Life saving arrangement for a vessel

Claim 2

A life saving arrangement for a vessel, comprising: a. a buoy adapted to be releasably carried by the vessel in such manner as to be released automatically should the vessel sink, b. buoyant life support equipment also arranged to be releasably carried by the vessel, c. releasable securing means normally securing said buoyant equipment to said buoy in close relationship and in such manner as to maintain said relationship when the buoy and the equipment are released from the vessel, d. trip means for providing an interconnection between said securing means and the vessel, said trip means being arranged to cause release of said securing means after the vessel has separated from the buoy by a predetermined amount sufficient for the Buoy to be clear of any of the vessel fixtures or rigging, and e. mooring means connecting said equipment to the buoy so that after release of said securing means the buoyant life saving equipment remains moored to the buoy.

Claim 3

A life saving arrangement for a vessel, comprising: a. a buoy adapted to be releasably carried by the vessel in such manner as to be released automatically should the vessel sink, b. a cable connected to the buoy and for connection to the vessel, whereby if the vessel sinks the buoy is released from the vessel and the cable is paid out so that the cable maintains a connection between the sunken vessel and the buoy on the surface of the water, c. buoyant life support equipment, d. holding means normally holding said equipment in position on the vessel but being such that said equipment will be released automatically from the vessel should the vessel sink, e. releasable securing means normally securing said equipment to said buoy in close relationship and in such manner as to maintain said relationship when the buoy and the equipment are released from the vessel, f. trip means for providing an interconnection between said securing means and the vessel, said trip means being arranged to cause release of said securing means after the vessel has separated from the buoy by a predetermined amount sufficient for the buoy to be clear of any of the vessel fixtures or rigging and g. mooring means connecting said equipment to the buoy so that after release of said securing means the buoyant life saving equipment remains moored to the buoy, which buoy itself normally remains anchored to the sunken vessel by said cable.

Claim 4

A life saving arrangement for a vessel, comprising: a. a buoy adapted to be releasably carried by the vessel in such manner as to be released automatically should the vessel sink, b. a cable connected to the buoy and for connection to the vessel, whereby if the vessel sinks the buoy is released from the vessel and the cable is paid out so that the cable maintains a connection between the sunken vessel and the buoy on the surface of the water, c. buoyant life support equipment, d. holding means normally holding said equipment in position on the vessel but being such that said equipment will be released automatically from the vessel should the vessel sink, e. releasable securing means normally securing said equipment to said buoy in close relationship and in such manner as to maintain said relationship when the buoy and the equipment are released from the vessel, f. trip means for providing an interconnection between said securing means and the vessel, said trip means being arranged to cause release of said securing means after the vessel has separated from the buoy by a predetermined amount sufficient for the buoy to be clear of any of the vessel fixtures or rigging and g. mooring means connecting said equipment to the buoy so that after release of said securing means the buoyant life saving equipment remains moored to the buoy, which buoy itself normally remains anchored to the sunken vessel by said cable.

Claim 5

A life saving arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said holding means for the buoyant equipment includes at least one flexible element attachable to the deck of the vessel on opposite sides of the said equipment and passing over the equipment to hold it securely in position, said flexible element including a releasable link arranged to release when the buoyant equipment becomes submerged.

Claim 6

A life saving arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said releasable link is a rupturable element which breaks when subjected to a predetermined stress, and wherein said buoyant equipment and said holding means therefor together include sufficient buoyancy to cause said element to break when subjected to a stress somewhat less than that caused by said equipment becoming submerged.

Claim 7

A life saving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said buoyant life support equipment includes an inflated pneumatic boat.

Claim 8

A life saving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said buoyant life support equipment includes deflated pneumatic life support means contained within a cannister, said cannister also containing inflating means.

Claim 9

A life saving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said buoyant life support equipment includes deflated pneumatic life support means contained within a cannister, said cannister also containing inflating means, said inflating means being operable automatically by said mooring means when the buoy is separated from the cannister by a sufficient extent.

Claim 10

A life saving arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said buoyant equipment includes deflated pneumatic life support means contained within a cannister, and wherein said holding means includes a buoyant support for the cannister, the combined buoyancy of the cannister and the support causing said element to break when the cannister becomes submerged.

Claim 11

A life saving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said releasable securing means holds said buoyant equipment securely fixed to said buoy for movement therewith until said securing means are released.

Claim 12

A life saving arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a belt extending around the major part of the body of the buoy, said belt being connected at both ends to the buoyant life saving equipment via spring means and a quick rElease mechanism, said quick release mechanism being operable by said trip means.

Claim 13

A life saving arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said trip means is a line normally wound on a reel mountable on the vessel, said reel allowing said line to be pulled relatively freely therefrom until the buoy is separated from the vessel by said predetermined amount, said line being arranged to operate release means of said securing means when fully unwound from the reel.

Claim 14

A life saving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said buoy includes electrically operated beacon means adapted to be operated automatically on release of the buoy from the vessel.

Claim 15

A life saving arrangement for a vessel, comprising: a. a buoy adapted to be releasably carried by the vessel in such manner as to be released automatically should the vessel sink, b. a cable connected to the buoy and for connection to the vessel, whereby if the vessel sinks the buoy is released from the vessel and the cable is paid out so that the cable maintains a connection between the sunken vessel and the buoy on the surface of the water, c. a buoyant dinghy held on said vessel by means allowing automatic release of the dinghy in response to partial submersion thereof, d. releasable securing means connecting the transom of the dinghy to said buoy, said securing means including a cradle normally fixed to said transom and having a portion which corresponds in shape to a side portion of the buoy, said cradle and buoy being held together by a belt extending around the body of the buoy and having its ends connected to the transom, one end of said belt being held by a quick release coupling, said securing means normally securing the dinghy to the buoy in such manner as to maintain their relationship when the buoy and dinghy are released from the vessel, e. trip means for providing an interconnection between the quick release coupling and the vessel so as to cause release of said coupling after the buoy and dinghy have separated from the vessel by a predetermined amount sufficient for the buoy and dinghy to be clear of the vessel fixtures or rigging, and f. mooring means connecting said dinghy and buoy so that after release of said securing means the dinghy remains moored to the buoy.

Claim 16

A life saving arrangement for a vessel, comprising: a. a buoy adapted to be releasably carried by the vessel in such manner as to be released automatically should the vessel sink, b. a cable connected to the buoy and for connection to the vessel, whereby if the vessel sinks the buoy is released from the vessel and the cable is paid out so that the cable maintains a connection between the sunken vessel and the buoy on the surface of the water, c. a buoyant dinghy held on said vessel by means allowing automatic release of the dinghy in response to partial submersion thereof, d. releasable securing means connecting the transom of the dinghy to said buoy, said securing means including a cradle normally fixed to said transom and having a portion which corresponds in shape to a side portion of the buoy, said cradle and buoy being held together by a belt extending around the body of the buoy and having its ends connected to the transom, one end of said belt being held by a quick release coupling, said securing means normally securing the dinghy to the buoy in such manner as to maintain their relationship when the buoy and dinghy are released from the vessel, e. trip means for providing an interconnection between the quick release coupling and the vessel so as to cause release of said coupling after the buoy and dinghy have separated from the vessel by a predetermined amount sufficient for the buoy and dinghy to be clear of the vessel fixtures or rigging, and f. mooring means connecting said dinghy and buoy so that after release of said securing means the dinghy remains moored to the buoy.

Claim 17

A life saving arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said dinghy is an inflated pneumatic dinghy and wherein said buoy is positioned between the rear end portions of air tubes forming the sides of the dinghy.