Abstract:
The remotely actuated marker buoy is releasably tethered to, or immediately adjacent to, a maritime animal trap (e.g., crab trap, lobster pot, etc.) or other submerged object requiring recovery. The operator (fisherman, etc.) uses a transmitter to send a signal to a receiver at the trap to release the buoy when trap recovery is desired. The buoy is tethered to the trap, enabling the fisherman to sight the buoy when it rises to the surface and thus recover the trap by drawing up the tether. The transmitter may include an authentication code requirement to prevent another party from recovering the trap if the transmitter is stolen. The system may include a reply transmitter at the trap to provide a signal if the trap is empty and cancel the release of the buoy. The operator may override this recovery cancellation, if desired.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of my prior application Ser. No. 13/288,025, filed Nov. 2, 2011, now pending. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to devices and systems for locating geographical positions and objects, and particularly to a remotely actuated marker buoy for maritime use. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Commercial and other seamen often have need to place an object on the bottom of a body of water, or at least at some depth below the surface. An example of such is the placement of crab traps, lobster pots, and/or other marine animal traps (i.e., “fish traps”) on the bottom of a body of water. Conventionally, such traps are placed in what appears to be a likely location to make a catch, and left in place for a few days. The fisherman then returns to recover the trap and retrieve the catch (if any) therein. 
         [0006]    Traditionally, such traps are marked by floats tethered to the trap by a line. The fisherman travels to the general location where the trap had been left, and seeks the floating marker buoy tethered to the trap. When the marker buoy is seen, the fisherman retrieves the buoy and hauls the trap to the surface by its tether line. 
         [0007]    While this technique is workable, it is not without its problems. One major problem with this system is that unscrupulous parties will often seek out such marker buoys and steal another fisherman&#39;s traps and any catch therein. Another problem is that the float or buoy will often break away from its tether line, or the line will break away from the trap, due to rough weather, fouling in the propeller or trailing lines from another boat, or other reasons. When this occurs, the trap and any catch that might be contained therein are lost, with little chance of recovery. The fisherman might grapple for the trap if he has a good idea of its specific location, but it is unlikely that the trap would be recovered in such circumstances. Moreover, the use of a grapple in an attempt to recover the trap may result in damage to the underlying surface. This is of some concern, if the bottom is formed of a coral reef or other relatively fragile structure. 
         [0008]    As a result, more and more fishermen have resorted to global positioning system (GPS) technology to locate their traps. GPS is quite useful in determining one&#39;s position within several yards or meters. Such accuracy is quite helpful in allowing the fisherman to position his boat within a few yards of the target spot on the surface of the water. However, GPS does not provide the required accuracy, which must be within a foot or two, for locating their traps. The fisherman still needs some additional means to locate the trap precisely to enable its recovery. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, fishermen have developed alternative technologies wherein the trap is equipped with a submerged, tethered marker buoy that is not released to float to the surface until a signal is received at the submerged trap to release the buoy. The problem of potential theft still exists with this system, as there are only a finite number of frequencies that might be used. Signal scrambling has been used as a solution to the limited frequency problem, but any given transmitter will still release the marker buoy of its associated trap, even if the transmitter is stolen by another party. 
         [0010]    In many cases the trap may be empty when the fisherman returns to recover it after perhaps a few days on the bottom. The fisherman may locate the general area of the trap, release the marker buoy (in the case of a submerged buoy), and recover the buoy and tethered trap, only to find that the trap is empty and that the work of trap recovery has been done with no profitable result. While certain systems have been developed in an effort to overcome this problem, they depend upon weight, rather than an actual count of the marine life that may enter the trap. Such systems are not particularly accurate, in that the weight may result from sediment or other debris falling through the porous mesh or screen of the trap. 
         [0011]    Thus, a remotely actuated marker buoy solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The remotely actuated marker buoy comprises a tethered unit releasably secured to a maritime animal trap (e.g., crab trap, lobster pot, etc.) or other submerged object where recovery of the object is desired. The marker buoy is secured adjacent the trap or submerged object, well below the surface of the water. When the trap is to be recovered, the fisherman travels to the general area of the trap (i.e., within several tens of yards or meters) and transmits a signal (e.g., acoustic, suitable radio frequencies, etc.) to a compatible receiver located with the trap and buoy. The receiver causes the buoy to be released from its direct attachment to the trap. The buoy then floats to the surface, drawing a tether from the trap to the surface. The fisherman may then observe the floating buoy and retrieve the buoy and its tether line to draw the trap to the surface. 
         [0013]    The remotely actuated marker buoy preferably includes means for preventing the theft or recovery of the trap by unauthorized persons. The surface transmitter operated by the fisherman preferably requires an access code, personal identification number (PIN), password, or the like before it will send a signal to the receiver at the trap. Thus, even though another party may gain access to the transmitter, the transmitter cannot be used to recover the submerged trap without knowledge of the proper password or code. 
         [0014]    If desired, provision may be made for the trap to remain submerged in the event that no catch has been made. In this situation, the receiver at the trap will not release the buoy if no catch has entered the trap. The receiver and buoy release apparatus at the trap may include a transmitter to send a reply to the surface to inform the fisherman that the buoy is not being released due to the lack of catch in the trap. The fisherman may override the non-release of the buoy to recover the buoy and trap. 
         [0015]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a remotely actuated marker buoy according to the present invention, illustrating its general operation. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a crab trap or fish trap equipped with the remotely actuated marker buoy of  FIG. 1 , illustrating its various features. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the basic steps in the method of operation of a remotely actuated marker buoy according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The remotely actuated marker buoy provides a convenient means for a fisherman or seaman to determine the precise location of a submerged object, and to recover that object, if desired.  FIG. 1  of the drawings provides an environmental perspective view of the operation of the system comprising the remotely actuated marker buoy and other components.  FIG. 2  provides a more detailed illustration of the various submerged components. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a submersible object  10  (e.g., crab trap, lobster pot, or generally a fish trap, or other object) is shown resting on the bottom of a body of water. The submersible object  10  has a tether line  12  attached thereto and extending therefrom. The tether line  12  has a distal end  14  with a marker buoy  16  attached thereto. The marker buoy  16  may comprise a solid unit having a specific gravity less than that of water, or a collapsed inflatable unit that is inflated when it is to be released. The balance of the tether line  12  is preferably stowed within a container  18  that is secured directly to the submersible object  10 , generally as shown in Figs,  1  and  2 . 
         [0021]    A receiver and actuator  20  (e.g., servo, relay, etc.) is secured to the submersible object  10 , and communicates mechanically with a release mechanism for the buoy  16 . The receiver portion of the receiver and actuator  20  may be of any suitable conventional type, e.g., a radio receiver configured to receive appropriate frequencies that may be transmitted through a depth of water, or an acoustic reception device, or other suitable receiver. The marker buoy may use a radio frequency (RF) receiver (or transceiver), a sonar receiver (or transceiver or transponder), or any other communications device known in the art capable of communicating underwater at the depth of the trap. The receiver provides a signal to the actuator when the receiver receives an appropriate signal, so that the actuator then releases the buoy  16  using conventional mechanical means. In the event that a solid, buoyant buoy  16  is used, a pin may be inserted through the tether attachment ring at the bottom of the buoy  16  or through a loop in the distal portion or end  14  of the tether line  12 , for example. The actuator may withdraw the pin to release the distal end  14  of the tether  12 . The buoy  16  then draws the distal end  14  of the tether  12  to the surface as the buoy  16  rises. Another example of such a release system might be to provide a small container of compressed gas (e.g., a CO 2  cartridge, etc.) that is opened by the actuator to inflate a collapsed inflatable buoy when the receiver receives the appropriate signal. These systems are conventional, and either of these or other conventional systems may be provided for release of the buoy. 
         [0022]    The fisherman or operator using the system from the surface has a transmitter  22  capable of transmitting an appropriate signal that is capable of being received by the receiver at the submersible object  10 . The transmitter  22  preferably includes a requirement for an authorization code to be entered before it will transmit a signal. This system prevents an unauthorized person from gaining access to the transmitter  22  and operating the transmitter to release the buoy(s)  16  to recover the submersible object(s) or trap(s)  10 . The authorization code system for the operation of a transmitter is conventional, and is somewhat similar to the conventional need for a password for many computer functions or a personal identification number (PIN) for accessing an automated bank terminal or the like. An authorization entry code counter may be included with the transmitter  22 . The code counter counts the number of attempts at entering the authorization code. In the event that an incorrect code is entered more than some predetermined number of times, e.g., three times, or some other number of attempts according to the settings in the transmitter, the transmitter  22  will “lock out” further attempts until cleared by appropriate means. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  of the drawings provides a detailed view of the submersible object  10  configured as a crab trap, lobster pot, or more generally, a trap for maritime animals. The receiver and actuator  20 , tether line container  18 , tether line  12 , and the distal end  14  of the tether line connected to the marker buoy  16  are all clearly illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The fish trap or maritime animal trap  10  includes an entryway  24 . A portion of the mesh or screen trap wall above the entryway  24  is shown broken away to show a catch entry counter device  26  disposed above the entryway  24 . The catch entry counter  26  includes an elongate trigger or stick-like element  28  depending therefrom and extending through the center of the entryway  24 . When an animal (lobster, crab, etc.) enters the trap  10 , the trigger  28  is pushed back, thereby causing the counter  26  to register a count. Other counter devices may be used in lieu of the mechanical counter shown in  FIG. 2  and described above, e.g., the breaking of a photoelectric beam across the entryway, etc. The catch entry counter  26  communicates with the receiver and actuator  20 , as described below in the discussion of the operation of the system. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  of the drawings provides a flowchart illustrating the basic steps in the method of operation of the remotely actuated marker buoy. The transmitter  22  ( FIG. 1 ) is preferably equipped with some means for determining its geographical location, e.g., a global positioning system (UPS) receiver, or alternatively, LORAN-C, or other suitable geographical location system. Such systems are conventional (e.g., innumerable “smart phones” now have UPS included therewith), so no further description of the inclusion of such a UPS system with the transmitter  22  need be provided here. The provision of a UPS system with the transmitter  22  is a convenience for the fisherman or operator of the remotely actuated marker buoy system, as he or she does not require an additional UPS receiver when the transmitter  22  is so equipped. 
         [0025]    The fisherman or operator of the system initially navigates to the approximate position of the submersible object and its submerged marker buoy according to GPS or other suitable navigation means. The use of the relatively precise UPS system, preferably included with the transmitter  22 , enables the operator to pinpoint his or her location within a few yards or meters. Once the operator has reached the desired location, he or she enters the authentication code and actuates the transmitter  22 , generally as indicated by the first step  30  of  FIG. 3 . Assuming that the operator enters the proper authentication code (second step  32 ,  FIG. 3 ), the transmitter  22  transmits a signal to the receiver and actuator  20  of the submersible object  10 , as indicated by the third step  34  of  FIG. 3 . However, in the event that the operator does not enter the proper authentication code, the procedure reverts back to the first step  30  of  FIG. 3  and the operator must attempt to enter the proper authentication code again. 
         [0026]    The transmitter  22  preferably includes a counter therewith, to count the number of attempts made at entering the authentication code, in the event that the maximum number of attempts is exceeded, as indicated by the fourth step  36  of  FIG. 3 , the transmitter  22  is locked out and will not transmit even in the event that the proper code is entered, generally as indicated by the fifth step  38  of  FIG. 3 . This system precludes unauthorized transmitter operation by an unauthorized person who might attempt to enter random authentication codes. The transmitter  22  must be cleared by appropriate means (e.g., entry of a certain security code or number, etc.) after it is locked out. 
         [0027]    When the receiver and actuator  20  of the submersible object  10  receives the signal from the transmitter  22 , it still will not release the tethered marker buoy  16  unless additional conditions are met. The catch entry counter  26  registers the number of maritime animals entering the trap  10  from the time the trap has been placed in the water, and communicates this count to the receiver and actuator  20  at each time an animal enters the trap. However, there may be times when no animals or catch enter the trap from the time it is set until the time that the operator attempts to retrieve the trap. In this situation, there may be no point in retrieving the trap. The receiver and actuator  20  may be set to cancel the buoy release signal from the transmitter  22  in the event that the catch entry counter does not detect any catch entering the trap  10 , and signal the receiver and actuator  20  accordingly. For example, the receiver and actuator  20  may be set to require a catch entry greater than zero, i.e., at least one or more, in order to release the buoy  16 . If the catch entry number is zero, indicating that no catch has entered the trap  10 , the receiver and actuator  20  will cancel the release of the buoy  16 , generally as indicated by the sixth step  40  and seventh step  42  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]    It will be noted that the fisherman or operator of the transmitter  22  will have no way of knowing the reason for the lack of release of the buoy  16  when the above scenario, i.e., zero catch, occurs. Accordingly, the receiver and actuator  20  may include a reply transmitter to send a return signal to the transmitter  22  being operated on the surface. This is essentially a transponder system. Such systems for automatically sending a reply to an initially transmitted signal are conventional in many areas (e.g., aviation radar, etc.). The transmitter  22  preferably includes some means for indicating the detection of the transmitted reply from the receiver and actuator  20 , e.g., a red light (or perhaps an aural tone, or other notification means) to indicate to the operator that (1) the receiver and actuator  20  did in fact receive the signal to release the buoy  16 , and (2) that the release signal has been canceled. due to the lack of catch entering the trap  10 . 
         [0029]    It will be seen that there may be times when the fisherman or operator wishes to retrieve the trap  10  even when no catch has been captured in the trap. Accordingly, the transmitter  22  may include an override command (eighth step  44 ,  FIG. 3 ) that may be transmitted to the receiver and actuator  20  that will cause the receiver and actuator to release the buoy  16  even when no catch has been detected entering the trap  10  by the catch entry counter  26 . Buoy release is indicated by the ninth step  46  of  FIG. 3 . The receiver and actuator  20  may include means for transmitting a different reply signal back to the transmitter  22  to indicate release of the buoy  16 , if desired, e.g., a signal that will actuate a green light (or some other indication of positive buoy release) on the transmitter  22 . However, as the release of the buoy  16  will be evident when it reaches the surface, such a positive release indicator to the transmitter  22  is optional in the remotely actuated marker buoy system. 
         [0030]    Accordingly, the remotely actuated marker buoy system in its various embodiments provides a secure and convenient means for the fisherman or other person(s) to retrieve a tethered and submerged buoyant float or buoy from a submersible object, and thereby retrieve the object by means of the tether from the buoy to the object. While the disclosure has been directed primarily to use of the system for the retrieval of crab traps, lobster pots, and other maritime animal traps, it will be seen that the system may be adapted for the recovery of virtually any submersible object that is intended to be submerged in a body of water and subsequently recovered. The remotely actuated marker buoy system will prove to be of great value and utility to fishermen and others who have need to recover objects placed upon the floor of the sea or other body of water, for whatever purpose. 
         [0031]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.