Patent Publication Number: US-11663935-B1

Title: Launchable communication device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/334,790 and contains at least a claim to a claimed invention that has an effective filing date as defined in 35 U.S.C 100(i) that is on or after Mar. 16, 2013, the following U.S. application commonly owned with this application by Richard Wellman Jarvis and Mei Fong Jarvis: Ser. No. 63/334,790 filed on Apr. 26, 2022, titled “Launchable Diver Distress Surface or Under Surface Signal Assembly”, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditionally, a dive flag or other similar marker is used to identify a scuba diver&#39;s underwater position and warn surface vessels that a diver is in the vicinity. The traditional surface marker buoy typically includes a permanently attached flag, which may be vulnerable to winds and waves. The traditional dive marker is simply a fixed location indicator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. 
         FIG.  1    is a front view illustrating a launchable communication device in an extended position in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a partial, exploded view illustrating a launchable communication device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a view of a launchable communication device in a collapsing position in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a view of a flag operating assembly of a launchable communication device in an extended position in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a view of a flag operating assembly of a launchable communication device in a partially collapsed position in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    is an exemplary illustration of a launchable communication device secured on a flotation device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    is an exemplary illustration of a launchable communication device secured on a flotation device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  8    is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a launchable communication device in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 
     The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments described herein are related to a communication device, and, in particular, to a launchable communication device that assists divers to communicate with others in the vicinity. 
     In one aspect, a launchable communication device for divers is described. The launchable communication device includes a flag with a plurality of parts including a hoist, a fly, and a fly end of the flag. The launchable communication device further includes a flag operating assembly having a hollow vertically oriented bar and a horizontal bar linkage. The hollow vertically oriented bar of the flag operating assembly includes a top end and a bottom end, where the bottom end includes a launcher to actuate the flag operating assembly. 
     The launchable communication device in addition includes a plurality of connectors operatively connecting the hollow vertically oriented bar to the horizontal bar linkage. The launchable communication device moreover includes a receptacle encasing the bottom end of the hollow vertically oriented bar of the flag operating assembly, wherein the top end of the hollow vertically oriented bar is mechanically connected in parallel with the hoist of the flag. The horizontal bar linkage runs from the hoist of the flag through the fly of the flag. The launchable communication device in addition includes where the horizontal bar linkage of the flag operating assembly is positionable between an extended position and a collapsed position, where the extended position facilitates an opening of the flag and the collapsed position facilitates a closing of the flag. 
     In another aspect, a method for launching the launchable communication device is described. The method includes securing the launchable communication device to a flotation device, further releasing the launcher, and actuating the flag operating assembly thereby opening the flag. The launchable communication device  100  can be used during water sports activities one or more selected from a group comprising scuba diving, cave diving, deep diving, freediving, ice diving, mermaiding, underwater photography or videography, wreck diving, spearfishing, and other water activities. The launchable communication device  100  allows the diver to communicate with other divers or other personnel in the vicinity whenever required. The launchable communication device  100  allows the diver to communicate with others in various situations including the emergency situation comprising one or more selected from a group comprising decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, nitrogen narcosis, high-pressure nervous syndrome, oxygen toxicity, pulmonary barotrauma, bodily pain and the like. It will be appreciated if the examples provided herein are non-limiting usage and functionality of the launchable communication device  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a launchable communication device  100  is illustrated and described. The launchable communication device  100  includes a flag  101 , a flag operating assembly  102 , and a receptacle  103 . The flag  101  with a plurality of parts includes a hoist  101 -A (mechanically affixed to the flag operating assembly  102 ), a fly  101 -B, and a fly end  101 -C. The hoist  101 -A is referred to the vertical dimension part of the flag nearest the flag operating assembly  102 . The fly  101 -B is referred to the length of a flag  101  from the hoist  101 -A to the fly end  101 -C. The fly end  101 -C is the loose end that blows and flaps in the wind. The flag  101  further includes a field  101 -D having a message (for example SOS) as a signal to communicate, wherein the message comprises one or more selected from a group comprising numbers, letters, codes, or designs. It will further be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the flag  101  is constructed from a single or multilayer water-resistant product material selected from a group of a nylon, a polyester, a copper fabric, a quilting fabric and a silk. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , a partial, exploded view illustrating the launchable communication device  100  is described. As illustrated, the flag operating assembly  102  includes a hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A and a horizontal bar linkage  102 -B, where the horizontal bar linkage  102 -B runs from the hoist  101 -A of the flag  101  through the fly  101 -B of the flag  101 . The launchable communication device  100  also includes the receptacle  103  which encases the hollow vertically bar oriented bar  102 -A of the flag operating assembly  102 , wherein the receptacle  103  includes a plurality of open apertures  103 -A and  103 -B (not illustrated). The hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A includes a top end  102 -D and a bottom end  102 -C, where the receptacle  103  is configured to receive the bottom end  102 -C of the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A of the flag operating assembly  102 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the receptacle  103  also includes a fastener (not illustrated) disposed at an outer surface of the receptacle  103 ; where the fastener removably secures the launchable communication device  100  to a flotation device. The fastener comprises one or more selected from a group comprising a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap closure, a button closure, and an elastic element. The flotation device comprises one or more selected from a group comprising a surface marker buoy, a diving marker buoy, a closed-end surface marker buoy, an open-end surface marker buoy, and a delayed surface marker buoy. The receptacle  103  is constructed from a single or a multilayer water-resistant product material selected from a group of a cotton, a polyester, a copper fabric, a quilting fabric, a silk, a polyethylene, and a polymer. It will further be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the receptacle of any shape or size encasing the flag operating assembly fully or partially. 
     Continuing, referring to the  FIG.  2   , the top end  102 -D of the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A is mechanically connected in parallel with the hoist  101 -A of the flag  101 , where the horizontal bar linkage  102 -B runs from the hoist  101 -A of the flag  101  through the fly  101 -B of the flag  101 , thereby facilitating opening and closing of the flag. The horizontal bar linkage  102 -B of the flag operating assembly  102  is positionable between an extended position and a collapsed position, wherein the extended position facilitates the opening of the flag  101  as illustrated in  FIG.  1    and the collapsed position facilitates the closing of the flag  101  as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . The horizontal bar linkage  102 -B of the flag operating assembly  102  when positioned in the extended position creates a ninety degree angle between the horizontal bar linkage  102 -A and the hollow vertically bar oriented bar  102 -A of the flag operating assembly  102 , thereby opening of the flag  101  with the hoist  101 -A and the fly end  101 -C away from each other as illustrated in  FIG.  1   . The horizontal bar linkage  102 -B of the flag operating assembly  102  when positioned in the collapsed position creates a zero degree angle between the horizontal bar linkage  102 -A and the hollow vertically bar oriented bar  102 -A of the flag operating assembly  102 , thereby closing of the flag  101  with the hoist  101 -A and the fly end  101 -C (not illustrated) adjacent to each other as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . Details related to each of these aforesaid components of the launchable communication device  100  is described further below. Referring to  FIG.  3   , the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A of the flag operating assembly  102  includes a pull cord  103 -C protruding out from the open aperture  103 -A of the receptacle  103 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , in light of  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  3   , the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A of the flag operating assembly  102  includes a lock pin  102 -E operatively coupled to a first plurality of springs  102 -F at the launcher  102 -G. The first plurality of springs  102 -F runs from the top end  102 -D to the bottom end  102 -C of the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A. The launcher  102 -G is mechanically connected to the first plurality of springs  102 -F and the lock pin  102 -E, wherein the lock pin  102 -E further mechanically affixes to the pull cord  103 -C. The launcher  102 -G is located at the bottom end  102 -C of the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A and designed to actuate the flag operating assembly  102 . The lock pin lock pin  102 -E and the launcher  102 -G are encased inside the receptacle  103 , wherein the pull cord  103 -C protrudes out from the open aperture  103 -A of the receptacle  103  to allow the user essay access of the pull cord  103 -C during diving or related activities. 
     The lock pin  102 -E is configured to lock the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A and horizontal bar linkage  102 -B of the flag operating assembly  102  in the collapsed position as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . Once the pull cord  103 -C is pulled by the user, it initiates the launcher  102 -G to release lock pin  102 -E from the first plurality of springs  102 -F, thereby opening of the flag operating assembly  102  as illustrated in  FIG.  4   . In so doing, the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A takes or receives an impact by the launcher  102 -G. This impact is further received by the horizontal bar linkage  102 -B, which is mechanically attached to the top end  102 -D of the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A to facilitate the opening of the flag operating assembly  102 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  4   , the horizontal bar linkage  102 -B of the flag operating assembly  102  includes a plurality of bars  102 -H,  102 -I,  102 -J and  102 -K, each of the bars being structured and disposed to be engaged with one another. The horizontal bar linkage  102 -B further includes the second plurality of springs  102 - 1  operably coupled to the plurality of bars  102 -I and  102 -K. The bar  102 -K is mechanically connected to the plurality of bars  102 -I and  102 -J which further connects to the bar  102 -H thereby Ruining the horizontal bar linkage  102 -B. The plurality of bars  102 -H,  102 -K and  102 -I are mechanically attached to the hoist  101 -A of the flag  101  running through the fly  101 -B of the flag  101 . In an alternate embodiment, the horizontal bar linkage  102 -B can be composed of additional or fewer components. 
     Now referring to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the first plurality of springs  102 -F are fitted inside the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A which mechanically connects to the horizontal bar linkage  102 -K and  102 -I via a plurality of connectors  102 -M and  102 -N respectively. The plurality of connectors  102 -M and  102 -N facilitates the movement between the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A and horizontal bar linkage  102 -B after receiving the impact from the launcher  102 -G. The first  102 -F and second  102 -L plurality of springs includes a plurality of torsion springs and a plurality of compression springs. It will be appreciated that the first  102 -F and second  102 -L plurality of springs, can include any other springs or related mechanism now known or in the future developed. The plurality of connectors  102 -M and  102 -N comprises one or more selected from a group comprising a one or more selected from a group comprising a clip, a clasp, a hook, a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap closure, a button closure, a pin and an elastic element. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , an exemplary illustration of the launchable communication device  100  secured on the flotation device  200 , described hereinafter. The exemplary illustrations are described to provide alternative embodiments for the receptacle  103  in light of similar embodiments of the flag operating assembly  102  as illustrated in  FIGS.  1  to  5   . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the launchable communication device  100  is in the collapsed position, where the flag  101  (not illustrated) and the flag operating assembly  102  is encased in the receptacle  103 . The receptacle  103  is designed to receive the entire flag operating assembly  102  within the receptacle as opposed to the partially encasing the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A as illustrated in  FIGS.  1  to  4   . In this alternative embodiment, the receptacle  103  is constructed as a pouch or a bag. It will be appreciated that the examples provided herein are non-limiting usage and functionality of the receptacle  103 . The launchable communication device  100  is secured on the flotation device  200  using the fastener (not illustrated). The fastener comprises one or more selected from a group comprising a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap closure, a button closure, and an elastic element. The flotation device comprises one or more selected from a group comprising a surface marker buoy, a diving marker buoy, a closed-end surface marker buoy, an open-end surface marker buoy, and a delayed surface marker buoy. The receptacle  103  is constructed from a single or a multilayer water-resistant product material selected from a group of a cotton, a polyester, a copper fabric, a quilting fabric, a silk, a polyethylene, and a polymer. It will further be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the receptacle of any shape or size encasing the flag operating assembly  102  fully or partially. The launchable communication device  100  also includes a pull cord  103 -C protruding out from one of the open aperture  103 -A of the receptacle  103 . In this embodiment, flag operating assembly  102  and flag  101  are configured to be manually closed by the diver. 
       FIG.  9    is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating the launchable communication device  100  in accordance with some embodiments. A process of launching the communication device  100  by the diver will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIG.  8    indicated as  800 , beginning with operation  801 . In operation  801 , the diver secures the launchable communication device  100  to the flotation device in order to carry the device  100 . The launchable communication device  100  is secured on the flotation device using the fasteners as mentioned earlier. 
     In the operation  802 , the diver releases the launcher  102 -G of the launchable communication device  100  by pulling the pull cord  103 -A, which mechanically connects the lock pin  102 -E. Once the pull cord  103 -A is pulled by the diver the lock pin  102 -E releases the launcher  102 -G thereby actuating the flag operating assembly  102  as indicated in the operation  803 . 
     In operation  804 , the flag operating assembly  102  opens the flag  101 . In this operation, the launcher  102 -G releases the lock pin  102 -E from the first plurality of springs  102 -F, thereby opening the flag operating assembly  102  as illustrated in  FIG.  4   . In so doing, the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A takes or receives an impact by the launcher  102 -G. This impact is further received by the horizontal bar linkage  102 -B, which is mechanically attached to the top end  102 -D of the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A to facilitate the opening of the flag operating assembly  102 . This impact further releases the flag  101  which is mechanically connected to the hollow vertically oriented bar  102 -A and horizontal bar linkage  102 -B. 
     According to some embodiments, the launchable communication device  100  be formed of any shape or size. In an alternate embodiment, the launchable communication device  100  can be composed of additional or fewer components. In one of the embodiments, the launchable communication device  100  is designed to be secured to the flotation device of any size or shape. According to an embodiment, the launchable communication device  100  is carried by the diver without securing it to the flotation device. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  through  8   , the extended and the collapsed position of the launchable communication device  100  is explained. In the collapsed or a partially collapsed position the launchable communication device  100  where the flag  101  and the flag operating assembly  102  are encased inside the receptacle  300  partially or fully. The flag operating assembly  102  and flag  101  are configured to be manually closed by the diver or operatively locked by the lock pin  102 -E. The launchable communication device  100  in collapsed or in partially collapsed position is configured to attach to the flotation device. In the extended position, the launchable communication device  100  where the flag  101  and the flag operating assembly  102  are uncovered from the receptacle  103 , where the flag  101  opens to allow the diver to communicate with other divers or other personnel in the vicinity. 
     As used herein, “communication device” refers to means of sending information to communicate with others within the vicinity where the message on the field of the flag is visible to others. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. 
     The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. 
     Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment, the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. 
     It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. 
     Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, the inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.