Charles Leroy Hebrard

US Patent:

62025880, Mar 20, 2001

Filed:

Aug 31, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/386651

Inventors:

Charles L. Hebrard - San Andreas CA

International Classification:

B63B 2200

US Classification:

116209

Abstract:

An apparatus for marking the location of an article or piece of cargo which has accidentally or intentionally been dropped from a transport vehicle into a body of water. The marking apparatus includes a housing, having a wall portion, movable from a closed position to an open position when a coupler element is decoupled. A tether line and a float are packed within the housing. The tether line has an upper end attached to the float, and a lower end which passes through a lower wall of the housing before it is attached to the article. An activation cable extends between the vehicle and the coupler element on the housing. A median portion of the housing is buckled to a cargo cable, extending between the underside of the transport vehicle and the suspended article. If the article drops from the vehicle, the activation cable immediately pulls upon, and decouples the coupler element. This allows the movable wall portion of the housing to open, exposing the tether line and the float.