Patent Publication Number: US-6709304-B1

Title: Spot marker buoy

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to buoys used by fisherman and scuba divers to effectively mark a spot on the floor of a body of water. These spots are normally ledges, wrecks, natural reefs, or man made reefs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Discussion of Prior Art 
     One of the most important pieces of equipment needed for successful fishing is a spot marking buoy to indicate the location of a fishing spot or the location of some underwater structure which is not visible from the surface. This invention can also be used to mark skiing or boating courses or as warning markers. The depth of some fishing spots are pre-determined in which case a pre-determined measure of string can be tied to an anchor weight which some patented buoys promote. However, many times new spots are discovered unexpectedly and the buoy must be discharged into the water immediately to mark the spot and if too much string is released the buoy will drift off the desired spot. Some buoys attempt to use counterweights to stop unnecessary rotation of the flotation body thus releasing excessive string as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,641 to D&#39;Amico. However counterweights have proved unsuccessful except in the calmest of water, which is normally not the case. Even a large ship will roll over if the seas are high enough. And a fishing buoy is much smaller than a ship. U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,563 to Johnson incorporates a flat body style in hopes of preventing the unnecessary rotation of the flotation body. The same problem of rough seas and wind will rotate the flotation body on the surface of the water. U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,093 uses two resilient bands, one to resist unwinding of string and one to prevent unwinding of string. Both bands must be completely detached from the flotation body for use thus becoming subject to inconvenience and accidental loss of bands. Another problem with buoys is the process of rewinding the string after use. Most buoys are round in shape and must be palmed by the user without any means for a grip which is very difficult especially in rough conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,563 has incorporated two handles for cranking, however without an axis rod to stabilize the flotation body during the winding process, winding is still difficult. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Objects and Advantages 
     Accordingly, the objects and advantages of my invention are to provide a flotation body consisting of a single durable part as opposed to 2-3 connecting parts. Another object is to provide one affixed rubber locking cord that when employed absolutely prohibits undesired rotation of the flotation body and release of additional string and thus eliminating unnecessary human intervention. Another object is to provide a convenient easy to use built in hand grip for rewinding string Another is to provide a storage position with no cumbersome dangling parts. Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     SUMMARY 
     The flotation body is a single unit, generally cylindrical in shape with rounded ends, preferably molded of polystyrene closed cell foam. A groove is formed around the periphery of the flotation body forming a reel. One end of a string is tied to the center of the reel and the other end of the string is tied to an anchor weight. When buoy is discharged into the water and the weight sinks to the bottom, counterweights recessed in the flotation body will prevent excessive rotation of flotation body thus preventing excessive unwinding of the string enabling a person in the boat to quickly employ a rubber locking cord which is affixed to the flotation body thus prohibiting any further rotation of flotation body or unwinding of string. The flotation body utilizes a built in hand grip for easy and convenient rewinding of the string. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. The objects, features and advantages of this invention will become more clear from the following detailed description of the drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top end view of the invention 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom end view of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a storage view of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a carrying view of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a ready to discharge view of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a counterweight use only view of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a view of the rubber locking cord in use. 
     FIG. 9 is a view of the invention when using a predetermined length of string. 
     FIG. 10 is a view of the invention when using the hand grip during rewinding. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
       12  flotation body 
       14  reel 
       16  string 
       18  anchor weight 
       20  weight housing 
       22  counterweight 
       24  rubber locking cord 
       26  angular core 
       28  crimp/knot 
       30  groove 
       32  finger slot 
       34  thumb core 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In reference to FIG. 1, it will be noted that an illustrative embodiment of the invention is denoted by the reference numeral  12  as the flotation body. The flotation body is generally cylindrical in shape with rounded ends. Said body will be approximately 7 inches in diameter and 14 inches in length and constructed generally of a polystyrene foam, preferably closed cell foam. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the flotation body  12  is provided with a groove  30  which extends around the periphery of the flotation body  12  preferably in the middle of the flotation body  12  forming a reel  14 . A string  16  is wound around said reel  14  with one end of the string  16  tied to the reel  14  and the other end of the string  16  tied to an anchor weight  18 . The anchor weight  18  will be approximately 3 pounds in weight 
     FIG. 1 depicts a center core in the top end of the flotation body  12  which acts as a weight housing  20  for said anchor weight  18  when buoy is in storage position as shown in FIG.  4 . As seen in FIG. 1, two diametrically opposed angular cores  26  receive a rubber locking cord  24  as shown in FIG.  4 . The rubber locking cord  24  will be approximately ⅜ inches in diameter. Shown in FIG. 4, the rubber locking cord  24  is inserted in and through angular cores  26  with the ends of the rubber locking cord  24  receiving a crimp or tied in a knot  28 . The crimps or knots  28  will have a circumference larger than that of the angular cores  26 . 
     As seen in FIG. 2, two diametrically opposed grooves  30  are provided at the top end of the flotation body  12 . The grooves  30  will extend approximately 4 inches from the center core for weight housing  20  down each side of the flotation body. The grooves  30  will receive and hold firmly in place said rubber locking cord  24  when rubber locking cord  24  is in use as seen in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts the bottom end of the flotation body revealing the angular cores  26  in relation to a center core wherein a thumb core  34  is formed and works in relation to a finger slot  32  for the purpose of a hand grip for rewinding of string. 
     As seen in FIG.  7  and FIG. 8, counterweights  22  are recessed below the surface of the flotation body  12  and on each half of the flotation body  12 . 
     Operation 
     When it is desired to mark a particular spot in a body of water, the buoy as shown in FIG. 2 is removed from storage in its storage position. As shown in FIG. 6, the release position is established by removing anchor weight  18  from the weight housing  20  and removing the rubber locking cord  24  from grooves  30  as seen in FIG.  6 . The rubber locking cord  24  is pulled through the angular cores  26  so as not to encumber string  16  as the flotation body  12  rotates when string  16  unwinds from reel  14  when anchor weight sinks to the bottom of body of water as seen in FIG.  7 . 
     The buoy is discharged most commonly from a boat and the anchor weight  18  sinks and comes to rest on the bottom of body of water as seen in FIG.  7 . Counterweights  22  will prevent the excessive rotation of the flotation body and the release of excessive string from reel  14 . Please note that counterweights will hold the buoy in a position only in the calmest of water which is usually not the case. After anchor weight  18  comes to rest on the bottom of body of water, a person in the boat can quickly place the rubber locking cord  24  over the top end of flotation body  12  and secure the rubber locking cord in the grooves  30 , thus prohibiting any further rotation of the flotation body or the release of any additional string  16 . 
     When it is time to retrieve the buoy from the water a person on the boat lifts the buoy from the water and pulls the rubber locking cord  24  through the angular cores  26  so not to encumber the string  16  during the rewinding process as seen in FIG.  10 . Finger slot  32  and thumb core  34  provide a convenient and easy to use built in hand grip for rewinding as seen in FIG.  10 . 
     When a location with a predetermined depth is being marked, the rubber locking cord  24  process can be eliminated by measuring out the pre-determined length of string  16  and placing the rubber locking cord  24  in the grooves  30  and winding the string  16  around the outside of the rubber locking cord  24  shown in FIG.  9 . When the pre-determined length of string  16  has unwound, the already placed rubber locking cord  24  will prohibit rotation of flotation body and the release of any additional string  16 . 
     Conclusion, Ramification, and Scope of Invention 
     Thus the reader will see that the spot marking buoy of the invention provides a highly reliable easy to operate, yet economical device that can be used by persons of almost any age. 
     This invention provides a light weight, easy to store, and easy to carry unit without cumbersome dangling parts. 
     This invention provides a one step locking system which consists of just one movable part that is permanently affixed to the flotation body thus eliminating the risk of part loss and malfunction. 
     This invention provides a simple and convenient unique built in hand grip which contributes tremendously to the ease of rewinding. 
     While my above description contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment there of. Other variations are possible. For example, the flotation body can have other shapes such as spherical or oval. Instead of angular cores  26 , rings, fittings, or clamps can be used to affix the rubber locking cord  24  to the flotation body  12 . Counterweights  22  can be glued to the surface of the flotation body  12  instead of being recessed below the surface of the flotation body  12 . 
     Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.