Lifesaving device

Abstract

A lifesaving device including a water floatable member to which is attached a lifeline, the floatable member or body being sized as to be conveniently held in one hand by the user and thrown with relatively complete accuracy to a person in need in the water, the water floatable member being characterized further by having sufficient weight to permit it readily to be thrown a considerable distance.

What is claimed is: .[.1. A lifesaving device including a waterfloatable elongated body comprising 
       an elongated shaped core of resilient material, there being a length of a synthetic thermoplastic material rope wound in a encircling course about said core, 
       a mass of a buoyant material having a specific gravity of less than 1.0 disposed around and completely encasing said core and the windings thereon, 
       a shell of a resilient material enclosing said mass of buoyant material in contiguous and closely covering conformity therewith, said core being disposed longitudinally axially within said shell, said body having a central passage extending completely through said mass of material and said core between a pair of openings disposed at oppositely disposed locations in said shell, and 
       an elongated lifeline securely connected with said body, said lifeline having a terminal length portion extending through said passage..]. .[.2. The lifesaving device of claim 1 in which said body is in the shape of an ellipsoid..]. .[.3. The lifesaving device of claim 1 in which said buoyant material is one of kapok, cork and a foamed urethane..]. .[.4. The lifesaving device of claim 1 in which the rope wound about said core is polyethylene..]. .[.5. The lifesaving device of claim 1 in which said core is rubber..]. .[.6. The lifesaving device of claim 1 in which said shell is rubber..]. .[.7. The lifesaving device of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve of resilient material extending through said body passage and joined at its opposite ends in watertight connection with said shell, said lifeline terminal length portion being received in said sleeve..]. .[.8. The lifesaving device of claim 7 in which said shell is rubber, said sleeve being rubber and joined integrally with said shell..]. .[.9. The lifesaving device of claim 1 in which said mass of material is present as a single shaped-structure encasing said core and the winding thereon..]. .[.10. A lifesaving device including a water-floatable elongated body comprising 
       an elongated shaped core or resilient material, there being a length of a synthetic thermoplastic material rope wound in an encircling course about said core, 
       a mass of a bouyant material having a specific gravity of less than 1.0 disposed around and completely encasing said core and the windings thereon, 
       a shell of a resilient material enclosing said mass of buoyant material in contiguous and closely covering conformity therewith, said core being disposed longitudinally axially within said shell, said body having a central passage extending completely through said mass of material and said core between a pair of openings disposed at oppositely disposed locations in said shell, and 
       an elongated lifeline securely connected with said body, said lifeline having a terminal length portion extending through said passage, said device further comprising stop means carried on said terminal length portion of said lifeline and being of dimension greater than those of the said openings and said body passage for preventing withdrawal separation of said lifeline terminal length portion from said body passage..]. .[.11. The following device of claim 10 in which said stop means comprises knots in said lifeline terminal length portion and located at the exterior of said body adjacent said pair of openings..]. .[.12. A lifesaving device including a water-floatable elongated body comprising 
       an elongated shaped core of resilient material, there being a length of a synthetic thermoplastic material rope wound in an encircling course about said core, 
       a mass of a buoyant material having a specific gravity of less than 1.0 disposed around and completely encasing said core and the windings thereon, 
       a shell of a resilient material enclosing said mass of buoyant material in contiguous and closely covering conformity therewith, said core being disposed longitudinally axially within said shell, said body having a central passage extending completely through said mass of material and said core between a pair of openings disposed at oppositely disposed locations in said shell, and 
       an elongated lifeline securely connected with said body, said lifeline having a terminal length portion extending through said passage, the terminal length portion of said lifeline including an extension length part extending exteriorly of said body and disposed in a loop closely adjacent said body between the respective pair of openings therein, said extension length part including a bitter end part secured to a remainder length portion of said lifeline..]. .Iadd. 13. A life-saving device of ellipsoidal shape resembling a football and adapted to be gripped and thrown like one towards a person in distress in a body of water, comprising 
       (a) a central core of predetermined weight and a mass of solid buoyant material with a yielding and waterproof exterior surrounding said core, to impart to the entire device a specific gravity lower than 1.0 so that it has the combined capability of floating on the body of water and being thrown as far and as accurately as a football, 
       (b) said device having a central passage extending therethrough along its longitudinal axis, and 
       (c) a rope lifeline having one end thereof extending through said passage for secure attachment to said device, which upon grasping by said person permits pulling of the person from the opposite end of said lifeline. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said mass of buoyant material is of foamed solid material and of a specific gravity less than 1.0. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said mass of buoyant material is a molded body of foamed urethane. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the exterior of said mass of buoyant material is constituted by a resilient shell of soft and resilient material. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A device as set forth in claim 16, wherein said shell is formed of soft rubber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. A device as set forth in claim 13, wherein said attached end of the lifeline extends through said central passage whereat the same is knotted at the outlet of said passage to secure its permanent attachment. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. A device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said lifeline extends beyond the knot at the outlet of said passage towards the inlet end thereof whereat the same is knotted to the main portion of the lifeline to provide a length of rope extending along an external element of said ellipsoidal body for convenient grasping by the person in distress. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A device as set forth in claim 18, wherein said central core is formed of rubber with a winding of rope of synthetic plastic-material on its exterior from one end ot the opposite end thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A device as set forth in claim 18, wherein the central passage extending through said device is a hollow integral sleeve passing through said core with the opposite ends thereof integrally connected to the exterior of said mass of buoyant material in water-tight relation thereto. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 22. A life-saving device of ellipsoidal shape resembling a football and adapted to be thrown like one towards a person in distress in a body of water, comprising 
       (a) a central core of resilient material of predetermined weight surrounded by a winding of rope of synthetic thermoplastic material from one end to the other end thereof, 
       (b) a mass of buoyant material with a yielding and waterproof exterior surrounding said core, to impart to the entire device a specific gravity lower than 1.0 so that it has the combined capability of floating on the body of water and being thrown as far and as accurately as a football, 
       (c) said device having a central passage extending therethrough along its longitudinal axis, and 
       (d) a rope lifeline having one end thereof extending through said passage for secure attachment to said device, which upon grasping by said person permits pulling of the person from the opposite end of said lifeline. .Iaddend.