GB1559901A

GB1559901A - Buoys

Info

Publication number: GB1559901A
Application number: GB3143877A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-03
Filing date: 1978-05-03
Publication date: 1980-01-30

Description

(54) BUOYS (71) I, WILLIAM ERNEST WEBJ3, a British subject of 127 The Avenue, Highams Park, London, E.4, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to buoys.

More specifically, this invention relates to a buoy comprising a light reflecting portion having an inclined surface or surfaces extending through 360" and buoyancy means separate from and arranged within the light reflecting portion, the buoy being so constructed that in use the light reflecting portion floats uppermost so that light from a source remote from the buoy can be reflected from the inclined surface or surfaces upwardly at an angle.

The buoy can float on seas, lakes and rivers. It is presently envisaged that the buoy will be mainly used on seas where a person has to abandon ship and either swim in the sea or take to a small life craft such as a dinghy or inflatable raft. The person would normally be difficult to spot from rescue vessels such as rescue aircraft or rescue ships. However, if the buoy of the invention is present with the person, light will be reflected upwardly from the light reflecting portion and this reflected light should be relatively easily spotted, thereby identifying the position of the person needing to be rescued and thereby helping to save his or her life. The light reflecting portion will reflect light from the sun during the day and light-from the moon or a searchlight, torch or the like at night.

Preferably, the buoyancy means is inflatable. The buoyancy means may be, for example, an inflatable tube or a bag. The buoyancy means may have a valve device for enabling oral inflation or inflation by a hand pump. However, if desired, the buoyancy means may be self-inflatable, for example from a compressed gas container. In this latter case, the buoyancy means may be arranged to self-inflate when a cord is pulled.

In an alternative construction, the buoyancy means is not inflatable and it takes the form of a. rigid-.floatable materiaL such for example as a foamed plastics material.

When the buoy is in the water, the water will usually have access to the interior of the light reflecting portion and will contact the buoyancy means for enabling the buoy to float. Such an arrangement helps to equalise pressure inside the outside the light reflecting portion, and also helps to stabilise the buoy in rough waters so that it does not bob about too much.

In one embodiment of the invention, the light reflecting portion has four flat surfaces arranged adjacent each other to form a pyramid. In another embodiment of the invention, the light reflecting portion has a single surface which is bent to form a cone.

Preferably, the light reflecting portion is made of a polished metal, for example polished tin, aluminium, an aluminium alloy, or chromium covered steel.

Alternatively, the light reflecting portion can be made of mirrored glass but then the glass -should be produced to be sufficiently tough that it will not easily break during use of the buoy,Also, - the metal chosen for the light reflecting portion should not corrode or be attacked by the sea or other water.

With some metals, water-resistant finishes may be applied to the metal to preserve it, whilst-still permitting the light to be reflected.

The buoy preferably includes a weight for causing the light reflecting portion to float uppermost. The weight is advantageously attached to the buoy by a rod and the rod preferably extends the whole length of the buoy and forms a support for the light reflecting portion. The rod can be made of the above mentioned metals, brass or a rigid plastics material. The weight can be of metal, e.g. brass or lead.

As an alternative to employing a rod, the weight can be attached to the buoy by a chain, rope, cord or the like. The chain, rope, cord or the like can be made of the above mentioned metals, or a plastics or rubber material that will not quickly corrode in use of the buoy.

As an alternative to employing a weight, the light reflecting portion may be kept uppermost by a similarly constructed depending portion, although the provision of such a depending portion may be more expensive than the mere provision of a weight.

The buoy of the invention may include attachment means by which the buoy can be sccured to a person or a lift craft. For example, the attachment means can be a ring through which a piece of string or cord can be passed.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first buoy in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows a second buoy in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure I, there is shown a buoy 2 comprising buoyancy means for enabling the buoy to float in the form of an inflatable inner tube 4. The tube 4 is adapted to be inflated by the mouth through a valve 6 and the valve 6 is provided with a stopper or a one-way valve device (not shown) to prevent unwanted escape of air from the tube 4.

The tube 4 is positioned inside a light reflecting pyramidal portion formed by four triangular reflecting metal plates 8. As shown the plates 8 are inclined at an angle of 45" to reflect light to the sky at 45 .

This angle can be set as desired, for example, to 150, 250 or an angle more than 45o.

The plates 8 may rest on a frame if desired. for example a wooden, plastics or metal frame. The plates 8 are anchored to the top of a central threaded rod 10 by a nut 12 bearing on a cap 14. Another nut 16 can secure a support platform 18 in position. the plates 8 resting on the support platform 18. The support platform 18 has a ring 19 for receiving a piece of Nvon cord by which the buov 2 can be attached to a person or life raft. The support platform 18 can also be made of wood, a plastics material or a metal.

A weight 20 is attached to the lower end of the rod 10 as shown in Figure 1. The length of the rod 10 below the platform 18 is preferably longer than the length of the rod 10 above the - platform 18. When the buoy is floating in water, the weight 20 is effective to maintain the reflecting portion constituted by the plates 8 uppermost. The tube 4 is then effective to keep at least the upper part of the reflectin portion out of the water so that it can reflect light Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a buoy 22 having a light reflecting portion 24 which is constructed like the light reelecting portion shown in Figure 1. Similar parts in Figures 1 and 2 have been given the same reference numeral and their construction and operation will not again be given in order to avoid undue repetition of description.

It will be seen in Figure 2, that the buoy 22 is provided with a bottom light reflecting portion 26 which is substantially the same as the upper light reflecting portion 24. Thus.

in the unlikely event that the buoy 22 should momentarily turn upside down, for example in turbulent seas, the bottom light reflecting portion 26 will be able to reflect light to enable an air or sea rescue vessel to spot the buoy 22. Obviously, the buoy 22 will usually be maintained in the upright position shown in Figure - 2 due to the air in the inner tube 4.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example only and that modifications can be effected.

Thus, for example, the tube 4 could be retained in a lower position in the light reflecting portions 8 and 22 than is shown, thereby to cause more of the light reflecting portions to float out of the water. Also, although the main purpose of the buoys is to help locate persons in need of rescue, the buoys could also be used for navigation purposes, for example to mark a navigable course or a reef, where the buoys of the present invention should be much easier to spot due to the light reflection than existing buoys.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A buoy comprising a light reflecting portion having an inclined surface or surfaces extending through 360" and buoyancy means separated from and arranged within the light reflecting portion, the buoy being so constructed that in use the light reflecting portion floats uppermost so that light from a source remote from the buoy can be reflected from the inclined surface or surfaces upwardly at an angle.

2. A buoy according to claim 1 in which the buoyancy means is inflatable.

3. A buoy according to claim 2 in which the buoyancy means is an inflatable tube or a bag.

4. A buoy according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the inflatable buoyancy means has a valve device for enabling oral inflation or inflation by a hand pump.

5. A buoy according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the buoyancy means is selfinflatable.

6. A buoy according to claim S in which the buovancy means is arranged to selfinflate when a cord is pulled.

7. A buoy according to claim 1 in which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. rubber material that will not quickly corrode in use of the buoy. As an alternative to employing a weight, the light reflecting portion may be kept uppermost by a similarly constructed depending portion, although the provision of such a depending portion may be more expensive than the mere provision of a weight. The buoy of the invention may include attachment means by which the buoy can be sccured to a person or a lift craft. For example, the attachment means can be a ring through which a piece of string or cord can be passed. Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first buoy in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows a second buoy in accordance with the invention. Referring to Figure I, there is shown a buoy 2 comprising buoyancy means for enabling the buoy to float in the form of an inflatable inner tube 4. The tube 4 is adapted to be inflated by the mouth through a valve 6 and the valve 6 is provided with a stopper or a one-way valve device (not shown) to prevent unwanted escape of air from the tube 4. The tube 4 is positioned inside a light reflecting pyramidal portion formed by four triangular reflecting metal plates 8. As shown the plates 8 are inclined at an angle of 45" to reflect light to the sky at 45 . This angle can be set as desired, for example, to 150, 250 or an angle more than 45o. The plates 8 may rest on a frame if desired. for example a wooden, plastics or metal frame. The plates 8 are anchored to the top of a central threaded rod 10 by a nut 12 bearing on a cap 14. Another nut 16 can secure a support platform 18 in position. the plates 8 resting on the support platform 18. The support platform 18 has a ring 19 for receiving a piece of Nvon cord by which the buov 2 can be attached to a person or life raft. The support platform 18 can also be made of wood, a plastics material or a metal. A weight 20 is attached to the lower end of the rod 10 as shown in Figure 1. The length of the rod 10 below the platform 18 is preferably longer than the length of the rod 10 above the - platform 18. When the buoy is floating in water, the weight 20 is effective to maintain the reflecting portion constituted by the plates 8 uppermost. The tube 4 is then effective to keep at least the upper part of the reflectin portion out of the water so that it can reflect light Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a buoy 22 having a light reflecting portion 24 which is constructed like the light reelecting portion shown in Figure 1. Similar parts in Figures 1 and 2 have been given the same reference numeral and their construction and operation will not again be given in order to avoid undue repetition of description. It will be seen in Figure 2, that the buoy 22 is provided with a bottom light reflecting portion 26 which is substantially the same as the upper light reflecting portion 24. Thus. in the unlikely event that the buoy 22 should momentarily turn upside down, for example in turbulent seas, the bottom light reflecting portion 26 will be able to reflect light to enable an air or sea rescue vessel to spot the buoy 22. Obviously, the buoy 22 will usually be maintained in the upright position shown in Figure - 2 due to the air in the inner tube 4. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example only and that modifications can be effected. Thus, for example, the tube 4 could be retained in a lower position in the light reflecting portions 8 and 22 than is shown, thereby to cause more of the light reflecting portions to float out of the water. Also, although the main purpose of the buoys is to help locate persons in need of rescue, the buoys could also be used for navigation purposes, for example to mark a navigable course or a reef, where the buoys of the present invention should be much easier to spot due to the light reflection than existing buoys. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A buoy comprising a light reflecting portion having an inclined surface or surfaces extending through 360" and buoyancy means separated from and arranged within the light reflecting portion, the buoy being so constructed that in use the light reflecting portion floats uppermost so that light from a source remote from the buoy can be reflected from the inclined surface or surfaces upwardly at an angle.

2. A buoy according to claim 1 in which the buoyancy means is inflatable.

7. A buoy according to claim 1 in which

the buoyancy means is a rigid floatable material.

8. A buoy according to claim 7 in which the rigid floatable material is a foamed plastics material.

9. A buoy according to any one of the preceding claims in which the light reflecting portion has four flat surfaces arranged adjacent each other to form a pyramid.

10. A buoy according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the light reflecting portion has a sing]e surface which is bent to form a cone.

11. A buoy according to any one of the preceding claims in which the light reflecting portion is made of a polished metal.

12. A buoy according to any one of claims 1 to 10 in which the light reflecting portion is made of mirrored glass.

13. A buoy according to any one of the preceding claims including a weight for causing the light reflecting portion to float uppermost.

14. A buoy according to claim 13 in which the weight is attached to the buoy by a rod.

15. A buoy according to claim 14 in which the rod extends the whole length of the buoy and forms a support for the light reflecting portion.

16. A buoy according to any one of claims 1 to 13 in which the weight is attached to the buoy by a chain, rope or cord.

17. A buoy according to any one of claims 1 to 12 in which, in use, the light reflecting portion is kept uppermost by a similarly constructed depending portion.

18. A buoy according to any one of the preceding claims including attachment means by which the buoy can be secured to a person or a life craft.

19. A buoy substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.