Abstract: A location indicator assembly has a support mechanism for undergoing movement between a retracted position and a deployed position, an indicator device mounted to the support mechanism, and a mechanism for deploying and retracting the support mechanism to place the indicator device between deployed and retracted states, respectively. A flotation device, such as a life jacket, is equipped with the location indicator assembly to provide high visibility for an individual floating in open water while using the flotation device.

Abstract: An anchoring device and system for securing portable objects is disclosed. The anchoring device may be configured for engagement with a lockable container or structure having an articulating, lockable member. The system may include an anchoring device and a securing device, the securing device (e.g., a cable, chain, etc.) being configured to engage with portable objects and be secured by the anchoring device. In some aspects, an anchoring device may be for engagement with a lockable vehicle door or tailgate can include one or more anchoring members and at least one restraining member. In some aspects, the securing member may be a cable or chain having a closed loop that can be engaged with a portable object and a restraining portion of the anchoring device, and when the anchoring device is engaged with a lockable container or structure, the portable object may be secured thereto.

Abstract: A tow rope management system for managing a tow rope attached to a mounting point on a tower of a boat, the tow rope management system includes: a first arm pivotally associated with the tower adjacent the mounting point on the tower of the boat, the first arm pivotable along a horizontal axis between a first stowed position and a second deployed position, the first arm biased towards the first position; an elongate guide member supported adjacent the first arm at a first end of the guide, the guide extending to a second end that is distal from the first arm and mounting point, the elongate guide including a rope support formed at the second distal end of the elongate guide member for supporting the tow rope at the second end of the elongate guide member.

Abstract: A marine survey system includes a collar configured to be affixed to a tow member, to connect a separation member to the tow member and to release the separation member when a lock-release condition is met. Alternatively or additionally, the marine survey system includes a variable drag force mechanism configured to generate a first drag force pushing the collar downstream before the collar reaches a downstream element beyond which the collar cannot move, and to generate a second drag force after the collar has reached the downstream element.

Abstract: A marine seismic system having a tow vessel; a first tow member connected to the tow vessel; a second tow member connected to the tow vessel; a first distance member having a first end connected to the first tow member and a second end connected to the second tow member; and a first attachment device connecting the first end to the first tow member, the first attachment member operational between an engaged position securing the first end of the distance member in a fixed position relative to the first tow member and a disengaged position permitting the first attachment device to move along a portion of the first tow member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a surface water vessel to a floating station. The surface water vessel may be an unmanned surface vehicle, and the floating station may be attached to a larger parent ship. According to the invention, the surface water vessel includes a forwardly projecting elongated probe and the floating station includes a receiver having a receiver opening for receiving the elongated probe therein. The elongated probe includes a spherical tip having a circumferential groove. The receiver includes movable spheres that are moved into engagement with the circumferential groove, thereby locking the probe within the receiver. This locking arrangement secures the surface water vessel to the floating station.

Abstract: A mechanical warning flag system for a water ski boat. A first plate is coupled for rotation underneath the rope pylon. A second plate is coupled to the first plate and includes a vertical portion with an arcuate opening. A lever plate is pivotally coupled to the vertical portion of the second plate and includes a lever arm that receives one end of a bias spring and travels in the arcuate opening. The lever plate includes a pair of rope holders through which the tow rope is threaded. One rope holder is part of the pivotal connection, and the other is located on a distal portion of the lever plate. Since the lever arm is located between the rope holders, tension applied to the tow rope forces the lever plate downward thereby lowering the warning flag. In the absence of rope tension, a bias spring urges the lever plate upward to raise the warning flag.

Abstract: This invention is directed to rotary release hook apparatus comprising a rotatable release hook of a generally circular configuration. In the release hook there is a recess for receiving a cable or a rope or a chain. The rotary release hook apparatus can be on a dock or an oil well platform or a barge or another suitable device. The cable or rope or chain cam connect with a boat or a ship or a barge or other large similar object. In the release hook there is a notch. There is a rotatable pawl having a projecting finger projecting into the notch to prevent rotation of the release hook. There is a rotatable member having a recess. Part of the pawl bears against the rotatable member. There is a release lever arm connecting with the rotatable means for rotating the rotatable member to allow the pawl to move into the recess and away from the rotatable release hook. This allows the rotatable release hook to rotate to release the cable or rope or chain.

Abstract: An improved releasable toggle locking mooring hook (10) having a releasable hook (20), toggle linkage (89), a stop/release mechanism (119), a self locking safety latch (126) and a self release mechanism (251) adapted to provide a secure locking mooring hook and a low friction, low effort releasing means while mooring hook is under heavy tensile load. In the mooring of ships, boats and barges to a dock or oil well platform, a line, usually under tension, is run from the ship to a mooring means mounted on the dock or platform. When it is desired that the ship leave this moorage, this mooring means can be actuated manually, mechanically or by a pre-set tensioned self releasing means to release mooring line and thus, allow the ship to sail. This mooring means is identified as a releasable toggle locking mooring hook (10) of this invention.

Abstract: A towing system adapted for quick and safe release of a towing tug from a barge string. Cable cleats and bits are mounted on the tug and on the barge string to position and support a cable which is connected into a winch apparatus to tightly connect the tug and the barge string together. A cable loop is looped around and retained by a cable retainer arm pivotably connected into a frame mounted to retain the cable. The retainer arm forms a distal finger retained to latch the arm into cable retaining position by a latch lock device. The latch lock device is pivotably mounted in the frame to retain the distal finger. A catch device forming a catch hook is pivotably mounted to the latch block device. A retainer bar is fixably mounted with the frame to engage the catch hook for keeping the latch block in position to retain the finger. A lever arrangement is pivotably connected to the frame for pushing the catch hook free of the retainer bar device.

Abstract: An improved portable cable release mechanism for mounting on the deck of a tow boat, tug, ship or dock and used to tow and dock barges, boats and ships, which mechanism is designed to receive one end of a tow cable or docking cable in order to secure and selectively release the vessels. The cable release mechanism includes a pelican hook pivotally attached to a frame which can be removably mounted on a dock or secured to the deck of a tow boat, ship or barge by means of a clevis plate. A sliding keeper normally secures the pelican hook in closed configuration in the frame and release of a towing or docking cable from the pelican hook is automatically effected by activating an air or hydraulic cylinder having a piston provided in cooperation with the keeper ring. This action extends the cylinder piston and forces the keeper from engagement with the pelican hook, allowing the pelican hook to pivot rearwardly responsive to the load on the cable.

Abstract: An improved cable release mechanism for mounting on the deck of a tow boat, tug or other tow vessel or vehicle comprising a rigid frame connectable to said tow vessel having pivotally connected thereto a pelican hook swingable through at least 180.degree.. The tow strain exerted by the tow cable passes along a line on the plane along which the axis of rotation of the pelican hook lays. As a result, when the device is used for towing, there is no rotational bias exerted on said pelican hook. In one embodiment, means for securing and/or releasing the pelican hook are comprised of a generally triangular shaped release member means having an upper pin and a lower pin positioned on the upper and lower side of the free end of the pelican hook, respectively, wherein when said release member is pivoted toward the release position, the lower pin exerts an upward force on the pelican hook and the upper pin is allowed to clear the way for the pelican hook to swing to the open position thereby releasing the cable.

Abstract: A device with which a tow line may be attached to a towed object, e.g., a submarine vessel, and then detached remotely includes a body member, a trip member, a latch and a keeper member. The body member has a pivot portion and an integral tow portion. The pivot portion includes a first arcuate section integral with the tow portion, a second arcuate section hinged to the first arcuate section and fastener means to forceably close the second section upon the first section forming a circular opening in the the pivot portion, which opening serves as the means for connection of the device to the towed object. The tow portion is J-shaped while the trip member is C-shaped and is pivoted on the tow portion to swing between a latched position and a release position. The latch includes a hook member pivoted on the tow portion and a ledge on the trip member is positioned so that the hook member can engage the ledge to retain it in the latched position.

Abstract: A signal flag apparatus for mounting on a boat that is towing a water skier, with the apparatus being operable to raise a warning flag when the water skier falls. The signal flag apparatus is an automatic mechanism which holds the warning flag down when the skier applies a tension on the tow rope and will quickly raise the flag in the absence of skier applied tension.

Abstract: A means for use in providing a connection between a cable and a movable body, more especially for R.A.S. systems, comprises a latching unit having means for attachment to said body and a recess associated with a latch, the arrangement also comprising a terminating member having means for attachment to the cable and being capable of introduction into the recess for engagement by the latch, the latter being associated with locking means for securing it in an operating position in which withdrawal of the terminating member is prevented, and release means for actuating the locking means to permit the latch to move to a release position so as to allow the terminating member to be withdrawn. Means may be provided for preventing inadvertent operation of the latch and accidental release of the member.

Abstract: A quick wire coupling and release primarily adapted to provide a quick, safe and economical coupling of river barges into a tow by use of wire rope with the coupling and release also being capable of use in other applications. The quick wire coupling and release includes a wire latch and a rolling cam take-up assembly with one end of a wire rope having a socket and pin thereon which is coupled to the rolling cam take-up assembly and looped around the opposite timber head or fitting on an adjacent barge and brought back through the wire latch to remove slack from the wire rope with the cam assembly providing a final tension to the wire rope thereby securely retaining adjacent barges in abutting engagement to form a single unit.

Abstract: An improved cable release mechanism for mounting on the deck of a towboat, tug and other applications and receiving one end of a tow cable to secure and selectively release a barge or system of barges, which mechanism includes a pelican hook pivotally mounted on a base which is secured to the deck of the towboat in closed, towing configuration by means of a keeper ring normally engaging and securing the pelican hook. Release of the tow cable from the pelican hook is automatically achieved by activating an air or hydraulic cylinder having a piston in cooperation with the keeper ring, to extend the cylinder piston and force the keeper ring from engagement with the pelican hook, allowing the pelican hook to pivot rearwardly responsive to the load on the tow cable.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for mooring a water-borne boat to a dock. The apparatus includes a pair of spring wires extending from the dock and over the water to brackets supporting a horizontal roller to be engaged by a boat-mounted latch.

Abstract: A spring-biased reel on which a tow rope is wound, the reel being contained in a housing having means for being attached either to a boat towing a water skier, or a snowmobile towing a snow skier, and a spring-loaded clutch for disengaging the device from the boat or snowmobile in case of excessive towing force.

Abstract: In the mooring of ships and boats to a dock or an oil well platform, it is necessary to have a line running from the ship or boat to the dock or platform. The line can be more or less tight and must be fixed so as to allow, relatively, sudden movements of the ship or boat with respect to the dock or platform. Then, when it is time for the ship or boat to sail away from the dock or platform, it is necessary to disengage the line from the fastening means from the dock or platform. This invention relates to a fastening means whereby a line can be positioned to the fastening means for securing the ship or boat adjacent to the dock or platform. Then, the person on the dock or platform can, by means of an electric control, if desirable, at a remote position from the fastening means, actuate the fastening means to allow the line to slip away from its fastening means and also to allow the ship or boat to sail away from the dock or platform.

Abstract: An aerial cargo delivery system for aircraft having a rear cargo receiving and delivery opening. Cargo bundles, guided between parallel guide rails on the aircraft floor, are restrained by fore and aft restraint straps during normal flight conditions. The aft restraint straps are provided with electrically-actuated release latches which effectively sever the aft straps to permit cargo bundles to pass out of the rear opening when the aircraft is in a nose-up attitude.

Abstract: In a system for interconnecting buoyant float sections in an articulated manner, a receiver assembly for automatically engaging a connector of a type having a longitudinally inclined nose section and a pair of transverse locking grooves. The receiver assembly comprises a receiver housing with an interior channel, a U-shaped locking guillotine member and a locking assembly. The locking guillotine is slideably introduced into a transverse slot in the receiver housing; it rests on a pair of locking bars in the locking assembly with the legs of the locking guillotine extending part-way into the interior channel of the receiver assembly. As the connector is extended into the channel, the legs of the locking guillotine contact the inclined surface of the connector nose section, causing the locking guillotine to slide up within the slot until aligned with the connector locking grooves. The locking guillotine then falls, the guillotine legs sliding down within the locking grooves, to effect interengagement.

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 towing hook device having a lockable towing hook, use being made for locking of a pivoting pin which has been unilaterally recessed, there being disposed adjacent the recess a drop-shaped body such that the end of a blocking arm of the towing hook causes the blocking pin to execute a forced movement between a blocking position and a release position, the blocking pin in the blocking position being retained by a pawl.