Lighted Dive Buoy

Abstract

A diver's buoy is provided. The buoy includes a floatation device that carries a display panel. A power source and light source are provided to increase visibility of the buoy. Stabilization devices may be provided to reduce pitching of the buoy to also improve visibility.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/235,831 filed Aug. 21, 2009, entitled “LIGHTED DIVE BOUY”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

A dive buoy with a lighted display to indicate the presence of a diver in the area. The buoy includes a floatation device with a lighted display that can be selectively illuminated. A flag may also be carried by the floatation device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Buoys are well known in the art. They are of particular importance to scuba divers to mark their location below to boaters and the like to reduce the risk of accidents. The diver's flag is well known, is attached to a floatation device, and may be anchored in place or tethered to a diver for movement with the diver. The flag and float may also be tethered to a boat. While effective, the use of a flag on a float does present problems, particularly in low light and choppy water. In addition, some boaters do not understand the significance of a diver's flag or are aware that they should look for one.

Another problem with a diver's flag is that it pitches with waves in the water. This occurs because there is no ballast associated with the float to which the flag is attached. The float will retain the flag in a generally upright orientation when there is ballast associated with the float.

The ballast may be internal or external of the float. Even with ballast, the flag will pitch with the float when the float is in choppy water and not be readily visible to all boaters.

Thus, there is a need for an improved diver's flag or indicator which is readily visible regardless of the conditions under which it is displayed.

SUMMARY

The present invention involves the provision of a dive buoy for scuba divers. The buoy includes a floatation device. The buoy is provided with means to maintain the floatation device in a generally upright orientation. A light transmissive panel is associated with the floatation device and includes indicia to indicate the presence of a diver in the area. A power source is associated with the floatation device and is connected to a light source. The light source cooperates with the panel for selectively illuminating the panel to highlight the indicia. A tether device is associated with the floatation device.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a diver flag or indicator which is highly visible.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an indicator for use with divers which is also visible from beneath the surface of the water.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an indicator for use with divers that may be used in conjunction with a life ring.

It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide an indicator for use with divers which employs reflective surfaces for greater visibility.

It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide an indicator for use with divers which employs lights for greater visibility in low light conditions.

It is still yet a further objective of the present invention to provide an indicator for use with divers which may be readily assembled and disassembled for storage when it is not in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat with an associated buoy for indicating a diver in the area;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of a float useful to provide a display panel and form a buoy;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an alternate display panel on a buoy;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an additional alternate display panel on a buoy;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the display panel shown in FIGS. 1, 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an additional alternate display panel on a buoy;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of an additional alternate display panel on a buoy;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the present invention employed with a life ring;

FIG. 9 is a view of the underside of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is another alternative embodiment of the present invention employing separable hemispherical elements;

FIG. 12 is another alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Like numbers used throughout this application represent like or similar parts and/or construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

The reference numeral 1 designates a dive buoy attached to a boat 2 by a tether 4. The buoy 1 includes a display panel 6 that can be selectively illuminated and preferably also includes a diver's flag 8 as well. Diver's flags are well known in the art and have a diagonal white stripe 10 and a red background 11. The flag 8 may be rigid to stay fully exposed. The buoy 1 includes a floatation device 14. The flag 8 may be mounted on a rod or mast 12, that in turn is mounted to the floatation device 14.

FIGS. 2, 3, 6 illustrate one form of floatation device 14. As shown, the floatation device 14 is generally spherical and has a bore 16 adapted to receive the rod 12 therein for mounting. The rod 12 may be removably secured to the floatation device 14 as by threaded engagement at 18. In use, the floatation device 14 has a top portion 19 and a bottom portion 20 with the rod 12 extending outwardly from the top portion 19. (As used herein, orientation terms are used to indicate positions when the buoy is in its normal orientation for use.) Ballast 22 can be provided and can be positioned in the interior of the floatation device 14 or positioned outside of the floatation device. As seen in FIGS. 3, 4, the ballast 22 is suspended from the floatation device as with a hanger assembly 24. The ballast 22 is an orientation device which maintains the floatation device 14 in a generally upright position. A plurality of ballasts 22 can be utilized if desired. The hanger assembly 24 may be removably mounted to the floatation device 14 as by extending into the bore 16 from the bottom portion and be threadably coupled to the floatation device, or may be suspended from one or more attachment devices 26 secured to an outer wall 28 of the floatation device. The attachment devices 26 can also be used to attach a tether or anchor line to the floatation device 14 from a vessel or land.

The floatation device 14 of FIG. 2 is shown as being generally spherical. It is to be understood that any suitable shape may be provided such as cylindrical, rectangular and the like. It should also be noted that the floatation device can be constructed from a luminescent, e.g. glow in the dark, or otherwise illuminating material. Preferably the outer wall 28 of the floatation device is constructed from a translucent material. This permits the passage of light from the interior of the device to the exterior so that the device may be seen from a distance. It should further be noted that the floatation device can be used by itself for use as a channel or crab trap indicator or the floatation device may be used with pre-existing dive flag components to add functionality thereto. The floatation device may also include reflectors or mirrors positioned on its outer diameter to further reflect light. The outer wall 28 can also be made from a mirror like or reflective material. The illustrated floatation device 14 is constructed to provide access to the interior 30 for the mounting of a power source 32 and a light source 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the floatation device can have portions releasably connected together as at 36 as by threaded engagement, bayonet mount and the like. The power source 32 is coupled to the light source 34 and is operable to selectively power the lamps 35 of the light source. Preferably, the lamps 35 are of a high efficiency type such as LED's. A switch, not shown, can be connected between the power source 32 and the light source 34 for selective illumination of the light source 34. The switch may include an emergency mode that causes the lights to blink and may additionally cause a siren to sound. A preferred power source 32 includes a battery pack 38 using rechargeable batteries. Also preferred as part of the power source 32 is one or more solar cells 37 coupled to the battery pack 38 to provide electrical energy to the battery pack 38 to effect recharging by converting light energy to electrical energy. The solar cells 37 can be mounted to the wall 28 for exposure to light, such as sunlight. In a preferred embodiment, the wall 28 can be light transmissive by being transparent or translucent at least in selected areas. The solar cells 37 can then be mounted in the interior 30. In a preferred embodiment, the rod 12 is also constructed to be light transmissive and hollow, contain light members that may be illuminated with the floatation device 14 and/or the display panel 6. Lamps can also be placed on the exterior of the floatation device 14 to enhance its visibility. The lamps on the exterior of the floatation device and the translucent material of the outer wall 28 enable lights to be directed downwardly so that an ascending diver or someone under the water can observe the floatation device. This feature enables the device to be utilized as a reference point for divers to return to their boat or platform.

A GPS device 39 can optionally be positioned within the interior of floatation device 14. The GPS device 39 can communicate with satellites in orbit to determine the exact location of the floatation device. The GPS device may be provided with its own antenna or it may employ rod 12 as an antenna. The GPS device can display the location of the floatation device 14 on the exterior of the floatation device so that the location may be readily observed by anyone in the vicinity of the floatation device. A digital wireless communications device 41 can also be positioned within the interior of the floatation device. The digital wireless communications device can be placed in communications with other communication devices on land or other vessels. The digital wireless communications device 41 can transmit the location of the floatation device to other communication devices on land or on other vessels by utilizing the GPS device 39. The digital communications device 41 can function similar to On Star® devices used in automobiles. Alternatively, the digital communications device can operate one way only, i.e. transmit only when activated. The device 41 can be manually actuated or be programmed to be actuated whenever the diver or other person utilizing the floatation device is in danger. For example, if the device 41 is moved violently, if the device 41 comes in contact with water, if the device 41 is not actuated for a period of time (which would indicate that the diver cannot retrieve the floatation device and may be in danger), etc.

The display panel 6 can be configured for exposure and visibility in several configurations as seen in the various Figures. As seen in FIG. 2, the display panel 6 is mounted in the interior 30 and is associated with the light source 34 for illumination of the display panel. As shown, the light source 34 is positioned interiorly of the display panel 6 to backlight the display panel. This allows for the light source 34 to simultaneously illuminate more than one display panel 6. The display panel 6 may be provided with indicia 40 for illumination and communication to a viewer that a diver may be in the area and to proceed with caution. The indicia 40 on the display panel can be a diver's flag similar to flag 8 secured atop rod 12, in FIG. 1. While the display panel 6 is shown as having indicia applied thereto for illumination, it is to be understood that the panel could also be an LCD or plasma screen that can be illuminated and display an image stored in a memory transmitting light through portions thereof. The display panel 6 can be mounted to the outer wall 28 which can be light transmissive for illumination by backlighting. The display panel 6 may also be positioned on an outer surface of the wall 28. It is to be noted that a plurality of display panels 6 may be provided, preferably with each panel facing a different direction. Each panel can be illuminated by a light source 34.

FIGS. 3, 5 show an alternate embodiment of the buoy 1. As illustrated, the buoy 1 has a display panel 6 mounted in a housing 50 that is mounted on the floatation device 14 on the rod 12. The housing 50 can be provided with a display panel 6 on opposite sides of the housing 50 for increased exposure. In the illustrated structure, the buoy 1 is provided with ballast 22 as described above. The housing 50 can be provided with attachment devices 26 as described above. The light source 34 and power source 32 can be mounted in the housing 50 or the light source can be in the housing 50 and the power source in the floatation device 14 and connected together by wiring 52. Preferably, the housing 50 is watertight. As shown, mounting devices 54 can be attached to the housing 50, whereby the housing and its display panel(s) 6 can be mounted to other than the floatation device, e.g., a boat or boat window. The illustrated mounting devices 54 are suction cups. The attachment devices 26 can also be used for supplemental mounting, as suspending the device from hooks or the like.

FIG. 4 shows an additional embodiment wherein the floatation device 14 is generally in the form of a rectangular solid with a peaked roof 55 with a pair of roof panels 57. Each roof panel 57 can be provided with a display panel 6 as described above. The embodiment of the buoy 1 of FIG. 4 is shown with a hanger assembly 24 and ballast 22. A power source 32 and light source 34 can be mounted in the interior of the floatation device 14 as described above.

FIG. 6 shows a still further embodiment of the buoy 1 having a housing 60 with a generally triangular transverse cross sectional shape providing for three display panels 6 each with indicia 40 thereon. The power source 32 and light source 34 can be in the housing 60 as described above for the structure in FIGS. 3, 5. The power source 32 could be in the floatation device 14 and connected to the light source by wiring 52.

The buoy 1 can also be provided with an outrigger 70 as seen in FIG. 1. As shown, the outrigger 70 can be secured to the floatation device 14 to reduce pitching movement of the floatation device 14 and parts mounted thereto like the flag 8. The outrigger 70 is an orientation device which maintains the buoy 1 in a generally upright position. A plurality of outriggers 70 can be utilized if desired. The outriggers 70 can be provided with lights and/or reflective surfaces.

FIG. 7 shows a still further embodiment of the buoy 1 having a tube or cylindrical element 71 secured around the rod 12. The tube 71 can be a continuous element with an open top and bottom. The tube 71 can also be slit along a length thereof so as to be readily securable onto rod 12. Tube 71 can also be a cylindrical element with a substantially closed top and bottom. LEDs or other illumination devices 72 can be secured to the surface of tube 71. Mirrors 74 can also be secured to the surface of tube 71. Reflectors 76 can also be secured to the surface of tube 71. Alternatively, one or more of the illumination devices, mirrors and reflectors can be secured to the surface of tube 71.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the present invention. A life ring 80 is provided with a plurality of support members 82. These support members are preferably secured to one another to form a cross or “X”. The ends of the support members are secured to the inner surface of the life ring. The area at which the support members meet is preferably provided with an aperture into which a pole or rod of a dive flag 8 is inserted. The buoyancy of the life ring retains the dive flag in a substantially upright position even in conditions of rough waters. A plurality of lights 84 are secured to the underside of life ring 80. These lights can be self powered or obtain their power from a central source, not shown. The central power source can be a battery, solar power or a combination of both. Lights 84 can also be secured to the upper surface of the life ring. While four support member 82 are shown in the shape of an “X” any number of support members can be employed.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of floats 86 are secured to support rods 88. The support rods are secured to a central member 90. Member 90 is in the form of a cross or “X”. An aperture 94 in member 90 permits the insertion of a diver's flag. Preferably the supports rods 88 are secured to member 90 with a pivotable connection at points 92. This type of construction enables the device to be folded for storage when it is not in use. While four support members 88 are shown, any number of support members 88 can be employed.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 can be optionally provided with an illuminated display 96. Display 96 is preferably formed of a tubular member 98 which contains at least one and preferably two lights 100. Lights 100 are preferably self powered, but can also be powered from a central power source, not shown. While a single display 96 is illustrated, a preferred embodiment utilizes four displays, one at each end of the support rods 88.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment wherein the floatation device 14 comprises two hemispherical elements 102, 104 secured to a central disc 106. Each of the hemispherical elements 102 and 104 can be secured to disc 106 in any number of ways. They can be threadable secured. They can be snap fit secured. They can employ bayonet connections, etc. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 can also be provided with all of the features illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2, reflectors, lights, reflective material on the outer surface, luminescent material utilized for elements 102 and 104, lights directed downwardly under the surface of the water, a dive flag pole, etc. Further, only one of the hemispherical members 102, 104 can be employed. When only one member is used, it is employed above the surface of the water.

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 10 is provided with one of the hemispherical elements 102, 104 of FIG. 11. Lights 35 can be provided on the outer surface of element 102. Element 102 can be made from a reflective material or be coated with a reflective material. Reflectors 108 can also be secured to element 102.

FIG. 12 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention. A conventional dive ball 110 is provided with the floatation device 14 of the present invention. Hemispherical elements 102, 104 are provided with abutment members 112. Abutment members 112 position the hemispherical elements 102, 104 around the dive ball 110. The abutment members 112 provide a space between the dive ball and the hemispherical members. This embodiment can also be provided with lights and power source(s). The wires for the lights can pass through the space between the dive ball and the hemispherical elements. Apertures 114 in elements 102 and 104 can be employed to run or pass wires or other members through elements 102 and 104. For example, if lights were to be placed on the outer surface of elements 102 and/or 104, wires could be run from the lights to a power source within elements 102, 104.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A buoy for use by scuba divers, comprising:

a floatation member;

an orientation device which maintains said floatation device in a generally upright orientation when said floatation device is placed in a body of water;

a display panel associated with said floatation device, said display panel including at least one light source operable to provide an image indicating the location of the floatation member;

a power source associated with said floatation device, said power source providing power to said at least one light source; and

a tether associated with said floatation device, wherein said display panel indicates the presence of an individual in the water.

2. The buoy of claim 1, wherein said orientation device is at least one outrigger type float secured to an outer surface of said floatation device.

3. The buoy of claim 1, wherein said orientation device is a ballast member secured to an underside of said floatation device.

4. The buoy of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source cooperates with said display panel to illuminate said display panel and indicia positioned on said display panel.

5. The buoy of claim 4, wherein said indicia is a diver's flag.

6. The buoy of claim 1, including a sign secured to said floatation device, said sign including at least one panel, said at least one light source positioned to illuminate said at least one panel.

7. The buoy of claim 6, wherein said sign includes a plurality of panels, said at least one light source positioned to illuminate all of said panels.

8. The buoy of claim 6, wherein said sign is removable from said floatation device, said sign includes mounting members thereon, said mounting members being constructed and arranged to secure said sign to a vessel.

9. The buoy of claim 8, wherein said mounting members are suction cups.

10. The buoy of claim 1 including an attachment device positioned on said floatation device, said tether secured to said attachment device, whereby said floatation device can be secured to a vessel or land.

11. The buoy of claim 1 wherein said power source includes a battery system, said battery system includes a rechargeable battery and a solar panel, said solar panel is electrically connected to said rechargeable battery to effect charging of said rechargeable battery.

12. The buoy of claim 11 wherein said battery system provides electrical power to said floatation device when there is no sunlight.

13. The buoy of claim 1 including a diver's flag mounted on a rod above said display panel.

14. The buoy of claim 1 wherein said floatation device includes an outer wall forming a housing, said housing being separable into at least two components, said at least two components providing access to the interior of said floatation device when said at least two components are separated, said at least one light source is positioned within said housing.

15. The buoy of claim 14 including a bore in said outer wall of said floatation device, said bore extending into the interior of said housing.

16. The buoy of claim 15 including a rod, said rod extending from the interior of said housing, through said bore and outwardly from said outer wall of said housing.

17. The buoy of claim 16 wherein said display panel is mounted on said rod on the exterior of said housing.

18. The buoy of claim 1 including a GPS device positioned on said floatation device.

19. The buoy of claim 1 including a digital wireless communications device positioned on said floatation device.

20. The buoy of claim 19 wherein said GPS device is in communication with said digital wireless communications device.