Patent Publication Number: US-2016241006-A1

Title: Buoyant electric rope with bubbler

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/117,187, filed on Feb. 17, 2015, to Corben D. Tannahill et al., entitled “Buoyant Electric Rope with Bubbler,” currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a buoyant rope containing a conductive wire for electrical devices in water. The present invention also relates generally to a buoyant electric rope containing an air tube for influencing buoyancy and releasing air bubbles in the water. The present invention may additionally be easily adapted for various other suitable uses. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently, designs for electric wiring or ropes configured for connecting fishing lights in water utilize an insulating plastic sheathing or casing that lacks durability for fishing conditions, buoyancy for sufficient floatation in the water, and mechanical strength for dislodging devices that become entangled during retrieval from the water. Such ropes also generally do not permit the use of several electrical lighting devices at one time. Other designs for electrified ropes not related to fishing lights tend to focus on maximizing strength or providing an electric charge and are not suitable for use in water. Additionally, many designs for electrified ropes currently known commonly use a polyurethane resin coating, which is not generally conducive to buoyance, and are not designed with the intention of having buoyant properties. 
     Another deficiency of these electrified, water-adapted ropes is that it is often desirable to create air bubbles within the water, whether for attracting fish or other various reasons. However, current electrical ropes for use in water are not adapted for housing an air tube for releasing air bubbles in the water. 
     Thus, a need exists for a rope having an electric conductor that is suitable for use in water and has buoyant properties. A need also exists for a buoyant electric rope that contains an air tube for creating air bubbles in the water. A need also exist for a buoyant electric rope containing an air tube that is durable and capable of being used with several low voltage electrical devices within water. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a rope having one or more properties, including electric conductivity, buoyancy, pliability and mechanical strength. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a rope configured for both electric conductivity and buoyancy in water is disclosed. The rope can comprise an inner core and an outer core surrounding the outer core. The outer core can include one or more braided rope strands wrapped around the inner core and a coating applied to the exterior of the braided rope strands. The inner core can comprise an electrically conductive wire with and a sheathing protecting the conductive wire. At one or more selective locations along the length of the rope, the outer core can include an opening configured to allowing an extension of the inner core to extend outside the outer core. These extensions can be configured for connecting various electrically-operated devices, such as lighting devices. 
     In order to provide buoyant properties for the rope, the components used in the construction of the rope can include materials that give the rope a cumulative specific gravity approximately less than the specific gravity of water. As a result, the rope can float on the surface of the water or float at a particular depth below the surface of the water. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the rope can also be configured with an air supply tube that can be configured for moving air or gas through the rope. The air supply tube can be included within the inner core of the rope and comprise a hollow flexible tube. Similar to the extensions of the conductive wire, the air supply tube can have one or more extensions extending through openings in the outer core at various locations along the length of the rope. The extensions can be used to supply air or gas to various devices or to release the air or gas into the water. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a buoyant electric rope with a bubbler tube in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of the buoyant electric rope of  FIG. 1 , taken generally about line  2 - 2  in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a braided rope outer core and two conductors in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the buoyant electric rope of  FIG. 1 , taken generally about line  3 - 3  in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a braided rope outer core with an air tube and two conductors in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the buoyant electric rope of  FIG. 1 , taken generally about line  4 - 4  in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a braided rope outer core having an air tube and two conductors and a coating in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a buoyant electric rope having and air tube bubbler and a flexible LED lighting strip in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a buoyant electric rope with an electric extension in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a buoyant electric rope with several electric extensions and several air tube extensions and schematically illustrating the rope connected to various devices in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a buoyant electric rope with weights and buoys schematically attached thereto in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an electric rope having a support cable and electrical wire within the inner core of the rope in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures. 
     The following detailed description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
     The present invention is directed generally to a buoyant electric rope  10  that can include an air supply tube  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. Air supply tube  100  can be used to release air bubbles into the water in which buoyant electric rope  10  is located. Air supply tube  100  can also be used to adjust the buoyancy of rope  10  by retaining a selective combination of gas and/or liquid within air supply tube  100 . In other embodiments, electric rope  10  can be designed for uses where the buoyant properties are not particularly relevant, as described in greater detail below. 
     Buoyant electric rope  10  can be adapted for water use and can be adapted for having buoyant characteristics that can enable rope  10  to float upon the surface of the water or suspend at a particular depth in the water. A buoyant rope solution generally requires the rope structure have a specific gravity equal to or less than the specific gravity of the water in which it resides, or otherwise the rope will sink. The specific gravity of water is generally considered to be about 1.0, depending on the exact chemical makeup of the water. In addition to the rope construction, any coating can be applied to the rope construction so long as the specific gravity of the coating material does not raise the overall specific gravity of the rope to the specific gravity of the water (approximately 1.0 generally), at least at the desired depth. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , buoyant electric rope  10  can include an outer core  12  and an inner core  14 . According to one embodiment, outer core  12  can comprise a hollow braided rope  16  and a coating  18  applied thereto; however, outer core  12  can also suitably be constructed with outer structure  16  and no coating  18  in other embodiments. Outer core  12  can also include a generally circular and hollow cross-section, as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , according to one embodiment. Many other shapes and configurations for outer core  12  can also be used when constructing rope  10 . 
     Hollow braided rope  16  can be constructed from one or more rope strands, and according to one embodiment, constructed from a plurality of individual rope strands  20 , as shown in the figures. Rope strands  20  can be made from one or more of several different suitable materials. According to one embodiment, rope strands  20  can be constructed from polypropylene and/or polyethylene, which can be especially suitable materials due to their relatively low specific gravities (less than 1.0) and water-proof characteristics. Alternatively, several other materials could be used to make hollow braided rope  16 , such as polyolefin, or any other suitable plastic or rubber material having a specific density approximately less than 1.0 in order to facilitate the buoyant properties of rope  10 . The inclusion of the air supply  100  within rope  10  can also allow outer core  12  and hollow braided rope  16  to be constructed from materials having a specific density approximately greater than 1.0, while still maintaining the rope&#39;s  10  buoyant properties; as explained in greater detail below. 
     As described above, coating  18  can be applied to the exterior of hollow braided rope  16 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. Coating  18  can be used to impede or prohibit water and other liquids from penetrating through hollow braided rope  16  and can also increase the strength and durability of outer core  12 . Coating  18  can be applied in a manner where it can fill and block the pores within rope  16  and/or the small voids between individual rope strands  20 . Coating  18  can be formed from several different suitable materials. Coating  18  can be formed from a polymer or rubberized material that includes microscopic or macroscopic pores, air pockets, bubbles or other void spaces, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. Any type of water-resistant material can also be used for coating  18 . In preferred embodiments, the material used for coating  18  has a low specific gravity so as to keep the specific gravity of rope  10  approximately equal to or less than  1 ; however other materials used in the construction of rope  10  can allow for heavier coating materials in other embodiments. 
     Inner core  14  of buoyant electric rope  10  can include at least one conductive wire  22  and an insulating sheath or layer  24  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Conductive wire  22  and insulating layer  24  can form a standard insulated electrical wire, the construction of which is commonly known to those skilled in the art. Conductive wire  22  can comprise any type of electrically conductive wire or cable suitable for conducting an electrical current for service electrical devices. Conductive wire  22  can also consist of a single wire or strands of wires depending on the particular embodiment of the present invention. Insulating layer  24  can be applied so as to encapsulate or cover conductive wire  22  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 . Insulating layer  24  can be made from any number of materials commonly used to insulate electric conducting wires, including various plastic materials. Insulating layer  24  can also be made from a material that is water-resistant according to several embodiments of the present invention. 
     In addition to, or alternatively to, conductive wire  22 , inner core  14  can include air supply tube  100  that can be adapted for moving an air or gas  106  through rope  10 . Tube  100  can have a circular cross-section according to one embodiment, or may have any suitable shape that permits tube  100  to fit within inner core  14 . Tube  100  can also be made from any number of different suitable materials, depending on the particular embodiment, including but not limited to polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyolefin. Polyurethane, polypropylene and polyethylene may allow air tube  100  to be sufficiently flexible. Other types of materials such a plastics or rubber may also be used. Preferably, tube  100  can be made from a material that has a specific density near 1.0 so as to maintain the buoyant properties of rope  10 . For example, polyurethane common has a specific gravity of about 1.14. 
     Air tube  100  can be specifically suited for permitting the flow of, air, or other gas  106 , through rope  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Air tube  100  can be connected to a pump or similar device  108  in order to supply the flow of air through tube  100 . Other methods for supplying air  104  through the tube  100  may also be used. The air  106  passing through air tube  100  can be used to release air bubbles  110  into the water as described in greater detail below. In alternative embodiments, air tube  100  can be specifically suited for permitting the flow of liquids, such as water, oil, or other fluids. 
     Air supply tube  100  can also be used to selectively adjust the buoyancy of rope  10  by altering the level of liquid or gas  106  located in tube  100 . According to one embodiment, air supply tube  100  can be suitable for holding a fixed amount of air or gas  106  within tube  100 . The amount of air or gas  106  can be selectively adjustable by a user of rope  10 . In one embodiment, tube  100  can be partially filled with a liquid, such as water, that increases the specific density of the rope  10 . Air or gas  106  can then be selectively added to tube  100 , forcing out of tube  100  a selective amount of liquid, in order to decrease the specific density of rope  10  by replacing the liquid with a lower density gas  106 . As a result, air supply tube  100  can be used to adjust the buoyancy of rope  10 . A user seeking to have rope  10  float on the surface of the water may increase the amount of air  106  within tube  100 , giving rope  10  a specific density less than the specific density of the water at the surface. Alternatively, a user seeking to have rope  10  maintain a certain depth beneath the surface of the water may reduce the amount of air  106  in tube  100  and/or increase the amount of water in tube  100 , giving rope  10  a specific density similar to the specific density of the water at that particular depth below the surface. Using air supply tube  100  to adjust the specific density of rope  10  may also allow outer core  12  of rope  10  to be constructed from a wider range of materials, including those having a specific density greater than 1.0, while still maintaining buoyant properties within rope  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , inner core  14  can be located inside outer core  12  so that outer core  12  can partially or completely surround inner core  14 . Outer core  12  can provide not only the buoyant properties for rope  10  but can also insulate and protect inner core  14 . 
     Outer core  12  can also include openings  102  at various locations along the length of buoyant electric rope  10  in order to allow air tube extensions  104  from the inner core  14  to pass through and exit outer core  12 , as best shown in  FIG. 1 . Air tube extensions  104  can be connected to air tube  100  housed within inner core  14 . These extensions  104  can be used to release air bubbles  110  into the water or supply air to various devices, such as an aerator device or other device as shown in  FIG. 6 . Openings  102  can be created in the hollow braided rope  16  between the braids of individual rope strands  20 . Extension  104  can then pass through hollow braided rope  16 . Openings  102  can also penetrate through coating  18 . In one embodiment, openings  102  are formed in outer core  12  and extensions  104  of inner core  14  are placed through openings  102  before coating  18  is applied to hollow braided rope  16 . This may provide for better coverage of coating  18 . Similar openings  26  and extensions  28  can be used to supply electricity to external devices from conductive wire  22  located within inner core  14  of rope  10  as best shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     When buoyant rope  10  is used for marine activities such as fishing, fish attracting lights  30  can be connected to the protruding electrical extensions  28 . Air tube extensions  104  can then be used to in conjunction with lights  30  to release air bubbles in the general area of lights  30  to attract fish to a specific location. Additionally, temperature sensors  112  can be used in connection with buoyant rope  10  in order to determine the temperature of different areas of the particular body of water. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, lights  30  can be configured as a flexible 
     LED light strip  30  that is connected to one of extensions  28  and wrapped around outer core  12  of buoyant electric rope  10 , as best shown in  FIG. 5 . The LED light strip  30  can be used to illuminate buoyant electric rope  10 . A clear cylindrical tubing  32  can also be applied around buoyant electric rope  10  in the area where LED light strip  30  is wrapped, as shown in  FIG. 5 , to assist in protecting and securing light strip  30 . In one embodiment, LED light strip  30  is constructed in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/062,252, filed on Oct. 10, 2014, to Corben D. Tannahill et al., entitled “Spiral Wrap LED Lighting System,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Air tube extensions  104  can then be situated near LED light strip  30  to release air bubbles near the lighted area. 
     In one non-limiting example, the present invention may comprise: (a) a hollow braided rope  16  constructed of a polypropylene material and having an outside diameter (OD) of about ⅜″, (b) a hollow air tube  100  constructed of polyurethane having an OD of about ⅛″ and passing through the interior of rope  16 , (c) a two-conductor shielded wire  22  or cable of about 18 gauge having an insulting layer  24  therearound with an OD of about ⅛″ and passing through an interior of rope  16 , (d) a coating  18  at least partially surrounding rope  16 , (e) an LED light strip  30  spirally wrapped around at least a portion of coated rope  16 , and (f) a clear, flexible, ether-cured polyurethane tubing  32  having an inside diameter of about ⅞″ and an outside diameter of about 1⅛″ surrounding at least a portion of light strip  30 . 
     Buoyant electric rope  10  can be designed not only to float on top of the water surface but also at particular depths in the water according to certain embodiments of the present invention. This can be accomplished by selectively using particular materials in the construction of electric rope  10 . As described above, the addition of air supply tube  100  within rope  10  can allow for denser materials to be used in the construction of rope  10  while still maintaining its buoyant properties. The buoyancy of rope  10  can also be affected by the use of weights  114  and buoys  116  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Weights  114  can optionally be applied to various portions or sections of rope  10  to cause part of rope  10  to have diminished buoyancy. Weights  114  can be attached to outer core  12  of rope  10 , located within inner core  14 , located at any portion along extensions  28  and  104 , or positioned at any other suitable location on rope  10 . In one embodiment, weights  114  are attached to particular extensions  104  protruding out from inner core  14 . This can allow various air bubbles  110  to be released at various depths beneath the water surface. In one embodiment, particular air tube extensions  104  include a weight  114  at one end allowing it to release air bubbles  110  from a depth in the water beneath lights  30  located above the end of the particular extension  104 . Weights  114  can also be applied to outer core  12  of rope  10  to cause the rope  10  to have diminished buoyancy. The addition of weights  114  to rope  10  can be used to place the rope  10  at a desired depth below the surface of the water by increasing the specific density of rope  10 . 
     Buoys  116  can also optionally be applied to various portions of rope  10 , such as extensions  104  or outer core  12 , in a manner similar to weights  114 . Buoys  116  can have the opposite effect of weights  114  by increasing the buoyancy of rope  10  rather than decreasing the buoyancy. The weights  114  and buoys  116  can be constructed as generic weights and buoys commonly known and used in the art. The weights  114  and buoys  116  can further be used in conjunction with air supply tube  100  to selectively adjust the specific density of the rope  10 . By adjusting the number of weights  114  and/or buoys  116  attached to rope  10  and the amount of gas  106  and/or liquid contained in air supply tube  100 , a user may selectively choose a desired specific density of rope  10 . 
     The weights  114  and buoys  116  can also be used in conjunction with rope  10  for purposes other than buoyancy. The buoys  116  and weights  114  can be constructed and formed to appear as aquatic plant life, such as tree limbs, plants and the like in certain embodiments of the present invention. In such embodiments, buoys  116  and weights  114  can be used in conjunction with air tube extensions  104  and/or electrical extensions  28  to attract fish to a specific area. Buoys  116  can be constructed from any suitable material that enables the appearance of aquatic plant life while maintaining buoyant properties. For example, buoys  116  constructed to appear as tree limbs may be constructed from self-skinning foam or other suitable material having a low specific density that enables buoyancy. Buoys  116  and weights  114  can also be designed and constructed for several other non-fishing uses in conjunction with rope  10 . For example, buoys  116  and weights  114  can be designed for use as markers for swimming, or designed for decorative or aesthetic purposes for ponds, streams, aquariums and the like. 
     Electric rope  10  can also be designed for marking swimming areas, commercial fishing nets, baskets, tow ropes, lift ropes, mechanic ropes, service ropes, obstacles in the water and a variety of other suitable purposes. Electric rope  10  can also be designed for use in automotive repair, on industrial and construction job sites, in connection with mobile multipower and hydraulic units, as decorative lighting, as agricultural lighting or the like. 
     In one alternative embodiment of the present invention, electric rope  10  can include an air tube  100  while not having buoyant properties. In such an embodiment, the material for outer core  12  and inner core  14  can comprise of any suitable material depending on the desired use. Such materials may include plastics, metals, rubber, and similar materials that have a specific density greater than 1.0. Weights  114  can also be connected to rope  10  to allow rope  10  to function in a non-buoyant manner When rope  10  is designed without buoyant properties, the air tube  100  may still deliver a flow of air  106  through rope  10 . Air tube  100  can also be used to release air bubbles  110  beneath the surface of the water or to deliver air, or other gas  106 , through water to a desired location. A rope  10  of this embodiment has several potential uses, such as, fishing straight down from a boat, ice fishing, as well as many other non-fishing uses. 
     Electric rope  10  can also be used in conditions where buoyancy is not necessary due to the fact that rope  10  is not placed directly in water or other liquid, such as for use in industrial applications, automotive, construction, oil and gas, agriculture, architecture, and the like. In such embodiments, the materials comprising rope  10 , including outer core  12  and inner core  14  need not be limited to materials having specific densities less than or about equal to 1.0. In one embodiment, rope  10  can be used in connection with industrial tooling for both pneumatic and hydraulic circuits. In such an embodiment, conductor wire  22  can be used to power an LED light  30  at the end of rope  10 , or any intermediate location along rope  10 , when rope  10  is attached to an air or hydraulic oil powered tooling  118  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Air tube  100  can be used to power the tooling  118  by either air or hydraulic oil, or similar manner Rope  10  can also be used to power an LED light  30  at the end of a tire inflator  120 , where air tube  100  delivers pressurized air as also illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Several other similar uses for rope  10  in this embodiment are also anticipated. 
     Rope  10  can also be used for decorative lighting and design. In such embodiments, electric rope  10  can include a safety cable  122 , such as a steel cable or other suitable material, in conjunction with conducting wire  22  within inner core  14  of rope  10  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The safety cable  122  can replace the air tube  100  within inner core  14  of rope  10  are be used in addition with air tube  100 . Such a design could enable for a single cable system instead of a two cable system where the conductive wire and external safety cable are separated. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. 
     The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.