Abstract:
A throwable rotateable rescue device with a retrieval cord and a set of peripheral handles that are retained within the rescue ring during storage and throwing of the rescue ring but are automatically extendable to a grasping position without interfering with the rescue device retrieval cord during the flight of the rescue ring thereby enabling a person in distress to easily and quickly grasp the handles and be pulled to safety through the retrieval cord.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of provisional application Ser. No. 64/124,663 filed Dec. 29, 2014. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     None 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to rescue devices and, more specifically, to improvements to aerodynamically shaped rescue rings that increases the versatility and capacity of the rescue rings. Examples of lightweight rescue rings, which have an aerodynamic shape, can be found in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,562,512; 8,216,014 and 8,708,762. My aerodynamic rescue rings have an excellent throwing range and are ideally suited for water rescue since the rescue rings are buoyant and can be hand thrown by an inexperienced person. Typically, a cord, which is secured to the rescue ring, unwinds from a cord reel located in the rescue ring as the rescue ring is thrown to a person in distress. The other end of the cord, which is retained by the thrower or is affixed to a structure, allows the thrower to retrieve the rescue ring by pulling on the cord. Consequently, when the rescue ring reaches its destination a person in distress grasps the rescue ring and is pulled to safety by the cord, which is attached to the 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 pull larger or various types of loads the rescue ring may not have sufficient structural and tensional integrity since the rescue rings are generally made of lightweight materials so that they can be thrown long distances. In other cases it simply may be inconvenient to attach the rescue ring to an object. In such cases the rescue ring can be used to retrieve a stronger rope, which can then be used to pull the larger load toward the dock or the boat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A throwable, rotateable rescue device having a cord wound thereon with the rescue device comprising an annular member having an upper outer peripheral surface having an airfoil shape and an inner upper peripheral surface having an airfoil shape, with the upper outer peripheral surface forming a leading edge of the annular member and the inner upper peripheral surface forming a trailing edge of the annular member as the rescue ring is thrown to a person in distress. The rescue ring includes a set of retractable peripheral handles, which are normally statically stored in a recess in the outer periphery of the rescue ring to provide out of the way handle storage. When the rescue ring is thrown to a person in distress the handles, which are stored within the rescue ring, are automatically extended radially outward by the centrifugal force produced by rotation of the rescue ring without interfering with either the cord attached to the rescue ring or the flight of the rescue ring. 
     A further feature of the handle storage within the rescue ring is that multiple rescue rings can be compactly stored in a ready to use condition without the concern that the handles may catch or snag on an article either during the removal of the rescue ring from its storage container or the throwing of the rescue ring to a person in distress. Consequently, one can maintain a stack of multiple rescue rings in a ready to use condition so a person can quickly grasp and one by one toss rescue rings to a person or persons in distress. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a rescue ring with handles stored within the rescue ring; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view the rescue ring of  FIG. 1  with the handles in an extended condition; 
         FIG. 3  is side view of a rescue ring of  FIG. 1  with the handles in an extended and relaxed condition after the rescue ring has been thrown to a person in distress; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a rescue ring in flight showing the handles extending radially outward from the rescue ring; 
         FIG. 5  is a top front view of the rescue ring of  FIG. 4  showing the handles extending radially outward during the flight of the rescue ring; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a storage container containing multiple rescue rings; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a rescue ring with a slip ring an external retrieval line; 
         FIG. 8  is a top isolated view of a rigid slip ring for the rescue ring of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the rescue ring of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a top isolated view of an alternate embodiment of a slip ring for use in the rescue ring of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a rescue device  10  in a ready to throw condition and  FIG. 2  is top view of a rescue device  10  after it has been thrown. Typically, rescue device  10  comprises a rescue ring  11  made from a lightweight material that floats if the rescue ring lands on water, however, the rescue ring requires sufficient mass so that the momentum imparted to the rescue ring through hand throwing is sufficient to deliver the rescue ring to its destination. The rescue ring  11  may be molded from a polymer plastic with the material having sufficient tensional strength so that pulling on the cord  19 , which is attached to the rescue ring, brings a person holding on to the rescue ring to the thrower. Examples of rescue rings can be found in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,562,512; 8,216,014 and 8,708,762, which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIG. 1  shows rescue device  10  comprises a rescue ring  11  connected to one end of a cord  19  that is wound within a peripheral recess  25  in rescue ring  11 .  FIG. 2  shows a set of tuckable rope handles or grab loops  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  with  FIG. 1  showing rope handles  20  and  21  are tucked into an annular recess  14  on the front side of the rescue ring  11 . Similarly, although not shown, rope handles  22  and  23  are tucked into the annular recess on the backside of rescue ring  11 .  FIG. 1  shows the coil  20   a  and coil  21   a  formed in the rope handles to frictionally hold the handles within a profile in the rescue ring during the storage and handling phase to prevent the handles from snagging on articles. In this example soft or flexible rope is used. Typically, suitable soft or flexible ropes that can be coiled can be used as tuckable handles and can be made from woven polypropylene or the like since the woven rope is soft and can be formed in a coil on itself. On the other hand if one wants the handles to remain outside the rescue ring during the throwing process a non-woven rope, which is stiffer and usually not tuckable, may be used. 
     To use rescue ring  11  a person grasps and throws the rescue ring  11  by imparting a rotational motion to the rescue ring  11  which causes the rescue ring  11  to rotate about its central axis  9 . As the rescue ring travels outward toward a person in distress the cord  19  unwinds from the rescue ring at the same time the handles  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  are ejected from the annular recess  14  in the rescue ring. Once the rescue ring  11  lands in the water by a person or persons in distress they can grasp and hold onto the extended handles  20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23  ( FIG. 2 ) as the thrower pulls the rescue ring  11  and persons clinging to the rescue ring to safety by pulling on cord  19 . In this example the rescue ring includes a first set of handles  20  and  22  that are diametrically opposite to each other and a second set of handles  21  and  23  that are diametrically opposite to each other, preferably to ensure a dynamic balance of the rescue ring as it rotates on its flight to a person or persons in distress. Prior to throwing all the handles  20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23  are in a storage or prethrowing condition.  FIG. 2  shows the handles  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  in the extended condition after the rescue ring has been thrown to a person in distress. In the condition shown in  FIG. 2  a person or persons can grab onto the rope handles and be pulled to safety through cord  19 , which is attached to rescue ring  11 . 
     In this example the set of handles  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  are located in a top annular slot  14  having a top annular surface  12  and a lower annular surface  13  having a width D 1 . The handles  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  have a diameter indicated by D 2  with the handle diameter D 2  being sufficiently larger than cord width D 1  so as to freely fit within slot  14  when the cords are straight. Although the handles can freely fit within the slot  14  it is desired to store the handles in an out of the way condition within the annular recess  14 . The storage of the handles in an out of the way condition makes it convenient to store a plurality of rescue rings in a ready to use condition as well as throw the rescue ring. On the other hand it is desirable that the handles protrude from the rescue ring when the rescue ring arrives at the person or persons in distress so the person or persons can quickly grasp the handles and be pulled to safety. A further feature of annular surface  12  is that it may also be used for a finger-grasping surface when the rescue ring is thrown. 
     The rescue ring shown in  FIG. 1  retains the handles  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  within the slot  14  during storage and launching of the rescue ring but allows for radially extending the handles outward from the rescue ring  11  as the rescue ring is thrown to a person or persons in distress. A feature of the invention is a frictional retention of the rope handles or grab loops in the rescue ring during storage and the use of centrifugal force to automatically extend the rope handles without interfering with the retaining cord as the rescue ring is thrown to a person in distress. In the example shown one twists of a portion of each of the handles  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  into a coil, which increases the profile of the handle. One then tucks the coil into the annular slot  14  with the top and lower portion of the coil forming frictional engagement with the upper annular sidewall  12  and the lower annular sidewall  13 , which frictionally retains the handle within slot  14  until the rescue ring is thrown to a person in distress. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 1  flexible rope handles, which have one end secured to the rescue ring, are used but other types of handles may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  FIG. 1  shows a first coil  20   a  in handle  20 , which is formed by twisting, handle  20   a  and a second coil  21   a  in handle  21  formed by twisting the handle  21 . Next one tucks the handle  20  and coil  20   a  into the annular slot  14  and tucks the handle  21  and coil  21   a  into the annular slot  14 . The length of the handles are such that handles will fit within a recess or pocket in the rescue ring. In this example, the coil  20   a  engages both the upper annular sidewall  12  and the lower annular sidewall  13  to frictionally hold the handle  20  within the annular recess  14  during the normal handling and storage of rescue device  10 . Similarly, the coil  21   a  on handle  21  engages both the upper annular sidewall  12  and the lower annular sidewall  13  to frictionally hold the handle  21  within the annular recess  14  during the normal handling and storage of rescue device  10 . Handles  22  and  23  are similarly frictionally held within annular slot  14  through frictional forces between the handles and the upper annular surface  12  and the lower annular surface  13 . Preferably the handles are fitted completely inside the annular recess  14  or sufficiently within the recess so as not to catch or snag during the handling or throwing of the rescue ring. A feature of the invention is that the formation of a coil in the handle not only enables one to frictional hold the handle in the rescue ring it also shortens the handle so the handle can be tucked within the outer pocket or recess in the rescue ring. 
     Through engaging both the upper annular sidewall  12  and the lower annular sidewall  13  one can frictionally hold the rope handles  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  within the annular recess  14  during the normal handling and storage of rescue device  10 . One method of securing the handles within the rescue ring is through selection of the width D 1  of the recess to be slightly less than twice the diameter D 2  of the diameter of the rope handles so that one can twist the rope handle on itself to form a coil or loop  20   a  on the rope handle, which increases the top to bottom dimension of the rope at the coil. One can then tuck the coil  20   a  within the annular recess  14  causing the frictional forces on the top and bottom of the coil  20   a  to hold the rope handle in the rescue ring. Similarly, the frictional forces on the top and bottom of the coil  21   a  hold the rope handle  21  in the annular recess  14 . Although not shown the rope handles  23  and  24  are similarly frictionally held in annular recess  14  through frictional forces on a coil formed in rope handles  23  and  24 . The frictional force exerted on a coil in a rope handle should be sufficiently great such that the weight of the rope handle does not cause the rope handle to fall out of the recess  14  if the rescue ring is held in a vertical orientation. On the other hand the frictional force on the coils should be sufficiently weak so that the centrifugal force on the rope handles, which is generated by the rotation of the thrown rescue ring  11 , is sufficient to radially expel the handles from the annular recess  14  in the rescue ring  11 . In this example the top annular surface  12  and the lower annular surface  13  are planar surfaces so that any portion of the annular surfaces can be used to frictionally hold the handles within the rescue ring. Although the formation of coils on the rope handles are used to frictional hold the handles within the rescue ring other methods of holding the handles within the rescue ring and the in flight release of the handles may be used without departing from the sprit and scope of the invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  rescue ring  11  comprises an annular member having an upper outer peripheral top surface  11   c  having an airfoil shape and an inner upper peripheral surface  11   d  having an airfoil shape, with the upper outer peripheral surface forming a leading edge of the annular member and the inner upper peripheral surface forming a trailing edge of the annular member. A lower annular bottom surface  11   e  comprises a plane surface, however, other shapes may be used as shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In the example shown a thumb grip  11   b , which may be a slight dimple, enables a user grasp the top of ring  11  with his or her thumb while the users fingers can grasp the lower surface  11   e . The rescue ring is thrown like a Frisbee, which enable the user to impart rotational momentum to the rescue ring as the rescue ring is thrown to a person or persons in distress. 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of rescue ring  10  after arriving at a person in distress. In this condition the cord  19  extends back to the thrower and the handles  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  are extended radially outward for grasping by the person in distress. In this example each of the handles have a pair of ends that are secured to the rescue ring by extension of the handles through opening in the rescue ring as shown by radial openings  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d    30   e ,  30   f ,  30   g  and  30   h .  FIG. 3  shows a side view of the rescue ring after the rescue ring lands by a person in distress. Note, the rope handles  20  and  21  as well as handles  23  and  24  (not shown) hang downward from the rescue ring  10  for ease in grasping by a person in distress.  FIG. 3  shows rope handles  20  and  21  extending over the annular recess  25  where the cord  19  is normally stored. In this example one end of cord  19  attaches to a slip ring  19   a , which rotates on cylindrical bearing surface  11   f . If the rope handles extend over the recess  25  during flight the retrieval cord  19  it can cause interference with the throwing and flight of the rescue ring. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the annular recess  14  for the rope handles  42  and  45  as well as diametrically opposite handles thereto (not shown) are positioned axially above the annular recess  52  for the cord  43 . This feature allows one to utilize the centrifugal forces on the handles and the gravitational forces on retrieval cord  43  to prevent entanglement or interference of the handles with the retrieval cord as the cord  43  unwinds from the rescue ring  40  during the flight of the rescue ring to a person in distress. That is, in the flight condition the annular recess  49  is located along axis  29  but vertically above the annular recess  52  that contains the retrieval cord  43 . When the rescue ring  10  is thrown the user imparts a rotational motion to the rescue ring, which generates sufficient centrifugal force to throw the handles radially outward from the slot  14 . In addition to the handles being thrown out of the recess the centrifugal force on the handles generated by the continued rotation of the rescue ring causes the handles to extend in the a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis  29 . In this example the annular slot  52  is located below the annular slot  51  for the handles. In this condition the rotating handles, which extend from annular slot  52 , do not interfere with the retaining cord  43  unwinding from annular slot  25  on the lower part of the rescue ring  40 . That is, the cord  43  unwinds from the rescue ring as it travels to the person in distress and at the same time the cord  43  falls downward due to the gravitational force on the cord thus keeping the cord  43  out of the plane of the rotating handles. In this example the handles for the rescue ring  40  are located above or on topside of the rescue ring and are automatically extended radially outward due to the centrifugal force on the handles, which holds the handles in a plane normal to the axis  29  and above the plane of the annular recess  25 , which prevents the rotating handles from interfering with cord  43  that extends downward from the rescue ring to the thrower. 
       FIG. 4  shows rescue ring  40  with the handles  42 ,  44 ,  45  and  46  in an extended condition due to centrifugal forces acting on the handles as the rescue ring  40  rotates about central axis  29 . In this example instead having an annular slot for holding the rope handles each of the handles contains a pocket for storage of a handle. That is handle  42  includes a pocket  51 , handle  40  includes a pocket  50 , handle  45  includes a pocket  49  and handle  44  includes a pocket  48 . In this example an endless rope  39  extends through internal slots  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c  and  40   d . In this example the pockets  48 ,  49   50  and  51  located in the rim of the rescue ring can be used to store and retain the handles similarly to the annular slot in the rescue ring of  FIG. 1 . Handles  42 ,  44 ,  45  and  46  can also be twisted into a coil and frictionally secured between the upper and lower surfaces in their respective pockets  48 ,  49 ,  50  and  51  so that centrifugal forces extends the handles during rotational flight of the rescue ring  40 . To aid in imparting rotation to the rescue ring  40  there is included a thumb recess  38  for grasping the top of the rescue ring while the finders grasp the underside  39   a  ( FIG. 5 ). 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of rescue ring  40  in a flight condition. The handles  42 ,  44 ,  45  and  46  (not shown) extend radially outward in a plane  28  and the slip ring  27 , which is attached to cord  43  is located in a plane  26  which is axially below the plane  28  of the handles. Note, cord  43  extends downward due to gravitational forces so that cord  43  is free to unwind from the rescue ring  40  without interfering with the centrifugally extended handles since the handles are located in the plane  28  above the plane  26  of the rescue cord  43 , which trails the rescue ring and sags downward due to gravitational forces. Although my rescue ring is shown with a retrieval cord mounted on the rescue ring if desired the rescue ring may be used without a retrieval cord. In this instance the flotation of the rescue ring can support a person until aid arrives. 
     In the example shown four rope handles are provided with each of the rope handles located diametrically opposite from another rope handle in order to maintain a dynamic balance of the rotating ring. More or less handles may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also while flexible rope handles are shown in other example one may use semi-rigid handles or rigid handles, which are held in a plane above the retrieval line by centrifugal force without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows a horizontal rescue ring storage station  60  holding rescue rings  65 ,  66 ,  67 ,  68 ,  69 ,  70 ,  71 , and  72  with the rings stacked on top of each other in a cylindrical container  81  having a hinged top lid  62  and a front access port  61  that reveals the rescue ring contents of the storage station. In this example a pin  62   a , which contains an alarm, extends through the top lid  62  to maintain the lid  62  in a closed condition. When pin  62   a  is removed the alarm sounds to alert persons that the rescue rings have been accessed. In other examples the pin  62   a  may include a wired or wireless transmitter that transmits to the bridge or pilot of the boat to alert the captain that the storage container  62  for rescue rings has been breached and that there are persons overboard, which allows the captain to immediately cut power and take whatever maneuver is necessary. 
     While each of the rescue rings are in a stored condition the rescue rings are also in a “ready to throw” condition so that crew or passengers can quickly throw the rescue ring to persons in distress. For example, rescue ring  72  includes a handle  72   a  that is stored within an annular recess  75 . Handle  72   a  contains a coil  72   b  formed therein to frictional retain the rope handle  72   a  within annular recess  75  during the removal of the rescue ring from the station  60  and the normal handling of rescue ring  72   a .  FIG. 6  shows a bottom side one of the rescue rings is supported by a topside of an adjacent rescue ring, which is located beneath it. As illustrated station  60  maintains the rescue rings  65 ,  66 ,  67 ,  68 ,  69 ,  70 ,  71 , and  72  in an orderly condition so one can open lid  62 , grasp the top rescue ring  72  and immediately throw it to a person in distress. If desired one may store the rescue rings in a vertical condition so the rings are ready for use and can be quickly grabbed for throwing. If there are multiple persons in distress one merely grasps the next rescue ring and tosses it to other persons in distress. Since each of the rescue rings are stored in a “ready to throw” condition an operator can quickly deliver a number of rescue rings to persons in distress. In order to increase the storage capacity the rescue rings may contain a lower section of closed cell foam that allows one to compress the rescue rings when they are stacked in a bin next to each other. Upon removal of a rescue ring the closed cell foam expands to normal size for throwing. 
     Rescue rings of different diameter may be used for different applications and it is envisioned that a set of rescue rings may include four flotation rings, for example one rescue ring may have a 17″ diameter for assistive flotation of a single person, a medium size ring with a 20″ diameter for assistive flotation of two persons and a larger diameter rescue ring with a 24″ diameter for assistive flotation of three persons thus offering a rescuer the option to throw the appropriate flotation device to the person or persons on distress and a 30″ diameter ring for larger rescue operations. For example, if two persons are in distress the quickest rescue action may be throw the 20″ diameter rescue ring that can provide assistive flotation for two persons. Similarly, if more than two persons are in distress the larger 24″ diameter rescue ring can be thrown which provides assistive flotation for all the persons in distress until more rescue rings can be thrown to the persons in distress. 
     My aerodynamic rescue rings may be made in a variety of sizes with various features for different size rescue rings.  FIG. 7  shows a large rescue ring  80 , which may typically have a diameter of 30 inches or above. In a large ring the winding of the rescue rope on the rescue ring can increase the weight of the rescue ring to a point where it may difficult for a person to throw the rescue ring. I reduce the force necessary to throw the large rescue ring  80  by maintaining the rope  89  in a hand held coil  90  outside of the rescue ring rather than storing the rope  89  on the rescue ring. The coil  90  is held by a person  91  who throws the rescue ring. In this example the retrieval rope  90  does not have to be thrown but is unwound from the coil as the rescue ring pulls the rope from the persons hand during the flight the flight toward a person in peril, which makes it easier to throw the larger rescue ring or to retrieve the rescue ring and rethrow the rescue ring in the event the first toss did not arrive at the proper site. If desired a low friction material can be used in the rescue ring to enable the free rotation of the slip ring in the rescue ring. 
     The example of  FIG. 7  shows the rescue ring  80  includes a set of four handles  81 ,  82 ,  83  and a fourth handle located on the opposite side of the rescue ring  80 . The handles are tucked in the slot  84  and are extendable outward through centrifugal force. A lower annular slot  85 , having a diameter D 2  includes a slip ring  86 , which is shown in section. The slip ring  86  is shown in isolated view in  FIG. 8  and comprise a circular hoop having an inside diameter D 1  which is slightly greater than the diameter D 2  so that the rescue ring  80  is free to rotate about the slip ring  86  as the rescue ring is tossed to a person in distress. The freedom of the rescue ring  80  to rotate independent of the slip ring  86  allows one to rotationally throw the rescue ring  80  to obtain the benefit of the aerodynamic shape of the rescue ring. The positioning of the slip ring  85  and the annular slip ring slot  85  below the slot  84  for the handles ensures that the rope handles and the retrieval rope  89  do not interfere with each other during the flight of the rescue ring. That is, during flight the rescue ring  80  rotates with respect to the slip ring  86 , which maintains its orientation as it pulls rope  89  from the rope coils  90  held by person  91 . Thus, in the embodiment of  FIG. 8  the rescue ring  80  pulls the retrieval rope  89  through the air, which takes less energy than throwing the entire weight of the rescue ring and unwinding the rope from the rescue ring  80  as the rescue ring travels to a person in distress. Consequently, with this embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  one can maintain a longer throwing range. In addition this feature allows one to quickly retrieve and throw the rescue ring if the rescue ring does not arrive at the person in distress. A further feature is that the design allows for left handed or right handed throwing with equal effectiveness. In the example shown in  FIG. 7  there is included an annular recess  84  for the handles, however, in other embodiments the annular recess may be omitted, particularly if the handles are rigid and extend outward from the rescue ring. 
       FIG. 8  shows the slip ring  86  includes a connecting link  87  which may include a turnbuckle that has threads on one end  87   b  that can screw into a first set of threads on first end of slip ring  86  and a second set of threads  87   a  on a second end of the slip ring to hold the slip ring. The turnbuckle  87  allows one to connect threaded ends of the slip ring  86  to each other to form a ring that can be maintained in the annular slot  85  on rescue ring  80 . That is, once in place the turnbuckle  87  can be secured to the threaded ends of the slip ring  86  allowing one to mount the slip ring  86  within the annular slot  85 . 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of rescue ring  80  showing the retrieval rope  89  extending from the turnbuckle  87 , which holds the ends of the slip ring to each other. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of rescue ring  80  taken along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9  revealing a finger pocket  80   a  located on inside face of the rescue ring  80 . The finger pocket  80   a  is sufficiently wide so that it allows one to insert his or her fingers into the pocket  80   a , which increases the throwers grip, a feature beneficial on large rescue ring, which are usually thrown with an underarm motion as opposed to the Frisbee like throwing motion of the smaller rescue rings. 
       FIG. 11  is a top isolated view of an alternate embodiment of a slip ring  92  for use in the rescue ring of  FIG. 7 . Slip ring  92  includes a first end  93  and a second end  94  that extend perpendicularly outward from the ring  92  and are integral to the slip ring  92 . A clamp  95  extends across the two projecting ends  93  and  94  and is secured in a clamping condition to the ends  93  and  94  through a bolt  97  and a bolt  98  that extends through the clamp  95 . A hole  96  in the clamp  95  allows one to fasten the retrieval rope thereto. This embodiment allows one to fasten the slip ring into an annular slot in the rescue ring after the annular slot in the rescue ring has been formed.