US3760441A

US3760441A - Position indicating temporary buoy consisting of a telescopic collapsible pole

Info

Publication number: US3760441A
Application number: US00312639A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Handelman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-12-06
Filing date: 1972-12-06
Publication date: 1973-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-25

Abstract

A telescopic extensible pole to enable the pole to serve as a temporary buoy or marker, normally collapsed to about 4 feet for minimum space storage on a sailboat, and extensible to full length of about 18 feet to be thrown overboard to mark the location of a crew member, fallen overboard from a boat, so that the boat can return directly to the location to find and pick up the fallen crew member. The extensible pole, preferably of fibreglass telescoping sections, has an intermediate float ring, preferably light weight cork, a top pennant, and a weight at the bottom end of the pole, to hold the pole erect as a buoy when thrown into the water. The float ring is secured near the top of the outer cylindrical telescopic section to permit the lower part to be grasped by two hands to swing the collapsed pole, to generate a centrifugal force to centrifuge the telescoped sections to fully extended position against minimum friction between the sections, which is sufficient, however, to hold the sections in place against gravity, when the pole is in vertical position in the water.

Description

O v United States Patent 1 [1 11 3,760,441

Handelman Sept. 25, 1973 POSITION INDICATING TEMPORARY Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler BUOY CONSISTING OF A TELESCOPIC Assistant Examiner-Gregory W. OConnor COLLAPSIBLE POLE Attorney-Julius E. Foster [76] Inventor: Philip Handelman, 360 Lexington Ave., New York, N-Y. [22] Flled: U72 A telescopic extensible pole to enable the pole to serve [21] App]. No.: 312,639 as a temporary buoy or marker, normally collapsed to about 4 feet for minimum space storage on a sailboat, Apphcatmn Dam and extensible to full length of about 18 feet to be [63] 9 123,617 March thrown overboard to mark the location of a crew mem- 1971 abandoned her, fallen overboard from a boat, so that the boat can return directly to the location to find and pick up the [52] US. Cl. 9/8 R, 9/ 14, 11116419773, 7 fallen crew member The extensible pole, preferably of 51 I t Cl B63 00 fibre-glass telescoping sections, has an intermediate 2 float ring, preferably light weight cork, a top pennant, 1 o earc l and a weight at the bottom end of the pole, to hold the l pole erect as a buoy when thrown into the water. The float ring is secured near the top of the outer cylindrical [56] References cued telescopic section to permit the lower part to. be UNITED STATES PATENTS grasped by two hands to swing the collapsed pole, to 1,958,535 5/1934 Elliott 9/8 R generate a centrifugal force to centrifuge the tele- ,432 4/1952 Freas 325/112 scoped sections to fully extended position against mini- J i 10/1963 9/9 X mum friction between the sections, which is sufficient, 3,280,789 10/1966 Lewis et al 9/9 X however, to hold the sections in place against gravity, when the pole is in vertical position in the water.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEB FIG.3

INVENTOR. Philip Ha ATTORNEY POSITION INDICATING TEMPORARY BUOY CONSISTING or A-xTELESCOPIC COLLAPSIBLE I POLE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 123,617 filed Mar. 12,1971 now abanwaves that would otherwise mask the man in the water and hamper the rescue operations.

A- serious problem arises during pleasure sailing operations, where high winds and rough seas may wish a man overboard. A life saving float" ring is customarily thrown overboard to the overboardman in order'to help him stay afloat. In calm waters, the man and the float ring canbe seen, so that a rescue operation can be visually guided. However, in the case of high winds and consequent high waves, it is difficult to locate a man in the water, even with such a float ring that would normally indicate the location of the man. The use of any auxiliary marker or buoy in connection with the float ring would seem to be an adequate solution to this problem. However, the restricted space availableon the deck of a sailing vessel for storing such auxiliary buoy presents a problem in itself, that is quite serious,

. and has confronted sailing enthusiasts for a long time.

The need for safety equipment is recognized, but the problem of storage of such safety equipment, so it will not interfere with normal operation of the sails, has been a long felt continuing problem because of the limited amount of space available on the deck of the ves- 86L a h bie?! of t is .inysnt on s to myidca sclu on to both problems, namely, to provide an indicating marker or buoy thatcan be made immediately available, upon the occurrence of an emergency situation, as when a man isswept overboard in ,a region-of high winds and high waves; and to provide such an indicating marker that will also solve the problem of easy and simple storage in a minimum of space on the deck of a sailing vessel, while not in use, and yet be immediately available for proper service in an emergency situation.

Since the really hazardous condition that must be provided for, involves the presence of high waves, the marker must be relatively high in order to be seen for some distance from a rescue ship. A height of 18 feet above water level has been and is currently accepted as reasonably adequate for such use. The problem arises, however, in storing an 18 foot pole on the deck of a pleasure sailing vessel. Various arrangements have been conventionally used, but each has carried its own disadvantage, either in occupying too much space, or in impeding the free movement of the sailors on the deck of the vessel, where free and immediate access to the sails and their controls must always be available.

The use of a full length pole on the deck, or attached to the mast, has not solved the problem, because of its inconvenienceto the operators of the sailing vessel.

One object of this invention, as a first stage in solving the problems here involved, has been to provide a telescopic extensible pole that could be telescoped to a rel- I frictional conditions between the relatively moving surfaces of the telescopic structure.

Moreover, in view of the emergency situations for which this device is intended, it should be readily operable for conversion-from a telescopically compressed condition of short length, to a telescopically extended condition of maximum desired length. Thus, the marker which will normally be of a telescopically compressed length of about four feet should be quickly operable, by a single individual, to an extension of eighteen feet in length.

The marker must therefore be free of corrosive response to the salty atmsophere or to salt water; and it must be readily and quickly operable by a single individual to a fully extended condition.

To permit operation of the marker, to extend its length from a compressed length of about four feet to an extended length of about eighteen feet, the marker is constructed so that it may be subjected to an extending force, which may be generated as a centrifugal force by a rapid whipping movement, imparted to the marker by an individual. Such action, in the marker here disclosed, in whipping the short length pole from short telescopically compressed condition to fully extended condition, can be readily accomplished by a single individual. The problem here involved, of course, is that the weight of the pole must be within limits that will make it light enough for such individual handling.

Although the friction between the telescoping sections must be free of the harmful friction that would make it difficult to whip the pole to its full length, there must nevertheless be sufficient friction to support the elements in extended condition, against retelescoping action by the force of gravity, when the pole is appropriately supported in its erect vertical position in the water. The telescoping sections therefore have sufficient friction between engaging surfaces that will be sufficient to support the weight of the sections above any particular level along the pole length.

To be free and independent of the corrosive effect of the salt water atmosphere, and to have the adequate strength and lightness of weight required for this purpose, the pole sections are preferably made with thin walls of fiberglass composition. Of course, treated light-weight metal, properly protected against the corrosive effect of salt water and salt air, would serve the purpose so far as lightness of weight might be concerned, but the fiberglass structure is preferred because of its complete resistance to the salt environment.

To provide a float to support the pole in the water, a cork ring is preferred, as providing a light weight material that will serve adequately to support the full weight of the pole.

In order to provide a proper whipping handle for the whipping action to be applied to the pole, a part of the bottom length of the outer telescoping section of the pole is provided, below the location of the support float ring of cork. The bottom portion of the pole below the float ring then serves two purposes. First, it provides a whipping handle for the pole, disposed below the cork ring, where the handle may be more conveniently grasped by both hands of the operating individual; and the second friction of that handle extension then serves as a support for a weight at the lower end of the handle, which helps to stabilize the upper extended structure of the pole, beyond the float ring as a pivot, when the pole is supported in the water.

Thus, the object of the present invention isto provide a telescopically extensible pole of light weight noncorrosive material, that may be telescopically compressed to a relatively short length for storage; and that may be quickly extended to full length upon the occurrence of an emergency condition; with a float ring disposed intermediate the ends of the outer section of the pole in its compressed condition, with the lower portion of the outer section serving to provide a natural handle for whipping the pole, to generate the necessary and sufficient centrifugal force to move the telescoped sections outwardly to extended position, against a minimum amount of friction between the engaging surfaces of the adjacent sections, which friction is sufficient to hold the sections in extended position against any restoring force of gravity when the pole is floated in vertical extended position.

The buoy, as a telescopic pole, is simple in construction, and is described in more detail in the following specification, taken together with the drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the telescopic buoy pole constructed in accordance with the invention, and is shown in a normally telescoped condition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the buoy pole, as thrown from a boat, and is shown in floating position, and held erect to indicate the location to which the boat must return to retrieve a crewman overboard; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the buoy polevin position near the crewman overboard.

As shown in FIG. 1, a telescopic buoy pole 12 of this invention comprises an elongated multi-section telescopic pole of extensible and collapsible tubing sections 14, with an outer cylinder tubing section 16 and several progressively narrower telescoping concentric tubing sections 18, 18a, 18b and 180, etc., fitted progressively and sequentially into each other, so the entire telescoped pole 14 may be telescopically collapsed to within said single outer section length 16, to minimum length for easy storage, and may be extended to substantially the total length of the several sections, to be visible in the presence of high waves. Each inner section is suitably restrained from extending beyond the forward end of the next encircling section by suitable conventional stops. A float ring 20 is secured to said outer cylinder 16 near the top end of said outer cylinder. A narrow weight 22 is secured to the lower end of the outer cylinder 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the telescopic tubing 14, when collapsed, enables the entire pole to be disposed in a relatively narrow space, in view of the narrow float ring 20 and the narrow weight 22.

When a crew member falls overboard from a boat, it is necessary to mark the location to enable the boat or other rescue ships to locate the overboard crewman. The buoy pole 12 is immediately thrown overboard to serve as a marking buoy, to mark the region where the crewman fell overboard. The outer cylinder 16, below the float ring 20, is grasped and used as a handle to whip the inner telescopic extensible sections 18 to full extended length, as in FIG. 2, and the buoy pole 12 is then thrown overboard. The weight 22 at the lower end of the buoy pole holds the pole erect around the float ring body 20 as a pivoting center, and the top of the buoy pole carries a flag or pennant 24 so that it may be visible from a distance.

In actual practice when a marking buoy of this type is thrown into the water, a life preserver, of ring-shape, or usually of U-shape is also thrown into the water, to provide support for the overboard crew member to support him while he is waiting to be picked up. Since, in many cases, the waves would normally be sufficient to prevent a clear view of the crew member on the floating life preserver, the pennant of the vertical buoy marker, which may be some 12 to 18 feet above the water, will provide the indication to guide a rescue boat directly to the crew man.

To provide a pole of light weight and to resist the corrosive effects of salt water and salt sea air, the pole sections are preferably made of rigid, thin-wall fibre-glass sections, with just slight sliding friction.

The float ring 20, preferably of cork, is secured near the upper end of outer cylinder 16, to leave the longer lower part of the outer section available for grasping by both hands of a crewman operator to swing the collapsed pole and to generate sufficient centrifugal force to extend the several telescoped sections 18a, etc., to fully extended position, against the slight friction between adjacent sections. That same slight friction then serves to hold the extended sections from retelescoping by gravity force, when the pole is erect in the water.

The extra length of the outer section below the float ring also serves a second purpose, in providing a long moment arm for the weight 22 around the float ring 20, as a pivot, to hold the pole erect.

The invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but may be-variously modified within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims, and may be made of metal or non-metallic material to withstand water or salt water.

What is claimed is:

1. A temporary emergency buoy, to be put into service quickly, in an emergency situation, to mark the location of a man overboard, as from a sailing vessel, said buoy comprising an elongated hollow outer tubular pole section,

closed at its bottom end and open at its top end;

a plurality of telescoping tubular sections of progressively graduated diameter fitted in said outer section to permit concentric telescopic collapse within said outer tubular pole section, and said tubular elements being capable of slidingly extending to essentially co-axial extended disposition out of said open end at the top of said outer pole section, with a pennant or flag at the outer end of the outermost tubular section;

a weight secured to said outer section adjacent its bottom end;

and a float element secured to and encircling said section being such that their product as a moment outer section at a region intermediate the two ends force, below water and about the float as a pivot, o said Outer Section, to divide the Section length will be sufficient to hold the extended pole substaninto an upper part and a lower part, with the lower i n erect f remote i ibili part of appropriate length to permit human grip 5 said tubular elements being manually telescopable pmg of sald lower part wlth both hands to mampu' into said outer section so the entire buoy structure and swmg the enmepole with a whlpplng will occupy a minimum of space, as for disposition tion to develop a centrifugal force sufficient to on a Sailboat cause said telescoped inner sections to be expelled 2 A tem mar emer enc buo as in claim 1 in to their extended position, out of said outer sec- 10 which p y g y I tion, to a length that will make said flag visible said telescopic sections consist of a corrosionagainst a background of high waves, and the friction between said telescopic sections being sufficient to hold said extended sections against return to concentric telescoped position by an external unintended force, such as gravity; the length of said lower part of the outer section below the float and the amount of the weight on the end of said outer resistant material in thin section for light weight, namely, fibre-glass mixture, and

said float element consists of a light-weight body,

namely, cork, with sufficient buoyancy to support said emergency buoy.

Claims

1. A temporary emergency buoy, to be put into service quickly, in an emergency situation, to mark the location of a man overboard, as from a sailing vessel, said buoy comprising an elongated hollow outer tubular pole section, closed at its bottom end and open at its top end; a plurality of telescoping tubular sections of progressively graduated diameter fitted in said outer section to permit concentric telescopic collapse within said outer tubular pole section, and said tubular elements being capable of slidingly extending to essentially co-axial extended disposition out of said open end at the top of said outer pole section, with a pennant or flag at the outer end of the outermost tubular section; a weight secured to said outer section adjacent its bottom end; and a float element secured to and encircling said outer section at a region intermediate the two ends of said outer section, to divide the section length into an upper part and a lower part, with the lower part of appropriate length to permit human gripping of said lower part with both hands to manipulate and swing the entire pole with a whipping action to develop a centrifugal force sufficient to cause said telescoped inner sections to be expelled to their extended position, out of said outer section, to a length that will make said flag visible against a background of high waves, and the friction between said telescopic sections being sufficient to hold said extended sections against return to concentric telescoped position by an external unintended force, such as gravity; the length of said lower part of the Outer section below the float and the amount of the weight on the end of said outer section being such that their product as a moment force, below water and about the float as a pivot, will be sufficient to hold the extended pole substantially erect for remote visibility; said tubular elements being manually telescopable into said outer section so the entire buoy structure will occupy a minimum of space, as for disposition on a sail-boat.

2. A temporary emergency buoy, as in claim 1, in which said telescopic sections consist of a corrosion-resistant material in thin section for light weight, namely, fibre-glass mixture, and said float element consists of a light-weight body, namely, cork, with sufficient buoyancy to support said emergency buoy.