired to attach a line to an object from some distance away. The apparatus is advantageously simple to use and to construct, and, at least in the form of the invention provided with a slotted or hollow handle to retain the running end of the line, can advantageously be manipulated with only one hand by an operator. the apparatus can also be provided in a variety of sizes and weights for different applications.

Claims

CLAI?LS t

1. An apparatus for manipulating a lasso, said apparatus comprising: holding means to hold a loop portion of said lasso in an open configuration, said holding means being in use detachable from said loop portion; and a handle portion by which in use said holding means can be manipulated.

2. An apparatus for lassoing an object, said apparatus comprisinga a lasso having a fixed or running loop portion, holding means to hold said loop portion in an open confguratton, satd holding means being in use detachable from said loop portion; and a handle portion by which in use said holding means can be manipulated.

3. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 or clam 2, wherein said holding means comprises one or an opposed pair of jaw or caliper portions.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said jaw or caliper portions form a substantially open arc.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said jaw or caliper portions form an almost closed ring, the free ends of said jaw or caliper portions being shaped so as to project from said ring.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said holding means is substantially flexible.

7. An apparatns as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said holding means are substantially tubular, the interior of said tube being in communication with the exterior via a lengthwise slot, so that in use said loop portion can be retained within said interior and can be detached from said holding means by passing through said slot.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein at least the lips of said slot comprise substantially flexible material.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including attachment means to detachably.hold said loop portion in association with said holding portion.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said attachment means comprises reciprocally engageable patches of 'hook and 100p-type' material.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said handle portion is substantially hollow, and a running end of said lasso is fed through said handle portion.

12. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.