Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Buoy
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-12
2001-07-03
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Buoy
C441S030000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254445
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to buoys rapidly deployed to mark a site. More particularly, the buoy of this invention is inflated with chemical foam to resist deterioration and/or destruction.
Buoys are routinely used to mark the location of submerged objects for recovery or repair, channels, underwater obstacles, etc. Often, divers and crew members on patrol and/or recovery craft immediately need buoys to mark these features. But, most buoys tend to be rugged structures built to survive the hostile marine environment, and consequently, their size and bulk prevent many of them from being stored or carried by hand or on a smaller craft.
Currently, inflatable marker buoys are commercially available as a replacement for the bulky rigid buoys. These devices are inflated using a gas cartridge (usually CO
2
). They are compact enough to allow a diver to carry one or more of these buoys and inflate them underwater to mark a spot. However, once inflated, the bladder of the gas filled buoys are susceptible to being punctured and as a result may deflate and sink. Also, over a period of time, the gas filled buoys may fully or partially deflate due to leakage.
Thus, in accordance with this inventive concept, a need has been recognized in the state of the art for a lightweight marker buoy inflated with foam that hardens to be resistant to deflation and sinking if punctured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a buoy system to mark a site in water. A pair of chemical injector/cartridges each contains a different chemical compound of a binary chemical compound for producing foam. A housing mounts the pair of chemical injector/cartridges on it and has a chamber to mix the different compounds of the binary chemical compound to produce the foam. A balloon coupled to the housing receives the foam, is inflated by the foam and is maintained in an inflated condition as the foam hardens.
An object of the invention is to provide a lightweight inflatable marker buoy that is resistant to deflation and sinking if punctured.
Another object is to provide a marker buoy inflatable with chemical foam that hardens to prevent deflation and sinking.
Another object of the invention is to provide a foam-filled marker buoy that may be used by a diver while underwater, or delivered by air or dropped over the side of a boat and activated by a timer or on command by electronic or acoustic means.
Another object of the invention is to provide a quickly deployed, foam-filled buoy used as a temporary marker when an obstruction to navigation is found or when permanent buoys are moved or destroyed after a storm.
Another object is to provide a buoy inflatable with chemical foam that has hardened to prevent deflation and sinking if the inflated bladder is punctured.
Another object of the invention is to provide a marker buoy filled with hardened chemical foam to prevent deflation and sinking and to remain small with only added size and weight of chemical injectors/cartridges, valve mechanisms, and mixing chamber.
Another object of the invention is to provide a marker buoy filled with chemical foam that has hardened to prevent deflation and sinking and to maintain rigidity as compared to a buoy filled with gas.
Another object is to provide a marker buoy inflatable with chemical foam from chemical injectors/cartridges and mixing chamber to prevent deflation and sinking.
Another object is to provide a marker buoy inflatable with chemical foam from premixed chemical foam agents requiring moisture to cure to prevent deflation and sinking.
These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specification when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3616775 (1971-11-01), Holter
patent: 4405099 (1983-09-01), Bolen
patent: 4406631 (1983-09-01), Dale
Avila Stephen
Gilbert Harvey A.
Peck Donald G.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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