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
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims41
A device for reducing biofouling on a surface at least partially submerged in an aqueous environment, the device 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 enable fluid flow therethrough, wherein the structure is flexible and defines a first side and a second side,
- wherein, when the structure at least partially surrounds the surface in the aqueous environment such that the first side of the structure faces the surface, the structure allows fluid exchange therethrough to the surface while preventing or limiting biofouling on the surface such that a first chemistry of the aqueous environment between the surface and the first side of the structure is different than a second chemistry of the aqueous environment outside the second side of the structure, wherein the first chemistry is measured in the aqueous environment proximate the surface, wherein the second chemistry is measured in the aqueous environment at a spaced apart distance from the second side of the structure facing away from the surface.
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 enable fluid flow therethrough, wherein the structure is flexible and defines a first side and a second side,
- wherein, when the structure at least partially surrounds the surface in the aqueous environment such that the first side of the structure faces the surface, the structure allows fluid exchange therethrough to the surface while preventing or limiting biofouling on the surface such that a first chemistry of the aqueous environment between the surface and the first side of the structure is different than a second chemistry of the aqueous environment outside the second side of the structure, wherein the first chemistry is measured in the aqueous environment proximate the surface, wherein the second chemistry is measured in the aqueous environment at a spaced apart distance from the second side of the structure facing away from the surface.
A roll or sheet of material that is deployable 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 enable fluid flow therethrough, wherein the structure is flexible and defines a first side and a second side,
- wherein, when the structure at least partially surrounds the surface in the aqueous environment such that the first side of the structure faces the surface, the structure allows fluid exchange therethrough to the surface while preventing or limiting biofouling on the surface such that a first chemistry of the aqueous environment between the surface and the first side of the structure is different than a second chemistry of the aqueous environment outside the second side of the structure, wherein the first chemistry is measured in the aqueous environment proximate the surface, wherein the second chemistry is measured in the aqueous environment at a spaced apart distance from the second side of the structure facing away from the surface.
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 fluid permeable, 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 enable fluid flow therethrough,
- wherein, when the structure at least partially surrounds the substrate in the aqueous environment in a not fully sealed arrangement, the structure separates the aqueous environment into a local aqueous environment and an open aqueous environment relative to the substrate and provides for fluid flow therethrough while reducing biofouling within the local aqueous environment relative to the open aqueous environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.