GB2409438A - Deployable step or vessel access aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A step (10, Fig 1) for assisting access to a vessel comprises a housing 12 serving as a grab handle when in a stowed position (Fig 7A) and deployable upon extendible support cords 31 to act as a foot and/or a hand hold. The step may be attached to a fender mooring line 30 in use by means of closed clips 21. The step may be integrated with a fender (Figs 11A and 11B), hung on the side of a vessel to assist a person who has fallen overboard.

Description

= 2409438 Deployable Step or Access Aid This invention relates to

personnel access, safety, emergency rescue and recovery devices.

A particular instance is an emergency personal (self-) retrieval device, for marine use - more specifically a 'man overboard' (self-) recovery aid.

That is, a device to assist a person who has fallen overboard from a vessel in climbing back on board unaided - or at least not wholly reliant upon third party assistance from the vessel or elsewhere.

Emergencies aside, the device could be used as a general-purpose access support, brace or restraint, such as for maintenance and repair.

Use could be made (temporarily) to secure position and/or in climbing ascent or descent.

More generally, the device may also serve as an additional, emergency, or temporary recovery personnel access aid at swimming pools, lakes, docks, riverbanks or other water access points.

Editorial For conciseness of expression, terms in brackets, vis [ ... ] are used on occasion to represent optional descriptors, qualifiers, features or characteristics.

Similarly, in the claims, bracketed summary phrases alongside claim numbering are for ease of reference, and not part of the claim scope.

. Terminology 40 The term 'step' is used herein to embrace any form of support, hand and/or foot hold, rest, ledge or (grab) handle. .

Background . ..

Physiology Survival in water entails certain physiological considerations. Thus, normal human core body temperature is about 37 C. Prolonged immersion in DC222 P04 039 water can reduce this.

Outer extremities, such as limbs and digits suffer first as circulation is localsed to vital internal organs.

Hypothermia The effects of hypothermia set in when core body temperature drops to approximately 35 C and below.

Unconsciousness sets in if core body temperature drops below approximately 33 C.

Even In moderate conditions of UK inland waterways (rivers or canals) or coastal territorial waters, despite buoyancy aids, hypothermia sets in within minutes, sometimes only a matter of seconds, of Immersion.

Symptoms of hypothermia include violent shivering, lack of muscle coordination, slow and laboured movement, confusion, difficulty speaking, slow thinking and irrational behaviour.

Thus, it is important to escape the water as soon as possible.

However, for a lone sailor fallen overboard without a safety line, selfretrieval can prove impracticable.

Thus a conventional boat hull is typically smooth and curved, to present a streamlined surface for travel through the water.

This leaves no readily accessible hand or foothold near, at, or below the water-line.

.. . .. Fenders Fenders are typically hung over the side of a boat, at .40 or somewhat below deck level, where beam width is greatest, in order to cushion impact or abrasion with a dock or other vessel.

Fender disposition at or above the water-line, in .

order to minimise drag, makes them less accessible . to a person immersed in the water.

Moreover, traditional fender profile at best affords a slippery, and so elusive, hand hold.

In any event fenders are commonly retrieved and DC2 P04 039 stowed when traversing open water.

Even when deployed - typically permanently for inland water ways - fenders are generally not suited for man overboard retrieval.

At best, traditional fenders present tantalizing, but elusive, selfretrieval options.

1 0 At best, considerable arm reach and strength would be demanded of a person immersed in the water having fallen overboard.

The debilitating effects of hypothermia undermine 1 5 the prospects of regaining deck level.

Prior Art

Past proposals for retractable (marine) steps or ladders include: US 3677366 - concealed storage fire escape ladder with nestable step elements and nylon shock absorbing rope; WO 02/102655 - secure removable ladder for boats capable of locking in place and floating in water; US 6293733 low-depth water bottom observing system with step pivoted to boat gunwale for internal storage or over water deployment; US 5287945 - inflatable boat boarding ladder for divers with flexible saddle support for ladder section support at obtuse angle to vertical to prevent rotation under boat; FR 2605353 - folding ladder, particularly for boat masts, with diamond 'shoe' steps fitted into single 40 (vertical) rope length, and removable individual 'shoe' section for parallel attachment Practicalities ë However, none of this art addresses the practicalities ^. . of emergency deployment from within the water.

DC222 P04 039

Statement(s) of Invention

According to one aspect of the invention, a personnel access or recovery aid comprises a housing, configured as a (remote) grab handle, and deployable upon extendible support cords as a foot and/or hand hold.

The aid could be configured as an access step, ledge, hand (and/or foot) hold or grab handle.

Marine In a marine version, an emergency hand and/or foot hold is carried outboard a vessel hull above the water-line but accessible for deployment from and to a position at or below the water-line.

When grabbed and pulled, the device can be extended upon support cords and brought below the water-line, at a manageable level for use as a step to help climb back on board.

A particular configuration comprises a foot or sole plate, entrained upon support cords stored within a housing when not in use, but extractable and extendable to suspend the foot plate remote from the housing position.

A housing could be suspended upon a line such as a fender tie or mooring draped over the side of a vessel hull.

A hose clamp could allow ready line (de-)mounting.

e O In a particular construction, a housing comprises a hollow cylindrical sleeve or barrel, with a longitudinal side access slit in a circumferential side wall.

Integrated Foot Plate and Housing ..

The foot plate and housing can be integrated.

Mounting More specifically, the device may be mounted above DC222 P04 039 a fender, on a rope or tie line attaching the fender to the boat.

Alternatively, the device may be mounted within a specially profiled recess in the body of a fender.

Integrated Step and Fender A hold or step profile may be integrated with a fender - that is a fender profile could embody a contiguous step or hold.

Differential Fender Structure Such bespoke fenders could employ a differential structure.

Thus, say, a soft outer body could be retained for a primary cushion action, enshrouding a stiffer core body as secondary step or step housing role.

Bungy Cord Fender Suspension Such a bespoke fender could be secured to a conventional line through an intervening extendable elastic bungy cord.

Bungy elasticity could be selected to accommodate a range of body weights with proportionate stretch.

To this end multiple, intercoupled, bungy elements could be employed with, say, stiffer elements ineffectual until a predetermined loading.

:.'35 When relaxed (unextended) the bungy cord would hold the fender just above the water-lne. .. me

Upon extension - by a person pulling on a grab handle profile in the bottom of the fender - the bungy 0 stretch would enable at least the step portion of the fender to reach below the water-line.

Identification ë The device is desirably brightly coloured - say , , fluorescent - for ready identification from the water.

Foot Plate Support For stable bracing, twin support lines, ties, wires, ropes, cords or cables are desirably employed.

DC222 P04 039 Each tie could be secured at one end to a clamp upon a fender line and at the other end to one side of the foot plate.

Alternatively, a single loop with opposite ends passed through respective step apertures and knotted, tied together, or secured to a common mounting - could be employed. 1 0

When not in use, support cords are stored coiled or mutually overlaid within a housing, Itself clamped to, say, a fender line.

Orderly cord storage allows ready deployment without entanglement.

Fastening Conveniently, a housing could be secured to a fender line by dual clip fasteners, one at each end.

Each fastening could feature a closed hose clip or clamp for a support line and an open-sided spring clip mounting for a housing.

The closed clip is semi-permanent, whereas the housing clip is released simply by lateral pull (of only a few pounds or so) on the housing, as an emergency grab handle.

Surface Grip The foot plate surface can be textured for grip. :635

Housing outer surface grip is also desirable, as is a certain deformability, say through a longitudinal wall slit, for cushioned hand hold, about a more rigid internal footplate.

.0 End Closure Caps In particular construction, a hollow housing has an en. : end access for contents (un/re-) loading with a .45 removable closure cap. .

Both housing ends can be so configured, say from proprietary reinforced hose, pipe, tube or ducting.

A retention wire can keep a closure captive to the housing.

DC222 P04 039 Vents Vents maybe incorporated in the housing body and/ or end cap(s), to reduce the effect of a sudden influx of water upon submersion.

Materials A resiliently deformable sprung metal or synthetic plastics housing could accommodate the weight of a person standing upon an internal foot plate.

A combination of synthetic plastics, such as nylon for robust engineering strength and polypropylene for resilient deformability could be employed.

Similarly, cellular or foam plastics could be used to preserve air entrapment and buoyancy upon deformation.

Embodiments

There now follows a description of some particular

embodiments of emergency steps or hand and/or foot holds according to the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic and schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a 3-D perspective view of an emergency step, configured as a grab handle, ready for deployment; :.'35 Figure 2 shows an end closure cap for a housing of the emergency step of Figure 1; a Figure 3 shows a housing for the emergency step of Figure 1; . '.0 Figures 4A and 4B show a foot or sole plate for the emergency step of Figure 1; . : More specifically: 645 . Figure 4A shows a plan view of the foot plate with apertures for threading and securing support cords; Figure 4B shows an end elevation of the step of Figure 4A; DC222 P04 039 Figure 5 shows a plan view of a spring clip and clamp fastener for mounting the emergency step housing of Figures 1 and 3 to a (say, fender) mooring line; Figures 6A through 6C show fastening and support detail for the emergency step of Figures 1 through 5; More specifically: Figure 6A shows a side elevation of an emergency step (re-)movably mounted upon a (fender) rope by hose clamps and spring clips; Figure 6B shows an underside plan view of the assembly of Figure 6A; Figure 6C shows a transverse cross-section of the assembly of Figures 6A and 6B; Figures 7A through 7C show the assembly of Figures 6A through 6C with foot plate support cords coiled internally ready for deployment; More specifically: Figure 7A shows a part-translucent version of Figure 6A revealing footplate and support cord stowage internally; Figure 7B shows an underside plan view of figure 7A; Figure 7C shows a section of Figures 7A and 7B; :635 Figures 8A and 8B show the emergency step of Figure 7A through 7C, with foot plate deployed upon extended support cords; More specifically: . .0 Figure 8A shows support cords extended between line clamps and internal foot plate; of. Figure 8B is a section of Figure 8A; .45 Figures 9A and 9B show an integrated foot plate and housing; More specifically: Figure 9A shows an underside 3-D perspective view DC2Z P04 039 of an integrated step and support cord housing; Figure 9B shows a top perspective view of the integrated foot plate and housing of Figure 9A; Figures 1 OA and 1 OB show the emergency step of figures 7A through 8B fitted upon a fender line; More specifically: 1 0 Figure 1 OA shows the emergency step ready for deployment; Figure 1 OB shows the emergency step of Figure 1OA deployed; Figures 11 A and 11 B show a variant of Figures 1 OA and 1 OB featuring a bespoke fender profile with Integrated emergency step mounting; More specifically: Figure 11 A shows an emergency step fitted between opposed, resiliently deformable, mounting lugs, within a profiled aperture in a stiffer core of an otherwise cushion outer fender body; Figure 11 B shows the integrated emergency step of Figure 11A, with emergency step released from the mounting lugs, to deploy a foot plate upon extended support cords; Figures 12A and 12B show a variant fender profile with recessed step, secured to a tie line by an :35 extendible elastic cord; . I.

More specifically: Figure 1 2A shows the fender - and emergency step . .40 retracted; I: Figure 12B shows the fender step of Figure 12A extended for use; ë Figures 1 3A through 1 BE show clip fastener and . . support cord retention variants at different operational stages; More specifically: Figure 1 3A shows a dual action fastener with DC222 P04 039 latchable (mounting line) clip with entrained or integral housing clip and support cord locking ferrule; Figure 1 3B shows the fastener of Figure 1 3A with support cord threaded through locking ferrule; Figure 1 3C shows the fastener of Figure 1 3B with support cord locked in situ; 1 0 Figure 1 3D shows the fastener of Figure 1 3C feted to a mounting line; and Figure 13E shows the fastener of Figure 1 3D with line clip latched closed; 1 5 Figures 1 4A through 1 4D illustrate an alternative single-pece clip fastener; More specifically: Figure 1 4A shows a top plan view of a clip fastener with support cord attached; Figure 1 4B shows the underside plan view of the fastener and cord of Figure 14A; Figure 1 4C shows a top side perspective view of the fastener and cord of figure 14A; Figure 14D shows a reverse side perspective view of the fastener and cord of Figure 14C. +++

Referring to the drawings .

In Figure 1 an (emergency) personnel access step features a hollow housing 12 for an internal foot or sole plate 13, deployable upon extendible support . ..30 cords 31. I*:

Figure 3 shows a housing 12 configured as a hollow cylindrical tube or barrel.

.45 A longitudinal slot 15 in a cylindrical side wall allows access to a foot plate 13, held captive within along with support cords 31.

In practice, proprietary reinforced hose, pipe or ducting, such as high pressure conduit or sleeving, could be employed, with a profile machined to suit.

DC222 P04 039 Housing 12 is loaded from one end, by removing a press-fit end closure cap 11, with stopper section 16 and lip 17, as shown in Figure 2.

Figures 4A and 4B depict foot plate 13 as an elongate strip, with a flat upper surface to support a foot and a curved under surface to orient the step 13 within the inner wall curvature of housing 12. 1 0

Countersunk apertures 14 at opposite foot plate 13 ends allow threading and attachment of (suspension) support cords 31.

1 5 Apertures 14 have a stepped counter-sunk profile 18,19, to accommodate tie knots in support cords 31 at step 13 underside.

Figure 5 shows a fastener 20 for mounting the housing 12 upon a line such as fender tie 30.

Fastener 20 comprises a (closed) hose clip or clamp 21, with screw adjustment 23, and an (open-sided) spring clip 22, with intervening joint 25.

Hose clip 21 envelopes fender line 30 and can be secured by tightening screw clamp 23.

In practice, hose clips 21 can be left a free sliding fit upon line 30, to adopt a spacing to suit the longitudinal span of housing 12.

Spring clips 22 locate housing 12 by prosing apart opposed limbs 24. *35

'' In an emergency, simply pulling the step holder 12 will release it from spring clips 22.

Hose clips 21 can then slide together down line 30, ,,40 to rest upon the top of a fender 50. * *

As depicted in Figures 10A and 10B, housing 12 is conveniently disposed (ready for deployment of foot . plate 13) just above fender 50 to remain close to the 645 water line for ease of access. .

Figures 6A through 6C illustrate relative orientation of foot plate 13 within holder 12, when attached by the fastener 20 to a fender line 30.

Figures 7A through 7C show twin support cords 31 DC2 P04 039 coiled or concertina folded in an orderly fashion within housing 12, for release without entanglement.

One end of each support cord 31 is secured underneath step 13 in a knot 32, while the other end is secured to fastener 20 by attachment 33.

Alternatively, a single support cord loop can thread through footplate 13 and be secured to fastener 20. 1 0

When housing 12 is released from clips 22, support cords 31 unfold to allow deployment of foot plate 13 through full extension of support cords 31.

1 5 Support cord 31 length allows foot plate 13 to sit just below the water line - say within 30cm of the surface for ease of access when immersed. +++

Overall, step 10 serves as a (self-retrieval) hand and/or foot hold, carried outboard a marine vessel hull, above the water line - but within reach of a person immersed in the water.

The housing 12 is configured as a grab handle for ready deployment upon suspension cords 14 by a simple direct pull action to overcome the spring mounting clips. +++

In practice, a person immersed in the water could hold on to fender 50 with one hand, while pulling on (grab) housing 12 with the other hand, to release it.

.'. A foot then placed upon foot plate 13 set below the water-line, assists use of fender 50 and fender line to climb back on board the gunwale of a boat, or it,, .0 directly onto the boat deck.

'': That said, the device also admits of use for routine access.

Identification e. .

Housing 12 is desirably coloured red or fluorescent orange for ease of identification.

Housing 12 outer markings could also feature explicit directions, such as 'POLL', and arrows indicating DC222 P04 039 release direction.

End Cap Attachment End cap(s) 11 are fitted after support cords 31 are secured and foot plate 13 inserted into housing 12.

End cap 11 may be tied to housing 12, to resist dislodgement by compression of water ingress or at least provide a retrieval tie.

Additional Slits Vent slits may also be incorporated on the underside of the housing 12 to reduce the sudden influx of water as the device is submerged.

Narrow Slit Slit 15 should be a snug fit around support cords 31, for secure retention when not in use.

Materials Housing 12 is desirably of resiliently deformable material to withstand the weight of a person standing upon foot plate 13 within.

Support Cords Support cords 31 may be attached to either or both clips 21 or 22.

By use of nylon or polypropylene cords 31, breaking strains of several hundred pounds can be achieved a with even slender cord profiles, for ease of packing. tee.

Integrated Foot Plate & Housing ë In a variant of Figures 9A and 9B, foot plate 1 3 and housing 12 are integrated into unitary rung 40. a ä

Rung 40 has through holes 41 for support cord 31 . attachment, and a cord storage recess 42. ,.45

a' .. : Rung 40 could be moulded or machined as a solid block - of say robust engineering plastics material, such as nylon.

Its density and overall weight could help keep it immersed below the water line when deployed, and DC222 P04 039 support cords 31 tensioned.

Fender Line Mounting As depicted in Figures 1 OA and 1 OB, an emergency step housing 12 is mounted on a fender line 30 to sit just above a fender 50 when not in use.

The greater girth of fender 50 thus helps protect the 1 0 housing from impact damage or inadvertent deployment.

Effectively, housing 12 serves as an emergency grab handle for onward deployment as a suspended step. 1 5

When housing 12 Is released from its mount and extended by support cords 31, foot plate 13 sits below fender 50 and under the water line.

Fender Mounting Figures 11 A and 11 B depict an emergency step device mounted within a stiffer local (mid-section) core 63 of an otherwise resiliently deformable cushion body of a specially profiled fender 60.

Fender 60 has a traditional exterior form, about a central recess 61, with resilient mounting lugs, for housing 12 and its contents.

A flared recess 61 profile allows hand access to grasp and pull housing 12 out of fender 60 body for deployment and foot plate extension.

Integrated Step / Foot Plate and Fender A further variant features an integrated step and fender 70, as shown in Figures 12A and 12B. ...

.40 Fender has a profiled foot recess 72, with a ledge 71 serving as a foot rest or sole plate. .

Again, the step 72 Is located in a stiffer (local end) core 75 of a cushion body.

45 Fender 70 is secured to a fender line 30 by an , . Intervening extendible elastic bungy cord 73.

. Bungy cord 73 holds fender 70 above the water-line when in a relaxed state 73, but upon cord extension 74 enables at least step portion 72 of fender 70 to DC222 P04 039 reach below the water-line.

Figures 13A through 13E show a dual integrated clip fastener 80 of a line mounting clip 81, with latchable closure band 82 and a housing clip 85.

A locking ferrule 83, or Split wedge elements, are locatable in a tapered seat 84 in the base of clip 81 to grip a support cord 86, as depicted progressively in 1 0 the sequence of Figures 13B through 13E.

This cord mounting obviates bulky cord knots of uncertain security.

1 5 An alternative fastener 90 is depicted in Figures 14A through 14D.

This comprises a single-piece of moulded plastics material with an enclosed compartment 91 for feed through a supporting fender line 30.

A second (knot) compartment 92 is open along the underside of fastener 90 and includes a feed hole 94.

Thus, step support cord 31 may be fed through hole 94 into compartment 92, where it can be accessed such that a knot 95 may be tied in its end.

Said compartment 92 being configured to provide a housing for knot 95, which is concealed from view from above - as per Figure 14A.

Open clip compartment 93 is profiled to retain step holder 12 of Figure 1 when not in use, but allow step deployment upon release.

'Mix and Match' Features ...

.40 Generally, in the embodiments, where feasible and appropriate, features may be selectively 'mixed and matched' to suit circumstances albeit it is not feasible to describe every such feature combination.

act: 45 Component List e. : 1 0 holder assembly . . 11 end cap 1 2 housing 1 3 foot plate DC222 P04 039 14 aperture slit 16 stopper 17 lip 18 hole top 19 hole bottom fastener assembly 21 closed clamp 22 open-ended clamp 23 clamp fastening screw 24 clamp mouth clamp attachment 30 (fender) rope 31 step support cord 32 step support attachment 33 clamp support attachment 40 integrated foot plate and housing 41 support hole 42 recess fender profiled fender holder 61 profiled recess 62 mounting lug 63 stiffer local core profiled step fender 71 step 72 foot recess 73 (relaxed) elastic bungy cord 74 (stretched) elastic bungy cord stiffer local core 80 fastener . . . 81 (line) clip 40 82 band 83 ferrule e e 84 seat : 85 (housing) clip 86 support cord 45 fastener . . 91 closed compartment 92 knot compartment . . 93 open clip compartment 94 feed hole knot

Claims (10)

1. " DCZ2 P04 039 Claims 1. {Step} A step such as for personnel access or as

   a recovery aid, comprising a housing, serving as a grab handle, and deployable upon extendible support cords as a foot and/or hand hold.
2. 2. {Coiled Supports) A step of Claim 1, with support cords compact folded within the housing ready for extension upon step deployment.
3. 3. {Dual Clip Fastener} A step of either preceding claim, with a dual clip fastener respectively for line and housing mounting.
4. 4. {Hose Clip + Spring Clip} A step of any preceding claim, with a closed (hose) clip for line mounting and an open-sided spring clip for housing retention.
5. 5. {Drainage} :-e A step of any preceding claim, 40 with perforations for water drainage. . .

   .:
6. 6. {Fender Mounting} 45 A step of any preceding claim, with a housing mounted in a bespoke fender profile. . ë .

   D=22 P04 039
7. 7. {Integrated Step and Fender} A step of any preceding claim, combined with a fender.
8. 8. {Elastic Bungy Cord} A step of any preceding claim, with an elastic bungy cord between a fender and support line.
9. 9. {Localised Stiffer Core} 1 5 A step of any preceding claim, with a localised stiffer core in an otherwise cushion body.
10. 10. {Illustrated Embodiments} A step substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown In, the accompanying drawings. .e Ace. ... . . .

    . : . . ..