GB2346312A

GB2346312A - Equipment for pulling a person out of water

Info

Publication number: GB2346312A
Application number: GB9902557A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Peter Mcbroom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-06
Filing date: 1999-02-06
Publication date: 2000-08-09
Also published as: GB9902557D0

Abstract

Equipment comprises a harness (1) and at least one handle (5) attached at opposite ends of at least one strong line (2) of sufficient strength to allow a person in the harness to be safely lifted by pulling on the handle (5). The harness (1) may have adjustment means such as a sliding sleeve (3), or may be elasticated to be secure on the wearer. The load bearing portion of the harness, the line and the handle may be made from webbing material. An attachment hook (4) such as a carabiner hook may be included in the equipment for attachment to a harness already being worn by a user. Means (6) may be included to attach the equipment to an existing danbouy, such as spring clips, or the equipment may be incorporated into the danbouy during its manufacture.

Description

EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE A DANBUOY This invention relates to a harness, line and retrieving handle which may be fitted to a danbuoy.

A danbuoy is a well known piece of safety equipment carried on small boats. It is a tall narrow flagpole, which, when thrown from the boat, will float vertically, and by virtue of a flag or light at it's top, be visible from a considerable distance.

Should one of the boat's occupants fall overboard the danbuoy would immediately be thrown overboard as well, becoming a target for both the unfortunate victim and the boat, which may take a while to return to that Spot, particularly if under sail. It should be appreciated how easy it is to lose sight of a person's head even in relatively small waves and how unlikely it will be resighted once lost.

Ideally the danbuoy should not drift any faster due to the wind or wave action than the victim, otherwise it might be difficult for him to swim to it.

Upon reaching the danbuoy, the retrieval of the victim would be made easier if the danbuoy had a handle at the top of it's pole, securely joined to a simple harness at it's base into which the victim could secure himself.

As the boat passed close to him he could hold out the handle towards his rescuers, hence aiding his recovery and reducing the chance of his being struck by the hull.

Upon grasping the handle his rescuers would use it to lift him aboard, either by hand, or by using, for instance, one of the sail halyards.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ According to the present invention there is provided a harness, connected to at least one loop or handle by, for instance, a strong line or lanyard. A person in the harness may be safely lifted means of the handle (s).

A carabiner hook or similar may also be fitted near the harness position so that anyone already wearing a harness may clip themselves on directly. (note that many lifejackets and waterproof jackets feature an integral harness) The harness, carabiner, handle and their connecting line may be incorporated in the design of a new danbuoy, or retro-fitted to an existing danbuoy.

While the danbuoy is afloat but unoccupied, the harness may act as a sea anchor to reduce drift due to the wind.

It is intended that the victim, on reaching the danbuoy, secures himself in the harness, or clips himself on to the carabiner if he is already wearing a harness.

It is also intended that the victim holds the danbuoy and directs the handle (s) towards the persons aboard the rescuing boat, hence facilitating his retrieval and reducing the risk of him being struck by the hull.

Lifting the victim from the water to the deck is accomplished by hoisting him up by hand using the handle (s). Alternatively he may be winched aboard using, for instance, one of the boats halyards clipped to the the danbuoy handle.

A specific embodiment of of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows the harness, carabiner and handle joined by a strong line and incorporating clips to enable the combination to be fitted to an existing danbuoy.

Figure 2 shows the harness, carabiner, handle and line clipped into position on a danbuoy.

Figure 3 shows the person using the danbuoy handle to aid his retrieval Referring to figure 1, the invention comprises: A harness 1, shown here as a simple under-arm loop, attached to the lower end of a strong line 2.

A sleeve 3, which may be pulled towards the wearer to make the harness secure.

A carabiner hook 4, attached near the lower end of the line 2.

At least one handle 5, rigid or flexible, attached near the upper end of the strong line 2.

Some means of attaching items 1,2,3,4 and 5 to a conventional danbuoy, shown in this instance as two spring clips For ease of manufacture, and as shown in this example, the harness, line and handle may be made from webbing material.

Referring to figure 2, the items 1-6 described immediately above are shown clipped in position on a typical danbuoy.

NOTE-Because of the additional weight now attached to the danbuoy above it's float, it may be neccessary to increase it's stabilising ballast weight to keep it floating upright Referring to figure 3, the handle fixed near the top of the danbuoy pole is shown being used by the victim to facilitate his retrieval.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A harness and at least one handle attached at opposite ends of at least one strong line, the combination of which is sufficiently strong for a person in the harness to be safely lifted by pulling on the handle.
2. The combination of equipment, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the harness may have means of adjustment or be elasticated to be secure on any wearer.
3. The combinations of equipment, as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the means of harness adjustment is by a sliding sleeve over the front part of the harness loop.
4. The combinations of equipment, as claimed in claims 1,2, and 3, in which the load bearing portion of the harness, the line and handle are made from webbing material.
5. The combinations of equipment, as claimed in claims 1,2,3 and 4, with the addition of an attachment hook suitable for clipping on to a harness should the victim already be wearing one.

6 The combinations of equipment, as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4, and 5, with means to attach the equipment to an existing danbuoy 6 The combinations of equipment, as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4, and 5, with means to incorporate the equipment into the manufacturing stage of a danbuoy.

5 Equipment to improve the usefulness of a danbuoy, as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 3.