Flotation device with boarding apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021001959-A1
Application number	US-201916460170-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 2, 2019
Priority date	Jul 2, 2019
Publication date	Jan 7, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A boarding apparatus for use on a flotation device, in accordance with various embodiments is disclosed herein. The boarding apparatus comprises a stirrup ladder. The boarding apparatus may be integral to a lifeline assembly of the flotation device. The boarding apparatus may be removably coupled to a loop patch of the flotation device. The boarding apparatus may release from the loop patch and become a boarding configuration for the flotation device.

First claim

1 . A flotation device comprising:
an inflation tube; a first loop patch coupled to the inflation tube; and a boarding apparatus comprising:
a central rope having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the first loop patch;
a first loop proximate the first loop patch and disposed on a first side of the central rope;
a second loop proximate the first loop and disposed on a second side of the central rope, the second side being opposite the first side; and
a third loop proximate the second loop and disposed on the first side of the central rope, wherein:
the first loop extends from a first knot disposed on the central rope proximate the first end to a second knot on the central rope, wherein the second knot is adjacent to the first knot, and
the second loop extends from the second knot to a third knot on the central rope, wherein the third knot is adjacent to the first knot.

2 . The flotation device of claim 1 , further comprising a lifeline assembly including the boarding apparatus, and the flotation device further comprising a second loop patch, wherein the second loop patch is disposed adjacent to the first loop patch along a perimeter of the inflation tube, the second end of the central rope removably coupled to the second loop patch.

3 . The flotation device of claim 2 , wherein the second end of the central rope is removably coupled to the second loop patch by a slipknot.

4 . The flotation device of claim 1 , wherein the second loop is disposed between the first loop and the third loop.

5 - 6 . (canceled)

7 . The flotation device of claim 2 , wherein the lifeline assembly is disposed along a portion of the perimeter of the inflation tube, wherein the lifeline assembly comprises the boarding apparatus.

8 . The flotation device of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of loop patches, the plurality of loop patches including the first loop patch and the second loop patch, wherein the lifeline assembly extends between adjacent loop patches in the plurality of loop patches.

9 . The flotation device of claim 1 , wherein the boarding apparatus further comprises a heat shrink tubing, wherein the heat shrink tubing is coupled to the first loop.

10 . The flotation device of claim 9 , wherein the heat shrink tubing extends substantially perpendicular to the central rope proximate the second knot.

11 . A flotation device comprising:
an inflation tube; a plurality of loop patches disposed around a perimeter of the inflation tube; and a lifeline assembly comprising:
a lifeline extending from adjacent loop patches in the plurality of loop patches; and
a boarding apparatus extending between a first loop patch in the plurality of loop patches and a second loop patch in the plurality of loop patches, the boarding apparatus being removably coupled to the second loop patch, wherein the boarding apparatus comprises a stirrup ladder and is configured to release from the second loop patch downward into a boarding configuration via a slipknot.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The flotation device of claim 11 , wherein an applied force along an axis of the boarding apparatus releases the boarding apparatus from the second loop patch.

14 . The flotation device of claim 11 , wherein the boarding apparatus further comprises:
a central rope having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the first loop patch; a first loop proximate the first loop patch and disposed on a first side of the central rope; a second loop proximate the first loop and disposed on a second side of the central rope, the second side being opposite the first; and a third loop proximate the second loop and disposed on the first side of the central rope.

15 . The flotation device of claim 14 , wherein the boarding apparatus further comprises a heat shrink tubing, wherein the heat shrink tubing is coupled to the first loop.

16 . A method of integrating a boarding apparatus on a lifeline assembly of a flotation device, the method comprising:
folding a lifeline in half to form a bight at a second end of the lifeline, the lifeline comprising a first half and a second half; tying a first overhand knot at a first end of the lifeline; pulling a portion of the first half longer than a portion of the second half; tying a second overhand knot adjacent to the first overhand knot to form a first loop on a first side of the lifeline; pulling a portion of the second half longer than a portion of the first half; and tying a third overhand knot adjacent to the second overhand knot to form a second loop on a second side of the lifeline, the second side being opposite the first side.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising prior to step folding the lifeline in half:
disposing a heat shrink tubing on a portion of the lifeline.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising prior to step tying the second overhand knot:
aligning the heat shrink tubing within the first loop.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising heating the heat shrink tubing to form a stiff portion of the first loop.

20 . The method of claim 16 further comprising repeating steps below until the second end of the lifeline is reached:
pulling a portion of the first half longer than a portion of the second half;
tying a fourth overhand knot adjacent to the third overhand knot to form a third loop on the first side of the lifeline;
pulling a portion of the second half longer than a portion of the first half; and
tying a fifth overhand knot adjacent to the fourth overhand knot to form a fourth loop on the second side of the lifeline.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Haynes Timothy C
• Hartman Drew
• Burt Rachel
• Markovic John
• Folland Eric
• Burbank Philip E
• Robb Michael Jacob

Classifications

• E06C1/525

  made of a continuous strip of material · CPC title

• B63B27/146 Primary

  Pilot ladders or similar outboard ladders, e.g. bathing ladders; Pilot lifts · CPC title

• E06C1/56

  Rope or chain ladders · CPC title

• B63C9/04

  Life-rafts · CPC title

• B63C2009/044

  covered · CPC title