Patent ID: 8882555

Claim:
A remotely controlled motorized rescue buoy comprising: a buoyant self-righting rigid hull having a v-shaped bottom; a substantially rectangular platform disposed on an upper surface of the hull, the rectangular platform extending beyond an entire outer periphery of the hull; a jet pump propulsion unit disposed in a watertight compartment in the hull, the jet pump propulsion unit having a steerable jet nozzle communicating with a rear-facing wall of the hull; a motor disposed in a watertight compartment in the hull and coupled to the jet pump propulsion unit; a radio receiver configured to wirelessly receive operating signals from a remote-control transmitter; a control unit disposed in a watertight compartment in the hull and coupled to the radio receiver, the jet pump propulsion unit, and the motor and configured to control the speed of the motor and the steerable exit nozzle of the jet pump propulsion unit in response to the operating signals received by the radio receiver from the remote-control transmitter; a power switch to control the motor, the radio receiver, and the jet pump propulsion unit, the power switch disposed on the outside of the hull; a floatation cover detachably secured to the platform and completely enclosing an outer perimeter of the platform; and at least one grab line disposed around the platform, the grab line configured to allow a person floating in water to grab and hold onto the rescue buoy, wherein the rescue buoy is configured to be remotely navigable to support and bring a distressed swimmer to a safe location.