Multi-directional signal assembly

• US 9,126,660 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The 1234Mmd Investment Trust
• Original Assignee: The 1234Mmd Investment Trust
• Inventors: Greenfield, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US14/068,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20140199900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 441/16, 441/20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/00 Buoys floating decoys, e.g. for waterfowl A01M31/06; means for indicating the location of underwater objects B63C7/26; life-buoys, e.g. rings B63C9/08; mountings of acoustic transducer in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys G10K11/006; electric cables supported on or from floats H02G9/12
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/08 having means to release or urge to the surface a buoy on submergence thereof, e.g. to mark location of a sunken object
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/16 specially adapted for marking a navigational route signalling or lighting devices B63B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/166 comprising a light
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/18 having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/24 container type, i.e. having provision for the storage of material
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2201/08 Electric light
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2009/0088 characterised by making use of shark deterrents, e.g. electric, acoustic, mechanical or chemical means for deterring sharks
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 7/26 Means for indicating the location of underwater objects, e.g. sunken vessels means for searching for underwater objects B63C11/48; buoys in general B63B22/00

Abstract

A multi-directional signal assembly includes a signal display unit having one or more display surfaces, and at least one signal indicia affixed to each display surface. The multi-directional display assembly comprises a buoyant construction such that the signal indicia affixed to the display surface(s) are readily visible above the surface of a body of water in which the assembly is deployed. A counterweight mechanism is mounted to the signal display unit to maintain the signal display unit in a substantially upright, operative orientation when deployed. An illumination system comprising one or more illumination members is mounted to the signal display unit, and is actuated to increase visibility of the signal display unit while it is deployed n the surface of a body of water.

Claims

1. A multi-directional signal assembly deployable on a surface of a body of water, said assembly comprising:

a signal display unit comprising a buoyant construction,

said signal display unit further comprising a plurality of display surfaces, each of said display surfaces having a rigid material of construction,

a plurality of signal indicia, wherein at least one of said plurality of signal indicia is affixed onto a different one of each of said plurality of display surfaces,

a counterweight mechanism interconnected to said signal display unit and disposable between a deployed orientation and a retracted orientation,

said counterweight mechanism maintaining said signal display unit in an operative orientation relative to the surface of the body of water when disposed in said deployed orientation,

an illumination system mounted to said signal display unit, said illumination system comprising a plurality of illumination members which increase visibility of said signal display unit while deployed in said operative orientation on the surface of the body of water.

2. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of display surfaces comprises a substantially rectangular configuration having a width and a length, and said operative orientation of said signal display unit is at least partially defined by said length of each of said plurality of display surfaces disposed in a substantially upright orientation relative to the surface of the body of water;

and

a controller programmed to independently actuate each of said plurality of illumination members upon detection of at least one environmental parameter.

3. The assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein a majority of said length of each of said plurality of display surfaces is above the surface of the body of water while said signal display unit is disposed in said operative orientation.

4. The assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of signal indicia is affixed on an upper portion of a corresponding one of said plurality of display surfaces.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein at least one of said plurality of signal indicia affixed onto each of said plurality of display surfaces comprises a United States dive flag.

6. The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said signal display unit comprises at least four display surfaces.

7. A multi-directional signal assembly deployable on a surface of a body of water, said assembly comprising:

a signal display unit comprising a buoyant construction,

said signal display unit further comprising four display surfaces, each of said four display surfaces having a substantially rectangular configuration comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, and a rigid material of construction,

said four display surfaces disposed relative to one another forming a square rectangular configuration,

a plurality of signal indicia, wherein at least one of said plurality of signal indicia is affixed onto said upper portion of a different one of each of said four display surfaces,

a counterweight mechanism interconnected to said signal display unit maintaining said signal display unit in an operative orientation relative to the surface of the body of water, wherein said operative orientation is at least partially defined by each of said four display surfaces disposed in a substantially upright orientation relative to the surface of the body of water,

an illumination system mounted to said signal display unit, said illumination system comprising a plurality of illumination members which increase visibility of said signal display unit while deployed in said operative orientation on the surface of the body of water; and

a controller programmed to independently actuate each of said plurality of illumination members upon detection of at least one environmental parameter.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said at least one illumination member comprises an internal light emitting diode mounted in said signal display unit.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said at least one illumination member comprises an indicia light emitting diode mounted to at least one of said four display surfaces.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein said indicia light emitting diode is mounted concomitant a corresponding one of said plurality of signal indicia.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said counterweight mechanism comprises a weight mounted to a weight deployment member.

12. The assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein said weight deployment member is disposable between a deployed orientation and a retracted orientation.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein said counterweight mechanism further comprises a deployment member housing, said deployment member housing mounted in said signal display unit.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein said retracted orientation is at least partially defined by said weight deployment member disposed substantially within said deployment member housing.

15. A multi-directional signal assembly deployable on a surface of a body of water, said assembly comprising:

a signal display unit comprising a buoyant construction,

said signal display unit further comprising a plurality of display surfaces, each of said plurality of display surfaces having a substantially rectangular configuration comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, and a rigid material of construction,

said signal display unit further comprises an upper cap member and a lower cap member mounted at oppositely disposed ends of said plurality of display surfaces,

said lower cap member comprising a dry storage container,

a plurality of signal indicia, wherein at least one of said plurality of signal indicia is affixed onto said upper portion of a different one of each of said plurality of display surfaces,

a counterweight mechanism interconnected to said signal display unit maintaining said signal display unit in an operative orientation relative to the surface of the body of water, wherein said operative orientation is at least partially defined by each of said plurality of display surfaces disposed in a substantially upright orientation relative to the surface of the body of water,

said operative orientation is further defined by maintaining said upper portion of each of said plurality of display surfaces substantially above the surface of the body of water,

an illumination system mounted to said signal display unit, said illumination system comprising a plurality of illumination members which increase visibility of said signal display unit while deployed in said operative orientation on the surface of the body of water, and

a controller programmed to independently actuate each of said plurality of illumination members upon detection of at least one environmental parameter.

16. The assembly as recited in claim 15 further comprising at least one sensor to detect said at least one environmental parameter, said sensor transmitting said at least one environmental parameter to said controller.