DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present invention generally relates to a rope-handling system used in offshore operations. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tri-pin vertical stand, used for weaving monkey fists.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[002] Special purpose crafts may be used for various tasks on the sea, in harbors, as well as in inland waters. For example, tugboats are used for assisting other vessels in various situations, typically requiring maneuvering in restricted waters. Tugboats can either tow the assisted vessel or push it. When towing, the tugboat and the assisted vessel are normally connected by a towline. The length of the towline may be regulated by a towing winch on the tugboat. The towline is connected to a bollard on the assisted vessel. The tasks performed by special-purpose crafts may range from ice breaking to waterway maintenance, including various situations that might necessitate the attachment of a vessel to another through a rope.

[003] The usual manner to connect a vessel to a special purpose craft or to a berth is to throw a heaving line from the vessel being attached to the deck of the special purpose craft or on the berth, respectively. A crew member on the special purpose craft then picks the heaving line and ties it to an end of the tow line. The heaving line and the connected tow- line are then heaved to the vessel, released from each other, and the towline is secured to a bollard or other structures of the vessel. At berth, the heaving line may already be connected to a mooring line of the vessel, and a member of the mooring crew, also called a linesman, picks the heaving line and heaves the mooring line, along with the heaving line, to berth. Then, the heaving line is released from the mooring line, and the mooring line is secured to a bollard or other structures of the berth. The weighted end of the heaving line is generally, a heavy ball or any rounded material lapped with the rope.

[004] The lapping of a heavy ball or a rounded material, being used as a weighted end, is a time-consuming activity (one day per weighted end). It even requires the person to have the skill of rope weaving. Untrained or inadequately qualified hands used for weaving would lead to entire work going futile.

[005] Therefore a need was felt to invent a device, which could make the Monkey fist weaving task simpler, less time-consuming, and low on skill set requirement.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION:
[006] Accordingly, the present invention discloses a rope-handling system used in offshore operations. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tri-pin vertical stand used for weaving ropes, more preferably monkey fists.

[007] In an embodiment, the tri-pin vertical stand comprises a horizontal platform; a vertical support arranged on the horizontal platform; and a plurality of pin members which consists of at least four number of pins which are affixed on the vertical support such that the pins are perpendicular to the plain of vertical stand and the base points of the pins forms the vertices of a square.

[008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand is compatible to weave monkey fists with all kinds of ropes which include but are not limited to Nylon, PP, and other synthetic.

[009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand reduces the time taken to wave a rope.

[010] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand helps to achieve higher productivity, preferably 2-3 monkey fists per day against the practice of 01 per day.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[011] The invention has other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[012] Fig 1(a) and Fig. 1(b) depict a tri-pin vertical stand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[013] While the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope.

[014] Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The meaning of "a", "an", and "the" include plural references. The meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on." Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. Additionally, a reference to the singular includes a reference to the plural unless otherwise stated or inconsistent with the disclosure herein.

[015] The figures and protocols have been represented where appropriate by conventional representations in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

[016] As illustrated in Figure 1, the tri-pin vertical stand comprises a horizontal platform (1); a vertical support (2) arranged on the horizontal platform (1); and plurality of pin members (3) affixed onto the vertical support (2). In an embodiment, the plurality of pin members (3), which consists of at least four pin members (3) are affixed on the vertical support (2) such that the pins are perpendicular to the plain of vertical stand and the base points of the pins forms the vertices of a square.

[017] For the purpose of weaving a monkey fist knot, which is the most preferred objective of the present invention, any kind of rope of suitable size is wound encircling all the pin members (3) for a defined number of turns. The number of turns are decided according to the size of monkey fist required. After winding around the pins, a solid ball of suitable material, having a predefined size and weight, is placed inside the winding. Thereafter, suitable number of turns are encircled around the previously wound rope in a direction perpendicular to the previous winding direction and in between the pin members (3). The said process is repeated in the third perpendicular plain. After weaving in all the three perpendicular planes, the woven ropes are securely slided out of the Tri-pin vertical stand and the rope ends are pulled to tighten the knot. After tightening a securing knot is made which prevent loosening of woven knot

[018] In another embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand is used for weaving knots, more preferably monkey fists.

[019] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand is made using scrap rods and wood from the floor of production Shops. This further reduces its manufacturing cost.

[020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vertical stand is compatible to weave monkey fists with all kinds of ropes which include but are not limited to Nylon, PP, and other synthetic.

[021] In another embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand is made vertical in shape for ease of working and ergonomics.

[022] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand reduces the requirement of skillset on part of a weaver.

[023] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand can perform monkey fist even with firm weaving grip.

[024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the tri-pin vertical stand helps a worker even with a minimum skill set of handling rope to weave.

[025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the vertical stand reduces the time taken to wave a rope.

[026] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the vertical stand helps to achieve higher productivity, preferably 2-3 monkey fists per day against the practice of 01 per day.

[027] ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION:
i. The present invention helps in saving manpower and man-hours when manufacturing monkey fists.
ii. The present invention is compatible to use with all kinds of ropes.
iii. The present invention helps a worker even with a minimum skill set of handling rope to weave.
,CLAIMS:1. A tri-pin vertical stand for weaving a monkey fist knots comprising of:
a horizontal platform (1);
a vertical support (2) arranged on the horizontal platform (1); and
plurality of pin members (3) affixed onto the vertical support (2).

2. The tri-pin vertical stand as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the plurality of pin members (3) are affixed on the vertical platform (2) and are perpendicular to the plain of vertical stand and the base points of the pins forms the vertices of a square.

3. The tri-pin vertical stand as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rope is made from a material selected from Nylon, PP, and other synthetic material.

4. The method of weaving a monkey fist knots by means of a tri-pin vertical stand comprising of steps:

a. encircling a rope around a plurality of pin members (3) with a predefined turns;
b. placing a solid ball of suitable material, size and weight inside the winding;
c. encircling with the same rope a suitable number of turns around the previously wound rope in a direction perpendicular to the previous winding direction and in between the pin members (3);
d. repeating the above steps in a third perpendicular plain; and
e. securely sliding out of the woven rope the tri-pin vertical stand and pulling the rope ends to tighten the knot.