Abstract:
A tube is constructed of a heavy duty flexible or rigid plastic or metal and designed for the sealed storage and on demand release of a liquid or dry fish, animal or reptile repellent. Said tube may be a specially fabricated device or a standard fire extinguisher or other common liquid, gas or particle dispenser which can be incorporated into a lifesaving device such as a life guard rescue flotation buoy. The tube&#39;s predator specific repellent, for example sodium lauryl sulfate which is a known shark repellent, may be discharged by the user in the event of an attack by the predator. The purpose is to expose the predator to an immediate high concentration of the appropriate repellent thereby diverting the predator from it&#39;s attack.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to chemically protecting against sharks or other dangerous sea creatures or land animals and reptiles that are sensitive to different classes of chemical deterrents.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    To date, my patented means of deterring shark attack for example is to utilize the arts taught in my existing patents. These patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,602,384 and 4,917,280 and 4,933,187. They describe my coated chemical pellets and the various protective coatings utilized to prolong or prevent the melting of those chemical pellets. However, at times it is needful to have an immediate and voluminous blast of chemical to deter or interrupt shark or other predator attacks. This patent describes such mechanisms. At present, for example, when life guards attempt the rescue of a shark attack victim they usually have nothing but a float device with which to defend themselves should the shark try to bite them while they are trying to rescue the shark&#39;s victim. With this invented chemical dispensing device housed for example within their flotation device they could blast a cloud of chemical repellent at the shark on arriving in the victim&#39;s vicinity to immediately repel the shark from further attacks.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide, on demand, a blast of fish, reptile, or animal repellent chemical emanating from a chemical containment vessel powered by an eruption of propellant that effects the exit of such chemical from that chemical containment vessel. The repellent, for example sodium lauryl sulfate which is a shark repellent, may be housed inside such a container in a liquid, gel, gas, powder or other dry or liquid form. When aimed at an attacking creature the device will shower that creature with repellent chemical to deter its continued attack. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a side view of the repellent system device shown as constructed inside the confines of a swimming flotation device.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is a top view of the repellent system device shown with a pistol grip attached.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is a side view of the flotation device showing a fire extinguisher installed and functionally replacing the repellent system device as described in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0007]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts in the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a side view of the repellent system which shows the chemical dispensing system installed inside a swimming flotation device  22  such as those utilized by life guard and coast guard personnel. This flotation device could be made of foam, cork, wood or plastic etc. and can have openings formed in its sides to allow for hand grips  23 . This flotation buoy  22  could be of rigid construction or could be, for example, made of a rubber filled fabric so it could be of an inflatable design. The repellent system&#39;s tube  12  is internally incorporated into the flotation buoy. The repellent system tube  12  houses the predator specific repellent  11 , the propulsion mechanism  15 , the plastic wadding sphere  14  and the rope triggering mechanism  16  and  17 . Said tube  12  may be manufactured of a heavy duty plastic, either flexible or rigid, and can be sealed from the outside environment by a blow away plastic seal  25 . This seal is designed to blow away from the top of the repellent tube by the force of the repellent and wadding sphere  14  that is being propelled by the propulsion mechanism  15  triggered on demand by triggering mechanism  16  and  17 . Other blow away seals  21  may be utilized internally to form chambers within the repellent tube  12  which before discharge separates two or more liquid, gel or dry chemicals. The wadding  14 , which is spherical in shape may be made from a rigid plastic and before the discharge of the propulsion mechanism  15  it can act as a water tight seal between said propulsion mechanism  15  and the chemical chamber or chambers in tube  12 . Upon the triggering of the propulsion mechanism  15  by the activating of the triggering mechanism  16  and  17  the wadding sphere  14  is forcefully propelled through the tube&#39;s chamber or chambers  12  forcing the chemicals housed in the chamber or chambers through any and all blow away seals  21  and  25  and into the area in front of the repellent tube. The triggering mechanism  16 , a reinforced string, is internally incorporated into the propulsion mechanism. Said string  16  feeds back through the end cap of the tube  24  and ends externally into a plastic pull ball  17 . To activate the propulsion mechanism  15  the user grasps the pull ball  17  and applies backward force on the string  16  and thereby activates the internal propulsion mechanism  15 .  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a top view of the repellent system device. The repellent system tube  12  houses the predator specific repellent  11 , the propulsion mechanism  15  the plastic wadding sphere  14  and the rope triggering mechanism  16  and  17 . Said tube  12  may be manufactured of a heavy duty flexible or rigid plastic or some metal such as aluminum and can be sealed from the outside environment by a blow away plastic seal  25 . This seal is designed to blow away from the top of the repellent tube by the force of the repellent and wadding sphere  14  that is being propelled by the propulsion mechanism  15  triggered on demand by triggering mechanism  16  and  17 . Other blow away seals  21  may be utilized internally to form chambers within the repellent tube  12  which before discharge separate two or more liquid, gel or dry chemicals. The wadding  14  which may be spherical in shape may be constructed of a rigid plastic or other suitable material common to the construction of such seals and before the discharge of the propulsion mechanism  15 , can act as a water tight seal between said propulsion mechanism  15  and the chemical chamber or chambers in tube  12 . Upon the triggering of propulsion mechanism  15  by the activation of triggering mechanism  16  and  17 , the wadding sphere  14  is forcefully propelled through tube  12 &#39;s chamber or chambers forcing chemicals housed in said chambers through any and all blow away seals  21  and  25  and into the area in front of the repellent tube. The triggering mechanism  16 , a reinforced string, is internally incorporated into the propulsion mechanism. Said string  16  feeds back through the end cap of the tube  24  and ends externally into a plastic pull ball  19 . To activate the propulsion mechanism  15  the user grasps the pull ball  19  and applies backward force on the string  16 , thereby releasing the internal triggering mechanism  17 . An extension tube  26  may be fitted to the back end cap  24  of tube  12  to allow for the installation of a pistol grip  10 . This will allow for the user to maintain better accuracy and control of the repellent tube. A triggering mechanism  18  and  20  functions as an extension to the triggering mechanism  16  and  17  with the user grabbing the pull ball  20  and applying backward force to the triggering string  18  thereby releasing the internal propulsion mechanism  15 . String  18  has a threaded end cap  27  which screws into pull ball  19  to complete the attachment of the pistol grip.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 1 but shows a standard fire extinguisher  30  taking the place functionally of the chemical dispensing systems described in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such an extinguisher is an off the shelf item. Quick release  31  allows the extinguisher to be removed from its mounting on the flotation device  22  so it can be refilled as necessary. Hand hold openings  23  in flotation device  22  are the same as in FIG. 1. The nozzle  32  is supplied repellent by the manual opening of the exit valve using exit valve handle  33 . The repellent charge thus released is directed in the direction of the shark or other predator. Such fire extinguishers can expel not only liquid contents but are commonly known to be capable of expelling dry, granular chemicals or even in some cases a chemical gel.  
         [0010]    It is obvious that the powered chemical ejection system described above is only one method of squirting this repellent out of its container. Another, more simple method would be to make the container a soft and flexible plastic or other material that could simply be manually squeezed by hand or by the force of the action of the waves, etc. to accomplish the ejection of the repellent contained therein. Such a flexible container could also be mounted into a life guard&#39;s float or into a surf board, etc. and rely on the user or the waves squeezing out the repellent contents manually on demand or in a continuous fashion caused by pressure against such a container&#39;s sides caused by the action of the waves for example.  
         [0011]    It is obvious that the embodiments of this invention could be successfully effected using many different types of materials other than those described in this patent. For example, metal may be substituted for any and all of the plastic materials described in the patent. Also, the repellent chemical could be in the form of powders or liquids or a gel. Such a gel for instance could be made by removing through evaporation much of the liquid water contents from a liquid such as sodium lauryl sulfate or some other shark or wild animal repellent liquid as described in this patent and my other previous patents.  
         [0012]    It is obvious that pressurized air, CO2 or other gas or even a liquid could be utilized for the necessary propulsion.  
         [0013]    It is also obvious that the repellent used in this repellent system would be specific to the predator that the system was intended to be used to repel. For example, sodium lauryl sulfate for protection against sharks, or cyanne pepper to protect against bears and other predators such as alligators or crocodiles which could also be repelled by a mild acid solution that could also be used.  
         [0014]    It is also obvious that the triggering mechanism and pistol grip, etc. could be designed differently or in a different shape than shown and still not depart from the teaching of this patent.  
         [0015]    It is also obvious that when housed inside a flotation device said mechanism could be made to be removable from such flotation device for recharging with more chemical and propellant after it had been used to discharge its previous load of such repellent chemicals.  
         [0016]    It is also obvious that this whole system could be built into other devices other than a life guard&#39;s float. Surf boards and boats or even vehicles, etc. for example, could be designed with such a repellent dispenser installed.  
         [0017]    It is also obvious that such floats or surf boards, etc. could also have knives or chemical light emitting containers etc. installed or otherwise included in their structure for the emergency use of the victim. Such devices could also be designed into the repellent dispenser itself for the sake of convenience.  
         [0018]    It is also obvious that existing mechanisms such as fire extinguishers could be enlisted to substitute for the repellent propulsion mechanisms described in FIGS. 1 and 2 above without voiding or circumventing the intent of the patent. Such fire extinguishers could be made from plastic or aluminum or other non corrosive parts if intended for use in sea water.  
         [0019]    It is also obvious that my previously patented chemical cubes or chemical filled cylinders could also be incorporated into these designs as adjunct repellent chemical sources.  
         [0020]    It is also obvious that the propulsive force that ejects the repellent chemicals could be generated in many different ways. Some of the possibilities are a pressure chamber holding compressed gas or liquids which when this pressure was released could force the repellent chemicals out the front of the mechanism. A simple hand pump is another possible means for ejecting the repellent. Manually squeezing a soft plastic container until the repellent was ejected would also be another means of delivering the repellent to the predator&#39;s vicinity. A mixture of chemicals that cause the generation of a propulsive force of gas etc. when mixed together could be useful in ejecting the repellent chemicals. Innocent chemicals like sodium could be stored in separate containers until used when they would be mixed with water to generate a propulsive gas for instance.  
         [0021]    It is also obvious that the repellent chemicals might have greater repellent action if mixed only at the immediate time when they are being released. More caustic or acid repellent effects could be available by mixing the necessary ingredients as they were being ejected.