Automatically energizable lifesaving equipment

Claim 2

In a lifesaving apparatus for unassisted utilization by an overboard person, the combination of: a support securable to a portion of a boat which is accessible to the surface of the body of water being traversed by said boat; a life buoy mounted on said support; a trailing line connected to said life buoy and towed behind said vessel as said vessel traverses said water surface; and connecting means for removably securing said life buoy to said support, said connecting means being capable of sustaining the load imposed thereon as said trailing line is towed by said vessel through the water but being separable when the drag of an overboard individual, grasping the line, is imposed upon said trailing line to cause said life buoy to be released from said support and rendered accessible to said overboard person.

Claim 3

A lifesaving device of the character defined in claim 1 in which said connecting means includes a severable lanyard which sustains the load of the trailing line but which severs when the drag of an overboard individual is impressed upon said line.

Claim 4

A lifesaving device of the character defined in claim 1, in which said connecting means includes a spring release capable of sustaining the load imposed upon said trailing line by its being towed through the water but releasable when the weight of an overboard individual is impressed upon said trailing line.

Claim 5

In a lifesaving device for an overboard, unassisted individual, the combination of: a support securable to a portion of a vessel traversing the water surface which is accessible to said water surface; a life buoy on said support; a man-overboard flag having an elongated flexible shaft maintained in coiled condition on said support adjacent said life buoy, said man-overboard flag having a pennant at its upper extremity and a counter-weight at its lower extremity and being connected intermediate said extremities to said life buoy; a trailing line connected to said life buoy and towable behind said vessel and seizeable by an overboard individual without assistance of on-board personnel; and connecting means connecting said trailing line to said support, said connecting means resisting the load imposed thereupon by the towing of said trailing line on the surface of the water but being releaseable by the load of an overboard individual impressed upon said line.

Claim 6

In a lifesaving device for an overboard, unassisted individual, the combination of: a support securable to a portion of a vessel traversing the water surface which is accessible to said water surface; a life buoy on said support; a man-overboard flag having an elongated flexible shaft maintained in coiled condition on said support adjacent said life buoy, said man-overboard flag having a pennant at its upper extremity and a counter-weight at its lower extremity and being connected intermediate said extremities to said life buoy; a trailing line connected to said life buoy and towable behind said vessel and seizeable by an overboard individual without assistance of on-board personnel; and connecting means connecting said trailing line to said support, said connecting means resisting the load imposed thereupon by the towing of said trailing line on the surface of the water but being releaseable by the load of an overboard individual impressed upon said line.

Claim 7

A lifesaving device of the character defined in claim 4 in which said line pulls said man-overboard flag and said buoy simultaneously from said support when said line is seized by an overboard individual and said man-overboard flag automatically pivots upwardly about its connection to said life buoy to raise said pennant above the surface of the water.

Claim 8

A lifesaving device of the character defined in claim 4 in which an auditory signaling device is connected to said life buoy whereby, when said life buoy and man-overboard flag are dislodged from operative relationship with said support, said signaling device will emit an auditory signal to alert the vessel's crew to the man-overboard contingency.

Claim 9

In a lifesaving device for facilitating the unassisted rescue of an overboard individual, the combination of: a supporting enclosure securable to a vessel traversing the surface of the water in proximity to said water surface; a life buoy releasably supported in said enclosure; a man-overboard flag in said enclosure secured to said life buoy; a trailing line secured to said life buoy and towable behind said vessel for seizure by an overboard individual; and releasable connecting means connecting said life buoy to said support, said releasable connecting means resisting the load impressed on it by the trailing line but being releasable when an overboard individual grasps said trailing line for withdrawing said life buoy and said man-overboard flag from said enclosure.

Claim 10

In a lifesaving device for facilitating the unassisted rescue of an overboard individual, the combination of: a supporting enclosure securable to a vessel traversing the surface of the water in proximity to said water surface; a life buoy releasably supported in said enclosure; a man-overboard flag in said enclosure secured to said life buoy; a trailing line secured to said life buoy and towable behind said vessel for seizure by an overboard individual; and releasable connecting means connecting said life buoy to said support, said releasable connecting means resisting the load impressed on it by the trailing line but being releasable when an overboard individual grasps said trailing line for withdrawing said life buoy and said man-overboard flag from said enclosure.

Claim 11

A lifesaving device of the character defined in claim 7 in which said man-overboard flag is secured to said life buoy and includes a pennant at one extremity and a counterweight at its other extremity whereby when said life buoy hits the surface of the water the man-overboard flag will automatically pivot upwardly to raise said pennant above the surface of the water.

Claim 12

A device of the character defined in claim 7 in which said man-overboard flag includes a flag staff which is flexible and which is coiled upon itself within the confines of said enclosure in adjacency to said life buoy.

Claim 13

A device of the character defined in claim 7 in which said enclosure has an auditory signaling device mounted thereupon and connected to said life buoy so that, when said life buoy is pulled from said enclosure in conjunction with said man-overboard flag, an auditory signal will be created which will signal to the vessel personnel the existence of an emergency man-overboard situation.