Rescue device

A throwable rotateable rescue device having an outer annular chamber for winding storage of a retrieval cord and a connector therein and a loop therein engaged with a connector and cord, which is maintained in the annular chamber during throwing of the rescue ring to a person in distress, the loop extendable out of the annular chamber when the cord and connector are to be engaged or disengaged from the rescue device.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to rescue devices and, more specifically, to improvements to throwable rescue rings that increases the versatility and capacity of the throwable rescue rings. Examples of lightweight throwable rescue rings, which have an aerodynamic shape, can be found in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,562,512; 8,216,014, 8,708,762 and 9,656,732. My throwable rescue rings have an excellent throwing range and are ideally suited for water rescue since the throwable rescue rings are buoyant and can be hand thrown by an inexperienced person. Typically, a cord, which has one end secured to the throwable rescue ring, unwinds from an annular cord chamber located in a compartment in the throwable rescue ring, as the throwable rescue ring is thrown to a person in distress. The other end of the cord, which is retained by the thrower or may be affixed to a structure, allows the thrower to retrieve the throwable rescue ring by pulling the cord toward the thrower. When the throwable rescue ring is thrown to a person in distress the person grasps the throwable rescue ring and is pulled to safety by the cord, which is attached to the throwable rescue ring.

On some occasions one may want to retrieve objects other than a person, for example, one may want to bring a boat into dock or to rescue a boat in distress. To retrieve a larger or heavier load using the throwable rescue ring to engage and retrieve the larger or heavier load may cause the rescue ring to fracture or break since the throwable rescue ring may not have sufficient structural and tensional integrity to withstand the pulling forces since throwable rescue rings are generally made of lightweight materials so that they can be thrown long distances. In order to retrieve larger loads one can detach the cord from the throwable rescue ring and then attach the cord directly to the larger or heavier load. One can then use the cord, without the throwable rescue ring attached thereto, to retrieve the larger or heavier load.

If one needs to use only the cord to retrieve a larger or heavier load it is important to be able to quickly detach the connector and the cord from the throwable rescue ring and then quickly reattach the connector and cord to the larger or heavier load that is to be retrieved using only the connector and the cord. Since the connector is located deep within an annular cord storage chamber in the throwable rescue ring it is difficult or sometimes impossible for a person while on-the-go to get his or her hand into the annular storage chamber to quickly detach the connector from the rescue ring so the connector can be attached to a different object. That is, the size and depth of the cord storage chamber within the rescue ring make it difficult for a person to use his or her hand to release the connector and the cord from within the throwable rescue ring so that the cord and the connector can be used to retrieve an object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rescue device or throwable rescue ring having a cord and a connector attached thereto with the cord and connector wound within the rescue device where the rescue device typically comprises an aerodynamic annular member having an upper outer peripheral surface having an airfoil shape and an inner upper peripheral surface also having an airfoil shape, with the upper outer peripheral surface forming a leading edge of the annular member and the inner peripheral surface forming a trailing edge of the annular member as the rescue ring is thrown to a person in distress. The rescue device includes an internal slip band with a loop pivotally attached to the slip band, which is rotationally positioned within the rescue device. A cord with a connector that one can attach to the loop, which is normally held within a cord storage compartment in the rescue device allows one to retrieve the rescue device. As the rescue device is thrown to a person in distress the cord unwinds from the rescue device.

Once the rescue device arrives at the destination the loop, which is located within the rescue device can be pivoted outward so that at least a portion of the loop and the connector extend out of the cord storage compartment. Pivoting the loop outward from the cord storage compartment brings an attachment or connection point of the loop outside the throwable rescue ring where a user can grasp the connector and quickly detach the connector from the loop. Once the connector is detached one can quickly attach the connector and cord to an item that can be retrieved using the cord and the connector without the throwable rescue ring attached thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a top view of a rescue device10in a ready to throw condition andFIG. 2is section view of a rescue device10ofFIG. 1. Typically, rescue device10comprises a throwable rescue ring11made from a lightweight material that floats if the throwable rescue ring lands on water, however, the throwable rescue ring requires sufficient mass so that the momentum imparted to the throwable rescue ring through hand throwing is sufficient to deliver the throwable rescue ring to its destination. The throwable rescue ring11may be molded from a polymer plastic with the material having sufficient tensional strength so that one pulling on the cord16a, which is attached to the throwable rescue ring, can bring a person grasping the throwable rescue ring to safety. Examples of throwable rescue rings can be found in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,562,512; 8,216,014; 8,708,762 and 9,656,732, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIG. 1is a top view of a rescue device10, which comprises an annular ring11having an elongated pivotable loop15extending radially outward from an annular peripheral cord chamber within annular ring11. In the example shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 2andFIG. 3the rescue device10includes a slip band17with a pivotable loop15connected to a hand detachable connector16with the hand detachable connector having a cord16aattached thereto for retrieving rescue device10after it has been thrown to a person in distress.

FIG. 2Bis a sectional view showing an empty cord chamber25andFIG. 2Ashows cord chamber25with cord19wound and stored within an annular peripheral cord chamber25, which is located in the outer peripheral portion of rescue ring11.FIG. 2Ashows slip band17rotationally supported in a first annular peripheral chamber25with a triangular shaped loop15(i.e. a closed loop) such as an elongated chain link pivotally attached to slip band17. Loop15having a width less than the width of peripheral chamber25to enable loop15to be pivoted so that at least a position of loop15is outside of rescue ring11(seeFIG. 4A) for attachment or detachment of a connector16thereto. Loop15is also pivotable inward into chamber25to bring loop15proximate slip band17as shown inFIG. 3A.FIG. 2Bshows that peripheral cord chamber25is formed within annular ring11by an annular top side25a, an annular bottom side25band a first slip ring bearing surface25cand a second slip ring bearing surface secured by a connector guide chamber26, which is formed by an annular top surface26band a lower annular surface26aand an annular end surface26c.

FIG. 3is an isolated view of slip band17, which is a continuous band andFIG. 3Ais a sectional view of a portion of annular ring11showing elongated loop15pivotally connected to hand detachable connector16through a tongue18bon strap18, which is secured to slip band17.FIG. 4is an isolated view that shows strap18, which is fastened to loop15cthrough a tongue18bwith a first fastener20attached to ring17on one side of loop15and a second fastener21attached to ring17on the opposite side of loop15to hold loop15in a pivotal condition. In this example tongue18is secured to band17through a fastener such as a pan head screw21with a pan shaped end21aand fastener20such as a pan head screw20with a pan shaped head end20a. Loop15is free to pivot from a stored condition within chamber25(seeFIG. 2A) until loop15extends radially outward as shown inFIG. 4A.FIG. 3Bshows an isolated side view of a one piece separable slip band37that has a first end37aand a second end37bthat are secured to each other in a face to face condition by a first fastener such as a rivet or bolt38having a nut38aand a second fastener39having a nut39a. The fasteners38and39, which extend through both end37aand37b, hold slip band end37aand slip end band37bproximate each other to form a circular slip band for use in the rescue ring. The advantage of a separable slip band37is that it allows one to spread the ends37aand38ato insert the slip band37around the periphery of a circular bearing surface within the rescue ring after the rescue ring has been formed.

In the example shown inFIG. 4Athe a free end15cof loop15is pivotable to a position where free end15cis located outside of annular ring11for attachment or removal of a quick connector16thereto. While a triangular shaped loop15is shown other shaped attachments to slip band17may be used as long as a portion of the attachment can be extended outside of annular ring11to enable a user to quickly attach or detach a connector16to the portion of the attachment that is extended outside of the annular ring11.

In the example shown loop15, which is shown in a folded condition inFIG. 2AandFIG. 3A, is pivotable at least partially outward of the annular peripheral chamber25in annular ring11to facilitate engagement of loop15to a connector16(seeFIG. 4A). To facilitate storing of loop15in a ready to throw condition in annular ring11one folds loop15into a position proximate slip band17(seeFIG. 3A) and then winds connecter16and cord19around the slip band17(seeFIG. 2A), which is located at the bottom of annular peripheral chamber25as illustrated inFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3Ashows connector hook16aon connector16extending partially through an opening17cin slip band17and into an annular guide channel26. During rotation of the slip band17the portion16aof connector hook16that extends through the slip band17and into the annular guide chamber26is free to rotate within annular guide chamber26as slip band17rotates in chamber25. Extending connector16partially through the slip band17allows one to minimize the profile of the connector16on slip band17thus allowing one to use connectors that are sufficiently large to be conveniently and quickly hand opened or hand closed by a person who receives a thrown rescue ring11. A feature useful if a person needs to quickly attach connector16to an article that is to be retrieved using cord19and connector16.

A further feature of the invention is the dual use of rescue device10. That is, in one mode a person in distress can grasp rescue ring11allowing the thrower to pull the person in distress to safety. In another mode the rescue device10can be used for pulling an object to the thrower by disconnecting the connector16from the rescue device and attaching the connector to the object that is to be pulled to the thrower.

One of the difficulties in storing connector16within storage chamber25is that for connector16to be large enough to be useful for attachment to other objects the connector should have a sufficiently large hook end16a(seeFIG. 3A,FIG. 4AandFIG. 4B), which can interfere with storing or unwinding of cord19from within chamber25. To prevent connector hook end16afrom interfering with unwinding of cord19one reduces the radial profile of connector16by allowing a portion of hook end16ato extend through an opening18cin slip band17as shown inFIG. 3A. Unfortunately, if the hook end16aextends through the slip band17it can interfere with rotation of the slip band within annular ring11. To prevent interference annular ring11includes an annular guide chamber26(seeFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B) that is concentric with peripheral cord chamber25to allow a protruding hook end16aor27ato follow in guide chamber26as the slip band17and connector16rotate with respect to annular ring11. That is, as shown inFIG. 2Alaterally protruding hook end16aextends radially into guide chamber16as the slip band17rotates within rescue device10. Guide chamber26is sufficiently large so that a protruding portion of hook16does not engage the side wall of chamber16as the slip rotates, which may hinder unwinding of cord19as the rescue device10is thrown to a person in distress.

A feature of the invention is the ability to store cord16band connector16in a flat non hand accessible condition (seeFIG. 2AandFIG. 3A) within a narrow annular peripheral chamber25while still allowing a person to easily detach connector16from slip band17. That is, chamber25, which holds the cord19and connector16in a flat or wound condition, is sufficiently narrow and located sufficiently deep in rescue ring11so that it is impractical for person to insert his or her hand into chamber25to disconnect connector16from slip band17. In order to provide for both storage and quick release of connector16the slip band includes a strap18with a tongue18that supports loop15in a pivotal condition on slip band17to allow loop15to be pivoted radially outward so that at least a portion of loop15is located outside of the annular ring11to bring a connector detachment point to loop15outside of the annular ring11(seeFIG. 4A), which in this example allows one to slide connector tongue16bbackward to open connector16and thus free connector16from link15. Once connector16is released from loop15one can quickly attach the connector to an object that is to be retrieved. One can then use cord19to retrieve the object. One example of a connector with a connector that has a hook that can be quickly detached from the loop15is shown inFIG. 4Aand another example, which is shown inFIG. 4B, is a carabineer27having a hook end27aand a spring latch27bthat can be depressed to allow the carabineer to be quickly connected to or disconnected to link15.

FIG. 4Cis a side view of the slip band17and a snap hook loop33aextending through an opening in the slip band. Fastener21, which has a low profile head, and fastener20, which has a low profile head, extend through the slip band17and tongue18bwith fastener21having a low profile retainer end21aand fastener20also having a low profile retainer end20b. In this example snap hook loop33aon snap connector33is shown extending through an elongated opening in slip ring17.

When the rescue device10is in a stored or throwing condition connector16rests within chamber25on the outer peripheral portion of the rescue ring11as illustrated inFIG. 2AandFIG. 3A. As the rescue ring11is thrown slip band17rotates within the rescue ring11thereby releasing cord19from within the cord chamber25. Since the slip band17is free to rotate within the rescue ring11the rotation of the slip band17within the chamber25becomes independent of the rotation of the rescue ring11thus allowing the cord19to spin freely out of the rescue ring as the rescue ring travels to a person in distress.

FIG. 5is an isolated top view of another type of connector that can be pivoted in our out of annular chamber25. Connector30comprises a flexible cable connector30with a loop32having an opening34for attachment to a hand detachable connector connected to a retrieval cord. End31of flexible cable connector30is attached to slip band17with a fastener36such as a bolt or screw although other methods may be used to hold end31proximate slip band17. The loop32on the opposite end of flexible cable connector30is positioned so that eye34of loop32is in alignment with opening17cin slip band17.

FIG. 5Ais a partial side view of the end of the flexible cable connector30ofFIG. 5located in a peripheral chamber25with the flexible cable connector in an abutting relationship with slip band17with a cable connector loop32in engagement with a hook end of a hand attachable or hand detachable connector35. Note, Connector35, which is sufficiently large to facilitate connection to another object, has a portion of a hook end35aconnector35extending through opening17cin slip band17and into guide chamber26similar to the embodiment shown inFIG. 3A.FIG. 5AandFIG. 5bshows that During the throwing of annular ring11slip band17rotates within chamber25as annular surface17aof slip band17slides on annular surface25dof annular ring11.

FIG. 5Bis a partial side view of the flexible cable connector39with a cable connector loop36of flexible cable connector30in engagement with a hook end35aof hand attachable or hand detachable connector35. A pivotal link35bon connector39can be opened or closed for attachment or detachment of connector35to cable connector39. In the example shown inFIG. 5Bthe cable connector loop32of the flexible cable connector30has been flexed radially outward to bring loop32outside of chamber25to thereby facilitate attachment or detachment of connector35thereto.

FIG. 6shows an example of a rotateable reel45for use in a rescue device. In this example a rotateable reel45is rotationally mounted on a circular central member40, which is part of a rescue device. Central member40has an outer cylindrical bearing surface40afor rotatably supporting reel45thereon. Reel45includes an annular guide chamber47for a portion of a pivotable link48to extend therein to reduce the profile of the hook48and an annular outer chamber49for winding cord56therein. In this example link48is supported by a strap45bthat is secured to rotateable reel45through screw fasteners49aand49b. Rotatable reel45has an opening45cfor a link48that is pivotally attached to reel45through strap45bto allow link48to be pivot out of the chamber49to enable one to quickly release connector55and rope56from link48.

FIG. 6Ais a sectional view of a reel45taken along lines x-x ofFIG. 6showing the outer annular chamber49for winding a cord therein and guide chamber47rotationally mounting within a rescue ring;

FIG. 6Bis a sectional view taken along lines y-y ofFIG. 6showing the outer annular chamber49and the opening45ctherein for extension of loop48therein:

FIG. 7is a top view of a frisbee shaped rescue device50with a cord51attached thereto andFIG. 7Ais a side view of the frisbee shaped rescue device ofFIG. 7showing a rotateable slip band50csupporting a pivotal link58. A snap connector49is shown attached to pivotal link58so that the snap connector49can be quickly released when the link58is pivoted to a condition to bring the attachment point of the link58outside of the rescue device50to allow for quick release of snap connector59from link58.

While the invention is shown in relation to a slip band in a rescue device the use of a loop or flexible cable may be used with rescue devices without slip bands. In such a device an annular cord chamber, where it is difficult to retrieve the connector from may include a loop or cable to pivot out of the annular cord chamber for attachment or detachment of a connector thereto. In such cases one can lower the profile of the loop or flexible cable in the rescue device by forming a recess in the rescue ring where the connector can rest during the winding and unwinding of the cord attached thereto.