Line tending marker float
First Claim
1. A line tending device for a flotation marker unit including a base, a clutch hub on the base, a source of a line that will extend in response to a weight thereon, said clutch hub having a clutch hub outer surface and upper and lower flanges, and an elastomeric O-ring surrounding the hub outer surface between the upper and lower flanges, said line passing over an outer edge of the upper flange, and inwardly to the clutch hub between the hub outer surface and the O-ring, and extending out from the hub outer surface around an outer edge of the lower flange, an anchor weight on an end of the line of sufficient weight to cause the line to extend and move between the O-ring and the hub outer surface when the line is substantially vertically below the outer edge of the lower flange, the O-ring providing a tension on the line to tend to provide a clamping action on the line around the upper flange that increases as the line angle relative to a central axis of the hub and the weight increases.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A line tending device includes an anchor weight, and a hub that can be supported by a float. The hub has a clutch mechanism that controls the paying out or extension of a line for the anchor weight. The clutch includes an O-ring that will permit the line to extend in direction substantially vertically downward, substantially parallel to the axis of the hub that supports the O-ring, but which exerts a load on the line to tighten and effectively clamp the line against an edge of a flange and prevent the line from extending when the angle of the line relative to a hub axis exceeds a preselected amount.
24 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A line tending device for a flotation marker unit including a base, a clutch hub on the base, a source of a line that will extend in response to a weight thereon, said clutch hub having a clutch hub outer surface and upper and lower flanges, and an elastomeric O-ring surrounding the hub outer surface between the upper and lower flanges, said line passing over an outer edge of the upper flange, and inwardly to the clutch hub between the hub outer surface and the O-ring, and extending out from the hub outer surface around an outer edge of the lower flange, an anchor weight on an end of the line of sufficient weight to cause the line to extend and move between the O-ring and the hub outer surface when the line is substantially vertically below the outer edge of the lower flange, the O-ring providing a tension on the line to tend to provide a clamping action on the line around the upper flange that increases as the line angle relative to a central axis of the hub and the weight increases.
- 10. A line tending device for a flotation marker unit including a base, a clutch hub on the base, adjacent one end thereof, the base being floatable with the one end forming a lower end, a line reel formed on the base above the clutch hub and having a line thereon that will unwind in response to a weight thereon, said clutch hub having a clutch hub outer surface and upper and lower flanges, the upper flange forming a flange for the line reel around which the line will unwind from a reel hub, and an elastomeric ring surrounding the hub outer surface between the upper and lower flanges, said line passing over an outer edge of the upper flange and inwardly to the clutch hub between the hub outer surface and the elastomeric ring, and extending out from the hub outer surface around an outer edge of the lower flange, an anchor weight on an end of the line of sufficient weight to cause the line to extend and move between the elastomeric ring and the hub outer surface to unwind from the reel hub and move around the edge of the upper flange when the line is substantially vertically below the outer edge of the lower flange, the elastomeric ring providing a tension to force the line toward the hub outer surface and around the upper flange, and as the line angle relative to a central axis of the hub and the weight increases the elastomeric ring being operable to snub the line around the edge of the upper flange.
Specification