EP2154060A2

EP2154060A2 - Luminous signalling buoy

Info

Publication number: EP2154060A2
Application number: EP09009321A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefano Repetto; Flavio Emilio Covi
Original assignee: Nuova Rade SpA
Current assignee: Nuova Rade SpA
Priority date: 2008-07-18
Filing date: 2009-07-17
Publication date: 2010-02-17
Also published as: ITGE20080059A1; EP2154060A3

Abstract

Luminous signalling buoy comprising a hollow, floating body (2) open at the top, the opening of which is closed by a transparent crown or capsule (4) that covers a light source (31) and that allows the light emitted by said source to be visible from the outside, the battery that supplies said light source being a single conventional battery of 1.5 volts.

Description

The subject of this invention is a luminous signalling buoy, for instance of the type supplied as emergency equipment for yachts.
Traditionally, buoys of this type are made up of a floating body equipped with a transparent cover or capsule hermetically sealed to said body inside which a light source is inserted, for instance, a common incandescent light bulb powered by batteries. The floating body is normally also fitted with a hook or ring for its fixing using a rope. The floating body is conformed in such way that the transparent capsule is above the floating line of the buoy, in such way that the light emitted by said light source is always visible from a distance during rescue operations.
Traditionally, the transparent capsule is screwed onto the body of the buoy and a gasket seal is placed between the two screwed parts. During the phases of opening and/or closing of the capsule on the buoy, said gasket is subjected to chafing and stresses that may damage it and, thus, for this type of buoy, it is often necessary to replace said gasket.
This invention solves the aforesaid problem by creating a snap-lock closing mechanism of the capsule on the body of the buoy by means of a hook. Furthermore, in this invention the supporting frame for the housing of the light source may be removed from inside the body of the buoy. The luminous body is advantageously created by means of at least one LED and is preferably powered, through a suitable electronic circuit, by a single conventional battery of 1.5 volts, elements which are also associated with the aforesaid support which is able to keep the light active, as required by the law for this type of product.
The fact that the electronic circuit and the battery are associated with the support makes the buoy of extremely reduced size (for instance of about 16 cm in length and about 8 cm in width).
The subject of this invention is a luminous signalling buoy having the characteristics of the attached claim 1. Further accessory characteristics of this buoy are expressed in the dependent claims.
One form of manufacturing, by way of an example but not limitative of this invention will be described making reference to the attached figures in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a lateral view of the buoy according to this invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates a second lateral view of the buoy according to this invention;
Fig. 3 illustrates a view from above of the buoy in figures 1 and 2;
Fig. 4 illustrates a central cross section of the buoy along A-A in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 illustrates a prospective view of the buoy in Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 illustrates a lateral view of the buoy in Fig. 1 with the locking mechanism open;
Fig. 7 illustrates a prospective view of the buoy in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 illustrates a prospective view of a supporting frame inside the buoy;
Fig. 9 illustrates a prospective view of a supporting frame inside the buoy with the battery removed;
Fig. 10 illustrates a prospective view of the buoy in Fig. 1 with the supporting frame removed;
Fig. 11 illustrates a prospective view of a supporting frame inside the buoy with the electronic circuit to supply the light source;
Fig. 12 illustrates an example of the electric layout of the supply circuit for the light source.

With reference to the aforesaid figures the luminous signalling buoy according to this invention comprises a hollow floating body 2 open at the top, having an upper portion or neck 21 of substantially cylindrical shape, an intermediate portion 22 substantially having a truncated cone shape and a lower portion 23 of substantially cylindrical shape.
This shape of the buoy determines its floating in such way that at least the upper cylindrical part emerges from the water.
The lower portion 23 of the hollow body advantageously has a ring 231 or equivalent means of binding by means of a rope.
The upper opening of the hollow body is closed by a transparent cover or capsule 4 which covers said light source and allows the light emitted by the source to be visible from outside the buoy.
Said cover 4 may be advantageously locked directly to the supporting frame and is associated with the mouth of the body of the buoy by its lower edge 41 by means of a snap-lock.
A supporting frame 3, which houses the light source 31 in its upper part, is advantageously inserted in the upper opening or mouth of the hollow body. An electronic circuit of supply for the light source and a housing 33 for a supply battery 34 are also associated with this supporting frame.
In particular, said locking mechanism comprises a hook 5 having a ring-shaped portion 51 connected by at least one small bridge 52 to a semi-ring-like portion 53.
The opposing ends of this semi-ring-like portion are hinged on the opposite sides of the lower rim 41 of the cover by means of a pair of pins 35 which are inserted in the frame 3, in such way as to fix the hook, the cover and the supporting frame in an articulated way.
According to this invention, the semi-ring-like portion is elastically deformable, in such way that when the hook is rotated by means of the aforesaid pins, the opposing ends 51 of this portion engage with and grip the neck of the hollow body 2 of the buoy. Advantageously, to guarantee greater stability of the locking, the neck of the hollow body may have a ring-shaped rim 212, below which one creates a seat for stable housing of said ring-like portion 51.
The supporting frame is made in a substantially cylindrical shape and the housings for the electronic circuit and the battery are created inside this, in such way that said frame may be inserted and removed from above in the upper opening of the hollow body as illustrated in Fig. 10. This makes battery replacement easier and avoids the presence of connectors which sometimes make said battery replacement operation complicated.
The light source is preferably a light source comprising one or more LED. The battery is advantageously a single conventional battery of 1.5 volts. Indeed, the electronic circuit allows one to power the LED for a long time with a single battery, instead of the four or five batteries conventionally used in the above mentioned prior art buoys.
In figure 11 one illustrates the internal extractable frame on which the electronic circuit C is positioned and on which, in turn, the light source is located.
A possible electrical scheme to supply the light source is shown in the figure in which said light source is represented by an LED.
In this circuit one highlights the means of storage of electrical current to be sent to the light source, for instance made with an electrical storage capacitor C1 and means for discharge of said capacitor in a predetermined instant, in such way as to supply said LED intermittently. For this purpose, said starter means comprise an electronic switch Q1 and the relative piloting circuit.
The luminous signalling buoy according to this invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all coming under the same inventive concept. Furthermore, in practice the materials used, as well as their size and components, may be modified according to needs without, however, leaving the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

Luminous signalling buoy comprising a hollow, floating body (2) open at the top, the opening of which is closed by a transparent cover or capsule (4) that covers a light source (31) and that allows the light emitted by said source to be visible from the outside, characterised by the fact that the battery that supplies said light source is a single conventional battery of 1.5 volts.
Buoy according to claim 1, wherein said cover (4) is associated to the mouth of the hollow, floating body by means of a snap-lock mechanism.
Buoy according to claim 1, wherein in the upper opening or mouth of the hollow body an extractable supporting frame (3) is inserted which houses the light source (31) in its upper portion.
Buoy according to claim 1, wherein said supporting frame is associated with an electronic circuit to feed the light source and a housing (33) for said feeder battery (34).
Buoy according to claim 1, wherein said snap-lock mechanism comprises a hook (5) having a ring-like portion (51) connected by at least one small bridge (52) to a semi-ring-like portion (53), the opposing ends of this semi-ring-like portion being hinged on the opposite sides of the lower rim (41) of the cover (4) by means of a pair of pins (35) which are inserted in the frame (3), in such way as to fix the hook, the cover and the supporting frame in an articulated way.
Buoy according to claim 1, wherein the semi-ring-like portion is elastically deformable, in such way that when the hook is rotated by means of the aforesaid pins, the opposing ends of this portion (51) engage with and grip the neck (21) of the hollow, floating body.
Buoy according to claim 5, wherein the neck of the hollow body has a ring-shaped rim (212), below which one has a place for the stable housing of this said ring-like portion (51).
Buoy according to claim 1, wherein the supporting frame is made in a substantially cylindrical shape and the housings for the electronic circuit and the battery are created inside this.
Buoy according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light source comprising one or more LED.