Apparatus for marking the location of submerged articles

• US 6,202,588 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles L. Hebrard
• Original Assignee: Charles L. Hebrard
• Inventors: Hebrard, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HIRSHFELD, ANDREW HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US09/386,651
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 116/209, 116/210, 116/DIG.7, 116/DIG.8, 116/32, 441/6-10, 441/83
• US Class Current: 116/209
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 7/26 Means for indicating the location of underwater objects, e.g. sunken vessels means for searching for underwater objects B63C11/48; buoys in general B63B22/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for marine engines

Abstract

An apparatus for marking the location of an article or piece of cargo which has accidentally or intentionally been dropped from a transport vehicle into a body of water. The marking apparatus includes a housing, having a wall portion, movable from a closed position to an open position when a coupler element is decoupled. A tether line and a float are packed within the housing. The tether line has an upper end attached to the float, and a lower end which passes through a lower wall of the housing before it is attached to the article. An activation cable extends between the vehicle and the coupler element on the housing. A median portion of the housing is buckled to a cargo cable, extending between the underside of the transport vehicle and the suspended article. If the article drops from the vehicle, the activation cable immediately pulls upon, and decouples the coupler element. This allows the movable wall portion of the housing to open, exposing the tether line and the float. As the article hits the water and begins to sink, the float and the tether line are deployed. When the article comes to rest on the bottom floor, the tether line extends between the article and the float on the surface of the water, marking the spot where the article is located, for later recovery and salvage.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a. a housing, said housing having a first wall portion, movable from a closed position to an open position when a locking element on said housing is unlocked;

b. a float;

c. a tether line having an upper end attached to said float, and a lower end passing first through a second wall portion of said housing and then being attached to an article, said float and at least a portion of said tether line being contained within said housing; and

,

d. an activation cable extending between a vehicle and said locking element on said housing, whereby, when the article becomes separated from the vehicle, said activation cable pulls on said locking element, allowing said first wall portion of said housing to open, exposing said tether line and said float for deployment as the article becomes submerged in a body of water.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which said housing is constructed from a fabric.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 in which said first wall portion includes an opening having opposing edges with holes therein, and in which said locking element is comprised of at least one plastic loop passing through said holes.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which the article is suspended from the vehicle by means of a cargo suspension line, and including means for attaching said housing to the cargo suspension line.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4 in which said means for attaching includes at least one webbing belt.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 including a support strap extending from said housing to the vehicle, the length of said support strap being sufficient to provide slack in said activation cable when said support strap is fully extended.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which said first wall portion is located at an upper end of said housing.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1 in which the vehicle is a helicopter and the article is a bucket.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8 including a releasable cargo hook on the underside of the helicopter.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9 in which the bucket is suspended from the helicopter by means of a cargo suspension line extending from the bucket to said cargo hook.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a. a cargo suspension line, said line extending from a bucket carried by a helicopter to a releasable cargo hook on the helicopter;

b. a housing, said housing having a first wall portion, movable from a closed position to an open position when a locking element on said housing is unlocked, said housing being attached to said cargo suspension line;

c. a float;

d. a tether line having an upper end attached to said float, and a lower end passing first through a second wall portion of said housing and then being attached to the bucket, said float and at least a portion of said tether line being contained within said housing; and

,

e. an activation cable extending between the helicopter and said locking element on said housing, whereby, when the bucket drops from the helicopter, said activation cable pulls on and unlocks said locking element, allowing said first wall portion of said housing to open, exposing said tether line and said float for deployment when the bucket becomes submerged in a body of water.

12. An apparatus comprising a helicopter carrying a water bucket by means of a cargo suspension line, the cargo suspension line extending between the bucket and a releasable cargo hook on the underside of the helicopter, the apparatus further comprising:

a. a housing, said housing having a first wall portion, movable from a closed position to an open position when a locking element on said housing is unlocked;

b. a float;

c. a tether line having an upper end attached to said float, and a lower end passing first through a second wall portion of said housing and then being attached to the cargo suspension line, said float and at least a portion of said tether line being contained within said housing;

d. an activation cable extending between the helicopter and said locking element on said housing, whereby, when said cargo hook is released and the bucket drops from the helicopter into a body of water, said activation cable pulls on and unlocks said locking element, allowing said first wall portion of said housing to open, exposing said tether line and said float for deployment when the bucket becomes submerged in the body of water.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12 in which said housing is constructed from a fabric.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13 in which said first wall portion includes an opening having opposing edges with holes therein, and in which said locking element is comprised of at least one plastic loop passing through said holes.

15. An apparatus as in claim 12 including means for attaching said housing to the cargo suspension line.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15 in which said means for attaching includes at least one webbing belt.

17. An apparatus as in claim 12, including a support strap extending from said housing to the helicopter, the length of said support strap being sufficient to provide slack in said activation cable when said support strap is fully extended.

18. An apparatus as in claim 12, in which said first wall portion is located at an upper end of said housing.