US-12623760-B2 - Recreational diving buoy and safety system

US12623760B2US 12623760 B2US12623760 B2US 12623760B2US-12623760-B2

Abstract

A diving safety system comprising a floatation buoy acting as a diving line spool, a slip ring within the buoy containing components of a wired and/or wireless electrical communication system allowing an underwater diver to communicate with a boat or shore-based persons, with a method of use.

Inventors

Christopher Price
Lee Shannon
Paul Leary

Assignees

Christopher Price
Lee Shannon
Paul Leary

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20211029

Claims (8)

1 . A diving safety system comprising: a floatation buoy comprising a cylindrical stem connecting two tear drop-shaped caps, one at either end of the cylindrical stem, and a slip ring running through a hollow in the cylindrical stem, such slip ring containing electronic communications components, wherein the cylindrical stem pays out or retrieves line upon turning of the flotation buoy and the electronic communications components comprise a receiver for incoming underwater wired or wireless transmissions, an electronics package comprising a microcontroller and digital logic circuit above-water transmitter for outgoing wired or wireless transmissions, a surface marker buoy containing location equipment, an underwater line, a diver-based underwater transmitter with a connected diver interface and an anchor or drogue, wherein the surface marker buoy receives and processes electronic communications from an underwater transmitter with a submerged diver and relays such communications to third parties above water.
2 . The diving safety system of claim 1 , wherein the surface marker buoy is tethered to the flotation buoy.
3 . The diving safety system of claim 1 , wherein the location equipment comprises one or more of a flag, a strobe light, an audio speaker and a GPS unit.
4 . The diving safety system of claim 3 , wherein the GPS unit is connected to the electronic communications components and thereby periodically broadcasts location coordinates.
5 . The diving safety system of claim 1 , wherein the underwater transmitter is a wired transmitter attached to the connected diver interface and/or a microphone.
6 . The diving safety system of claim 1 , wherein the connected diver interface comprises a panic button.
7 . The diving safety system of claim 1 , wherein the underwater transmitter is a first acoustic modem in communication with a second acoustic modem, which second acoustic modem is submerged on or near the flotation buoy or the surface marker buoy and interfaces with the electronic communications components of the flotation buoy.
8 . A method of using the diving safety system of claim 1 , wherein the diver initiates a transmission with the underwater transmitter to the receiver in the flotation buoy or the surface marker buoy, which transmission is further transmitted by the above-water transmitter to one or more third parties.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/110,859, filed on Nov. 6, 2020. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT No federal government funds were used in researching or developing this invention. NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT Not applicable. SEQUENCE LISTING INCLUDED AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN Not applicable. BACKGROUND Field of the Invention The invention is a recreational diving buoy and safety system. Background of the Invention Various diving safety systems, including buoy-dependent systems, are well known in the SCUBA diving community. In particular, surface marker buoys are required equipment for warning boaters of divers down and also to help in retrieval location. Such buoys often carry a “diver down” red and white flag with marker lights for high visibility. Additional safety equipment may also be placed on such buoys to aid divers after surfacing, such as whistles or air horns, a line and reel, or even a small inflatable float. Dive lines running from the surface to the bottom are also known safety features to aid submerged divers in maintaining their orientation and allowing them to resurface at or near the exact point of entry. These lines also assist divers in maintaining safe descent and ascent rates. Today, such lines typically run from a dive boat. While mooring buoys are well known for anchoring boats, the concept of a mobile or deployable mooring buoy for use in diving has typically been relegated to a common spherical or similar buoy style, attached to a rope with a shot weight or similar form of anchorage. Another common style buoy is known as a sausage, consisting of a long cylindrical inflatable sometimes with the words “Diver Below” printed on the material. Similarly, while available diving buoys are known to employ certain electronic devices such as LED lights for visibility, there is currently no buoy available to serve as an actual communications hub for diver(s) and personnel afloat or ashore, either in the event of an emergency or otherwise. What is needed is a single buoy that can simultaneously serve as a mobile location marker, dive line reel and, optionally, a buoy-based or separate communications hub for divers wishing to signal third parties above water and/or to communicate among divers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a line drawing evidencing an embodiment of a diving safety system comprising a flotation buoy, underwater communication line (contained within the underwater tending line) and transmission to a boat-based receiver. FIG. 2 is a line drawing evidencing an alternate embodiment of the system of FIG. 1, but with a separate float for transmission to a boat-based receiver, and with the underwater communication line attached to the underwater tending line externally and secured at predetermined intervals. FIG. 3 is a line drawing evidencing an alternate embodiment of the system of FIG. 1, but with a separate float for transmission to a shore-based receiver, and with the underwater communication line contained within the underwater tending line. FIG. 4 is a line drawing evidencing an alternate embodiment of the system of FIG. 1, comprising acoustic modems for communication between an anchoring point at the bottom of the tending line and a diver, an underwater communication line attached to the underwater tending line externally and secured at predetermined intervals, and with a separate float for transmission to a shore-based receiver. FIG. 5 is a line drawing evidencing an alternate embodiment of the system of FIG. 1, comprising acoustic modems for communication between a transceiver suspended from the flotation buoy and multiple divers, with an alternate embodiment for securing the transceiver and acoustic modem components, and an alternative embodiment of an anchoring system. FIG. 6 is a line drawing evidencing an alternate embodiment of the system of FIG. 1, comprising acoustic modems for communication between a separate float for transmission to a boat-based receiver that also has a component for acoustic communication to multiple divers, as well as a drogue suspended from the flotation reel. FIGS. 7A-7B are line drawings evidencing the flotation buoy of FIG. 1, including a slip ring to contain electronic communications equipment. FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing evidencing the electronic components and wired interfaces of the diving safety system of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing evidencing the electronic components and wireless interfaces of the diving safety system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a safety device and system for use in recreational diving and diving instruction, allowing a submerged diver to signal a person(s) on the surface or shore, or, in certain embodiments, other divers. Several iterations are disclosed, including the transmission of acoustic signals, wi