Abstract:
A reel-less line retriever suitable for rescue work provides open housing and guides such as may receive a flexible line along its length without threading through the guides and housing to be positioned between a pair of engaging wheels. The wheels are compressed about the line by a trigger mechanism and activated by a crank so as to discharge the line loosely into a following bucket or other suitable container. A handle may be held by an operator allowing the device to be supported in one hand with control of the trigger with one finger of that hand while the other hand is used to activate the crank. The line may be fully removed from the device and the device from the container for storage or ready access to the line.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional applications Ser. No. 60/407,642 filed Sep. 3, 2002 and Ser. No. 60/351,022 filed Jan. 23, 2002. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices for retrieving flexible lines and, in particular, to a device which collects a retrieved line in loose coils for later rapid deployment in rescue or tree trimming operations. 
     In tree trimming, it is often necessary to pull a climbing rope over a tree limb and in rescue operations, it may be necessary to project a line to a distant point or over an obstacle. A large slingshot has been developed for these purposes and may shoot a bag, filled with lead shot and attached to a small diameter line, several hundred feet. The line, before being deployed, is held loosely coiled in a container such as a net bag. Because the line is collected in loose coils, as opposed to being wound on a spool, the need to abruptly accelerate the mass of the spool and the entirety of the wound line is avoided, increasing the distance that the bag with lead shot may be shot. 
     In between shots, the line must be retracted and stored again in loose coil form in the bag. In order to promote the desired loose coiling, the line is preferably stuffed into the bag by hand. This is a burdensome operation and, particularly for rescue operations, may be unacceptably time consuming. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus for quickly retrieving line and loosely coiling it into a container. The line may be inserted at any point along its length between a pair of wheels of the retrieving apparatus. The wheels grip the line and turn to discharge the line into an attached container. The line may be fully removed from the retrieving apparatus before being shot out eliminating drag against the wheels. 
     Specifically, the invention provides a line retriever for gathering a flexible line. The line retriever has at least one wheel rotatable about a transverse axis and a biasing means urging the wheel perpendicular to the transverse axis, toward an opposed surface, to capture the flexible line between the wheel and the opposed surface. A crank is connected to the wheel to rotate the same and a housing supports the wheel and the opposed surface and is open on one side to allow transverse insertion of the line between the wheel and opposed surface, and removal of the line between the wheel and opposed surface. A handle is attached to the housing to be grasped by the operator in one hand while allowing operation of the crank with the operator&#39;s other hand. 
     It is thus one object of the invention to provide a method of rapidly retrieving a line without the use of a spool or other winding form. The invention may thus be useful in applications like in tree trimming, rescue, or the like, where lines must projected over a distance. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a simple line retriever, which may be completely removed from the line before projection of the line for improved projection distance. 
     The biasing means may be a trigger operable by the operator&#39;s finger of the hand holding the handle. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a biasing means that may be precisely controlled by the operator and which will provide tactile feedback to the operator of knots, obstructions, or other jamming material that might be brought along with the line. It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus that may be operated in the field by a single individual. 
     The opposed surface may be a second wheel rotatable about a transverse axis. 
     Thus, it is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism that reduces abrasion or wear on the line during the retrieval process. 
     The line retriever may include a collection container support attached to the handle to hold a container to receive the flexible line discharged from the wheel. 
     Thus it is another object of the invention to control the location of the collection container with respect to the wheel such as promotes the desired loose coiling. 
     The handle, as grasped by the operator, may attach at its upper end to the housing and at its lower end to a collection container support. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an improved balance for the retrieval device so that the line falls into a container at the bottom of the handle stabilizing the device in upright configuration. 
     The collection container support may be a spring clip engaging the rim of a bucket. 
     It is thus another object of the invention to allow removal of the collection container so as to provide unencumbered use of the line. 
     The spring clip may include outer teeth engaging a bucket ridge and an inner spring finger pressing a wall of the bucket outward against the teeth. 
     It is thus another object of the invention to provide a container holder that works with a variety of standard bucket sizes. 
     The collection container support may be a C-shaped hoop compressible to fit within a cloth bag. 
     Thus, it is another object of the invention to allow the present device to work with a nonrigid container such as may be conveniently stowed. 
     The device may include front and rear guides releasably holding the flexible line as it enters and exits from the wheel engagement. 
     Thus, it is another object of the invention to provide for improved management of the line to promote a kinkless and tangle free coiling of the line. 
     The device may include a shutter finger closing the open side of the housing when the wheel is engaged with the opposing surface. 
     It is thus another object of the invention to allow free access of the line for insertion and removal at any time from the device, but to prevent inadvertent escape of the line during retrieval. 
     These particular objects and advantages may apply to only some embodiments falling within the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a small, perspective view of the line retractor of the present invention as attached to a bucket during retrieval of a line; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the line retractor of FIG. 1 with the housing in partial cutaway showing engagement of retractor wheels with the line when a trigger is pulled by an operator holding the retractor handle; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the bucket of FIG. 1 showing an engagement of container support on a lower portion of the handle with a rim of the bucket to hold the bucket to the lower portion of the handle; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the line retractor of the present invention as attached to a bucket showing alignment of a rear guide of the line retractor with the bucket for loose coiling of the line within the bucket; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the container support comprising a spring hoop fitting within the upper seam of a cloth bag shown in partial fragmentary view; and 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the container support of FIG. 5 without the bag and with the spring hoop in a relaxed state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a reel-less line retractor  10  of the present invention attaches to a standard plastic bucket  12  or other container by means of a container support  14  supported by a lower end of a handle  16  held by the operator. A line  18  to be retrieved is inserted into the line retractor  10  and then, by operation of a crank arm  46 , drawn through the line retractor  10  to be discharged into the bucket  12  where the line  18  coils loosely. The weight of the line and of the bucket  12  at the lower end of the handle  16  provides stability and balance to the line retractor  10 . 
     After being retracted, the remainder of the line  18  may be removed from the line retractor  10  and the line retractor  10  removed from the bucket  12 . This allows storage of the line retractor and/or unimpeded access to the line  18  when the line  18  is being projected. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a front end of the line  18  may be attached to a lead-shot filled bag  20  or the like to provide a weight that may be thrown by a sling shot or other device to pull the line  18  along with it. The line  18  may be, for example, a standard nylon braided cord having a flattened cross section, for example, sold by Sherrill Arborist Supply of Greensboro, N.C. 
     As described above, the process of retracting the line  18  begins with the insertion of a length of the line  18  into the line retractor  10  which involve inserting the line into a front guide  22 , a housing  24  of the line retractor  10 , and a rear guide  26  from which it is expelled into the bucket  12 . 
     The front guide  22  is formed from a rod attached at a loop  23  in its proximal end to a front edge of the housing  24 . The loop  23  allows the front guide  22  to pivot in a vertical plane for accepting the line  18  from a variety of different angles without extreme angulation of the housing  24 . It also pivots over the housing for storage. 
     A distal end of the front guide  22  is formed in a pigtail  28  being a loose helical spiral wrapping about the line  18  to guide it toward the housing  24 . The spiral of the pigtail  28  eliminates the need to thread one end of the line  18  through the pigtail  28  (and thus to have access to a free end of the line  18 ) but allows a length of the line  18  to be wound along the helix of the pigtail  28  until it is fully surrounded by the pigtail  28 . Thus the line  18  may be inserted into the front guide  22  after the lead-shot filled bag  20  has been thrown and with the other end of the line  18  remaining in the bucket  12  and possibly tied thereto. 
     A slot  32  is formed in the right side of the housing  24  allowing the line  18  to be inserted into the housing  24  along a transverse direction (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2) at any point along the length of the line. Within the housing  24 , the line  18  is received between a drive wheel  34  and idler wheel  36  as will be described. 
     The line  18  may exit a rearward edge of the housing  24  and be received by the rear guide  26 . The rear guide  26  is generally a rectangular tube having, like the housing  24 , a slot  38  formed in the right side allowing transverse removal or insertion of the line  18  into the rear guide  26 . In the preferred embodiment, the rear guide  26  is formed of a transparent plastic so as to allow visual inspection of the line  18 . 
     Rear guide  26  is attached to the housing  24  so as to extend downwardly at approximately 45° to discharge the line  18  approximately in the center of the bucket  12  as shown in FIG. 4 when the bucket  12  is attached to the container support  14 . Line  18  thus discharged, coils loosely in the bottom of the bucket  12  allowing rapid removal of the line  18  at a later time without tangling or kinking. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the drive wheel  34  and the idler wheel  36  are supported within the housing  24  to turn about transverse axes  40  in coplanar opposition. Initially, the circumferences of the drive wheel  34  and the idler wheel  36  are separated so that the line  18  may fit between the drive wheel  34  and the idler wheel  36  when line  18  is placed through the slot  32  within the housing  24 . The axle of the drive wheel  34  is fixed with respect to the housing  24  and attached on its right end to a spur gear  42 . The spur gear  42  engages a drive gear  44  attached to a crank arm  46 . Rotation of the crank arm  46 , accessible on the right side of the housing  24 , turns the drive wheel  34  within the housing  24 . Drive gear  44  is larger than spur gear  42  to provide approximately 3:1 increase in rotational speed. 
     The idler wheel  36  is not attached directly to the housing  24  but instead attached to a rocker plate  48  that in turn pivots about a pivot point  50  with respect to the housing  24 . The rocker plate  48  attaches to a downwardly extending trigger  52  which with leftward motion  54  causes downward movement of the idler wheel  36  against the upper circumference of the drive wheel  34  to engage the line  18  once line  18  has been inserted in the housing  24  between the drive wheel  34  and idler wheel  36 . 
     Pressure on the line  18 , as gripped between the idler wheel  36  and drive wheel  34  is adjusted by pressure on the trigger  52  by a finger of the operator as will be described. A bias spring  56  extending between the housing  24  and the rocker plate  48  provides an opposing force on the rocker plate  48  disengaging the idler wheel  36  from the drive wheel  34  when pressure is removed from the trigger  52 . 
     This mechanism described above is adapted generally from a device used in the art of bow fishing in which fish are captured using a bow and arrow. This device is the subject of a separate U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,516 assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Referring still to FIG. 2, a shutter finger  58  is attached to the rocker plate  48 , for example, by winding a spring wire about the pivot point  50  and the axel of the idler wheel  36  so as to extend downward from an upper portion of the housing  24  past the slot  32  to abut an anvil  61  when the trigger  52  is pulled leftward  54 . The shutter finger  58  thus captures the line  18  within the housing  24  when the trigger  52  is engaged preventing the line  18  from jumping out of the slot  32 . Conversely when the trigger  52  is not depressed, and the rocker plate moves counter-clockwise under the urging of spring  56 , the shutter finger  58  moves to an upward position shown by  58 ′ above the slot  32  allowing retrieval or insertion of the line  18  freely through the slot  32 . The spring wire of which the shutter finger  58  is constructed may flex slightly when it engages the anvil  61  eliminating problems of tolerance stack up. 
     Attached at a rear edge of the housing  24  is a tubular handle  16  extending downward therefrom to be received within a cushioned grip  62  that may be grasped by the operator&#39;s left hand  64  with the operator&#39;s index finger received by the trigger  52  and the remaining fingers wrapped around the cushioned grip  62 . In this manner, the operator may easily support the line retractor  10  and operate the trigger  52  with one hand. The line  18  is kept free from the operator&#39;s hand by the rear wall of the rear guide  26 . With this holding of the line retractor  10 , the operator&#39;s right hand may operate the crank arm  46  whose clockwise rotation causes a counterclockwise rotation of the drive wheel  34  accelerating the line  18  rearward through the rear guide  26 . 
     A lower portion of the tubular handle  16 , after passing through the cushioned grip  62 , connects to a container support  14  such as may releasably grip the bucket  12 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the container support  14  attached to the lower end of the handle  16  may include a saddle  70  fitting over a rim  72  of the bucket  12 . An inner portion of the saddle  70  holds between itself and an inner wall of the bucket  12 , a leaf spring  74  having its upper end attached to an upper portion of the saddle  70  and a lower finger  76  pressing inward against the inner vertical wall of the bucket  12 . The outer portion of the saddle  70  provides at its lower end inwardly extending teeth  78  engaging the undersurface of a radially extending flange  80  on the bucket  12  providing a resistance against upward movement of the saddle  70  with respect to the bucket  12  when the saddle  70  is so engaged. 
     A rightward tipping of the handle indicated by arrow  82  compresses the spring  74  allowing disengagement of the teeth  78  so that an upward movement of the handle  16  will separate the container support  14  from the bucket  12 . In this way after the line  18  is retracted, the line  18  may be removed from the line retractor  10  and the line retractor  10  removed from the bucket  12  to eliminate interference between the line retractor  10  and the line  18  or for storage of the line retractor  10  as may be desired. To reinstall the bucket  12  to the container support  14 , the operation is simply reversed. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 in an alternative embodiment, a circular hoop  84  is mounted directly to the saddle  70  expanding in a plane that is generally horizontal and that may fit within an upper seam  86  of a cloth bag  88 . Referring to FIG. 6, the hoop  84  naturally expands to a greater radius than the radius  90  of the cloth bag  88  so as to be compressible to fit within the cloth bag  88  and to retain it. Again, the bag  88  may be removed from the line retractor  10  which may be disengaged from the line  18  after completion of the retrieval operation. 
     It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein. For example, the idler wheel  36  could be replaced with a stationary slip plate, the trigger could be replaced with a spring normally holding the drive wheel  34  and idler wheel  36  together to be separated only for insertion of the line  18 , or the device could be driven by an electric motor. Modified forms of the above embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments, may come within the scope of the following claims