Patent Description:
The invention generally relates to water rescue systems. More particularly, the invention relates to means and methods of creating portable lift system.

The known related art fails to anticipate or disclose the principles of the present invention.

In the related art, general lifts are known, but are dedicated units, affixed to a ship. The prior art lacks means or methods of creating a portable lift system that easily attaches and detaches from the deck of a ship.

<CIT> describes a man over board rescue system, comprising a main body, a davit, a winch, and a lift line attached to the winch, wherein the lift line is in contact with a distal end of the davit.

Thus, there is a need in the art for the present invention.

To this end, the present invention proposes a man over board rescue system according to claim <NUM>.

The present invention overcomes shortfalls in the related art by presenting an unobvious and unique combination and configuration of methods and components to quickly secure a specialized lift system to the deck of a vessel. Disclosed embodiments include a plurality of davit or boom sizes to comport with the relevant dimensions of the vessel. Disclosed embodiments include unique vessel attachment systems, davit gate systems and other unique components as further shown in the attached drawings and explained herein.

The invention overcomes shortfalls in the related art by the creating and use of a strap and loop system that quickly and efficiently places a rescue strap around a person overboard. The strap and loop system allows a rescue strap to be quickly secured around a loop and allows the loops to be quickly released, once the strap has been placed around the person overboard.

In general, disclosed embodiments may be quickly attached and detached from the deck of a vessel. In a ready state, the davit is secured in vertical position. When needed for a rescue, the davit is quickly lowered by use of a davit gate system. Once the davit is lowered, a hook and loop system allows a rescuer to quickly place the rescue strap around the person to be rescued. The artful combination of the quick release davit gate system and hook and loop system allow for a quick rescue without back strain to the rescuer. The rescuer may stay in a relatively upright standing position when securing the rescue strap around the victim and avoids any lifting by the deployment of the artful winch system integrated into the disclosed embodiments.

The disclosed davit assemblies overcome shortfalls in the related art by having means to be attached to a bitt of a ship in a quick manner. The disclosed davit assemblies may have adjustable feet to comport to different sized bitts. Side stabilizers stop side to side motion.

New efficiencies of operation are achieved by use of thrust bearings within the top and bottom spindle housings. A main body may be comprised of an aluminum channel of rectangular tubing. A worm gear is efficiently disposed near the inside of the main body. Thrust bearings are disposed on either side of a horizontal worm gear. A top winch plate is of a compact format to accommodate a winch.

In general, the disclosed embodiments may be described as follows:.

A main body or davit assembly may comprise aluminum tubing that acts as a central point of attachment for many of the related components. Rectangular tubing may be used to accommodate side torque loads. The tubing retains the upper and lower spindle housing mounted to the front, and the vertical spindle runs through the tubing. The bottom of the spindle is where the davit boom connects by a bolt and nylock nut.

The back of the body or davit assembly may hour four feet, two upper and two lower, that make contact with the bitt. The feed may have two adjustments for different sized diameter bitts. On the side of the base there are two positions for the upper strap. The upper strap may have a stainless steel latch clamp with a web adjuster welded to it, to obtain adjustment of a web strap and allow for a tight fit with lower center clamp, the system allowing for quick release by pulling the handle open.

There may be a void in the front of the main body for the worm drive to move if the body torques or twists too much.

These and other objects and advantages will be made apparent when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the claims and their equivalents. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout.

Unless otherwise noted in this specification or in the claims, all of the terms used in the specification and the claims will have the meanings normally ascribed to these terms by workers in the art.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising" and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of "including, but not limited to. " Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words "herein," "above," "below," and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps in a different order. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not only the systems described herein. The various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the detailed description, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

<FIG> depicts a disclosed embodiment <NUM> which comprise a main body <NUM> having a tension line <NUM> that supports a davit <NUM> to boom assembly with the davit moved laterally by use of a worm gear <NUM> (See <FIG>). While the davit may be moved laterally, a lift line <NUM> may be lowered or raised, with the lift line connected to a rescue strap or other system which may secure a person in the water in need of rescue.

A main body <NUM> is secured to a ship bitt by use of a latch or strap system <NUM>, the strap system comprises a plurality of straps <NUM> with the straps reaching around a bitt and the straps secured to the main body by a plurality of latch lamps <NUM> with the latch clamps having an over centered pivot point and or an over center lock position.

A boom or davit <NUM> comprises rotational means of supporting a lift line <NUM> and or ride upon or pivot about a davit sheave <NUM> or pivot wheel.

Referring to <FIG> a winch <NUM> pull or control a lift line <NUM>, with the winch attached to a rotating winch plate <NUM>. The use of the winch plate <NUM> and attached spindle <NUM> and the artful and secure manner of attachment of the main body to a bitt and the artful and secure manner of the spindle <NUM> disposed between two spindle blocks <NUM> and <NUM> overcome shortfalls in the related art by, inter alia, providing the only means in the market place for a winch to be rated or approved for the support and/or transport of a human being. In the related art, a winch without further means of safety or support, is not rated for the movement of a human being. The presently disclosed embodiments have achieved unexpectedly excellent results in obtaining approval from a winch manufacturer to allow or approve of said winches to be used with the disclosed embodiments for use in human transport or human support.

The safety of the disclosed embodiments is achieved, inter alia, by use of a rectangular main body <NUM>, the main body having four vertical members and the main body securing or secured to two an upper spindle block <NUM> and a lower spindle block <NUM> with a spindle <NUM> disposed between the two spindle blocks and with the spindle in rotational attachment within the two spindle blocks. The spindle is attached to a winch plate <NUM> and a spindle to boom connector <NUM> such that the lift line <NUM> and boom <NUM> move laterally in unison to increase product utility and safety. The spindle <NUM> is rotated by use of a worm gear <NUM> in geared attachment to a spindle gear <NUM> with the spindle gear having an inner circumference fixedly attached to spindle <NUM>. The worm gear is rotated by use of a handle <NUM>.

The efficacy and safety of the disclosed embodiments is also increased by the artful use of feet <NUM> with each foot defining a plurality of voids, the voids configured to retain one or more straps <NUM> with the straps being secured around a ship bitt and the straps further secured to the main body by the disclosed latch clamps <NUM>.

Added product utility and efficiency is also achieved by use of a plurality of back angles <NUM>, the back angles providing an needed offset between the main body <NUM> and a ship's bitt.

Referring to <FIG>, the disclosed embodiments overcome shortfalls in the related art by providing means and methods for an artfully placed and artfully shaped winch plate <NUM> such that the winch plate allows for horizontal or near horizontal rotation in unison with the boom and the winch plate enables a clutch support <NUM> to support a rope clutch <NUM> with the rope clutch being adjacent to the winch. The winch plate overcomes shortfalls in the art by keeping the winch near the rope clutch while keeping the lift line in the same plane as the boom or davit.

To further keep the lift line, winch and davit in the same plane, <FIG> depicts a spindle connector <NUM> attached to the spindle <NUM> with the spindle connector <NUM> having a boom or davit to spindle connector nut <NUM>.

<FIG> highlights the positioning of the two latch clamps <NUM> as well as the spindle system used to keep the davit and lift line aligned. The synchronized horizontal movement of the lift line and davit overcomes shortfalls in the art as the lift line can be moved horizontally by mechanical means, allowing a rescuer to stay on board the ship and out of the water.

<FIG> depicts feet <NUM> used to keep the main body from twisting or otherwise coming out of position due to the forces exerted upon the davit and/or lift line.

<FIG> depicts the artful position of the winch plate <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts geared relationship between the worm gear <NUM> and the spindle gear <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an altered angle from <FIG>.

<FIG> depicts an exploded view of a main body. The lift line <NUM> is shown removed from the winch.

<FIG> depicts an exploded view of a main body. The relationship between the lower spindle block <NUM> and upper spindle block <NUM> are shown.

<FIG> depicts the shapes of the winch plate <NUM>, clutch support <NUM> and rope clutch <NUM> and related components.

<FIG> depicts a lower pole assembly <NUM> sometimes used to secure a lifting strap to a person in need of rescue. A lower pole assembly may comprise a reach frame <NUM>, with the reach frame having a distal reach frame member <NUM>. A distal reach frame member <NUM> and a frame bar <NUM> may define a distal storage void <NUM>, with the distal storage void sometimes used to store webbing, rope or other means of securing a person in the water.

A lower pole assembly <NUM> may include means of securing a strap <NUM> within the perimeter of the reach frame and frame bar <NUM> by use of a plurality of strap holders <NUM>.

The strap <NUM> may be secured by use of a buckle <NUM>, with the buckle retained in a buckle holder <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts the components of <FIG> in an exploded view.

<FIG> depicts a lower pole assembly <NUM> in attachment to an upper pole assembly <NUM>.

A distal end of the lift line may be attached to a ball or other stopping element. A stopping element may be defined as any object attached to the lift line that will not pass through the davit sheave. A stopping element or ball attached to a distal end of the lift line will cause the davit to rise when the lift line if fully retracted. Thus, the tension line will sag, allowing the davit to be raised to a higher level, giving a rescue worker more room to maneuver a swimmer on to the deck of the ship. Such a feature helps to compensate for ship biffs that are disposed at an angle upon a ship deck.

At a yet more distal position on a lift line, a loop may be attached, just behind a ball or stopping element. The loop may be attached to strap to rope connector <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, after a person over board is placed within the loop, the handle or upper pole may be pressed toward the person, causing the one way bracket or bracket holder to cinch the strap <NUM> around the person. The strap holders may then disengage, causing the strap to be freed from the pole and hoop system. Thus, the person may then be retrieved from the water. In some instances, the hoop and pole system may not break free from the strap, and the pole may be simply retained as the person is hoisted back into the boat.

Claim 1:
Man over board rescue system comprising:
a) a main body (<NUM>), the main body (<NUM>) comprising a tube channel (<NUM>) the tube channel (<NUM>) attached to an upper spindle block (<NUM>) and a lower spindle block (<NUM>) with a spindle (<NUM>) disposed between the upper spindle block (<NUM>) and the lower spindle block (<NUM>); the spindle (<NUM>) attached to a spindle gear (<NUM>) with the spindle gear (<NUM>) in geared attachment to a worm gear (<NUM>) with the worm gear (<NUM>) attached to a handle (<NUM>); the spindle (<NUM>) having a top end attached to a winch plate (<NUM>) with the winch plate (<NUM>) attached to a winch (<NUM>) and the winch plate (<NUM>) supporting a rope clutch (<NUM>); the spindle (<NUM>) having a lower end attached to a spindle connector (<NUM>);
b) a lift line (<NUM>) attached to the winch (<NUM>) and the lift line (<NUM>) in contact with a distal end of a davit (<NUM>);
c) a proximal end of the davit (<NUM>) attached to the spindle connector (<NUM>);
d) a plurality of back angles (<NUM>) attached to the main body (<NUM>), the back angles (<NUM>) being configured such that they provide an offset between the main body (<NUM>) and a ship's bitt; and
e) a strap system (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of straps (<NUM>) and latch clamps (<NUM>) wherein said plurality of straps (<NUM>) are configured to reach around a ship's bitt and to being secured to said main body (<NUM>) by said plurality of latch clamps (<NUM>) in order to secure said main body (<NUM>) to said ship's bitt.