Self-Aligning Rope Handling Guide for Single-Handed Mooring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for handling ropes, such as those used when mooring a boat, are often difficult and inconvenient, especially when operating single-handedly or when the rope is at a distance, as they require multiple attempts to throw a loop around a bollard and may result in the boat drifting too far.
Innovation Solution
A rope handling apparatus with a self-aligning guide means that automatically aligns a manipulating member with the rope, allowing easy engagement and manipulation of the rope at a distance, featuring a tapered receptacle and engagement portion for secure attachment, and a telescopic handle for extended reach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a loop of rope is thrown around a bollard, then the boat can be moored, but it requires multiple attempts and takes considerable time
Solution Approach 1:
The guide means on the manipulating member automatically aligns with the rope and guides the engagement portion into the receptacle without requiring manual alignment or multiple attempts, enabling single-handed operation and significantly reducing the time and skill required for mooring
Solution Approach 2:
The guide means acts as an intermediary between the manipulating member and the rope, facilitating automatic alignment and engagement while the user simply holds the handle, thereby eliminating the need for skilled manual loop-throwing techniques
2Ease of operation
If the skipper leaves the helm to tie the boat, then the boat can be secured, but the boat cannot be monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The self-aligning guide means enables the device to automatically orient and engage with the rope without requiring the operator's hands, allowing the skipper to remain at the helm and maintain surveillance of the boat while securing it
3Length of moving object
If the manipulating member is made telescopic, then the reach is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is divided into telescopic sections that can extend and retract, providing variable length to accommodate different reaching distances while maintaining a compact form when retracted, balancing extended functionality with portability
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for handling a length of rope using a hand-held device, when the length of rope is at a distance from the user of the apparatus. A rope handling device (10) comprises a receiving means (12) and a manipulating member (16), in which the manipulating member has an elongate portion (30), the elongate portion (30) having opposite ends (50,51), and at at least one of said ends an engagement portion (32); the receiving means (12) has a rope mounting portion (18), attachable to a part of a rope to be manipulated, and a receptacle (26) for engaging with the engagement portion; wherein the receiving means (12) when engaged with the engagement portion (32) at one of said ends (50) of the elongate portion (30) permits a user of the device to hold the manipulating member (16) at an opposite end (51) of the elongate member in order to handle a rope (14) attached to the rope mounting portion. The rope handling apparatus further comprises a guide means (40) for self-aligning the manipulating member (16) with a rope (14) prior to engagement of the engagement portion (32) with the receptacle (26).