Rescue apparatus

Abstract

A water or land rescue system is provided which includes a spring loaded firearm and rescue device. The firearm includes a barrel, a shoulder stock and a trigger. The rescue device is adapted to be releasably secured to one end of the spring situated within the firearm. The system further includes a supply of safety line having one end secured to the firearm and a second end secured to the rescue device. The spring is adapted to be releasably locked in a loaded position so that when the trigger is depressed, the restoring forces of the spring cause the floatation device to be propelled into the air carrying the supply line therewith toward a rescue victim.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A rescue apparatus comprising; 
 a spring loaded firearm including a barrel, a shoulder stock and a trigger means;    a spring situated within said barrel and extending along the length thereof, said spring having two opposing ends;    a rescue device;    a supply of safety line having first and second ends, said first end being secured to said spring loaded fire arm, said second end being secured to said device;    securing means being secured to one end of said spring; said securing means being adapted to releasably secure said device to said one end of said spring, and locking means associated with said trigger means for releasably locking said spring in a loaded position against the restoring forces of the same so that when said trigger means is depressed said restoring forces of said spring causes device to rapidly move along the length of said barrel and be propelled into the air carrying said second end of said supply of safety line therewith.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said barrel has an elongated groove extending along the length thereof and said device includes a notch formed in the bottom thereof, said securing means extending upwardly through said elongated groove in said barrel and being adapted to releasably engage said device.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said locking means comprises a ratchet and a pawl, said ratchet including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of notches, each of said notches being located adjacent two of said teeth, said pawl extending from said trigger means, said pawl adapted to move from a first position, wherein said pawl extends into one of said notches and frictionally engages one of said teeth, to a second position, wherein said pawl is positioned out of said notch.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including an elongated container secured to said barrel, said container having said first end of said supply of line secured therein and said second end of said supply line extending outwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said rescue device comprises: 
 a body;  
 at least one passageway in said body operable to slidably receive said safety line;  
 said safety line being partially positioned within said at least one passageway, said safety line being formed into at least one loop extending outwardly from said device to define at least one opening and terminating in at least one end secured to said device; and  
 means for enlarging and reducing the size of said opening in each of said at least one loop.  
 
     
     
         6 . A rescue device comprising: 
 a body;    a safety line; and    at least one passageway in said body operable to slidably receive said safety line, said safety line being partially positioned within said at least one passageway, said safety line being formed into at least one loop extending outwardly from said device to define at least one opening and terminating in at least one end fixedly secured to said device.    
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising means for enlarging and reducing the diameter of said opening in each of said at least one loop.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said device is a buoyant floatation device.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said floatation device is comprised of a rigid polymeric material.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6  wherein said floatation device is substantially football-shaped.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 6  further including locking means for locking at least one loop said in a fixed position.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said locking means includes: 
 a fixed bar member fixedly secured to said safety line, said fixed bar member including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of notches, and  
 a spring biased bar member mounted in said device, said spring biased bar member including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of notches, each of said notches positioned adjacent two of said teeth;  
 said teeth in said fixed bar member being adapted to engage said notches in said spring biased bar member.  
 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  further including means from releasing said fixed bar member from said spring biased member.  
     
     
         14 . A rescue device comprising: 
 a first segment having a planar surface and an arcuate surface;    a second segment having a planar surface and an arcuate surface;    said first and second segments each having a channel located in said planar surfaces thereof, said channels in each of said segments being adapted to overlie one another to define a passageway;    means for securing said first and second segments to one another;    a safety line partially and slidably positioned within said passageway, said safety line being formed into at least one loop extending outwardly from said device to define at least one loop and terminating in at least one end fixedly secured to said device.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising means for enlarging and reducing the diameter of said opening in each of said at least one loop.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said device is a buoyant flotation device.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said floatation device is comprised of a rigid polymeric material.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said floatation device is substantially football-shaped .  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14  further including locking means for locking said at least one loop in a fixed position.  
     
     
         20 . The rescue device of  claim 19  wherein said locking means includes: 
 a fixed bar member secured to said safety line, said fixed bar member including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of notches, and  
 a spring biased bar member mounted in said device, said spring biased bar member including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of notches, each of said notches positioned adjacent two of said teeth;  
 said teeth in said fixed bar member being adapted to engage said notches in said spring biased bar member.