Throwable Rescue Net with Buoyancy and Weights

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rescue apparatuses for retrieving people from the water are often cumbersome, limited in range, and can pose risks to both rescuers and the individuals being rescued, especially when dealing with unconscious or injured persons.

Innovation Solution

A portable, manually or automatically deployable rescue apparatus featuring a retractable net with weights and buoys that can be thrown from any location, expanding to catch and bring a person to safety with minimal leverage or stability required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a net or basket attached to a pole is used to catch a person-in-the-water, then the person can be retrieved, but the range is limited by the length and weight of the pole and the pole can injure the person-in-the-water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretrieval rangeVSAvoidinjury risk to person-in-water

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rescue apparatus is divided into separate functional components: a throwable net assembly with buoyancy elements and weights, a separate pole with retrieval mechanism, and a boat. The net can be thrown independently to establish initial contact without requiring the rescuer to be in direct leverage position, reducing injury risk while extending retrieval range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The net acts as an intermediary between the rescuer and the person-in-water. By throwing the net first to establish contact, the rescuer creates a safe intermediary zone that allows retrieval without direct pole contact with the person, eliminating the injury hazard while maintaining retrieval capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a deployed float on one end of a mechanism is used, then the person can be surrounded and retrieved, but additional time is required and it is not useable from land or ships without access to a maneuverable boat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment location flexibilityVSAvoiddeployment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The net assembly with buoyancy elements and weights is pre-configured and ready for immediate throwing from any location (land, boat, or ship). This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex deployment sequences and allows rapid deployment from diverse locations without requiring maneuverable boat access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rescue apparatus is designed to be universally deployable from multiple locations including land, boats, and ships. The net assembly can be thrown from any position, and the retrieval mechanism can operate from various platforms, making the system adaptable to different rescue scenarios without requiring specialized maneuverable boat access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If a retractable net is deployed repeatedly, then efficient retrieval can be achieved, but the device requires storage space when not in use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretrieval efficiencyVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The net assembly is nested within the pole structure when not in use. The net can be collapsed and stored within the pole's housing, and the buoyancy elements and weights are contained within the net assembly, creating a compact storage configuration that minimizes space requirements while maintaining the ability for repeated deployments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables repeated, efficient, and safe retrieval of conscious or unconscious individuals from the water, requiring minimal storage space and allowing deployment from various locations, thus overcoming the limitations of existing technologies.

Implementation Method 1

a buoyant element and two planar buoys that float and move in opposite directions away from each other when tension is applied to the tether line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

weights that lower the bottom of the net while the two planar buoys float and move in opposite directions away from each other when tension is applied to the tether line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

the drag from the weights and buoys cause the net to expand

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrag: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS12240576B2Person overboard retrieval apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 DIVERSE MARINE SAFETY GRP LLC

AI summary

A deployable conscious or unconscious person-in-the-water rescue apparatus that can be manually or automatically deployed multiple and consecutive times to assist both a rescuer and a person-in-the-water by providing a tethered net that self-deploys in the water and supports the person-in-the-water while being pulled to safety.