Retrieval systems and methods for floating objects

1. A system for displacing a floating object comprising:

at least one jaw assembly operable in an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a latch assembly operable in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration; and

a lift assembly connected to the at least one jaw assembly to allow lifting and lowering of the at least one jaw assembly; whereby

the at least one jaw assembly supports the latch assembly such that, when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration, the latch assembly maintains the at least one jaw assembly in the open configuration;

when the at least one jaw assembly is in the open configuration, the at least one jaw assembly defines a jaw gap through which the floating object may pass;

the latch assembly is adapted to engage the floating object when the floating object has passed through the jaw gap such that the latch assembly is placed from the latched position into the unlatched position;

when the latch assembly is placed from the latched position into the unlatched position, the latch assembly allows the at least one jaw assembly to move from the open configuration into the closed configuration; and

the at least one jaw assembly is adapted to engage the floating object when in the closed configuration and thereby allow the lifting assembly to displace the at least one jaw assembly and the floating object.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 , in which the at least one jaw assembly comprises first and second jaw assemblies.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 , in which each jaw assembly comprises:

first and second jaw members; and

a main hinge member that rotatably connects the first and second jaw members; whereby

the first and second jaw members rotate relative to each other about the main hinge member as the at least one jaw assembly changes between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 , in which the latch assembly comprises:

first and second latch plates defining first and second plate planes, respectively; and

a latch pin that rotatably connects the first and second latch plates; whereby

the first and second latch plates are configured such that the first and second plate planes are downwardly rotated with respect to horizontal when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration; and

the first and second latch plates are configured such that the first and second plate planes are upwardly rotated with respect to horizontal when the latch assembly is in the unlatched configuration.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 , in which the latch assembly further comprises at least one release plate extending downwardly from at least one of the first and second latch plates.

6. A system as recited in claim 4 , in which:

the latch assembly further comprises a center plate having a first portion rigidly secured to the first latch plate and a second portion;

the second portion engages the second latch plate when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration; and

the second portion is disengaged from the second latch plate when the latch assembly is in the unlatched configuration.

7. A system as recited in claim 3 , in which the latch assembly comprises:

first and second latch plates defining first and second plate planes, respectively; and

a latch pin that rotatably connects the first and second latch plates; whereby

the first latch plate is operatively connected to the second jaw members;

the second latch plate is operatively connected to the first jaw members;

the first and second latch plates are configured such that the first and second plate planes are downwardly rotated with respect to horizontal when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration; and

the first and second latch plates are configured such that the first and second plate planes are upwardly rotated with respect to horizontal when the latch assembly is in the unlatched configuration.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 , in which the latch assembly further comprises at least one release plate extending downwardly from at least one of the first and second latch plates.

9. A system as recited in claim 7 , in which:

the latch assembly further comprises a center plate having a first portion rigidly secured to the first latch plate and a second portion;

the second portion engages the second latch plate when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration; and

the second portion is disengaged from the second latch plate when the latch assembly is in the unlatched configuration.

10. A system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a spring member for biasing the at least one jaw assembly into the closed configuration.

11. A method for displacing a floating object comprising:

providing at least one jaw assembly operable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, where, when the at least one jaw assembly is in the open configuration, the at least one jaw assembly defines a jaw gap through which the floating object may pass;

providing a latch assembly operable in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration; and

supporting the latch assembly on the at least one jaw assembly such that

when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration, the latch assembly maintains the at least one jaw assembly in the open configuration,

when the latch assembly is placed from the latched position into the unlatched position, the latch assembly allows the at least one jaw assembly to move from the open configuration into the closed configuration;

connecting a lift assembly to the at least one jaw assembly;

arranging the latch assembly in the latched configuration such that the at least one jaw assembly is in the open configuration; and

operating the lift assembly such that the object passes through the jaw gap and engages the latch assembly to place the latch assembly in the unlatched configuration and allow the at least one jaw assembly to move from the open configuration to the closed configuration;

operating the lifting assembly to displace the jaw assemblies and the floating object.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 , in which the step of providing at least one jaw assembly comprises the step of providing first and second jaw assemblies.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 , in which the step of providing the at least one jaw assembly comprises the steps of:

providing first and second jaw members; and

arranging a main hinge member to rotatably connect the first and second jaw members such that the first and second jaw members rotate relative to each other about the main hinge member as the at least one jaw assembly changes between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 , in which the step of providing the latch assembly comprises the steps of:

providing first and second latch plates defining first and second plate planes, respectively; and

arranging a latch pin to rotatably connect the first and second latch plates such that

the first and second plate planes are downwardly rotated with respect to horizontal when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration; and

the first and second plate planes are upwardly rotated with respect to horizontal when the latch assembly is in the unlatched configuration.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 , in which the step of providing the latch assembly further comprises the step of arranging at least one release plate to extend downwardly from at least one of the first and second latch plates.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 , in which the step of providing the latch assembly further comprises the steps of:

providing a center plate having a first portion and a second portion;

rigidly securing the first portion of the center plate to the first latch plate such that

the second portion engages the second latch plate when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration; and

the second portion is disengaged from the second latch plate when the latch assembly is in the unlatched configuration.

17. A method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising the step of arranging a spring member to bias the at least one jaw assembly into the closed configuration.

18. A system for engaging a floating object comprising:

at least one jaw assembly operable in an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a latch assembly comprising a release plate, the latch assembly being operable in a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration; whereby

the at least one jaw assembly supports the latch assembly such that, when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration, the latch assembly maintains the at least one jaw assembly in the open configuration;

when the at least one jaw assembly is in the open configuration, the at least one jaw assembly defines a jaw gap through which the floating object may pass;

the latch plate of the latch assembly is adapted to engage the floating object when the floating object has passed through the jaw gap such that the latch assembly is placed from the latched position into the unlatched position;

when the latch assembly is placed from the latched position into the unlatched position, the latch assembly allows the at least one jaw assembly to move from the open configuration into the closed configuration; and

the at least one jaw assembly is adapted to engage the floating object when in the closed configuration and thereby allow the lifting assembly to displace the at least one jaw assembly and the floating object.

19. A system as recited in claim 18 , in which each jaw assembly comprises:

first and second jaw members; and

a main hinge member that rotatably connects the first and second jaw members; whereby

the first and second jaw members rotate relative to each other about the main hinge member as the at least one jaw assembly changes between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

20. A system as recited in claim 18 , in which the latch assembly comprises:

first and second latch plates defining first and second plate planes, respectively; and

a latch pin that rotatably connects the first and second latch plates; whereby

the first and second latch plates are configured such that the first and second plate planes are downwardly rotated with respect to horizontal when the latch assembly is in the latched configuration; and

the first and second latch plates are configured such that the first and second plate planes are upwardly rotated with respect to horizontal when the latch assembly is in the unlatched configuration.

21. A system as recited in claim 18 , further comprising a spring member for biasing the at least one jaw assembly into the closed configuration.