A hoisting system is for hoisting a vertically-suspended object. The hoisting system has a winch having a winch drum with a hoisting rope. A first part of the hoisting rope has a first diameter and a second part has a second diameter being larger than the first diameter. The first part is connected with a first end of the second part. The first part is an inner part on the winch drum when the winch drum is completely wound. The second part has a further end that is connectable to the object for hoisting the object. A ratio between the first diameter and the second diameter is such that the minimum breakable load of the first part differs less than a factor of four from the minimum breakable load of the second part, and preferably less than a factor of three. A corresponding method is disclosed.

A device for holding onto a rope to form a loop that can be tighten about two objects. The device including a base portion having at least one hole for securing one end of the rope. A clamping portion slidably engages a plurality of posts enabling the clamping portion to slide between a clamp position and release position for securing a portion of the rope therebetween. A clamp/release mechanism provides a means to clamp and release the clamping portion onto from the posts. The clamp/release mechanism includes a plurality of levers to selectively engage a respective post to clamp the clamping portion onto the posts when in a clamp position and disengage the at least one post to release the clamping portion from the posts when in a release position.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a system that includes an inflatable pipe drum, an inflation fluid source, and flexible pipe, which is formed into a pipe coil. The inflatable pipe drum includes an inflatable drum bladder that defines an internal fluid cavity, in which the inflatable pipe drum is to be inserted into a coil bore of the pipe coil while the inflatable drum bladder is in a less inflated state, and a fluid valve secured to the inflatable drum bladder such that the fluid valve is fluidly connected to the internal fluid cavity defined in the inflatable drum bladder. The inflation fluid source supplies inflation fluid to the internal fluid cavity defined in the inflatable drum bladder via the fluid valve to facilitate transitioning the inflatable drum bladder from the less inflated state to a more inflated state to facilitate supporting the pipe coil from within the coil bore.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a system that includes an inflatable pipe drum, an inflation fluid source, and flexible pipe, which is formed into a pipe coil. The inflatable pipe drum includes an inflatable drum bladder that defines an internal fluid cavity, in which the inflatable pipe drum is to be inserted into a coil bore of the pipe coil while the inflatable drum bladder is in a less inflated state, and a fluid valve secured to the inflatable drum bladder such that the fluid valve is fluidly connected to the internal fluid cavity defined in the inflatable drum bladder. The inflation fluid source supplies inflation fluid to the internal fluid cavity defined in the inflatable drum bladder via the fluid valve to facilitate transitioning the inflatable drum bladder from the less inflated state to a more inflated state to facilitate supporting the pipe coil from within the coil bore.

An automatically opening and closing inflatable holiday ornament includes a box that has a base, a plurality of side panels hingedly connected to the base, and a top portion connected to each of the plurality of side panels. The ornament further includes a motor, a plurality of pull cables, such that each of the plurality of pull cables has a first end operatively connected to the motor and a second end connected to one of the plurality of side panels. The ornament also includes a first blower, an inflatable disposed in the box and surrounding the first blower such that operation of the first blower blows air into the inflatable to inflate the inflatable, and a controller operatively connected to the motor and to the first blower such that the controller controls operation of the motor and the blower.

An automatically opening and closing inflatable holiday ornament includes a box that has a base, a plurality of side panels hingedly connected to the base, and a top portion connected to each of the plurality of side panels. The ornament further includes a motor, a plurality of pull cables, such that each of the plurality of pull cables has a first end operatively connected to the motor and a second end connected to one of the plurality of side panels. The ornament also includes a first blower, an inflatable disposed in the box and surrounding the first blower such that operation of the first blower blows air into the inflatable to inflate the inflatable, and a controller operatively connected to the motor and to the first blower such that the controller controls operation of the motor and the blower.

A portable expandable device with a contracting mechanism which allows for many forms of recreational products and structures to be expanded, reinforced in the expanded shape, and then contracted easily to regain its portable form. The expansion means is exercised by the use of at least one of the following, resiliently extending, unfolding, inflating, as to become an expanding form which can then be easily retracted to the redeployed form. The retraction mechanism reverses the expansion process utilizing a mechanism which sequentially exerts the forces needed in the proper locations in order to ensure proper contraction. Disclosed embodiments utilized supplemental structural reinforcement of the expanded form through the use of joints, releasable interlocks, latching mechanisms, air bladders, to ensure the form is stable and usable. The objective being a stable structure with a rapid and easy deployment and a supplemental retraction means as to be easily transportable.

A portable expandable device with a contracting mechanism which allows for many forms of recreational products and structures to be expanded, reinforced in the expanded shape, and then contracted easily to regain its portable form. The expansion means is exercised by the use of at least one of the following, resiliently extending, unfolding, inflating, as to become an expanding form which can then be easily retracted to the redeployed form. The retraction mechanism reverses the expansion process utilizing a mechanism which sequentially exerts the forces needed in the proper locations in order to ensure proper contraction. Disclosed embodiments utilized supplemental structural reinforcement of the expanded form through the use of joints, releasable interlocks, latching mechanisms, air bladders, to ensure the form is stable and usable. The objective being a stable structure with a rapid and easy deployment and a supplemental retraction means as to be easily transportable.

The invention relates to a cable winch comprising a cable drum onto which a cable can be wound, a temperature measuring device being provided to measure the temperature of the cable drum.

A winch hook comprises a hook portion and a loop receiving portion adapted for receiving a loop of a winch line. At least one three-dimensional feature of the winch hook is adapted to engage at least one three-dimensional feature of a fairlead so that the hook engages the fairlead while the hook is in at least four different orientations relative to the fairlead.