Abstract: A flexible flotation envelope is detachably secured to a belt encircling the wearer's chest beneath his armpits. Adapted to be supported on the user's back with its lower end connected to the belt is a container for a vertical compressed air or oxygen flotation gas supply tank or cylinder provided at its upper end with a rotary gas distribution valve. The valve contains a rotary valve member rotatable between open and closed positions respectively opening and closing gas flow through the valve to the envelope and having its opposite ends connected to the inner ends of parallel valve-operating lever arms, the outer ends of which are connected to the opposite ends of a valve-operating float. A flexible tube extends from the valve casing to the envelope by way of one arm of a Y fitting, from the other arm of which runs a flexible tube to an alarm whistle by way of a flexible inflatable bladder.

Abstract: A threaded access cover plate construction for boat decks, comprising a threaded fitting which is adapted to be secured to the deck, and a screw closure receivable in the fitting. Both the fitting and the closure have cooperable buttress-type threads which are dimensioned such that there is a relatively loose fit between the two parts. The closure has a centering shoulder which is engaged by the rim of the fitting whereby a self-centering of the closure takes place when it is screwed into the fitting. The loose fit and the sliding engagement of the flat surfaces of the buttress-type threads enable an unimpeded lateral shifting of the closure to occur as determined by the engagement of the centering shoulder on the closure and the rim of the fitting.

Abstract: An anchor guide comprises an elongated tube which is slidable axially inside a collar hinged to a bracket attached to a boat deck. A boat anchor is secured to an anchor line which passes through the tube and over a roller located inside the tube immediately above the hinge axis of the collar. The anchor is retrieved by pulling on the anchor line to pull the shank of the anchor into the tube until the body of the anchor strikes the bottom of the tube, after which continued tension on the anchor line pivots the collar about the hinge axis to lift the tube and the anchor, while causing the tube and anchor to slide through the collar toward the boat deck, reducing the amount of force required to lift the anchor.

Abstract: A diver's floater is disclosed having a spherical float body with a circumferential groove thereabout in which a line may be stored, which line connects the float body to the diver. A clip, attached to the float body, under which preselected turns of the line may be secured, serves the dual purpose of preventing excessive line from unwrapping and providing distance indications to the diver. In one embodiment of the invention, wherein the float body is hollow, access to the float body interior is provided so that equipment may be stored therein. A support is also provided for storing equipment and the like external to the float body.

Abstract: A safety release for water skiing tow lines comprising a U-shaped body having a rearwardly facing slot therein, a mounting bracket for securing the device to a ski pylon, a bolt arm pivotally secured to the body which extends across the slot when the arm is in a vertical position so as to engage the terminal loop of the ski rope. The loop retaining bolt arm is pivotally mounted on the body and is pivotable rearwardly from a first position substantially normal to the plane of the slot opening to a second position substantially free of the slot opening. A manually operable extension is affixed to the bolt arm to move the arm in a forward direction from the second position to the first position. A lever is pivotally mounted on the body to engage the bolt arm to form a bar-like assembly which extends transversely of said opening.

Abstract: A transport vessel especially used in connection with the transportation of liquid gases, e.g., natural gas, includes means for isolating storage tanks from the hull of the vessel to minimize the deformations to the tank from the hull. In this way, the thickness and hence weight of the tanks may be significantly reduced.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a bracket for elevating and lowering an outboard motor relative to the transom of an associated boat including two pair of relatively telescopic tubular elements each connected to a pair of mounting members adapted to be secured to a boat transom and an outboard motor, respectively, an outermost one of the pair of the tubular elements having an elongated slot in each and a guiding element disposed in each slot and connected between an associated one of the innermost elements and one of the outboard motor mounting members for guiding the relative telescopic motion between the two pair of elements.

Abstract: A storage tank 1 is divided into oil and ballast water chambers 3, 4 by an elastic partition membrane 2. To prevent the membrane from blocking the oil and water intake/discharge ports 5, 6 during the final stages of loading or unloading, the internal edges and corners of the tank are chamfered by apertured partition plates, supported wire mesh screens or the like, and the intake/discharge ports communicate with the spaces defined behind such plates or screens.

Abstract: A boat steering assembly having a tiller lever for providing a steering input upon being pivoted about a first pivot axis and an actuating lever supported for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis. The ends of the levers are interconnected in order to pivot the tiller lever upon pivoting movement of the actuating lever and for positioning the levers in parallel relationship with one another in a neutral position. The length of the tiller lever from its first pivot is longer than the length of the actuating lever from its second pivot to their respective ends. There is also an acutator assembly comprising a reciprocating member having a hydraulically operated piston at each end which is slidably disposed for movement between two cylinders which are defined by a housing. A first end of an actuating lever is operatively connected to the housing and a second end extends out of the housing and is adapted for connection to a steering means.

Abstract: A lifesaving apparatus for use on ships and other types of water sustained vessels which is characterized by the fact that it can be actuated by a person who has fallen overboard without the intervention of on-deck personnel. The lifesaving apparatus is mounted on a support secured to the vessel and includes among other components a life buoy; a man-overboard pole and flag; and a trailing line, which is constantly streamed astern of the vessel so that the life buoy and associated components are released from the support on the vessel when the trailing line is grasped by a man overboard.

Abstract: A motor mount bracket for use in combination with a twin-hull sail boat, to which an outboard motor can be affixed, and which can support the motor in a running location with its screw in the water between the hulls, or in a stowed location with its screw out of the water. The bracket has a stand-off for attachment to the aft-most cross-strut of the sail boat, and an arm pivotally connected at its forward end to the stand-off at a pivot-point that is below and somewhat aft of the cross-strut. A motor mount is at the aft-end of the arm. The arm pivots through a vertical sweep between the running location and the stowed location.

Abstract: Relates to collapsible grocery bag holders for installation in automobile trunk compartments. Different forms of the invention are illustrated and described herein. In general, they are composed of longitudinally extending side wall members pivotally mounted for folding into a flat compact unit, crossing dividers so designed as to grip the opposing side walls and firmly hold them in spaced apart vertical relationship to form a group of upward opening grocery bag compartments, living hinges for both side wall panels and dividers, and base or bottom members for underlying the grocery bag compartments which are provided with unbroken ridges extending around the perimeter of the base members to prevent escape of liquid or comminuted material from broken grocery packages beyond the confines of the base members.

Abstract: A substantially circular, round lifeboat provided with a flat bottom surface and upwardly curved sides, the interior of the boat being provided with a series of concentrically arranged seats for the passengers, mostly near the bottom of the boat to provide a low center of gravity, the boat having a fiber glass hull and a fiber glass covered styrofoam interior in order that it be strong and sturdy, while being relatively light in weight, with the capability of each boat being molded in two pieces (hull section and seat and rib section) and joined together, the upper perimeter of the boat having a plurality of spaced-apart arms for supporting transparent plastic panels which extend upwardly and thus increase the free-board, the arms also providing support for a plurality of curved supporting ribs arranged in a dome-shaped fashion to support a suitable cloth material to form a complete cover for the open upper portion of the boat.

Abstract: A pallet having a precast, prestressed concrete grillage superstructure including layers of elongate elements, each successively higher layer being transverse to the layer below it for heavy load bearing objects such as an industrial processing plant. The long elements are not only useful in providing the load-bearing points, but are useful in providing long channels between the elements which are useful as manways and for carrying pipe, conduits and the like that are associated with an industrial processing plant, the heavy load typically lifted and carried by such a pallet. The intersection points or junctions of the elements from layer to layer are load bearing points for distributing in radiating fashion the load placed on the top deck slab of the pallet. The pallet is suitable for transport by a submersible seaworthy vessel located beneath the pallet.

Abstract: Floating apparatus for the remote marking of the position of bodies that have fallen in water, comprises a buoyant body which is ballasted on its underside and which on its upper side carries an inflatable standard having a visible signal at its upper end. The inflatable standard is in the form of inner and outer tubes which define between them a hollow chamber that extends lengthwise of the standard and parallel to the standard. A supply of compressed gas, carried by the apparatus, is selectively releasable to fill the hollow chamber to erect the standard.

Abstract: A carrier for luggage or the like which is mounted upon a generally planar portion of a vehicle body. The carrier comprises a plurality of separate load supporting slat assemblies which have upwardly facing grooves running lengthwise thereof. Disposed within selected of the grooves are retaining elements which cooperate with the grooves in securing article constraining members upon the upper surface of the slats. The retaining members are designed such that they may be inserted in a first position or orientation relative to the axis of the grooves and be rotated to a second position once they are disposed within the grooves to effect a locking of the load constraining members to the slat assemblies.

Abstract: A life raft, having a floor joined at its periphery to a flotation member, is formed with a flexibly-walled, depending, correspondingly water ballast chamber generally parallel and contiguous to the flotation member. The chamber may be compartmented for retention of the water ballast as a distributed stabilizing mass, and extends about a wholly open center area that underlies all or the greatest part of the floor, thus to concentrate the ballast below the peripheral flotation member as a further aid to stability.Ports are provided in the walls of the chamber, the openings of at least the outer wall being continuously open to the flow of water therethrough. In one form of the invention the openings of the inner side wall are check-valved to exhaust air from the center space, creating a partial vacuum that increases the stability of the raft.

Abstract: A pack frame for hikers formed primarily of interconnected, hollow, tubular members and including in one embodiment a pivoting connector between a lower hip-engaging portion of the pack frame and an upper shoulder-engaging portion of the pack frame such that the upper and lower portions of the pack frame may pivot with respect to each other about the connector responsive to the motion of a hiker's hips and shoulders. A pack bag is disclosed having a pleated, connecting portion whereby the upper portion of the bag may pivot with respect to the lower portion. Also disclosed is a height-adjustable pack bag adapted to accommodate loads of varying size. A pack frame is also disclosed having segmented, vertically extending, laterally spaced, tubular side members, the segments of each side members being joined together by a flexible joiner member such that the upper portions of the tubular side members may resiliently tilt with respect to the lower portions.

Abstract: A method of constructing a welded metal skin boat hull includes forming a framework from transverse and transom frames connected to a margin plate and to a keel and stem assembly, and adjustably bolting to the frames and connecting together, as appropriate, longitudinal and transom stringers, outer surfaces of which are spaced outwardly from frame outer surfaces. Spacing of the longitudinal stringers on the frames divides the hull exterior into narrow longitudinal, non-compound curved regions, corresponding longitudinal hull skin panels being formed from flat sheets to bridge adjacent stringer pairs. Skin panel edges are clamped to corresponding stringers by external fairings adjustably bolted to the stringers, the bottom fairings being shaped as liftstrakes. A transom plate is tackwelded or clamped to the transom stringers. Frames, skin panels and fairings, are adjusted to realign the hull to specifications before welding.

Abstract: A lightweight flexible, hollow surfboard having top and bottom decks, at least one of which is made from sheet balsa having the grain perpendicular to a broad surface thereof with a coating of synthetic resin laminated to that surface and spacing means between the top and bottom decks. At least one rail sheet spans the decks and extends along the entire periphery of the surfboard to define a closed, hollow interior. A stabilizer extends downwardly from the bottom deck.