GB2076749A - Floats for Ropes or the Like - Google Patents

Abstract

A flotation collar for hawsers, cables or the like comprises a first flexible sheet 1 and a second profiled flexible sheet 3 which encloses trapezoid cross-sectional shaped blocks 2 of foamed plastics material. The sheet has eyes 4 along two opposed edges for lacing, by means of a cord, about a hawser 5. The collar may be stored and transported flat. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Floatation Means for Hawsers, Cables or the Like This invention relates to floatation means serving to maintain the buoyancy of hawsers, cables or the like which extend across water between a shoreline or some other mooring point such as a buoy or other floating anchorage and a ship that is to be moored. Such hawsers have to be reliably kept afloat on the surface of the water in such a way as to prevent entanglement, for instance during stormy weather. Known floats comprise rigid U-shaped collars of buoyant material which are arranged about the hawsers, and the collar is fixed to the hawser by means of cords which are laced through holes in the free edges of the limbs of the U.

Known U-shaped collars present some drawbacks in use, one of which is that the rigidity of the collars causes them to occupy a great deal of storage space.

This invention seeks to provide a float which avoids the disadvantage referred to.

According to this invention there is provided a floatation means for hawsers, cables or the like comprising a sheet of rectangular plan and of a flexible material, to which sheet is secured a plurality of mutually parallel longitudinally extending blocks of a trapezoid cross-sectional shape and of a buoyant material, the sheet including eyes with reinforcement rings along an edge area. The assembly being such as to allow same to be wrapped around a hawser and to be fixed by means of cords laced through the eyes.

The float according to the invention fits closely about the cable and the construction which allows it to be rolled up and unrolled facilitates handling, transportation and storage in a flat state. Furthermore, since the hawser is provided all around with the buoyant material, in contrast to known constructions, a greater buoyancy is attained per float.

An embodiment according to the invention is described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:~ Figure 1 is a plan view of a float opened out and according to the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on line Il-li of Figure 1 and to an enlarged scale, and Figure 3 shows a cross section as in Figure 2, but located around a hawser.

In the drawings 1 is a rectangular sheet member, which may be manufactured from a robust fabric material that is coated on both sides.

This sheet 1 carres longitudinal blocks 2 of a buoyant material such as a waterproof or non saturable synthetic foam having a structure of closed cells such as polyurethane or polyethylene.

Sealed to the sheet 1 , for example by hot welding, is a sheet 3 of a synthetic plastics foil such as a polyvinyl chloride, which has a profile adapted to that of the blocks, the blocks 2 being enclosed between the sheet 1 and the sheet 3. Reinforced eyes 4 are provided around the longitudinal edges of the sheets 1 and 3 to enable them to be joined.

Figure 3 shows the float in position around a hawser 5. The float is wrapped about the hawser 5 and secured by means of cords (not shown) which are laced through the holes 4. The eyes 6 in the sides (Figure 1) provide for additional fixing of the float to the hawser if required, by lacing a cord through the eyes 6 and attaching same to the hawser.

Claims

1. A floatation means for hawsers, cables or the like comprising a sheet of rectangular plan and of a flexible material, to which sheet is secured a plurality of mutually parallel longitudinally extending blocks of a trapezoid cross-sectional shape and of a buoyant material, the sheet including eyes with reinforcement rings along an edge area, the assembly being such as to allow same to be wrapped around a hawser and to be fixed by means of cords laced through the eyes.

2. A floatation means according to Claim 1, wherein the blocks of buoyant material are secured by enclosing same between the sheet and a second sheet which encloses each block along three longitudinal sides, the second sheet being secured to the first sheet in the areas between the blocks.

3. A floatation means for the purpose herein set forth substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Floatation Means for Hawsers, Cables or the Like This invention relates to floatation means serving to maintain the buoyancy of hawsers, cables or the like which extend across water between a shoreline or some other mooring point such as a buoy or other floating anchorage and a ship that is to be moored. Such hawsers have to be reliably kept afloat on the surface of the water in such a way as to prevent entanglement, for instance during stormy weather. Known floats comprise rigid U-shaped collars of buoyant material which are arranged about the hawsers, and the collar is fixed to the hawser by means of cords which are laced through holes in the free edges of the limbs of the U. Known U-shaped collars present some drawbacks in use, one of which is that the rigidity of the collars causes them to occupy a great deal of storage space. This invention seeks to provide a float which avoids the disadvantage referred to. According to this invention there is provided a floatation means for hawsers, cables or the like comprising a sheet of rectangular plan and of a flexible material, to which sheet is secured a plurality of mutually parallel longitudinally extending blocks of a trapezoid cross-sectional shape and of a buoyant material, the sheet including eyes with reinforcement rings along an edge area. The assembly being such as to allow same to be wrapped around a hawser and to be fixed by means of cords laced through the eyes. The float according to the invention fits closely about the cable and the construction which allows it to be rolled up and unrolled facilitates handling, transportation and storage in a flat state. Furthermore, since the hawser is provided all around with the buoyant material, in contrast to known constructions, a greater buoyancy is attained per float. An embodiment according to the invention is described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:~ Figure 1 is a plan view of a float opened out and according to the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on line Il-li of Figure 1 and to an enlarged scale, and Figure 3 shows a cross section as in Figure 2, but located around a hawser. In the drawings 1 is a rectangular sheet member, which may be manufactured from a robust fabric material that is coated on both sides. This sheet 1 carres longitudinal blocks 2 of a buoyant material such as a waterproof or non saturable synthetic foam having a structure of closed cells such as polyurethane or polyethylene. Sealed to the sheet 1 , for example by hot welding, is a sheet 3 of a synthetic plastics foil such as a polyvinyl chloride, which has a profile adapted to that of the blocks, the blocks 2 being enclosed between the sheet 1 and the sheet 3. Reinforced eyes 4 are provided around the longitudinal edges of the sheets 1 and 3 to enable them to be joined. Figure 3 shows the float in position around a hawser 5. The float is wrapped about the hawser 5 and secured by means of cords (not shown) which are laced through the holes 4. The eyes 6 in the sides (Figure 1) provide for additional fixing of the float to the hawser if required, by lacing a cord through the eyes 6 and attaching same to the hawser. Claims

1. A floatation means for hawsers, cables or the like comprising a sheet of rectangular plan and of a flexible material, to which sheet is secured a plurality of mutually parallel longitudinally extending blocks of a trapezoid cross-sectional shape and of a buoyant material, the sheet including eyes with reinforcement rings along an edge area, the assembly being such as to allow same to be wrapped around a hawser and to be fixed by means of cords laced through the eyes.

2. A floatation means according to Claim 1, wherein the blocks of buoyant material are secured by enclosing same between the sheet and a second sheet which encloses each block along three longitudinal sides, the second sheet being secured to the first sheet in the areas between the blocks.

3. A floatation means for the purpose herein set forth substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.