US3445869A - Lifebelts and the like - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1969 c. R. TYRER LIFEBELTS AND THE LIKE Sheet l of 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1967 May 27, 1969 LIFEBELTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb -15, 1967 .A V d I I -1 T K U K har/P; 1e. 7?!- INVENTOR:

May 27, 1969 2. R. TYRER LIFEBELTS AND THE LIKE 7 6 9 l v 5 l b e d e l i F United States Patent 3,445,869 LIFEBELTS AND THE LIKE Charles R. Tyrer, Huyton, England, assignor of one-half to R. Perry & Company Limited, Birkenhead, Cheshire,

England, a British company Filed Feb. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 616,379 Int. Cl. B63c 9/10 US. Cl. 9-340 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A liferaft or like annular buoy having a rigid plasticmoulded shell filled with inert synthetic foam and provided with circumferentially-spaced eyes, inset relatively to its circular profile, through which is threaded a closed loop of rope. Each such eye may be buried in the crosssection of the buoy between rope-receiving grooves therein, or may form part of a strap secured around a recessed part of the buoy, and is preferably bifurcated to receive a locating enlargement of the rope.

This invention relates to lifebelts and like annular buoys intended particularly for marine lifesaving, of the type which comprises a thin rigid shell formed of a mounded synthetic plastics material and filled with an inert synthetic foam, the outer periphery of such shell having integrally or otherwise united thereto a plurality of eyes for carrying a durable edging rope to which a person can cling for support or grasp when handling the article.

The construction above described forms the subject of British Patent No. 982,601, in the specification of which it is proposed to produce the peripheral eyes either as tubular tangential lugs on the shell or as separate moulded inserts homogeneously bonded in gaps in said shell and making keying engagement with the foam filling.

In either case the eyes aforesaid, and any knots or clamps used to prevent the edging rope from sliding therethrough, constitute projections from the outer periphery of the lifebelt, which it is conceivable might hinder the free rolling of the latter when stowed vertically and launched down an inclined chute in the manner currently prescribed.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate this hypothetical defect of the known construction referred to, without in any way weakening or complicating the same or reducing the efiiciency of the edging rope for its purpose.

The improvement or modification which forms the subject of the present application consists in arranging the edging-rope eyes within the outer circular profile of the shell, which latter either has circumferential lead-out grooves for the rope at opposite ends of each eye, or has the eyes placed at one side of its medial plane of revolution so that the outer circular profile aforesaid is not interrupted.

The bases of the lead-out grooves, if provided, may be substantially chordal to the outer circular profile of the shell and substantially parallel to the axes of the intervening eyes, which may either be permanent features of the shell or parts of non-metallic straps closely embracing the cross-section thereof.

In the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of one form of lifebelt according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view,

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views corresponding respectively to FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing a modified construction,

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4,

FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary part-sectional side elevations showing further modifications,

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of yet another modification, and

FIG. ll is a section on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the seamless shell A of the lifebelt is produced in known manner, by introducing a predetermined quantity of a suitable thermoplastic or thermosetting material within a twopart female mould and rotating the latter so as to distribute such material uniformly over its inner surface during a curing operation.

Each half of the mould is formed, at suitable angular intervals around its periphery, with pairs of pockets which are registered with those in the other half when the mould is closed. During this operation, loose cylindrical cores are engaged between the two mould halves so that each extends across a pair of the pockets aforesaid and locates within them two bushes B forming part of a separate mounded nylon insert C.

In the convenient form of insert shown, the bushes B are integrally united by fiat shanks D to a connecting plate E which lies more or less centrally of the shells oval cross-section, the insert being prevented from swinging on the cores by means of a radial fin F on one of the bushes 'B.

After curing of the shell A, the constituents of an inert synthetic foam are injected into it with a hypodermic syringe, and then heated whilst such shell is confined within the original (or a second) mould to prevent distortion thereof during development of the foam filling G, which becomes firmly bonded to the interior of the shell A as well as closely investing the several nylon inserts C.

It will be seen that, when the cores aforesaid are removed, each leaves the adjacent part of the shell A with an interrupted bushed eye H lying wholly within its outer arcuate profile. It should be understood, however, that the use of separate inserts for bushing the eyes H is not essential, and may be omitted when regulations permit.

The shell A is also moulded with grooves K of trapezoidal cross-section which extend circumferentially from opposite ends of each eye H, the bases of these grooves being substantially parallel to the common axis of the bushings B and lying on lines chordal to the arcuate profile aforesaid. The edges of each groove K may be mutually parallel as shown in full lines, or mutually divergent as indicated at K.

Preferably the two parts of each eye H are of outwardly tapering form, the V-shaped gap L between them having a depth at least equal to the maximum depth of the grooves K.

The edging rope M is passed through the several eyes H, and its ends tied or clamped together as at N in the gap L of one such eye, further knots being accommodated in the remainder of such gaps so that the rope is located circumferentially of the lifebelt, leaving bights thereof between successive eyes H, to form handgrips. The outwardly convergent end faces of each eye tend to prevent chafing of the parts of the rope H which emerge therefrom.

Alternatively, of course, the locating knots may be formed at opposite ends of each eye H and located in the circumferential lead-out grooves K.

In the alternative construction illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the eyes H and grooves K, instead of being arranged in the medial plane of revolution of the shell A, are offset laterally from such plane so that not even the rope M passed therethrough need interrupt the outer circular profile of the lifebelt.

With this arrangement, the pockets, cores and bushings B producing the eyes H are located in one part of the mould, the other mould part being of a plain halfelliptical cross-section throughout.

It will be appreciated that a lifebelt with eyes H and edging rope M arranged in this manner is ideal for launching down a chute, since with this procedure the lifebelt may be required to reach a sufficient terminal velocity to effect firing of a flare and smoke signal carried thereby.

In the interests of speedy production, however, it may be preferred to employ two identical mould halves each with two diametrically-opposed pairs of offset eye-forming pockets and to assemble such halves so that the interrupted eyes H will be arranged at 90-degree intervals on opposite sides of the lifebelt alternately.

In a modified construction (see FIG. 7), which obviates the need for knotting to prevent movement of the edging rope M through the eyes, each of the moulded inserts O for the latter is formed with a single through-passage P exhibiting, midway of its length, a sharp outward kink Q which breaks through the tubular portion of the insert to produce a short slot R therein.

Each of these inserts O is incorporated in the lifebelt as previously described, the wall of its tubular portion being covered by the moulded shell A without causing any projection beyond the latters outer circular profile, where an aperture S is provided opposite the position of the slot R.

In threading the rope M through each eye H, it is convenient to feed its leading end outwards through the aperture S in the shell A and then to re-insert it for passage through the second half of the eye, and it will be appreciated that, when threading of the rope has been completed, its ends can readily be spliced together and the splice drawn into an adjacent eye H, the excess rope being then pulled outwards into bights between the eyes so that it does not protrude through the apertures S in the tops of the latter and is thereafter frictionally located by the central kinks Q in the eye passages P.

In the further modification shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 each of the moulded inserts C buried in the lifebelt has a head T of rounded triangular section united at one corner to each shank D of the insert, and formed with three parallel through-holes U, likewise in a triangular arrangement, the ends of these holes being exposed by the moulded shell A which is again formed with a V- shaped gap L between the two parts of the interrupted eye H.

In this case, the leading end of the edging rope M is first threaded through one of the two outer holes U, passed back through the other and finally threaded onwards through the inner hole. The two ends of the rope M may be united by a splice which is drawn into the adjacent multiple eye H, the rope being then adjusted to provide the required hand-grip 'bights between the eyes and finally pulled tightly into the latter so that the several sharp S bends produced effectively locate it against circumferential movement.

In the still further modification shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, each eye V, instead of being a permanent feature of the shell A, forms the central part of a strap W moulded in nylon or other suitable synthetic plastics material and secured around the cross-section of such shell, which is produced with a continuous recess X to allow the strap W to lie at least flush with its surface.

If the strap W is arranged as shown, so that the eye V lies at one side of the shell A (for example, at or near its cross-sections minor axis) such eye may project sufiiciently to avoid chafing of the associated rope against the edges of the recess X, but if the eye is located in or near the medial plane of revolution of the shell, the

4 recess must be deep enough to accept it completely and the shell formed with circumferential lead-out grooves such as K.

Conveniently one end of the strap W is tapered in width to enable it to be threaded through an anchorage loop Y, slot or channel provided at the other end of the strap and pulled until barbs Z at the first-mentioned end engage behind such anchorage, thus holding the strap in secure frictional engagement with the shell A. Alternatively the ends of the strap W may be secured by positive means such as pegs, rivets, bolts or the like, and the fastening (however produced) may be cemented for additional security.

Each eye V is preferably interrupted as shown to accommodate a locating knot or clamp on the edging rope, and in a further alternative method of securing the strap W half-eyes may be formed at opposite ends of the latter so that the edging rope holds them in alignment as well as maintaining the strap under tension.

However the roping eyes are constructed, it should be understood that the shell A of the lifebelt may be produced by any of several known methods besides the one already indicated.

That is to say, the two-part female mould aforesaid may be charged with a suitable thermoplastic material which is cured by heat to produce a continuous sintered or fused skin on the inner surface of the mould, the excess material being removed through an opening in the shell wall which is substantially plugged.

Alternatively the shell may be produced by bonding together the edges of two pre-formed annular mouldings of half-elliptical cross-section, in which case the nylon inserts (if used) may project through openings in the outer periphery of one (or each) such moulding.

Yet another available method of producing the shell A is that of blow-moulding it within a suitable mould.

In addition to having the important advantages characteristic of their plastics construction (i.e. light weight, constant high buoyancy, ease and cheapness of manufac' ture, and virtual indestructibility), lifebelts having peripheral eyes according to the present invention can have their edging ropes renewed at sea, when necessary, without the use of skilled labour.

I claim:

1. An annular lifesaving buoy comprising a thin rigid shell formed of a moulded synthetic plastics material, an inert synthetic foam filling within said shell, a plurality of eyes at least partially formed by the outer periphery of said shell at angularly spaced positions which are inset relatively to its circular profile, reinforcing means for said eyes embedded in said foam filling and extending into each eye but terminating within said circular profile of the shell, a closed loop of rope threaded through said eyes and extending circumferentially of the buoy.

2. An annular lifesaving buoy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts of said rope adjacent said eyes are acclonlilmodated in circumferential lead-out grooves in said s e 3. An annular lifesaving buoy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said eyes are placed at one side of the medial plane of revolution of said shell so that its outer circular profile is not interrupted by said rope.

4. An annular lifesaving buoy as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said eye is a separate member embedded in said foam filling and enveloped by said moulded shell.

5. An annular lifesaving buoy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts of said rope adjacent said eyes are accommodated in lead-out grooves in said shell, said shell being formed within a two-part female mould divided approximately at the medial plane of revolution of said shell and having said eyes and grooves produced wholly by one part thereof.

6. An annular lifesaving buoy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shell is formed within a two-part female mould divided approximately at the medial plane of revolution of said shell, each eye being in two spaced parts produced respectivel by opposite parts of said mould.

7. An annular lifesaving buoy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said eyes form parts of non-metallic straps closely embracing the cross-section of said shell.

8. An annular lifesaving buoy according to claim 1 wherein said eyes form parts of non-metallic straps closely embracing the cross-section of said shell and are disposed at least adjacent the medial plane of revolution of said shell, said shell being recessed to allow said eyes to lie flush with its outer circular profile.

9. An annular lifesaving buoy according to claim 1, wherein said shell is produced in one piece by blow-moulding, said foam filling being derived from reagents injected into said moulded shell and subsequently heated.

10. An annular lifesaving buoy comprising a thin rigid shell formed of a moulded synthetic plastics material, an inert synthetic foam filling within said shell, a plurality of eyes united to the outer periphery of said shell at angularly spaced positions which are inset relatively to its circular profile, a closed loop of rope threaded through said eyes and extending circumferentially of the buoy, each said eye being bisected by a radial notch in said shell, and said rope having enlargements thereof located in said notches.

11. An annular lifesaving buoy comprising a thin rigid shell formed of a moulded synthetic plastics material, an inert synthetic foam filling Within said shell, a plurality of eyes united to the outer periphery of said shell at angularly spaced positions which are inset relatively to its circular profile, a closed loop of rope threaded through said eyes and extending circumferentially of the buoy, each said eye being moulded in a tough synthetic plastics material as a tubular member integrally united by a fiat shank to an anchorage plate, said tubular member being enveloped by said moulded shell, and said shank and plate being embedded in said foam filling.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,994 4/ 1945 Brandsten 9-311 3,353,197 11/1967 Frieder et al. 9-311 3,372,411 3/1968 Robertson 9311 913,617 2/1909 Busch 9-340 1,297,665 3/ 1919 Edmonds 9-340 3,050,754 8/1962 Le Blanc 9340 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. W. BUCKMAN, Assistant Examiner.

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