# US 8,783,746 B1 · Recovery stabilizing pole > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,746 B1 - Document ID: US8783746B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/630,284 - Filed: 2012-09-28 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-28 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Applicants: Craig S Mello - Inventors: Craig S Mello - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783746B1 ## CPC - B25J 1/04: rigid, e.g. shelf-reachers {(without grippers A47F13/06)} - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) ## Abstract A recovery stabilizing pole includes a tube having a passageway formed therethrough, and a handle pivotally joined to the tube. A fixed claw member and a hinged claw member are joined to a distal end of the tube, the hinged claw member being capable of pivoting with respect to the fixed claw member. One end of a cable is joined to the handle and the other is joined to the hinged jaw member. Increased tension in the cable causes pivoting of the hinged jaw member with respect to the fixed jaw member. Embodiments include an adjustment means at the distal end of the tube for angling the claw members with respect to the tube and different tensioning means for the cable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for steadying floating objects: a tubular member having a proximate end, a distal end and a passageway formed therein, a first opening being formed in said tubular member in communication with said passageway at the distal end, a second opening formed in communication with said passageway; a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle second end being pivotally mounted to said tubular member at a pivotal mounting location toward said proximate end of said tubular member, said tubular member second opening being formed near said handle; a fixed claw member positioned at the distal end of said tubular member, said fixed claw member having an opening therein; a pivotal claw member positioned at the distal end of said tubular member proximate said fixed claw member and being capable of pivoting with respect to said fixed claw member, said pivotal claw member having a mounting location formed thereon; and a cable having a proximate end joined to said handle and extending into said tubular member second aperture, through said tubular member passageway, out from said tubular member first opening, into said fixed claw member opening and a distal end joined to said pivotal claw mounting location, whereby movement of said handle applies tension to said cable causing said pivotal claw member to pivot with respect to said fixed claw member wherein said cable is mounted to said handle between said first end of said handle end said pivotal mounting location such that movement of said handle away from said tubular member causes tension in said cable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment means joined between said tubular member distal end and said fixed claw member and said pivotal claw member, said adjustment means being capable of adjusting the angle of said fixed claw member and said pivotal claw member with respect to said tubular member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a buoyant member joined to said tubular member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member has a length from about eight to about nine feet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said fixed claw member has a surface for engaging with an object, said fixed claw member surface being coated with a resilient material; and said pivotal claw member has a surface for engaging with an object, said pivotal claw member surface being coated with a resilient material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cam positioned on said handle at said pivotal mounting location, said cable being retained on said cam such that movement of said handle rotates said cam changes a distance between said cable and the pivotal mounting location and thereby changes tension in said cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a pin positioned in said tubular member proximate said second opening for redirecting said cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pin positioned in said tubular member proximate said second opening for redirecting said cable. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for steadying floating objects: a tubular member having a proximate end, a distal end and passageway formed therein, a first opening being formed in said tubular member in communication with said passageway at the distal end, a second opening formed in communication with said passageway; a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle second end being pivotally mounted to said tubular member at a pivotal mounting location toward said proximate end of said tubular member, said tubular member second opening being formed near said handle; a fixed claw member positioned at the distal end of said tubular member, said fixed claw member having an opening therein; a pivotal claw member positioned at the distal end of said tubular member proximate said fixed claw member and being capable of pivoting with respect to said fixed claw member, said pivotal claw member having a mounting location formed thereon; a cable having a proximate end joined to said handle and extending into said tubular member second aperture, through said tubular member passageway, out from said tubular member first opening, into said fixed claw member opening and a distal end joined to said pivotal claw mounting location, whereby movement of said handle applies tension to said cable causing said pivotal claw member to pivot with respect to said fixed claw member; and an elastomeric strip joined only to said pivotal claw member and positionable between the object and said cable. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for steadying floating objects: a tubular member having a proximate end, a distal end and a passageway formed therein, a first opening being formed in said tubular member in communication with said passageway at the distal end, a second opening formed in communication with said passageway; a handle having a first end and a second end, said handle second end being pivotally mounted to said tubular member at a pivotal mounting location toward said proximate end of said tubular member, said tubular member second opening being formed near said handle; a fixed claw member positioned at the distal end of said tubular member, said fixed claw member having an opening therein; a pivotal claw member positioned at the distal end of said tubular member proximate said fixed claw member and being capable of pivoting with respect to said fixed claw member, said pivotal claw member having a mounting location formed thereon; a cable having a proximate end joined to said handle and extending into said tubular member second aperture, through said tubular member passageway, out from said tubular member first opening, into said fixed claw member opening and a distal end joined to said pivotal claw mounting location, whereby movement of said handle applies tension to said cable causing said pivotal claw member to pivot with respect to said fixed claw member; and an elastomeric strip joined only to said fixed claw member and positionable between the object and said cable.