US3874013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Buoy device for locating and retrieving sunken vessels
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-01-21
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1994-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A dual buoy rescue device is provided for locating and retrieving sunken vessels. An essentially cylindrical anchor buoy having a tapered end is secured to the vessel by buoy orientation device comprising a housing mounted to the vessel, a rotatable shaft mounted within the housing, and a shaft extension secured to the anchor buoy. The buoy orientation device is adapted to allow the anchor buoy to float freely above the vessel when the device is in operation, regardless of the orientation of the vessel or the manner in which it sinks. Spaced circumferentially about the anchor buoy and projecting angularly outwardly therefrom are a plurality of spring-loaded fingers which are adapted to move inwardly into the buoy yet remain in their outwardly projected position when subjected to a force directed towards the tapered end of the buoy. A marker buoy adapted to float freely on the surface of the water is connected to the anchor buoy by a long pilot line. The sunken vessel is retrieved by guiding a retrieving ring with a cable or chain attached thereto down along the pilot line over the anchor buoy and the projecting fingers. The ring is then lifted towards the surface by the cable or chain so as to engage the ends of the projecting fingers which maintain their outwardly projected position. The vessel is then towed to the surface by the chain or cable attached to the retrieving ring.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald E Hudson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:43
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B22/00; B63B22/04; B63B22/08; B63C; B63C7/00; B63C7/02; B63B2205/00; B63B2205/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A dual buoy rescue device for locating and retrieving sunken vessels comprising: an essentially cylindrical anchor buoy having one end tapered and the other end connected to buoy orientation means mounted to said vessel and adapted to allow said anchor buoy to float freely above said vessel when said rescue device is in operation regardless of the orientation of said vessel, said tapered end being directed upwardly towards the surface of the water in which said vessel is submerged; a plurality of spaced apart fingers disposed about and projecting angularly outwardly from said anchor buoy, diverging away from said tapered end, said fingers being adapted to move inwardly towards said buoy when subjected to a force component directed essentially towards said buoy orientation means and to resist movement when subjected to a force component directed essentially towards said tapered end; and a buoyant marker buoy connected to said anchor buoy''s tapered end by a long pilot line, said marker buoy being free to float on the surface of the water in which said vessel is submerged when said rescue device is in operation, said pilot line permitting said vessel to be retrieved by guiding a retrieving ring down to said anchor buoy and over said fingers so as to engage the divergent ends thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A dual buoy rescue device for locating and retrieving sunken vessels comprising: an essentially cylindrical anchor buoy having one end tapered and the other end connected to buoy orientation means mounted to said vessel and adapted to allow said anchor buoy to float freely above said vessel when said rescue device is in operation regardless of the orientation of said vessel, said tapered end being directed upwardly towards the surface of the water in which said vessel is submerged; a plurality of spaced apart fingers disposed about and projecting angularly outwardly from said anchor buoy, diverging away from said tapered end, said fingers being adapted to move inwardly towards said buoy when subjected to a force component directed essentially towards said buoy orientation means and to resist movement when subjected to a force component directed essentially towards said tapered end; and a buoyant marker buoy connected to said anchor buoy''s tapered end by a long pilot line, said marker buoy being free to float on the surface of the water in which said vessel is submerged when said rescue device is in operation, said pilot line permitting said vessel to be retrieved by guiding a retrieving ring down to said anchor buoy and over said fingers so as to engage the divergent ends thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said buoy orientation means comprises a housing securely mounted to said vessel, a shaft secured within said housing and adapted to freely rotate therewithin, and an angular extension of said shaft disposed to rotate therewith, said anchor buoy being pivotally connected to said angular extension, the plane through which said anchor buoy pivots being essentially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The device according to claim 2, wherein a flexible housing extends through said anchor buoy, said angular extension and said shaft, and said pilot line passes through said flexible housing and is stored on a spool mounted to the surface of said vessel, said marker buoy including an essentially conical recessed portion in one end thereof wherein the tapered end of said anchor buoy is engaged when said device is not in operation, there being brackets located on the surface of said vessel to releasably hold said engaged buoys when not in operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said anchor buoy comprises an essentially cylindrical outer shell having one end tapered and its other end pivotally connected to said angular extension, said shell containing a plurality of longitudinal slots circumferentially spaced thereabout through which said fingers angularly pass, and a centrally disposed axial shaft extending the length of said shell, the radially inwardly ends of said fingers being pivotally connected to said shaft, with a compressed resilient member disposed between each of said fingers and said shaft subjacent the pivotal connections of said fingers so as to exert a radially outwardly force on said fingers, said slots being of sufficient length to enable said fingers to pass radially inwardly into said shell when subjected to a force component directed Essentially towards said angular extension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said marker buoy includes a signal light device, an electronic signaling device, and means for energizing said devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said buoy orientation means comprises a housing securely mounted to said vessel, a shaft secured within said housing and adapted to freely rotate therewithin, and a length of chain connected to said shaft, there being a ring retainer disk mounted to the end of said anchor buoy subjacent the divergent ends of said fingers and at the approximate position of connection between said anchor buoy and said chain, the diameter of said disk being greater than the diameter of said anchor buoy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said pilot line is stored on a spool disposed within one end of said marker buoy, said buoys being carried on the surface of said vessel adjacent each other when not in operation so as to allow water contact to activate said device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said anchor buoy comprises an essentially cylindrical outer shell having one end tapered and its other end pivotally connected to said chain, said shell containing a plurality of longitudinal slots circumferentially spaced thereabout through which said fingers angularly pass, and a centrally disposed axial shaft extending the length of said shell, the radially inwardly ends of said fingers being pivotally connected to said shaft, with a compressed resilient member disposed between each of said fingers and said shaft subjacent the pivotal connections of said fingers so as to exert a radially outwardly force on said fingers, said slots being of sufficient length to enable said fingers to pass radially inwardly into said shell when subjected to a force component directed essentially toward said retainer disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said marker buoy includes a signal light device, an electronic signaling device, and means for energizing said devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
166 words
A rescue device for locating and retrieving sunken vessels comprising: first buoy means connected to buoy orientation means mounted on said vessel and adapted to enable said first buoy means to float freely above said vessel when said rescue device is in operation regardless of the orientation of said vessel; finger means disposed about said first buoy means and adapted to move inwardly towards said first buoy means when subjected to a force component directed essentially towards said buoy orientation means and to resist movement when subjected to a force component directed essentially away from said buoy orientation means; and second buoy means connected to said first buoy means by a line, said second buoy means being free to float on the surface of the water in which said vessel is submerged when said rescue device is in operation, said line permitting said vessel to be retrieved by guiding a retrieving ring down to said first buoy means and over said finger means for engagement therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
A rescue device for locating and retrieving sunken vessels comprising: first buoy means connected to buoy orientation means mounted on said vessel and adapted to enable said first buoy means to float freely above said vessel when said rescue device is in operation regardless of the orientation of said vessel; finger means disposed about said first buoy means and adapted to move inwardly towards said first buoy means when subjected to a force component directed essentially towards said buoy orientation means and to resist movement when subjected to a force component directed essentially away from said buoy orientation means; and second buoy means connected to said first buoy means by a line, said second buoy means being free to float on the surface of the water in which said vessel is submerged when said rescue device is in operation, said line permitting said vessel to be retrieved by guiding a retrieving ring down to said first buoy means and over said finger means for engagement therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |