System to sink and float buoys

• US 5,516,317 A
• Filed: 06/09/1995
• Issued: 05/14/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth D. Moody
• Original Assignee: Kenneth D. Moody
• Inventors: Moody, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US08/489,137
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 441/1, 441/2, 441/6, 441/21, 441/68, 441/23, 441/28, 441/29, 441/30
• US Class Current: 441/2
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/18 having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/22 Inflatable buoys with gas generating means B63B22/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Submarine (6) devices consisting of cavity to hold sand and an inflatable air bladder (10) are located beneath and connected to floating buoys (2). The weight of the sand when put inside the cavity is enough to sink buoy (2) until submarine (6) sits on the bottom of a lake or river. When bladders (10) are inflated by air supplied by an air compressor or a portable air tank, and distributed through a network of polyethylene tubing. They create enough buoyancy to offset the downward pull of the sand, thus allowing the buoys (2) to float back to the surface of the water.

Claims

1. A water sport course having a plurality of guide buoys controlled by a system which alternately sinks the buoys below the surface and raises the buoys to the water surface, comprising:

the control system which includes a submarine for each buoy;

each said submarine which includes a housing containing an inflatable bladder expandable and contractible within a water chamber, water vent holes, and ballast weight;

each said submarine being connected to an associated buoy by a tether line;

an air distribution system which includes a network of tubing to supply and remove air from the bladders of each submarine;

wherein the supplied to and from the bladders is controlled from a single point; and

wherein supplying air to the bladders acts to inflate the bladders thereby expelling water from the submarines and causing the buoys to rise to the surface and removing air from the bladders acts to deflate the bladders thereby allowing water to enter the submarines causing the buoys to sink below the surface.

2. The water sport course of claim 1 wherein the course is a water ski slalom course.

3. The water sport course of claim 1 wherein the course is a water ski jump course.

4. The water sport course of claim 1 wherein the course is a water sport system suitable for use with personal watercraft.

5. A control system which alternately sinks the buoys below the surface and raises the buoys to the water surface engagable with a water sports apparatus in which this system includes at least one buoy, comprising:

a submarine for each buoy;

each said submarine which includes a housing containing an inflatable bladder expandable and contractible within a water chamber, water vent holes, and ballast weight;

each said submarine being connected to an associated buoy by a tether line;

an air distribution system which includes a network of tubing to supply and remove air from the bladders of each submarine;

wherein the supplied to and from the bladders is controlled from a single point; and

wherein supplying air to the bladders acts to inflate the bladders thereby expelling water from the submarines and causing the buoys to rise to the surface and removing air from the bladders acts to deflate the bladders thereby allowing water to enter the submarines causing the buoys to sink below the surface.