Navigation system for a snorkeler

• US 7,310,063 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2006
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Ivan Brown
• Original Assignee: Richard Ivan Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Richard Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H.
• Application Number:
  US11/433,229
• Time in Patent Office: 584 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06
• US Class Current: 342/357.57
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/205 with air supply by suction from diver, e.g. snorkels B63C11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/26 Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of diverselectric communication in general H04
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain

Abstract

A navigation system is provided for use by a snorkeler. A GPS signal receiving antenna (31) is coupled to the snorkeler in a substantially fixed spatial relationship and communicates with a display (41) to provide the snorkeler with navigational information. In the illustrative embodiment, the GPS signal receiving antenna (31) is attached to the breathing tube (23) of the diver'"'"'s snorkel (20) and communicates with the display (41) of a handheld GPS receiver (40) housed in a waterproof case (50). The GPS signals received by the GPS signal receiving antenna (31) are conveyed to the handheld GPS receiver (40) via a GPS re-transmitting antenna (35) housed in the same waterproof case (50). An externally operable pushbutton (56) allows the snorkeler to switch between multiple screens presented on the display (41) to guide him through the snorkeling site.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a snorkeler, comprising:

(a) a waterproof enclosure, said enclosure at least partially transparent;

(b) a display for presenting navigational information;

said display housed in said waterproof enclosure and at least partially visible from outside said waterproof enclosure;

(c) a snorkel comprising;

(i) a breathing tube;

(ii) a mouthgrip opening; and

(iii) an antenna to receive GPS signals; and

(d) means to position said antenna above the waterline when the head of said snorkeler is face down at the waterline.

2. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said means includes a strap to at least partially encircle the head of said snorkeler and a retainer to couple said snorkel to said strap.

3. The navigation system of claim 1 further comprising coupling means to detachably attach said antenna to said breathing tube.

4. The navigation system of claim 3 wherein said coupling means includes a clip mounting said antenna.

5. The snorkel of claim 4 wherein said clip comprising an upstanding member including an antenna mount located above the top of said breathing tube.

6. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said display is a part of a handheld GPS receiver.

7. The navigation system of claim 6 wherein said handheld GPS receiver includes at least one actuating device and said waterproof enclosure includes at least one actuating device to interact with said at least one actuating device of said handheld GPS receiver.

8. The navigation system of claim 1 wherein said waterproof enclosure is the housing of a handheld GPS receiver and said display is positioned behind an at least partially transparent window in said housing.

9. The navigation system of claim 1 further including a GPS signal re-transmitter.

10. The navigation system of claim 1 further comprising communication means to establish communication from said antenna to said display.

11. The navigation system of claim 10 wherein said communication means is selected from the group consisting of wire, optics, sound, and radio waves.

12. A navigation system for a snorkeler, comprising:

(a) a waterproof enclosure, said enclosure at least partially transparent;

(b) a display for presenting navigational information;

said display housed in said waterproof enclosure and at least partially visible from outside said waterproof enclosure;

(c) a strap to at least partially encircle the head of said snorkeler;

(d) an antenna to receive GPS signals, said antenna outside said enclosure; and

(e) means to couple said antenna to said strap and to position said antenna above the waterline when the head of said snorkeler is face down at the waterline.

13. The navigation system of claim 12 wherein said strap is a part of a mask to allow said snorkeler to see underwater.

14. The navigation system of claim 12 wherein said means comprises a snorkel including a strap retainer and said snorkel includes said antenna.

15. The navigation system of claim 14 further comprising coupling means to detachably attach said antenna to said snorkel.

16. A snorkel comprising:

(a) a breathing tube; and

(b) an antenna to receive GPS signals, said antenna detachably attachable to said breathing tube.

17. The snorkel of claim 16 wherein said antenna includes a clip and said clip renders said antenna detachably attachable to said breathing tube.

18. The snorkel of claim 17 wherein said clip comprises an upstanding member including an antenna mount located above the top of said breathing tube.

19. The snorkel of claim 16 further comprising communication means to establish communication from said antenna to a navigational display device.

20. The snorkel of claim 19 wherein said communication means is selected from the group consisting of wire, optics, sound, and radio waves.