Abstract: A self-contained knotless security device and method for adjustably securing rope-style pilot ladders and debarkation ladders from any rung to ship deck lashing points, the device not relying on additional mechanical fittings or knot-tying skills. The device comprising a section of multi-strand polyester rope comprising an integrated polyolefin core and having a ship end and a ladder end, the ship end comprising a rugged, wear and corrosion-resistant thimble eye or shackle and the ladder end comprising a flexible long soft eye on the other end. The method comprising encircling ladder suspension members with the device and securing the device to the ship deck lashing point. Alternate polyolefin core construction provides tailored performance characteristics.

Abstract: A self-contained knotless security device and method for adjustably securing rope-style pilot ladders and debarkation ladders from any rung to ship deck lashing points, the device not relying on additional mechanical fittings or knot-tying skills. The device comprising a section of multi-strand polyester rope comprising an integrated polyolefin core and having a ship end and a ladder end, the ship end comprising a rugged, wear and corrosion-resistant thimble eye or shackle and the ladder end comprising a flexible long soft eye on the other end. The method comprising encircling ladder suspension members with the device and securing the device to the ship deck lashing point. Alternate polyolefin core construction provides tailored performance characteristics.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spreader step for a rope ladder comprising a metal scaffold having three types of overlapping elements. There are two parallel elongate elements, two U-shaped elements, the ends of which are inserted into the ends of the parallel elongate elements, and four strengthening elements that are disposed over the other two types of elements at the site of overlap.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spreader step for a rope ladder comprising a metal scaffold having three types of overlapping elements. There are two parallel elongate elements, two U-shaped elements, the ends of which are inserted into the ends of the parallel elongate elements, and four strengthening elements that are disposed over the other two types of elements at the site of overlap.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stabilized rope ladder comprising stabilizing steps that are lengthwise extensions of normal rope ladder steps and which further comprise a strength-enhancing metal scaffold enclosed in a polymeric composition.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a device for securing a step of a rope ladder to the rope. The device includes an upper and a lower wedge collar, each of which has a central slot through which the ropes to be secured are threaded. The device further includes a diamond-shaped wedge heart which is inserted in the slot between the ropes such that the ropes are compressed between the sides of the wedge collars and the edges of the wedge heart. The wedge heart also has locking lugs on each edge, each locking lug contacting a surface of the upper and the lower wedge collar to prevent the wedge heart from being pulled through the slot in the wedge collars when pressure is applied to the ropes.

Abstract: A rope ladder of the type having two spaced-apart pairs of ropes, has a metal frame for each step and has tubular nylon members with cylindrical bores, extending vertically through sets of through openings in the metal frame for assuring accurate bolt alignment. The frame and nylon members are provided with a molded hard elastomer body molded around them and having a collar portion at each end molded around a frame bracket. The body and frame provide a through rope opening. A pair of separate wedge collars is secured, on assembly, to each step, below the step and bearing up against it. Each wedge collar has a rope opening and vertical bolt passages aligned with the bores of the tubular nylon members. A generally diamond-shaped wedge heart is placed in between each pair of ropes, in the rope openings; the wedge heart provides two rope-engaging side grooves for locking the pair of ropes in place and preventing relative movement between them and the step.

Abstract: A rope ladder of the type having a series of ladder steps and two spaced-apart pairs of ropes. Each step has a metal step frame about which is molded a hard elastomer body. Each step has a rope-receiving opening therethrough shaped and sized for closely confining a pair of ropes. Each step has a pair of horizontal transverse openings therethrough parallel to each other on each side of each rope-receiving opening. Before molding, nylon tubes are inserted in each end of each transverse opening and held during molding by slug bolts. After molding, the steps are each cut, on one side only, to provide a main step portion and two separate gripping portions, one for each rope-receiving opening, and each incorporating a portion of the frame and a portion of the body, the gripping portions including a portion of each transverse opening. A bolt is inserted through each pair of aligned nylong tubes, extending through both the main step portion and each gripping portion. A nut is loosely placed on each bolt.

Abstract: A rat guard for ships' hawsers. A barrier plate has a main open-end slot leading upwardly from its lower edge toward an arcuate hawser-engaging end near its center of gravity, and a through opening near its upper end. A pivot pin is near the upper end of the main slot. A freely swingable closure door has an upper end portion with a recess extending in from one side edge and an arcuate portion for engaging the hawser. This door has a closed slot receiving the pivot pin, so that the door is slidable relative to the plate and pin as well as being pivoted to the pin. The door has a first rope-anchor adjacent to its upper end. Either the door or the plate has a second rope anchor well below its upper end and near one side thereof. A first control rope extends through the through opening and is secured to the first rope-anchor; a second control rope is secured to the second rope-anchor.

Abstract: A rope ladder in which the steps have a metal frame comprising a pair of longitudinal members joined by a pair of shorter transverse members spaced in from the ends and strengthened by a pair of diagonal members. At each end a metal bracket bridges across the frame and provides an elevated upper plate portion which defines a generally rectangular opening. A molded hard elastomer body is molded around the frame and has a collar portion at each end molded around the bracket. The body has a downwardly and outwardly flaring through opening in line with the bracket opening and vertical bolt openings therethrough adjacent each through opening. A separate wedge collar for each step has a tapered through opening going down to a narrow lower end.

Abstract: A rope ladder. Each step is a molded one-piece hard elastomer member having a pair of rope-receiving openings, the upper outlet from which closely confines a pair of ropes, while the bottom of the opening is much wider. Each opening tapers inwardly from bottom to top, and each step has a pair of vertical bolt openings therethrough adjacent each opening. A separate wedge collar for each opening bears against the bottom of each step and has a single through opening; at its upper end the opening is the same width as the lower end of the step's opening, and it tapers inwardly down to an outlet that closely confines the two ropes. Each wedge collar has a pair of vertical bolt passages aligned with those of the step to enable bolting the step to the collar. A generally diamond-shaped wedge heart is wedged in between the two ropes of each pair, lying partly inside the opening through the step and partly inside the opening through the wedge collar.

Abstract: A rope ladder in which a pair of bolted-together wedge collars and a wedge heart act upon a pair of ropes at each side of each step, to wedge themselves to the rope so that they and their step are locked firmly in place, relative to the rope.

Abstract: A ring buoy or a life raft that unfurls in water upon being launched. There may be first, second and third ring buoy portions, each having an annular shape of substantially the same inner and outer circumference. The first portion may have a shell containing lightweight material enabling flotation and an extended tube of smoke-generating material, all disposed so that this first portion is weighted to float generally vertically with a smoke-issuing orifice at the top and out of water. The second portion may also have a shell containing lightweight material enabling flotation and may have a flashing light signal, a radar beacon signal, and batteries, all so located that the second portion is weighted to float vertically with the batteries at the bottom and the signals at the top. The third portion may be a normally flat but inflatable tube having an inlet connected to suitable inflating means.

Abstract: A quick-release device for storing a ring buoy and lifebuoy markers. The ring buoy rests against the end wall of a frame and is normally held there by a swingable pivoted ramp with its center of gravity well beyond the pivot. When stowed, the ramp snugly holds the ring buoy. The ramp also carries open-top, closed-bottom holders for lifebuoy markers. The markers may include a light signal and a smoke signal, both having actuators connected to a painter line, which is likewise stowed. A simple upward pull on a latch releases the ramp to seek its natural center of gravity, swinging out around its pivot providing a ramp pathway projecting the ring buoy out and away from a vertical drop and causing it to describe a trajectory that frees it from the ship. At the same time, the device both ejects and actuates the lifebuoy markers.