Adjustable Debris Collection Apparatus For Maritime Vessels And Associated Methods

Abstract

A debris collection apparatus for a maritime vessel includes a shroud and a plurality of support structures. Each of the plurality support structures include a boot defining a cavity and configured to be secured to the vessel, a foot sized to fit within the cavity, a staff cap, a stabilizer base configured to be secured to the vessel, an elevational staff section connected to the foot and the staff cap terminal, and a horizontal staff section connected to the staff cap and the stabilizer base. The foot is inserted into the boot to secure the support structures in a rigid position, and the shroud is connected to both staff caps and the vessel. The stabilizer base can include a connection loop, and the shroud can be configured to be connected to the connection loop in order to connect the shroud to the vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A debris collection apparatus for a maritime vessel, comprising:
 a shroud for containing debris; and   a plurality of support structures, at least including a first and a second support structure, wherein each of the plurality of support structures comprises:
 a boot defining a cavity, the boot configured to be secured to the maritime vessel; 
 a foot sized to fit within the cavity of the boot; 
 an elevational staff section rotatably connected with the foot; 
 a stabilizer base configured to be secured to the maritime vessel; 
 a horizontal staff section rotatably connected with the stabilizer base; and 
 a staff cap connected with the elevational staff section and the horizontal staff section, the staff cap rotatably connecting the elevational staff section and the horizontal staff section; 
 wherein the foot is inserted into the boot to secure the first and second support structures in a rigid position, and the shroud is connected to the first support structure, the second support structure, and the vessel to collect debris. 
   
     
     
         2 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the elevational staff section is removably connected with the foot and the staff cap, and   the horizontal staff section is removably connected with the stabilizer base and the staff cap.   
     
     
         3 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the foot includes a frame and a universal swivel rotatably mounted to the frame, the elevational staff section connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         4 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the elevational staff section is removably connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         5 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the foot includes a stop pin that restricts rotation of the first universal swivel. 
     
     
         6 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the staff cap includes a staff cap terminal and a universal swivel rotatably mounted to the staff cap terminal, one of the elevational staff section and the horizontal staff section connected to the universal swivel and the other of the elevational staff section and the horizontal staff section connected to the staff cap terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the elevational staff section is removably connected to the staff cap terminal, and the horizontal staff section is removably connected to the staff cap terminal. 
     
     
         8 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the staff cap terminal restricts rotation of the universal swivel. 
     
     
         9 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer base includes a body and a universal swivel rotatably mounted to the body, the horizontal staff section connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         10 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the horizontal staff section is removably connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         11 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support structures includes a third support structure, the shroud being further connected to the third support structure. 
     
     
         12 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elevational staff section includes at least two staffs connected by at least one staff union. 
     
     
         13 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal staff section includes at least two staffs connected by at least one staff union. 
     
     
         14 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer base further includes a connection loop, and the shroud is configured to be connected to the connection loop to connect the shroud to the vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the elevational staff section is removably connected to the foot and the staff cap by removable pins,   the horizontal staff section is removably connected to the staff cap and the stabilizer base by removable pins, and   the first and second support structures can be deconstructed by removing the foot from the boot, removing the removable pins, and disconnecting the foot, the elevational staff section, the staff cap, the horizontal staff section, and the stabilizer base.   
     
     
         16 . A debris collection apparatus for a maritime vessel, comprising:
 a shroud for containing debris; and   a plurality of support structures, at least including a first and a second support structure, wherein each of the plurality of support structures comprises:
 a boot defining a cavity, the boot configured to be secured to the maritime vessel; 
 a foot sized to fit within the cavity of the boot; 
 an elevational staff section rotatably connected with the foot; 
 a stabilizer base configured to be secured to the maritime vessel, the stabilizer base including a connection loop; 
 a horizontal staff section rotatably connected with the stabilizer base; and 
 a staff cap connected with the elevational staff section and the horizontal staff section, the staff cap rotatably connecting the elevational staff section and the horizontal staff section; 
 wherein the foot is inserted into the boot to secure the first and second support structures in a rigid position, and the shroud is connected to a first portion of the first support structure, the connection loop of the first support structure, a first portion of the second support structure, and the connection loop of the second support structure to collect debris. 
   
     
     
         17 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein
 the elevational staff section is removably connected with the foot and the staff cap, and   the horizontal staff section is removably connected with the stabilizer base and the staff cap.   
     
     
         18 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the foot includes a frame and a universal swivel rotatably mounted to the frame, the elevational staff section connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         19 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the elevational staff section is removably connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         20 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the foot includes a stop pin that restricts rotation of the first universal swivel. 
     
     
         21 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the staff cap includes a staff cap terminal and a universal swivel rotatably mounted to the staff cap terminal, one of the elevational staff section and the horizontal staff section connected to the universal swivel and the other of the elevational staff section and the horizontal staff section connected to the staff cap terminal. 
     
     
         22 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the elevational staff section is removably connected to the staff cap terminal, and the horizontal staff section is removably connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         23 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the staff cap terminal restricts rotation of the universal swivel. 
     
     
         24 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the stabilizer base includes a body and a universal swivel rotatably mounted to the body, and the horizontal staff section is connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         25 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the horizontal staff section is removably connected to the universal swivel. 
     
     
         26 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of support structures includes a third support structure, the shroud being further connected to a first portion and a connection loop of the third support structure. 
     
     
         27 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the elevational staff section includes at least two staffs connected by at least one staff union. 
     
     
         28 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the horizontal staff section includes at least two staffs connected by at least one staff union. 
     
     
         29 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein
 the elevational staff section is removably connected to the foot and the staff cap by removable pins,   the horizontal staff section is removably connected to the staff cap and the stabilizer base by removable pins, and   the first and second support structures can be deconstructed by removing the foot from the boot, removing the removable pins, and disconnecting the foot, the elevational staff section, the staff cap, the horizontal staff section, and the stabilizer base.   
     
     
         30 . A debris collection apparatus for a maritime vessel, comprising:
 a shroud for containing debris; and   a plurality of support structures, at least including a first and a second support structure, wherein each of the plurality of supports structures comprises:
 a boot defining a cavity, the boot being configured to be removably secured to the maritime vessel; 
 a foot including a frame and a first universal swivel rotatably mounted to the frame, the foot being sized to fit within the cavity of the boot; 
 a staff cap including a staff cap terminal and a second universal swivel rotatably mounted to the staff cap terminal; 
 a stabilizer base including a body, a third universal swivel rotatably mounted to the body, and a connection loop, the stabilizer base being configured to be removably secured to the maritime vessel; 
 an elevational staff section removably connected to the first universal swivel and the staff cap terminal; and 
 a horizontal staff section removably connected to the second universal swivel and the third universal swivel; 
 wherein the foot is inserted into the boot to secure the first and second support structures in a rigid position, and the shroud is connected to the staff cap and connection loop of the first support structure, and the staff cap and connection loop of the second support structure to collect debris. 
   
     
     
         31 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of support structures includes a third support structure having a staff cap and a connection loop, the shroud being further connected to the staff cap and connection loop of the third support structure. 
     
     
         32 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the elevational staff section includes at least two staffs connected by at least one staff union. 
     
     
         33 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the horizontal staff section includes at least two staffs connected by at least one staff union. 
     
     
         34 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the foot includes a stop pin that restricts rotation of the first universal swivel. 
     
     
         35 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the staff cap terminal restricts rotation of the second universal swivel. 
     
     
         36 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the shroud is one of a mesh net and a welding blanket. 
     
     
         37 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the boot is secured to a side of the maritime vessel and the stabilizer base is secured to a deck of the maritime vessel. 
     
     
         38 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the elevational staff section is removably connected to the first universal swivel and the staff cap terminal by removable pins, and the horizontal staff section is removably connected to the second universal swivel and the third universal swivel by removable pins. 
     
     
         39 . The debris collection apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first and second support structures can be deconstructed by removing the foot from the boot, removing the removable pins, and disconnecting the first universal swivel of the foot, the elevational staff section, the second universal swivel of the staff cap, the horizontal staff section, and the third universal swivel of the stabilizer base.