Patent Publication Number: US-9889905-B2

Title: Underwater object retrieval device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to retrieval devices and more particularly pertains to a new retrieval device for selective deployment to retrieve underwater objects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising an inflation unit that is configured to inflate upon command. A coupler is configured for coupling to an object to be placed underwater. A tether line has a first end, which is coupled to the inflation unit, and a second end, which is coupled to the coupler. A line storage unit is coupled to the tether line proximate to the second end. The line storage unit is positioned to house the tether line, such that the tether line is extensible from the line storage unit. The inflation unit is positioned to inflate upon user directed command, such that the inflation unit is buoyant. The tether line is extended from the line storage unit, such that the inflation unit reaches the water surface. The tether line is configured for retrieving the object to the surface. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric perspective view of an underwater object retrieval device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new retrieval device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the underwater object retrieval device  10  generally comprises an inflation unit  12  that is configured to inflate upon command. More specifically, the inflation unit  12  comprises a bag  14  that is selectively inflatable. A safety valve  16  is positioned through and coupled to a wall  18  of the bag  14 . The safety valve  16  is positioned in the wall  18  such that the pressure in the bag  14  does not exceed a pressure allowed by the safety valve  16 . A deflater  20  is positioned in and coupled to the wall  18  of the bag  14 . The deflater  20  is positioned in the wall  18  such that the bag  14  is deflatable. Preferably, the deflater  20  comprises a resealable opening  22  positioned in the wall  18 . 
     A housing  24 , which is watertight, is coupled to the bag  14 . Preferably, the housing  24  is substantially rectangularly box shaped. A power storage module  26  is positioned in and coupled to the housing  24 . Preferably, the power storage module  26  comprises at least one battery  28 . An actuator  30  is positioned in and coupled to the housing  24 . The actuator  30  is fluidically coupled to the bag  14  and operationally coupled to the power storage module  26 . An effector unit  32  is coupled to the housing  24 . Preferably, the effector unit  32  is coupled to an upper face  34  of the housing  24 . The effector unit  32  is operationally coupled to the actuator  30 , such that the effector unit  32  is positioned to motivate the actuator  30 . 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the effector unit  32  comprises a timer  36 . The timer  36  is operationally coupled to the actuator  30 . The timer  36  is configured to be set by the user such that the timer  36  motivates the actuator  30  at a preset time. In another embodiment, the effector unit  32  comprises a receiver  38  and a transmitter  40 . The receiver  38  is coupled to the housing  24  and operationally coupled to the actuator  30 . The transmitter  40  is wirelessly coupled to the receiver  38 . The transmitter  40  is positioned to signal the receiver  38  to motivate the actuator  30 . 
     A reservoir  42  is sealably and fluidically couplable to the actuator  30 . The reservoir  42  is configured for storage of compressed gas. Preferably, the reservoir  42  comprises a tank  44 . The tank  44  comprises a cylinder  46  that has opposing ends  48 , which preferably are rounded. A neck  50  is coupled to a respective opposing end  48 . The neck  50  is threaded, such that the neck  50  is threadedly couplable to the actuator  30 . 
     The device  10  comprises a coupler  52  and a tether line  54 . The coupler  52  is configured for coupling to an object to be placed underwater. The tether line  54  has a first end  56  and a second end  58 . The first end  56  is coupled to the inflation unit  12  and the second end  58  is coupled to the coupler  52 . Preferably, the coupler  52  comprises a clip  60 . The clip  60  comprises a loop end  62  and a snap end  64 . The loop end  62  is positioned to couple to the second end  58  of the tether line  54  and the snap end  64  is configured for attachment to the object to be placed underwater. 
     A line storage unit  66  is coupled to the tether line  54  proximate to the second end  58 . The line storage unit  66  is positioned to house the tether line  54 , such that the tether line  54  is extensible from the line storage unit  66 . Preferably, the line storage unit  66  comprises a spool  68 . The spool  68  comprises a hub  70  and a pair of flanges  72 . The hub  70  is substantially cylindrically shaped and has opposing endpoints  74 . Each flange  72  is coupled to the hub  70  proximate to a respective opposing endpoint  74 . The hub  70  is positioned for winding of the tether line  54 , such that the tether line  54  is retained around the hub  70  between the flanges  72 . 
     The tether line  54  may comprise a first segment  75  and a second segment  76 . The first segment  75  comprises the first end  56  of the tether line  54  and a first terminus  77 . The first terminus  77  is coupled to the line storage unit  66 . The second segment  76  comprises the second end  58  of the tether line  54  and a second terminus  78 . The second terminus  78  is coupled to the line storage unit  66 . 
     In use, the inflation unit  12  is coupled using the coupler  52  to the object to be placed underwater for later recovery. The timer  36  may be used to set a time point when the actuator  30  will be engaged. Alternatively, the user may employ the transmitter  40  to signal the receiver  38  to motivate the actuator  30 . The actuator  30  is coupled to the reservoir  42 , which contains a compressed gas such as carbon dioxide. Upon motivation by the effector unit  32 , the actuator  30  motivates gas to expand into the bag  14 . The bag  14  becomes buoyant and induces the tether line  54  to unspool from the spool  68  until the bag  14  reaches the surface. The tether line  54  is configured for retrieving the object to the surface. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.