Inflatable rope

Abstract

An inflatable rope comprises three layers, a bladder, a sheath, and a perforated bag to keep the inflatable rope in a compressed form. The compressed form can be hurled through the air at great distance to a person overboard. The inflatable rope can be inflated to a size that eases the ability of the person, who has lost dexterity in frigid water, to hold on to it for rescuing.

1 . An inflatable rope, comprising:
 a bladder configured to receive, transport, and contain an inflatable medium;   a sheath from a weave of man-made materials that expands or compresses; and   a perforated layer into which the bladder and the sheath are rolled or folded.   
   
   
       2 . The inflatable rope of  claim 1 , further comprising a nostril coupled to a proximal end of the inflatable rope for receiving air or another inflatable medium. 
   
   
       3 . The inflatable rope of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lanyards coupled to a distal end of the inflatable rope, the lanyard forming from the weave of man-made fibers. 
   
   
       4 . The inflatable rope of  claim 1 , wherein the man-made fibers are selected from a thermoplastic polymer resin in the polyester family. 
   
   
       5 . The inflatable rope of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath is coated with a phosphorescent pattern selected from a group including solid yellow, solid orange, a v-shape pattern with the word “exit” periodically placed, a candy stripe pattern, and a stripe pattern. 
   
   
       6 . A system for hurling an inflatable rope, comprising:
 the inflatable rope having three layers including a bladder, a phosphorescent sheath, and a fitted, perforated plastic layer and being wound into a spool;   a drum for storing the spool and for containing a source of radiation to irradiate the phosphorescent sheath through the fitted, perforated plastic layer; and   a device that propels a distal end and a portion of the inflatable rope toward a person in water.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the device includes a wench to retrieve the inflatable rope hurled to the person. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the inflatable rope includes a proximal end, which is coupled to a source of air or other inflatable medium to inflate the inflatable rope. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the inflatable rope includes a lanyard, which is coupled to the distal end of the inflatable rope and is hurled along with the distal end and the portion of the inflatable rope. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the phosphorescent sheath is weaved from man-made fibers. 
   
   
       11 . A method for containing a chemical spill, comprising:
 unwinding a spool of a first inflatable rope made from an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene to encompass an area of the chemical spill in water;   pumping a nostril of the first inflatable rope with an inflatable medium while a curtain attached to the bottom of the first inflatable rope unfurls toward the water; and   turning on light emitting diodes on the top of the first inflatable rope to aid in visibility of the location of the first inflatable rope and the chemical spill.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising unwinding a spool of a second inflatable rope made from the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene to encompass another area of the chemical spill in water. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , coupling the second inflatable rope with the first inflatable rope so that the inflatable medium passes from the first inflatable rope to the second inflatable rope. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , closing check valves of the first, second inflatable ropes when the pressure in the first, second inflatable ropes is approximately equal. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , turning on light emitting diodes on the top of the second inflatable rope to aid in visibility of the location of the first inflatable rope and the chemical spill.