Abstract:
A surf lifesaving system comprises two floating lines extending from two spaced apart tethering points fixed on the beach to a buoy anchored offshore on the seabed. The floating lines are connected to sinking lines which pass through pulleys attached to the buoy in continuous loops with the floating lines. The tethering points are poles anchored in the sand, the floating lines comprise individual floats connected by rope at from three to seven meter intervals and the sinking lines have a core which is denser than saltwater.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to systems for retrieving swimmers who get into difficulty while swimming off beaches. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Surf lifesavers typically monitor swimmers at a beach who are supposed to swim in an area of surf demarcated by two flags. When a lifesaver observes a swimmer in difficulty he sounds the alarm and one or more rescuers go to retrieve the distressed swimmer. The rescue team may use an inflatable boat, a jet ski or simply swim out with the traditional line and reel. 
         [0003]    However there are a number of shortcomings with this current approach. First of all the swimmer in difficulty may have been carried by a rip well outside the flagged area and may not even come to the notice of the lifeguard. Also when there are strong rips, a number of swimmers may encounter difficulty at the same time and the rescuers may have to make a number of trips from and to the beach while some swimmers are left in distress. The associated delay in saving the last few may be life threatening and even the rescuers may tire and have difficulty in continuing the rescue. 
         [0004]    OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
         [0005]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system which overcomes some of the disadvantages and limitations of current lifesaving methods or at least provides a useful alternative. 
       STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one but not necessarily the only aspect, the invention resides in a beach lifesaving system including:
       i. at least one floating line;   ii. at least one sinking line;   iii. a buoy attached to a seabed wherein said at least one floating line and said at least one sinking line form a continuous loop whereby said continuous loop is rotatably attached to the buoy at one end and to a tethering point on a beach at another end.       
 
         [0010]    In one embodiment a beach lifesaving system comprises two continuous loops extending from two spaced apart tethering points fixed on the beach to the buoy anchored offshore on the seabed. 
         [0011]    Preferably the floating lines are connected to the sinking lines adjacent the buoy wherein the sinking lines pass through pulleys attached to the buoy. 
         [0012]    Preferably the tethering points are poles anchored in the sand. 
         [0013]    Preferably the floating lines comprise individual floats connected by rope or cable from three to seven metre intervals. 
         [0014]    Preferably the sinking lines have a core which is denser than salt water. 
         [0015]    Preferably the floating lines carry a shark repellent system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the beach lifesaving system deployed at a beach; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2   a  to  d  show the operation of a loop line of the beach lifesaving system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the tethering detail of a buoy anchored offshore; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4   a  &amp;  b  show the detail of tethering poles on the beach; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 5   a  to  d  illustrate a sequence for deploying the system; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates the possible triangular deployments of two continuous loop lines of the system; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  illustrates two possible deployments of the continuous loop lines at right angles; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  refers to another embodiment using two continuous loop lines which are angled to each other and fixed to a common buoy; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  refers to a similar embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  where use is made of a continuous loop line and a floating line in combination; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  refers to use of a single continuous loop line in another embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  refers to a similar embodiment to  FIG. 10  wherein the continuous loop line is located at an angle to the beach; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  shows use of a beach line connecting a continuous loop line and a floating line spaced from each other; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  shows use of a cross line interconnecting two continuous loop lines spaced from each other; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  shows use of a back line in combination with a continuous loop line; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  shows a similar system to what is shown in  FIG. 14  but used for a current travelling in the opposite direction to what is shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  shows use of an offshore mooring system for use in the invention; and 
           [0032]      FIGS. 17-22  show a sequence of steps used in assembly of an auger system for use in the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    In  FIG. 1  buoy  1  is anchored to the seabed offshore and floating lines  2  and  3  stretch between buoy  1  and flag poles  4  and  5  on the beach. Lines  2  and  3  are connected to sinking lines  6  and  7  to form loops so that while lines  2  and  3  float on the surface of the water lines  6  and  7  sink to the sea bed. A typical loop will be 50 metres of line with floats at five metre intervals joined to 50 metres of continuous sinking line. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 3  sinking lines  6  and  7  pass through pulleys  8  and  9  attached to buoy  1  which is anchored to the seabed by anchor  10  and end floats  11  are shackled or attached to sinking lines  6  and  7  at  11 A and  11 B. Floating lines  2  and  3  are shackled or attached to end floats  11  at  11 C and  11 D. Accordingly, floating lines  2  and  3  demarcate a triangular swimming zone  4 A shown in  FIG. 1 , reaching from buoy  1  and tethered to flag poles  4  and  5  on the beach as shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . Poles  4  and  5  have augers  12  which screw into the sand and baskets  13  to hold slack line and lifeguard items. There is also provided flags  20 , and cross bar  21  for attachment to lines  2  and  6  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0035]    If a swimmer is carried by current, sweep or rip he or she will encounter floating line  2  or  3  on the downward side and know that he or she is drifting outside the defined area formed by triangular zone  4 A. Further, if a swimmer is having difficulty they can hold on to the floating line as shown in  FIG. 2   a  at location  3   a  and raise an arm to signal for help. At this point a lifeguard can free float line  2  or  3  as the case may be from flag pole  4  or  5  and haul the floating line to thereby also facilitate retrieving the swimmer. 
         [0036]    As the floating line  2  is drawn in the sinking line  6  is drawn through the pulley  8  at buoy  1  as shown in  FIG. 2   b  and the floating line  2  starts a return journey back out to buoy  1  as shown if  FIG. 2   c . Accordingly the swimmer is returned to the beach and the floating line returns to buoy  1 . When the floating line is fully reloaded it re-establishes the boundary of the defined swimming area  4 A and the sinking line sinks as shown in  FIG. 2   d.    
         [0037]    In  FIG. 3  there is also shown pulleys  8  and  9  connected by swivels  7 A and  7 B to adjacent ring  7 C to ensure that the lines do not become entangled. Both swivels  7 A and  7 B are pivotally attached to pulleys  8  and  9  at  8 A and  8 B. Attachment ring  7 C is connected to buoy  1  by line  7 E. Line  7 E is connected to mounting ring  13 A of buoy  1  by D clamp  14 A and line  7 E is attached to attachment ring  7 C by D clamp  15 . In similar fashion line  16  interconnects anchor  10  and mounting ring  13 A by D clamps  17  and  18 . In this arrangement D clamp  17  is attached to mounting ring  19  of anchor  10 . It will also be appreciated that swivels  7 A and  7 B are snap locked or releasably attached to mounting ring  7 C (not shown). 
         [0038]      FIGS. 5   a  to  5   d  illustrate a sequence for rapidly deploying the system. In  FIG. 5   a  sinking lines  6  and  7  are attached to jet ski  14  at a free end and to floating lines  2  and  3  at their other end all of which are laid out on the beach. The jet ski then takes lines  6  and  7  out to buoy  1  as shown in  FIG. 5   b  where they are passed through pulleys  8  and  9  and the ski returns to the beach with the free ends as shown in  FIG. 5   c . Lines  2  and  3  are then joined to  6  and  7  respectively and tethered to poles  4  and  5  as shown in  FIG. 5   d.    
         [0039]      FIG. 6  illustrates the dimensions of a range of possible swimming areas which can be defined with floating lines  2  and  3  depending on where the surf is breaking and the sea conditions prevailing at the time. A corner of these triangular areas can also be sectioned off for children, preferably an up drift corner so that if a child drifts outside the section barrier it will still be within the larger defined area. 
         [0040]    It is also possible to configure floating lines  2  and  3  at right angles as shown in  FIG. 7  depending on the direction of the current, sweep or rip so that swimmers drift on to which ever line is tethered to the beach. A distressed swimmer can go hand over hand to buoy  1  if they have been swept out to sea and can be drawn into the beach as described previously. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 8  reference is made to another embodiment of the invention wherein floating lines  2 A and  3 A are located outwardly and below sinking lines  6 A and  7 A. This is a more preferred arrangement to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . There is also shown beach  9 A and arrow  9 B pointing the direction of the current and auger assemblies  40  for supporting lines  2 A and  6 A and  3 A and  7 A shown hereinafter in  FIGS. 17-22 . There is also shown buoys  1 A,  1 B and  1 C which are fixed and permanent mooring installations so that the continuous loop lines  2 A,  6 A and  3 A,  7 A can be relocated as required. 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 9  there is shown another alternative arrangement to that shown in  FIG. 8  where use is made only of one floating line  2 B without an associated sinking line  6 B. Thus floating line  7 B provides a visual boundary to designated swimming area  4 A and facilitates the operation of continuous loop line  3 A,  7 A. 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  shows another alternative arrangement which shows a single loop line having floating line  3 A and sinking line  7 A. 
         [0044]      FIG. 11  shows a similar arrangement to what is shown in  FIG. 10  with the variation that the single loop line is at an angle to the beach  9 A. 
         [0045]      FIG. 12  shows a continuous loop line  2 A,  6 A and a single floating line  3 A which are interconnected by a back line  24  between buoys  1 A and  1 B. This arrangement has the advantage that swimmers cannot be swept out to sea. 
         [0046]      FIG. 13  shows the use of a pair of loop lines  2 A,  6 A and  3 A,  7 A respectively and interconnected by a back line or cross line  25  which is adjustably attached to each loop line shown by the lines  9 D in phantom. 
         [0047]      FIG. 14  shows another possible arrangement where use is made of a single loop line  2 A,  6 A and a single back line  24 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 15  shows the opposite arrangement to what is shown in  FIG. 14  having regard to the fact that the current is running in an opposite direction. 
         [0049]      FIG. 16  shows another arrangement of interconnection of the buoy  1  to anchor  10  where use is made of a single line  27  connected to the bottom end  28  of buoy  1  and top end  29  of anchor  10 . Line  27  has loops  30  and  31  at each end located adjacent sealed parts or clamped parts  32  and  33 . Buoy  1  has a top end  34  connection to an adjacent loop line (not shown) using attachment ring  34 A. Shackles or D clamps  35  connect the top end or connection ring  29  of anchor  10  to loop  30 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 ,  21  and  22  show a stepwise sequence in assembly of an auger arrangement  40  for use in the invention in replacement of auger  12 .  FIG. 17  shows attachment of a circular frame  41  having radial ribs  42  to elongate shaft  43  which has a bottom auger part  44  having four plates  45  located at right angles to each other in a cruciform arrangement as shown in plan. 
         [0051]      FIG. 18  subsequently shows attachment of a cover plate  46  which has a central passage  47  defined by mound  48  which engages into shaft  43  as shown. Circular frame  41  is located adjacent and abuts auger part  44  as shown. Cover plate  46  also has snap lock protrusions  47 A for insertion of the continuous loop line (not shown). 
         [0052]      FIG. 19  shows the final attachment of the cover plate  46  abutting circular frame  41  while  FIG. 20  shows attachment of a hammer shaft  48  having stop  49  to shaft  43 .  FIG. 21  shows hammer shaft  48  in final position on shaft  43  while  FIG. 22  shows incorporation of a bowl part  50  to hammer shaft  43  for containing excess rope lines and lifeguard items. 
         [0053]      FIG. 22  shows auger assembly  40  in a final assembled position. The circular frame  41  has a peripheral or circular frame member  51  which engages in a recess in the sand (not shown). The use of the hammer shaft  43  is to drive the shaft  43  into the sand. The use of stop  49  is to support bowl part  50  as shown in  FIG. 22 . 
         [0054]    It also will be appreciated that the term “beach” as used herein may also refer to a lake, dam or other suitable body of water. 
       ADVANTAGES 
       [0055]    It will be obvious that the system of the subject invention has many advantages over existing lifesaving methods. It provides physical boundaries to the monitored swimming area and constant flotation support for distressed swimmers. Further the latter can be rapidly retrieved en masse by lifeguards who do not have to leave the beach. If they do have to swim out to support a swimmer they can also use the float line for assistance. 
         [0056]    The floating lines and the sinking lines can also be used for other purposes. For example floating lines can be laid out to mark swimming lanes for beach carnivals and electronic shark repellent devices can be attached to protect swimmers from shark attack. 
       VARIATIONS 
       [0057]    It will be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as herein set forth. For example a variety of flotation means could be used on the float lines and various forms of weighted cable could be devised.