Patent ID: 8366162

Claim:
A system for displacing a floating object comprising: at least one jaw assembly operable in an open configuration and a closed configuration; a latch assembly operable in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration; and a lift assembly connected to the at least one jaw assembly to allow lifting and lowering of the at least one jaw assembly; whereby the at least one jaw assembly supports the latch assembly such that, when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration, the latch assembly maintains the at least one jaw assembly in the open configuration; when the at least one jaw assembly is in the open configuration, the at least one jaw assembly defines a jaw gap through which the floating object may pass; the latch assembly is adapted to engage the floating object when the floating object has passed through the jaw gap such that the latch assembly is placed from the latched position into the unlatched position; when the latch assembly is placed from the latched position into the unlatched position, the latch assembly allows the at least one jaw assembly to move from the open configuration into the closed configuration; and the at least one jaw assembly is adapted to engage the floating object when in the closed configuration and thereby allow the lifting assembly to displace the at least one jaw assembly and the floating object.