Abstract: The disclosure relates to an assembly including a supporting buoy and an anchoring assembly (28) comprising a base (100) attached to the bed (12) of the expanse of water. The assembly comprises a flexible anchoring line (30) connecting the anchoring assembly (28) to the supporting buoy (26). The anchoring line (30) comprises a lower section (84) made of chain links (92). The anchoring assembly (28) comprises a device (110) for guiding the lower section (84). The lower section (84) is movably mounted in the guide device (110) relative to the base (100), between an extended configuration and a contracted configuration, and a locking member (114) which can be released from the anchor line (30) on the anchoring assembly (28).

Abstract: A buoy provided preferably for ascending in the water from an initial submerged position. The buoy comprises a buoyancy element positioned at an upper portion of the buoy in the ascending direction. Further the buoy comprises a storing structure for an elongated member positioned below the buoyancy element in the ascending direction, wherein one end of the elongated member is connected to the buoy and the other end of the elongated member is connected to an object submerged in the water. The buoyancy element is provided to obtain a rotation of the buoy around its central axis thereby paying out the elongated member while the buoy is ascending essentially vertically in the water.

Abstract: An underwater buoy system is disclosed. The system comprises a docking station (10) arranged to receive a buoy (14), and a reservoir (20) of gas under pressure with a first controllable valve (24) operable to release gas from the reservoir selectively. A buoy is received by the docking station and has a flotation chamber enabling the buoy to be rendered positively buoyant by gas released from the reservoir so that it ascends. The buoy has a second controllable valve (52) for venting gas from the flotation chamber to render the buoy negatively buoyant so that it sinks, and a retraction mechanism (35) having a line attached to the buoy and which is arranged to pay out line as the buoy ascends and to retract the line when the buoy sinks. A control system (48) actuates the first controllable valve at predetermined intervals or when sensor data is received which meets or exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A floating device for dispersing a solute-containing solution comprised of a floatation cap in communication with a telescoping assembly having a sleeve for controlling the dispersion of the solute-containing solution is herein provided, as well as associated methods of use.

Abstract: An energy conserving moored buoyant ocean profiler wherein an instrument carrying vertically traversing buoyant member of low buoyancy is interconnected with a second buoyant member of high buoyancy to travel in the opposite direction at lesser distance, such that the potential energy of one buoyant member is increased as the potential energy of the other is decreased, thereby conserving energy as the instrument carrying buoyant member is raised and lowered.

Abstract: A low watch circle buoy system (LWCBS) uses global positioning system (GPS) P(Y) code coordinate sensing and transmission to mark its position in wr depths up to 40 feet to a positional accuracy of 3 meters or less. LWCBS maintains this position with a flotation unit on the water's surface that transmits signals representative of its location. A submerged unit is affixed to a surface at the bottom of the body of water and has outwardly reaching extensions that lie adjacent the surface. The extensions are tethered to the flotation unit by lines that are each connected between a distal part of each of the extensions and the flotation unit. A spool on each distal part each deploys and secures one of the lines to maintain the flotation unit substantially vertically above the submerged unit. These tether lines limit the range (watch circle) the flotation unit may traverse on the water.

Abstract: A marker buoy includes a base with a post coupled to and extending theref, a line attached to the post and is wrapped about a portion thereof, and a float attached to the line and fitted over the wrapped portion of the post. When the marker buoy is deployed near the bottom of a body of water, the base sinks to the bottom and the float rises to the surface of the body of water causing the line to unwrap from the post. The line length is user set as a function of depth and speed of the surface current at the time of buoy placement and use.

Abstract: A flexible envelope made of water-tight material, such as rubber or plastic, partially filled with water, having a bubble of air at its upper end, and a weight at or attached to its lower end, the envelope being shaped and decorated for visual effect, when in use floating submerged in a body of water so as to provide a recreational or informational object.

Abstract: A unitary structure which serves as a waterfowl decoy anchor having attached anchor line which structure is configured to be removably received for storage on the keel of a floatable waterfowl decoy.

Abstract: An instrumentation package and float are releasably joined to an anchor by connector that holds the float and anchor together until the anchor impacts the ocean bottom. Upon impact, the inertia of the float and package cause a connector shaft to continue downward motion so that an inwardly biased ball is displaced from a lateral opening in a coaxially located connector housing. After the ball clears the retainer hole and is displaced into a lateral bore in the shaft and after the downward inertial travel of the float and package have stopped, the float pulls the shaft free from the connector housing to suspend the package a predetermined distance below the float via a supporting lanyard. An anchoring lanyard is provided to hold the instrumentation package a predetermined length above the anchor so that it is located a set distance above the ocean bottom.

Abstract: A device for use in a swimming pool to prevent a floating chlorine feeder from spending an inordinate amount of time near a single location in a swimming pool due to water currents is disclosed which uses a tether to place the feeder in a central location in the swimming pool. A retainer is attachable to a floating feeder, and a retainer hook is attached to the edge of the pool furthest away from the location to which the feeder is drawn by water currents. A tether cord between the hook and the retainer keeps the feeder in the central location in the pool, where it is maintained by the currents in the pool.

Abstract: A safety device to locate someone in trouble in the water. A three piece apparatus consisting of a U shaped nylon body mount and a modified rectangle polypropylene floater connected by a flexible line between the floater and body mount.

Abstract: An Air Deployed Oceanographic Mooring when assembled for deployment has a ltitude of components suitable for separation by explosive bolts upon deployment of the system. A parachute system is connected to a surface buoy. The components that separate from each other upon deployment comprise a parachute system, a surface float, a subsurface buoy, an anchor shell and a bottom finder. All components except for the parachute system have interconnecting flexible lines upon deployment. A novel locking mechanism for limiting the paying out of the line between the anchor shell and subsurface buoy is triggered by the slackening of the line between the bottom finder and anchor shell when the bottom finder hits the bottom of the ocean.

Abstract: A flotation restraint apparatus for use in a body of water comprising a longitudinal buoy of sufficient buoyancy to provide flotation along the longitudinal axis of a swimmer, an annular flotation collar connecting to the longitudinal buoy and extending about the body of the swimmer, a restraint line having one end attached radially proximate the point of attachment of the longitudinal buoy to the annular float collar, and an anchor connecting the other end of the restraint line to a fixed object.