Abstract:
A buoy comprising: an annular upper portion disposed on a lower portion; a drain hole disposed in the upper portion proximate to the lower portion; a handhold disposed in the upper portion distal to the lower portion; an attachment member disposed in the lower portion and protruding from a bottom of the lower portion, wherein the bottom is opposite the upper portion; and wherein at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion comprises a closed cell foam.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/184,937 filed on Jun. 26, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In most inland water ways, conventional buoys that are utilized are nun, can, and danger buoys. Such buoys may, or may not, be lighted. Wherever used, however, it is desirable to ensure that the buoys will resist fracture, puncture, or distortion even when struck by water craft, or when buffeted by waves along the shoreline. It is desirable to have the buoys be virtually unsinkable, yet simple to manufacture. Many of the available channel markers meet many of these criteria but suffer drawbacks in terms of weight, size and the ability of an average person to move the marker—into the water, out of the water and to maneuver the marker once out of the water. Furthermore, there are no channel markers in the prior art which are unsinkable, have a replaceable ballast, are self-draining, and repairable. 
         [0003]    There remains a need for a buoy that is sufficiently lightweight and manageable in size, weight and design to permit the buoy to be moved by a single person or with less lifting equipment. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0004]    Disclosed herein is a buoy comprising: an annular central component having an upper end, a drain hole, a hand hold and a lower end. A collar is disposed around the annular central component and a ballast component is disposed on the lower end of the annular central component. The ballast component has an attachment member protruding from the ballast opposite the lower end. The annular central component, the collar, or both comprise a closed cell foam. 
         [0005]    The above described and other features are exemplified by the following figures and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Refer now to the figures, which are exemplary embodiments, and wherein the like elements are numbered alike. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 1 through 10  are schematic drawings of the buoys described herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The buoys described herein advantageously comprise closed cell polymeric foam which greatly decreases their weight. The presence of handholds facilitates handling of the buoys. The buoys have a drain hole which allows accumulated water to drain from the center of the buoy. The drain hole can be located above or below the collar. When the buoy is in the water the water line lies along the collar perimeter. When the drain hole is located above the collar the drain hole allows rain water or water from a wave to drain from the center of the buoy, thereby allowing the buoy to maintain buoyancy. Also, when the buoy is removed from the water the drain hole allows the water in the center of the buoy to drain, thereby providing a light weight article for movement and manipulation. 
         [0009]    When the drain hole is located below the collar, the water which enters the annular central component functions as ballast. This self-ballasting feature provides additional ballast for the buoy when in the water while providing a means for the water to be drained when the buoy is removed from the water, making the buoy lighter to handle out of the water. 
         [0010]    The drain hole is typically located above the collar in buoys having a height of 15 to 30 inches above the waterline. The drain hole is typically located below the collar in buoys having a height of 31 to 60 inches above the water line. 
         [0011]    The annular central component, the collar, or both comprise a closed cell polymeric foam. The polymeric foam can comprise an ionomer, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, or a combination thereof In some embodiments the polymeric foam comprises an ionomer. Exemplary ionomers are commercially available as Surlyn® and Iotek®. 
         [0012]    Turning now to the Figures,  FIG. 1  shows a buoy having an annular central component  10 , a collar  20 , and at least one drain hole  100 . It is contemplated that the annular central component may comprise a plurality of drain holes, e.g., 1 to 10, 2 to 8, or 3 to 6 drain holes. When the annular central component comprises a plurality of drain holes the drain holes may be grouped together proximate to the collar or distributed around the circumference of the annular central component proximate to the collar. The drain holes have a diameter of 1.2 centimeter (cm) to 10 cm, 2 cm to 8 cm, or 3 cm to 5.5 cm. The annular central component comprises a first handhold  30  and a second handhold  31  located 30° to 180°, 60° to 160°, preferably 180° from the first handhold. The annular central component can comprise a single handhold or 2 or more handholds, e.g., 1 to 10, 2 to 8, or 3 to 6 hand holds. The annular central component has an outer diameter  40 , an inner diameter  50  and a height  60 . The outer diameter can be 10 cm to 457 cm, or 10 cm to 365 cm, or, 10 cm to 61 cm, or 10 cm to 45 cm, or 20 cm to 457 cm, or 30 cm to 365 cm, or, 40 cm to 61 cm. The inner diameter is chosen so that the wall of the annular central component has a thickness of 2.5 cm to 15.5 cm, 2.5 cm to 13 cm, or 2.5 cm to 11 cm, or 3 cm to 15.5 cm, 4 cm to 13 cm, or 5 cm to 11 cm. The collar has a height  110  and an outer diameter  120  and is made from a closed cell foam. The height  110  can be 5% to 50%, 7% to 40%, or 9% to 30% of the height of the annular central component. The outer diameter of the collar is greater than outer diameter  40 , and can be 2.5 cm to 41 cm, or 2.5 cm to 31 cm, or 2.5 cm to 25.5 cm, or 3 cm to 41 cm, or 4 cm to 31 cm, or 5 cm to 25.5 cm greater than the outer diameter  40 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view from the top of the buoy and shows retaining member  70  running across the diameter and through the walls of the annular central component. When the drain hole is above the collar the distance  150  from the top of the collar to retaining member  70  can be 1.2 cm to 13 cm, or 2.5 cm to 10.2 cm, or 3.8 cm to 7.7 cm. While  FIG. 2  shows a single retaining member it is also contemplated that other retaining member configurations may be employed depending on design considerations such a ballast weight and structural support requirements. For example, the retaining member configuration may be a triangle, an X or hexagon with the caveat that the retaining member configuration allows for a connection member  80  from the retaining member  70  to the attachment member. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a view from the bottom of the buoy, a ballast  130  is disposed between the attachment member  90  and the lower end of the annular central component. The ballast may be unitary or modular and can easily be replaced as needed. When modular, modules, e.g., metal plates, may be added or removed to adjust the total quantity of ballast as desired. In an exemplary embodiment the ballast is modular and comprises at least one ballast plate. The ballast plate may comprise any suitable metal, such as steel, stainless steel, zinc, iron, or a combination thereof Also, the ballast plate may have any suitable shape, and may be circular, square, rectangular, or a combination thereof. The ballast plate may be large enough to cover the inner diameter  50  of the annular central component. The retaining member  70  and the connection member  80  can be made from any suitable material, such as a metal, such as steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, or polymeric material such as nylon, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, or polycarbonate. A combination comprising at least one of the foregoing may be used. Stainless steel, such as  316  stainless steel, is specifically mentioned. The ballast  130  and the attachment member  90  may be made from any suitable material, preferably a material having a density greater than 2 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm 3 ), e.g., a material having a density of 2 to 9 g/cm 3 . The ballast may comprise a metal. The metal may comprise iron, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, copper, silver, chromium, zinc, or combination thereof. The metal may be an alloy, such as steel, or a zinc alloy. In some embodiments the attachment member  90  comprises an eye bolt. The attachment member may further comprise a coating, such as galvanizing, if desired. 
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is another view showing the attachment member  90  and ballast  130  in relation to the buoy. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment  FIG. 5  shows a buoy having an annular central component  10 , a collar  20 , and a drain hole  100  below the collar. The annular central component has a height  60 , an inner diameter  50 , an outer diameter  40  and handholds as described above with regard to  FIG. 1 . The collar has a height  110  and an outer diameter as described with regard to  FIGS. 1-4 . The annular central component has at least one drain hole  100  between the collar and the lower end of the annular central component. In some embodiments the annular central component has at least two ballast holes, at least three ballast holes, or at least four ballast holes located between the collar and the lower end of the annular central component. When multiple ballast holes are employed they can be grouped close together or they can be evenly or unevenly spaced around the circumference of the annular central component. The annular central component has a distance  200  from the lower end to the retaining member and a distance  210  from the lower end to the ballast hole. The distance  200  can be 5 to 50%, 7% to 40%, or 9% to 30% of the height of the annular central component. The distance  210  can be 5 to 50%, 7% to 40%, or 9% to 30% of the height of the annular central component. In some embodiments the distance  210  is less than the distance  200 . 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-8  the annular central component further comprises a retaining member  70 , a connection member  80 , an attachment member  90 , and a ballast  130  as described above. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the buoy may comprise two attachment members  90 . In this case the buoy would also comprise two connection members (not shown). 
         [0019]    The buoy may further comprise a light, a radar reflector, or both. 
         [0020]    There is no particular limitation on the coloration of the buoy. Typically buoys are colored and marked according to standard navigational protocols. Optional marking materials include reflective materials. 
         [0021]    The buoy has a land weight of 4.5 kilograms (kg) to 226 kg, or 5 kg to 200 kg, or 6 kg to 100 kg. Land weight is defined as the weight of the buoy on land without any water ballast. 
         [0022]    The buoy is made by providing the annular central component having a hand hold and a lower end distal to the hand hold, providing the collar, attaching the collar to the annular central component, and disposing the ballast and the attachment member on the lower end of the annular central component. The collar can be attached by adhesive, heating and melting the closed cell foam, stainless steel rods, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
         [0023]    In the event of damage to the buoy, the buoy can be repaired by heating the area to be repaired, disposing a closed cell foam in the area, heating the closed cell foam and contacting the heated closed cell foam with an iron to complete the repair. 
         [0024]    In general, the invention may alternately comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, any appropriate components herein disclosed. The invention may additionally, or alternatively, be formulated so as to be devoid, or substantially free, of any components, materials, ingredients, adjuvants or species used in the prior art compositions or that are otherwise not necessary to the achievement of the function and/or objectives of the present invention. 
         [0025]    All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other (e.g., ranges of “up to 25 wt. %, or, more specifically, 5 wt. % to 20 wt. %”, is inclusive of the endpoints and all intermediate values of the ranges of “5 wt. % to 25 wt. %,” etc.). “Combination” is inclusive of blends, mixtures, alloys, reaction products, and the like. Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to denote one element from another. The terms “a” and “an” and “the” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, and are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The suffix “(s)” as used herein is intended to include both the singular and the plural of the term that it modifies, thereby including one or more of that term (e.g., the film(s) includes one or more films). Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment”, “another embodiment”, “an embodiment”, and so forth, means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, and/or characteristic) described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment described herein, and may or may not be present in other embodiments. In addition, it is to be understood that the described elements may be combined in any suitable manner in the various embodiments. 
         [0026]    While particular embodiments have been described, alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents that are or may be presently unforeseen may arise to applicants or others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims as filed and as they may be amended are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents.