Marine towing device

Claim 2

A marine towing device, comprising support means adapted for mounting on a marine vessel; engaging means, including a slip hook arrangement adapted for engagement with and release of an element to be towed, at the will of an operator; and an intermediate device between and cooperating with said support means and engaging means, including an elongated tubular housing connected with one of said means, and a one-piece elongated elastomeric element accommodated axially and with slight radial play in said housing and operatively connected with the other of said means whereby, in response to development of a selected tensile stress between said engaging and supporting means and acting longitudinally of said housing, said elastomeric element will undergo axial compression and concomitant radial expansion into progressively increasing frictional engagement with an internal surface of said housing, so as to provide a progressive energy-absorption effect.

Claim 3

A towing device as defined in claim 1, said support means comprising a frame and a hook pivotably mounted in said frame; and wherein said intermediate device is connected with said frame.

Claim 4

A towing device as defined in claim 1, said elastomeric element being an elastically axially compressible sleeve of synthetic plastic material surrounding said rod portion within the confines of said tubular housing.

Claim 5

A towing device as defined in claim 3, said sleeve having an exterior surface and an outer diameter and undergoing radially outward expansion in response to axial compression; and wherein said tubular housing has an interior surface adapter to be engaged by said exterior surface and an inner diameter which exceeds that outer diameter by an amount determined in dependence Upon the maximum desired axial compression of said sleeve.

Claim 6

A towing device as defined in claim 1, said support means including a universal joint for affording said intermediate device freedom of movement with reference to a marine vessel on which said support means is mounted.

Claim 7

A towing device as defined in claim 1, said intermediate device further comprising a rod-portion partly accommodated in said housing and being connected with said other means, said elastomeric element cooperating with said rod portion and housing and being compressible in response to relative sliding movement thereof in axially opposite directions.

Claim 8

A marine towing device, comprising: support means adapted for mounting on a marine vessel; engaging means, including a slip hook adapted for engagement with an element to be towed; and an intermediate device between and cooperating with said support means and engaging means, including an elongated tubular housing connected with one of said means and having a closed end and an open end which faces and is connected with said support means, an elongated elastomeric element accommodated coaxially and with slight radial play in said housing and operatively connected with the other of said means whereby, in response to development of a selected tensile stress between said means and acting longitudinally of said housing, said elastomeric element will undergo axial compression and concomitant radial expansion into engagement with an inner circumferential surface of said housing, a rod-shaped portion having a bifurcated end which embraces said housing and extends from said closed end toward said open end, said elastomeric element being resiliently compressible and accommodated in said housing, and a contact portion with said bifurcated end and adapted to bear upon and compress said elastomeric element in response to relative movement of said rod-shaped portion axially of said housing and away from said open end.

Claim 9

A marine towing device, comprising: support means adapted for mounting on a marine vessel; engaging means, including a slip hook adapted for engagement with an element to be towed; and an intermediate device between and cooperating with said support means and engaging means, including an elongated tubular housing connected with one of said means and having a closed end and an open end which faces and is connected with said support means, an elongated elastomeric element accommodated coaxially and with slight radial play in said housing and operatively connected with the other of said means whereby, in response to development of a selected tensile stress between said means and acting longitudinally of said housing, said elastomeric element will undergo axial compression and concomitant radial expansion into engagement with an inner circumferential surface of said housing, a rod-shaped portion having a bifurcated end which embraces said housing and extends from said closed end toward said open end, said elastomeric element being resiliently compressible and accommodated in said housing, and a contact portion with said bifurcated end and adapted to bear upon and compress said elastomeric element in response to relative movement of said rod-shaped portion axially of said housing and away from said open end.

Claim 10

A towing device as defined in claim 7, said housing being provided with a pair of axially extending diametrally opposite slots, and said contact portion comprising a pin extending through said slots and having opposite terminal sections connected with said bifurcated end.

Claim 11

A towing device as defined in claim 8, said contact portion further comprising a plate member secured to said pin within the confines of said tubular housing and oriented in a plane transverse to the axis of said housing.

Claim 12

A towing device as defined in claim 7, said elastomeric element being a resiliently compressible member of synthetic plastic material.