Patent Publication Number: US-2005120609-A1

Title: Shark deterrent device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present invention relates to, and is entitled to the benefit of the earlier filing date and priority of, Application No. 60/508,873, filed on Oct. 7, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a device for deterring shark attacks. In particular, the device provides the user with a telescopic blunt object with which to prevent a shark from coming too close, while reducing the potential for injury to the shark.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Shark attacks are a common fear of scuba divers. In order to prevent these attacks, divers often carry with them various shark deterrents, such as chemical repellents or spear guns. Chemical repellents are often not allowed in ecological fragile areas, and are often of only limited effectiveness.  
      Spear guns are quite large to carry and are often not allowed in certain dive areas. It is typically only necessary to ward off the shark rather than injure it with a device such as a spear gun. An injury resulting in a loss of blood from the shark will likely attract other sharks and would pose an additional threat to the diver. It may be sufficient to prod, bump, or strike the shark when it advances with a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
      Sharks rarely attack in a straight forward manner. The most common method of shark attack is known as a “circling attack.” A circling attack is when a shark starts to circle its prey widely, and gradually reduces the diameter of the circle until the shark is close enough to “bump” its snout into the prey. This “bump” allows the shark to use its electroreceptors to identify its prey before the “test bite.” Since sharks are known to be scavengers they often are attracted to an easy prey. When sharks encounter prey that fights back, they have been known to retreat.  
      Thus, there is a need in the industry for a non-chemical, non-wounding device that will deter sharks and yet is easy for a diver to carry. This device may be used when a shark attempts to approach or “bump” a diver, acting as a deterrent and causing the shark to retreat and leave the diver in search of easier prey.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Responsive to the foregoing challenges, Applicant has developed an innovative device for deterring sharks. The device is comprised of at least two, and in one embodiment three hollow cylindrical shafts, a replaceable and/or interchangeable tip, a twist-release, or similar release, mechanism, and at least one, and in one embodiment, two self-lock mechanisms. The shark deterrent is a retractable unit that is easy for a diver to carry and stow, and yet can be easily extended in order to deter a shark. The device is unlocked from its retracted position by twisting a collar or using a similar release mechanism, thereby unlocking the concentric shafts and allowing the unit to be fully extended. Once the unit is fully extended, self-lock mechanisms lock the unit to prevent it from retracting during use. The unit has a handle formed at one end of the outermost cylindrical shaft and a replaceable and/or interchangeable tip at the opposing end of the innermost cylindrical shaft. The replaceable tip may be removed, and other useful tips may be attached. In various embodiments, the interchangeable tips may include, but are not limited to, a hook, a spear, a net, a flashlight, or a shovel.  
      It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein by reference, and which constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In order to assist in the understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like elements.  
       FIG. 1  is a cross-section of an embodiment of the present invention in an extended position.  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section of an embodiment of the present invention in a retracted position.  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section detail view of an embodiment of the handle end of the present invention, when the embodiment is in a retracted position.  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section detail view of the self-lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section detail view of the connection of the telescopic cylindrical shafts of an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section of one embodiment of a replaceable tip for an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section of an embodiment of the present invention in its extended position.  
       FIG. 8  is a plane view of an embodiment of the present invention in its extended position.  
       FIG. 9  is a cross-section detail view of an embodiment of the handle end of the present invention when the present invention is in a retracted position.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. As embodied herein, the present invention is a diver&#39;s utility tool, one embodiment of which is a shark deterrent device.  
      An embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  as a shark deterrent device. The shark deterrent device comprises at least one cylindrical shaft. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the shark deterrent device comprises three cylindrical shafts, first hollow cylindrical shaft  110 , second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 , third hollow cylindrical shaft  130 , and tip  140 . Embodiments of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, one, two, or three or more cylindrical shafts.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1-9 , in one embodiment a first hollow cylindrical shaft  110  comprises closed end  113 , open end  112 , and first internal cavity  111 . First hollow cylindrical shaft  110  has second hollow cylindrical shaft  120  slideably disposed within first internal cavity  111 . Second hollow cylindrical shaft  120  likewise has third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  slideably disposed within second internal cavity  121 . This arrangement allows a telescopic action of the device, thereby enabling it to retract and extend.  FIG. 1  shows the device in a fully extended position while  FIG. 2  shows the device in a fully retracted position. Replaceable tip  140  is attached to an end of third hollow cylindrical shaft  130 . Shoulder  114  does not extend the entire circumference of first hollow cylindrical shaft  130 . Instead, shoulder  114  may provide a plurality of shoulders that twist-release mechanism  145  engages.  
       FIG. 3  is a detail view of the device in a fully retracted position.  
       FIG. 4  is a detail view of a self-lock feature  300 . To prevent the device from retracting during use, self-lock feature  300  is used. Self-lock feature  300  may include a shoulder  301  on second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 , and a fastening device  302  positioned within second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 . When second hollow cylindrical shaft  120  is extended its full amount from the first internal cavity  111  of first hollow cylindrical shaft  110 , shoulder  301  will slide out of first internal cavity  111  and butt against open end  112  of first hollow cylindrical shaft  110 . Fastening device  302  is biased radially outward from second internal cavity  121  such that when shoulder  301  butts open end  112  it moves radially outward preventing shoulder  301  from being able to retract into first internal cavity  111 .  
       FIG. 5  shows a detail of the connection between second hollow cylindrical shaft  120  and third hollow cylindrical shaft  130 . Third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  is prevented from retracting fully into second hollow cylindrical shaft  120  by self-lock  400 . Self-lock  400  may include a shoulder  401  on third hollow cylindrical shaft  130 , and fastening device  402  positioned within third hollow cylindrical shaft  130 . When third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  is extended its full amount from second internal cavity  121  of second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 , shoulder  401  will slide out of second internal cavity  121  and butt against end  122  of second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 . Fastening device  402  is biased radially outward from third internal cavity  131  such that when shoulder  401  butts end  122  it moves radially outward preventing shoulder  401  from being able to retract into second internal cavity  121 .  
       FIG. 6  shows replaceable tip  140  in relation to first, second, and third hollow cylindrical shafts  110 ,  120 , and  130 , respectively. Replaceable tip  140  is attached to one end of third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  in such a manner as to allow it to be easily removed and replaced with a second tip by an operator. Replaceable tip  140  has cavity  141  which allows replaceable tip  140  to collapse over first hollow cylindrical shaft  110 , second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 , and third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  when the device is in its retracted state. Replaceable tip  140  may also include shoulders  142 , which may be engaged by twist-release mechanism  500  to prevent the device from extending until so desired.  
      Twist-release mechanism  500  is positioned on the outside surface of first hollow cylindrical shaft  110 . Twist-release mechanism  500  may include collar  510  that locks onto shoulders  141  on first hollow cylindrical shaft  110 , thereby preventing the device from extending. When twist-release mechanism  500  is not released, spring  125  is prevented from extending third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  out of first hollow cylindrical shaft  110  and second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 . When collar  510  is rotated to an unlock position, the bias of spring  125  pushes third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  partially out of first hollow cylindrical shaft  110  and second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 . The device is then unlocked, and a user can fully extend the device by hand. Collar  510  is biased by a torsion spring  515  such that when an operator releases collar  510 , it returns to its original position, thereby re-engaging shoulders  141  when the device is retracted and re-locking the device in a closed position.  
      With reference to  FIGS. 1-9 , the operation of the device will now be explained. To extend the device, the operator twists collar  510  against the bias of torsion spring  515 , thereby unlocking the device. Third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  is then forced out of first hollow cylindrical shaft  110  and second hollow cylindrical shaft  120  by the bias of spring  125 . The operator then can grasp the device and extend it to its full length. Upon reaching its full length, self-locks  300  and  400  lock the device in its extended position. To close the device the operator first pushes in on fastening devices  301  and  401 , and slides third hollow cylindrical shaft  130  into second hollow cylindrical shaft  120 , and second hollow cylindrical shaft  120  into first hollow cylindrical shaft  110 . When first, second, and third hollow cylindrical shafts  110 ,  120 , and  130 , respectively, are in the fully retracted position, collar  510  under the bias of torsion spring  515 , automatically locks again over shoulders  141 .  
      It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover all such modifications and variations of the invention, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.