Methods and systems for maintaining a constant depth

A constant depth carrier comprising:

• an automatic depth-control mechanism comprising:
• a bladder configured to vary size in at least one direction based on water pressure;
• a fixed termination of the bladder at a proximal location attached to a housing;
• a variable termination of the bladder at a distal location attached to an inner lever arm in the at least one direction of the bladder size change due to water pressure;
• a dive plane member extending essentially orthogonal to the inner lever arm with a pivot point rotatively attached to the housing establishing a dive plane angle;
• a set of at least one elongated depth-control member extending the dive plane member externally away from the housing for effecting depth-control;
• the automatic depth-control mechanism wherein the configuration of the bladder, inner lever arm pivoting around the pivot point establishing the dive plane angle, and the at least one elongated depth-control member extending the dive plane member externally away from the housing interact to provide depth-control for an object wherein the preponderance of the mechanism is housed as it is pulled through water;
• the automatic depth-control mechanism wherein the depth-control is provided by acquiring a target depth and maintaining the target depth as a result of the dive plane angle of the mechanism increasing when the carrier is too shallow and decreasing the dive plane angle when the lure is too deep in the water as compared with the target depth;
• and
• the carrier further comprising one or more payload chambers to mount one or more payloads.

An automatic depth-control system for acquiring and maintaining a target depth, comprising:

• a pulling source with a line for pulling an automatic depth-control device;
• the line for pulling the automatic depth-control device between the pulling source and a line termination eyelet at a forward location of the automatic depth-control device housing;
• the automatic depth-control device housing an automatic depth-control mechanism;
• the depth-control mechanism controlling a dive plane according to an angle determined by a bladder mechanism and communicated rotatively through a dive plane member to an elongated depth-control member essentially external to the device body;
• the dive angle as communicated to the elongated depth-control member provides depth-control varies based on pressure applied to the bladder mechanism as compared to a pressure associated with a target depth;
• and
• the target depth is achieved and maintained during pulling motion with the dive plane angle increasing when the depth is less than the target depth and the dive plane angle decreasing when the depth is greater than the target depth.

A method of making an automatic depth-control device comprising:

• designing a body based on intended use including body size, body shape, fixed attachment locations, and any user mountable chambers for payloads;
• sizing an automatic depth-control mechanism for mounting inside the depth-control device based on required depths, the mass and shape of the body, and the shape, size, and mass of the fixed attachments and any mounted payloads;
• assembling the automatic depth-control mechanism to the interior of the body;
• assembling a variable target depth-control setting mechanism mechanism to the interior of the body;
• assembling the partially assembled body sections to form a single enclosed body
• assembling the fixed attachments to the exterior of the body comprising a line termination eyelet;
• and
• setting a target depth of the lure with a target depth adjustment dial.