Durable biofouling protection
AssigneeBiofouling Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBrian McMurray, Cliff Sharpe, Mike Termini, Emily Ralston, Abraham Stephens, Ed Dormier, Lindsey Calcutt, Joseph Basista
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed are devices, methods and/or systems for use in protecting items and/or structures that are exposed to, submerged and/or partially submerged in aquatic environments from contamination and/or fouling due to the incursion and/or colonization by specific types and/or kinds of biologic organisms and/or plants, including the protection from micro- and/or macro-fouling for extended periods of time of exposure to aquatic environments.
Claims29
A device for reducing biofouling on a substrate at least partially submerged in an aqueous environment, the device comprising:
- a structure which is or becomes water permeable during use, said structure defining an open top adapted to receive said substrate therethrough, wherein the open top defines one or more walls that remain spaced apart from a surface of the substrate in a not fully sealed arrangement, wherein the structure comprises at least one of mesh, lattice, fenestration, or holes that allow fluid flow therethrough, wherein the structure comprises a 3-dimensional flexible material selected from a group consisting of natural and synthetic fabrics, natural and synthetic membranes, natural and synthetic sheets, and fabrics, membranes, films and sheets made from a combination of natural and synthetic materials,
- wherein said structure separates an aqueous environment into a local aqueous environment and an open aqueous environment, wherein the local aqueous environment extends from a surface of the substrate to at least an inner surface of the structure,
- wherein the structure modulates dissolved oxygen content from the open aqueous environment into the local aqueous environment.
A material for reducing biofouling on a surface at least partially submerged in an aqueous environment, the material comprising:
- a structure which is or becomes fluid permeable, said structure defining an open top adapted to receive said surface therethrough, wherein the open top defines one or more walls that remain spaced apart from the surface in a not fully sealed arrangement, wherein the structure comprises at least one of mesh, lattice, fenestration, or holes that allow fluid flow therethrough, wherein the structure comprises a 3-dimensional flexible material selected from a group consisting of natural and synthetic fabrics, natural and synthetic membranes, natural and synthetic sheets, and fabrics, membranes, films and sheets made from a combination of natural and synthetic materials,
- wherein, when the structure at least partially surrounds the surface in the aqueous environment, said structure separates the aqueous environment into a local aqueous environment and an open aqueous environment, wherein the local aqueous environment extends from the surface to the structure,
- wherein the structure modulates dissolved oxygen content from the open aqueous environment into the local aqueous environment.
A system for reducing biofouling on a surface at least partially submerged in an aqueous environment, the system comprising:
- a structure which is or becomes water permeable during use, said structure defining an open top adapted to at least partially surround the surface to separate the aqueous environment into a local aqueous environment and an open aqueous environment, wherein the local aqueous environment extends from the surface to the structure,
- wherein the open top defines one or more walls that remain spaced apart from the surface in a not fully sealed arrangement, wherein the structure comprises at least one of mesh, lattice, fenestration, or holes that allow fluid flow therethrough, wherein the structure comprises a 3-dimensional flexible material selected from a group consisting of natural and synthetic fabrics, natural and synthetic membranes, natural and synthetic sheets, and fabrics, membranes, films and sheets made from a combination of natural and synthetic materials,
- wherein the structure modulates dissolved oxygen content from the open aqueous environment into the local aqueous environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.